Bioware, soloing is now RUINED

[Ylliarus]

Bioware you have ruined the game and the excitement around Knights of the Fallen Empire.

 

Companions are USELESS. I can't even properly solo a Heroic anymore because my companions (my best one Senya with affection level 37) are healing NOTHING. I am really angry and sad at this change, you are going to lose subbers over this including me.

 

For 3 years I was happy to pay subscription as the game was amazing. Now you have ruined it comletely. Yes, this is my feedback, your nerf has ruined the game entirely in my opinion. All that hard work and excitement around KotFE? Gone. Completely.

 

There is nothing challenging with the heroics now, they are simply UNDOABLE on your own and I'm not a person that has the time to sit all day before the computer to wait when finally there will be someone I can team up with.

 

Thank you Bioware, for ruining years or enjoyment with SWTOR. The companions are worse than at any point in the game before. Even with gear before 4.0 they were better than this.

[Sangetorix]

I have to admit...I don't even understand what it is that you're talking about here.

 

Is not the answer to your objection in your own posting? The missions are specifically labeled "Heroic," and this is a multiplayer game. What is so wrong with having to group up with at least one other person in order to complete it? From what I can ascertain, you are objecting to not being able to complete a mission that should take at least 2 actual people to complete, with only one person. Is the game not enjoyable not doing these missions? They are ultimately not relevant to the single player aspect of the game.

 

I also understand that there is an achievement for soloing heroics. Some people here on the forums have been saying how they lament the fact that they are barred from this achievement due to the fact that pre-4.0.2, it was easily attainable. But, here again, the answer is in the title of the aspect: Achievement. Is not an achievement something to be earned through a combination of luck, gear, combat rotation, and general skill in the game?

 

I see that the OP has mentioned their chagrin at having to actively look for willing partners to complete heroics with. Again, I'm sorry, but the solutions to this objection seem very apparent to me:

 

1. Join a guild. It's literally the point of a guild in the first place. Cooperation and having fun together.

2. Move servers to one with a higher population. If the time spent attempting to find a willing partner is too much for you, see if you can go somewhere where there are more online people. If you are already on a high population server, then I defer this solution to what I said two paragraphs ago.

3. Ignore them. They aren't ultimately relevant. But, of course, if you insist on doing them, I think you should simply bite your proverbial "bullet," harness some patience, and try to play with others. I've had a very rewarding experience actively playing this game with other people, sometimes regularly, and sometimes just randomly. I think that if you can find the will to do this yourself, you will have your patience and skill in the game rewarded.

 

That's all I have to say. To reiterate: I'm not trying to be a dick here whatsoever....but everything I have just laid out seems so obvious to me I did not spend one second even thinking about it. It's basically common sense.

[Spartanik]

Well the game sucks now.

I dont know what they did, but it wasnt just a nerf. They made companions irrelevant alltogether.

There is no point in giving them gifts, because they suck anyway, so there is no point for grinding the heroics in the first place, at least for that porpuse. It has become a non factor.

They dont even talk to you no matter how many ranks you lvl up. There is no point in even summon a companion.

Companions where much more usefull, Previously, KOTFE, then they are after this patch.

After a whole day of gameplay, and sub lost, they patch the game , and completely broke this system.

Ridiculous.

 

Ignore them. They aren't ultimately relevant

Of course ignoring content is always good for the game, and ultimately bussiness. I dont even understand how there is people like you defending what it isnt defendable.

Changing servers? not a solution for me. I wont start all over again from zero, in another server. Ill rather quit the game forever.

Join a guild? sure, that is a solution for everything, mostly, i just wonder it doesnt realy need to be.

You are just offering solutions, for a problem. That shouldnt be a problem in the first place.

Edited November 18, 2015 by Spartanik

[Ylliarus]

I have to admit...I don't even understand what it is that you're talking about here.

 

Is not the answer to your objection in your own posting? The missions are specifically labeled "Heroic," and this is a multiplayer game. What is so wrong with having to group up with at least one other person in order to complete it? From what I can ascertain, you are objecting to not being able to complete a mission that should take at least 2 actual people to complete, with only one person. Is the game not enjoyable not doing these missions? They are ultimately not relevant to the single player aspect of the game.

