EQ2Wire: Eleven Questions for Xelgad

feldon30 · 06-28-2010, 10:22 PM

EQ2Wire has landed an exclusive interview with Xelgad which those interested in Class Balance will no doubt want to read. We've got your questions about Furies, Mystics, Enchanters and Rangers, and other Class Balance topics from the forums:

Eleven Questions for Xelgad @ EQ2Wire

Also This Week

Also this week, we've got commentary about changes to level 1-20 spells, Heroic Opportunities, and finally, we've got some comments on Kiara's departure as EQ2 Community Manager.

A View From the Top Podcast

In case you missed it, EQ2Wire participated in a telephone interview (podcast) with the great folks at A View From the Top. We covered a ton of topics facing EQ2 today including guild life, the current expansion, itemization, and what we expect from the upcoming Velious expansion. If you haven't heard it, you can check out this Podcast by visiting EQ2Wire and following the links there.

Boise · 06-28-2010, 11:45 PM

Great job on the questions!

Sadly, seeing Xelgad say that rangers are equal to assassins is so wrong. Not sure where he is getting his data, but I suggest he check flames parses (especially the assassin ones). Seeing near 400k assassinate hits is just so wrong.

Macross_JR · 06-29-2010, 08:21 PM

I'm still waiting for the dev's to acknowlege the imbalace between the fighters. I have yet to see them even say that they are balanced or that they are not balanced.

Barx · 06-29-2010, 10:50 PM

There's no such thing as balance. Classes always swing in and out of better/worse.

Amnerys · 06-29-2010, 11:00 PM

Boise wrote:

Sadly, seeing Xelgad say that rangers are equal to assassins is so wrong. Not sure where he is getting his data, but I suggest he check flames parses (especially the assassin ones). Seeing near 400k assassinate hits is just so wrong.

He's actually got a thread asking for parses from all classes for the Rathgar fight, right here. Feel free to contribute to the data collection process.

Thanks for posting the interview, Feldon!

Nevao · 06-30-2010, 12:40 AM

Amnerys wrote:

Boise wrote:
Sadly, seeing Xelgad say that rangers are equal to assassins is so wrong. Not sure where he is getting his data, but I suggest he check flames parses (especially the assassin ones). Seeing near 400k assassinate hits is just so wrong.
He's actually got a thread asking for parses from all classes for the Rathgar fight, right here. Feel free to contribute to the data collection process.
Thanks for posting the interview, Feldon!

I'm really not trying to come off as difficult but the way his statement read made it sound like the door on any significant ranger class changes was closed. We'll leave the fact that he did it on a fan site instead of the official boards for another conversation. Per his post rangers are parsing fine. We have balance. We just apparently are not doing things the way we should and everyone who betrayed and does more damage as an assassin. Well I don't know what his excuse for that is.

That really leads to the question of what the point of that pasre post is? Is the infamous ability to see all parses and track down trends not as extensive as we were lead to believe when class balance questions are asked? Is he trying to tweak certain encouters? Does he want information for the next expansion? Is he trying to get highend numbers to figure out what classes are having problems? Is he trying to counter certain perceptions in the community by making these parses more available? At this point we have NO idea what is going on or why he needs this information. Some people who are on those encounters will be helpful and post, but without understanding the goal of the excercise I'm not sure how much buy-in you're going to get. Guess we'll just have to see.

CoLD MeTaL · 06-30-2010, 11:23 AM

Nevao wrote:

...Is the infamous ability to see all parses and track down trends not as extensive as we were lead to believe when class balance questions are asked? ...

^^THIS

Doesn't $OE have access to all this information and more? When client side parses have problems with distances etc. If ACT is better than anything you guys have, then a circle the wagons may be in order.

Please, please do not nerf casuals based on what the top .001% of the population can achieve. That is unreasonable for all involved.

Jardon · 06-30-2010, 12:29 PM

Did anyone here ever think they might be trying to compare the data they have with the data the players see, and find out if there is:

1. A problem with how or what data is logged (or not logged)

or

2. There is a subtle problem in ACT that is giving different results then they see in their tools, and they are attempting to correct that issue.

Just because they are asking for parse data does not mean they don't have any parse data.

Laenai · 06-30-2010, 12:45 PM

Razgar@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Did anyone here ever think they might be trying to compare the data they have with the data the players see, and find out if there is:
1. A problem with how or what data is logged (or not logged)
or
2. There is a subtle problem in ACT that is giving different results then they see in their tools, and they are attempting to correct that issue.
Just because they are asking for parse data does not mean they don't have any parse data.

