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ESO Balance - Stop Bashing - Balance Concepts Explained
Casterial
✭✭✭✭✭
✭
✭
Hello ESO,
Many know me, but many don’t. Back in the day I ran a lot of community events, tournaments, and helped run Legend. Eventually I took a solid 3 year break (2016-2019). I’d play occasionally here or there, but I was busy working.
What did/do I do? I was a Technical Combat Designer @ EA for a while where I helped balance several units and maintained a 5% w/l rate between the best and worst unit in the game.
^ I stated this to back my knowledge
Now why am I writing this?
Many people are bashing ZOS over these balance changes. While I agree, I do think they’re severe I’ll tell you why you should support them and definitely play the PTS.
Balance is usually done of the following:
Many people are quite angry over the Cycle 1 balance changes on the PTS, but no one is on the PTS heavily to help test and give feedback to the developers, the combat team, and our class reps. This feedback is crucial in the early stages, with few have true evidence to back their claim it gives them little reason to make big changes.
Let me bring up a thing thats largely upsetting for me, and probably you.
Everyone is like “This is huge!” And well, you’re right. The change is drastic. But often in balance (PTS) it's usually done in internal testing, ZOS lets theirs public.
Why are the numbers as drastic?
Minimal changes very rarely shift anything, so to see what comes out or what needs real changing to tweak back balancers usually watch the meta develop of the time until they finally develop a finalized patch note ready to be released. In order to continually shift it down you start high, if you don't start high then you have to find whats too much. Now they can scale down.
This isn't considered good balancing methods, but it works to drop data to where you want it.
Why is crucial for us to play PTS?
You can’t back up your claim without large testing. Balance teams are often small and rely on select players to help balance the game based on feedback loops.
Why Shouldn't I just post on Forums?
You can, like the devs said. Posting on forums using official feedback forums, or just making your own is the most effective way. Here's the catch though, we can't just post instantly. While we do see the numbers are bad, we should still have supporting evidence. This brings me back to the PTS, test then post. Don't just post. Often times they just overlook those who just post and not have any real claims.
disclaimer: yes, you can punch in the numbers from patch notes into a calculator and see how bad it is, this is still evidence. Most don't even say that. Use your evidence!
Why do they change meta so often?
Honestly, they don’t. I use to change meta monthly sometimes in huge major ways, sometimes I’d just revert back. Meta changes keep the game alive, balance is finicky, combat is finicky. Why? Because it IS the game, any change can churn players. So be patient, help them.
It seems like ZOS is trying to run us away!
No, it is the best interest of ZOS to keep everyone here. The thing is though, they don’t balance based on top tier or lower tier. They balance based on the average player. So for PVE the average DPS (casuals) and for PVP the average zerger (casual). This is to make sure the game is fair for vast majority and not the minority. Why keep 10 happy when you can keep 90 happy?
-Disclaimer, I don’t know if this is what ZOS does, but the majority of games do this.
What can we do?
I cannot stress it enough, as a player you should be playing the PTS if you want to see some changes happen. You should be constantly trying to help them to see more results you want. Developers are always open, while they have their vision, they know sometimes players know more.
Why are the forums blowing up that its bad?
Often times the few are the loudest. So while majority are contempt, the few are not and will raise hell to make sure everyone jumps on their ship. Just sail it out
Is ESO doing a bad job?
Not at all, while I sometimes joke, or get vocal about how bad some changes are I always sit down and remember when I use to do this it was the same from players to me. But in the end players adapted and made amazing things come out of the dust!
Remember, be nice to your community manager @ZOS_GinaBruno and be nice to the combat team They have a vision, they have a goal and it's to make the game for fun, more fair, and definitely to keep players playing!
Thanks for reading this
-Casterial, Kill Counter developer
Edited by Casterial on September 18, 2019 10:06PM Many know me, but many don’t. Back in the day I ran a lot of community events, tournaments, and helped run Legend. Eventually I took a solid 3 year break (2016-2019). I’d play occasionally here or there, but I was busy working.
