Dev Team Perspective on Playing Warden in PVP

Caribou77

Having read dozens of articulate, thoughtful posts expressing confusion over the U35 changes to Warden (Scorch and Advanced Species, in particular), I think it would be very helpful and reassuring to hear from a member of the development team who plays warden in PVP.

What do you enjoy about the class? What do you think its main pain points in PVP are? Which PVP game mode do you like to play the most, and why? What would your vision of an improved warden be going forward? And specifically, what is your experience using Scorch in PVP against skilled players?

Xandreia_

Caribou77 wrote: »

Having read dozens of articulate, thoughtful posts expressing confusion over the U35 changes to Warden (Scorch and Advanced Species, in particular), I think it would be very helpful and reassuring to hear from a member of the development team who plays warden in PVP.

What do you enjoy about the class? What do you think its main pain points in PVP are? Which PVP game mode do you like to play the most, and why? What would your vision of an improved warden be going forward? And specifically, what is your experience using Scorch in PVP against skilled players?

that would mean they actually have to play the game and not just look at a page of numbers.

ThirdEye_PULSE

I shelved my warden awhile ago. When i switched to PC from Ps4 i took a 2 year break. Came back and loved my main stamden so much i made a magden. Was getting rolled over in PVP as if i didnt spend years getting good at it lol. Quickly realized they had nerfed Warden considerably in the time i took off.

Stamden definitely probably needed some nerfs. My stamden was a bursty menace on the battlefield, with crazy healing and sustain. I could even slot my healing ult on backbar and keep my whole team alive if things hit the fan. Not to mention i could be tanky at the same time. It was one of the most well rounded, powerful classes in the game. To the point that people considered Warden the untouchable sweetheart of ZOS... people would say things like they never nerf warden because it aint base game class.

Now, warden seems to be in a very niche bomber type build for stam. Glass cannon. Its weird to see how far the class has fallen and lost some of its identity along the way. I used to love slotting bird and putting pressure on my enemies from a distance, using my wings for insane speed and be right on top of them with a sub assault the next moment. Spin 2 win. Probably the most mobile class in the entire game as well.

So you can imagine my suprise when i seen they were nerfing some of warden abilities... my warden has been my crafter for a year now. Just that theyre even touching the most iconic, unique skill of the game... sub assault... its insulting to the entire concept of the warden imo.

For as long as i can remember, sub assault was the defining ability of warden for me. Also made the rotation one of the most unique rotations of the game. 3s cast time... then big burst boom. Loved it. Nothing more satisfying then that.

Its a sad day when ZOS wants to go in and water the identity down for such a unique class in the name of accessibility.

Im all for giving people options who cant play at the same level for whatever reason as that of the other players. But the key word here is options. If you wanna make rotations easier, fine... but do it without ruining entire playstyles or even parts of the game like PVP. Simply make a 3rd morph which gives every sticky DoT or sub assault a longer timer making rotations easier. That way, its always a choice and doesnt effect everyone else that loves ESO combat for what it is.

DoT timers as they are, with the nerf to damage, is simply going to make many Sticky DoTs unusable in PVP. It wont give enough pressure to justify using. And sub assault doing less damage on first boom? Nah. That aint right. That burst/pressure is so important for PVP and theyve taken away the burst and pressure of almost every class besides NB.