Tri Focus Lightning Staff over nerf

Traxxar

Dear Devs.

I understand that you wanted to reduce the strong AoE with the lightning staff. Not sure that was such a big problem but I can except that it was slightly too strong.
But you are taking a sledgehammer approach to fix a slightly bent nail.

You could have left it all as it is with every tick and just reduced the AoE damage by e.g. 1/3 and it would have been just fine.

If you are hell bent on doing only the last tick than double the last tick AoE damage for lightning staff as some kind of "big lightning explosion."

Digiman

Nesfaq's community mentioned it, but this seems like a goal to drive people to buy the expansion because Arcanist does the same thing.

I don't see why they went any other way then that.

ApoAlaia

Digiman wrote: »

Nesfaq's community mentioned it, but this seems like a goal to drive people to buy the expansion because Arcanist does the same thing.

I don't see why they went any other way then that.

Sadly HA builds worked - with some degree of variation in effectiveness - for all classes where Arcanist is just Arcanist.

I have been on a state of dreading every patch cycle since U35, dread that regrettably they have proven not unfounded...

I was looking forward to Q4 because of QoL improvements, but I now dread that those QoL improvements will again come at a very high price.

Syiccal

It probably nerfs heavy attack sorc more so than other classes during to the reliance on crit surge, I dunno just speculating...

Katlefiya

Syiccal wrote: »

It probably nerfs heavy attack sorc more so than other classes during to the reliance on crit surge, I dunno just speculating...

It sure does.

BasP

Syiccal wrote: »

It probably nerfs heavy attack sorc more so than other classes during to the reliance on crit surge, I dunno just speculating...

Not to mention that a typical HA Sorcerer's skills mostly deal single target damage so it relies on Tri-Focus (and potentially Wall of Elements and/or Hurricane) to deal AOE damage. On a HA Warden for example I think it'll be easier to make up for the Tri-Focus nerf with AOE skills such as Scorch, Winter's Revenge, Arctic Blast and Growing Swarm.

Malkosha

Traxxar wrote: »

Dear Devs.

I understand that you wanted to reduce the strong AoE with the lightning staff. Not sure that was such a big problem but I can except that it was slightly too strong.
But you are taking a sledgehammer approach to fix a slightly bent nail.

You could have left it all as it is with every tick and just reduced the AoE damage by e.g. 1/3 and it would have been just fine.

If you are hell bent on doing only the last tick than double the last tick AoE damage for lightning staff as some kind of "big lightning explosion."

I also don't understand why this change was made but unlike you I will not accept it was too strong. It wasn't. There is no game play reason I've heard yet to justify this. The forums weren't filled with people complaining. There was no sudden change that made this passive supper duper strong to the point of affecting everyone else's game play. I could see though in PvP, you could hit a player while killing a nearby MOB, hitting that player for 100% of the damage but that's easily fixed within PvP without destroying the whole thing.

There was no issue with this passive from the perspective of someone playing the game. Not a machine. Not a data set. A player playing the game.

I have no issue with changes. In fact, change is good! That's what happens in MMO's after all and it's a strength that sets them apart from other genres, but to change a core game ability, present in the game since the start for no reason is wrong. People were having fun. People enjoyed it. The Tr-Focus passive caused no issues for anyone yet it was changed to something completely different that will alter some people's play styles drastically. Go on the PTS and see. It's a major deal with limited workarounds.

IMO, this is what's killing some MMO's these days. Too many changes that take away fun at the expense of what .... a blip on a database printout? Too many people acquiesce to needless changes and that's why they keep coming. Yes, this triggered me and I'm not going to apologize for it but changes like this, for no apparent reason, have left me exhausted with the whole thing. YMMV

Lumenn

Malkosha wrote: »

Traxxar wrote: »

Dear Devs.

I understand that you wanted to reduce the strong AoE with the lightning staff. Not sure that was such a big problem but I can except that it was slightly too strong.
But you are taking a sledgehammer approach to fix a slightly bent nail.

You could have left it all as it is with every tick and just reduced the AoE damage by e.g. 1/3 and it would have been just fine.

If you are hell bent on doing only the last tick than double the last tick AoE damage for lightning staff as some kind of "big lightning explosion."

I also don't understand why this change was made but unlike you I will not accept it was too strong. It wasn't. There is no game play reason I've heard yet to justify this. The forums weren't filled with people complaining. There was no sudden change that made this passive supper duper strong to the point of affecting everyone else's game play. I could see though in PvP, you could hit a player while killing a nearby MOB, hitting that player for 100% of the damage but that's easily fixed within PvP without destroying the whole thing.

