Q9 set

Q9 set hasn't worked properly since it was introduced.

1. The orbs don't crit.
2. The set effect doesn't work at all (orbs don't explode).
3. Orbs don't stack (they really should if this set is to be a viable choice).

When are the devs going to fix it?

 

You missed a few:

The set doesn't take essence into account and thus can't hurt things like werewolves.
The orbs sometimes get targeted by meteors which give you more to dodge.
More than the orbs not exploding, the orbs do no DoT.

 

I dont think they want it as viable since they only recognise q7 and dragn boots + helm and ring as viable

 

Well, my immediate reaction is: It's time to stop playing this game until all this bugfest gets fixed. And maybe not only that. Maybe I should wait until all these end game unique sets get balanced finally.

...which may as well never come to be.

 

1. Orbs shouldn't crit ... that is how all similar set bonuses are made (at least they were made in the past).
Dragan's laser should not crit as well ... but we all know they "fixed the laser" now it is working as intended. Yeah right. Even a blind man can see the laser is doing more damage than it should.
So why these things happen?
I have already told the reason ... because every new set of devs is implementing their own rules in the game. Devs are changing so the rules are changing as new devs are taking over. They don't follow unified rules ... they make their own instead.
If DSO devs were making measuring units the world wouldn't be having metric system

3. Malicious Water should not stack by design.
Just like the midget's tesla turret or SWs Singularity.
If there are 3 spheres A, B and C
A∩B∩C= the first to spawn is dealing damage. After that sphere is gone the next one is taking charge.

2. The set effect is working ... the problem is sometimes it is not. As for the explosion ... oh yes they are exploding.
The problem is the description has not been made properly.

I made a video back then ... you can see the explosion at the end of the video

 

Then I think it's strange that the Q1 firestorms do crit...

What's the reason for set effects like Q9's water spheres, Q5's thicket of thorns, or Q8's lightning strike not to crit? I imagine it's because of pvp. If that is the case, there's no point for it not to crit now, is there?

I'd suggest all these effects behave consistently, and that they all dealt critical damage.

Because let's say I want to use the Q9 set. Right now I'm wearing Dragan's boots, so I have to sacrifice 6% increased damage on 2h weapons + most likely 22% increased damage on all weapons for what? For a set effect that doesn't crit and really takes some time and maneuvering to actually use it effectively.

Or let's say I want to use the Q5 set effect. So I replace my +6% 2h dmg Dragan's helmet, again probably together with the 22% weapon dmg bonus, for a set effect that triggers every 60 seconds, and I have to get hurt a lot for it to trigger. It doesn't crit and overall deals little damage.
​

Or make no unique set effects crit at all.
So for example Q7 EA spam would not crit. How's that? With Bearach's bow keeping the crit ability on bleeding (because it's technically not a set effect), Q7 and Q4 would finally be on par, probably.

​

I mean, no wonder everyone wants Dragan's set, and no one cares about most of the PW stuff. But it's a shame, how pointless these end game items are.

 

you would think q9 would be stronger since its currently the last available q, far as i look at it atm i am using q9 but only for the attack speed and the critical from the boots the water effect is ignored for me

 

I believe we can almost ignore the fact that some items or sets become available to us sooner and some later, according to the particular PW dungeon they can be obtained in.

The main criteria for the items' power should be the price in materi frags and the dungeon difficulty. Dungeon difficulty is somewhat up to a debate, because it very much depends on your party or solo skills and such. Simply put, difficulty is quite subjective. Some people have more trouble killing Grimmag, some Bearach, etc.

Now as for the price, if the total price of each set in materi frags is the same, the sets should be roughly balanced. A lot of different things have to be taken into consideration: What kind of skill is used to trigger the set effect? Is the effect a one massive hit at a time, or a lingering damage over time? Does the set effect allow you to deal damage, debuff, and/or escape at the same time? Does the set effect trigger with a long or no cooldown? Is the set effect passive, or does it require a particular action or combination of actions from the player? ...

But anyway, this is the main thing. If a ranger pays the same amount of frags for the Q1 set as for the Q8 set or Q9 set, I would assume they are all at the same level, though of course not identical in their attributes. It is not very obvious that they are currently equal. Sure thing is that Q1 deals crit hits while Q8 and Q9 don't, and Q1 effect is triggered with 0 cooldown blade dance, while Q8 depends on adrenaline cd, which it shortens though, and Q9 has a set cd and usage of the water spheres is kind of slow.

The biggest difference can be easily seen when comparing the Q4 and Q7 set that also cost the same.