Every day I log in it seems HotM is getting more and more empty. I know it is just one part of a big game, but it is a part I REALLY don’t want to see left out. There are some things that I think that would help you save your game mode.
First off, add more build diversity, make old builds viable again. I don’t want to log into a match and instantly know how the game is going to end. All I ever see, for example, is a d/f ele that is running healbot. When I see that they have one, and we don’t I can instantly conclude, “Okay, we are going to have to play sides, because the teamfight is going to be rough”. When I see a necro, I don’t want to think, “Okay, gotta focus that guy because he will be doing crazy amounts of AoE condi.” No. That is not the logical way I want to play a game. If I wanted that amount of predictability, I would play something like chess. To solve this point, I think it would be a good step in the right direction to bring back the old pre-HoT builds. Bunker guard? Sure why not. D/D ele? Yeah go ahead, with the amout of powercreep we have they won’t be op. Turret engi? Honestly, when was the last time you saw someone running turrets? Doing this simple check list of buffs would be a huge step to restoring build diversity. I mean really, how hard is it to buff Vigorous shouts (Warrior heal on shout) to make it more viable? A lot of people enjoyed playing these builds that made the game so fun to play.
Secondly, add more maps. I know stronghold was an attempt at that, but it is a completely different game mode. Add more conquest maps, or better yet, a series of 1v1 or 2v2 maps so people can focus on their skill level. At the very least bring back the old maps into unranked or hotjoin, just for a bit (here I go again) diversity. I know I didn’t like courtyard, and I didn’t like capricorn personally, but some people did. And those that didn’t like them, don’t have to play them.
Third, remove passive procs. I know that it may be hard to come up with new traits for things, or new ideas are becoming scarce, but (going to pick on guards for a moment) Heavy light (Knockback if in 300 range) is passive. I know I know, guards aren’t top-tier right now, but this trait is one example of the problem in the game. It doesn’t promote skilled gameplay. It is a cc just because they got close. Same with all of the skills that say “When you are hit with (enter cc), then x”. That does nothing toward skillful play. Changing skills like these are one step towards the learning experience that separates the below average from the above average. Currently it separates the average from the average. No difference in skill level at all.
Fourth, tone down the amount of cc. It is way out of hand. I know this one isn’t meta at all, but Blast Gyro is a launch on a 15s cd with a range of 1500. Also it does a fair amount of damage. That shouldn’t exist, at least not on a 15s cd. Reaper, for another example, (the meta reaper, going back to the build diversity point) has Staff 5, Chilled to the kitteneaper shroud 3 and 5, plus any deviation off the meta that they may have. Revenant has Jade winds, and even though it is very highly telegraphed, it is a 3 second stun on a 5 second cooldown (minimum). It should be a high-risk high-reward kind of move, like the Facet of Chaos on dragon stance (Big dragon, fair damage, and knockback). That is how the game should be played.
Fifth, I know this is a big issue right now, but fix the mmr. No one likes having games where they steamroll or get steamrolled. Just… no, not fun at all. I don’t have any suggestions for this, since I don’t know the ins and outs of the system, but it needs to be fixed.
Sixth, do balance patches more often. I know you guys have a whole lot to do, with xpac 2 and all, but honestly, how hard is it to move some numbers around? Like, (not trying to be rude) but it took you guys about 3-4 months to finally fix the bristleback damage, when the solution was to reduce the damage by 25%, how hard would that have been to do? Maybe 5 minutes at the most to change a number (again I don’t know the workings of the system, but it shouldn’t take 4 months). Personally I don’t care if it is mid season, I just don’t want to have an “OP” class stacked on both teams (cough cough reapers).
Seventh, separate pve from pvp and wvw. It seems like pve is just a bit too easy to heavily impact balance decisions. I mean really, who is going to complain about “Oh, my thief isn’t doing enough damage, qq”. Ha. Just run away, it isn’t like that mob is important (if it is you are doing a zerging meta event). At the very least make balance decisions in pvp then buff / nerf the mobs accordingly.
Okay, I think I reached the end of my list. If you guys have anything constructive to state, please add on.