So asking for parse data on a single mob that only .001% of the population can kill will help fix that possible problem?

And, my other issue, why ask for parse information from the playerbase AFTER you say your data shows everything is fine? Wouldn't it make more sense to gather parse data from the players (which if you've ever seen flames, there's TONS of posted) BEFORE making a statement like that? Folks have only posted about disparities in classes and what parses are showing since SF beta. Are they just now getting around to hearing it? Or has actual game play been put on so far a back burner that they're just now getting around to looking at it?

CoLD MeTaL · 06-30-2010, 12:58 PM

Razgar@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Did anyone here ever think they might be trying to compare the data they have with the data the players see, and find out if there is:
1. A problem with how or what data is logged (or not logged)
or
2. There is a subtle problem in ACT that is giving different results then they see in their tools, and they are attempting to correct that issue.
Just because they are asking for parse data does not mean they don't have any parse data.

Why would $OE care about ACT?

Jesdyr · 06-30-2010, 01:21 PM

CoLD MeTaL wrote:

Why would $OE care about ACT?

Because most good players use it (if not all).

Calthine · 06-30-2010, 01:24 PM

Jesdyr@Unrest wrote:

CoLD MeTaL wrote:
Why would $OE care about ACT?
Because most good players use it (if not all).

*nod* Same reason they care about EQ2 Maps.

06-28-2010, 10:22 PM	#1
feldon30 Fansite Staff Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 5,424	EQ2Wire has landed an exclusive interview with Xelgad which those interested in Class Balance will no doubt want to read. We've got your questions about Furies, Mystics, Enchanters and Rangers, and other Class Balance topics from the forums: Eleven Questions for Xelgad @ EQ2Wire Also This Week Also this week, we've got commentary about changes to level 1-20 spells, Heroic Opportunities, and finally, we've got some comments on Kiara's departure as EQ2 Community Manager. A View From the Top Podcast In case you missed it, EQ2Wire participated in a telephone interview (podcast) with the great folks at A View From the Top. We covered a ton of topics facing EQ2 today including guild life, the current expansion, itemization, and what we expect from the upcoming Velious expansion. If you haven't heard it, you can check out this Podcast by visiting EQ2Wire and following the links there. __________________ .. EQ2Wire.com \| EQ2U - Character, Item, Spell, and Guild Data

06-29-2010, 08:21 PM	#3
Macross_JR Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 547	I'm still waiting for the dev's to acknowlege the imbalace between the fighters. I have yet to see them even say that they are balanced or that they are not balanced. __________________

06-29-2010, 11:00 PM	#5
Amnerys Community Team Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2,317	Boise wrote: Sadly, seeing Xelgad say that rangers are equal to assassins is so wrong. Not sure where he is getting his data, but I suggest he check flames parses (especially the assassin ones). Seeing near 400k assassinate hits is just so wrong. He's actually got a thread asking for parses from all classes for the Rathgar fight, right here. Feel free to contribute to the data collection process. Thanks for posting the interview, Feldon!

06-30-2010, 12:40 AM	#6
Nevao Loremaster Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 504	Amnerys wrote: Boise wrote: Sadly, seeing Xelgad say that rangers are equal to assassins is so wrong. Not sure where he is getting his data, but I suggest he check flames parses (especially the assassin ones). Seeing near 400k assassinate hits is just so wrong. He's actually got a thread asking for parses from all classes for the Rathgar fight, right here. Feel free to contribute to the data collection process. Thanks for posting the interview, Feldon! I'm really not trying to come off as difficult but the way his statement read made it sound like the door on any significant ranger class changes was closed. We'll leave the fact that he did it on a fan site instead of the official boards for another conversation. Per his post rangers are parsing fine. We have balance. We just apparently are not doing things the way we should and everyone who betrayed and does more damage as an assassin. Well I don't know what his excuse for that is. That really leads to the question of what the point of that pasre post is? Is the infamous ability to see all parses and track down trends not as extensive as we were lead to believe when class balance questions are asked? Is he trying to tweak certain encouters? Does he want information for the next expansion? Is he trying to get highend numbers to figure out what classes are having problems? Is he trying to counter certain perceptions in the community by making these parses more available? At this point we have NO idea what is going on or why he needs this information. Some people who are on those encounters will be helpful and post, but without understanding the goal of the excercise I'm not sure how much buy-in you're going to get. Guess we'll just have to see. __________________ Cibilie : 90 Brigand (Main), Dirtnap on Oasis Enaki : 90 Ranger, Dirtnap on Oasis

