Don't Panic?

[Jeridor]

<div></div>Moorgard wrote:<hr><p>The combat changes are one part (as I have posted many times already) of a plan to increase the challenge and fun of the game.</p><p>And as I keep saying, don't think of these changes as going live in isolation. We're not going to do anything that is going to make the game unplayable.</p><p>To put it simply, we put things on Test to test them. This is something that will remain on Test for a while, and it isn't going live until we're satisfied with the way the whole system plays.</p><p>To borrow a line from a well-known novel and upcoming summer blockbuster: Don't panic. <img src="../../i/smilies/16x16_smiley-wink.gif" border="0" height="16" width="16"></p><hr><p>Care to explain the change to Mystic slow spells that has not only gone live, but went in live before LU7, much less LU8?  That sure went live in isolation.</p><div></div>

[Jeridor]

<div></div>Moorgard followed up with:<hr><p>I've been researching this subject, and here are the facts of the matter.</p><p>This was a change meant for Live Update #7. It was always intended to be listed as one of the changes for this update; there was no intention to hide anything. There's no way to hide major spell changes anyway, so it would provide no benefit for us to try.</p><p>It was indeed pushed live sooner than intended because a single file that controls both spells was checked into the wrong directory. It was an error on our part, and a very rare one, but it happened. Please understand that in putting together an update we touch thousands of files every week, with multiple branches of code and data. I wish I could say that there is zero chance of mistakes being made, but ultimately we're just human beings.</p><p>The effect of the change is a separate issue. I will state again that these spells were broken. It's our fault for introducing broken abilities into the game, but it's also our responsibility to fix them. The ability to drop a target six levels in effectiveness is not something we should have put in the game. We're sorry that we gave Mystics an overpowered ability in the first place, but that error does not mean we shouldn't fix the issue. You can't always balance upward, because sooner or later you run out of room.</p><p>Yes, we could have waited and bundled this fix along with the overall changes to combat and spells. But the fact of the matter is that the change was made, and in so doing eliminates one way in which encounters are broken. There will be other changes as part of this process that won't be popular, but that doesn't take away from the fact that they need to be made. Our main focus has to be on the long-term health and fun factor of the game, even if we have to weather some short-term complaints.</p><p>Again, I'm sorry for the manner this came about in that the change went live sooner than expected. But broken stuff needs to be fixed, and whether it happened last week or tomorrow as part of Live Update #7, these spells were going to be changed.</p><hr>My God. Look at this. Moorgard, first you say don't panic, we're going to roll it all in at once, then in the same day you turn around and say, "Oh well this one made it in early, but it's okay it was going to happen eventually anyway."  How hypocritical and contradictory can we be?  Let me spell out where we stand now on combat and healing changes:I. Major changes for healing are announced, then pushed back.II. Major changes to reduce effectiveness of defenses are announced as part of LU7.  Aforementioned healing changes are postponed further to LU8.III. Amid heavy player complaints a statement is released that the combat changes in LU7's release notes aren't actually part of LU7 but are instead meant to be part of a greater combat update which will include the healing updates in LU8. Assurances are given that all of this will be released together, not in sections leaving players helpless for periods of time.IV. Players post the Mystic's main anti-damage ability, slow line spells, has been reduced in effectiveness by as much as 1000% and that no patch notes indicated it.   A statement is released that this is part of LU7 and will be in LU7's notes.  Meanwhile, the change is actually live, not part of LU7.  Note that according to assurances in item III, this update should only have come in when the other combat changes came in.V. A statement is released that the slow change was not intended to be live yet, however, since it's due to happen anyway at some point, it will not be removed.  This is also contradictory to point III.Just to make sure I'm crystal clear here:a) You promised healing changes, then pushed them back.b) You then pushed defense changes ahead of the already postponed healing changes.c) You promised to release all combat changes in one sweep, then went against that promise and released a major downtweak to a healer's ability.  When the issue was brought to bear, you reversed on your promise and decided it was okay to leave this change in despite that promise.Where's the accountability?  Look, I don't enjoy writing posts like this and look like a total jerk because I have to nail people to the wall for their actions, but this is just inexcusable.  You're flat out breaking promises and going back on your word over and over.  Where does this end?  Where do we start saying, "Yeah we did promise we'd do that, so let's do that and go from there"?You made the promises, not me.  I'm just asking you to actually put some meaning behind your words.

