Druids the most efficient group pullers?

[Troxx]

Druids contribute to groups just fine. They aren't and never will be a min/max class but can pull their weight just fine.

By level 50:

-group regen has a heal potential of 16.5hp per healed mana spent (1100 per person x6)

-24 or damage shield (5 mins 120 mana). Hit only 10x a minute that equates to 10 aggro free damage for each mana spent. 20x a minute = 20 damage per mana spent and so on. Damage shield on the tank has always been and will always be the best damage per mana ratio for any of the casting classes.

-skin like nature (frequently overlooked) gives hp/AC and 2hp/tick regen. Looking at the healing only that's 1440 potential healing for 300 mana (nearly 5hp healed per mana spent)

While these are not glamorous additions to a group - they are powerful additions to all groups in this level range. Those 3 things alone are trivial for a 49 Druid to maintain with plenty of mana left over for healing. Complete heal aside, single target Druid healing at is 2.3:1 compared to lower cleric blast heals 2.5:1 and 2.6:1 ratios. Excluding cheal, cleric still maintains advantage with a more efficient celestial heal.

Str buffs, snares, roots and DD are extras along with harmony pulling and group sow.

Druids are underrated. They are fine additions to groups but sadly do not fit into the min/max ideal groups that this server always favors. They synergize very well into awkward groups. Paired with a shaman and 4 melee (without sufficient hp to maximize cheals potential) willing to spread out damage, they can actually put out more healing over time with continuous 12hp/tick (nearly a fungi) to the whole group. As a leveling shaman, I always greatly appreciated not having to deal with the burden of maintaining 6 regens at 200-300 a pop. Having regens on everyone equates to less wasted mana from blast heals - always worth keeping up.

Higher 50 up to 60:
Regrowth of grove 16550+ potential healing 600 mana (27.6:1 heal ratio potential)
Natureskin: 3240hp regen for 400 mana (8:1 heal ratio potential)
DS: 32 per hit 150 mana (1.5 damage per mana spent for every hit per minute)
POTG: ridiculous stacking mana regen

Classic eq is slow paced and favors regen. Prior to 60 you're looking at 19/tick hp regen to the whole group. At 60 POTG is crazy good.

Druids are actually well balanced. The problem isn't with the Druid, it's the community's perspective of the Druid. I like having them in a group.