Honest Review of Combos and a Suggestion

[Frein]

I agree with everything the OP says. I voiced the lack of choice concern when the combo system was announced and it seems like my fears became reality. When you incentivize certain actions too heavily, they become the only choice even in situations where they seem less optimal.

For example, let's assume Storm's Path > Whirlwind was the only combo MRD can produce. It's an AOE combo, but you'd probably keep using it against single targets as well. A free WS is such an overwhelmingly significant bonus that almost all other factors pale in comparison. It penalized reactive play and encourages formulaic repetition of an optimal seuqence regarless of game state.

I was also disappointed to learn that the combo system was for individuals only with no cooperation required (other than to keep the target's facing steady). Perhaps the intention is to build on it with party combos that trigger when one player performs a combo and another one "links" them by finishing with a different combo?