What did/do I do? I was a Technical Combat Designer @ EA for a while where I helped balance several units and maintained a 5% w/l rate between the best and worst unit in the game.
^ I stated this to back my knowledge
Now why am I writing this?
Many people are bashing ZOS over these balance changes. While I agree, I do think they’re severe I’ll tell you why you should support them and definitely play the PTS.
Balance is usually done of the following:
- Feel - The feel of the skill, or the combo
- Combo/Counterplay - How powerful is the combo, and does it have a counterplay? How common is the counterplay to the combo/meta?
- Data - Does the data back it up, or not support our investigation results?
Many people are quite angry over the Cycle 1 balance changes on the PTS, but no one is on the PTS heavily to help test and give feedback to the developers, the combat team, and our class reps. This feedback is crucial in the early stages, with few have true evidence to back their claim it gives them little reason to make big changes.
Let me bring up a thing thats largely upsetting for me, and probably you.
- 63% nerf to all dots across the board.
Everyone is like “This is huge!” And well, you’re right. The change is drastic. But often in balance (PTS) it's usually done in internal testing, ZOS lets theirs public.
Why are the numbers as drastic?
Minimal changes very rarely shift anything, so to see what comes out or what needs real changing to tweak back balancers usually watch the meta develop of the time until they finally develop a finalized patch note ready to be released. In order to continually shift it down you start high, if you don't start high then you have to find whats too much. Now they can scale down.
This isn't considered good balancing methods, but it works to drop data to where you want it.
Why is crucial for us to play PTS?
You can’t back up your claim without large testing. Balance teams are often small and rely on select players to help balance the game based on feedback loops.
Why Shouldn't I just post on Forums?
You can, like the devs said. Posting on forums using official feedback forums, or just making your own is the most effective way. Here's the catch though, we can't just post instantly. While we do see the numbers are bad, we should still have supporting evidence. This brings me back to the PTS, test then post. Don't just post. Often times they just overlook those who just post and not have any real claims.
disclaimer: yes, you can punch in the numbers from patch notes into a calculator and see how bad it is, this is still evidence. Most don't even say that. Use your evidence!
Why do they change meta so often?
Honestly, they don’t. I use to change meta monthly sometimes in huge major ways, sometimes I’d just revert back. Meta changes keep the game alive, balance is finicky, combat is finicky. Why? Because it IS the game, any change can churn players. So be patient, help them.
It seems like ZOS is trying to run us away!
No, it is the best interest of ZOS to keep everyone here. The thing is though, they don’t balance based on top tier or lower tier. They balance based on the average player. So for PVE the average DPS (casuals) and for PVP the average zerger (casual). This is to make sure the game is fair for vast majority and not the minority. Why keep 10 happy when you can keep 90 happy?
-Disclaimer, I don’t know if this is what ZOS does, but the majority of games do this.
What can we do?
I cannot stress it enough, as a player you should be playing the PTS if you want to see some changes happen. You should be constantly trying to help them to see more results you want. Developers are always open, while they have their vision, they know sometimes players know more.
Why are the forums blowing up that its bad?
Often times the few are the loudest. So while majority are contempt, the few are not and will raise hell to make sure everyone jumps on their ship. Just sail it out
Is ESO doing a bad job?
Not at all, while I sometimes joke, or get vocal about how bad some changes are I always sit down and remember when I use to do this it was the same from players to me. But in the end players adapted and made amazing things come out of the dust!
Remember, be nice to your community manager @ZOS_GinaBruno and be nice to the combat team They have a vision, they have a goal and it's to make the game for fun, more fair, and definitely to keep players playing!