There was no issue with this passive from the perspective of someone playing the game. Not a machine. Not a data set. A player playing the game.

I have no issue with changes. In fact, change is good! That's what happens in MMO's after all and it's a strength that sets them apart from other genres, but to change a core game ability, present in the game since the start for no reason is wrong. People were having fun. People enjoyed it. The Tr-Focus passive caused no issues for anyone yet it was changed to something completely different that will alter some people's play styles drastically. Go on the PTS and see. It's a major deal with limited workarounds.

IMO, this is what's killing some MMO's these days. Too many changes that take away fun at the expense of what .... a blip on a database printout? Too many people acquiesce to needless changes and that's why they keep coming. Yes, this triggered me and I'm not going to apologize for it but changes like this, for no apparent reason, have left me exhausted with the whole thing. YMMV

You're not alone, it's just that most of us see this as the final nail in the coffin for HA sorc build. (The fact that it affects other builds as well is just collateral dmg) and after the empower nerf and nerfing one of the best sets, this was next. Most of us just quit "fighting" it since that's how zos is going no matter what. With all the "must be grouped with a guildy" changes and a few of the other changes, it's pretty obvious the direction zos is going. Unfortunate for some of us.

ApoAlaia

I think what frustrates me the most is all the upbeat dev comments.

They have gutted the playstyle, they know that the have gutted the playstyle, yet every dev comment is like 'juicy this' and 'positive that'.

I... just can't anymore.

loveeso

Meanwhile in the real world (a sample of comments from Nefas’s YT):

U can tell this change is not made because of players feedbacks, it's clearly interreference from the finance department because the Necrom sales revenue prob failed to meet certain financial goals

It’s because they want you to pay up and play an archanist. All these changes bud the one barchanist builds. The tentacles and beam are both channels. Add the aoe dot and a wall and you’re set

Oh god I hate that trash of an update, I took a 7 month break because of it. Might take another one when once Starfield releases and Baldurs Gate 3.

Zos been going down the path bungie took with it's decisions/updates. I'm closing my wallet to this game as I'm losing hope in it's future.

Little by little I've never been more bored with the game.
Yet month to month I keep giving them my money hoping for better results.

They are screwing some few things that actually were good in the game. The combat system is weird and clunky even with the HA builds helping to feel more fluid and simple - so they decided to create an overpowered new class (who will be nerfed soon) and destroy the HA mechanics slowly at each new update. Why? I personally play this game because I love TES lore and characters and have friends playing but...this is so messy.

they are selling Arcanist as the new "begginer best friend" - but they will nerf Arcanist soon enough

I’ve never seen a company nerf their game into the ground this hard holy ***. Every little bit of fun I’ve had in this game has either been nerfed away or broken due to server instability.

So nerf class that many enjoy and get people to want to play archanist. Once players get addicted to archanist and start destroying content be prepared for a nerf even on paid content . It’s endless . Meanwhile let’s ignore the pvp aspect balance that matter where in pve is shouldn’t matter .

This was a stupid change in 2016 and its a stupid change in 2023.

I have to agree with others here. This just reeks of trying to make people play arcanist to regain the feeling of playing a heavy attack build. As usual, zos disappoints me.

"Buy our expansion and shoot laser beam! Don't play the other dumb classes!" -Crown Store Studios

Lumenn

loveeso wrote: »

Meanwhile in the real world (a sample of comments from Nefas’s YT):

U can tell this change is not made because of players feedbacks, it's clearly interreference from the finance department because the Necrom sales revenue prob failed to meet certain financial goals

It’s because they want you to pay up and play an archanist. All these changes bud the one barchanist builds. The tentacles and beam are both channels. Add the aoe dot and a wall and you’re set

Oh god I hate that trash of an update, I took a 7 month break because of it. Might take another one when once Starfield releases and Baldurs Gate 3.

Zos been going down the path bungie took with it's decisions/updates. I'm closing my wallet to this game as I'm losing hope in it's future.

Little by little I've never been more bored with the game.
Yet month to month I keep giving them my money hoping for better results.

