So with the recent PTR hotfix to Barber at this point in time it appears that the build will no longer be viable thus putting the next season meta into disarray.
I was wondering what everyone thinks the new META for 2's, 3's, and 4's will be next season as a result?
Yeah I know many people say, "play what you want, who cares what the meta is". I understand this stance but, for me personally, if I'm not optimizing the time I play the game it becomes un-fun. In my opinion that's directly tied to what's meta and what can allow me to group and grind paragon most easily.
It's unfortunate that many classes haven't been in the 4-man meta in years, furthermore that many of those same classes' solo builds have remained unchanged in an equal amount of time (at least up to this coming season):
LoN Bomber, FoK DH, Gen Monk, Firebirds Wiz, Charge Barb/Frenzy Thorns, other I'm sure I forgot...
It is really a shame that the dh and the cruisader are not in the meta since over 1 year.
There are some people who do not want to play "offchar" to level up gems/paragons.
They should at least somehow make it possible that each class can be in a 4 man team. E.g. introduce a set that 1 member can use, that helps the team
in some way that is not class dependent. well i think this sounds boring too...dunno.
But isn't this what pushes people away? That nothing changes from season to season since nearly a year?
Well actually the Grenadier UE DH can be in the meta. Just no one has tried it. I say it can be because it is a Melee build and can actually benefit from the monk's healing. Before the DH could never benefit.
You can actually run 2x Grenade DH. 1 with BOTT, SS, & PE (uses grenade that fires 3 at once). 1 with BOTT, SS, & BOTS (this one fires single grenade rune).
You people rely too much on the PTR. Bagstones already said this like 3 different times. Angryroleplayer has also addressed this. The PTR doesn't reflect the LIVE Meta.
No way any DH build currently comes close to the DPS output of Arachyr's buffed set especially for groups. It's possible in a jam to run a number of things but the overall best 2's, 3's, and 4's comp will always have a clear winner.
In similar fashion you could run a zDPS DH but it's sub-optimal to barb and monk combo; thus meaning it won't be readily invited if the group has the choice between those options.
But i do a agree PTR should be taken with a grain of salt. Lots of things change, and will change before going live.In my earlier post i didn't really think about the DH build, that might be something to test out tho.
It is really a shame that the dh and the cruisader are not in the meta since over 1 year.
I remember the other classes were in the same boat before. Every competitive game goes through these kind of pick and chose phases when there are changes. So if those are the classes you want to play just give it some time and try to enjoy them anyway
In the PTR right now I have a hardcore WD using the jade harvester set with some modifications and its pretty fun. Rank 12 or something because nobody else is doing what I am but im having fun with it and thats all that matters when it comes to Diablo
It is really a shame that the dh and the cruisader are not in the meta since over 1 year.
I remember the other classes were in the same boat before. Every competitive game goes through these kind of pick and chose phases when there are changes. So if those are the classes you want to play just give it some time and try to enjoy them anyway
In the PTR right now I have a hardcore WD using the jade harvester set with some modifications and its pretty fun. Rank 12 or something because nobody else is doing what I am but im having fun with it and thats all that matters when it comes to Diablo
Sure other classes had this too. But we are not just in any iteration state of the game. The first few seasons, fine. But i think the goal is convergence towards balance. But it has gotten worse instead, imo (okay, we now have 2 damagedealer, but classes nearly viable as supporters before are now useless). And what i do each season is dicing which class i play, be it in the meta or not. And i like your approach of playing the game. I do that each season with a second char. But i think that my complains are still entitled.
I have loved spirit barrage since the very first day Diablo 3 went live. I loved my witch doctor and tried many different builds. When the barber was first announced, a feeling of rising joy in my heart burst forth, and the grinding on live began. I knew with no supporting sets, the only option was going to be a LoN build, so I started hunting for Ancients. I periodically would check in on the PTR just to make sure the hunt was still worth it. As of this "hotfix" to The Barber and Gazing Demise, it seems the hunt is no longer worth it. Pre patch, a normal t13 rift would take anywhere from 4 to 10 mins, depending on map layout and build variation. Post patch, average clear is 12-19 mins. That is a SHATTERING amount of difference. I hope that at some point in the future, Spirit Barrage will be a usable skill again.
the bigger problem is that its always kinda the same meta crap. supports are the same every fuckign season and dps just switches around sometimes. the lack of anything new is the problem here. its rly not that timeconsuming to make up a new set from time to time. even with the new legendaries its always the same.
