A Note to Archmages

[Mythic-Gersh]

Evening guys and gals,

Simply put I expect many Archmages (and in some cases Shaman) to be a bit disappointed in 1.2. We did give them a number of improvements, but we still didn't adress a few items with the core of their mechanic.

This is not b/c we hate Archmages, we don't have some crazy grudge or axe to grind. The simple fact of the matter is we're having to go under the hood and do some decent surgery on the mechanic, which could potentially touch every ability in some way. Simply put this takes more time and alot more testing, especially since we have as much potential to do harm as good by doing so.

So in short the changes are coming, and they are getting very close. Just not closse enough to make 1.2.

In the end I know I'll get more grief then good for posting this but I felt you're community (as well as the shaman) deserved an update, espsecially after the quality of feedback and dedication we've seen to the career on these forums

Thanks
-Adam

[Chnmmr]

Severely disappointed. Thank you for this message but after this depressing 1.2, I'm not holding my breath for an AM fix in any reasonable time. One thing is said then another happens. I feel betrayed, all the 'attention' we had made me feel like the class was going to work again, alas it wasn't going to happen. The changes feel half-hearted.

But I do understand what you're saying and in some ways agree. The question is: How long do we AM's have to accept being a subpar class that is fodder to everyone else? How long before we get to properly enjoy the game and be a useful part of an Order Warband?

If we do get fixed this year I will eat my hat though. Please make me eat my hat. :S

[aabuster1]

Thank you for the post. I consider any communication a good sign.

I wish you could let us know what areas of the archmage the team feels are lacking and trying to be improved upon ... hint look at my signature, umm DPS... but I do understand why posting things that would just aquire more grief in the long run if it didn't come to pass.

EDIT: On the humorous side, well, there is really nothing you all could do to our mechanic that would make it worse than it is...

[Tiuwaz]

currently I would even consider not boosting Terrible Embrace (lol, seriously why?) as an Archmage buff

[Sylf]

One thing that a lot of people don't realize is the impact of the Kiss change.

As far as I understand it, now that Kisses are corporeal damage they're prone to mitigation. With that, they're prone to detaunt reduction. Mechanic still needs help, yes, but our survivability went up a small bit. Have faith!*

*Tenuous as it may be. ><

[Ragnor]

AM problems go a lot further than the mechanic. AMs would be able to tolerate the mechanic a lot better if survivability wasn't horrendous and they were alive longer to make use of it. That's been an issue raised since mid-late beta and addressing knockback and AoE detaunt issues would be a lot more time efficient in regards to a favourable short term AM outcome than spending who knows how long waiting for a complete mechanic redesign.

[amobius]

As much as im sure everyone loves the global changes, they are just that. Nothing has been done to make the archmage worth bringing over any other healer in the game.

And to top it off you guys through this little gem in there.

Shamans:

* Yer Not so Bad: This abilty now has no build time.


Are you fricken kidding me?

I am glad to hear your are getting into the nuts and bolts of the class to try to help us out, but how about you make drain magic just do that. Remove the crap damage and just have it give us the 90AP. This might alleviate some of our AP problems and let us slot some of those survival tactics (lol we have what... one?). Or maybe it will give us enough AP to dabble into the mechanic a little until it gets around to being fixed.

I understand a mechanic change is huge and requires time, just throw us a bone to tide us over for a bit. Having patch after patch be a let down is getting old.

[Murashu]

I guess Jess' message about some of these changes going in 1.2 was not quite accurate. Hopefully in a few months when they do fix the AM it will be enough to bring people back that are sick of waiting.

[Grondoth]

Thank you, Adam. Its actually very nice to hear that you're trying to change the mechanic, that's something that I wanted to hear about the AM more than anything else. While I'm still worried about a lot of things, it makes me feel much better knowing you guys are looking into the mechanic and trying to make it work.

(Runepriests and Zealots need some boosting of their stuff after you're done with the AM/S, by the way. Just throwin' that out there)

[DeJester]

Much thanks for the note.

While I fully appreciate the difficulty of a proper mechanic overhaul (in reality it would be close to making an entirely new class) I'm still disappointed in the fact that our survivability is yet to be addressed. Unless any new mechanic somehow involves making us tougher we're still going to be in the same situation later on; and given any changes to the mechanic will be mirrored with shaman it doesn't cover the disparity at all. Archmages need a survivability buff, not our archetype in general.

I really appreciate the note but I get the impression the dev team is continuing to completely miss the point.

[mashpotatoe]

Originally Posted by aabuster1

EDIT: On the humorous side, well, there is really nothing you all could do to our mechanic that would make it worse than it is...

Oh Im not sure, they could give you the RP/Zealot mechanic- I mean my + resistance buffs are ncie and everything- pity nearly every other class gets similar if not better buffs and its our "mechanic


Anyway on topic I can only say Im pretty pissed off too, this is a major let down as archmages have been waiting 3+ months for some fixing and tey are going to have to wait longer. Also all the buffs that the archmage recieved were pratically the same as the other healers.

[Maltar]

Well I know what would make a LOT of AM's feel better, show us where you want the AM to be, what should be our core functions,
what is Mythic's goal with our class. Please give us some info about what you are doing, and what you are looking into. AM need more hope,
we are kind of running out on that.
Please, no more silent carrots, we want pie. Preferrably made out of WE meat.
Also, please release AM changes early, do not wait until "Next Big Patch"
Let us test changes, give feedback and get some much needed dev love.
We are not asking to be unbeatable, we just want two things. The class we were promised, and the tools to go into combat and know
we can possibly survive and win, if we use our abilites to the fullest.
I think I can...I think I can..

[Dalor]

Originally Posted by amobius

As much as im sure everyone loves the global changes, they are just that. Nothing has been done to make the archmage worth bringing over any other healer in the game.

And to top it off you guys through this little gem in there.

Shamans:

* Yer Not so Bad: This abilty now has no build time.


Are you fricken kidding me?

I am glad to hear your are getting into the nuts and bolts of the class to try to help us out, but how about you make drain magic just do that. Remove the crap damage and just have it give us the 90AP. This might alleviate some of our AP problems and let us slot some of those survival tactics (lol we have what... one?). Or maybe it will give us enough AP to dabble into the mechanic a little until it gets around to being fixed.

I understand a mechanic change is huge and requires time, just throw us a bone to tide us over for a bit. Having patch after patch be a let down is getting old.

/agreed

Nice effort Mythic, but more is needed. This will not cause me to quit but you are pushing it.

Archmages since day 1 have been underpowered and unfairly restricted from many of the abilities that Shamans take for granted. Their basic mechanic and abilities are better in every way.

[Chnmmr]

I'll gladly accept a free conversion of my AM to a WP. I'm simply tired of waiting for the fixes that clearly won't come.

[Vizyon]

What? Whoa!

I think this is the first time that I have seen any public acknowledgement that they are re-working the mechanic. Woot. A bit of my faith is returning.

I can understand the long timeline a little bit. I remember once reading that dmg has to be balanced before healing. With the new melee classes coming, that is where the focus is at...temporarily.

BTW, it's not neccessarily that we think Mythic has a grudge against AMs. It's just in the development or promo videos I saw, the message seemed to be "Ach, elfs will alsways be popular." In other words "We don't have to put as much effort in it right now. People will play them anyway." I think it's this attitude we perceive which creates such a sad atmosphere. Work on this reputation please.