Nerf via removal instead of alternative/diversification is heavy handed and stupid.

I am a fan of nerfs due to the current state of the game resulting in me trying to go as fast as possible just to finish challenges and go back to Diablo 2 HCGSF.

However...

Nerfs via removal that don't provide alternatives are pretty stupid.

Ex)
Instead of removing the cold damage on Hatred, it would have made more sense to let one aura be for the conversion, and another be for the %more cold damage. You just remove an aura that flat cold attackers and spell casters use.


Divine Blessing and Mana cost interactions are very strong for little investment, yes.. but having the gem restricted to 1 item is pretty silly as well. You will just move everyone over to guardian blessing, if there was no guardian blessing then this would just be removing something.

You could just add more reduced aura effect on divine blessing gem itself, and have the march of legion boots have higher level such that it offsets all the reduced aura effect making them a more powerful alternative in exchange for contention on a gear slot.

I think in any ARPG contention for slots is a good thing, be it skills or gear.

Hatred was ABSOLUTELY overtuned when it gave %more cold AND phys as extra cold. The nerf was warranted

But this doesn't mean you need to remove the part that benefited the builds that did not need the phys as extra. Just make it two auras. alternatives are good, this removal felt short-sighted.

I felt the same way about the new defensive changes. They didn't diversify anything, they just made everyone grab the same crap.

Welcome to right side defenses.

Ailment immunity from ascendancies? Removed.
Flasks and buffing their effects? Constantly nerfed.
Dodge? Gone.
Nightblade refreshing elusive? Gone.
Divine blessing for EB builds? Gone.
Wind dancer working on spells? Gone.
Old Gravicius craft of 12% of life gained as ES to use with ghost dance? Gone.

Dear GGG:

WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO TO MAKE OUR MAX HIT GO UP ON RIGHT SIDE?

Welcome to right side defenses.

Ailment immunity from ascendancies? Removed.
Flasks and buffing their effects? Constantly nerfed.
Dodge? Gone.
Nightblade refreshing elusive? Gone.
Divine blessing for EB builds? Gone.
Wind dancer working on spells? Gone.
Old Gravicius craft of 12% of life gained as ES to use with ghost dance? Gone.

Dear GGG:

WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO TO MAKE OUR MAX HIT GO UP ON RIGHT SIDE?

very much agree with the OP, deletion of the games Jenga pieces is how you end up with a pile in your lap. And POE is an 11 year old stack of Jenga pieces.

The first signs of "cracks showing" are Dev's forgetting why things were put into the game a few years ago to solve problems, deleting those things only to reintroduce or aggravate the old problem into a new one. Deleting flat dmg off melee gems which alleviated melee's massive RNG issue for instance.

"

alhazred70 wrote:

very much agree with the OP, deletion of the games Jenga pieces is how you end up with a pile in your lap. And POE is an 11 year old stack of Jenga pieces.

The first signs of "cracks showing" are Dev's forgetting why things were put into the game a few years ago to solve problems, deleting those things only to reintroduce or aggravate the old problem into a new one. Deleting flat dmg off melee gems which alleviated melee's massive RNG issue for instance.

:) I tried saying this in the PoE subreddit and got overwhelming downvotes with zero replies. I can see why GGG has dropped their reddit presence by 99%.

Sadly this feedback will likely be drowned out, just like the vaal pact shield being broken, by those demanding more speed and power and saying "oh but im still strong and fast who cares"

"

IlyaK1986 wrote:

Welcome to right side defenses.

Ailment immunity from ascendancies? Removed.
Flasks and buffing their effects? Constantly nerfed.
Dodge? Gone.
Nightblade refreshing elusive? Gone.
Divine blessing for EB builds? Gone.
Wind dancer working on spells? Gone.
Old Gravicius craft of 12% of life gained as ES to use with ghost dance? Gone.

Dear GGG:

WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO TO MAKE OUR MAX HIT GO UP ON RIGHT SIDE?

Isn't the ride side the only place to get spell suppression?

"

Kurnis wrote:

"

IlyaK1986 wrote:

Welcome to right side defenses.

Ailment immunity from ascendancies? Removed.
Flasks and buffing their effects? Constantly nerfed.
Dodge? Gone.
Nightblade refreshing elusive? Gone.
Divine blessing for EB builds? Gone.
Wind dancer working on spells? Gone.
Old Gravicius craft of 12% of life gained as ES to use with ghost dance? Gone.

Dear GGG:

WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO TO MAKE OUR MAX HIT GO UP ON RIGHT SIDE?

Isn't the ride side the only place to get spell suppression?

I think he is moreso getting at the fact they did not diversify build variety with those defensive changes and listing some examples where all they did was remove something instead of adding contention on choices, which is the core of a compelling RPG.

Still no news on adding an alternative cold dmg aura? come on GGG...