[Dimgroth]

im so glad im taking a eq2 break for WoW, the way things are going, might be permanent. <div></div>

[Omnikain]

<P>Ok, so you guys are as gimped as Defilers for awhile.</P> <P>It'll be ok, you'll make it to LU8, I mean we've made it this far.</P> <P>Note:  I don't agree with how this took place either, but it's happened...might as well just move on.</P>

[Jeridor]

You're right, but I'm seriously contemplating canceling my subscription until LU8 is in and good feedback from fellow Mystics is received.  No sense in playing a game I'm not enjoying, especially after being flat out lied to by SOE staff. <div></div>

[DakiRo]

An excellent idea Jeridor, I suggest you carry it out as soon as possible. <div></div>

[missionarymarr]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Jeridor wrote:<BR> Moorgard followed up with:<BR> <HR> <BR> <P>I've been researching this subject, and here are the facts of the matter.</P> <P>This was a change meant for Live Update #7. It was always intended to be listed as one of the changes for this update; there was no intention to hide anything. There's no way to hide major spell changes anyway, so it would provide no benefit for us to try.</P> <P>It was indeed pushed live sooner than intended because a single file that controls both spells was checked into the wrong directory. It was an error on our part, and a very rare one, but it happened. Please understand that in putting together an update we touch thousands of files every week, with multiple branches of code and data. I wish I could say that there is zero chance of mistakes being made, but ultimately we're just human beings.</P> <P>The effect of the change is a separate issue. I will state again that these spells were broken. It's our fault for introducing broken abilities into the game, but it's also our responsibility to fix them. The ability to drop a target six levels in effectiveness is not something we should have put in the game. We're sorry that we gave Mystics an overpowered ability in the first place, but that error does not mean we shouldn't fix the issue. You can't always balance upward, because sooner or later you run out of room.</P> <P>Yes, we could have waited and bundled this fix along with the overall changes to combat and spells. But the fact of the matter is that the change was made, and in so doing eliminates one way in which encounters are broken. There will be other changes as part of this process that won't be popular, but that doesn't take away from the fact that they need to be made. Our main focus has to be on the long-term health and fun factor of the game, even if we have to weather some short-term complaints.</P> <P>Again, I'm sorry for the manner this came about in that the change went live sooner than expected. But broken stuff needs to be fixed, and whether it happened last week or tomorrow as part of Live Update #7, these spells were going to be changed.<BR></P> <HR> <BR>My God. Look at this. Moorgard, first you say don't panic, we're going to roll it all in at once, then in the same day you turn around and say, "Oh well this one made it in early, but it's okay it was going to happen eventually anyway."  How hypocritical and contradictory can we be?  Let me spell out where we stand now on combat and healing changes:<BR><BR>I. Major changes for healing are announced, then pushed back.<BR><BR>II. Major changes to reduce effectiveness of defenses are announced as part of LU7.  Aforementioned healing changes are postponed further to LU8.<BR><BR>III. Amid heavy player complaints a statement is released that the combat changes in LU7's release notes aren't actually part of LU7 but are instead meant to be part of a greater combat update which will include the healing updates in LU8. Assurances are given that all of this will be released together, not in sections leaving players helpless for periods of time.<BR><BR>IV. Players post the Mystic's main anti-damage ability, slow line spells, has been reduced in effectiveness by as much as 1000% and that no patch notes indicated it.   A statement is released that this is part of LU7 and will be in LU7's notes.  Meanwhile, the change is actually live, not part of LU7.  Note that according to assurances in item III, this update should only have come in when the other combat changes came in.<BR><BR>V. A statement is released that the slow change was not intended to be live yet, however, since it's due to happen anyway at some point, it will not be removed.  This is also contradictory to point III.<BR><BR>Just to make sure I'm crystal clear here:<BR><BR>a) You promised healing changes, then pushed them back.<BR>b) You then pushed defense changes ahead of the already postponed healing changes.<BR>c) You promised to release all combat changes in one sweep, then went against that promise and released a major downtweak to a healer's ability.  When the issue was brought to bear, you reversed on your promise and decided it was okay to leave this change in despite that promise.<BR><BR>Where's the accountability?  Look, I don't enjoy writing posts like this and look like a total jerk because I have to nail people to the wall for their actions, but this is just inexcusable.  You're flat out breaking promises and going back on your word over and over.  Where does this end?  Where do we start saying, "Yeah we did promise we'd do that, so let's do that and go from there"?<BR><BR>You made the promises, not me.  I'm just asking you to actually put some meaning behind your words.<BR><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>Actually he never said anything about the slow change not being rolled out until the combat and stuff went in. It seems clear that slow change was looked at as a totally unrelated issue to the rest of the priest anhd combat changes and was why the slow change was part of LU7. That said I would be very surprised if you see the Priest and combat changes live before LU9 now.</DIV>