Knew they'd nerf.

[ReDD7]

Why the need for a win button? People complaining are probably the same ones who complains about it beeing to easy ( NO Quen spamming). It is a RPG, but Geralt has a set backstory, he is a witcher, a SWORDmaster with some basic magic signs. Mages should not be a viable build in a game about a expert swordsman. Just my two cents.

 

[MuriloBFS]

It's not about having a win button so much as it is having a viable playstyle people enjoy. There's a win-button build in every major skill tree, you just need to know what skills and gear to pick. I don't know how it is in 1.07 because I honestly didn't want to face the new issues, but prior to that I've seen a really nasty 10k HP Alchemy Build with 3 decoctions + a few potions focusing on strong attacks that was basically "press Y and kill everything. Oh, and you still got some really powerful bombs, in case you need them".

All big medieval RPGS offer a magic playstyle nowadays. The Witcher 1 didn't had it, as you would only get your signs strong enough (and have enough stamina) to deal with enemies solely on their own by the end of the game. On the other hand, playing The Witcher 2 on Dark Mode with upgraded igni, yrden and heliotrope sign was a lot of fun. The Witcher 3 had it right. Sure, Witchers are not mages, but they are not bothering with being true to the books story, hell they aren't even bothering with being true to the previous game choices, why bother butchering a gameplay aspect that offers players some diversity? Why create a whole magic skill tree if they don't want you to build around it?

It's not even about Igni being weak, as the regular version remains pretty decent. It's about breaking a skill that should be a logical progression and calling it "balance". Even if the regular Igni burn was as weak as the firestream version, people still wouldn't use it (they wouldn't use Igni at all tbh, let's face it, Yrden and Aard are murch better for CC. People use Igni for the damage, while providing some degree of CC) over the regular version, simply because the firestream will leave you exposed while the regular provides a quick cast. This change essentially broke one major skill. Imagine if something like this happened to Whirl, would you be happy? I know I wouldn't.

 

[ReDD7]

It's not about having a win button so much as it is having a viable playstyle people enjoy. There's a win-button build in every major skill tree, you just need to know what skills and gear to pick. I don't know how it is in 1.07 because I honestly didn't want to face the new issues, but prior to that I've seen a really nasty 10k HP Alchemy Build with 3 decoctions + a few potions focusing on strong attacks that was basically "press Y and kill everything. Oh, and you still got some really powerful bombs, in case you need them".

All big medieval RPGS offer a magic playstyle nowadays. The Witcher 1 didn't had it, as you would only get your signs strong enough (and have enough stamina) to deal with enemies solely on their own by the end of the game. On the other hand, playing The Witcher 2 on Dark Mode with upgraded igni, yrden and heliotrope sign was a lot of fun. The Witcher 3 had it right. Sure, Witchers are not mages, but they are not bothering with being true to the books story, hell they aren't even bothering with being true to the previous game choices, why bother butchering a gameplay aspect that offers players some diversity? Why create a whole magic skill tree if they don't want you to build around it?

It's not even about Igni being weak, as the regular version remains pretty decent. It's about breaking a skill that should be a logical progression and calling it "balance". Even if the regular Igni burn was as weak as the firestream version, people still wouldn't use it (they wouldn't use Igni at all tbh, let's face it, Yrden and Aard are murch better for CC. People use Igni for the damage, while providing some degree of CC) over the regular version, simply because the firestream will leave you exposed while the regular provides a quick cast. This change essentially broke one major skill. Imagine if something like this happened to Whirl, would you be happy? I know I wouldn't.

I see your point, and agree to some extent. Just think signs are the secondary weapon, extra punch to your swords.
How many games dont buff/tweaks their skills in the follow up titles? Pretty boring with exactly the same skill mechanics in three titles.
I still uses firestream because im not in a rush to kill plus it looks cool as hell.
If you uses all the tools at your disposal its really easy to win. I try to not use win combos, but its frustrating that its available in so many forms. I do like whirl, though with just one point. I understand not many goes for the cool look on armour and skills, but they should try it. I use Kaer morhen armour and the rest generic start clothes late game. Its a bit frustrating some times but I like the look.

 

[bradb2015]

if anything with 1.08 they havent fixed firestream but now nerfed tier 4 aard and quen blast and shield damage...doesnt do as much damage it seems after playing yesterday and testing...or so it seems..maybe others can help verify or debunk..but to me its also been nerfed to uselessness...especially quen shield damage against monsters/humans. i have full mastercrafted griffin gear (max sign intensity), with max points to quen intensity and shield damage, all greater runestones, 2 extra for aard and quen, yet it doesnt seem to do as much damage to humans/monsters as it did nor does aard damage as 2 days ago before 1.08 patch...coincidental or imagination? Seems they only want you to really just roll and quick attack in this game...pretty bad combat system overall for a witcher with powers...not balanced and worth the skill point drops imo.

 

[Viperswhip]

^^ THIS. I'm leaving now before I get so mad I smash in my monitor. My bottom line? Have the BALLS to list everything in your patch notes. Don't sneak crap in and then expect people to just deal. If you wanna get right down to it, Its a lie of omission. I'm done with gaming today, and the gaming companies who all seem to think it's ok to only tell half the story when releasing an update or patch. The good, the bad, and the ugly should be told in the patch notes..if we don't like it then, fine, but god damnit, at least we won't feel blindsided by it when we start up the game after yet another patch.

That's true, this is more like an Adventure game than an RPG. When they limit playstyle, and push you into a more linear path...well, just go play The Longest Journey or Syberia.

 

[Nilhilion]

@bradb2015 There's a fix for Igni made by @MuriloBFS. If we all ask real nice I'm sure he'll be able to also fix aard and quen if it really was nerfed Or at the very least check if that's the case.

http://www.nexusmods.com/witcher3/mods/308/?

 

[CreativeLabRat]

Igni Firestream is now unbalanced (1.07, 1.08)

The alternate sign mode for Igni was one of my favorite skills during my first play though of Witcher 3. Since these latest patches I have noticed that the alternate fire mode has been rebalanced and is now less useful.

While some will defend CDPR for their decision, I feel a crucial piece of information has been left out of every argument I have read on various message boards regarding the rebalance:

Yes, Firestream has been nerfed. Yes, it is the developers prerogative to choose how they want to balance their game. However!... Why is primary igni now more effective as a DMG dealing spell (as well as better for stun-lock) than alt-mode?

I have seen larger DMG numbers and burning DMG on primary than alt-fire - consistently - on my current playthrough. Not to mention the fact that I can quick-fire primary, whereas alt-fire requires me to stand there channeling, leaving me wide open for counter attacks.

The ability had a risk/reward to it before, stand there and channel to do massive DMG at risk of retaliation. Now... where's the payoff? I can quick-fire primary and immediately go back to slashing while my enemy burns for MORE DAMAGE.

So, to be clear, I do NOT believe Firestream has been rebalanced. I believe it has been rendered useless compared to its (primary) counterpart.

Either buff the DMG or increase the duration of the "burn" status effect for alt-fire or else the skill will remain as it is now; at present it is a skill completely without point, purpose, or tactical benefit.

 

[Trzebiat]

I played a bit with Firestream (1/3) i NG+ and I must say it's not totally useless like I thought it will be. Still doesn't work well against humans (close level to Geralt) like before, but it make them drop their shields. But it works quite well against some monsters. I tried it against the griffin in White Orchard and it was about 1000 damage per second. And that's with about only 150% sign intensity.