We've rolled out a bunch of bashing updates (see CLASSLEADS POST 162) aimed at giving more class skills a place in PvE combat. I wanted to share a bit of the thinking behind these changes.

1) As it stands, the vast majority of abilities are restricted to player targets only, leaving most classes with only a single PvE attack. This has been especially frustrating for new players who unlock new skills only to find they cannot actually use them in the areas they're exploring. While there are still technical and thematic limitations that will keep most abilities PvP-only, the goal here is to narrow that gap.

2) It allows us to open up the design space with resistances. When you're locked to a single damage type, interacting with denizen resistances offers little meaningful choice: either they resist your attack, or they don't. With a wider spread of damage types across additional skills, we can make resistances more engaging in future boss fights and PvE content.

We expect these updates will change the preferred bashing style and introduce new optimisations for a few classes, but most will likely continue using their usual ability. This is not intended as a full bashing overhaul, but rather a first step in our ongoing effort to bring more class abilities into PvE and improve the overall experience.

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We are also ungating the DPSTEST command!

This tool lets you check the average DPS of most bashing attacks across different stat and artefact levels. It is a quick way to compare options and understand how abilities scale.

NOTE: The numbers shown are simulated in-game, but they are not perfect rankings of PvE performance. They only measure the raw DPS of the listed commands. They do not account for several class-specific buffs (for example Blademaster Stances or Paladin Dawnhand), universal buffs, denizen quirks, defensive utility, gear interactions, and more. Treat the results as a rough comparison between attacks and a general look at how stats and artefacts affect them.

How to read the output:

Each attack shows either two or three stat columns labelled 12B, 16B, and 19B.

12B represents a base stat of 12 (an unspecialised human with no traits).
16B represents a base stat of 16 (for example a strength-specialised troll with the +1 strength trait).
19B represents a base stat of 19 (typically only reachable with consumeables, for example a specialised troll + strength trait + rare minerals + divine truefavour).

Dragons and Elemental Lords will only see 16B and 19B columns. In these forms, 16B represents the form's normal base stats (for example 18 strength and 18 intelligence for dragons), and 19B represents the form's base stats with an additional +3 that comes from a rare mineral and divine truefavour.

Under each stat column is an (art) row. This shows the DPS with the same stat values but with the artefacts and artefact powers listed in the DPSTEST record.

These usually include:

- +3 to the primary scaling stat

- An artefact weapon, if relevant

- faster_eq for equilibrium attacks

- magic_damage for magical attacks

- Any class-specific damage artefacts

You can view the full list of artefacts, the attack commands being tested, and other details by using:

DPSTEST <record> SHOW

Some tests may have tester-specific variants of commands in them. These are direct stand-ins for the player versions and you can assume they behave the same.


Penned by My hand on the 11th of Miraman, in the year 990 AF.