They are screwing some few things that actually were good in the game. The combat system is weird and clunky even with the HA builds helping to feel more fluid and simple - so they decided to create an overpowered new class (who will be nerfed soon) and destroy the HA mechanics slowly at each new update. Why? I personally play this game because I love TES lore and characters and have friends playing but...this is so messy.

they are selling Arcanist as the new "begginer best friend" - but they will nerf Arcanist soon enough

I’ve never seen a company nerf their game into the ground this hard holy ***. Every little bit of fun I’ve had in this game has either been nerfed away or broken due to server instability.

So nerf class that many enjoy and get people to want to play archanist. Once players get addicted to archanist and start destroying content be prepared for a nerf even on paid content . It’s endless . Meanwhile let’s ignore the pvp aspect balance that matter where in pve is shouldn’t matter .

This was a stupid change in 2016 and its a stupid change in 2023.

I have to agree with others here. This just reeks of trying to make people play arcanist to regain the feeling of playing a heavy attack build. As usual, zos disappoints me.

"Buy our expansion and shoot laser beam! Don't play the other dumb classes!" -Crown Store Studios

That's... interesting. I was under the impression that they(and followers) were some of the main youtubers saying HA lightening attack was too strong to begin with(perhaps Im mistaken? I do know of two for sure, but Nefas is new to me)

If anything this is only a small part of what's being said there. Word of mouth kept me from this game for the first couple of years, and word of mouth brought me to it(that they'd gotten better and it was solo friendly)

Lalothen

Perhaps there's still a chance to gain traction on a compromise that would cut Lightning Trifocus damage to 40-50% whilst retaining it over the course of the channel, instead of restricting it only to the fully-charged hit. This would solve the overtuning problem whilst tackling some of the main issues people have raised in testing.

Lumenn

Lalothen wrote: »

Perhaps there's still a chance to gain traction on a compromise that would cut Lightning Trifocus damage to 40-50% whilst retaining it over the course of the channel, instead of restricting it only to the fully-charged hit. This would solve the overtuning problem whilst tackling some of the main issues people have raised in testing.

This late in pts I doubt it, though anything is possible. I think this was a playstyle that was decided against(after "raising the floor" and oakensoul sales ) and is now dead. The solo game is still alive, but know your place. I can weave still(thankfully my fingers aren't COMPLETELY gone) and there are still builds that can solo without it for those that cant(I won't be mentioning them. Plenty of influencers out there for that) but with the addition of "group with guild members" and a few other changes has me concerned. Hopefully solo won't just be overland a year from now. We'll see what the future has in store.

Faulgor

Malkosha wrote: »

IMO, this is what's killing some MMO's these days. Too many changes that take away fun at the expense of what .... a blip on a database printout? Too many people acquiesce to needless changes and that's why they keep coming. Yes, this triggered me and I'm not going to apologize for it but changes like this, for no apparent reason, have left me exhausted with the whole thing. YMMV

Core of ESO's problem is that ZOS doesn't make changes based on what is fun, but on what fits their arcane spreadsheet.
They even take pride in their data collection tech.
IMO it completely misses the point of game design.

We've collected demographic data of 20,000 participants in how recreational time is spent, and have designed a model to best fit maximum enjoyment according to specific time intervals and power budgets.
The fun will now commence.

ACamaroGuy

I play solo and have no real desire to play with guild mates unless I'm bored and feel like helping. This game has no direction.

BasP

Lumenn wrote: »

Lalothen wrote: »

Perhaps there's still a chance to gain traction on a compromise that would cut Lightning Trifocus damage to 40-50% whilst retaining it over the course of the channel, instead of restricting it only to the fully-charged hit. This would solve the overtuning problem whilst tackling some of the main issues people have raised in testing.

This late in pts I doubt it, though anything is possible. I think this was a playstyle that was decided against(after "raising the floor" and oakensoul sales ) and is now dead.

That might be a bit overdramatic. While admittedly this wasn't my fastest run and/or highest score, an Oakensorc is stil capable of easily doing vVH and the damage versus a Trial Dummy hasn't changed much either. Yes, it might be best to use one more single target focussed skill setup and one AOE setup from now on, but the same could be said for most builds (aside from an Arcanist).



And I noticed Deltia did an (my guess would be Oakensoul) vVH run too

Lalothen wrote: »

Perhaps there's still a chance to gain traction on a compromise that would cut Lightning Trifocus damage to 40-50% whilst retaining it over the course of the channel, instead of restricting it only to the fully-charged hit. This would solve the overtuning problem whilst tackling some of the main issues people have raised in testing.

