Raid buffs and combo actions should go.

[R041]

It seems the discussion is getting a bit off track. While I do think talking about player retention is related to the topic at hand it seems you guys are just arguing about whos right or wrong about speculative data on sub counts. If you're not going to bring the argument back to the topic of the thread could you please take it to another thread that would be more appropriate?

Sorry - That's fair, I think I got carried away. Most of the data we're going off of is super rough anyway, so nobody's really correct.

Anyway, I don't agree with removing buff individuality because it's exactly the type of removal that got us into this position in the first place. Removing individual buffs would put us further into 'samey', that we may as well get rid of DPS altogether and we can just play DDR. I think you're right about combos though.

We need to be adding way more diversity, and giving classes more separation by adding in more variety for each class so that it can bring multiple things to the table if 1 isn't particularly in meta at that moment. (I think WoW understands this) The problem is that SE is so focused on putting each class in their own strict pocket of utility, that whole classes getting shafted is just par for the course and is inevitable. Like AST, I used to say.. "Okay, what do we need from me this fight - I can focus on certain cards and go Nocturnal" - But now I'd go, "Should I bring AST or SGE?", which also means I don't even get the luxury of changing strategy mid-fight or between pulls. Your choices are typically just "Who do I use this on now?"

We haven't been given new classes, we've been gift-wrapped old class specs in new glam.

SE can't force the meta 100%, and I think they need to realize that, how they haven't in the past decade is beyond me. They were probably thinking the same thing as you are here, every expac "If we just removed ####, it'll help us adjust #### to ####!" then kept chopping, and chopping, and chopping.

Now we're stuck in the position of everything always having a Meta + feeling awfully samey.

So we never really gained anything these past 8 years outside of the general Quality of Life changes like ability reset on wipe and the fights themselves getting cleaner mechanically.