Hi all, I wanted to start a conversation, express some concerns, and hopefully hear from bioware on the state of class balance. I'll keep it short, both merc dps specs aren't in a good spot anymore. It has gotten to the point where many raid teams have simply banned merc dps from the team. For good reason too, Merc dps cannot compete or even meet some of the dps checks in the game without holding the rest of the group back. For example, the top arsenal parse in the game right now on parsely.io is 25k, IO doesn't fair much better barely breaking 26k Comparatively, both sorc specs are sitting around 28.5/29k and snipers are at 30k Melee dps are even higher, sitting close to 32k Dps checks for most of nim require most dps to be sitting at about 24/25k to be able to clear most raids with healers dpsing on the side. With dps checks being significantly tighter than before, everyone has to be contributing more than previous expansions. As a Merc in full 330, I can barely do the dps needed for the fights, let alone make up for a dead or underperforming player. Having higher dps checks isn't a bad thing when all of the classes are balanced, it keeps the content enjoyable and forces players to adapt and better themselves. However, when merc is pulling 5-7k less than other classes at its best, there is simply no reason to bring them into harder content. Even in optimal situations merc players are being forced off their class or they are holding back their raid team. As far as potential changes? Merc has been noticeably forgotten when it comes to some of the streamlining received in 7.0, for example the powerlode tactical became a part of the base spec for advanced prototype. Arsenal would greatly benefit from turning primed ignition into a part of their base kit as it is essential to the rotation. Perhaps adding an autocrit to heatseekers or just number changes would greatly buff the class. Many other classes also have a way to perma refresh their dots, even marksman can consistently refresh corrosive dart. Perhaps giving IO a way to refresh serrated shot without casting it could increase their dps and streamline the rotation. at the end of the day, I love this game, I enjoy playing merc and I will keep trying to push the limits of the class. It's just extremely frustrating as the gap between merc dps specs and other classes widens considerably. If you guys have read this far, I appreciate it! I hope we can bring some attention to the class.

Level 110 Title should be "No Life"

Biggest problem with the Mando / Merc is that there is no way to dps under pressure and i mean real dps, not some half *** abilities that barely do any damage. I have a PT and in ranked I can always do at least my hitpoints worth of damage before I am destroyed by a focused melee train, sometimes If i get a lucky peel I might even survive long enough to down a dpser and have my team clean up. My merc by comparison gets interrupted way too much and even with 2 free tracers I can't use a single unload or follow up on the damage. So on average I can do maybe 20K damage before I am destroyed. Both classes have similar defensive cooldowns and I enjoy playing the PT way more due to the ability to actually do damage, instead of being near useless. Healing tree is ok, but both dps trees are near useless with any pressure. I have played this game from release and have 55 toons for every class except a sorc and no other class has the same issues.

It is for when you are really and i mean REALLY! Thirsty!

Come on Palm, Did I insult you? Did I ever claim to be the best PVPer? Did I say MVP sucks or something? Nope. I just said from my perspective and Irregardless of my skill or previous guild affiliation PVP rateds suck on the bastion. I don't rage dude. I transferred servers due to moving to texas and Rated play not starting until midnight my time, not because the few of you decided to disband Strictly Business and go to MVP. I have no ill will towards any of you. I've had plenty of good memories from the games I've had on Bastion. Numbers don't lie though, I know what the Que times are on the bastion and 50% of the time you do sit on your *** doing nothing due to lack of any teams to play. I know once in a while a bunch of new guilds with Zeal start queing and it stays like that for a week, after that they get farmed disband or stop queing all together and people from the top guilds just hop from one alt to another and pretend to have "NEW" teams, but it is the same people playing the same people over and over again. There is nothing wrong with that, but the level of competition is dull. How many times can you fight don't panic and feel like you see something new? New comp, new strat? It just doesn't happen.

http://www.twitch.tv/gudarz/b/431672663 2 hours of Gudarz streaming 4 games total only teams playing is MVP and DP. Yes, Bastion is just full of Ranked play.... LOL!!! I am not hiding my identity This is Lokarr / Kharrne from Bastion.

I transferred 2 weeks ago. So my info is 2 weeks old. I did 600+ rated games on the bastion, so I'd say I have some experience with the teams playing there. There is only 2 teams that win. MVP and DP, everyone else is on farm status. Insta pops happen once a week, most of the time you need to talk to each guild to find out if anyone is queing or you sit doing nothing for hours. Crescendo plays for 2 days and doesn't que again for 2 weeks due to being farmed by the 2 guilds non stop. SB disbanded, Synnergy is just a Kickball team now. Lukewarm might be playing now, but from what I;ve seen they get farmed too. There might be some Ranked after midnight but who cares, most people are sleeping.

Sifu, Since I just transferred from the Bastion and was involved in Rateds for a long time on that server, I can honestly say that Bastion blows for rated play. There is only 2 good teams and everything else is just kickball. Only competitive games recently is don't panic vs MVP. Or if Synnergy has enough MVP standins to field a team. Only other team that queues is Crits and Giggles and they get farmed all day long by the 2 top teams. Everyone else queues once a week. On Pot5 there is at least 6 teams that could be considered good enough to challenge MVP. I am not saying that they are better, but without them actually playing them no one can say for sure. In 2-3 days of rateds you can fight 10+ teams here. That will never happen on Bastion because the population blows. If MVP or Synnergy or Don't Panic want real competition, THEY need to transfer here.

Good games I wish we had Jugg Tank online instead of a Sin. Few more games and we might squeeze out a win

Thanks

They beat us 3:0 fair and square. We are a new team so we expect a trashing while we get geared and work on team composition and synergy.

Sure that is not bad. Come back when you do 4.9 million heals. Current OP healer record in a single WZ

Moving or Turning?

Any reason his mouse cursor is visible when he is moving???? ???? ??

Few people left for MVP from the Core Rated Team, it is definitely not a merger since not everyone got invited. There is still some people in SB, but I doubt there is any future there. Most will gquit and SB will be no more.