DeathWiz101378 on Oct 11, 2015 wrote:

Old scratch just brings a whole other level of unbalance to the PvP world. We were complaining about witches and privateers not being equal to bucklers and buccaneers, and if this was the developers' answer, they've completely lost the plot!
Now, with old scratch and his ridiculous buffs, you have people using valor's armor and shielding 2,600 damage. That's like having two lives! Then there are the witchdoctors who summon level 105 skeletal pirate's and bone drakes. And we have the swashbucklers poisoning for 400 damage a round, without even going critical. If they went critical we would be dealing with a maximum of 650-700 damage! Topping that off, we have privateers who can cast a revive and heal 1k on the initial hit. Without even going critical.
Old scratch has demolished the stable pillars of our PvP community. He is not fixing anything, but doing the exact opposite, and tearing it apart.

Merciless Jean Percy, 65
Merciless Jack Ramsey, 65
Merciless Cass Spencer, 65
Merciless Quinn Quincy, 64

Same for pve, tower is a joke now... I did 3300 mojo storm, without critical... and I'm not even sure I had all spell power buffs on. And I'm no witchdoctor!

I do like spell power buffs, but yeah maybe the total of the 3 is overpowered.

the midnightpirate on Oct 12, 2015 wrote:

It's pretty fair I can still beat most witches and privy easy you have to charge be for they start buffing up first turn nausica Rush with a fort on her so if they purge they lose mojo buff then follow up with goro the next turn and have him charge scratch and you can take it from there.

I'm not saying that witches and privateers are hard to beat. And they aren't, lol.
My point is that old scratch isn't fixing anything. He just makes PvP even more rampant and unbalanced

No matter what it is somebody won't be happy.

Virtuous Dante Ramsey

I think that with the scratch buff, things are more balanced. As a witch, I have been used to myself or my companions getting one-rounded very often by other classes, due to the damage buffs provided by hidden and the charges with epics and chains from buccaneers, etc. So now, for a few turns, witches can also have strong attacks. The strongest buff lasts only 3 rounds, which is actually just 2 rounds for the pirate to either attack, summon or use a valor armor.

Just as I still need to fear Black Fog and Highland Charge and hidden Assassin Strikes, I think its fair for other classes to have to deal with the increased spell power that Scratch can now provide.

the midnightpirate on Oct 12, 2015 wrote:

It's pretty fair I can still beat most witches and privy easy you have to charge be for they start buffing up first turn nausica Rush with a fort on her so if they purge they lose mojo buff then follow up with goro the next turn and have him charge scratch and you can take it from there.

Some of us don't have goro, or nausica, some of us feel these must haves aren't necessary. All the spell power buffs did is bring another must have onto the crew. I argue pvp shouldn't be dominated by nausica by scratch, pvp needs some companion related bans because this is ridiculous. First season I'm suppose to be ready to counter nausica now I need to counter scratch? Yet still be decent against bucks?

Duke of Westminste... on Oct 12, 2015 wrote:

Huh? You just spent a paragraph complaining about how op witches and privys are and now your saying that they are easy to beat? If old scratch isn't doing anything then how is he making everything unbalanced? I personally think he is great. He gives a much needed boost to my powers.

No, you misintepreted what i said. I was stating what any pirate can do with their valor's armors and heals, and what witchdoctors can do with summons. I also stated what swashbucklers could do with poison damage. I didn't even use the word "op" or even hint that I was implying that they were.
Everyone was complaining about how op swashbucklers were before, though i didn't agree, this update has pushed things over the edge. When you are relying on a single companion to boost yourself instead of having a direct boost, I think there's a problem.

TheHoodooQueen on Oct 13, 2015 wrote:

As a witch I'm kind of upset that other classes where able to take a bite out of the new power buffs Old Scratch has. Correct me if I'm wrong but, since when where Privy's or Buckler's magical? "It's not that Privy's or Buckler's are magical, it's there 'spells'." Lets go deeper then, in what twisted world, is a NON magical classes powers boosted by magic, hm?" Now I can cope with heals since they are after all heals, but any of the fortresses and any poisons should be stripped of any type of spell power boost! It's about time witchdoctors got their spell power boost, and to have other classes powers boosted by a witchdoctor friendly power is frustrating, unless we are speaking of heals.

Sorry to sound bratty, angry, rude, etc...but lets face it witchdoctors don't exactly get the largest slice of pvp pie, and a spell power boost for witches was LONG over due.

