World of Warcraft - English (NA) Forums -> Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2

Ghostcrawler

Blizzard Poster

0. Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:24:06 PM PDT

The nerf to armor pen in 3.2.2 is intentional. Compared to the recent buff where we increased the value of armor rating to 125%, this nerf would take it back down to 110%. While we are still evaluating the effects of this change in the 3.2.2 build, we did want to let you know of the possibility in case you were about to spend a lot on armor pen gems.

In fact, this was really the point. Several melee specs (and Marksman hunters) had begun to focus on armor pen at the expense of all other stats. Gear without armor pen was being passed over and gem sockets were increasingly being filled with just this one stat. While every spec has stats that are more valuable than others, this one felt like it was starting to trump everything. Not coincidentally, characters stacking lots of armor pen were starting to do more damage than their peers and more damage than we were comfortable with.

This change is largely for PvE reasons, though we won't cry at all if melee damage in PvP drops a little as a result.

We're letting you know now so that this doesn't feel like a stealth nerf, assuming it goes live. While you might disagree or be frustrated by the change (though I also suspect it won't come as a surprise to many players), we ask that you try and keep your response to something appropriate for these forums.

Ghostcrawler
Lead Systems Designer

Blootie

< Just Crusade >

Elune

1. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:33:43 PM PDT

I'll take a refund on my gems.

If you are reading this message, I'm probably better than you.

Discretion

< Malice Aforethought >

Lightninghoof

2. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:35:45 PM PDT

Excellent change.

Zanon

< Battle Tribe >

Archimonde

3. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:39:17 PM PDT

Can't say i am surprised.

Many players were indeed using lower ilvl gear even for PVP simply due to armor penetration being on the lower tier gear.

That is a sign of armor pen being way too good for certain spec/class

Emeraude

< Seriously Casual >

Sargeras

4. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:42:05 PM PDT

Just means we'll have to wait until Icecrown to max Armor Pen now.

What is the most important thing to you? Won't you grant me the pleasure of taking it away.

Sophitía

< Amicitia >

Terenas

5. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:46:51 PM PDT

Armor pen removal can't come fast enough. It was an amazing stat for Warriors and bloods. A lousy one for Rets and Unholys. Well, a lousy one for Rets and an AWFUL one for Unholy. I don't mind sharing loot with other classes. It's just annoying when the obligatory armor pen loaded 219 gear/weapon drops and some plate dps jump for joy. While some of the rest of us are just... well, it's this garbage or stay in naxx 10 stuff. I have no choice.

A man is truly a prisoner only as long as he agrees to remain one. After that, in his heart, at least, he is free. And where his heart is, his body may follow if his will is strong enough.-Rehgar

Istaril

< Aftermath >

Mal'Ganis

6. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:47:31 PM PDT

Q u o t e:
we did want to let you know of the possibility in case you were about to spend a lot on armor pen gems.

... aaaannd you're 1 day too late :P

I'm not entirely surprised. That said, ArP for (Combat) Rogues was doing a pretty good job at hovering around agility's value, increasing a bit higher if you stacked it up proper, although with none of the defensive/flexibility (better for dual specs) advantages of agility.

[ Post edited by Istaril ]

Martinesco

< Semper Gosu >

Mal'Ganis

7. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:50:13 PM PDT

Also are melee going to get an across the board compensation for this, such as the ability to refund our gems or a way to not nerf our damage and just the stat? Maybe the haste to resource regen buff might be added along side it to compensate for a lack of a truly good secondary stat on gear?

Beltface

Medivh

8. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:51:11 PM PDT

Q u o t e:

... aaaannd you're 1 day too late :P

Couple days late here. :\

Q u o t e:
Also are melee going to get an across the board compensation for this, such as the ability to refund our gems or a way to not nerf our damage and just the stat? Maybe the haste to resource regen buff might be added along side it to compensate for a lack of a truly good secondary stat on gear?

Not bloody likely. They like it when we waste our time and gold, it means we have to run a bit faster on their treadmill to catch up, and he said in his post that he thinks were doing too much dmg.

[ Post edited by Beltface ]

You get a gold circle.
It's a gold star, but I cut the corners off so you guys don't hurt yourselves.
- Drysc

Frapstastic

< Order of Dark Asassi… >

Dentarg

9. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:52:37 PM PDT

:( i was wrong, Great change tho! no more bladestorming people for 2394785239485723049857230495780239485 hp

[ Post edited by Frapstastic ]

On hunter's skill cap

Q u o t e:
rob schnieder was a derty derp businessman until one day he got turned into carrot! and he's about to find out, that being derp carrot isnt as easy as it looks.

Luph

Magtheridon

10. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:53:23 PM PDT

In before tears.

No they won't refund your gems.

