The War Within: Dungeon and Affix Updates

Does this mean that mythic (the non plus variety) is finally queueable too? So I can finally get those weeklies done that needs 5 mythics?

Originally Posted by Rageonit

But this is not how you make a comp for a high key, is it? You need essentials like lust, battle rez, certain abilities for certain weeks. And honestly, how great was comp variety for top pushers in every past season? DF s2 didn't need an affix to have every top comp look basically the same.

On top, every season has a desirable comp and people playing the proper classes always have it easier to get an invite. This change to affixes doesn't change it in any meaningful way. It's simply an additional thing to consider when trying to come up with the optimal comp; but the desire to do that was always there. If anything, this can make the optimal comp change a bit week to week, which was not a thing in the past, where top comp was the same for the whole season (minus balance changes or specific things like Bursting needing a priest).

I did differentiate that casuals, for low level keys, as well as the keys that would get you max level rewards, won’t have to worry about it. You can literally bring whatever you want to those keys and succeed once people get a little gear.
As stated when it comes to comps, unless they are severely underperforming, these affixes pretty much lock in 2-3 specs as they get the benefit every week. As well as being decently performing. Something no other spec can do.
In DF, the top comps with their little deviation could handle almost every affix. They didn’t need to swap around what class or spec they had (outside of a specific boss fight in some dungeons, or as you said, bursting).
This is goin g to just add another level of frustration because players will think they need specific things every week, and everyone who doesn’t meet that criteria will be ticked off about it.
Its just not necessary.

Originally Posted by saixilein

Ofc its not necessary, the Problem ist that all the idiots out there it is.

Case in point, I just looked at the dungeon finder and there's no less than a dozen groups looking for lust for weekly +8s. These are groups that heavily out-gear the content and lust will have absolutely no bearing on whether they time the key. The LFG is full of retards and even though I think Blizzard's intent behind these Affixes is to lessen the impact of that retardation... in reality, it just signal boosts it.

For the record, I do think something like this can work but they need to not be coy about it and just say "{x class} does more damage" or something to that effect.

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Originally Posted by Amerissis

Does this mean that mythic (the non plus variety) is finally queueable too? So I can finally get those weeklies done that needs 5 mythics?

It depends -- what we used to call Mythic is now Heroic so if Blizzard updates the weekly quest to be "complete 4 Heroic or higher dungeons," then yes. You'll be able to queue it. But if they keep the quest text to require Mythic or higher then you'll still need to queue into the dungeon like you've done on live for eons (difference being that you can choose to do one of the throwback M+ dungeons on M0 if you that tickles your fancy).

Originally Posted by Eapoe

As stated when it comes to comps, unless they are severely underperforming, these affixes pretty much lock in 2-3 specs as they get the benefit every week. As well as being decently performing. Something no other spec can do.

I'd be careful with taking it for granted. It does seem weird that there are a few specs that would benefit from those changes more than any other, and this wasn't even properly tested yet; so I wouldn't be surprised if Blizzard changes it the way that Chaos damage doesn't get the benefit. Obviously this is me theorycrafting, but it seems like the proper way to go.

Originally Posted by Eapoe

In DF, the top comps with their little deviation could handle almost every affix. They didn’t need to swap around what class or spec they had (outside of a specific boss fight in some dungeons, or as you said, bursting).
This is goin g to just add another level of frustration because players will think they need specific things every week, and everyone who doesn’t meet that criteria will be ticked off about it.
Its just not necessary.

So from this perspective, there being only one top comp (in perfect conditions) is a good thing? Obviously this a question of perspective. I was living under the impression that people do want more variety in top comps.

I am not so sure if those affixes are a good idea for the health of the game.
It's fine in organised groups that run m+ anyway.

But this is going to be a real pain point for m+ pugging. Let's just assume hunters are already at the lower end of the assumed "viability" spectrum, and then you have "holy damage week". Have fun trying to get into a pug, when even group that normally would give the hunter a chance now will clearly prefer a paladin/priest.

Why do the morons always make the game even harder? It's hard enough! The majority of players can't cope with the current difficulty level and they can't think of anything better than to make it even harder! What losers!

