PTS Update: Multiple Class Changes

RIFT’s Public Test Shard (‘PTS’) was updated on the 14th December 2015 with ~120MB download. The update involves a whole bunch of class changes.

There’s only a one-day feedback window for Tank changes as well as some of the other soul changes (not specified by Trion) as they will be coming to Live in this week’s hotfix (Wednesday 16th Dec 2015), so be sure to check out all the threads in the Public Test Shard sub-forum.

Patch version is TEST-303-103-A-1065496.

Summary:

• Various Class Changes. Justicar/Arbiter/Riftstalker/Titan Tank DPS improvements; Void Knight threat fix; Cleric Inquisitor/Shaman/Defiler DPS buffs; and Primalist Dervish DPS nerfs.

As always, everything below is subject to change prior to hitting Live and some things included below may never make it to Live release.

Various Class Changes

A whole bunch of changes coming to Tanks, Cleric’s Inq/Shaman/Defiler and Primalist’s Dervish souls.

[Update: Most of these changes are now up on Live with RIFT 3.5 Hotfix #2.]

ETA on Changes

Red Hawk has stated that some of the below changes are more likely than others to make this week’s hotfix. For instance, the tank changes will be more likely to make it to Live this week. [r]

As such, some of the below changes will appear on Live this week whilst others won’t. Exactly which ones (besides those mentioned above) aren’t clear at this point. You will want to provide feedback as soon as possible.

Note: Shaman Changes will stay on PTS throughout January. [r]

Tank Changes

A whole bunch of Tank changes are up on the PTS, mainly relating to non-Warrior Tank DPS, but also to fix a Void Knight threat issue.

Justicar (Cleric) Changes

• Total Assurance now increases all damage dealt by the tank by 50% for 30secs, in addition to its other effects.
• The Mien buffs are now off-GCD. Their shared CD has been lowered to 10 secs.
• Mien of Honor’s damage buff now lasts 30secs, up from 15secs.

Riftstalker (Rogue) Changes

• Soul Coalescence now only consumes 5 stacks of Soul Synthesis instead of 20.
• Soul Synthesis now increases damage dealt by 5% per stack, up from 1% per stack.

Arbiter (Mage) Changes

• Arcane Ward’s outgoing damage and healing penalty has been reduced to 20%, down from 30%.

Titan (Primalist) Changes

• Primal Rage’s damage buff effect increased to 30%, up from 20%. Duration has also been increased to 6secs, up from 5secs.

Void Knight (Warrior) Fix

• The damage from Destructive Forces is currently not receiving the 700% threat bonus that a lot of other VK attacks have. This has been fixed on the PTS. [r]

Please send feedback about the upcoming Tank Changes here.

You have one day to give feedback.

Cleric Changes

There’s a whole bunch of buffs for Cleric Inquisitors, Shamans and Defilers now up on the PTS.

Inquisitor Changes

• Vex damage has increased by 18%.
• Mental Resilience (buff triggered when you cast a channel) now has its spellpower scaling on Vex, Scourge and Sanction Heretic increased to 20% (up from 15%) per point.
• Righteous Indignation has had its spellpower scaling increased to 5% per point, up from 4% per point.

Please send feedback about the upcoming Cleric Inquisitor Changes here.

Shaman Changes

• Massive Blow now always crits.
• Furious Blows has had its spellpower scaling increased to 10% per point, up from 5% per point.

Please send feedback about the upcoming Cleric Shaman Changes here.

Note: Shaman Changes will stay on PTS throughout January. [r]

Defiler Changes

• Siphon Vitality damage has increased by 10%.
• Marrow Harvest damage has increased by 20%.
• Pain Transmission damage has increased by 20%.
• (And if your Defiler built includes Inquisitor’s Vex, that was also increased by 18%).

Note: With Patch 3.5, Defiler’s Pain Transmission was changed, which is why you might be seeing a significant decrease in damage output from this ability.

Pain Transmission (the link-based AoE) is now an enemy-targeted spell that deals damage to the target and up to 4 nearby enemies. Damage substantially increased, but now divided between no. of targets struck. (Sounds like it no longer attacks based on proximity to linked targets). [r]

Please send feedback about the upcoming Cleric Defiler Changes here.

Primalist Changes

Red Hawk has stated that the Dervish soul has been doing too much damage. It has been nerfed on the PTS:

Dervish Changes

• Shearing Winds’ weapon damage has been reduced from 100% to 80% per talent point.
• Most Dervish damaging abilities have been reduced by ~5.8% (with the exception of Lashing Wind and Seismic Smash).

Please send feedback about the upcoming Primalist Dervish Changes here.

If you would like to provide feedback, be quick as there is a limited amount of time to provide it. Below are all the threads:

• Tank DPS Tweaks.
  • Info about Void Knight Threat Fix.
• Cleric Inquisitor Changes.
• Cleric Shaman Changes.
• Cleric Defiler Changes.
• Primalist Dervish Changes.

Some of these changes will appear on Live in this week’s hotfix (Wednesday 16th Dec 2015). Otherwise might need a little more testing and feedback.

For past PTS Updates, click here. You can also find past PTS/Live datamining here.