Originally Posted by
DisposableHero
So first, I like how with no evidence, my dislike of timers as a progression mechanism is all you need to try and cheaply dunk on my ability as a player. You're clearly intellectually capable of participating in this argument with that approach /sarcasm.
If you have any interest in a real conversation, here are my points:
1) The timer isn't necessary for a progression system. Raiding has done just fine without instance timers (obviously enrage timers in encounters serve a specific purpose and are useful in that regard and create a certain strategic tension that makes sense) for decades. Blizzard is clearly capable of creating a scaling difficulty with a pass/fail bar for progression, as they have done with different difficulty modes in raiding for a long time.
2) Timers do not create a difficulty barrier that is insurmountable, clearly they do not, and clearly blizzard would adjust them to be appropriate if they did. What they do create however, is a distaste for mechanics that promote complex thought, or trial and error, or strategic adaptation during the run. The reason for this is, in this case, one can make the appropriate choices strategically to overcome the obstacle, but still fail the timer because they did not arrive at that solution quickly enough. This is evidenced by the fact that Reaping, a static strategic obstacle, that with the minor exception of its conjunction with the teeming affix, occurs the same way and forces the same strategic planning each week was relatively well received, while Infested and Beguiling, a pair of dynamic strategic challenges, specifically designed by blizzard to create different challenges by their placement each week and require on the fly strategic adaptation, have been comparatively poorly received, and this season's participation numbers will likely bear that out. Blizzard wants on the fly strategic decision making in mythic plus. This strategic depth makes it more interesting to both watch and participate in. The affixes are clearly designed with that in mind. That mixes poorly with the timer. "We want you to stop and think sometimes" is naturally at odds with "we're putting you on the clock".