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Why Nerfing Exists -- A long-winded guide to why you're really, really wrong (I'm a bored female gamer)


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#1
Deerber

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 "You just don't like being outscored!"

"It's a co-op game!"

"Tckthuhuluwapphffffuputututu!" (which is a translation of the above into an ancient and forgotten language)

These are the common justifications as to why nothing should ever be nerfed. The co-op argument is, in the small picture, a valid point. Why should you want allies to be weaker? But, thing is, there's a much, much bigger picture here, which I'll go into detail on right now.

I. The character-by-character basis
To better illustrate this point, I'm gonna use an example:

You're playing your favorite co-op RPG shooter, Galaxy of Fantasy. At launch, you had the option to choose between Image IPB(Ninja), or Image IPB (Bandit). Both characters are equally viable selections, as they both served different roles, but one wasn't necessarily a better choice than the other: it was merely all about how you preferred to play the game. Image IPB is really fast, and Image IPB has really high defense. All's good. But one day, GoF introduces the Image IPB (Copper) DLC! Image IPB is REALLY strong. As a matter of fact, upon release, he's so strong, that he can literally nuke anything just by attacking it. Who needs to move fast, or have high defense, when you can literally kill anything without effort whatsoever? At this point, Image IPB and Image IPB are merelynovelty characters, meaning they're fun to play around with, but when you actually need a character to do a serious mission with, you're gonna turn to Image IPB. So now the GoF development team has two choices:

A) They can buff Image IPB and Image IPB to the levels of Image IPB. This way, they're all on even terms.
B) They can nerf Image IPB so that he's about on-par with Image IPB and Image IPB. Same results as above.

Problem with option A, is that if it's selected, the game will suddenly be easier now. Difficulty means nothing! Silver mode is now a cakewalk, and Gold requires so little effort. Platinum can be done if your team is mildly competent.

If they choose B, then not only do you now have three equally viable characters to choose from, but you alsopreserve the game's difficulty, and by extension, the way it was meant to be.


II. The power-by-power basis

Now that all three characters are just as good as one another, we can take a look at their individual powers. In particular, let's look at Image IPB. He has the skills Poison Shurikens, Speed Boost, and Immolation, and his two passives. Poison Shurikens is a nice skill, as it adds on some awesome DoT effects. But Immolation is where it's at! That skill just does so much damage and debuffs enemies so bad, it's crazy! But look at Speed Boost. Only a 15% boost in movement speed for 5 seconds if I max it out? What? Screw that, I refuse to spec into a skill so worthless! So what do I, as a player, do? Spec him 6/0/6/6/6 of course. That's what everyone does. It's the best build for him.

The development team takes a look now. After assessing that Immolation's really powerful and Speed Boost is really weak, they now have two options:

A) Increase the power of Poison Shurikens and the speed bonus of Speed Boost to the competitive levels of Immolation.
B) Lower the power of Immolation to Poison Shurikens' level, and raise the potency of Speed Boost to Poison Shurikens' level.

The problem with option A, is that now Image IPB is the more appealing option in comparison to Image IPB and Image IPB. Why take the balanced characters when I can take the one with three OP powers? And so balance will need to be re-issued.

If you take option B though, Immolation becomes a much less viable option, sure, but it's still a good skill, and a very handy one at that. Only now, Image IPB has three good skills to choose from, making builds much harder to decide on, making individual players think about it themselves instead of consulting the internet for that "perfect build" for the character.


In short, balance is necessary for co-op games just as much as it is for PvP games. Why have options when one thing just destroys the viability of the other things? Balance. It's called that for a reason. Nobody's "out to get you" or "trying to ruin your fun". No, we're trying to help you, actually. Open up possibilities, and all that jazz. We all enjoy the game, and sometimes things need to be taken out of power. Nerfs are necessary, just as buffs are. That's the double-edged sword of competitive balance.

#2
ClydeInTheShell

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Reported.

There's no such thing as a female gamer.

#3
valium

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ClydeInTheShell wrote...

Reported.

There's no such thing as a female gamer.

not true... I am pretty sure I have come across... one... maybe

#4
Guest_TchOktChoky_*

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Image IPB

#5
RZIBARA

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Other than the GI, none of the classes really outshine the others. Sure some classes care crap, but alot of them are useful.

#6
Deerber

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TchockTckocky wrote...

Image IPB


OMG!!

It's a ****ing WAT apocalypse mode! :o

#7
didacuscarr

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Dear beer pls.

#8
ClydeInTheShell

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valium wrote...

ClydeInTheShell wrote...

Reported.

There's no such thing as a female gamer.

not true... I am pretty sure I have come across... one... maybe


orly?

Reported for hoarding.

#9
LemurFromTheId

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Holy déjà vu, Batman!

EDIT: added the mandatory Batman.

Modifié par Aedolon, 20 septembre 2013 - 07:24 .


#10
FuriousFelicia

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Tl; but red it

What's all this about then?

#11
DullahansXMark

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o_o

#12
mybudgee

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I like milk with Oreos

#13
OrcWhisperer

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I feel like I am losing my MINDMINDIMIND

#14
Guest_BioWareMod01_*

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And we are done here.

#15
Jugger nuggss

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Are you really a gamer grill?