Well . . . I didn't think I'd be back here again!
In some exciting news, I've been allocated enough time to do one more batch of balance changes and QoL adjustments to the game! The window for this is considerably shorter than previous overhaul patches, but I'm excited to tie up a few final loose ends, with the help of community feedback to guide me.
This thread is expected to remain open for about 2-3 weeks. I have roughly until the end of the month to finalize my proposals and changes. This means that my timeline for this is rather limited. I have less time to consider, less time to spend on time consuming changes, and less time for approval. As such, I'm going to try to focus on the most benefit I can gain from the simplest changes, rather than extensive reworks, which take much more time and higher level coding skill than I have to offer.
A recap of the ground rules and restrictions I am working with:
1. I'm only one member on a team, and I don't have absolute authority. Even if I'm convinced, all of my changes need to be approved by Redigit, Cenx, and Yoraiz0r to be implemented, so I can't just change what I want. There are changes that I wish to see, which are veto'd above my head, and there is nothing I can do about that. There are gameplay philosophies that Red and other members of the team wish to see, and sometimes, certain changes (while decent in their own right) may conflict with these overarching philosophies. I have to respect the boundaries I am operating under. Please don't take it too hard if I have to deny, or do not respond, to proposals. It isn't personal.
2. This is meant to be a discussion thread, and I'd like to see evidence and convincing arguments in favor of changes. If I'm not convinced, then I'm not going to advocate for changes, but I promise that I am interested in hearing it out . . . I want to make more changes!
3. Evidence and persuasive points win the day here. Number of posts or passion level behind a complaint, absent evidence or strong logic, won't convince me, nor will the number of likes, etc. a post gets. If a change is correct, then making a strong case for it should be easy.
4. My focus is primarily items, or simple changes made to things like spawning conditions or stats. It is also very unlikely for me to be able to completely overhaul weapons in the style of the Charged Blaster Cannon or Medusa Head.
5. Please be respectful to other posters here, we're all here to make Terraria a better game, and the best way to have a discussion is if we all get along!
And a few caveats, specifically to this round of changes:
1. Within reason, I'm interested in branching out of items somewhat, including some changes to some things like item accessibility, enemies/bosses, and some critter stuff. Items are still the easiest to work with and quantify though! This doesn't mean that I can tackle more complex overhauls, but simply that I'm interested in less item-oriented QoL this time around, in addition to the item changes.
2. My timeline for this is considerably shorter than previous timelines. My finalized changes are expected to be in by the end of the month, with this thread closing sooner than that. As such, I am wary of tackling particularly tangled balance situations that would take a longer time to sort out and analyze. I won't have many, if any, second chances on fixing any missteps here.
2A. Most notably, this applies to the vast number of issues concerning the mid-game Summoner balance. A number of bugs, oversights, and balance mistakes have come together to create a wildly tangled mess of OP gear . . . but removing any single one of them could accidentally cause the class to come crashing back down. My hands are tied here, because if I really, really wanted to work on this, I would likely have to remove/nerf most of these bugs/oversights only to then rebuild the class from the ground up. So I'm going to have to tread carefully here.
3. As my timeline is more significantly limited, so too is my ability to call in more substantial mechanical/code overhauls. Like before, the best candidates for change are things I can do within my own skillset, as Yoraiz0r and Grox are busy with their own tasks, which take strict priority over mine. There is a little wiggle room here, but not much. Stat changes > Overhauls/Reworks.
I'm really excited to see what we can accomplish with this last round of balance adjustments. I already have a small list of considerations I've made already under way, but I'm not going to be posting anything just yet, as none of it has been approved. Looking forward to what you guys have to say!