Quote Originally Posted by Hezhi View Post
I'm baffled they haven't even thought about waiting for 7.0 before replacing it if it was such a headache to balance. This is such a horrible decision on every level.
Yes, exactly. That's a huge part of where the confusion comes from (well, one of many huge parts). I've said it elsewhere and I'm sure I'll say it again; I don't think the SAM community would have had a problem with Kaiten being removed IF something of equal gameplay value were added in it's place. A huge part of why the Kaiten change is so widely hated is due to how it is a completely subtractive thing. Something was just taken away with zero thought given to the gameplay feel impact it would have, and nothing was given as a replacement in its place. The SAM of post-6.1 is a completely different - and more empty - experience than the SAM of pre-6.1.

As one example, I was rather sad when they removed Fracture from WAR back in the 3.0-to-4.0 transition when SB released, but enough extra stuff got added in that WAR actually ended up feeling real good despite the loss (well, until they simplified the shit out of it anyway). But initially in SB, WAR was actually a very high-ceiling job. Pulling off the perfect IR+Berserk combo (yes, they used to be separate skills instead of one upgrading to the other) and getting all of your oGCD's and 5x Fell Cleaves in your Zerk/IR window was super challenging, requiring a very specific lead-up of GCD's and resource management to pull everything off. So despite the fact that Fracture was completely removed as an ability, it didn't matter in the end because WAR got a lot of gameplay meat as compensation, something that did not happen here when SE shanked Kaiten in a back alley and left it to bleed out.