Dream EQ server (fiction)

[Kika Maslyaka]

IMHO one of the inherited EQ class disbalance problems is that there supposedly 3 potential tank classes, yet one of them has such a huge mitigation bonus, that in 90% of encounters warrior is automatically preferred over knights. Similarly, out of 3 healers, only one is considered to be true raid healer. That forces raids and sometimes even groups to go beyond mandatory holy trinity concept of tank+healer+dps to even much more restricted and class specific war+cleric mandatory base. The better approach would have been to put all tanks on equal level damage mitigation wise but give then 2ndary rank variety. Same way, all healer classes should be equally potent raid level healers - each capable of raid healing, but with a different approach (see how EQ2 did healers).

And yes, old EQ raids are too blunt - all boss mobs end up with insane melee and occasional Death Touch/AOE for flavor. Funny how Verant diehard DnD fans never thought about it as extremely dull.

[porigromus]

Originally Posted by Kika Maslyaka [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

IMHO one of the inherited EQ class disbalance problems is that there supposedly 3 potential tank classes, yet one of them has such a huge mitigation bonus, that in 90% of encounters warrior is automatically preferred over knights. Similarly, out of 3 healers, only one is considered to be true raid healer. That forces raids and sometimes even groups to go beyond mandatory holy trinity concept of tank+healer+dps to even much more restricted and class specific war+cleric mandatory base. The better approach would have been to put all tanks on equal level damage mitigation wise but give then 2ndary rank variety. Same way, all healer classes should be equally potent raid level healers - each capable of raid healing, but with a different approach (see how EQ2 did healers).

And yes, old EQ raids are too blunt - all boss mobs end up with insane melee and occasional Death Touch/AOE for flavor. Funny how Verant diehard DnD fans never thought about it as extremely dull.

I think everyone forgets you are comparing hybrids to pure classes. I am sorry if the hybrid isn't hybrid enough, that is another topic. Maybe they should have their hybrid skills improved. A hybrid though should not do the job equally of a pure class.

WoW screwed up there game eventually the same way because no one understands a hybrid. A hybrid is a mix of two or more classes and should be

[Kika Maslyaka]

Originally Posted by porigromus [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I think everyone forgets you are comparing hybrids to pure classes. I am sorry if the hybrid isn't hybrid enough, that is another topic. Maybe they should have their hybrid skills improved. A hybrid though should not do the job equally of a pure class.

WoW screwed up there game eventually the same way because no one understands a hybrid. A hybrid is a mix of two or more classes and should be

this is EXACTLY what is the problem with EQ - you have pure classes who will always be better in a group/raid situation, where all the hybrids will be sub-par and you have hybrids who do better at solo (thought nowhere as good as a "pure" necro and with hideous Xp penalty)

The proper approach would be think about ALL classes as hybrids where a class has a PRIMARY role and a SECONDARY role. For example:

Paladin: Primary - Tank, Secondary: Support Healer

where

Warrior: Primary - Tank, Secondary: Support Melee DPS

This way each tank class can tank (read mitigate) equal well, but each can have his own side perk.

If you don't do this you will always have a situation where pure class will exist only for raid purpose, and hybrids only for soloing, essentially playing 2 different games on the same server.

Concept of a "hybrid" works well in a single player game, or in a more solo friendly MMO, but not in a hard core group/raid oriented game like EQ.

[webrunner5]

[QUOTE=Kika Maslyaka;928845]this is EXACTLY what is the problem with EQ - you have pure classes who will always be better in a group/raid situation, where all the hybrids will be sub-par and you have hybrids who do better at solo (thought nowhere as good as a "pure" necro and with hideous Xp penalty)

Well I think that is why Sony-Devs came up with AA's to help even out classes. The problem with P1999 is even when Velious comes out a Ranger, SK, Pally will still not be worth a crap. Mobs hit hard as hell in Velious meaning a Warrior and a Cleric are king even more plain and simple in a group.