Destiny 2: Witch Queen

[Eivion]

Tried around 5-7 Scarlet Keep GMs last week up until last night. None were successful. Apparently there is a cheese spot people just expect everyone to magically know and go to. My teams also sucked at staying alive on the elevator. 

Tried the Arms Dealer this week and did well until the boss fight where my team again tried a cheese spot, but seemed unsure as to how to pull it off. Beyond that watching Aztec's vid for the GM today made it pretty obvious said move is now a fucking moronic one due to elemental burn. My team got one shotted by the boss.

I dislike the GM changes. Burns and no radar seems like a bit much on an activity that was already hard as fuck.

Edited April 13, 2022 by Eivion

[RIPPA]

If you are talking about triggering Valus earlier as "the cheese" in Arms Dealer (by jumping on the elevator chain) - that has been around forever.

Both Fallout and Datto put new videos on it today and nothing changed as far as I can tell. I haven't seen anyone try to use any other spot than that.

Of course - in both videos - the strategy is to abuse solar rocket launchers (one gally, the other two can be whatever) so theoretically you can stay out of harms way. Datto joked that people weren't complain about the burn this week since it is solar and everyone was using Gally

[Eivion]

That was what I was referring to. Its way too easy for the guy to snip you. People forget they aren't Fallout and Datto sometimes. Not saying you can't use the strategy, but its far easier and more sensible to use the elevator like normal.

[RIPPA]

It would really be great if people weren't such big flakes

Like it shouldn't be easier to fill a Master Wellspring that requires 6 folks than it is like Legendary PsiOps

That being said - I also wanted to slap the dude last week who I ran into in a Master Wellspring. He joined the same LFG I did - host couldn't start because the dude didn't have access to Wellspring. So the dude was "Whoops - I have to change characters". So he leaves and comes back. Host still can't start because the same dude didn't have access to Master Wellspring. And we were like "Dude - have you gone to Fynch?" and he was all "Whose Fynch?"

So yeah - he ended up getting kicked

[J.T.]

On 4/12/2022 at 7:50 AM, RIPPA said:

This is why if you look at that LFG groups now it is always MUST NOT HAVE GONE FLAWLESS. A) Because people trying for their first, want to stay out of it and B) players are trying to tank their squad to stay out of it

Well, they do this because they want to bulldoze through the competition.  No one wants to take on players that are as good as they are or better.  This is the main reason people hate the Flawless Pool.  

On 4/12/2022 at 7:50 AM, RIPPA said:

Plus - some weekend's (like this past weekend) have Trials Freelance - so you only play against Solos. If you are pulling high quality stacked teams on those weekends, you have no one but yourself to blame.

Like I said, that's the game working as designed.  The better you are, the better your opposition should be.

I am beginning to think that whoever thought cross play was a good idea wasn't a network guy.  Sure, you generate a larger player pool and you hope that the matchmaking algorithm picks people that are relatively close geographically, but that does not necessarily guarantee the most optimum connectivity.

Probably why so many people complain about lag when they are matchmade with cross players.

[Eivion]

3 hours ago, RIPPA said:

It would really be great if people weren't such big flakes

Like it shouldn't be easier to fill a Master Wellspring that requires 6 folks than it is like Legendary PsiOps

That being said - I also wanted to slap the dude last week who I ran into in a Master Wellspring. He joined the same LFG I did - host couldn't start because the dude didn't have access to Wellspring. So the dude was "Whoops - I have to change characters". So he leaves and comes back. Host still can't start because the same dude didn't have access to Master Wellspring. And we were like "Dude - have you gone to Fynch?" and he was all "Whose Fynch?"

So yeah - he ended up getting kicked

Legendary PsiOps actually is a bit more difficult than Master Wellspring due to enemy density so I can actually see why its harder to fill. You get a lot of rewards in PsiOps but its no different than what we get in the normal version so other than seasonal bounties and triumphs it doesn;t feel like its worth the hassle repeating.

As for that dude who didn't have I access I have no idea. I'm befuddled whenever I see people on LFG trying to do Master content and GMs while being way the hell too low a light level.

