Just can't get into Warlock anymore

[Soefje]

My first character in EQ2 (and this is my first MMORPG) was a warlock.  I started him about 2 months after launch.  I played him until shortly after DOF came out and was getting too frustrated.  I switched to a SK and have been having a blast, but thought I would give the warlock another chance.  I have been playing him for more than a week and been doing the quests and zones I did with my SK.  I am now ready to give up.  Last night, I was trying to kill a Ice Construct in Everfrost, he is 11 levels below me (grey ^^^).  I could not kill them.  He kept resisting my roots, interrupting me, and finally beat me down.  I thought this was bad luck, so I tried again.  After the third time, I finally quit.  I know that there are mobs my SK will laugh at and easily take, that I have to go very carefully around with my warlock.  I read all the time about people saying they can solo yellow ^^^, while I am not one of them.  Too many resists, too many interrupts, too long a cast time.  Not worth it.So, I put up my LFG tag, joined a group (after an hour of waiting, my SK gets a tell after 5 to 10 min).  We were killing single ^^^ green mobs in Lavastorm, I barely got anything off when they were dead.  If I started sooner, I pulled aggro.  When we went to group mobs, same problem.  I never could figure out the proper sequence with this group.  I never liked the AOE thing and am now more than ever convinced that this class is broken severely.  Taking on groups of 3 down arrow mobs all day or green ^ groups is not my idea of fun.  With the social aggro in the game now, I can barely solo anymore.  I have had 3 green solo mobs kill me several times because I can't get spells off.  And there are no panic spells.  At least with the SK, I have FD or evac if necessary.I wanted to play this class becase of the DPS and the disease/poison idea, but it is broken so badly and does not seem to be getting any attention.  I am sad, but done.  My warlock is retired and will remain only an alchemist.<div></div>

[D-lirium]

I understand how you feel, and the fact that the active warlock population has dropped so rapidly the past 6 months (at least on my server) is a good indication something's wrong. I'm actaully pondering switching main character with my Defiler, which I enjoy more in groups and raids.. What contributes most to my feelings about the warlock class is the neglect from SOE we receive as a community. We (like any other class btw) need interaction between us as a class community and the developer(s) badly. Star Wars Galaxies had this sorted very well where each class had a chosen representative from the class community who had access to a secluded board where they could post important issues from their community.SOE always uses the excuse that they do not have time to reply to all the different posts on the class boards (but claim they read them all... which I highly doubt) so they can make it alot easier for themselves if they (the designers/developers) just have 1 board to check.The class community representative would just be one of "us" who functions as a voluntary spokesperson between the SOE team and the community.<div></div>

[Groma]

I can't understand why on earth people get frustrated with Warlocks.  I know, we need a little love and in certain encounters its tough to shine, but come on.  I regularly parse high on raid dps, i can solo [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] near any heroic mobs my level or below that isnt resistant to all magic/has ranged attacks, and Master spells are so easy to come by with the lack of active Warlocks.  I saw Rift going for 4p on my server the other night.  Fusion was going for 48p.  That is enough incentive for me to stick with my Warlock.Don't know if the mobs you were fighting were just really resistant to magic attacks, but you have plenty of opportunities to shine, and EoF is not giving much love to the SK, where as casters are getting alot of it.<div></div>

[Thibor24]

<P>I completely agree. I have a 63 warlock and just do not find it fun to play.</P> <P>Yes our guilds top dps on raids is a warlock but I still find my conj and coercer much more fun.</P> <P>In a group situation your lucky to get one or two spells off before the mobs are dead, you'll pull agro and have no useful buffs to add.</P>

[Kytraan]

One thing I would mention about your SK getting a group faster than your Warlock is that we seem to be in a 3rd generation of alts now. The first generation everyone went tanks. They were everywhere, we made groups of 3 or more tanks just because we couldnt get healers or dps. Now I am leveling up a mystic and I can get more than enough DPS who are LFG, but sit waiting for hours for a tank. Everyone is doing DPS now and few are leveling up tanks.

[Saramine]

I thought it was just me.  I am having the hardest time playing my warlock.  My first char. to.  My spells take so long to cast that before I can get anything of really.  The mob is dead  or if it isn't I pull agro and get screamed at or I don't do enough damage and I get sniped at.  It seems like something isn't right.  Maybe it will get better soon, though.

