Speed seems a little better but still feels like I am playing second fiddle to my companions during fights. Teddy has a speed of 165 compared to 124 for Lilnth and Jareq which often allows him to attack twice for every attack player character makes. This is nearly double the character speed of 95 on my level 27 ranger with fully enchanted gear and player speed 17 researched at the university. This speed differential is possibly the single most frustrating thing in the game right now, as it makes it difficult to build to larger attacks as I watch my companions kill all the mobs with an occasion attack thrown in by my character.

I would strongly disagree with the idea that things are "slightly too easy" at this point and time especially with the recent speed changes. The final battles of areas are significantly more difficult than the rest of the area and out of balance for the recommended level. This was first noticed with the final fights of Battle the Goblin Leader and Defeat the Untouched forces. Unfortunately I cannot find my notes complete notes on those two battles for my character's and companion's stats

Defeat the Untouched Forces (recommended 14-15). Level 18 ranger with level 17 companions and fully equipped gear with the captain doing 3400+ critical hits.

Burn the Tent companion mission (recommended level 21-22). Final fight has 8 scorpions that hit on fully enchanted gear for nearly 1600 points at level 26 plus a larger scorpion that hits for 1800 points. When you add critical hits that do anywhere from 3200 to 3800, this fight is unbalanced. University health and all defenses are at 14 for character and 12 for companions. The only way this was defeated was due to a lucky critical on a AOE attack on the first group of scorpions.

Search the Thief Camp final battle (recommended level 23-24). Level 27 ranger and companions, battle normally lasts two rounds, with companions or players often killed during first round. The rangers are hitting for 4200 with 8000+ critical hits, warriors are hitting for 1700 with 3400+ critical hits and wizard is hitting for 4000 with 8000+ critical hits. In most attempts not a single opponent is killed and due to speed nerf, player character has died during fights without even getting a single attack. All university buffs for player at 17, all university buffs for companions at 15, fully enchanted gear.

When you consider the extremely low enchant success percentages and the fact I have generously used shardium to not only ensure my companion's gear is fully enchanted but to reset the timer (along with the VIP item) for the university to allow training, these battles which are extremely difficult now will become extremely frustrating to free players who do not have the luxury of having these items.

As additional information (be advised I am playing with difference skill spends and my ranger may show different stats if you look at him), here are the breakdowns of how the stats break down between companions at level 27 and how the player characters is significantly lower in nearly every stat:

Jareq: Str 286, Int 112, Dex 122, End 494, Spd 124, Luck 116, Atk 1302, AP 731, Arm 616, MR 442, HP 10267, Crit 696

Lilinth: Str 117, Int 220, Dex 288, End 388, Spd 124, Luck 116, Atk 1176, AP 1485, Arm 593, MR 688, HP 8150, Crit 708

Teddy: Str 112, Int 386, Dex 112, End 390, Spd 165, Luck 225, Atk 726, AP 1604, Arm 399, MR 673, HP 8150, Crit 1350

Player: Str 81, Int 83, Dex 409, End 287, Spd 95, Luck 107, Atk 960, AP 1002, Arm 861, MR, 641, HP 9053, Crit 861

When you say wizards are using auto attack, what are you talking about?

@Jason -- I believe that refers to the pinkish purple swirly that gets fired when you don't select an attack action. The skill point for it is called Staff Lore I believe.

I would like to see a balance with the AI. It was discussed before that companion AI was kept low, but it needs to be improved. At a minimum the companions should be smart enough, (in our current 3v3), that if one enemy is within a one shoot kill, the next companion who is up next in the battle sequence they MUST attack that enemy.

I hate wasting my attacks to kill an opponent who has 100 HP left and my 4000 damage attack is now lost instead of going to the opponent who has 10k HP.

Thank you for the update. I am glad to hear the speed issue is being addressed and I look forward to trying it out. A pity the speed cannot be fixed for earlier characters but I will spin up a warrior and try it out.