- Reduced flask charges (A lot of Chaos Inoculation's primary/secondary  defense comes from the ability to keep high flask uptime)

- Curse effect (Heretics Veil Occultist Cursers. Don't see many tri curser HP based chars)

- Monster damage from hits always ignites (harms more non ghost reaver Chaos Inoculation chars)

- Of stasis now also adds Prevents Energy Shield Regeneration in addition to No Life/Mana Regen

Couple this with surgeon's nerf and pathfinder nerf, there were some definite targets.  

So there were definitely some nerfs that targeted Chaos Inoculation more than life, but I honestly still don't think its enough.

 

My guess is they made some pretty ballsy nerfs to the pathfinder, so they were somewhat conservative with the amount of nerfs they wanted to implement.  That's just my guess. it was on our list. There are other forms of mitigation/damage absorption on the right side of the tree eg. Arctic Armour, Basalt Flask, Taste of Hate, Lightning Coil, Enfeeble, Decoy Totem, Endurance charge. There is a point to be made when we should look towards more layered defenses instead of stacking one type of defense all the way.

 

Some people find more challenge more excitement.  Look at all the people who play solo self found. Why is it so hard to believe that hard can = fun?

 

As for your Elemental Reflect map. There are powerful tools in this game that can be used in interesting ways to combat certain downsides such as map mods.  

 

So lets say. You're a lightning striker with full conversion - most likely ur running Red, Red, Red, Red, Blue, Green in a 6L. Swap lightning strike to earthquake for Elemental Reflect maps and don't run hatred. EQ, Melee Phys, Fortify, Less Duration, Inc AoE, Faster Attacks.

 

Tone down your elemental damage by Aura Swapping. Use a Vinktar's if you do substantial lightning damage. Use life leech or a Sibyl's ring.

 

If you're a caster using an elemental skill, find a way to convert the damage to chaos.  Lightning > Voltaxic, Fire > Consuming Dark,  Cold -> Pyre -> Chaos with consuming darks. Using a spell and have lots of spell damage?  Use Bladefall/Blade Vortex/Ethereal Knives etc.