 

I also understand that there is an achievement for soloing heroics. Some people here on the forums have been saying how they lament the fact that they are barred from this achievement due to the fact that pre-4.0.2, it was easily attainable. But, here again, the answer is in the title of the aspect: Achievement. Is not an achievement something to be earned through a combination of luck, gear, combat rotation, and general skill in the game?

 

I see that the OP has mentioned their chagrin at having to actively look for willing partners to complete heroics with. Again, I'm sorry, but the solutions to this objection seem very apparent to me:

 

1. Join a guild. It's literally the point of a guild in the first place. Cooperation and having fun together.

2. Move servers to one with a higher population. If the time spent attempting to find a willing partner is too much for you, see if you can go somewhere where there are more online people. If you are already on a high population server, then I defer this solution to what I said two paragraphs ago.

3. Ignore them. They aren't ultimately relevant. But, of course, if you insist on doing them, I think you should simply bite your proverbial "bullet," harness some patience, and try to play with others. I've had a very rewarding experience actively playing this game with other people, sometimes regularly, and sometimes just randomly. I think that if you can find the will to do this yourself, you will have your patience and skill in the game rewarded.

 

That's all I have to say. To reiterate: I'm not trying to be a dick here whatsoever....but everything I have just laid out seems so obvious to me I did not spend one second even thinking about it. It's basically common sense.

 

If it is such common sense to you, explain to me why there are so many people experiencing a severe downgrade of the game. While you may enjoy the aspect of having to team up FOR EVERY SINGLE HEROIC that there is out there, so be it. They have made the heroics so they are the main tool to build your alliance with, the various gifts for the specialists being in the rewards. Now, I have to wait too long each time for someone to want to do the heroics or have the time to team up.

I don't have that time, I have a life aside of the game that I need to attend to as well. I used to play with much joy, teaming up for stuff it was really needed for but after 4.0 heroics I could do with much enjoyment. Now that is gone.

 

To be clear, I am already in a guild. I am on a fairly populous server. I will not move to another server simply for the heroics as I am in a RP guild and have obligations towards the players there. However, the ingame content is ruined for those who wanted to at least solo the heroics.

 

The companion nerve is TOO MUCH. At least half of what it used to be should be restored as they are completely useless now.

[Sangetorix]

It seems to me that this not a problem at all, but rather an objection to a subjective circumstance.

 

As a subscriber, were you not given a free level 60 character? You wouldn't have to start over.

 

And again...as these particular missions are labeled "heroic," and not necessary to continue the single player aspect of the game, how can this possibly be considered a "problem?"

[Ylliarus]

And again...as these particular missions are labeled "heroic," and not necessary to continue the single player aspect of the game, how can this possibly be considered a "problem?"

 

As I said in my reply before, the heroics reward you with gifts for your alliance specialists. Building the alliance is solo-content. Thus completing the heroics was a necessary feat to obtain those gifts for building your alliance. Don't you understand that is going to be a problem now when you have to wait all day for someone to team up with you so you can done 1 heroic?

 

Also, if you believe this is only a subjective problem, take a look at all the threads that are arising voicing the same thoughts as are stated here. I understand there are those who want to group up and find this no problem. However, there are those who want to through group content finish solo content and usually are forced to do it by themselves, who are unable to do so now because the companions are worse than they were pre-4.0.

[Spartanik]

It seems to me that this not a problem at all, but rather an objection to a subjective circumstance.

 

As a subscriber, were you not given a free level 60 character? You wouldn't have to start over.

 

And again...as these particular missions are labeled "heroic," and not necessary to continue the single player aspect of the game, how can this possibly be considered a "problem?"

What kind of argument is that?

Just roll a 60 lvl character? you do know all it does is gives you a 60 lvl character? It doesnt give you any of the class content. Nor SOR ot makeb etc, nothing. It simply ignores class content previously KOTFE. Achievments included....

 

Im sorry, yes it is a problem. It might be one you can live well with it. Most of us simply dont.

And you wrong. Heroics are actualy necessary to continue to progress your alliance. You dont even know what you are talking about here. You are just defending something, just for the sake of it.