Catherine Reade- Lvl 65
Erica Reade- Lvl 65

Valors armor isnt a fort, it should be spell based which it is, forts btw arent boosted by anything, poisons however i agree, they arent magical at all

Mike888b on Oct 14, 2015 wrote:

What they should have done in the first place was buff Grimtooth not Scratch since he is a witchdoctor only companion. Now that everyone can benefit from his spell boost in one way or another it has opened up way too many variables to try and counter. Since when have you seen a swashbuckler equipping a staff? Well guess what some do now and are doing well with it. I am not going to go into that.

I disagree; I believe the fact their are more viable strategies and more unique sets is a credit to the PvP meta. Bring on the variety!

Cruel Owen Quarrel on Oct 16, 2015 wrote:

I'm so torn between two sides on this one. On one hand, I can understand the frustration because now Scratch is usable by ALL classes, which solves nothing for the Witches. On the other, Old Scratch is now a top tier companion in PvE. I just want to put in my two cents (I STILL HAVE NO CLUE IF IT'S "CENTS" OR "SENSE"):

I personally am ecstatic about the Mojo Buffs because now Old Scratch is viable in PvE. The way I see it, this previous update was about three things things: Ranked PvP, The Nautical Gauntlet, and making every companion viable at all levels. I believe that was KingIsle's purpose. Not to necessarily buff him in PvP (because I don't think KingIsle are the type to do that) but to make him viable for all classes in PvE.

And viable he certainly is. I'm hoping he stays this way, because if not, I'd have to switch back to 'In Order', and let's face it, Random or Firstmate are more exciting :p

Perhaps taking off one of his buffs could help? I don't know. I'm honestly just spitballing here. Interesting discussion, though.

Cpt. Cruel Owen Quarrel, Level 65 Blockade Runner

It's the second time I see you doubt about this so here goes, its "two cents" :)

I find it interesting that some are complaining about high damage numbers from a buff that witches can hold for exactly 2 rounds. Literally 2. Whereas swashbucklers can hide at least 3 times, have at least 3 sneak attacks, can hide their whole team. Buccaneers can chain for days. But no, you're right, we can't possibly allow witches to cast 2 super powered spells. Or allow Privateers to cast 2 good heals.

Do you not see the inherent injustice in the complaint? Witches can attain exactly 2 rounds of killer spell power and be great damage dealers, all the while having no defense whatsoever and bad dodge and accuracy. Whereas swashes can deal ridiculous amounts of damage the whole match and hide for defense, and dodge when they're not hidden. Buccaneers can deal damage like crazy the whole match and punish any damage you can inflict, and have great defense.

How are you going to call 2 rounds of doubled spell power unbalanced? Yeah, it's a drastic jump from the norm-but so is black fog.

I'm not saying I have a problem with the considerable abilities of the other classes. I DO find it ironic that others are threatened by this one buff that doesn't help them. For goodness sakes, stop asking for others to be weakened, because you'll find you're next on the chopping block.

In summation: leave Old Scratch alone.

Kan The Destroyer on Oct 16, 2015 wrote:

I find it interesting that some are complaining about high damage numbers from a buff that witches can hold for exactly 2 rounds. Literally 2. Whereas swashbucklers can hide at least 3 times, have at least 3 sneak attacks, can hide their whole team. Buccaneers can chain for days. But no, you're right, we can't possibly allow witches to cast 2 super powered spells. Or allow Privateers to cast 2 good heals.

Do you not see the inherent injustice in the complaint? Witches can attain exactly 2 rounds of killer spell power and be great damage dealers, all the while having no defense whatsoever and bad dodge and accuracy. Whereas swashes can deal ridiculous amounts of damage the whole match and hide for defense, and dodge when they're not hidden. Buccaneers can deal damage like crazy the whole match and punish any damage you can inflict, and have great defense.

How are you going to call 2 rounds of doubled spell power unbalanced? Yeah, it's a drastic jump from the norm-but so is black fog.

I'm not saying I have a problem with the considerable abilities of the other classes. I DO find it ironic that others are threatened by this one buff that doesn't help them. For goodness sakes, stop asking for others to be weakened, because you'll find you're next on the chopping block.

In summation: leave Old Scratch alone.

This post contains not only two cents, but is outright raining common sense.

/bow

2 cents moo robe meta was more fun.... This meta Witches are 2 easy, repetitive and boring.... But hey they did a good job of making a fair universal available option to balance witches+privy's