Lately, I’ve been grappling with a sense of diminishing enjoyment from the game. I can’t quite pinpoint whether it’s due to the influx of Dark and Darker gold RMT buyers, the forced meta, the evident cheating and hacking, or perhaps a shift in the community’s overall approach. Regardless of the cause, the game has been losing its allure for me.
While I understand that victory and defeat are natural aspects of gaming, it’s disheartening to find myself constantly disengaging from fights. Facing opponents who are decked out in full purples, or encountering fighters equipped with an abundance of potions and gear that grants them a staggering 90% damage reduction, often renders the struggle futile and unenjoyable.
My journey through the cleric class, akin to a Paladin, has been a cherished one since the first playtest. The experience of donning full plate armor, wielding a morning star, and wielding a kite shield while bolstering myself and my allies with buffs is incredibly satisfying. However, the current forced composition of cleric/bard/dps has relegated me to a heal and shield role, stripping away the gratification of living out that fantasy. Though I recognize that a balanced approach involves one tanky DPS paired with robust support, the current landscape stifles the ability to fully embrace that unique playstyle.
I’m here to question if I’m alone in this sentiment, if there are others who share the feeling that the game has transformed and no longer resonates as it once did, particularly in comparison to previous playtests.
Enter the “skill issue gang.” It seems that voicing dissatisfaction with a video game that’s designed for entertainment is seen as an attack on personal identity by some. It’s rather astonishing how people can take any criticism of the game as a direct affront. At the end of the day, it’s simply an individual expressing a change in their enjoyment level.
Part of the struggle may stem from the shift in the metagame. In the prior playtest, the barb reigned supreme, while the latter stages introduced the DR fighter meta. Now, the latter has taken center stage and will likely persist until new strategies and compositions arise to counter it.
It’s crucial to remember that, akin to team games like League of Legends, class selection has an element of rock-paper-scissors. Counters exist, and encountering one’s counter can be disheartening. Moreover, navigating a 2v3 situation poses a substantial disadvantage due to the limited flexibility in handling scenarios. Even when equipped with purple gear, surviving a 2v3 engagement can prove challenging.
Your frustration is entirely understandable. Your preferred playstyle clashes with the current dominant team compositions, making it difficult to execute successfully. Additionally, the context of playing within a 2v3 dynamic further hinders the likelihood of a successful outcome.
