CMaster
21-09-12, 13:59
During 2.2 test, one step taken to restrict hybrids (after it was noted that holy/holy hybrids were possible, if at the cost of other skills) was a dramatic increase in the PPU and APU skill requirements on spells.
However, by 2.2 launch, two additional anti-hybrid factors were brought in to play - one was a straight forward hybrid penalty, where having APU skilled reduces PPU effectiveness and vice versa, and also the a monk with more than 50 (I think, somebody could check the number) APU skilled has the lowest resistance cap of all the classes. These two factors mean that the extreme skill requirements are not really necessary.
Why does all this matter? Again, in 2.2 test, some people began to play around with psi-focussed PE setups. They traded the damage of "mini spy" type PE setups for a whole load of extra toughness and some team utility (admittedly a utility that vanished once a PPU showed up). However, with the extreme skill point requirements brought in to hurt hybrids, it's a serious stretch to even use the spells within their natural psi range, and those beyond are completely out. However, stronger psi skills is a big part of what differentiates PEs from spies, so it would be nice to see the opportunity to make use of this returned.
However, by 2.2 launch, two additional anti-hybrid factors were brought in to play - one was a straight forward hybrid penalty, where having APU skilled reduces PPU effectiveness and vice versa, and also the a monk with more than 50 (I think, somebody could check the number) APU skilled has the lowest resistance cap of all the classes. These two factors mean that the extreme skill requirements are not really necessary.
Why does all this matter? Again, in 2.2 test, some people began to play around with psi-focussed PE setups. They traded the damage of "mini spy" type PE setups for a whole load of extra toughness and some team utility (admittedly a utility that vanished once a PPU showed up). However, with the extreme skill point requirements brought in to hurt hybrids, it's a serious stretch to even use the spells within their natural psi range, and those beyond are completely out. However, stronger psi skills is a big part of what differentiates PEs from spies, so it would be nice to see the opportunity to make use of this returned.