This has been a long debated topic. It would be really nice to find a consistent policy regarding combat changes and tweaks, and the type of communication between GMs and players.
Combat changes largely effect players. Months of grinding to perfect a certain move to have it nerfed can definitely create some frustration. We all understand the need for combat balances, but at the very least, consistent updates on any changes and the rationale would go a long way to preventing frustration.
Lets make one thing clear: This game is pay to play with a free to play option. That means that the players in the game that are paying, are clients. I'm not sure if GMs in this game are paid or not. If they aren't, they should be. If they are, customer service is vital.
I was recently condescended to by a GM because of a report I made on a combat change that was noticed, requesting transparency. Was this change intended? What was the rationale behind the change?
I run two companies, and if one of my employees treated a client the way that players largely have been treated in the past, I would drop the hammer. In no manner is treating someone this way acceptable. We want more players, right? How many people do you think have left the game due to the way they've been treated by the staff?
I do realize the other side of the coin exists. There are a lot of sociopaths out there that have treated the staff like garbage. They are tasked with trying to keep fairness in the gameworld and this has created tensions. It's on us as a player base to make sure we condemn those actions.
I put a lot of emphasis on work culture in my companies. Adapting the appropriate mindset is very important in smoothing over relations between not only employees, but their interactions with clients. This is a game but since money is involved, it's also a business. It's important in creating distinctions between the two and making sure that matters are treated professionally.
In summary, please be transparent as possible with combat changes. I understand the need for a degree of secrecy "do the work and find out if it works". But you can be transparent with that aspect as well. I was told "We were transparent on release that some mechanics would change. They did, and will continue to." This absolutely can and should be true, but that doesn't mean that you can't be transparent about the changes you are making as they're made.
#FreeShizdain
Thanks for raising your concerns. I want to clarify how Hoplite balancing works and what players should expect going forward.
The behavior you’re seeing is tied to the newly released Hoplite skillset. As stated in the release notes, the system was expected to receive balancing adjustments after launch. This is normal for any new combat set, especially one built on new mechanics.
Players are welcome to test and theorize, but identifying a formula does not freeze that formula in place. We will continue adjusting internal calculations when necessary to maintain balance. That includes changes that may not be announced individually.
To set expectations clearly:
We do not provide transparency into internal combat formulas, and we will not confirm or publish the exact mechanics behind success checks, rank scaling, or damage calculations. This is intentional and longstanding policy, and it allows us to keep the system flexible and healthy.
The change you observed was intentional and part of the ongoing tuning process. Hoplite is still in its early post‑release phase, and adjustments will continue as we gather more data. We appreciate bug reports and feedback, but not every mechanical change will come with a public explanation.
We value the time and investment players put into mastering these systems, and our goal is always to maintain a fair, balanced, and engaging combat environment.
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