It's not that I don't think it would be worth investing even more effort on ZOS' part on better balance, and not least consistency in the ruleset, but the way you put it I can't help disagreeing with your every point.

One of several reasons is that these threads (and you) seem to say endless power in PvE is good and nothing should be nerfed there because in your opinion (as I interpret it) PvE is best when you can beat vet content with closed eyes, whereas I think some things should be difficult even for a group in their dream gear and "just burn the boss instead of doing the mechanics" should be an unviable strategy for almost any group in almost any vet content imo, so with the power leaps some sets and things introduce all the time, constant nerfing is necessary for this game not to become ridiculous in PvE as well as in PvP.

Phage wrote: »

Is it too difficult to ensure that sets/skills/etc still remain competitively viable in endgame PvE before they nerf it?

Yes, it is. ZoS developed their game into a corner, and now they can't fix it.

While I fully agree with your statements, asking for a change is never going to happen, at least with ESO 1.0.

Let me explain.

When attributes are assigned to weapons and armor, and then additional attributes are applied outside, "calculating" outcome is near impossible while making changes.

Here's a small concept of why it's problematic.

Armor has "buff +1" and potion has "buff +1". Testing out, this is easy because there are only 4 outcomes (technically 3, since two are identical):
no buffs
+1 armor -or- +1 potion
+2 armor and potion

Now, let's increase this.
Armor_1 +1 Armor_2 +1 (18s) Armor_3+ 1 (40s)
Enchant_1 +1 Enchant_2 +1 (15s)
Potion +1 (only 1 potion can be used at a time)

I'm not going to list out the combinations, because it would take too long. But as you can quickly see, even at *this* level, the computations get complex quickly.

Now consider *all* the available skillsets in the game.

When developers make a change, they'll often do so with as little impact to the game as possible, but still be slightly enough to be noticeable (buffs/nerfs).

What they *can't* do is determine how this change works for every conceivable build in the game. There are billions, and this isn't a joke. Just look at armor alone, with all the set buffs. This doesn't include weapons, enchantments, jewelry, scrolls (exp buffs on weapons/armors/scrolls is HUGE when combined), etc.

By allowing armors and weapons to be modified in the damage scale, rather than sticking to base damage and then applying buffs, the game has been altered beyond repair.

Sorry, but that's a reality. Asking to "stop" isn't possible.

Maybe they'll learn their lessons while working ESO 2.0.

To show you how bad it can be, when money is involved, Bungie never learned from their lesson with Destiny 2.0. Not only did they break their "10 year character" promise, but they're right back to doing what they did in 1.0.

If ZoS doesn't learn from this... there won't be an ESO 3.0.

I honestly dont understand how pve is competitive. Im pretty sure I could just go into excel and make a chart and put my name at the top. *twirls finger*

Pvp is different, not because of any THING in cyrodiil but because real human beings all act differently. I dont mind dying in pvp, but I do wish we could have funny death emotes.
But I hate dying in pve because I know that Im just going to have to do the exact same thing over again, the boss is going to do the EXACT same thing.

Maybe someday mmo's will have artificial intelligence, and then that would be spectacular pve. Imagine an AI Molag bal.