Please reconsider the addition of True Focus on all boss island defenders
This post is a sincere plea to reconsider the addition of True Focus on all of the defenders on the boss island for AW. The first part of the post is just an itemized list as to why I think this is a bad idea for the game in general. The second part is a personal anecdote.
There are at least 5 reasons why I find the addition of the True Focus node as lazy and cheap, and should be changed based on principle:
1. AW is already very stressful and resource consuming for most of the community. If the general consensus is that AW was too easy and not challenging enough, then the True Focus addition would at least cohere with what the community has been expressing. But the community has been rather clear that AW is stressful. So this addition just looks like a blatant unit grab, while ignoring what the community has been saying.
2. There are plenty of ways to implement a counter against Ghost and Quake that are more creative and thoughtful, and that does not outright preclude their viability. For instance, a *modification* of certain nodes such as cascading failure, passive power gain, or hurt locker could make Ghost/Quake not the best option. At the same time, players can still use them *as they were originally designed*, but it will require some adjustment.
3. The problem is not that Quake/Ghost are too OP, but that there are too many useless champs. Thus, many people have thin rosters and have to overly rely on Quake/Ghost. There needs to be significantly less useless champs in the overall champ pool. Until then, hold off on these cheap/thoughtless counters. There are too many useless champs being introduced and unsuccessful buffs. While I like the direction that the buff program is heading, I don't believe we're at a point where the overall champ pool is strong.
4. Is it necessary that every defender on the boss island has True Focus? This just seems excessive. If maybe one or two defender(s) had True Focus, then that would be more reasonable.
5. Quake, Ghost, Tigra, and other champs are a bit different because they do require a ton of practice/research and at least some skill. Every player who has mastered these champs has put in a lot of research and practice. So unlike other "nerfs" or counters to other champs, this one hurts a bit more because it's not just simply a matter of resources spent, but all of the time that has been put into practice and research. Just search on YT the amount of "how to" guides on these champs. These champs have so much more attention not simply because they are effective, but because they require more practice and explanation.
Below is an anecdote that might represent how other players are feeling:
This is the kind of change that made me quit for 3-4 years and will probably make me quit again, but this time for good. Please hear me out for a second. I don't get good luck with my pulls, probably like most players here. Out of my 13 6 stars, none is viable as an AW attacker.
But I always tried to be thankful b/c I have a 5 star Quake. I spent a lot of time researching and practicing how to perfect her. And I finally got her down and I use her very effectively in AW. But obviously there are Quake counters in AWD, forcing me to use other champs, all of whom I do not have. So AW has always been challenging b/c i didn't have the best counters, but also fun b/c I at least had Quake.
Finally this past week, I felt even more thankful b/c i pulled Tigra and Ghost as 5 stars! I've been hunting Ghost for awhile, opening nothing but Tech/Cosmic dual crystals. This past week, I've been doing a lot of research and practicing both of these champs. These pulls have given me a renewed desire to stay engaged in the game. More specifically, I've been practicing how to use Ghost without Wasp, being able to land that sp2 so that all of it crits. This learning process has been fun and I keep telling myself that it will be well worth it, esp. in AW.
Now I hear the news of this True Focus node, which significantly reduces the efficacy of Ghost and Quake (and as a result, Tigra and others). While I'm still thankful that i can use them in other content, let's be honest: only one content excites me, and that's AW. Only one content do I really need the best of the best. If they implemented True Focus in AQ, arena, EQ, and SQ combined, then I wouldn't really mind. AW is the only content that I really care about.