06-30-2010, 11:23 AM	#7
CoLD MeTaL Loremaster Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,217	Nevao wrote: ...Is the infamous ability to see all parses and track down trends not as extensive as we were lead to believe when class balance questions are asked? ... ^^THIS Doesn't $OE have access to all this information and more? When client side parses have problems with distances etc. If ACT is better than anything you guys have, then a circle the wagons may be in order. Please, please do not nerf casuals based on what the top .001% of the population can achieve. That is unreasonable for all involved. __________________

06-28-2010, 11:45 PM	#2
Boise Loremaster Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 229	Great job on the questions! Sadly, seeing Xelgad say that rangers are equal to assassins is so wrong. Not sure where he is getting his data, but I suggest he check flames parses (especially the assassin ones). Seeing near 400k assassinate hits is just so wrong.

06-29-2010, 10:50 PM	#4
Barx Server: Antonia Bayle Guild: Mayhem Rank: Officers Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Manors of Mithaniel, New Halas Posts: 3,480	There's no such thing as balance. Classes always swing in and out of better/worse.

06-30-2010, 12:29 PM	#8
Jardon Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 445	Did anyone here ever think they might be trying to compare the data they have with the data the players see, and find out if there is: 1. A problem with how or what data is logged (or not logged) or 2. There is a subtle problem in ACT that is giving different results then they see in their tools, and they are attempting to correct that issue. Just because they are asking for parse data does not mean they don't have any parse data. __________________ Razgar, 90 Dirge/90 Jeweler, Antonia Bayle Jardor, 90 Assassian/90 Tailor, Antonia Bayle Jardon, 90 Guardian/90 Woodworker, Antonia Bayle Raztok, 90 Troubador/90 Alchemist, Antonia Bayle Jardok 90 Bruiser/90 Weaponsmith, Antonia Bayle Razmer, 90 Zerker/90 Armorer, Antonia Bayle Jarrel, 90 Brig/90 Provisioner, Antonia Bayle Raznyk, 80 Wizard/90 Carpenter, Antonia Bayle Jazdar, 90 Inquisitor/90 Sage, Antonia Bayle

06-30-2010, 12:45 PM	#9
Laenai Server: Oasis Guild: Tyranny Rank: Raider Loremaster Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 634	Razgar@Antonia Bayle wrote: Did anyone here ever think they might be trying to compare the data they have with the data the players see, and find out if there is: 1. A problem with how or what data is logged (or not logged) or 2. There is a subtle problem in ACT that is giving different results then they see in their tools, and they are attempting to correct that issue. Just because they are asking for parse data does not mean they don't have any parse data. So asking for parse data on a single mob that only .001% of the population can kill will help fix that possible problem? And, my other issue, why ask for parse information from the playerbase AFTER you say your data shows everything is fine? Wouldn't it make more sense to gather parse data from the players (which if you've ever seen flames, there's TONS of posted) BEFORE making a statement like that? Folks have only posted about disparities in classes and what parses are showing since SF beta. Are they just now getting around to hearing it? Or has actual game play been put on so far a back burner that they're just now getting around to looking at it? __________________

06-30-2010, 12:58 PM	#10
CoLD MeTaL Loremaster Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,217	Razgar@Antonia Bayle wrote: Did anyone here ever think they might be trying to compare the data they have with the data the players see, and find out if there is: 1. A problem with how or what data is logged (or not logged) or 2. There is a subtle problem in ACT that is giving different results then they see in their tools, and they are attempting to correct that issue. Just because they are asking for parse data does not mean they don't have any parse data. Why would $OE care about ACT? __________________

06-30-2010, 01:21 PM	#11
Jesdyr Server: Unrest Guild: Curmudgeons Rank: Senior Officer Loremaster Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,710	CoLD MeTaL wrote: Why would $OE care about ACT? Because most good players use it (if not all).

06-30-2010, 01:24 PM	#12
Calthine ZAM EQII Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 7,439	Jesdyr@Unrest wrote: CoLD MeTaL wrote: Why would $OE care about ACT? Because most good players use it (if not all). nod Same reason they care about EQ2 Maps. __________________ Please visit my non-gaming Blog! or follow me on Twitter!