Comments on: Maximum Performance Isn’t Always Maximum Fun

By: 2ndNin

2ndNin — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:12:33 +0000

The problem with going a non-optimal spec is of course that your theoretical damage potential is lower, on a spec like a warlock you might take an affliction warlock for the Malediction (+3% damage to mages + lock + shadow priests), you might take a Retribution Paladin (+3% raid crit, +2% party damage), or you might take an improved expose armour rogue (+x% physical damage, loses 80 personal dps roughly, balances at 2000 physical raid dps, so more than that is a bonus). These off-specs trade their personal dps and role for that of utility, and as such are valued by a raid, its fine in Karazhan if you slack off, everything bar the bosses can be done with 1 tank, 1 dps and 1 healer once your gear level is high enough, in contrast fights like Bloodboil you want to maximise your dps output.

Rogues simply lack the utility in another build to truly justify not taking combat swords, and if you don’t have that utility dropping your dps for “fun” isn’t likely to impress the rest of your guild. You wouldn’t accept a warrior tanking with his T4 set vs Illidan if he has his T6 because he finds it more fun (well you might if he doesn’t get enough rage :P), its the same issue, and I think it should really be addressed. Adding utility to the other builds, or normalising the DPS potential would help massively, giving rogues some kind of good debuff from their different builds such that taking 1 of each build (ok maybe not 1 of each build :P since we might end up with 6 rogues in a raid :P) is a better dps tradeoff than simply reducing the class to 1 spec.

Its exactly the same as locks, they spec 0/21/40 because thats the dps build, I think its possible for a 0/40/21 build to come close to the 0/21/40 build, but the fragility of the pet makes it inviable. In short, most dps classes need a real reason to spec out of their optimal dps role, and Blizzard hasn’t really given them one as yet.

By: kikidas

kikidas — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 21:26:24 +0000

The problem with Combat Rogues that I know if is that except for Arena swords, there is no sword equivalent available at current end-game, or so says my husband who is a combat rogue. He had to respec combat daggers for that reason.

The question of fun versus effectiveness is a tough one. When you’re in a raid, you could have fun and ruin the raid. Or you can have fun and do well in the raid. Or you could not have fun and do well in the raid. Obviously, #1 is a self-centered way of looking at the game, and in solo play is 100% fine. But if 9 other people are looking to you to do your job and you don’t because you’re having fun rather than playing?

#3 is probably going to burn you out quickly.

#2 is the best choice, but not something everyone can do equally well. Your wife sounds like the type of rogue who can have fun and at the same time, continue to do their job well.

The problem, like you said, is how do you tell someone who is having fun and feeling like they’re doing a good job and doing the same as someone else… that they’re not doing well enough and have to change?

Sorry if this reply sounds disjointed. It’s a random smattering of thoughts I’m trying to put down while my husband is poking me in the side. :P

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:32:12 +0000

It always comes back to casual versus hardcore, doesn’t it? :)

We all pay our money to play the game in the way that is the most fun to us. Once we align into guilds and set ourselves to take on content, of course, we aren’t just impacting our own fun any more.

I’ve always said, play the game that is the most fun for you, and adapt your goals for the game accordingly. Of course, doing that second part requires a certain level of self-awareness and game knowledge that some people might have trouble achieving.