Btw my server has high population, and im in a guild. I did all, or most of heroics, back then when they where 4 man heroics. You just needed to do it once. But as it is now, they are grindy dailies needed for several reasons. one of them to futher and progress your solo alliance. Of course i team up with my guildies to do them. But that isnt always possible. And not everyone in the game is in a guild, not everyone in the game likes to play with others, and not everyone in the game has the time for it. So yes it is a problem. As it is now, companions might just be erased from the game, it wouldnt make a difference. It is just sad.

Edited November 18, 2015 by Spartanik

[PlacidDragon]

Is not the answer to your objection in your own posting? The missions are specifically labeled "Heroic," and this is a multiplayer game. What is so wrong with having to group up with at least one other person in order to complete it? From what I can ascertain, you are objecting to not being able to complete a mission that should take at least 2 actual people to complete, with only one person. Is the game not enjoyable not doing these missions? They are ultimately not relevant to the single player aspect of the game.

 

And again...as these particular missions are labeled "heroic," and not necessary to continue the single player aspect of the game, how can this possibly be considered a "problem?"

 

Please do the world a favor and educate yourself.....

 

Absolutely! It certainly may be a bit more challenging than before but you can complete them. The intent is that you can complete any [Heroic 2] with your Companion counting as one of the two. If you find this isn't true for any Heroics tomorrow, let us know.

 

-eric

[Sangetorix]

"Every single heroic?" The fact that the mission is labeled heroic doesn't really allow for such an enormous variation.

 

It is my opinion that Bioware did not put these alliance missions into place to be an obstacle, but rather an opportunity. I think their idea is that if a player would get out of their comfort zone to:

 

complete a heroic for an alliance mission.

PVP for an alliance companion

 

: it would expand upon their gaming experience, and ultimately be more rewarding. I can give a personal anecdote that follows vaguely along these lines...

 

NOTE: the following contains potential spoilers.

 

My level 65 character has an alliance mission on hoth that demands the killing of several elite, level-specific NPCs. They are scattered throughout the planet, and may be spawned or not depending upon whether others have killed them already. They also have to be readily, actively sought out; they are not marked specifically on the map.

 

Will this take me a while to complete? Perhaps.

Will I get annoyed while attempting to find them throughout the map? From time to time, most definitely.

 

But, I will do it. And I will be proud of myself when I do. This same logic can be applied to the PVP-dependent mission:

 

Do I PVP regularly? No.

If I get into a match, is it probable that I will be schooled completely? Yes.

By getting out of my comfort zone, will I be able to explore new aspects of the game that I may possibly enjoy, thereby enhancing my overall experience of the game? YES!!!!

 

I have faith in you. Patience is a virtue. And that which is attained through its utilization is very satisfying.

[Sangetorix]

Please do the world a favor and educate yourself.....

 

An irrational statement, designed to provoke an emotional response. Based upon this, I can only conclude that you are a troll, unless you have something more substantial to add to the discussion.

[Ylliarus]

An irrational statement, designed to provoke an emotional response. Based upon this, I can only conclude that you are a troll, unless you have something more substantial to add to the discussion.

 

I think he did with the quotes added written by Eric.

[PlacidDragon]

An irrational statement, designed to provoke an emotional response. Based upon this, I can only conclude that you are a troll, unless you have something more substantial to add to the discussion.

Did you fail to read the yellow quote in my post, where it says specifically that you are supposed to be able to solo any H2's (contrary to what you yourself stated... which is why i am getting somewhat frustrated... you are not the first person to say this today, to put it that way).

 

According to Bioware, you are wrong, which is why i said what i said.. educate might be a bit harsh.. inform might have been a better word. I'll blame English being a second language

[Spartanik]

Every single heroic?" The fact that the mission is labeled heroic doesn't really allow for such an enormous variation.

No It is heroic 2 wich where already soloable to high levels before KOTFE btw.

 

So yeah they broke completely the concept with this patch.

Look i dont care what you say. They need to buff companions. Maybe not at the level they were last week.

But much more buffed then they are now. because as it is they are completely useless. Even for comon leveling on planets. And with that i mean , they dont add anything to the table right now.

