Originally I disliked the way the exp penalty for hybrids was done, (40%, no sharing with group) but I came around to the idea. I makes sense in a role playing kinda way - your class has the difficulty of mastering two professions and so levels up slower, fair enough.
However I have always loathed the way the penalties are now shared with the group. EQ for me is about grouping up with people and sharing the penalty goes a significant way to making this more unpleasant. Frequently groups will turn your class down. Other times you will get an invite but have to deal with mealy mouthed comments about the exp rate. Even in groups of friends that welcome you I feel a underlying guilt that I am holding them back. It is crazy that you essentially have to ask your friends to take a hit just to play the game together.
I can't accept the counter argument that hybrids allow groups to perform better and therefore warant the penalty. I think this argument could only be valid if it was true in the majority of cases. As anyone has played with a good bard will know, they can add a lot - and it is certainly interesting to debate what is better, an enchanter or a bard. But I don't think it can reaonably be claimed that what they can offer is so superior to an enchanter as to justify the penalty. And as for rangers (my chosen class) then well....lol
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