Yes, i said that in another thread (or here earlier). Blizzard does not want to change something for the sake of change. But i guess that is what we need in a new season. And because nothing changed people got away from d3 because it got boring.
And that they nerfed support dh and cruisader while nerfing but still let monk be the ultimate support also seems not to be well conceived.
So with the recent PTR hotfix to Barber at this point in time it appears that the build will no longer be viable thus putting the next season meta into disarray.
I was wondering what everyone thinks the new META for 2's, 3's, and 4's will be next season as a result?
I'm going with:
4-man:
zDPS Barb
zDPS Monk
2x DPS WD with Arachyr's set.
3-man:
zDPS Barb
zDPS Monk
WD Arachyr's
2-man:
zDPS monk
WD Arachyr
yep gonna be a boring season
i dont really see the meta changing at all from season 8 to season 9.
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With the damage buff to arachyrs and the GR density changes I think gen monks fall out
It is really a shame that the dh and the cruisader are not in the meta since over 1 year.
There are some people who do not want to play "offchar" to level up gems/paragons.
They should at least somehow make it possible that each class can be in a 4 man team. E.g. introduce a set that 1 member can use, that helps the team
in some way that is not class dependent. well i think this sounds boring too...dunno.
But isn't this what pushes people away? That nothing changes from season to season since nearly a year?
Yeah I know many people say, "play what you want, who cares what the meta is". I understand this stance but, for me personally, if I'm not optimizing the time I play the game it becomes un-fun. In my opinion that's directly tied to what's meta and what can allow me to group and grind paragon most easily.
It's unfortunate that many classes haven't been in the 4-man meta in years, furthermore that many of those same classes' solo builds have remained unchanged in an equal amount of time (at least up to this coming season):
LoN Bomber, FoK DH, Gen Monk, Firebirds Wiz, Charge Barb/Frenzy Thorns, other I'm sure I forgot...
You can actually run 2x Grenade DH. 1 with BOTT, SS, & PE (uses grenade that fires 3 at once). 1 with BOTT, SS, & BOTS (this one fires single grenade rune).
You people rely too much on the PTR. Bagstones already said this like 3 different times. Angryroleplayer has also addressed this. The PTR doesn't reflect the LIVE Meta.
No way any DH build currently comes close to the DPS output of Arachyr's buffed set especially for groups. It's possible in a jam to run a number of things but the overall best 2's, 3's, and 4's comp will always have a clear winner.
In similar fashion you could run a zDPS DH but it's sub-optimal to barb and monk combo; thus meaning it won't be readily invited if the group has the choice between those options.
But i do a agree PTR should be taken with a grain of salt. Lots of things change, and will change before going live.In my earlier post i didn't really think about the DH build, that might be something to test out tho.
Twitch Streamer (http://www.twitch.tv/lordnitro101)
Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/user/TheLordnitro101)
In the PTR right now I have a hardcore WD using the jade harvester set with some modifications and its pretty fun. Rank 12 or something because nobody else is doing what I am but im having fun with it and thats all that matters when it comes to Diablo
I have loved spirit barrage since the very first day Diablo 3 went live. I loved my witch doctor and tried many different builds. When the barber was first announced, a feeling of rising joy in my heart burst forth, and the grinding on live began. I knew with no supporting sets, the only option was going to be a LoN build, so I started hunting for Ancients. I periodically would check in on the PTR just to make sure the hunt was still worth it. As of this "hotfix" to The Barber and Gazing Demise, it seems the hunt is no longer worth it. Pre patch, a normal t13 rift would take anywhere from 4 to 10 mins, depending on map layout and build variation. Post patch, average clear is 12-19 mins. That is a SHATTERING amount of difference. I hope that at some point in the future, Spirit Barrage will be a usable skill again.
The Meta problem is indeed getting bigger and bigger by the seasons.
Which is probably what cause alot of players getting turned off, blizzard should indeed strive for better balance and solve this meta problem.
Running support or "zero dps" is just not giving the same feel of being a mighty nephalem slaughtering demons.
This feeling together with the loot hunt is what made Diablo games into what they are, remove both and the game feels alot different than it should.
IMO.
And that they nerfed support dh and cruisader while nerfing but still let monk be the ultimate support also seems not to be well conceived.
too bad diablo succs
This patch does not include any gameplay changes(Unti next D4). LOL
http://www.diablofans.com/blizz-tracker/topic/63830-minor-ptr-patch-now-live-2-4-3-42655
Did they nerf spider set at the final hours ?
Arach buff went live (2400%).