Oraxis.9705

Overall these are good changes, but you really, really need to address WvW and PvP. I hope that y'all are intending to see how these changes shake out it PvE before moving them to other game modes, but I fear this is merely a sign of you continuing to ignore other game modes. The WvW meta has grown very stale, and all you do is change PvE. Please give WvW some love, and PvP for that matter.

A good start, but you need to address Warrior in your upcoming patches and fixes because you absolutely shredded it. The ranger weapon changes should be game wide, not limited to PvE, to make up for the fact that you gutted OWP when frankly ranger didn't need a nerf. Good changes for engi, though I worry the autoattack speed needs to be reduced (I say this as an engi main). And In the future you need to take the nerf bat to Firebrand. If you won't get rid of the dev who can't be named, put some solid supervision over them because this balance patch shows that it has been sorely lacking.

So I assume none of your meetings discussed the reason a number of us went from annoyed at the patch notes to a frenzy, save to apologize to them for our outrage at their hurtful comments? I can't say a name for fear of a ban but that individual needs to be punished in some way. To be clear, I neither want that person fired nor harmed. But a public censure is warranted. That would certainly be a start towards reaching out to the community. Insisting that someone get a reprimand for their insulting and offensive behavior is not, as you implied in your initial release, a threat. We merely wish to see that person held accountable.

With all due respect @Josh Davis.7865 there is a large gulf between those calling for the firing of the dev responsible due to his insulting and disrespectful comments, his admitted lack of knowledge, and his clear favouritism and death threats. Those who have made those threats should not be lumped in with those of us who are asking for some sort of accountability and censure. I, and the overwhelming majority of the player base deeply hurt by his comments, denounce those who issue those threats. But I feel it is fair to call for some sort of public rebuke or, at the very least, a distancing of Arenanet from his comments. His comments in total reek of unprofessionalism and a total lack of respect for the community. Personally I don't want to see him fired. I would prefer a reassignment and a new, impartial lead installed for the balance team. Frankly, you can't be wiki searching utility skills and be in charge of balance.

Look, I hate myself for saying this but this is a skill issue. Core ranger is still a very effective roaming scout and with the right loadout and skill you can take down just about anything. It comes down to counters, positioning, and timing. I always ran, and often still do, greatsword longbow with survival skills. You need to read your opponent and react accordingly. And quite frankly if you can't burst on a ranger you need to reevaluate your gear and skills because ranger burst is incredibly powerful. Soulbeast in my opinion is the superior roamer and pick squad but frankly thats to be expected because it requires an additional skill check and base ranger is probably the easiest and most forgiving class to play. Also, how do you account for how powerful and, in the right hands, downright disgusting core thieves can be as WvW roamers? To respond to the obvious retort that I'm skirting the issue, expansions are not and have never been described as pay to win by anyone save yourself. There is a natural period where new subclasses border on overpowered because as much as they might try, playtesters can't pinpoint how us players will break the game and find overpowered ways to use new things. Tldr: this is frankly either a skill or loadout problem. Look at *how* EoD specs are beating you and when you see one try to counter.