Hattori
09-17-2006, 06:08 PM
There have been some complaints lately from various players that a specific type of build and combat art are unbalanced. This is the last discussion we shall have on the topic. I will not brook further whining. If you possess a valid and well-articulated/researched rebuttal to my arguments, please PM me and I will see if anything further needs to be changed.
1. It's a game, people, you're supposed to have fun, and whining isn't fun ^_^. Not for you and especially not for me, because guess who has to balance all the rulesets? (Take a wild one here.)
2. There is no single stat nor single build which can dominate all others. There are some builds that are better than others - since when is this not true? Simply because a build is gimped for STR or DEX, it's broken? Combat-optimized builds will perform better in the field than those which aren't. It's just a simple fact of RPGs.
Ex:
People have been complaining that kaze_mizu's build and associated combat art are too strong. I will now construct two builds - one strength-focused and one constitution-focused - that are capable of utterly dominating him. They will be the same level as him, and possess the same number of techniques and Shikai release.
1.: Strength-gimped combat build.
Combat Art: Zanjutsu
STR 6 (9)
DEX 0
CON 3
REI 2
to-hit 15d10 [7-10]
EVA 0
Saves 4d6 + 3
HP 108
Damage 9+ 5 + 4 = 18, Crit 4
WF: Zan
WS: Zan
Batter
IW
GIW
Extend: Hohou
Extend: Zanjutsu
(Inactive: Azusa-Yumi (level 1))
Toughness 4x
Active Techs:
#202 Azusa-Yumi (lvl2)
Convert speed energy into strength
Requires: Azusa-Yumi
Difficulty: Medium (str)
Damage: None
Special: Strength +3 and dexterity -1 for the next 2 turns
Reiatsu cost: 6
#158 Beserk
Enter a furious rage, but loose control of your own actions.
Requires: None
Difficulty: Medium (str)
Damage: None
Special: Beserk on self for two turns, you may roll three more hit dice in your regular physical attack rolls for the next two turns
Reiatsu Cost: 5
Shikai Ability: Overpower
First Turn: Release, Shikai, Buff, Kaze buffs too unless he's suicidal
Second Turn: Kaze uses Iajutsu, doing 40 damage. At the maximum, he has 3 EVA. I use normal attacks twice, hitting an average of 6 times per attack (SEV 3 Critical Hit). This means, on average, I get a Sev 3 Critical Hit on Kaze. I use CS: Vitals every time, reducing his DEX by 8 in the second turn. If I get lucky, I castrate him, pwning him. Alternatively, I could take my full damage on my crits and inflict 54 damage per strike, killing him in this round alone.
Third Turn: Kaze uses Iajutsu, possibly doing 40 damage. At the maximum, he has 1 EVA. I attack twice, using my first to drop his DEX to -1 and my second to kill him.
Pwned.
(Note: You really don't need to take Toughness for this build to work.)
The second build is even more effective against Dexers. Watch this.
STR 3 (8)
DEX 0
CON 6 (8)
REI 2
To-hit 8 + 3 + 3 = 14d10
EVA - 0
HP 143
Saves 4d6 + 8
Damage 15
WF
WS
IW
GIW
Extend: Hohou
Extend: Zanjutsu
Inactive: (Azuma-Yumi (Level 1))
Toughness 5x
Combat Art: Total Defense
Techniques:
Azuma-Yumi
Berserk
Shikai Ability: Frenzy
First Turn: Kaze buffs, I buff
Second Turn: Kaze uses Iajutusu on me, doing 4 (Dauntless, I'm immune to Iajutsu) whole damage! Zomg! At this rate it'll take him a mere 30 rounds to kill me! I attack twice, hitting an average of 4 times (1 when EVA is factored). It will take me 2-3 rounds to kill him.
Third Turn: Same thing
...
In the event that Kaze gets insanely lucky and I haven't hit him for six whole rounds, by the sixth round his Shikai wears off and I'm still going strong. He loses an action and 2 DEX, making it even easier for me to beat him. The chances of me losing are one in thousands.
Pwnt.
Kaze owned you because he was higher level and had a better build. If you had asked, I would have provided build advice for you guys as well.
This does not mean that your builds will experience same or even similar results against this type of player, but truly, STR-based Zanjutsu, when well-built, is unstoppable. Once you hit them with Castration, it's all over. Con-based wall is even more unstoppable against Dexers. Dexers fare well against low-DC techniques, low-attack die opponents, and low-hp no DR opponents. They BLOW against high-CON total defense.
3. GM Activity:
When I took the post of Hollow/Renegade GM it was with the understanding that I would be facing five other GMs not on my side. Thus, I made it my duty to actively monitor my section of the forums, knowing that both I and my side were outnumbered severely. However, due to a recent slew of GM inactivity (at no fault of their own; they're just on vacation or have lots of school - not that I don't have the latter). When distributing RPP, I always read the RP carefully and weigh it holistically (against other players) and absolutely (against my personal standard).
Now, if you were in my position, would you seriously devote the majority of your time to Shinigami affairs and neglect your own side? I expected to be outnumbered and outgunned, so I heavily encouraged training and good RPing to give my Renegades a chance. Now it appears that people are resentful because I coached my own side without giving as much attention to the other. Tell me: what kind of coach teaches the other side? I think I've been more than clear when I've said that anyone who needs build help need only ask, and I really shouldn't be doing that. We GMs do not recieve a greater proportion of time to accomplish our duties. We - contrary to what some people may believe - have lives of our own and are not professional RPers.