Nevertheless, I'd still prefer that over the change that's on the PTS.

notsojuicy

agreed and i've posted this at the beginning of the pts in week 1....
Keep trifocus as it was but adjust / tone down the numbers.... instead of 100% to 50%....
Would imho still be the better approach than the actual state how trifocus works on current pts....

merpins

It's essentially just a nerf to One-Bar sorcs and Crit Surge. Which is the primary playstyle for one-bar builds. 10/10, just a "you can't have fun" nerf.

Malkosha

BasP wrote: »

Lumenn wrote: »

Lalothen wrote: »

Perhaps there's still a chance to gain traction on a compromise that would cut Lightning Trifocus damage to 40-50% whilst retaining it over the course of the channel, instead of restricting it only to the fully-charged hit. This would solve the overtuning problem whilst tackling some of the main issues people have raised in testing.

This late in pts I doubt it, though anything is possible. I think this was a playstyle that was decided against(after "raising the floor" and oakensoul sales ) and is now dead.

That might be a bit overdramatic. While admittedly this wasn't my fastest run and/or highest score, an Oakensorc is stil capable of easily doing vVH and the damage versus a Trial Dummy hasn't changed much either. Yes, it might be best to use one more single target focussed skill setup and one AOE setup from now on, but the same could be said for most builds (aside from an Arcanist).



And I noticed Deltia did an (my guess would be Oakensoul) vVH run too

Lalothen wrote: »

Perhaps there's still a chance to gain traction on a compromise that would cut Lightning Trifocus damage to 40-50% whilst retaining it over the course of the channel, instead of restricting it only to the fully-charged hit. This would solve the overtuning problem whilst tackling some of the main issues people have raised in testing.

Nevertheless, I'd still prefer that over the change that's on the PTS.

Yes, I would prefer this over the current changes but I stand pat saying Tri-Focus as it stands now, is not overpowered. There is nothing wrong with the passive. Nothing at all. Trying to accept a lesser version for no reason what-so-ever is just as bad as giving it up completely. It makes no sense because the passive isn't broken. It wasn't an issue until the Dev's made it this way.

I went on the PTS and ran Vaults of Madness solo on normal. I picked this dungeon because there are waves of trash MOB's that with their numbers, can overwhelm you. The difference in gameplay with the new Tri-Focus is massive. I survived and finished it but I had to jump through hoops to do it.

There has been no outcry about this passive before this change. No people complaining it was overpowered. No forum posts filled with angst because Tri-Focus as it stands now on live, is broken. Nothing until the Dev's decided to change it. It weakens the current game play and takes the fun away from something that was a blast to play. What is the purpose of killing fun in a game when that fun caused no problems for anyone? Aren't games supposed to be ... well you know ... fun?

The current iteration of Tri-Focus doesn't have to be changed and with all due respect, offering to accept a lesser version is like taking your empty bowl of gruel to the headmaster and saying "Please sir, may I have some more"? Like I've said before, if there was a good reason for changing this I could understand, but I've heard nothing about why this was done. I suspect there is a reason for this.

Then again, maybe the fault is mine. Maybe I'm trying to hold on to a game that has flown by me. Maybe I just don't get it. Maybe it's time to move on but I'm so hard headed I can't see the forest for the trees. Maybe.

Vahndamme

It is sad, should've kept the aoe dmg on all ticks. Like honestly it wasn't overpowered I feel like.. Arcanist's beam is 20 times more potent. Now we have trials full of Arcanists blasting all faster than HA Oakensoul builds did before. I'm not against Arcanists having that power but if there's something so much stronger then it's stupid to curb back an alternative playstyle like the HA builds having some ok aoe/splash dmg. Now only to the last tick with majority of mobs almost entirely gone (either moved or dead due to arcanists) .. + the dmg is not noticeable at all. If the last tick would be a big OOOOOOMF tick then sure but now it's just DEAD.

jaws343

merpins wrote: »

It's essentially just a nerf to One-Bar sorcs and Crit Surge. Which is the primary playstyle for one-bar builds. 10/10, just a "you can't have fun" nerf.

To be fair though, Crit Surge is barely functional on an Oaken heavy attack build.

You only get potential heals from the Heavy Attack, Curse, and Tri-focus. Since pets don't contribute to Crit Surge functionality.

I found, without running and using Matriarch, healing with Crit Surge on the build is basically useless.