Thanks for reading this
-Casterial, Kill Counter developer
Daggerfall Covenant:Casterial Stamplar || Casterial DK || Availed NB || Castyrial Sorc || Spooky Casterial Necro
Member since: August 2013
Kill Counter Developer
For the Daggerfall Covenant
The Last Chillrend Empress
Animation Cancelling
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Mr_Walker✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭Sorry, I just can't take it seriously when one patch a skill needs to be buffed because it was allegedly underperforming, and then needs to be buffed worse than original because it's now allegedly overperforming.59 -
Casterial✭✭✭✭✭
✭Sorry, I just can't take it seriously when one patch a skill needs to be buffed because it was allegedly underperforming, and then needs to be buffed worse than original because it's now allegedly overperforming.
Well, play PTS. Back yourself up on your theories. Help them. The PTS always has like 10 - 20 players, not nearly enough compared to forums.
Also, sometimes reverting is good
ZOS use to not revert bad changes. I'm just hoping they way over did the numbers, we'll see Edited by Casterial on September 18, 2019 2:58PMDaggerfall Covenant:Casterial Stamplar || Casterial DK || Availed NB || Castyrial Sorc || Spooky Casterial Necro
Member since: August 2013
Kill Counter Developer
For the Daggerfall Covenant
The Last Chillrend Empress
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VaranisArano✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭I generally agree.
Something else to consider about PTS testing is that its almost impossible to replicate the experience of large battles with organized groups in Cyrodiil. That's simply due to the lack of players on the PTS.
Most PVP testing is limited to dueling, maybe BGs, and at best, small groups in Cyrodiil. So while we get a good idea of the impact of changes in certain aspects of PVP, the PTS doesn't test other aspects that happen with large groups. That means that most of their performance aspects don't get tested under anywhere near the level of Live demand, AND that ZOS doesnt get a good idea of how dominant organized raids are going to be until the patch goes Live and raids start playing in Cyrodiil. (This is distinct from PVE raids, who will often practice for new content on PTS, giving ZOS more feedback to fine tune new content. PVP raids can't really do that because they lack representative opponents.)
The best way for ZOS to address that would be for them to do what they did for other areas when they needed to test demand on a particular area like Dragon Hunts or Groupfinder: hold a short event on PTS to draw lots of players to that activity.9 -
Mr_Walker✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭What theories do you think I should be backing up?
What I stated is what zos do. It's documented fact. They flip flop around like a fish out of water.23 -
unclesheosnephew✭✭✭PTS pushes me over my internet data limits and takes too much space on my hard drives. wonder if they have a way to not need it downloaded onto my computer. Until this game gets smaller in size(which is supposed to happen) the PTS can KMA.3
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Casterial✭✭✭✭✭
✭I think you whooped my ass in pvp a couple times
Probably, I whoop my own booty to
VaranisArano wrote: »I generally agree.
Something else to consider about PTS testing is that its almost impossible to replicate the experience of large battles with organized groups in Cyrodiil. That's simply due to the lack of players on the PTS.
Most PVP testing is limited to dueling, maybe BGs, and at best, small groups in Cyrodiil. So while we get a good idea of the impact of changes in certain aspects of PVP, the PTS doesn't test other aspects that happen with large groups. That means that most of their performance aspects don't get tested under anywhere near the level of Live demand, AND that ZOS doesnt get a good idea of how dominant organized raids are going to be until the patch goes Live and raids start playing in Cyrodiil. (This is distinct from PVE raids, who will often practice for new content on PTS, giving ZOS more feedback to fine tune new content. PVP raids can't really do that because they lack representative opponents.)
The best way for ZOS to address that would be for them to do what they did for other areas when they needed to test demand on a particular area like Dragon Hunts or Groupfinder: hold a short event on PTS to draw lots of players to that activity.
Completely agree:)Daggerfall Covenant:Casterial Stamplar || Casterial DK || Availed NB || Castyrial Sorc || Spooky Casterial Necro
Member since: August 2013
Kill Counter Developer
For the Daggerfall Covenant
The Last Chillrend Empress
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Casterial✭✭✭✭✭
✭unclesheosnephew wrote: »PTS pushes me over my internet data limits and takes too much space on my hard drives. wonder if they have a way to not need it downloaded onto my computer. Until this game gets smaller in size(which is supposed to happen) the PTS can KMA.
