I applaud your nerfing team run and dodge, these have been long standing abuses. However, I am upset by the contemplated Vampire/Draining nerfs (particularly Spear Of Darkness and Consuming Spear). Vampire/Draining was just recently changed and we are changing them again? I just recently spent a lot of gold and time constructing my vampire team thinking no further changes were afoot.

There are multiple reasons why Vampire/Draining should not be nerfed. First, in Single player, if you lower the damage Spear Of Darkness and Consuming Spear they will be useless again. In single player, many enemies such as trogs, have a lot of armor which completely negates Spear Of Darkness and Consuming Spear. Traditionally, a way to help ameliorate this was mass frenzy. With the changes contemplated to mass freny (buff lowered to 2 from 3), this weakens this. If you don’t like that they are ranged why don’t you make them step? It would fit thematically with Vampires. Just don’t change the damage.

Second, in Multiplayer Player, no one with high rankings >1650 plays vampires. It’s all 2 warriors and a buffing priest or 3 wizards. This is evidence that draining does not need nerfing. I myself had a 1650 rating when I had my warrior swapped in. Now that I have gone all cleric it’s in the 1300 range, I am having more fun and not spamming nimbus.

Third, if you lower the damage Spear Of Darkness and Consuming Spear, Hand of Melvelous will suck. As it is now, it is good, not great but good. Hand of Melvelous needs to be used by people and needs to awesome. Why? It is won by defeating Melvin, who is the major antagonist in the early parts of the campaign. I secretly love this item, as does everyone who enjoys the story of the early campaign. New players will love using it.

Fourth, priests will become solely for buffing and lose diversity. Warriors can be either tank or damage dealer, and wizards can be control or damage dealer. I enjoy the strategy involved with Vampires (as opposed to All Out Obliterating Bludgeon and Unholy Wellspring Burst Damage where there is none needed).

On a side note, here is some free business advice (I am a Wharton MBA banker who works specifically on distressed companies for 15+ years), don’t alienate your existing consumer base. I understand your desire to make the game more friendly for potential new players that may come in from Kongregate, but the items for Vampires are easy to attain and are new player accessible. Try to make as few changes as possible (considering you just made changes also), that will meet your goals for potential new players, while at the same time retaining those players you have. Do not sacrifice your existing customer base, who gives you baseline recurring Revenue for potential Revenue you may never get. I for one won’t be playing anymore if you make the contemplated changes to Spear Of Darkness and Consuming Spear.

Respectfully,
Tragus