Crit Surge is great in a 2 bar build that can utilize a shield to cover you while the heals tick off, not so well as healing while you are simultaneously taking damage.

bachpain

This change was made 100% to sell more expansions and push people to play the Archanist as the new accessibility class that can do what the one bar HA builds used to do. Now it is a "teadional" build tho so elitists can't complain and Zos gets those big $$ from expansion sales. If you cannot see that everything in this last update cycle has been to push the Archanist and minimize everything else you haven't been paying attention.

Galeriano

Syiccal wrote: »

It probably nerfs heavy attack sorc more so than other classes during to the reliance on crit surge, I dunno just speculating...

merpins wrote: »

It's essentially just a nerf to One-Bar sorcs and Crit Surge. Which is the primary playstyle for one-bar builds. 10/10, just a "you can't have fun" nerf.

Crit surge remains untouched after this change. Tri focus AoE damage can't crit so it does not count towards crit surge heal proc conditions.

lQrukl

I think a reasonable compromise would be to leave damage ticks to anyone touching the HA beam between caster and target, like it works with Zaan, Wrath of Elements, necro's Siphon, etc

BasP

Malkosha wrote: »

BasP wrote: »

Lumenn wrote: »

Lalothen wrote: »

Perhaps there's still a chance to gain traction on a compromise that would cut Lightning Trifocus damage to 40-50% whilst retaining it over the course of the channel, instead of restricting it only to the fully-charged hit. This would solve the overtuning problem whilst tackling some of the main issues people have raised in testing.

This late in pts I doubt it, though anything is possible. I think this was a playstyle that was decided against(after "raising the floor" and oakensoul sales ) and is now dead.

That might be a bit overdramatic. While admittedly this wasn't my fastest run and/or highest score, an Oakensorc is stil capable of easily doing vVH and the damage versus a Trial Dummy hasn't changed much either. Yes, it might be best to use one more single target focussed skill setup and one AOE setup from now on, but the same could be said for most builds (aside from an Arcanist).



And I noticed Deltia did an (my guess would be Oakensoul) vVH run too

Lalothen wrote: »

Perhaps there's still a chance to gain traction on a compromise that would cut Lightning Trifocus damage to 40-50% whilst retaining it over the course of the channel, instead of restricting it only to the fully-charged hit. This would solve the overtuning problem whilst tackling some of the main issues people have raised in testing.

Nevertheless, I'd still prefer that over the change that's on the PTS.

There has been no outcry about this passive before this change. No people complaining it was overpowered. No forum posts filled with angst because Tri-Focus as it stands now on live, is broken. Nothing until the Dev's decided to change it.

During the PTS cycle for Update 38, when Empower was nerfed by 10% and Storm Master was nerfed as well, there were actually quite a few posts about the Heavy Attack playstyle in which some players did argue that an optimized Oakensorc was too strong (and a good number of players thought they weren't of course). I wouldn't recommend reading the posts at the moment because that ship has sailed and the less-than-polite comments have been removed for baiting, but you could check
out this post or this post.

Reasons given were that it took a relatively low amount of effort to do enough DPS to clear most PvE content in the game (aside from some Trifectas), most damage was AOE due to Tri-Focus, and because of the Oakensoul ring a HA attack build was a lot more tanky than your average 2 bar DPS build. Most likely ZOS agrees with some of those views, otherwise they wouldn't have nerfed Tri-Focus this patch.

Now I'm not saying I strongly believe that Tri-Focus had to be nerfed as I have some HA builds myself (and even made this Reddit post with 6 simple HA builds for solo Arenas 9 months ago, before they were as widespread as they are now), but there was definitely some debate about the current state of Oakensorcs not too long ago.

Galiferno

People who don't think the build was overpowered simply weren't using it to its full potential. It was incredibly strong, especially relative to the tankiness it provided. We almost got Godslayer on the very first pull of a new prog with these builds simply because DPS have to worry very, very little about most incoming damage as long as they know and can perform basic mechs.

I've always been a supporter of keeping the build's damage the same but nerfing the tankiness. Shame that ZOS went the opposite direction.

Bowser

This was a stupid change in 2016 and its a stupid change in 2023.

When they tried to remove the aoe before it was because it was technically a bug, but players liked it so much that they made it an official part of the ability.

What's their excuse now?

Vahndamme

I become to believe that this game is designed to one - not be able to complete any content and - two you cannot have fun.

Like I understand if people were all spamming Oakensoul HA builds with Tri-Focus to get Trifecta's and hardest achievements done easily.. but not all people are.. Majority did use it to get into veteran content more easily.. but honestly.. veteran content isn't hard by any standards and it doesn't hold that much prestige to have it cleared. So why all the nerfs to these specific builds that enables more people to actually play the game?

