What's the deal with quantum?

I just hopped on my quantum alt after months, trying to find a loadout that's halfway decent. Haven't succeeded yet, but that's not the purpose of this thread (if anyone has any suggestions, though, feel free to post).

The reason for this thread is to ask what in the world is wrong with Distortion Wave? It doesn't have any CC effects, but its damage is pitiful.

Here's a video showing how it stacks up to the 100-cost Tachyon Blast.



Tachyon Blast costs 100, and Distortion wave 300. Yet, in all cases (3 target seems worst) it does only double or less than double the damage. It feels like its hitting more like a 200-cost ability. What's the deal.

Also, as you can see in the video, clipping isn't the issue, because both powers clip at the same animation time. Both powers are multitarget, and distortion wave has a longer cooldown. So what gives?

timebomb should be buffed to hit harder and it should always hit the target no matter what or at least make it hit faster

Which has nothing to do with what OP asked.

I think the issue may be the 100 cost spammer and not D Wave (not sure) Have you also tried to see what difference is when PI is applied?

I'll come back and help you with your quantum when I get a spare moment

Yeah, it adds 10% to the damage of both. I didn't record that for the video because it doesn't really make a difference in the comparison between the two.

Ok just wondering. I main quantum and have seen similar results you posted
I use a 2x tachyon in my rotation

I would guess like before maybe the 100 cost spammer is hitting a bit harder than it should

Could be, the only way for me to be sure would be to hop on test and compare 300 cost identical powers between powersets, lol. Unfortunately I don't have test server installed at the moment (finishing my final playthrough of ME 1-3 on the computer first).

If you get a chance, see how DW is performing with your gear and whether the damage is appropriate for end game damage.

Maybe i'll compare with some 200 cost powers as well, just to see the totals. By comparison, i think TB is hitting for me capped at about 8k with my stats. Is it normal for DW to do half the damage of TB?

Just checked Inspiral Waves, also doing roughtly same damage as Tachyon Blast. So if the 100-costs are off (instead of DW) both of them are off.

None of the powers in any power set are actually equal

i.e. the 300 moves in Earth for example don't hit for equal amounts, one seemingly always hits slightly harder than the other.

There's no reason or rhyme to it; this flows all the way down to the 100's

Also don't expect to see exactly "triple" the damage of a 100 cost power just because the power costs 300.

You'll also want to just experiment with each costed move and determine which one hits harder than the other, and then test PI applications to see what impact there is.

Sometimes PI's aren't worth it depending on what the overall impact is on the rotation timing and sequence.

This type of approach can form the basis of any rotation/loadout in any power set.

Why shouldn't I expect 3 times the damage if it costs 3 times as much? If there were time differences or CC effects or whatnot I'd agree, but none of that is the case here.

The purpose of the revamp was to bring balance to powersets, which is the purpose of this thread. And your answer is "it's a mystery"?

I can check. TBomb is capped by your might, but I can check with a normal rotation and see what I get in an hour.

balance between the powers doesn't necessarily equal perfect mathematics in terms of the powers themselves. If the numbers were too precise the whole exercise would become almost too methodical.

Balance is more about potential overall output, the method in which that output is achieved can vary.

Because there's more to determing an abilities damage then just power costs. Cooldowns, cast times, range, whether it stuns or not, the type of ability, I.E, projectiles have higher base damage.

In order for a 100 power to hit three times less then a 300 power, it would need a third of the cooldown, be max range while the 300 is melee, AND have a third of the cast time.


Oh, and multi target abitiies do less damage on one target due to the fact they're meant to split.

Your reasoning is totally off here.

If two powers have the exact same characteristics, but one costs 100 and the other 300, you're telling me the 300 shouldn't hit 3 times harder?

Sorry, that's just ridiculous. Why would I or anyone ever use the 300 cost power then?

Please explain the difference between the two abilities in the video. Given that they're both effective on 8 targets, both max range, DW has a longer cooldown and cast time that the 100-cost spammer, and neither has any additional affects. So please, tell me why DW hits for less that double the damage of a 100-cost ability. Also, notice in the video that this difference is accross the board.

So, you're saying that the devs don't use a formula when determining damage of powers? They just wing it?

Sorry, not buying it. And I can't believe you're actually proposing this as a solution. DW hits for less than half of a 100-cost ability, and it doesn't need to be looked at because otherwise things would be "too methodical?" Give me a break.

They're both max range. The damage is scaled properly. Perhaps if DW was a melee range power it would hit 3 times as hard. It's almost double the damage which is appropriate for it's characteristics. It's not meant to be spammed like TB, spamming TB uses more power overall because of it's very short 0.5 cooldown, 100 power every half second will parse higher then 300 every 3 seconds.

DW is meant to be used in a rotation as opposed to TB which is meant to be PFtT filler.

So it's balanced because it costs 3 times as much as does less than double the damage? Sure, keep going here, I'd love to see you explain this. DId you even look at the video? The 100 cost is hitting for 2,500. Every .5 second. So, for 300 cost as 1.5 seconds, I'm getting 7,500 damage versus 4,000 every 3 seconds, and you're defending that?

Lol.

Why would a power need to be melee to compete against a ranged spammer if it costs 3 times as much? You don't make any sense.