You use to be able to copy the old game over, sadly I was getting an error doing this ):Daggerfall Covenant:Casterial Stamplar || Casterial DK || Availed NB || Castyrial Sorc || Spooky Casterial Necro
Member since: August 2013
Kill Counter Developer
For the Daggerfall Covenant
The Last Chillrend Empress
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Siohwenoeht✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭While I agree with your op, @Mr_Walker and I are console players without access to the pts. Other than that, well written post."It is a lovely language, but it takes a very long time saying anything in it, because we do not say anything in it, unless it is worth taking a long time to say, and to listen to." - Treebeard4 -
Casterial✭✭✭✭✭
✭Siohwenoeht wrote: »While I agree with your op, @Mr_Walker and I are console players without access to the pts. Other than that, well written post.
Yeah, it sucks. You have to believe PC will actually step up, my pvp group plans to continually pvp on it and release "logs"Daggerfall Covenant:Casterial Stamplar || Casterial DK || Availed NB || Castyrial Sorc || Spooky Casterial Necro
Member since: August 2013
Kill Counter Developer
For the Daggerfall Covenant
The Last Chillrend Empress
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khajiitNPC✭✭✭✭✭Nice OP. Very constructive. You touched on a lot of stuff that people don’t understand and sadly not a lot will.7
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Casterial✭✭✭✭✭
✭khajiitNPC wrote: »Nice OP. Very constructive. You touched on a lot of stuff that people don’t understand and sadly not a lot will.
Yeah, balance is very touchey of a subject. It can make or break a game. I wasn't allowed to make direct changes without a team decision. But we always did things like this and relied on player feedback or developer feedback (we played our game) to adjust stats. Our combat team though was required to play over 5hrs+ a day.Daggerfall Covenant:Casterial Stamplar || Casterial DK || Availed NB || Castyrial Sorc || Spooky Casterial Necro
Member since: August 2013
Kill Counter Developer
For the Daggerfall Covenant
The Last Chillrend Empress
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BlueRaven✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭I like how the assumption is that if we give feedback, it will change anything.
Do I need to remind the OP about the racial changes debacle? Do I need to link the 70+ thread begging to change the Bosmer passives? How did that go?
Face it. They "say" they want our feedback, the reality is they want the feedback from about 5-6 chosen people. The rest of us don't matter.Edited by BlueRaven on September 18, 2019 2:45AM36 -
Casterial✭✭✭✭✭
✭I like how the assumption is that if we give feedback, it will change anything.
Do I need to remind the OP about the racial changes debacle? Do I need to link the 70+ thread begging to change the Bosmer passives? How did that go?
Face it. They "say" they want our feedback, the reality is they want the feedback from about 5-6 chosen people. The rest of us don't matter.
It doesn't change anything, but you as a player provided all the details, right evidence, and tried your best to convince them. Sitting on the forums and not taking action doesn't help.
While they do select few feedback, convince those "5-6"Daggerfall Covenant:Casterial Stamplar || Casterial DK || Availed NB || Castyrial Sorc || Spooky Casterial Necro
Member since: August 2013
Kill Counter Developer
For the Daggerfall Covenant
The Last Chillrend Empress
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stuartx13✭✭✭Sorry, I just can't take it seriously when one patch a skill needs to be buffed because it was allegedly underperforming, and then needs to be buffed worse than original because it's now allegedly overperforming.
Well, play PTS. Back yourself up on your theories. Help them. The PTS always has like 10 - 20 players, not nearly enough compared to forums.
Ok you are just wrong.How can we keep doing PTS when feedback is just blow off.14 -
Casterial✭✭✭✭✭
✭Sorry, I just can't take it seriously when one patch a skill needs to be buffed because it was allegedly underperforming, and then needs to be buffed worse than original because it's now allegedly overperforming.
Well, play PTS. Back yourself up on your theories. Help them. The PTS always has like 10 - 20 players, not nearly enough compared to forums.
