RDPS patch feedback for BW

[Tulrs]

Hi there everyone!

My goal here is to provide my thoughts/feelings on the current issues with the BW class, the proposed changes, and hopefully some alternatives.

I'll be breaking it down into three parts
Brief introduction
Current concerns about the BW
Addressing the changes specifically

Introduction to self, spec, and what I play:
I have an 81 BW. And I mainly play SCs and small man roam as ST spec.

Current concerns about Bright Wizard:
Class mechanic feels weak
Overly dependent on support
ST is overly reliant on static rotation
ST is incredibly telegraphed -> easily cleansable or to detaunt during burst
Disrupt rates are incredibly high -> lack of ways to get disrupt strikethrough
Damage is lower than other RDPS at low combustion -> forcing you to stay at higher combustion levels in order to compete with other DPS
Existence of “anti-crit” builds/abilities (ranging from renown tactics, pocket items, 8-Piece Shammy/AM sov ability, WE absorb shield on crit, and others).
SC concerns and viability of the class[/list]

Starting off with the class mechanic:
The tradeoff on self damage is not worth it in comparison to the more consistent/(and only SLIGHTLY lower) damage of other RDPS

The truth of the matter is that yes, BW and Sorc DO have the largest burst. However, this is only when they are at 100 combustion. If they are not at 100 combustion, their damage is significantly weaker when compared to other DPS.

In prolonged fights, it's incredibly easy to stay at higher combustion. But in SCs or small skirmishes, you have to spend several GCDs to ramp to 100 combustion, before you’re even comparable to other DPS in terms of output. This will lead to point 2, being overly reliant on support.

Support reliant problems

Because of the self damage mechanic as a BW, you're pretty much handcuffed to healers or chugging pots (if you want to maintain reasonable damage). Not only are you the lightest armor class (robes), BWs have almost no viable escape options (all Melee DPS have the ability to break the root). And to use knock down, you have to use 2x GCDs (and effectively 3x if you want to damage the target because you sacrifice ignite on the target).

As a BW against Destruction classes (WE pounce, Marauder pull, Choppa charge into pull, SH mobility, tanks that fish/punt, Magus M1 60% snare). It just feels bad to have almost no escape tools or capacity to recover. One misstep, and it's game over.

3 and 4 are along the same point so I will be addressing both in this segment.

Rotation from 0 combustion is pretty much the same across the board (Ignite->Boiling blood-> Slow boil-> Detonate->Nova-> Withering heat). There’s a little wiggle room to play with depending on combustion levels and the current target’s health, but for the most part, this is a static rotation. There’s two major problems with the current state of the damage output (if an ability gets disrupted/blocked, and detaunts). There are others (such as absorb pots, getting silenced or knocked down in-between abilities, etc - but I will be focusing on these two main issues)

Anyone who has been playing this game for a long time (which at this point is likely greater than 95% of the server population) knows how to detaunt. This Stagnant rotation while it provides a great burst window, a skilled player knows to detaunt and your damage is severely reduced. Or, one of your abilities is disrupted or blocked. Both of these make BW damage rotations feel incredibly week. Even as an 81 BW with 18% disrupt strike through, my abilities are inconsistent and do not feel rewarding.

Points 5, 6, and 7 are self explanatory.

8. SC concerns

With the recent changes to SCs and the queue system as a solo queue DPS, It's possible to get 4v4 with no heals. And you get 20 min+ queue times with 6 man SC queues.

The BW class took a MAJOR hit with the recent changes to the SC queue system (making the class almost non-viable to play when compared to other DPS options).

If you solo queue, you roll the dice and run the risk of not getting proper support/4v4 with no heals. But if you try to run a group to queue with, queue time skyrockets and large wait times between scenarios.

The combination of the issues above make me feel that the BW class isn't worth playing in SCs.


Thoughts on changes:

I only included some of the changes here because there weren't a ton of changes to be made. The ones I didn’t include I think are fine changes and I welcome the change or addition. My subjective opinion is that I'm honestly disappointed at large, but I will try to provide some feedback.

Proposed changes:
I'd like to see a complete overhaul of the mechanic. But if that will not be done, I'd like to see an added buff: Scaling buff per 20 combustion: 2/4/6/8/10% reduced chance of being defended against.

- Draining Burn: Reworked to: Burning Iron now applies a Hex on the enemy for 20 seconds, inflicting 352 Elemental damage each time they use a melee ability.

Proposed change to burning Iron - revert damage back to original damage - remove AP drain -
apply hex - for the next 5 seconds, the next time the target uses a melee ability, they take X damage (single time hit, not every melee, but stronger hit like 500 damage or so damage)

Reasoning - as it stands, burning Iron has no reason to be used over sear (ap drain is useless and less damage). But if you increase the damage and match it to Sear, Sear falls short (as its non corp damage and would be used to build combustion rather than damaging ability). This way, each ability keeps a unique identity, and use of burning Iron is more rewarding for proper use and targeting, and has justified higher cooldown.

- Power From The Ashes: Reworked to: Meltdown will now heal you for 100% of the damage dealt to the target.
-remove this tactic: As previously discussed, BW wants to stay at high combustion levels to maintain damage output. Tactic feels clunky and anti mechanic.

“The Balance Team has reworked Detonate to both improve the ability, but also to add to its flavour. You can now spread Ignite (and Slow Boil when using Fan the Flames) from your target to the surrounding enemies. This also synergizes with the Ignition tactic”
Revert detonate back to original - PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THESE CHANGES
As previously stated - BW already feels overly reliant on rotations. With high disruption rates kicking around. Making detonate’s DOT reliant on Ignite already being on the target is the same thing the ability used to do, but JUST worse.
Ignition tactic is in the middle tree (single target tree). I think this goes without saying, but the point of the single target tree is TO BE single target, not AOE. Resistance debuffs don't stack, so there's no benefit to having minor ignite, and ignite on the same target.
All AOE abilities on BW (with the exception of annihilate ability) are elemental. So what's the point of spreading a lesser corp resistance debuff when Engi’s already have their own?
As well, I'm assuming (haven't tested) you can use detonate with other BW’s ignite or Slow boil (if you're running the tactic). This promotes class stacking, and lack of diversity of classes in groups.

- Flame Shield: Reworked to: Enchantment. - 30 AP. Self. Instant. 30s CD. - All groupmates within 100 feet are Enchanted with a protective shield of flickering flames for 1 hour, giving them a 25% chance to reduce the damage over time abilities of the attacker by 10% for 3 seconds when they are struck by a ranged or magical attack.

Not sure what to think about change as have not played with it. I think the concept is interesting and like changing flame shield, but not sure if this is the direction to go.