Hello There, first time posting here!
As of 6.1, many Samurai players, including myself, have been attempting to adjust to the new samurai changes. With the removal of Kaiten, and the addition of guaranteed crits to key abilities, this is my thoughts and review on the change: Samurai feels hollow.
While the idea of getting guaranteed critical hits on Midare/Kaeshi Setsugekka and Ogi/Kaeshi Namikiri sounds neat at first, it is derailed with the problem of their reduced potency and with the removal of Kaiten. Damage wise, the Job suffers as a whole, and reading around the forums and watching Desperius's power test on Samurai, the general calculation is an overall 3% loss with the 6.1 iteration.
Damage is indeed important for Samurai, but that isn't my biggest concern. These are my main points when it comes to DPS Job Design.
1. Engaging Gameplay (doesn't need to be complex, just fun)
2. Visual Appeal
3. Damage capability
Before 6.1, Samurai had a solid Job identity in all of its necessary areas. Gameplay actions made near perfect sense with the Sen Coins, Kenki Meter Management, it just flowed like a river. Kaiten for iaijutsus, Shinten/Kyuten for managing overflow, and Senei/Guren once in a while.
Release of 6.1, Samurai is Hollow. Kenki meter is "Shinten Meter", with Senei/Guren once every 2 minutes. It's as if there is no seasoning to my meat, or if you asked for a Cheeseburger, and there was no cheese. The flavor is missing. Kaiten was the Class flavor, it was the cheese to the burger.
I understand the Dev team needs to find ways to remove button bloat, although i dont agree with this philosophy and how its continuing. With that said, I believe these could be better alternatives if we really need to lessen Samurai buttons.
- Ikishoten transforms into Ogi Namikiri > Kaeshi Namikiri.
- Combine Hissatsu: Guren into Hissatsu: Senei. Visually, have the sword animation of Senei, but add sword beams similar to Guren that travel in a line.
- Iaijutsu becomes Tsubame Gaeshi, let it pop up after you use Hinganbana, Tenka Goken, or Midare Setsugekka. Wondering how many charges you have? create a meter that tells you how many you got, 2 Swallow bird feathers to reference the ability name translation "Swallow Counter".
This would free up 3 hot bar slots
I have read that Shoha should just become Shoha II, and while i can understand the idea, I personally would keep them separate because both animations are beautiful and provide more flavor to the class.