Ok you are just wrong.How can we keep doing PTS when feedback is just blow off.
I'm saying just do our best, I personally don't see flaming/spamming the forums as a solution.Daggerfall Covenant:Casterial Stamplar || Casterial DK || Availed NB || Castyrial Sorc || Spooky Casterial Necro
Member since: August 2013
Kill Counter Developer
For the Daggerfall Covenant
The Last Chillrend Empress
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lillybit✭✭✭✭✭
✭Siohwenoeht wrote: »While I agree with your op, @Mr_Walker and I are console players without access to the pts. Other than that, well written post.
This. As console players, the game is already harder for us without all the add ons that PC have. On top of that we have no way to preview changes and add our opinion. We just have to hope that any changes that PC players push through will work out for our version of the game, which doesn't always play quite the same.
Not sure I have an actual point, just sucks we don't have access to a PTS!PS4 EU6 -
Casterial✭✭✭✭✭
✭Siohwenoeht wrote: »While I agree with your op, @Mr_Walker and I are console players without access to the pts. Other than that, well written post.
This. As console players, the game is already harder for us without all the add ons that PC have. On top of that we have no way to preview changes and add our opinion. We just have to hope that any changes that PC players push through will work out for our version of the game, which doesn't always play quite the same.
Not sure I have an actual point, just sucks we don't have access to a PTS!
I understand that, I always forget this game is on console. I feel like ZOS should allow them to switch between both, but ESO is large and Consoles often don't have the space sadly
Daggerfall Covenant:Casterial Stamplar || Casterial DK || Availed NB || Castyrial Sorc || Spooky Casterial Necro
Member since: August 2013
Kill Counter Developer
For the Daggerfall Covenant
The Last Chillrend Empress
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Casterial✭✭✭✭✭
✭It's the only way for them to Hear us.
Aye, but why will they listen to anyone who does nothing? I even put players on the "do not listen to" list while working because I knew they didn't test, they just complained.
Not saying they do this, but its possible :PEdited by Casterial on September 18, 2019 3:03AMDaggerfall Covenant:Casterial Stamplar || Casterial DK || Availed NB || Castyrial Sorc || Spooky Casterial Necro
Member since: August 2013
Kill Counter Developer
For the Daggerfall Covenant
The Last Chillrend Empress
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Casterial✭✭✭✭✭
✭863 up voat on reddit about how bad the patch is.
It is bad, but I'm hoping players just finally stand up and show how bad it is lol.
For example, my rending slashes in PVP now only does maximum 500dmg/secondDaggerfall Covenant:Casterial Stamplar || Casterial DK || Availed NB || Castyrial Sorc || Spooky Casterial Necro
Member since: August 2013
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Casterial✭✭✭✭✭
✭Also believe me, originally I intended a very direct large attack about how this patch is. But I have hope now that its not just one person punching numbers that others will fight it in-office to Daggerfall Covenant:Casterial Stamplar || Casterial DK || Availed NB || Castyrial Sorc || Spooky Casterial Necro
Member since: August 2013
Kill Counter Developer
For the Daggerfall Covenant
The Last Chillrend Empress
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lillybit✭✭✭✭✭
✭Siohwenoeht wrote: »While I agree with your op, @Mr_Walker and I are console players without access to the pts. Other than that, well written post.
This. As console players, the game is already harder for us without all the add ons that PC have. On top of that we have no way to preview changes and add our opinion. We just have to hope that any changes that PC players push through will work out for our version of the game, which doesn't always play quite the same.
Not sure I have an actual point, just sucks we don't have access to a PTS!
I understand that, I always forget this game is on console. I feel like ZOS should allow them to switch between both, but ESO is large and Consoles often don't have the space sadly
We should be able to have the choice tho.
Between my internal and external drive, my PS4 has 4tb of storage - I'll think I'll be good!
Can't speak for xbox, but playstation at least is as easy to upgrade as plugging in a usb drive, so I think you'll find that a reasonable percentage have more space than standardPS4 EU4 -
Dusk_Coven✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭Why is crucial for us to play PTS?