Originally Posted by Eapoe

I do think that as weeks go on, the classes with the strongest utility/survivability will be the pick. With the classes that get the extra damage with those things being even better.
Also, as stated, the 3 specs that do Chaos damage (VDH, HDH, and Destro Lock) get the benefit every week, and Lock is always a solid choice, with DH reigning supreme for DF. So yeah, they’re pretty much a shoe in for these affixes. Both at the start of the season to get as close to an 8-10 key, and then later on for push keys.
Do I think this affects the casual player? Not really, as bringing whatever you want has always held true for the maximum reward you can earn. For people interested in pushing, or early key farming, I do think the affix will affect how easy it is for some classes to get invited.

Warlocks mostly use Rain of Fire on trash so it's not even a huge buff to them, and bosses (where you actually use Chaos Bolt) aren't afffected.

Demon Hunters, already S++ tier in Mythic Keysstones, get a free 10% damage bufff on select trash mobs every week without needing to do anything.

Originally Posted by Puri

But this is going to be a real pain point for m+ pugging. Let's just assume hunters are already at the lower end of the assumed "viability" spectrum, and then you have "holy damage week". Have fun trying to get into a pug, when even group that normally would give the hunter a chance now will clearly prefer a paladin/priest.

I don't think this is how it currently works. Very rarely a group leader will think: "Okay, we have enough good classes, lets give a chance to this hunter playing the worst spec in the game". No, usually people will always try to make the group as strong as possible.

If anything, they may take a hunter in the future, thinking: "Okay, it's a hunter week, so at least he does 10% damage more".

Originally Posted by Rageonit

If anything, they may take a hunter in the future, thinking: "Okay, it's a hunter week, so at least he does 10% damage more".

But which of these afffixes makes it "hunter week"?

Originally Posted by Hottage

But which of these afffixes makes it "hunter week"?

I don't play DPS, so I'm not exactly sure, but reduced armor...?
Anyway, hunter is just an example. I think you get the gist of my argument.

Originally Posted by Rageonit

I don't think this is how it currently works. Very rarely a group leader will think: "Okay, we have enough good classes, lets give a chance to this hunter playing the worst spec in the game". No, usually people will always try to make the group as strong as possible.

Yes sure, that's how it is. But yet you still could get a spot in a group if you tried enough. But now, in the weeks that won't favour you, your standing will even be worse.

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Originally Posted by Hottage

But which of these afffixes makes it "hunter week"?

Two actually, reduced armor and increased bleed damage. But it was simply an example.

pure phys dmg specs in shambles (rip ww)

Originally Posted by Puri

Yes sure, that's how it is. But yet you still could get a spot in a group if you tried enough. But now, in the weeks that won't favour you, your standing will even be worse.

I'm not sure why you think it will be like that. At the moment, only people of certain mindset will invite the worst spec - people who don't care about meta, because they know the group is more than capable to time the dungeon. The mindset of those people won't change with the affix. People who will care the most about the affix are the people who don't invite you anyway. So yeah, I think you're overreacting.

Originally Posted by Amerissis

Does this mean that mythic (the non plus variety) is finally queueable too? So I can finally get those weeklies done that needs 5 mythics?

No. Still need to do them manually.

Meta specs will be more meta on their buff weeks. Augmentation universally good on all weeks.

Non meta specs will be more bad 3 weeks per month.

Hats down, the combat team and whoever approved this design managed to once again over deliver.

Those affixes are just the most idiotic, clueless, out of tune, ridiculous giant pile of poopy lameness i've ever seen.

Why don`t they make affixes that reward performing well instead.
Like enemies do more damage, but interrupt, stuns etc last longer on them when used.
Players gaining a stacking damage buff when avoiding preventable damage.

Thorns? Really Blizzard, thorns? I seem to remember Blizzard saying mechanics requiring to stop dps are obsolete years ago.

Also different vulneribilities sound nice on paper but Covenants being picked by what's best by almost everyone even players not doing any organized content shows that it will severely impact pugs too, not only high keys.

So why cant I play the all new dungeons at least at heroic level or (mythic 0)
that seems dumb.

The damage bonuses will be completely unnoticeable to anyone outside the very top but psychologically impactful, which imo makes them dumb.

The other stuff is worse though. Do they actually want to encourage tank kiting again after taking so many steps to prevent that in recent xpacks? Do they really want bolstered casters one-shotting dps constantly even at mid ley levels?