I wish WX’s circuit changes were part of the skill tree instead of being baseline

[rabbit1324]

First of all, I want to say that I really like the direction of this update. The new skill tree system is a fantastic addition and feels like a meaningful step forward for WX. Separating stat circuits from effect circuits allows for much more variety in builds and encourages players to think carefully about their setups, rather than just relying on one thing. Overall, it feels like a very thoughtful and well-designed change.

That said, I’m not a big fan of the circuit changes being applied by default instead of being optional through the skill tree. The whole point of a skill tree is to give players meaningful choices, so having these changes forced by default feels a bit off. While I do like the update overall, I don’t want the previous playstyle and experience to disappear completely.

I sometimes play without really engaging with the skill tree, so this system feels a bit awkward to me. I enjoy playing the base character as-is, without being tied to specific upgrades or builds.

With these circuit changes applied by default, it feels like that choice is somewhat taken away. Even if you choose not to use the skill tree, you end up playing a reworked version of the character anyway, which kind of defeats the purpose of opting out in the first place.

(I used site translator before posting, and it came out wrong T_T)

[Evelo]

If the large majority of players will take a skill (75%+) it is in the best interest of the majority to make it a baseline change.

Edit to add: I forgot to mention the reasoning behind this. It is because if so many people take it, it will be considered an essential part of the character that the majority will refuse to play without. If skill trees are meant to offer choice, then there has to actually be a choice in the first place.

As far as my previous comments of 65-75%+, that might even be too small. Though I think anything over 85% is when it really should be brought into baseline. Other skills that have one starting position (Wormwood, Winona) would also benefit from expanding those starting points to offer that choice. Winona's is a pretty extreme example of a character who has a required trait that is also a fundamental change to the character, to the point it doesn't make sense from a skill tree design perspective to even have it in the tree and just waste the point.

Edited March 22 by Evelo

[rabbit1324]

I understand your point, but I don’t think a high pick rate necessarily means something should become baseline. It can also suggest that the system could use better distribution of options (for example, into two skills)

Also, WX was originally balanced around having 6 circuits. Giving access to 18 circuits without any skill  point investment feels like a pretty big power jump. Personally, I think approaches like Wormwood or Winona—where core traits are structured but still part of progression—work better.

[Cheggf]

4 hours ago, Evelo said:

If the large majority of players will take a skill (75%+) it is in the best interest of the majority to make it a baseline change.

If everyone is picking the same skill then the reason why that's happening should be looked at. Maybe it's an essential skill and should be made base, maybe the other skills just suck and should be buffed, maybe the skill is overpowered and should be nerfed, maybe everyone is just picking it for no reason because a YouTuber said to or something.

[Evelo]

12 hours ago, Cheggf said:

If everyone is picking the same skill then the reason why that's happening should be looked at. Maybe it's an essential skill and should be made base, maybe the other skills just suck and should be buffed, maybe the skill is overpowered and should be nerfed, maybe everyone is just picking it for no reason because a YouTuber said to or something.

Yeah I can agree with this viewpoint. Metas develop even in games like DST where metas aren't nessecary. Just the nature of video game players. It's just a solution that I support because if everyone takes it, there isn't much choice in the matter. Buffing worse skills or nerfing the one skill are both possible solutions. I just think of the few situations like Winona, Willow, Wigfrid where it would benefit the playerbase to expand or replace those skills with something else because it is such an important part of the character identity. Like how with the circuits here, the large majority of players would take the skill, so why not replace that skill, make it baseline and change it with something else instead that is interesting (what we have now with the circuit upgrades).