[BrelaBella]

personally im having trouble getting into eq2 at all these days, Warlock or not, new expansion or not. and to boot they are revamping everyone and everything again. just the same old dull routine in eq2 land =<div></div>

[Sesskia]

I found my early 40s to be really difficult...then after posting on these boards, I realised I had terrible gear.  It is vitaly important that you have upgrades on your major spells and a high int level.  On Splitpaw  Mastercrafted Tier 5 cloth armor is 30-35g and Tier 6 about 1p each.  'Igrah's eye' cap is pretty cool +15int at 42 and the 'keeper's robe of quiessence' is cool when you hit 50 at +25 int.  Both are frequently on the Splitpaw broker.Once I upgraded my gear/spells, I whizzed through the high 40s.I went from struggling with white even cons to taking on yellow ^s.  I can also solo white heroic encounters, occasionally white ^ heroic encounters too.You can look at my gear and stats <a href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/en/pplayer.vm?characterId=250883303" target=_blank>here</a>.  Im in the process of upgrading my jewellery.The important things to think about are 1. spell upgrades 2. int and 3. technique.If you are getting interrupted a lot, check your focus skill, is it max, or near max.  I believe this helps stop interupts...although they are still relatively common.When hitting single targets I normally do something like root, aura, 2 DoTs (shadows and pyre), and if the root hasn't broken a soul flay.  Then I re root as the mob is almost certainly running towards me in a very angry fashion by now.  Once I have them under control I use my Null distortion and Deter/Freeze line.  If things are looking good at this point I throw the 2 DoTs on again and use either soul flay or null distortion again depending on timers/how much health is left.If the mob breaks root and the timer isn't back up yet, you can use the freeze line to stun the mob and then root (dmg will negate the stun effect...so dont hit them till rooted).  Another option is your vulian line which will interrupt/pacify the mob quickly if freeze line isn't up, but freeze has the advantage of being a nuke also.If it all goes up in smoke then RUN! Theres no shame in preventing 10% dmg to equip <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Dont forget to break encounter by yelling for help as it sets regen back to out of combat mode...and sprint is handy too.<div></div>

[Deathspell]

When there's too much dps in the group, then it's hard for a Warlock to shine, especially when it's single target encounters.But on the other hand, if you have a good tank that knows his stuff and knows about Warlocks, then you can really shine in instances with group encounters.It wasn't until recently that people started saying they loved Warlocks in a group. Well, I hadn't heard that for a year and it made me feel good... <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Sesskia]

<div></div><div><blockquote><hr>Deathspell wrote:When there's too much dps in the group, then it's hard for a Warlock to shine, especially when it's single target encounters.But on the other hand, if you have a good tank that knows his stuff and knows about Warlocks, then you can really shine in instances with group encounters.It wasn't until recently that people started saying they loved Warlocks in a group. Well, I hadn't heard that for a year and it made me feel good... <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><hr></blockquote>Yeah...things are getting better.A guildy who betrayed to wizard a while ago has betrayed back to warlock...I have had loads of people glad to have me in a group as their only caster DPS.I was in a guild group of friends int CT and we mentored down to help a guildy 42 (I was 51 at the time) and most of The rest of the group was 70.  We had a SK tanking who was loving to pull multiple mobs all at once...I was doing almost 2x the dmg of any other member of the group.  (I know mentoring messes things up a bit, but we all know that higher level mentoring is always a smidge better than someone naturally at that level anyway)I love it when an entire encounter falls to the ground all at once when I cast my Devastation+Absolution. Never mind this single target malarky!(I did forget to mention tho...all the group were joking about how I was tanking, not the SK.  I was also the only member of the group to die...and I did twice. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Warlock = Aggro-magnet)</div><p>Message Edited by LloydPickering on <span class=date_text>11-08-2006</span> <span class=time_text>05:35 PM</span>

[Jayad]

If you really want to see what a warlock is capable of, pull 3-4 encounters at once with a good tank.