[RIPPA]

I just need to do each PsiOps once for the seasonal challenge... yet no one wants to do them

I haven't even tried getting Gally yet because everyone wants to do Master GoA

[Eivion]

1 minute ago, RIPPA said:

I just need to do each PsiOps once for the seasonal challenge... yet no one wants to do them

That is odd. I usually see 4-5 up on Bungie's LFG.

1 minute ago, RIPPA said:

I haven't even tried getting Gally yet because everyone wants to do Master GoA

Most GoA I see are for the normal version. People wanting to do Master actually only popped up around the time GM Nightfalls opened as its only 10 LL less than those.

[RIPPA]

It might be due to the time I am able to explore LFGs - like the last time I was able to try was Friday so that was peak Trials time (besides the usual Vow groups)

[Eivion]

That is probably it then. I know there are plenty of Trials requests during the weekends. You should be good this week though since its Iron Banner.

[Eivion]

Hearing mechs won over the monsters armor makes me question the tastes of the D2 community. Only the Warlock gear looked remotely worthwhile. 

[RIPPA]

3 minutes ago, Eivion said:

Hearing mechs won over the monsters armor makes me question the tastes of the D2 community. Only the Warlock gear looked remotely worthwhile. 

Yeah - I was disappointed

But again - that is two straight votes Monsters has lost so either Bungie just needs to release it into the wild or give up on it

[RIPPA]

FINALLY unlocked the Tarnation pattern so I finally finished all the investigation stuff

Unless they give me a catalyst - I doubt I am ever gonna use the Exotic Glaive

[Eivion]

Took a bit but I did finally do a successful GM a couple of nights ago. its nice to have an adept Duty Bound though I was really hoping my successful GM would be when Palindrome was available. 

Apparently we can get other exotic glaive patterns in Wellspring. On the one hand I feel kind of dumb for not realizing this since exotic weapon patterns are one of the possible rewards. Only the other I'm befuddled as to why since we can't use them as they are class specific.

[RIPPA]

8 hours ago, Eivion said:

Apparently we can get other exotic glaive patterns in Wellspring. On the one hand I feel kind of dumb for not realizing this since exotic weapon patterns are one of the possible rewards. Only the other I'm befuddled as to why since we can't use them as they are class specific.

I guess it is just for the folks who want to own everything/have all the lore but don't play on all three characters

I mean if you can still craft them (just not equip them) - folks would make them so their other class had them at the start

Like I haven't started Witch Queen on my Warlock yet - maybe this way I could have it as soon as I started the campaign (not saying its a good reason just the only one I can think of)

[Eivion]

Only the specific class can craft them as well.

[RIPPA]

New Amazon Prime drop for D2 has hit

[RIPPA]

dmg has said today's TWAB is massive and is about sandbox changes so folks think that means either Solar 3.0 or Arc 3.0 will be teased

EDIT - Kevin Yanes (the Sandbox Director) said there is no 3.0 in this TWAB so it clearly is gonna be Guardian Games and all the shit they are gonna nerf

[Eivion]

Not sure why anyone would assume Solar/Arc 3.0 talk. They have implied weapons for at least a week now.

[RIPPA]

Just now, Eivion said:

Not sure why anyone would assume Solar/Arc 3.0 talk. They have implied weapons for at least a week now.

I think it was just because how giant it is - but some people don't understand how lengthy weapon changes can be

(And they are making A LOT)

[Eivion]

Curious to see Aztec and Datto's takes, but the TWAB was interesting. A pretty good amount of nerfs were mostly PvP focused. The buffs for PvE were nice to hear, especially them going back to various Year 1/2 exotics. Not sure Machine Guns needed a buff outside of the boss damaged aspect. They do well at shredding normal enemies and are solid against the mini-bosses, especially the Stasis machine gun they added in with Season of the Risen. Le Monarque getting a PvE buff is questionable. Its already the most effective bow in endgame content due to its poison damage. If anything Wish Ender and Trinity Ghoul probably needed buffs. The Leviathan's Breath buff does make me interested in trying it out again. 

