Zarhym sat down down in the forums tonight and talked pvp with folks. Out of that discussion we got this somewhat encouraging post about hunter pvp:
I need to talk to the devs about the balance feedback I’m seeing echoed in here. That still doesn’t guarantee I’ll get right back to you tomorrow on this stuff, but it’s on my radar. I’m sure it’s on there’s too, as they regularly read our forums and AJ. I just need to discuss it with them.
To my knowledge it is the first thing we’ve heard in a very long time about hunter pvp, and so even the affirmation that they are at least listening is quite welcome.
It had finally come to a point that there was basically Reed’s post and for 5 pages Zarhym was specifically getting called out and everyone was sticking the post. Good posts have been been deleted. Apt of hunters have been fighting hard for this. But, Titan will fix it. I think that is the next blue response
Hm. I wish I could find that post encouraging. To me its more like a slap in the face. Standard flannel response to stop people bothering you.
A radar is a device that gives you a long range alert of something that may or may not be coming your way, which you may choose to avoid. Hunter balance shouldn’t be “on the radar”, it should be in his face hitting him in the face with a large hammer.
With 4.3 on the way its now unlikely that anything will happen in this expansion.
I remain convinced that there is only one solution to this issue. Give hunters a spec like Sub or Frost with a clear PVP utility bias. Only then will people start saying “we must get a hunter” in the same way they now say “get rogue, get mage.
I agree that it looks like lip service. But it’s about as close as Zarhym got in the whole 20+ page discussion to saying that any class needed to be looked at in terms of overall viability. I’m also optimistic/naive enough to take him at his word that he’s going to get back to us, and that’s why I took the post as being encouraging.
I’m sorry but I judge people by their actions not their words. Hunters have been broken in PVP since WOTLK and now through the whole of Catclysm. If Zarhym was in ignorant of this until this week he simply isn’t doing his job and should be criticised not thanked for offering a titbit of consolation.
Our traps give a far more accurate picture of how Blizzard view hunters. Cat introduced a whole new mechanism to make the games hardest to apply cc yet more clunky. Effort was spent on this but not fixing the longstanding issue with them being resisted. When pressed about the latter bug Blizzard outright lied and said it was technically impossible to fix. Those of us who can code said this was rubbish and in due course the bug was fixed without too much effort apparently. However, as you discovered, now they have introduced a new bug, stopping autoshot after trap launcher. Meanwhile mages got ring of frost. It feels like they just don’t care.
I really appreciate your efforts and others at the Hunting party put into helping us out but I do wish sometimes you would get off the fence and hold Blizzard more to account. Its a crying shame that many hunters, including those at top ranks, have given up on the spec. You guys have a voice that Blizard listen to and I’d like you to use it on behalf of hunter PVP. Upcoming Blizzcon it would be nice if when Frost buttonholes Ghostcrawler he asks him what he’s going to do about sorting out hunter PVP…
Just to clarify, I’ve got nothing to do with the podcast.
I’m doing what I think is reasonable in terms of using this blog to illuminate issues with hunters, such as with my “Why Is Focus Allegedly Too Weak in PVP” post. However, I feel I can only say so much because I try to base my posts on evidence and experience, and I frankly haven’t done enough pvp (in quantity or quality) to feel comfortable using my voice here to rule in on hunter pvp.
Not all evidence has to be based on personal experience. In the podcast frequent reference is made to the State of DPS site and what that may or may not tell us about the state of hunter DPS, notwithstanding the fact (that you mention) that this reflects what top hunters in top guilds are doing, not the average joe.
Equivalent data is available for arena. Indeed its probably better data because its not skewed by encounter specific factors like Halfus.
For example, I have just done an analysis taking data of all teams over 2500 from the 3v3 AJ rankings as of today. This contains near 2500 players, enough I’d say to give a reasonable picture.
The results are as follows (class/count/%)
Shaman 372 14.9%
Warlock 351 14.1%
Priest 327 13.1%
Mage 325 13.0%
Druid 282 11.3%
Rogue 225 9.0%
Paladin 215 8.6%
DK 173 6.9%
Warrior 156 6.3%
Hunter 70 2.8%
I think this pretty much speaks for itself. It would be bad enough if this was just Catclysm data. However hunters were dead bottom in WOTLK as well.
This explains why we are right to be very disappointed by Blizzard’s reaction, including the pathetic post you cite in this blog entry.
And, I am sorry, but if hunters were in the same position on State of DPS all on Hunting Party would be apoplectic, demanding things change and change quick. So again I ask, you have a voice, please use it on behalf of hunter PVP.
PS. I assume that since this blog publishes the Hunting Party podcast its appropriate to raise comments concerning it. If this isn’t the case please forgive me.
I feel for you guys, right now “focus the hunter” is pretty safe in 2s and 3s. Some people have said it’s balanced because if you’re left alone you melt faces, but that’s not balanced at all – and it’s obvious from the total absence of hunters in high-level 3v3. Weak survivability and very little pressure when focused is a tough combo to overcome.
Also, Baz Eiditrope is a separate from Euripides on the podcast. Both provide great info.
Not directly related to this post but on the subject of hunter PVP, I’d recommend these excellent posts over on Huntsmans Lodge especially those using BM but of use to all.
http://huntsmanslodge.com/10543/bm-hunter-pvp-advice-courtesy-of-bandet/
http://huntsmanslodge.com/10574/interview-with-a-beast-master/