Changes in the Barrier Skill

[Sephiroto]

Have we been notified about this?  Why was there a change?

[Archbaron]

As far as I can tell, barrier is the same for me.

[X-D]

What change?

[Sephiroto]

That barrier no longer stays erect during combat.  That's a serious performance issue.

[Mood]

That barrier no longer stays erect during combat.  That's a serious performance issue.

Heh. Heh heh. Heh heh heh.

[Agent_137]

that's a pretty big change, if that's the case.

[Gunnerblaster]

that's a pretty big change, if that's the case.

I agree. It's a pretty drastic change, at that. I could understand making it harder for less experienced barrier-users to keep it up in combat but I think folks who've had an equal exposure and use of combat and barrier-use should be able to hold it. Maybe have it sap'ing stun quicker, because of the effort to keep it up.

[brytta.leofa]

Contact doesn't stay ere--  dangit, contacted during combat, either.  Dunno if that's a change or not.

[Fathi]

Contact doesn't stay ere--  dangit, contacted during combat, either.  Dunnno if that's a change or not.

Pretty sure it's always been like that.

At least as long as I have been playing.

[Nyr]

I'm informed that this was a bug fix.

[Nusku]

Nyr is correct. Contact has always broken during combat; barrier was merely conformed to the existing standard. The use of psionics is a complex task requiring more focus than your average person can give under the kind of duress that combat represents.

[a strange shadow]

I don't know that I agree with that kind of change though, for certain reasons I won't go into on the GDB.

It makes certain situations much, much more perilous, and shafts certain types of characters even further on the ultimate power scale.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

Shadow is right.

[Gimfalisette]

Agree with shadow and 7DV. Bugfix or not, there's balance to be considered.

[Sephiroto]

If I'm not mistaken, Barrier is a passive skill, not active.  The maximum reduction in stun plus the ticking damage to stun should be enough, but my matter of opinion sometimes differs with the coders.

The bad thing about this is that the recent change opens doors for whole new levels of badness for certain characters to take advantage of others who before would have been able to protect themselves. 

Finally, if this is a bug fix why didn't anyone announce it officially like they do when they alter other skills?  Has the staff been altering my skills or stats or even taking my karma and giving it back without telling me about it too?  What happened to protocol?

[Morgenes]

Oops...we had an unscheduled maintenance period yesterday that pushed the change to live before we announced it.

Yes we did intend this change to happen, and yes it is working as intended.

[brytta.leofa]

Rather than being always dropped in combat, barrier loss could be an outcome of, for instance:
- reel
- being successfully bashed/charged
- an attacker landing a hard blow

Seems plausible that grey-bearded, veteran-of-five-wars Lieutenant Farrel could hold a barrier while laconically fending off a left-handed youngster with a dull stick. 

[Nusku]

1. Due to a minor error, the bugfix went in a bit earlier than we thought. Those responsible have been sacked.

2. Because the bugfix went in early, the people who normally create the announcements didn't know about it. We sacked the announcers as well.

3. Play balance is the reason that contact and barrier break on combat. Those responsible for the bug that allowed barrier to remain active during combat have been sacked.

4. Barrier is not a passive skill. It does way too many things on way too many levels for it to be a passive skill. Those responsible for spreading the myth that barrier is a passive skill have been sacked.

5. The producers of the Armageddon game wish it to be known that they have been sacked, and Armageddon 2.0 will now be coded by a team of 40 Mexican Llamas with degrees in Computer Science. Just today, they showcased combat, which consists mostly of a command "spit cud."

Thank you.

[Sephiroto]

Thanks.

Does this also mean that all other psionic abilities can not be used while in combat?  If barrier drops in combat then I believe the answer to that should be "yes."

[Prince Prig]

5. The producers of the Armageddon game wish it to be known that they have been sacked, and Armageddon 2.0 will now be coded by a team of 40 Mexican Llamas with degrees in Computer Science. Just today, they showcased combat, which consists mostly of a command "spit cud."

Lol. It's a bug fix. It has already been decided on and regulated by the staff.

Just roll with the changes. It's like any other game change that happens.

Correction: it's like any potentially threatening change that happens. There's always over-reaction or complaint.

[Delstro]

I think it adds a more balance to the game. Thank you.

Now those little pesky merchants can't way all their friends while I am waylaying them.

[Gimfalisette]

I think it adds a more balance to the game. Thank you.

Now those little pesky merchants can't way all their friends while I am waylaying them.

That was already in game. You have misunderstood the nature of the bugfix.

[Delstro]

Whoops.

[Clearsighted]

I don't know that I agree with that kind of change though, for certain reasons I won't go into on the GDB.

It makes certain situations much, much more perilous, and shafts certain types of characters even further on the ultimate power scale.

I completely agree. Not that it's going to change anything.

[Mood]

Thanks for giving [class] an even larger advantage than they already had. I'm not much bothered by it, being that its one of my favorite classes.