[RIPPA]

I really liked the graphs about what exotics each class use in PvP - where Hunters and Warlocks each had one that was over 40% and Titans didn't

Oh and unsurprisingly - the mouth breathers are not handling the Stompees news well

 

[Eivion]

Speaking honestly I have mostly stopped using Stomp-EE5 outside of a need to jump in certain spots in PvE content or when I need a neutral exotic. Void 3.0 has made Orpheus far too good to use again while the change they made to Lucky Pants last season makes them a lot more viable with various hand cannons.  

All that said, no matter how you slice it the change is kind of bullshit and seems to be more about pleasing the Warlocks & Titans who complain regularly about Hunters despite their own classes having far more gear and abilities specifically attuned to PvP. The airborne attacks they are supposedly nerfing this for in the first place are far stronger within the classes that can glide and fly. With exception of things like GLs and Rocket Launchers, most weapons Hunters can't really use effectively in the air so the change doesn't really make sense when it comes to trying to make gameplay more fair. Even terms of general mobility Stomp-EE5 never did too much. Effective Dragon's Shadow users are way the fuck more frightening in PvP though I suppose there aren't many of them.

Edit: I should mention I do find the bitching interesting. As much as some complain I think they will end up finding this not too annoying save for occasional moments in PvE and PvP. Most Hunters weren't using airborne attacks in the first place because it was just a good way to get killed in both PvE (more mid tier and endgame) and PvP. I think what will be more interesting is how Titans and Warlocks who are rejoicing now will respond if this doesn't actually hinder their deaths in PvP to Hunters. I've said it before, but I think Hunters who are good at PvP are just good at PvP. Hunters don't really have exotics or abilities that have led to the same type of brokenness we have had out of Titans at times and Warlocks regularly. There is legit skill needed to make the most use out of various builds.

1 hour ago, RIPPA said:

I really liked the graphs about what exotics each class use in PvP - where Hunters and Warlocks each had one that was over 40% and Titans didn't

Eh, that kind of goes back to what I said about Titans having multiple good exotics for PvP. I don't know how much of that is a good thing as it sort of points out a screwed up balance. If they were doing things right none of the classes would have 40%+ on any specific exotic. 

Edited April 21, 2022 by Eivion

[J.T.]

17 hours ago, RIPPA said:

I really liked the graphs about what exotics each class use in PvP - where Hunters and Warlocks each had one that was over 40% and Titans didn't

Oh and unsurprisingly - the mouth breathers are not handling the Stompees news well

 

If the Stompees users are honest with themselves, they will admit that the Icarus Grip / Stompees combo was really broken.  I used it a lot before I retired.  It felt like cheating.  I had an Austringer with Icarus Grip / Rangefinder / Hammer Forged Rifling / Accurized Rounds that I used in Comp when I chased Luna's Howl right before calling it quits. That HC was a thing made of pure evil and Stompees made it even worse.  It was fucking awesome!

I was solidly in the Dragon Shadow PvP camp until I started experimenting with Stompees. 

Still, it always seems that Hunter mains bear the brunt of these nerfs based solely on PvP whining and nerfing one Exotic won't fix the fundamental issues that have plagued Crucible since Beyond Light. 

The people that suck in PvP will still die in droves and in six months it will be MASK OF BAKRIS NEEDS A NERF~!  Also, the Titan and Warlock slugs that this nerf fan services are forgetting that only the air accuracy is nerfed.  It will not affect the movement buffs so Hunters will still be air juggling around your shit, outrunning roaming supers, and hitting you with Shatterdive from crazy angles.  Even with the nuclear nerf, S-Dive is still a problem.... thank the Traveler....

Edited April 22, 2022 by J.T.

[J.T.]

Oh, and if Bungie fixed our shitty jump so that it covered the 95% of the distance of a Warlock glide or a Titan lift like it did in D1, we wouldn't even be having this debate.  Platforming in D1 wasn't nearly as infuriating as it is in D2.

Bungie knows that D2 Hunter jumps are inferior by design.  That's why we have an exotic that buffs jumping distance.  

Edited April 22, 2022 by J.T.