Thank you for responding;
But I noticed your verbiage in the beginning of your response;
I can personally assure you this is not the first time that an influx of community feedback has spurred a quick walk-back or change of course on a balance decision.
Noticed you didn’t say a Division balance decision, and I understand that it may have possibly been done in other titles but I was explicitly speaking on this series, The Division.
It's unfortunately a bit more complicated than that. Part of what helps with the quick turnaround on something like the M1A issue was that it was a relatively cut-and-dry change that a vast majority (though still not a unanimity) of the community was unhappy with.
Again, in relation to Division - there has been a ton of times between Division 1 and Now where We had voiced loud outcries in disagreement with you all’s choices and direction for our game - so are you insinuating that due to the outcry this time, you guys decided to please and placate our cries?
Yes, we can plainly see that the community is extremely frustrated with how loot and gear feels right now... but is the solution simply increasing the rate of drops? Increasing the attribute minimums by difficulty? Increasing the averages by difficulty? Making gear always generate with 2 attributes matching the core?
No, I would not say it’s to do any of those examples you’ve given as I realize it would saturate the loot pools and not entice grinding - but you guys have been at this for almost a 5-6 years and between 2 games. You all can not expect us to think you guys can’t figure out a proper formula which scales based on player numbers and items in the open world. I refuse to accept you guys and gals can’t figure out this loot issue. I have too much faith and expectation that you guys are good devs (not taking the piss, being serious) so I know y’all can do it, but to say “it’s not easy” for 4 years it should be somewhat easier.
Your response might be "Yes, yes to all of that and more," but someone else's response might focus on different things. Neither person is wrong. These types of changes require nuance - to say nothing of the feasibility of such changes - to say nothing of how long such substantial changes may take to create and implement.
Maybe this is the issue? Maybe seeing no suggestion as a wrong suggestion and trying to please everyone is the issue?
Why aren’t you all using in-game polling to see what active players want?
Your feedback is important, for sure, but I really hope the takeaway from this positive-outcome M1A situation is not, "the Devs don't listen when we're less hostile and less aggressive."
I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to respond; i am being hard on you (in a respectful manner) because I have faith you all can make this right - but Unfortunately no action from you all in the past between Div 1 and now have shown you all do not respond to our requests unless we get nasty and hopefully in the future and as time goes on, you all will change that image. But for right now, you guys have been the most open and ‘warm’ towards the community and this only came after we lost our shit (sort to say)