Min/max, hard/soft cap

AlphaCrucis · April 2016

Ok this is a big noob question, but what does min/max and hard/soft cap mean? I have read a few treads with people talking about it and have no idea what it means

Madness1 · April 2016

Ok don't worry we all have to start somewhere, hear is a quick definition:

Min-Maxing = Trying to make the best character possible, the most optimal build possible and trying to pick the best skills. Why? Because it's the best.
An example would be: Imperial Stam KB, a High Elf Mag Sorc, or a Dark Elf Mag DK

Soft Cap = You can get past a certain point or level but with diminishing returns. Here is an example:
Other MMO titles) If you have +1 Str you'd get +1 Dmg, but eventually +1 Str will get only 0.5 Dmg.
I'm saying in Other MMO titles because I think ESO had removed softcapping awhile ago.

Hard Cap = Any points past a certain number gives you no bunuses. Here is an example:
Other MMO titles) If you have 101 attack power only shows at 100 because that's the hard cap
Again I'm saying about other MMO titles because I can't think of hard cap in ESO right now.

Magdalina · April 2016

Madness1 wrote: »

Ok don't worry we all have to start somewhere, hear is a quick definition:

Min-Maxing = Trying to make the best character possible, the most optimal build possible and trying to pick the best skills. Why? Because it's the best.
An example would be: Imperial Stam KB, a High Elf Mag Sorc, or a Dark Elf Mag DK

Soft Cap = You can get past a certain point or level but with diminishing returns. Here is an example:
Other MMO titles) If you have +1 Str you'd get +1 Dmg, but eventually +1 Str will get only 0.5 Dmg.
I'm saying in Other MMO titles because I think ESO had removed softcapping awhile ago.

Hard Cap = Any points past a certain number gives you no bunuses. Here is an example:
Other MMO titles) If you have 101 attack power only shows at 100 because that's the hard cap
Again I'm saying about other MMO titles because I can't think of hard cap in ESO right now.

ZOS has removed softcaps(...unfortunately) but some hardcaps are still present.
For instance, armor and spellresistance hardcap at somewhere around ~33k right now I think. Meaning you can stack 50k spellresistance but still only get as much mitigation as you would with 33k(leaving stuff like armor debuffs aside).
Crit naturaly caps at 100%(...I think so at least lol), can't think of much else atm.

x_t7ink_x · April 2016

Magdalina wrote: »

Madness1 wrote: »

Ok don't worry we all have to start somewhere, hear is a quick definition:

Min-Maxing = Trying to make the best character possible, the most optimal build possible and trying to pick the best skills. Why? Because it's the best.
An example would be: Imperial Stam KB, a High Elf Mag Sorc, or a Dark Elf Mag DK

Soft Cap = You can get past a certain point or level but with diminishing returns. Here is an example:
Other MMO titles) If you have +1 Str you'd get +1 Dmg, but eventually +1 Str will get only 0.5 Dmg.
I'm saying in Other MMO titles because I think ESO had removed softcapping awhile ago.

Hard Cap = Any points past a certain number gives you no bunuses. Here is an example:
Other MMO titles) If you have 101 attack power only shows at 100 because that's the hard cap
Again I'm saying about other MMO titles because I can't think of hard cap in ESO right now.

ZOS has removed softcaps(...unfortunately) but some hardcaps are still present.
For instance, armor and spellresistance hardcap at somewhere around ~33k right now I think. Meaning you can stack 50k spellresistance but still only get as much mitigation as you would with 33k(leaving stuff like armor debuffs aside).
Crit naturaly caps at 100%(...I think so at least lol), can't think of much else atm.

Beware of the Hard cap as although the physical & spell resist sit at 50% mitigation - which is speculated to be at the 33k mark, this doesn't mean you can't mitigate damage through further means i.e sword & shield (blocking), champion points and ultimate's etc.

Nestor · April 2016

AlphaCrucis wrote: »

Ok this is a big noob question, but what does min/max and hard/soft cap mean? I have read a few treads with people talking about it and have no idea what it means

The cap answer is given above.

I want to elaborate on the Min/Max concept. Ideally it is Maximizing the Strengths of a Character while Minimizing the Weaknesses of the Character. For some, it means Maximizing Strengths with Minimal Effort. However it all comes down to creating the most optimal build possible either for that given combo, or just over all in general.

Min/Max strategies can help if your chasing Leaderboard times in Trials, as you want the most DPS possible for that, or for some PvP situations. For most of the PvE Content, outside of Trials, almost any build or character combo can be made to work. PvP, it all depends on what your doing and who your with (Solo, Zerg, Small Group, Tag Along etc) as to what you need or want.

Me, I go more for Efficiency. By that I mean I can kill the mobs in front of me, and not have to spend time, or much time, regening for the next fight. I also sometimes give up DPS to gain Resource Management (more regen and or lowered skill cost) so I can maintain a certain level of DPS over a protracted fight.