Infiltration Tactics/Duplicity. Let's talk Game Design.

[Majspuffen]

Forewords: I abhor the changes made to DPS Shadows/Assassins. They changed the playstyle of both trees, turned Infiltration/Deception into some kind of Scrapper/Concealment wannabe with a lightsaber, and dumbed down Balance/Madness so much that a pyrotech can play it... and they did so without thinking about the repercussions for pvp. (all my thoughts on the matter here: http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=615979)

 

I'm going to try and keep this short. Either you'll see the logic, or you don't. First, let's examine mr Peckenpaugh's logic (source: http://www.madsithassassin.com/2013/03/assassin-developer-interview.html ).

 

He believes that it is wrong to have such a gameplay altering talent so low in a tree. That is why they moved infiltration tactics/duplicity higher up, so that Balance/Madness Shadows/Assassins can't reach it.

 

Now here is my logic:

We learn Shadow Strike/Maul at level 10. As a baseline ability Shadow Strike/Maul is not worth using. If you place one point into Infiltration Tactics/Duplicity, however, the ability becomes useful. Currently, in 1.7, we can do this the moment we hit level 10 if we so desire. (most DPS shadows do)

 

In 2.0 we won't be able to. We'll learn Shadow Strike at level 10 but it won't be useful until at least level 25. For a new player I imagine this will be rather confusing. They implemented a worthless ability and made it useful via a proc. Either that proc needs to be passive, or Infiltration Tactics should be moved down to tier 1 again.

 

Alternatively, have us learn Shadow Strike at level 25 <.< ... elegant fix, no? They'll have to do something, at least.

Edited March 28, 2013 by Majspuffen

[Majspuffen]

To compare with other classes:

 

Guardians: They get sundering assault. Useful for at level 10 and for all specs.

Sentinels: They get Zen, Zealous Strike and Rebuke, all good abilities.

 

Scoundrels: They get a heal and backblast. Useful at level 10 and for all specs.

Gunslingers: They get Aimed Shot. Useful at level 10 and for all specs.

 

Vanguards: They get Ion Pulse. Useful at level 10 and for all specs.

Commando: They get a heal and Charged Bolts. Useful at level 10 and for all specs.

 

Sages: They get a heal and Disturbance. Useful at level 10 and for all specs.

Shadows: We get Shadow Strike. Useful at level 10 IF specced 1 point into infiltration tactics. In 2.0 scenario, not useful at level 10, useful for one spec at level 25 if specced 1 point into infiltration tactics.

 

Is it just me, or does Shadow Strike rely on Infiltration Tactics too much? I'd argue that Infiltration Tactics should be a passive learned at level 10, and then have a talent in the Infiltration tree that increases its damage by 10/20/30%.

Edited March 28, 2013 by Majspuffen

[Majspuffen]

Giving this a bump. Will 2.0 be released with Shadows/Assassins getting a useless ability at level 10?