Personally, as a Shinnok main the patches haven't really ever hit home for me. Like, he was buffed a considerable amount, got a reasonable nerf that he likely needed simply because +22 is a lot of plus frames, and he can still take advantage of it. Since my sub is War God Kotal, haven't had an issue with him either.
However, if I mained any other character that got adjusted like a Liu Kang or D'Vorah I probably would be very pissed off they keep messing with characters before seeing their full potential or anything.
I also don't like this particular patch because some characters still arguably need something. Sub once again is left untouched despite people saying Unbreakable and Cryo deserve something. What about Johnny Cage? He hasn't received much of anything except one nerf.
When it comes to multi-game players, most have already dropped the game and cited the patches as a reason why. I mean, KelvinJeon, KBrad... Other famous players have said something about the game and how they hate the constant patches, because NRS is the only developer that does this in a fighting game. There is a particular reason why games need to be played out before massive patches or fixes come out. I remember CrimsonShadow saying something about how "League/DOTA2 players adapt, why can't we?" When that statement is A: not really relatable to fighting games. B: Not accurate as League players hate how many champions there are due to them making others obsolete in a sense, so patches are constantly needed regardless and C: DOTA 2 receives very few patches.
I think of Flame Fist Liu as a good example. Sure there were things wrong with the variation, but to buff it so quickly instead of taking time to see exactly what he needs is a much better approach. I also like that they revert the one frame links D'Vorah had, something she never really needed as a nerf because it does nothing technically to nerf her but make her harder to play.
Games need to be played out before patches, and if there was something that should be patched by now, it's the netcode. All these balance patches are great, but once again NRS fails to shake off it's rep, and it affects every scene whether some would like to admit it or not. There was a reason why many were waiting, taking a wait and see approach to the game. However,
It's a double edged sword, the patches definitely help the games over all balance.
IT does hurt it when it comes to multi game players though, those are the guys that are going to drop it, as they treat it as a fun side game, and don't care enough to keep up.
It won't kill the game, but it is a little sad when you go from 1000 entrants at one EVO, to 350 entrants and a saturday grand finals the next year.
I assure you it's not just those players either. Many NRS players aside from your current tourney goers, and even then some of which have posted in this topic have stated they don't like the approach. There's many negatives for not letting a meta play out before the patches hit. Anyone who may of been potentially interested in MKX by now has been completely turned off or already learned to embrace these rapid-fire patches. This stunts scene growth.
