in an effort to balance and combat power creep, consider shaking up weapon evolution requirements

[fading osprey]

currently, disregarding the few exceptions to the rules, weapons often evolve in one of 2 ways: level 8 weapon + x level passive, or level 8 weapon + level 5 passive. i think this is generally a nice and simple system, but i think when considering how some weapons are vastly stronger than others, it might be valuable to change this admittedly static template. for example:

• refectio could go from having 8 maximum levels to 10 (without buffing it, just spreading its already present level benfits over a larger distance), and in addition to a max levelled clover, also need a max levelled pummarola, in order to evolve into sanctuary
• 4 seasons could go back to how it was prior and need a spinach in addition to candle to evolve into godai shuffle
• knives could go from a level 8 to level 7 or even 6 weapon (without nerfing it, just consolidating its already present level benfits over a shorter distance) to evolve into thousand cuts

just my opinion anyway. i think some weapons could use a soft nerf/buff in a way that doesnt actually change how they work

powercreep is in my opinion not a problem and sort of fun, but thinking about how sanctuary and holy sword have the exact same evolution requirements when one is vastly stronger than the other makes me think is all.

[hasty void]

I wouldn't call Sanctuary vastly superior to Heaven Sword. They do different things. Also Heaven Sword will eventually do better than it in total damage with Limit Break.

I'm personally not a fan of having lower level requires for weapons, that is contrary to how the rest of the game works. Weaker weapons, in general, already don't require a max passive item to evolve, I feel that is enough. poncle also removed the multiple evolution requirements for a reason, so I doubt they would ever add them back in.

I wouldn't mind them providing buffs to weaker weapons, but nerfing stuff in what is effectively a power fantasy with a dozen different broken synergies (none of which were mentioned here) may not be well received. When a weapon/character is obviously not functioning properly leading to excess power, like was the case with Charlotte and Johnathan, I think a correction that is technically a nerf is fair. From what I can tell, there aren't any runaway weapon bugs doing that presently.

[fading osprey]

no nerfs, that was my whole idea 😊

[unique isle]

Requiring more levels/passives is a nerf

[fading osprey]

i disagree but see what you mean!

[unique isle]

even if you're not making the weapon's performance worse, making it harder to obtain is a nerf, and vice versa. and , for example, show this. imagine how much better view them if obtaining them was the same as evolving any other weapon

[fading osprey]

as i said i see what you mean, just dont agree 😊

[arctic bolt]

I don't really see how you can disagree with an objective fact, requiring more levels to reach the same amount of power is a nerf.

[fading osprey]

didnt you disagree the other week that damage numbers showing correct information was good? 😅
you have your opinions i have mine. its not that big of a deal, just say you dont like me idea and move on 😅

after thinking about it tho i sort of agree

its a bit pointless

especially since i dont care about power creep either lol. idk it was just an idea! im glad i got it off my chest even if no one liked it. including me now lol

[unique isle]

She never said it was good, just that the variance wasn’t that big of an issue (beside, that’s irrelevant to the conversation)

[fading osprey]

my point was we all seem to disagree with things that others see as facts lol

you say its a nerf, i dont. i dont really see why its an issue

youve already said your piece about my idea

[unique isle]

Because it IS a fact. I was pointing out that what you said about “no nerfs” being the focus was wrong, but since you said you disagreed I, and Amars, were telling you why it is a nerf/fact (and why the matter isn’t about opinion)

[fading osprey]

i respect your opinion and agree to disagree

i dont know if we need to carry on lol

[verbal whale]

I'd be down for some of the weaker weapons getting condensed into six levels instead of eight (Knives is a good example). I don't think the reverse (adding levels to weapons) is the right approach, though. Buff the bad, don't nerf the good.

[fading osprey]

fair

[dull bramble]

Or maybe instead we could improve some of the existing levels, like the ones that just add one projectile for knife.

[fading osprey]

thats a cool idea too!

also buff gennaro 🥺

to be fair though is knife even weak?

[lucid meadow]

It's REALLY good single target, aimable damage, but has 0 AOE. It's certainly got its purpose, especially for boss killing, but there are many weapons, such as Long Gun or Shuriken, that simply do its job better, alongside weapons that just... do more damage with AOE. It's certainly not the worst, but power creep has not been kind to it.