Magicbiscuit, first of all I’d like to thank you for taking the time to talk about the Pyro class and teach the basics for those of us who are still learning the game.
It is really important for the community to have someone such as you, who looks at the bright side of things and tries to do your best with what you have (meaning, in this case, the new Pyro class), instead of complaining an doing nothing.
It is imperial to say, however, that for most of us that played with Pyro before the patch, this changes have been heartbreaking. That’s why we need to talk among ourselves to see new paths for the so loved Pyro class and that’s why I’m thanking you for that.
That being said, I feel a bit annoyed by the way some things are being treated here. Keep in mind that I’m trying to do some positive criticism: the last thing I want is you giving up on the Pyro class or stopping recording your videos (which are very well made, by the way).
To begin with, I see a lot of misinformation being spread around the forum about the true damage of Pyro skills. There are plenty of videos of people with top gear dealing colossal amounts of damage and people are using that as references, when they shouldn’t.
Since the game is equipment-based now, obviously a full-equipped Pyro deals a lot of damage. So does a full-equiped Ele, a full-equiped Kino, a full-equipped Sorc, even a full-equipped Wiz. If you take the time to analyse those numbers and compare the damage of different classes using the same gear, you’ll see that our disappointment with the current Pyro damage is totally justifiable. It is puny, even when compared to the pre-Agny Pyro.
In second place, I see a lot of people talking about how playing with Pyro is more fun now, but even though I did my best to make Pyro work (and I did), it’s not being fun for me at all. My Pyro skills are unable to deal with puny mobs, many levels below me. For now, they are simply replacing my auto-attacking while my other circle skills (Kino3 and FF2) are on cooldown. And, being honest, in between using Pyro skills or auto-attacking, I’m not sure which one fares better.
Since the patch, I experimented combining Pyro with all other wizard circles. And unlike before, where I had the flexibility of making combinations, Pyro has been reduced to one role and this role only. And a puny, despicable role, as well. The role of a filler class.
For people who aren’t to keen on Pyro, such as you, perhaps this filler-pyro isn’t annoying. Perhaps you accept Pyro as a class of almost no importance to the game, something that is there just because you can’t pick anything better in the lower circles. It is just a filler, it helps a little while other skills are on CD, so what is the big deal? But for people such as me, whose greatest pleasure in this game was building strategies around Pyro as the core class, the current scenario is quite depressing.
Before this patch, I considered myself a Pyromancer. The Chrono3 and Sage1 where the real filler classes, being there only to support my Pyro part. Now, I’m forced to rely on other damaging classes, not be a top-tier DPS, but to kill a single mob. I understand Pyro not being a top-tier DPS; I really do. But being unable of finishing the weakest enemies in underwhelming.
I know a lot of people have been complaining a lot these days and it can be quite annoying for people like you, who accepts the Pyro decline and can even find some fun in it, but please, try to understand our side as well.
And above all else, keep up the good work. Looking forward to seeing you guides about the other classes of the game.