Dofus 2 Unity is arriving by the end of the year. If the work is mainly focused on the client, the Ankama teams continue to work on the gameplay of the game, most recently with update 2.70 and its overhaul of the sets. In the future, we will have to expect more. Much more.
A total overhaul of weapons, shields and stuff coming to Dofus
To see a complete overhaul of weapons, you have to go back 11 years, to Dofus 2.11. The game then underwent one of the most important item balancings in its history, if we exclude the very recent patch on the sets or the overhaul of the shields in 2017. Each time these are major turning points for the game, with profound alterations to the gameplay of players and classes. Shields, for example, always partly codify the ranged/melee style of play in the preparation phase.
However, a problem exists which previously prevented Ankama from acting more deeply: It was not possible to modify “instances” of objects. These “instances” are your item, in your inventory, with characteristics and Smithmagic, compared to the “basic” equipment, not yet created and present in the encyclopedia. Changes would involve value balancing, alterations to items with Smithmagic, and other database related things. Everything is there, but automatic access and modification requires significant work upstream (already started). Recently, the Boots of the Lost, for example, were not able to regain 1 MP on old items but only on new recipes to counter this point.
Why this impossibility? Quite simply because until then, the development team “did not have the tool” available. Which remains a little strange in 20 years existence of the game.
We are waiting to have the possibility of modifying the objects individually before being able to modify the C2Cs but also the shields.
Ankama – Dofus Forum
A massive overhaul which is being prepared and confirmed
However, such an idea of total balancing of equipment (weapons and shields in the set) is not new. These ideas were already cropping up in 2018, when the topic of improving low-level stuff was on the table. It will then return several times, notably through legendary objects, possessing spell characteristics that are “more easily modified afterwards”. However, it was only this Monday that the internal work around this balancing tool was made official on the forum.
Currently we are working on a tool allowing us to carry out these balancings, and be sure, when this tool is ready, we will rework the balancing of these objects.
Ankama – Dofus Forum
Beyond a very recent message on the official forum, we can go back to a previous Ankama Live with Crocus and Idseas (both GD balancing/classes). The latter mentioned a certain dissatisfaction around the shields, which would most likely lead them towards a round of modifications around their design. To be continued.