You can’t back up your claim without large testing. Balance teams are often small and rely on select players to help balance the game based on feedback loops.
What constitutes a "proper test" or "proper sample", and what are specific items that need to be in feedback to the developers for them to take a report seriously?
It seems that simply opening a patch to PTS is so unstructured as to be useless without really clearly disclosing what is required for actionable feedback.
My first reaction would be "duplicable results" but we don't even know how the devs came up with their own benchmarks.
They said they "did parses" to make sure content was still doable but that's pretty vague.
For example: Guild Multi-Bidding. We had really no idea what would have constituted an "unintended and undesirable result" for ZOS to take action on. So at some point PTS feedback just became so much repeated blather.
@ZOS_GinaBruno
Edited by Dusk_Coven on September 18, 2019 3:14AM4 -
Casterial✭✭✭✭✭
✭Dusk_Coven wrote: »Why is crucial for us to play PTS?
You can’t back up your claim without large testing. Balance teams are often small and rely on select players to help balance the game based on feedback loops.
What constitutes a "proper test" or "proper sample", and what are specific items that need to be in feedback to the developers for them to take a report seriously?
It seems that simply opening a patch to PTS is so unstructured as to be useless without really clearly disclosing what is required for actionable feedback.
My first reaction would be "duplicable results" but we don't even know how the devs came up with their own benchmarks.
They said they "did parses" to make sure content was still doable but that's pretty vague.
For example: Guild Multi-Bidding. We had really no idea what would have constituted an "unintended and undesirable result" for ZOS to take action on. So at some point PTS feedback just became so much repeated blather.
@ZOS_GinaBruno
No I agree, the PTS isn't structured for feedback properly or proper testing cycles. Its just go free for all basically lolDaggerfall Covenant:Casterial Stamplar || Casterial DK || Availed NB || Castyrial Sorc || Spooky Casterial Necro
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Kill Counter Developer
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The Last Chillrend Empress
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dem0n1k✭✭✭✭✭
✭Well written post OP! I agree with most of what you have stated. (Also Kill Counter is a top notch add-on.. thank you!) I have whinged on this forum about some of the nerfs in the past (& my woeful Oceanic ping) but the bottom line is still that I think this is a good game & I enjoy playing it.
It's really not the 'balance' nerfing that makes me lose interest in this game.. it's the loss of the really cool features that the game once had, that made it so stand-out from other games. Such as Sorcerer overload bar, DK wing reflect, NB Purging Dark Cloak, no cast times on Ultimates.
That is why I won't re-download the PTS & test & provide feedback. I could do that & essentially chew up my gaming time with stuff I do not find enjoyable.. for the slim possibility that the nerfs might get mitigated by some small degree. It won't bring back the cool factor that this game used to have.NA Server [PC] -- Mostly Ebonheart Pact, Mostly.5 -
Casterial✭✭✭✭✭
✭Well written post OP! I agree with most of what you have stated. (Also Kill Counter is a top notch add-on.. thank you!) I have whinged on this forum about some of the nerfs in the past (& my woeful Oceanic ping) but the bottom line is still that I think this is a good game & I enjoy playing it.
It's really not the 'balance' nerfing that makes me lose interest in this game.. it's the loss of the really cool features that the game once had, that made it so stand-out from other games. Such as Sorcerer overload bar, DK wing reflect, NB Purging Dark Cloak, no cast times on Ultimates.
That is why I won't re-download the PTS & test & provide feedback. I could do that & essentially chew up my gaming time with stuff I do not find enjoyable.. for the slim possibility that the nerfs might get mitigated by some small degree. It won't bring back the cool factor that this game used to have.
