What is the syllabus for this month's warlock class?

[Zanshenbushi]

For the most part, the changes to the warlock class since day 1 haven't been too bad. Some have been good and some have been bad.In this post, I am not writing to complain about being nerfed, but writing to say that I, for one, and getting tired of re-learning my character.Every live update, it seems that I must learn new strategies of playing my character effectively due to changes in spell damage, timers, etc.This seems counter-productive in a lot of ways.Every month or so, I must go back to warlock 101 class to reexamine my strategies.If it isn't broke, don't fix it.I guess I am asking for continuity within the class. In other words, stop making changes to the spells that work just fine.And it isn't just warlocks. Every class is constantly having to make changes in their strategies in order to compensate for the changes that have occurred to their class.Mind you, I am taking issue with the spells and skills that work just fine.Is anyone else out there getting tired of re-learning their characters?Calaban Malastere45th Cloak of Disease and PoisonLucan D'Lere

[TheLo]

I'm not, and I like having a few new tricks up my sleeve. We get lots of cool new things post combat changes (did anyone look at wicked gift?). I personally like the idea of being in a dynamic environment, and if you dont like change, you had better get used to it at least. The problem was, it was broke, and thats why they are fixing it. <div></div>

[Zanshenbushi]

I think you misunderstood me.Some of the spells and skills are in dire need of repair, I agree, but I take issue with the ones that aren't broken.Take for example, altering nil distortion's damage and timers, as well as making all roots break as soon as damage has been done.This seems a little rediculous to me. The spells work fine as is, so why mess with them?Enlighten me.

[Pornstar]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> I think you misunderstood me.<BR>Some of the spells and skills are in dire need of repair, I agree, but I take issue with the ones that aren't broken.<BR>Take for example, altering nil distortion's damage and timers, as well as making all roots break as soon as damage has been done.<BR>This seems a little rediculous to me. The spells work fine as is, so why mess with them?<BR>Enlighten me. <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Sure the spells work fine, < we walk up to an orange con solo mob, click- click- boom> <get a resist? stun-repeat> Whats the challenge in that? </P> <P>I'm not saying we're completely overpowered.  I do believe however, that change is needed to maintain balance throughout the classes.   </P> <P>For example:</P> <P>Ever group with a healer and commence to slaughtering Splitpaw upper tunnels?  It's extremely easy as long as the healer knows where the heal button is.  How about grouping with that same healer, and taking on the heroic arena post 40.  Its quick and the pros far exceed the cons.  Masters anyone?  Yes atm it can be done solo, but w/o the proper resists, the casting mobs will eat you alive.</P> <P>I am really looking forward to the new changes.  I'm gonna be completely optimistic about them, and enjoy playing my Warlock like I always have from day one.  </P> <P>IMHO, SoE has an idea, a vision if you will, and their gonna run with it.  The player base testing their idea will have a say in the change, but the principal will still be the same.  Save yourself some grief, and just go with the flow.  Come September it will make the transition much easier :smileyhappy:</P>

[Banshye]

<P>I started the Trial of the Isle on November 9th and created my mage. I've since developed him into a Warlock and he's 47th as I write this note (I took a few months off due to some work issues).</P> <P>I can't say I've really experienced this "relearning of my class" that you mention. I went into this thing thinking, as a Warlock, I'll be dps with big DD's and AE's as well as some DoT's power group buffs and a few other odds and ends. After 10 months and 47 levels, thats essentially what I still am. I'm still very capable of solo-combat with or without Bony Grasp. I'm also very capable in combination with other classes or in groups. Everybody else seems to know what I do too - when I post my LFG flag, the invites usually roll in pretty quickly.</P> <P>My technique of "nuking/stuning/nuking/nuking/stunning 'til dead" is pretty much the same technique that I've been using since level 23 when I got my first decent DD.</P> <P>Now, as I look down through the class spell list there have certainly been some spells that altered the way I handled myself in certain situations. But as far as these patches substantially changing the way I do my thing - I just haven't really experienced that.</P> <P>I've looked through the new combat changes - the only thing that really concerns me is that the Bony Grasp change will probably entirely negate the Warlock's ability to defeat the Pit Champ in Splitpaw. But that's a mob I would never attempt solo outside of the arena anyway. I've already beaten the Pit Champ a few times so I'm not too concerned about beating him from now until eternity... although I do hope SOE makes some changes so that up-and-coming Warlocks have some legitimate chance of defeating him.</P> <P>Perhaps if you cite some specific examples of "having to relearn the class" after a patch, it'll ring a bell with me... but I just don't think I've really ever felt that way. The closest thing might be the day they patched in Bellengere's Sapping Salvo - but that wasn't too hard to get used to. :smileyvery-happy:</P>

[Zanshenbushi]

I may just be alone in this line of thinking. But hey, we need something else to talk about than bony grasp, right?I can remember when the damage for dark distortion was increased (at least I think it was dark distortion. It has been a long time since last Novemeber, lol).This changed the way I did everything, solo and group fighting. Sure, the same basic concept was there, nuke, stun, nuke, but I had to tweak my play style a little to adjust to the increase in damage.The same goes for when damage is decreased in spells.I like change and I like to not know what is going to happen in way of content for the next month. But, I am mostly talking about story, quests and items.There is a lot of talk about warlocks shifting to AoE from DD. This is a huge change, from the way at least that I play my warlock.In a way, that is what makes EQ2 fun. We all play our characters differently.I would hope that warlocks stay the same as masters of DD.I'm pretty sure that the tanks and chanters that I play with also hope that I stay with DD.I would hate to see our DD suffer in order to make our AoEs better.Hopefully, this AoE shift will not be as bad as some people think it will be, but if it is, I am afraid that after playing a warlock for 9 months, it may be time to pick up the syllabus for a different class.