Here is where they said it.
This is the definition of near future
Very soon, within a short time. For example, We’ll be needing a new car in the near future. This term employs near in the sense of “close at hand,” a usage dating from about 1300
Which means this was the DH patch. Otherwise nearfuture was a lie, and they should have told us the end of 2020 instead.
All classes deserve at least a few changes with each patch outside of the SETS being added. As we speak only 1 class truly benefited from the last 3 patches and thats barbs. I’m not sure why they are getting such high special treatment, but this special treatment is not only going to sour the community, but it will also make D3 empty when everyone thats left bails on this game.
Patch 2.6.6 = Crafted Set changes, but also **BARB** item changes
Patch 2.6.7 = Monk & Sader new sets, BARB changes again.
Patch 2.6.8 = Barb, WD, and Wizard class sets added. BARB changes for yet a 3rd patch in a row.
I personally dont care about new sets because our current ones need more correcting. I personally would rather have 1-2 really defined, perfect sets over 5 mediocore worthless ones that need 4+ patches of adjustments. What we all need is continious item adjustments for all the worthless items, nurfed items, and the items with no legenadary affix’s.
The patch cycles are a endless game of cat and mouse game between all classes in Diablo 3. This is because of developers lack of interest in balancing everyone at the same time. This results in players being forced to switch classes each season in order to keep up or compete in this game (including solo because of paragon) and if you hate the other classes then all thats left is for you to quit D3. There is no inbetween because if you do play your loved class then you will be playing solo 99.99% of the time. This kind of patch CYCLEINGis TOXIC to this game and its all been amplified by patches after 2.6.5.
Blizzard should have released small changes for all classes with each patch, then created sets for all classes and threw them in the PTR’s. Then if they wern’t ready, they hold the sets until the next PTR, while still pushing through the other changes that are ready; Then repeat. This might take 2-3 patches for the sets to be testest right, but they wouldnt be released in an unfair advantage for the rest of us. On top of that by the time they add the last round of class sets, the first two classes Monk/Sader are going to feel very left out and expect yet another patch for them. This cycling is so toxic its the reason D3 has such hate in the community because instead of bringing us together it’s actually dividing us further apart with each patch.
By the time the last patch for DH, Necro comes through, most of the wizard, barb, monk, and sader community will simply quit or sit out the season from a lack of interest because of no changes which splits the already small community into even smaller community’s with each patch cycle.
There are so many other ways to have gone about adding new items to this game and at the very least every class deserves at least 2 changes per patch not just the barbarian class which got 3 patches in a row of changes that has now soured the community and made people quit. The community is already small, but ending up in games (public or private) with 3 other barbs proves my exact point about the patching process failure to bring us all together, but instead devide us more.
I will add that I was wrong about the wizard changes, I thought they were buffs but it looks like they just got nerfs over the last few patches.