Terrible changes to mag warden. Maybe next year.

I won't debate the fact that Magicka Wardens are in a bad place and need some love but... please don't take our characters away because of it. No deletes!

I generally don't gripe about classes, whether over or under performing. In this case, however, I might make an exception. I have been kicking around deleting my magden but decided against it in the hopes of seeing some pve dps buffs in the patch. And by buff, I mean class buff, not weapon/light attack buffs.

I am still hopeful, but not holding my breath.

stileanima wrote: »

I've posted this in another thread already, but this is from round 1 of PTS testing:



Damage is definitely not bad at all, and with this build it actually does provide some nice utility (granted, this utility comes from skills and gear choices alone rather than from the class itself which is something that I wish were not the case). Let's wait and see what other changes will come in future PTS cycles before shoving mag wardens aside completely.

A big problem with Wardens and ESO in general is that everybody has a different definition of "balance."

Speaking for myself, I could not really care less if Wardens did 10K more on a parse than every other spec in the game because I am not an end-game PVE DPS raider. That target dummy parse has zero bearing on my enjoyment and fulfillment of the class. I care about can I hop into PvP and actually score a kill against an opponent who is roughly the same level of skill and experience as me. And for some people, they won't care at all about Cyrodiil because they never set foot there. It's hard to balance

Even on Live, I find in PvP it's a difficult proposition and my magicka warden crutches on one skill that is far stronger than any other class skill, Shimmering Shield. This class only had 4 damage skills: they have to be versatile and multi-functioned in order for them to afford the magicka Wardens the number of options other classes have. They're not. All the Warden gets from them is a stun, and that is going away next patch. No execute, no CC, no damage skills with secondary functions, limited options of attack, ok this works against a target dummy, but how am I going to kill anyone who is halfway decent in cyrodiil?

Even if the PvE sphere (which I do take part in) the guarded optimism is tempered by saying something that absolutely drives me nuts in how ESO has developed: "this utility comes from skills and gear choices alone rather than from the class itself". I really dislike how our characters and classes have become defined by stuff that's NOT in our class kit. Why roll a Warden if what your bringing to the table is accessible from a more versatile class that can actually kill other people in PvP? So, for me anyway, there's a lot of disappointment for this update and that's not necessarily something that a DPS parse is going to soften the blow

Magden are crap now compared to all the others, in both PvE and PvP.

Use sorc for PvP, 1000 times easier and stronger...

stileanima wrote: »

I've posted this in another thread already, but this is from round 1 of PTS testing:



Damage is definitely not bad at all, and with this build it actually does provide some nice utility (granted, this utility comes from skills and gear choices alone rather than from the class itself which is something that I wish were not the case). Let's wait and see what other changes will come in future PTS cycles before shoving mag wardens aside completely.

Awesome parse as usual, but sadly, every other class got these same buffs. They're parsing even higher, and with destro ultimate equipped.

stileanima wrote: »

Joy_Division wrote: »

stileanima wrote: »

I've posted this in another thread already, but this is from round 1 of PTS testing:



Damage is definitely not bad at all, and with this build it actually does provide some nice utility (granted, this utility comes from skills and gear choices alone rather than from the class itself which is something that I wish were not the case). Let's wait and see what other changes will come in future PTS cycles before shoving mag wardens aside completely.

A big problem with Wardens and ESO in general is that everybody has a different definition of "balance."

Speaking for myself, I could not really care less if Wardens did 10K more on a parse than every other spec in the game because I am not an end-game PVE DPS raider. That target dummy parse has zero bearing on my enjoyment and fulfillment of the class. I care about can I hop into PvP and actually score a kill against an opponent who is roughly the same level of skill and experience as me.

Even on Live, that's a difficult proposition and my magicka warden crutches on one skill that is far stronger than any other class skill, Shimmering Shield. This class only had 4 damage skills: they have to be versatile and multi-functioned in order for them to afford the magicka Wardens the number of options other classes have. They're not. All the Warden gets from them is a stun, and that is going away next patch. No execute, no CC, no damage skills with secondary functions, limited options of attack, ok this works against a target dummy, but how am I going to kill anyone who is halfway decent in cyrodiil?

And even you are qualifying your guarded optimism by saying something that absolutely drives me nuts in how ESO has developed: "this utility comes from skills and gear choices alone rather than from the class itself". I really dislike how our characters and classes have become defined by stuff that's NOT in our class kit. Why roll a Warden if what your bringing to the table is accessible from a more versatile class that can actually kill other people in PvP?

I agree with you completely about Warden balance concepts, and also hope for some (in my opinion, much needed) changes. Concerning PVE specifically, I'd like to see the class provide some unique utility rather than having to slot specific pieces of gear to bring something valuable to raiding group comp. I was posting only to say that Magicka Warden PVE DPS isn't horrible currently.

Yep. Looking over my post, it's conveying a tone I had no intention of conveying. My apologies