Edited November 18, 2015 by Spartanik

[Ylliarus]

I think PlacidDragon has put it quite perfectly. Bioware intended for the Heroic content to be soloable with your companion, as Eric Musco himself has stated it on the forums. Now, sadly, that is completely IMPOSSIBLE, because the companions contribute not one bit to healing or tanking. They die really quick and you are left alone.

 

"Every single heroic?" The fact that the mission is labeled heroic doesn't really allow for such an enormous variation.

 

It is my opinion that Bioware did not put these alliance missions into place to be an obstacle, but rather an opportunity. I think their idea is that if a player would get out of their comfort zone to:

 

complete a heroic for an alliance mission.

PVP for an alliance companion

 

: it would expand upon their gaming experience, and ultimately be more rewarding. I can give a personal anecdote that follows vaguely along these lines...

 

NOTE: the following contains potential spoilers.

 

My level 65 character has an alliance mission on hoth that demands the killing of several elite, level-specific NPCs. They are scattered throughout the planet, and may be spawned or not depending upon whether others have killed them already. They also have to be readily, actively sought out; they are not marked specifically on the map.

 

Will this take me a while to complete? Perhaps.

Will I get annoyed while attempting to find them throughout the map? From time to time, most definitely.

 

But, I will do it. And I will be proud of myself when I do. This same logic can be applied to the PVP-dependent mission:

 

Do I PVP regularly? No.

If I get into a match, is it probable that I will be schooled completely? Yes.

By getting out of my comfort zone, will I be able to explore new aspects of the game that I may possibly enjoy, thereby enhancing my overall experience of the game? YES!!!!

 

I have faith in you. Patience is a virtue. And that which is attained through its utilization is very satisfying.

 

I am very glad you have found this enjoyable. However, there are people who don't have the time to wait every single day for hourse to do one or maybe two heroics because no one wants to team up. In all my three years on SWTOR I have had that problem, in a guild or guildless, multiple times. I never did heroics until I was severely overleveled but with the initial change in 4.0, heroics had become much more enjoyable. Now? Ruined.

[xxIncubixx]

who here really thought that the healing companions were working as intended?

 

I could do any heroic and get 5+ elite mobs on me and my HP wouldnt go below 100% .

[Spartanik]

I think PlacidDragon has put it quite perfectly. Bioware intended for the Heroic content to be soloable with your companion, as Eric Musco himself has stated it on the forums. Now, sadly, that is completely IMPOSSIBLE, because the companions contribute not one bit to healing or tanking. They die really quick and you are left alone.

Even star fortress isnt doable with two players alone as it is meant to be ( maybe if one of the players is a healer). They completely broke the system with this patch.

who here really thought that the healing companions were working as intended?

 

I could do any heroic and get 5+ elite mobs on me and my HP wouldnt go below 100% .

No one is denying that wasnt a problem, and that they didnt needed a nerf.

However they didnt nerfed the companions, they made them irrelevant. Meaning The companions just dont heal at all.

And in that situation you describe, your companion would die in 2 or 3 or 4 hits, without healing you squat.

 

there is a line here, that needs to be walked. Not 8 or 80.

Edited November 18, 2015 by Spartanik

[PlacidDragon]

who here really thought that the healing companions were working as intended?

 

I could do any heroic and get 5+ elite mobs on me and my HP wouldnt go below 100% .

Very few, if any (would be my guess). But even the people knowing Bioware's penchant for really swinging the nerf hammer probably didn't foresee it to be quite this bad.

[Ylliarus]

who here really thought that the healing companions were working as intended?

 

I could do any heroic and get 5+ elite mobs on me and my HP wouldnt go below 100% .

 

Agreed, they were a bit OP, but the amount they reduced the companions usefulness with now? They are meant to be a substitute for when another player is not available... they aren't even effective as a substitute for a level 10 player! They are rendered obsolete and Bioware made a huge mistake by making the nerf as severe as it is.

[Sangetorix]

Hmmm.....

 

actually, I did not read the yellow quote. My peripheral vision caught it and I assumed it was part of your signature. I apologize.

 

So.....they now intend for heroics to be solo'd? I guess the only thing I can say is that in your quote he does mention that they would be more challenging. I'm not trying to say you are inexperienced by saying that.

