This item is incredibly strong but also so bad in terms of gameplay. I’m going to run through some points of how the item interacts in gameplay and then talk about why it’s just awful.
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When it procs it seems to absorb all damage from all sources but does not allow for additional procs during the time period allotted by the roll on whoever’s barber procced.
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Once a barber has procced on any targets it there is no damage done until it explose which seems to happen either after the timer or the absorbed damage hits the total hp of the mob. So no feedback on damage output or any moving health bars until it explodes.
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It is difficult to tell how various damage modifiers interact with barber… can the damage being absorbed crit? does the damage being absorbed adhere to damage to close or distant etc? does the explode damage at the end of it dip into modifiers or not?
First example of why its bad
what that means is basically in group play all you need is one barber multiple barbers in group doesn’t really add any benefit but everyone has one because it’s too strong to not have for solo play which would require groups to reitemize every time they group with different players or just leave what is essentially a useless heart in their build.
second example of why its bad
We’re just a bunch of people running around now not seeing any damage numbers or health bars moving were simply dpsing and then mobs explode or bosses get chunked its honestly terrible gameplay.
The simple solution would be to say ok then don’t use it but it feels very much like its a Best in Slot option for most builds and its pretty hard to ignore that as someone who’s trying to play optimally. I don’t think that should be on the player introducing an item that’s really good but creates a bad feel in terms of gameplay is bad design not on the player to choose gameplay over BiS or vice versa.
I’m just not really sure what we were thinking introducing an item that will clearly present challenges in terms of how its coded in to work and how it will interact between both solo and group play especially considering where the game is at right now in terms of balance and itemization.
I’m hearing stuff like were going to get to that next season yet we’re introducing things that clearly haven’t been tested properly. If they have been tested I’d like to know who was in a group of three people with barbers where no one sees moving health bars or damage numbers other than immune immune immune 5 million every thing is dead and thought that was a solid mechanic.
I realize that this will likely fall on def ears but I’ve got a ton of hours logged on Diablo 4 and have been for the most part rolling with the punches and enjoying the game but I’m at a point now where I just kind of feel like a beta tester in a game we all paid full price for expecting a proper release and its feeling a lot more like I paid you to be an alpha tester… I felt compelled to let you know how I personally feel and I’m sure my feelings of frustration are shared.
Please try to make better choices in terms of itemization.
When it comes to balance please try to target more specific issues… ie if certain classes cool downs need to be addressed address those cool downs don’t blanket nerf cooldown across all items furthering the issues as opposed to resolving them
If certain classes have inflated or underwhelming stats target those classes passives or base stats and vice versa…
Don’t introduce items with crazy damage interactions that you don’t have a handle on before you even have the game balanced.
Please do better
