Simple question. I’m a casual player but this strikes me as odd and (dare I say) unfair. Lol.
So what am I missing?
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Here’s Blizzard’s original explanation for the change:
"We’ve definitely heard a lot of feedback from players that bursting down larger and larger pulls has become an overly dominant tactic in much of the game. This is particularly evident in questing and dungeons, which has made it difficult for many classes to find a clear role.
While there are a number of variables contributing to this trend, high burst area of effect (AOE) damage against an unlimited number of targets has made it increasingly possible for players to take down large groups of enemies without the players ever facing a proportionate level of danger. In Shadowlands, we’re looking at changes that would broaden the field of tactical options, and in the process, more clearly differentiate the strengths of classes in a variety of AOE situations.
For example, we’d like to see Outlaw Rogues or Fury Warriors excel in situations with 4 to 5 targets in close proximity to each other, while ranged casters like Frost Mages or Affliction Warlocks perform better in sustained damage against groups of 5 or more targets. To accomplish this, we need to revisit the maximum number of targets that many abilities can hit (also known as the ability’s “target cap”), and adjust them accordingly. In situations where a target cap doesn’t make sense, we’re adding a new kind of damage falloff that causes the damage done to each target to be reduced gradually as the number of targets increases.
Most players who are used to fighting 3 to 5 enemies at a time will notice very little difference with this approach. On the other hand, players who are accustomed to pulling 10-20 enemies at a time will experience longer, more threatening engagements. Sustained AOE damage may become an equally viable option in that situation, but both approaches will put significantly more pressure on the group to survive."
Take what you will from that.
First of all, thank you for including that summary.
Maybe I’m not understanding, but won’t players just take the classes that can do the big AoE for all situations? I realize you are not a Dev, but just curious.
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thats why fire mage is a must pick in high keys
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their idea was to make it so certain classes work better in specifically designed encounters (based on mob density)
The issue is that whoever was in charge of instance/encounter design dropped the ball so now the classes that have maximum aoe potential are best for M+.
To fix this we can go 1 of 2 ways. Free up Aoe for all or smack the outliers down.
Personally Im all for smacking outliers down.
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melee could run up with no cast times and hit everything.
Elemental Shaman were basically unphased by the AE cap.
Nothing helping them get into M+.
Smacking them down would just be mean.
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didnt ele shaman get the new damage reduction formula tho?
Smacking down the outliers doesnt necessarily mean to remove how much stuff is hit at a time. At this point could literally just be to change which damage formula the spells use
Edit: you just take it on a class by class basis
EarthQuake has a soft cap of 20.
Same as the mage abilities.
because someone at blizz main fire mage and want to be OP in m+ and arena
I thought the big issue with mages is how far you can spread ignite procs though?
Otherwise its a mix of numbers tuning and what formula they give a spell. The actual hard cap on monsters a spell can hit is an artificial limitation in addition to the math behind the spell
Remember when everybody at the end of BFA was complaining how fire mages were going to be garbage come SL? lawlz.
Oh that is definitely an issue.
Just wanted to point out that merely targeting everyone with large AE abilities wouldn’t necessarily be the way to go.
Definitely needs to be case by case.
Ahh, guess you missed the edit i tossed on that post as soon as i threw it up
Yea everything is case by case. I said you need to free up aoe (to create more viable mass aoe comps) or to smack outliers down. The smacking down was intended to mean either take the outliers aoe and put more restrictive caps on it or tweak something in the formula to bring their numbers down to the rest of the group.
Ele shaman are not wanted for the same reason other uncapped classes other than mage are. Fire mages do it way better
Why did those guys take away seed of corruption from Destro locks? Rain of fire has always been poop compared to the AOE damage of SoC. Not to mention some tanks like to kite all over the place which makes RoF really non-useful…
What am I supposed to use then?
Harsh language?
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Ranged magical dps is totally uncapped.
Some melee dps have uncapped abilities, but are primarily capped at 5 targets. Some of these abilities also have soft caps.
For example. As a demon hunter, Blade Dance is capped at 5 targets, Immolation Aura is uncapped, and Eyebeam is uncapped, but damage continually falls off after the first target.
I’ve tried harsh language.
The mobs laugh at me as they kill my pet and taunt me with obscene gestures. It’s so very disappointing.
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What it boils down to in pretty much all cases is because Blizzard said so.
I can hit 5 targets with Whirlwind Cleave. That isn’t “everything”
I was obviously talking about before the aoe cap…