Why the GCD Change?
Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2025 8:23 am
This post has probably been made in the past, or something very similar to it but Id like to have an actual discussion with you guys and potentially devs as to why the GCD Change was made and as to why it is being kept currently? Because to me atleast, in my eyes it creates a ripple of issues and I barely see any positives except maybe one. So do enlighten me as to why the current one is better, especially as a player that started playing mostly AFTER the GCD Changes, I can only dream and imagine how amazing it mustve been pre-GCD Changes and ive heard from many veteran players about how good it was back then especially as someone with 40k+ Hours in MMOs minimum and having played them competitively.
The change of the GCD from 1.1 to 1.5 Seconds & the removal of off-GCD items like potions being put on GCD has DRASTICALLY Slowed the game down.
When a game slows down in such a manner, it by proxy removes aggressive play in favor for defensive play. Now speaking of that, everyone knows that Regen items is currently an issue in the game, Its a topic I see discussed in-game every single day. Due to the slow GCD Changes that now means that the damage coming out is slower or at the very least at irregular pace, meaning regen items gain infinitely more value due to them being a constant. Because the DPS Players wearing it cant output the same damage as before, they now wear defensive regen items to regain their power.
Now I for one, and many I speak with dont enjoy this gameplay loop of WE/WHs Running 4x fleshrenders blue chestpiece, white lions with blue sentry weapons etc. When theyre classes that thematically are made for high damage burst windows. Now let me further explain why this is bad
1: Everything stated above
2: The long GCD Windows further promotes higher numbers to make up for the slower attacks, hence why we see healthbars move in big large chunks rather than consistent output that slowly overwhelms.
3: The fluidity of the game takes a massive hit and becomes too rigid, you dont play a fight in Warhammer anymore in a fluid way reacting to your opponent or predicting them. Because you know how every fight turns out and what you need to press, theres nothing reactionary anymore. Interrupt skills also take a massive hit in power due to the GCD Changes, you can no longer use interrupts by reacting to casts in order to prevent them. Because god forbid you pressed a potion or any other GCD as they begin their channel, by the time you can press it again its more than likely done or have already given them a ton of value.
4: The slow GCD Unironically ruins class gameplay. Be honest, when you guys came to the game and you picked a WE/WH You picked it because you wanted to play an assassin class with high burst low survivability just like any other assassin in any game, a true glass cannon. Its what they appeal to, but due to the slow GCD, not being able to use pots off GCD etc It has lead to these glass cannon assassins to then become tanks, playing 4x Fleshrenderes blue chestpiece armor stacking etc. It is fundamentally ruining class gameplay, thematic & balancing
Nearly all of the outcry over defensive items like regen, and the burst of WLs and so on can nearly all be tracked back to the GCD Changes. We wouldnt need this WL Burst if they could press more skills dynamically and fluidly, and you as the opposing player can also react more to what they do in return aswell, not dying because your cast is about to finish at 0.1 seconds because you had to wait that extra half a second to even begin casting in the first place as opposed to the WLs instant attacks.
Why was this change made?
The only benefit of the GCD Change in my opinion is that high ping players stand a better chance and might not be as affected with their ping due to the longer GCD. Please tell me your thoughts, why you think its good or why you think its bad.
I personally want to see a GCD Revert
The change of the GCD from 1.1 to 1.5 Seconds & the removal of off-GCD items like potions being put on GCD has DRASTICALLY Slowed the game down.
When a game slows down in such a manner, it by proxy removes aggressive play in favor for defensive play. Now speaking of that, everyone knows that Regen items is currently an issue in the game, Its a topic I see discussed in-game every single day. Due to the slow GCD Changes that now means that the damage coming out is slower or at the very least at irregular pace, meaning regen items gain infinitely more value due to them being a constant. Because the DPS Players wearing it cant output the same damage as before, they now wear defensive regen items to regain their power.
Now I for one, and many I speak with dont enjoy this gameplay loop of WE/WHs Running 4x fleshrenders blue chestpiece, white lions with blue sentry weapons etc. When theyre classes that thematically are made for high damage burst windows. Now let me further explain why this is bad
1: Everything stated above
2: The long GCD Windows further promotes higher numbers to make up for the slower attacks, hence why we see healthbars move in big large chunks rather than consistent output that slowly overwhelms.
3: The fluidity of the game takes a massive hit and becomes too rigid, you dont play a fight in Warhammer anymore in a fluid way reacting to your opponent or predicting them. Because you know how every fight turns out and what you need to press, theres nothing reactionary anymore. Interrupt skills also take a massive hit in power due to the GCD Changes, you can no longer use interrupts by reacting to casts in order to prevent them. Because god forbid you pressed a potion or any other GCD as they begin their channel, by the time you can press it again its more than likely done or have already given them a ton of value.
4: The slow GCD Unironically ruins class gameplay. Be honest, when you guys came to the game and you picked a WE/WH You picked it because you wanted to play an assassin class with high burst low survivability just like any other assassin in any game, a true glass cannon. Its what they appeal to, but due to the slow GCD, not being able to use pots off GCD etc It has lead to these glass cannon assassins to then become tanks, playing 4x Fleshrenderes blue chestpiece armor stacking etc. It is fundamentally ruining class gameplay, thematic & balancing
Nearly all of the outcry over defensive items like regen, and the burst of WLs and so on can nearly all be tracked back to the GCD Changes. We wouldnt need this WL Burst if they could press more skills dynamically and fluidly, and you as the opposing player can also react more to what they do in return aswell, not dying because your cast is about to finish at 0.1 seconds because you had to wait that extra half a second to even begin casting in the first place as opposed to the WLs instant attacks.
Why was this change made?
The only benefit of the GCD Change in my opinion is that high ping players stand a better chance and might not be as affected with their ping due to the longer GCD. Please tell me your thoughts, why you think its good or why you think its bad.
I personally want to see a GCD Revert