Everybody always says that this game is about the diverse builds you can run to clear stuff. Yet they take away multiple options all the time. Like they say they want more options but they nerf many options so they aren't as viable + fun anymore and will be dropped eventually. Thus pidgeonholing a lot of people back into 2bar builds while they enjoyed 1bar builds? I mean, no big "outcry" here but why the change? It wasn't gamebreaking.. For the absolute top you still needed to do months of research and stuff. You still needed skill. Sure maybe some even got a tri-fecta with all oakensoul HA builds and lightning staves but I'm pretty damn sure those guys got skill and mostlikely also did it with different characters before.

If it doesn't take away at the prestige of TOP END content like swashbuckler, etc.. then I see absolutely no reason to do these nerfs. And honestly, I think we can all agree that it doesn't take away any of that prestige. Maybe some of the middle pack who just wanna chill with 1bar build in some veteran trial and have fun with the build. (I personally enjoyed Tri-Focus lightning oakensoul HA build..) I cleared all the content with my templar before and was happy I could do it with the 1bar build also. Felt relieving to see that there were more means to the same end. Sadly based on all material I've seen till now and tested myself I've noticed that the builds will become significantly less fun.

It's a recurring theme that ZoS seems to take "fun" things away for no real reason.. 1 guy or 1 group does something with a build and bam it's gone.. like plaguebreak..? A disaster in terms of developing a game imo, that set could've been handled a thousand different ways. Though it's funny that people say Arcanist is the reason... cuz 2 arcanists in a normal dungeon do exactly what plaguebreak did.. zap everything in a matter of seconds. So not sure what's actually "fixed" here.

Traxxar

BasP wrote: »

Malkosha wrote: »

BasP wrote: »

Lumenn wrote: »

Lalothen wrote: »

....

During the PTS cycle for Update 38, when Empower was nerfed by 10% and Storm Master was nerfed as well, there were actually quite a few posts about the Heavy Attack playstyle in which some players did argue that an optimized Oakensorc was too strong (and a good number of players thought they weren't of course). I wouldn't recommend reading the posts at the moment because that ship has sailed and the less-than-polite comments have been removed for baiting, but you could check
out this post or this post.

Reasons given were that it took a relatively low amount of effort to do enough DPS to clear most PvE content in the game (aside from some Trifectas), most damage was AOE due to Tri-Focus, and because of the Oakensoul ring a HA attack build was a lot more tanky than your average 2 bar DPS build. Most likely ZOS agrees with some of those views, otherwise they wouldn't have nerfed Tri-Focus this patch.

Now I'm not saying I strongly believe that Tri-Focus had to be nerfed as I have some HA builds myself (and even made this Reddit post with 6 simple HA builds for solo Arenas 9 months ago, before they were as widespread as they are now), but there was definitely some debate about the current state of Oakensorcs not too long ago.

Thank you for the interesting reply.

From a devs perspective if the Tri-Focus damage is so overpowered and creates a lot of the AoE than a simple reduction by e.g. 1/3 would easily do the trick. That is why this change is so weird.
AOE with Lightning staff just feels right also from an "Elemental Fantasy" perspective, with Fire hitting hard one opponent.

Please ZOS combat team listen to your players.

Traxxar

Clearly shouldn't have played around with the quoting part.

Thank you for the interesting reply.

From a devs perspective if the Tri-Focus damage is so overpowered and creates the majority of the AoE than a simple reduction by e.g. 1/3 would easily do the trick. That is why this change is so weird.
AOE with Lightning staff just feels right also from an "Elemental Fantasy" perspective, with Fire hitting hard one opponent.

Please ZOS combat team listen to your players.

Lalothen

Traxxar wrote: »

From a devs perspective if the Tri-Focus damage is so overpowered and creates the majority of the AoE than a simple reduction by e.g. 1/3 would easily do the trick. That is why this change is so weird.

Look at it in terms of how Trifocus already interacts with the other two staff types: both have a "fully-charged attack" caveat. So what ZOS has done is apply that same caveat to lightning to standardise the passive as one designed purely to impact fully-charged staff attacks.

From that point of view it does make sense, but I do agree that ZOS needs to appreciate that players have become accustomed to lightning staff working this way for years, so such a change is far more jarring and negatively received than achieving the AoE output reduction by cutting the AoE %.