Luph<3

Naturewrath

< Guardian Aegis >

Smolderthorn

11. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:55:46 PM PDT

Q u o t e:
Also are melee going to get an across the board compensation for this, such as the ability to refund our gems or a way to not nerf our damage and just the stat? Maybe the haste to resource regen buff might be added along side it to compensate for a lack of a truly good secondary stat on gear?

Q u o t e:
Not coincidentally, characters stacking lots of armor pen were starting to do more damage than their peers and more damage than we were comfortable with.

This change is largely for PvE reasons, though we won't cry at all if melee damage in PvP drops a little as a result.

This is basically saying "Melee were getting a bit to strong because of this one stat, so we're bringing them back down to everyone else.".

Being nerfed does NOT mean you must get compensation for it.

..________
./...______/
/.../
\...\______ IS FOR COOKIE
.\________\

Beorin

< Driven To Conquer >

Skywall

12. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:56:27 PM PDT

Arms warriors in Ulduar/ToC are already generally slightly below Fury for DPS, and we have had to stack Armor Penetration to try and close the gap. Now, there will no longer be much of an incentive to be an Arms warrior, since it will be inferior to other DPS specs and classes in almost every way for PvE (its one useful raid debuff being supplied by feral druids.)

Soulcutter

< Bice >

Firetree

13. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:57:20 PM PDT

Thank goodness this mistake was caught early.

And Cataclysm, and thereby the removal of Armor Penetration altogether, cannot come soon enough.

Lvl80: Desecrate-Death Knight; Sanctified-Paladin; Soulcutter-Warlock; Negator-Mage.
Lvl70: Farslayer-Hunter; Monstrous-Warrior; Tiresias-Priest; Treachery-Rogue; Zephyrus-Druid.

Vigkvagk

Demon Soul

14. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:57:29 PM PDT

Q u o t e:
:( i was wrong, Great change tho! no more bladestorming people for 2394785239485723049857230495780239485 hp

I'd still beat you.

Saurfang observes Algalon.
High Overlord Saurfang once used Whirlwind. The result is now called the Maelstrom.
In Soviet Russia, Saurfang still cleaves you.

Vigkvagk

Demon Soul

15. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 06:59:00 PM PDT

Q u o t e:
Thank goodness this mistake was caught early.

And Cataclysm, and thereby the removal of Armor Penetration altogether, cannot come soon enough.

ArP isn't being removed. It's becoming a part of Mastery.

Saurfang observes Algalon.
High Overlord Saurfang once used Whirlwind. The result is now called the Maelstrom.
In Soviet Russia, Saurfang still cleaves you.

Allunah

< Kiss My Anthia >

Area 52

16. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 07:00:21 PM PDT

At least i didn't spend anything on my gems, alchemist alt ftw.

Now, I definitely have to see where this goes as a Marksman hunter.

Soulcutter

< Bice >

Firetree

17. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 07:00:30 PM PDT

Q u o t e:

ArP isn't being removed. It's becoming a part of Mastery.

I will bet you my bottom gold piece that you won't get 40%+ of it in any way, shape, or form anymore.

It is being removed from gear. Good riddance.

Lvl80: Desecrate-Death Knight; Sanctified-Paladin; Soulcutter-Warlock; Negator-Mage.
Lvl70: Farslayer-Hunter; Monstrous-Warrior; Tiresias-Priest; Treachery-Rogue; Zephyrus-Druid.

Siguror

< Klondike Bar >

Blackrock

18. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 07:00:59 PM PDT

Is Arms still unsupported in PvE? If so, any chance of Trauma being made available to Fury so I don't feel trapped in crappy spec?

[ Post edited by Siguror ]

It doesn't think. It doesn't feel. It doesn't laugh or cry. All it does from dusk till dawn is make the soldiers die.

Ngruk

Hyjal

19. Re: Armor pen nerf in 3.2.2 09/04/2009 07:01:04 PM PDT

Q u o t e:
In before tears.

No they won't refund your gems.

Q u o t e:
We have decided to reduce the effectiveness of haste rating by 50%. It will now be inferior to spell power for PVP mages.

In b4 tears.

Not very fun when it is turned the other way now is it?

I am not saying that ArP stacking was a good thing for the game, but the least they could have done was announce it before the arena season so that all that new PVP gear can be properly gemmed without wasting hundreds of gold.

And because I know you will come back with some stupid remark saying they deserved it or that I am just mad because I stacked ArP on one of my toons. Just think about how you would feel if they nerfed the !%!* out of haste like I proposed, so that you needed to completely regem, and possibly regear.

Stupid timing is stupid.

A priest can do with Mind Control what a DK does with Death Grip. It is slightly more time that leaves the priest vulnerable but it does not have the cooldown and has other options as well.

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