Is this a bug or? Penetration Issues....

hundergrn

Since coming back to the game almost 2 months ago... I've noticed something odd with my Nightblade(s).

After a couple combat encounters there seems to be a period at the start of combat where Weapon/Spell Penetration drops by ~3k only to return after the first volley of hits. This has been especially noticeable on my stamBlade where in the equipment menu I can see their usual 3674 Wep Penetration drop to 700 out of combat. It usually returns to its normal value on weapon swap or after starting combat but is concerning.

Does anyone know what is causing this? Is it purely visual? Am I imagining weirdly low numbers for the first hit on a mob after a few encounters?

Vevvev

What traits are your weapons? The sharpened trait improves penetration and it's only calculated when the weapon is active. Same goes for sets tied to weapons.

Gilvoth

i also have seen this problem happen but its not new, infact i have been complaining about it since Beta 2013.
it is not only happening to penetration, it also happens to my defenses as well as my damage.

recently another thread like this apiered ...

at this link:
https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/580112/whats-causing-my-pen-to-go-up-and-down#latest

gariondavey

I believe it is to do with what direction the camera is facing when you look at your stats. It is to do with the passive that gives pen while flanking

hundergrn

Looking at my Stamblade, it happens with most weapon types and traits I currently have in my bag.

With weapons out at ready=
DW maces- Nirn, Sharpened - 11991 drops to 7021
DW dagger- Precise - 3674 to 700
2h axe - sharpened - ~10k to 6034
dw axe dagger - infused powered - 3674 to 700
no weapon - 3674 is base.

Looking at passives... it might be Master Assassin Skill playing tricks. Increases Penetration by 2974 when attacking from the flank... but oddly enough... looking at metrics, it isn't applying unless flanking.

A couple of tests, unarmed, no companion:
Stat page Pen 3674

Metrics
From front:
3930/6648
4128/6648
3674/3674
700/3674
3674/3674
4380/6648
700/3674
2179/3674

From rear: Metric
4380/6648
6041/6648
6228/6648
5829/6648
2031/6648
6430/6648

Hitting an active mob from rear wasn't the easiest so not all flank worked out but I did notice the frontals sometimes count as flank for pen. You can see where penetration takes a nose dive to 700 momentarily in combat.

Master Assassin might be buggy and double dropping penetration off flank and sometimes adding while frontal.

Amerises

Wait, there's a coding bug in ESO? No, that can not be, must be something else.

hundergrn

Amerises wrote: »

Wait, there's a coding bug in ESO? No, that can not be, must be something else.

Haha yes surprise surprise, another possible coding bug.

Zodiarkslayer

Iirc the Master Assasin passive is a proc buff. Means the game constantly checks for its condition, in this case a flanking position to a valid target.
I think the check range is what is causing most if the commotion here, in combination with some inconsistencies for the removal of the proc.

hundergrn

Zodiarkslayer wrote: »

Iirc the Master Assasin passive is a proc buff. Means the game constantly checks for its condition, in this case a flanking position to a valid target.
I think the check range is what is causing most if the commotion here, in combination with some inconsistencies for the removal of the proc.

With it being a proc buff that checks position (directional), it is understandable that it can proc off frontals when too close to the target. Char/Mob positioning between client and server can be nebulous at best.

Most of the commotion is coming from the removal of the proc sometimes turning into a debuff for 1-4 hits (and any additional procs in from those hits). Losing almost 3k pen off base stats effects viability and survivability when doing both solo and PvP content.

I can understand incidental procs when on top a mob or player but not so much when a 3-4k frontal LA drops to 200-300 periodically in a fight. All in all, its no worse than break free draining stamina bars on break free spam.... still the later can be fixed by not spamming.