I have decided to change Hohou so that it possess a DEX requirement. I am at the limits of my patience with all this whining. Here's a thought: How about I just stop GMing at all?
1. It's a game, people, you're supposed to have fun, and whining isn't fun ^_^. Not for you and especially not for me, because guess who has to balance all the rulesets? (Take a wild one here.)
2. There is no single stat nor single build which can dominate all others. There are some builds that are better than others - since when is this not true? Simply because a build is gimped for STR or DEX, it's broken? Combat-optimized builds will perform better in the field than those which aren't. It's just a simple fact of RPGs.
Ex:
People have been complaining that kaze_mizu's build and associated combat art are too strong. I will now construct two builds - one strength-focused and one constitution-focused - that are capable of utterly dominating him. They will be the same level as him, and possess the same number of techniques and Shikai release.
1.: Strength-gimped combat build.
Combat Art: Zanjutsu
STR 6 (9)
DEX 0
CON 3
REI 2
to-hit 15d10 [7-10]
EVA 0
Saves 4d6 + 3
HP 108
Damage 9+ 5 + 4 = 18, Crit 4
WF: Zan
WS: Zan
Batter
IW
GIW
Extend: Hohou
Extend: Zanjutsu
(Inactive: Azusa-Yumi (level 1))
Toughness 4x
Active Techs:
#202 Azusa-Yumi (lvl2)
Convert speed energy into strength
Requires: Azusa-Yumi
Difficulty: Medium (str)
Damage: None
Special: Strength +3 and dexterity -1 for the next 2 turns
Reiatsu cost: 6
#158 Beserk
Enter a furious rage, but loose control of your own actions.
Requires: None
Difficulty: Medium (str)
Damage: None
Special: Beserk on self for two turns, you may roll three more hit dice in your regular physical attack rolls for the next two turns
Reiatsu Cost: 5
Shikai Ability: Overpower
First Turn: Release, Shikai, Buff, Kaze buffs too unless he's suicidal
Second Turn: Kaze uses Iajutsu, doing 40 damage. At the maximum, he has 3 EVA. I use normal attacks twice, hitting an average of 6 times per attack (SEV 3 Critical Hit). This means, on average, I get a Sev 3 Critical Hit on Kaze. I use CS: Vitals every time, reducing his DEX by 8 in the second turn. If I get lucky, I castrate him, pwning him. Alternatively, I could take my full damage on my crits and inflict 54 damage per strike, killing him in this round alone.
Third Turn: Kaze uses Iajutsu, possibly doing 40 damage. At the maximum, he has 1 EVA. I attack twice, using my first to drop his DEX to -1 and my second to kill him.
Pwned.
(Note: You really don't need to take Toughness for this build to work.)
The second build is even more effective against Dexers. Watch this.
STR 3 (8)
DEX 0
CON 6 (8)
REI 2
To-hit 8 + 3 + 3 = 14d10
EVA - 0
HP 143
Saves 4d6 + 8
Damage 15
WF
WS
IW
GIW
Extend: Hohou
Extend: Zanjutsu
Inactive: (Azuma-Yumi (Level 1))
Toughness 5x
Combat Art: Total Defense
Techniques:
Azuma-Yumi
Berserk
Shikai Ability: Frenzy
First Turn: Kaze buffs, I buff
Second Turn: Kaze uses Iajutusu on me, doing 4 (Dauntless, I'm immune to Iajutsu) whole damage! Zomg! At this rate it'll take him a mere 30 rounds to kill me! I attack twice, hitting an average of 4 times (1 when EVA is factored). It will take me 2-3 rounds to kill him.
Third Turn: Same thing
...
In the event that Kaze gets insanely lucky and I haven't hit him for six whole rounds, by the sixth round his Shikai wears off and I'm still going strong. He loses an action and 2 DEX, making it even easier for me to beat him. The chances of me losing are one in thousands.
Pwnt.
Kaze owned you because he was higher level and had a better build. If you had asked, I would have provided build advice for you guys as well.
This does not mean that your builds will experience same or even similar results against this type of player, but truly, STR-based Zanjutsu, when well-built, is unstoppable. Once you hit them with Castration, it's all over. Con-based wall is even more unstoppable against Dexers. Dexers fare well against low-DC techniques, low-attack die opponents, and low-hp no DR opponents. They BLOW against high-CON total defense.
3. GM Activity:
When I took the post of Hollow/Renegade GM it was with the understanding that I would be facing five other GMs not on my side. Thus, I made it my duty to actively monitor my section of the forums, knowing that both I and my side were outnumbered severely. However, due to a recent slew of GM inactivity (at no fault of their own; they're just on vacation or have lots of school - not that I don't have the latter). When distributing RPP, I always read the RP carefully and weigh it holistically (against other players) and absolutely (against my personal standard).
Now, if you were in my position, would you seriously devote the majority of your time to Shinigami affairs and neglect your own side? I expected to be outnumbered and outgunned, so I heavily encouraged training and good RPing to give my Renegades a chance. Now it appears that people are resentful because I coached my own side without giving as much attention to the other. Tell me: what kind of coach teaches the other side? I think I've been more than clear when I've said that anyone who needs build help need only ask, and I really shouldn't be doing that. We GMs do not recieve a greater proportion of time to accomplish our duties. We - contrary to what some people may believe - have lives of our own and are not professional RPers.
I have decided to change Hohou so that it possess a DEX requirement. I am at the limits of my patience with all this whining. Here's a thought: How about I just stop GMing at all?