Posted July 20, 2015 [quote][u][b]tools of the trade[/b][/u] [i]also[/i] [b]the tools of somebody's trade[/b] the things that are needed in order to do a job[/quote] Okay Bungie, I know we don't see eye to eye. I mean [i]we[/i] are trying to, but quite frankly you just keep lagging all over the place and it's making it real hard to get a bead on exactly what the hell you're trying to do with this game. So let me explain something to you about my Guardian. My Guardian has a purpose and a destiny and it is righteous and pure; and that noble calling from on high is to kill the living shit out of everything in the solar system. Fallen, Hive, Cabal, Vex... I paint a glorious canvas with their destruction, but those are just water colors that I practice with. When I truly want to create a masterpiece, I head to the Crucible. It is there that we show the depths of our artistry as we paint a dance of destruction against opponents that aren't programmed to be in a set spot, but are just as cunning and unpredictable as ourselves. As a Guardian we are given tools. We start out as kinderguardians with some gray crayons and as we level we learn to draw with green and blue pencils, until we graduate to brushes and learn to paint in purples and gold. We become true masters of our craft and as such, we begin to put together our master brush set. Some paint fine lines with sniper rifles, some prefer the broad strokes of shotguns. Some shade in areas with rockets and others stipple with machine guns. Some are technical and precise with Scout Rifles and others are more abstract with ARs. Whatever style we are drawn to, we carefully select weapons that allow us to perfect our techniques; and as we move from the canvas of one battle to the next, we become intimate with these beautiful tools and know exactly where we are most effective with each. We know the distance, the speed and the precision with which we need to paint our strokes. We know when to be forceful, we know when to use a light touch and at the end of the day, we know where we excel and where we need to improve. That is how art works. That is how craft works. That is how trades work and sadly, that is no longer how Destiny works. You see Bungie, every weapon is unique and they all can excel at different techniques for conquering our foes. Some are quick and brutal and others, while more subtle, are capable of more prolonged attacks. And as we practice our craft and hone our skills, we are faced with challenges to overcome; to learn from and to grow. The problem is that not everyone wants to learn each map, master a weapon set or learn to unleash the full power or their own killing machines. The want to shoot shit and have it die, but they can't handle being shot back. And so they come to you and they tell you they can't paint because the other artists have a better brush and shouldn't they all be the same? And in your infinite wisdom, you concede to their demands and you take the tools of our trade and you alter them and remove characteristics that not only make them unique, but are uniquely us in our approach. Now where once we painted with confidence and grace, we struggle with tools that don't hold up to what we expect of them. I know my Scout. I know my Fusion Rifle. I know where they can kill and when a situation dictates I switch between them. I know them so well that I could tell you to a T the distances that I can get away with a FR shot before I risk leaving my enemy with some health left. I am one with these weapons and I don't have to think, I can just take in my environment and react and formulate strategies on the fly. It doesn't matter if my opponent is painting with Thorn, Red Death, MIDA, 3 Little Words, Felwinter's or any other weapon, because I know exactly where I can get kills from. I know when I need to have my Fusion Rifle charging before an opponent rounds a corner. I know when I need to lead with a grenade and follow with a shot from my Scout. I know when I need to use an explosive round to back off an enemy long enough to regen health. I know how to fight and I know how to win, because I know these weapons so f**king well and they've never let me down. Until now. I can't prove you did it, but there is absolutely no denying that you've stealth modified weapons along the way. A month ago if I had FR ammo, it didn't matter what you were bringing at me, I knew how to drop you. Now what used to be a OHK is leaving people with half their health. It's taking 2 shots to kill someone standing on the other side of the circle around a zone. I used to know exactly when I could engage a Thorn user or a shotgun wielder and now I have no idea if my weapon's going to even hurt someone let alone kill them. Couple the unpredictable nature of the weapons now with the ever present lag and how can you even begin to decide you need to nerf all our weapons. These are our tools and we choose to use them because they are supposed to be great. Now you are changing the rules and altering how they all work. Do you think that is going to make for better and more fun gameplay? Because I don't think so. I think it will lead to more frustration and anger as Guardians try to land shots and play strategies that they've used hundreds of times, but now the weapons aren't capable of finishing. What good does it do me to have you alter Thorn's DoT if the weapon I'm using no longer performs how I expect it to? At best it's a wash and at worst, I'm going to get killed where once I would have come out on top. Will we adjust? Certainly, or at least those who don't pack up their brushes and find a new profession. But in the end, we'll all have to learn a new style of play just like we did after the previous weapon tuning and just like we did when you nerfed special ammo and what did any of it change? People stopped crying about ARs and cried about Thorn, TLW and shotguns. Now we'll adjust again and people will find some other weapon to cry about and again, what will really have changed? The tears will still be there. The bitch posts will still be here. The only difference will be that many of the Guardians we once played with are gone and the weapons and style of play we once loved no longer exist. Will the game be more balanced? I'm sure you'll pull out some numbers to tell us everything was a success, but what you cannot quantify; what you cannot put up in a spreadsheet or graph to show us the wisdom of these changes is the most important factor... FUN. Is this more fun? Is [i]this[/i] more fun? And who's going to be around to answer?