-26% Total Damage might had been reasonable for the DPS shield builds had in 1.0.0.7, but how’s shield build DPS now?
EDIT2: Interested in it because it’s the only game changer of 1.0.0.8 patch, everything else is balance attunements.
EDIT3: If you think about it, more damage => killing faster => taking less damage. The only exception if enemy will force you to kite otherwise, in which case ability that reduces DPS is justified.
EDIT4: On the other hand, more Overguard uptime means more On Block procs on average.
EDIT5: I would be grateful if people choosing the 1st option left detailed comments below. Thank you in advance.
I actually gave some feedback on it. I played with it a lot in crucible (a week) with markovian set with overguard overcapped at 16/12 and markovian defense.
Long story short…i think:
Vanilla (end game anyway) does not need this. Maybe for leveling could be interesting? But most people don’t need it even then. Veteran and Elite are fun times with soldier
Crucible. You need overguard in the harshest times when swarmed by tough elite mobs and heroes and, on the last two waves. On the last two waves incoming damage is so high that Overguard cannot cope, in the end like most melee builds you rely on life steal. -26% total damage wrecks your life steal…especially after nerfs…so you just die.
I actually found myself waiting for overguard to finish so that I may life steal properly.
At it’s core it’s an interesting mechanic but the big nerf to damage and overall dependency on lilfe steal mechanics (haunted steel is another 10% slam to total damage so it’s a big no for haunted steel, you need weapon with vampiric and/or voracity - I use a Bonecleaver with both affixes on markovian) coupled with the fact that overcappeed overguard does not have enough absorption power means that Markovian Defense will fail you when you need it the most.
26% total damage loss is absolutely INSANE! And what you gain for that? A 100% uptime for a skill, that already has 60% uptime, and offers below average protection and no DPS boost (now, due to Targo’s Hammer nerf)? No WAY!
+1 to what fluff said overall, this isnt appealing at all, damage is more important than perma overguard.
The balance between warborn & markovian was very good in 1.0.0.6-1.0.0.7, both set could achieve equel performance in Crucible, however its another story right now markovian is dead to my eyes.
Damage wise warborn is still “ok”, if you missed it i posted an update for phys S&B here.
Thanks, I was hoping you would participate in this.
I kinda forgot about ADCtH. Sounds like Markovian’s Defense actually reduces your survivability as well on the higher end. That’s rather weird :undecided:
Not only that. In Crucible, it’s imperative to kill enemies quickly, to not get overwhelmed, and not let many heroes use their deadly skill disruption, fumble and resistance reduction abilities.
Damage loss should be far, far smaller. Something around 5-10% could be OK for some builds/playstyles. But 26% is plain stupid, no sane player will ever use it.
I tried to make it work but I always did worse. I only spend one point on overguard now too.
With the markovian nerf I switched to warborn and my survivability was no where near what it used to be so I went for a defensive devotion setup. My survivability is now fine but damage is lower than I use to have with markovian so I can’t afford to lose 26% more.
Maybe if it gave something else other than just decreasing cooldown it could be worth it but in it’s current state it is not worth it at all.
Briefly tried it on my justice set commando, it’s just not worth it. The damage penalty is just too high to ever make this work. Shields builds already lost dps in this update, why hamstring yourself even more?
I agree 100% with everything said so far. I have just started another commando toon (my latest one had her ass beaten twice by Alkamos at level 50). This time I think I am going to ignore Overguard altogether and try different abilities.
I think that reducing the bonuses of overguard itself would be better, a weaker version with more uptime or a stronger version with less. That would be a choice I could understand. A damage penalty is no choice at all.
I also voted no. Though I have a slightly different perspective. despite having played for over 1100 hours I don’t have a single piece of the Markovian set nor do I have any legendary weapons that are fit for my sword and board build or any legendary shields. I am max level and have played crucible but have never managed to defeat it on challenger (140) or get very far on gladiator because I lack the equipment to take me further.
Yes, perhaps the damage of a sword and board build is very strong if you have all the BiS legendary items but for someone who doesn’t I feel my damage output is very small compared to my other level 85 characters who are in the same position item wise. I’m doing about 3 to 4 times less damage than my duel wielding bleed blade master and about 3 times less damage then my 2 handed ranged primal strike shaman/commando who also have no legendary weapons and few legendary pieces. Of course you trade off some offensive capabilities for defensive ones but the last few updates have done quite a lot to nerf defensive builds (hp regen nerf, blood of dreeg nerf and so on).
Having tried the transmuter (come full circle) I am way worse off because my clearing speed is not fast enough, not nearly enough and I get permanent trapped or can’t move and survival becomes even harder which I feel isn’t the design of the transmuter. If you were buffed even more in some way hp regen or more block chance and kept the damage penalty it might work but as it is now it is too much.
I’d take it if it made Overguard a toggled buff, rather than a duration buff (which iirc isn’t possible for transmuters to do, so w/e). Just seems like a nuisance to have to keep re-pressing a button for something meant to offer 100% uptime.
In 1.0.0.5, “Sword and Board” DPS was indeed very high. But now, in 1.0.0.8, it was nerfed severely, and you’re right, his damage isnt great anymore. And defence was nerfed as well…