 

However....if finding a suitable player to team up with is that time consuming, could you not try another mission? Maybe do some dailies or explore another part of the game like PVP? It is certainly possible to do these things and still ask guildies for help, or to broadcast an LFG request for the heroic.

[Hrco]

 

And again...as these particular missions are labeled "heroic," and not necessary to continue the single player aspect of the game, how can this possibly be considered a "problem?"

 

It IS a problem since Eric Musco himself told the community that heroic 2 missions were designed to be done by a player+companion or 2 players working together if they so choose. Therefore, you aren't required to group for that kind of content, since your companion is supposed to be able to fill in the spot of another player.

 

If the nerf resulted in companions no longer being able to fulfill that role, then the system itself is no longer working as intended and needs to be addressed.

 

Outside of flashpoints, operations and world bosses there is no content in SWTOR that should not be soloable if they player so chooses.

Edited November 18, 2015 by Hrco

[Sangetorix]

I don't know if Bioware has specifically mentioned that companions are meant to be a de facto substitute for another player. My instincts tell me that that is not true. Personally, I see them more as a stopgap; useful in story to be sure, but much less so in something that is labeled "heroic."

[Halinalle]

The missions are specifically labeled "Heroic," and this is a multiplayer game.

 

[Sangetorix]

Outside of flashpoints, operations and world bosses there is no content in SWTOR that should not be soloable if they player so chooses.

 

I heartily disagree. I believe heroics should also fall into this. Soloing them should be technically doable, but should provide an immense challenge for one person with only a companion.

[PlacidDragon]

Hmmm.....

 

actually, I did not read the yellow quote. My peripheral vision caught it and I assumed it was part of your signature. I apologize.

No need for that, i do however apologize if i came across as harsh. Poor choice of words on my part (English is a second language as mentioned, although that only partly excuses it)

 

So.....they now intend for heroics to be solo'd? I guess the only thing I can say is that in your quote he does mention that they would be more challenging. I'm not trying to say you are inexperienced by saying that.

Yes, they are intended to be soloed, but somewhat more difficult than "normal leveling content" (that is my take on it at least). For some H2's, this works very well (usually lower level ones, not that i've tried anywhere near all of them yet), for others, you are dead in 5 seconds (anything involving Colicoids for example, is an absolute death sentence). At least that is my experience this far

[denavin]

And again...as these particular missions are labeled "heroic," and not necessary to continue the single player aspect of the game, how can this possibly be considered a "problem?"

 

Learn to read before making uninformed statments. Read the dev blog

Quote from Eric;

 

" It certainly may be a bit more challenging than before but you can complete them. The intent is that you can complete any [Heroic 2] with your Companion counting as one of the two. If you find this isn't true for any Heroics tomorrow, let us know.

 

-eric"

 

Seems to me that they intended for ANY Heroc 2s to be soloable with your companion as the second palyer. Now if you have a squishy character like my Sentinal who has 208 and 216 gear and 216 weapons. Then there are just some Herioc 2s that simply can not be done. One on one is no problem but when I get swarmed with 4 or 5 mobs then Im dead in seconds. Lana ( who is at 18 ) can't even heal her self much less keep me up. If i get hit with 2 or 3 gold mob I'm dead even faster. And silver well its not good.

 

And please don't preach to me how I need to get her influince up, I know that. But if I can't do the Heroic 2s then please explain how I am suposd to do that.

 

My Jugernaut can do them with little effort but thats a tank not DPS like the Sentinal is who can't tank. Squishy toons need a good healer not a gimped one.

 

As far as grouping, I have no problem with that, just trying to keep a PUG group togeather to do more than 1 mission is not an easy task. Much less trying to keep it togeather for 5, 10 or more missions is near impossible.

 

Its true the companion where way too strong, but the way they are now is just plain stupid. They are weaker then before 4.0. Even solo mode Flashpoints are near imposible and those are ment to be soloed. They must up them a little.

 

Reducing the companions down to 25% effectiveness (75% reduction) is too much.

 

Challenging should be doable and fun not impossible and frustrating.

Edited November 18, 2015 by denavin