Thank you
Also, I do agree. I feel like its being dumbed down too much and they're removing a lot of identity.Daggerfall Covenant:Casterial Stamplar || Casterial DK || Availed NB || Castyrial Sorc || Spooky Casterial Necro
Member since: August 2013
Kill Counter Developer
For the Daggerfall Covenant
The Last Chillrend Empress
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Tolino✭✭✭✭✭Hello ESO,
Many know me, but many don’t. Back in the day I ran a lot of community events, tournaments, and helped run Legend. Eventually I took a solid 3 year break (2016-2019). I’d play occasionally here or there, but I was busy working.
What did/do I do? I was a Technical Combat Designer @ EA for a while where I helped balance several units and maintained a 5% w/l rate between the best and worst unit in the game.
^ I stated this to back my knowledge
Now why am I writing this?
Many people are bashing ZOS over these balance changes. While I agree, I do think they’re severe I’ll tell you why you should support them and definitely play the PTS.
Balance is usually done of the following:- Feel - The feel of the skill, or the combo
- Combo/Counterplay - How powerful is the combo, and does it have a counterplay? How common is the counterplay to the combo/meta?
- Data - Does the data back it up, or not support our investigation results?
Many people are quite angry over the Cycle 1 balance changes on the PTS, but no one is on the PTS heavily to help test and give feedback to the developers, the combat team, and our class reps. This feedback is crucial in the early stages, with few have true evidence to back their claim it gives them little reason to make big changes.
Let me bring up a thing thats largely upsetting for me, and probably you.- 63% nerf to all dots across the board.
Everyone is like “This is huge!” And well, you’re right. The change is drastic. But often in balance (PTS) it's usually done in internal testing, ZOS lets theirs public.
Why are the numbers as drastic?
Minimal changes very rarely shift anything, so to see what comes out or what needs real changing to tweak back balancers usually watch the meta develop of the time until they finally develop a finalized patch note ready to be released. In order to continually shift it down you start high, if you don't start high then you have to find whats too much. Now they can scale down.
Why is crucial for us to play PTS?
You can’t back up your claim without large testing. Balance teams are often small and rely on select players to help balance the game based on feedback loops.
Why do they change meta so often?
Honestly, they don’t. I use to change meta monthly sometimes in huge major ways, sometimes I’d just revert back. Meta changes keep the game alive, balance is finicky, combat is finicky. Why? Because it IS the game, any change can churn players. So be patient, help them.
It seems like ZOS is trying to run us away!
No, it is the best interest of ZOS to keep everyone here. The thing is though, they don’t balance based on top tier or lower tier. They balance based on the average player. So for PVE the average DPS (casuals) and for PVP the average zerger (casual). This is to make sure the game is fair for vast majority and not the minority. Why keep 10 happy when you can keep 90 happy?
-Disclaimer, I don’t know if this is what ZOS does, but the majority of games do this.
What can we do?
I cannot stress it enough, as a player you should be playing the PTS if you want to see some changes happen. You should be constantly trying to help them to see more results you want. Developers are always open, while they have their vision, they know sometimes players know more.
Why are the forums blowing up that its bad?
Often times the few are the loudest. So while majority are contempt, the few are not and will raise hell to make sure everyone jumps on their ship. Just sail it out
Is ESO doing a bad job?
Not at all, while I sometimes joke, or get vocal about how bad some changes are I always sit down and remember when I use to do this it was the same from players to me. But in the end players adapted and made amazing things come out of the dust!
Remember, be nice to your community manager @ZOS_GinaBruno and be nice to the combat team They have a vision, they have a goal and it's to make the game for fun, more fair, and definitely to keep players playing!
Thanks for reading this
-Casterial, Kill Counter developer
Why should I go to the Pts?
Either the feedback is completely ignored (onslought) or it gets nerfed in the ground!
We just need to look at the dots. With scalebreaker they have buffed some of the dots OP! Now all dots will be worse than before the buffs. Although some of these skills are rarely used anyway ...
You don't "balance" anything when you adjust every PTS cycle with the sledgehammer!
Magsorc: Tôlino (Wardless)
Magden: Wa-Uller
Stamsorc: Tolino Sturmfalke20