[Slayer505]

                    "If you really want to see what a warlock is capable of, pull 3-4 encounters at once with a good tank."                     <div></div>Yup.... I ran through HoF the other day with a pally tanking with amends on me pulling 2-3 groups at once.  It took us about an hour to clear the zone, if that.   I did a nest run the other day with a small group with me and a necro as the DPS.  We cleared the zone in about 10 minutes.  My guild has never had a Warlock until I joined and people are just now seeing what a Warlock is capable of.  Last night in Deathtoll I was parsing about 3.5-3.8k on those groups of heroic lvl 71 worms.  Yeah sure, they were heroic but everyone in the raid was goin "holy crap!!"The way to be successful in groups as a Warlock is about using all your tools.  You can't expect to just hit one or two spells and do well.  First, make others work for you too... how you say?  Make sure to buff all your melee group members with malignant grasp and/or nihilistics.  Why?  Simple, you cast Netherous Realm and Corrupt Gift on the pull.  Whenever one of those procs goes off both of those spells will go off.  If you've got a Necro around, or any other disease/poison based caster or scout using poison, those will set off your Netherous Realm as well (though Corrupt Gift only works on poison spells you cast, which includes Malignant Grasp or Nihilistics proccing).  Once the tank has aggro hit Vullian Nulification, Apocolypse, Nebula, Void Absolution.  If you don't think the tank has decent aggro throw a concussive in there somewhere.  Make sure you hit Vullian Nulification whenever it comes up.  If you're fighting epics use Netherous Realm as  well (though that one is a bit risky to use on heroics as it will port them and maybe draw more aggro).  If you've drawn aggro at this point, hit Chaostorm then Rift or another of your encounter AEs.  I find it's better to try and kill the mobs if you draw aggro rather then standing there waiting for the tank to pull them off you (mind you that's in a group/heroic setting, in a raid that's a whole other ball game).  I'm also talking about multi-mob encounters.  If it's multiple encounters then I'd say start out with Apocolypse on the first group once aggro is well established on the tank, then hit Chaostorm and Rift.  Chaostorm is fast casting and fast recast, so in multi-mob encounters make sure to keep casting it every time it comes up.  The key to single target encounters is starting off with Aura of Nihility, then Dark Infestation (Dark Broodlings are NASTY!), then your fast cast single target DoTs followed by Apocolypse, then Soul Blister.  Make sure to keep your single target DoTs up and cast Aura of Nihility whenever it comes up.  Void Distortion is good too, but it's a long casting time so you're better off either saving it til nothing else is up or using it to finish off a mob.Playing a Warlock is pretty challengin at times, but once you figure out good tactics people will be amazed at what you can do.  Like the above poster said, make sure to keep your spells upgraded to at least AD1 while you're levelling up (which is cheap since Warlocks are pretty rare) and make sure to get your Int as high as you can get it.  If you buy crafted armor make sure it's the Tranquil (only +Int) variety.  I have to admit that while levelling up I got discouraged more than once, but I stuck with it and now at 70 I have no regrets at all about rolling a Warlock instead of a Wizard or Necro.

[Jayad]

In nest we pull 6-10 encounters at once.  And warlock is a lot of fun.  Some of the other mage casters also really can pump out the AOE, too.

[matinisback]

<P>i dissagre </P> <P>1. Not many people play warlock's so it's very easy to group</P> <P>2. In raid's you have a excuse to die</P> <P>3. can close to solo nest</P> <P>4. Cheap [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] master's</P> <P>5. omg i can't waite for eof <3</P> <P> </P> <P>k that is just my 2c</P>

[Sesskia]

<div><blockquote><hr>coltsfancolts wrote:<div></div> <p>i dissagre </p> <p>1. Not many people play warlock's so it's very easy to group</p> <p>2. In raid's you have a excuse to die</p> <p>3. can close to solo nest</p> <p><font color="#ffff00">4. Cheap [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] master's</font></p> <p>5. omg i can't waite for eof <3</p> <p>k that is just my 2c</p><hr></blockquote>lol...that explains the Apocalypse Master I for 150plat on Splitpaw Good <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />In all seriousness...I think i've seen an increase in the number of warlocks recently on Splitpaw.  It almost seems like everytime I group or see someone lfg there is another warlock there.  I see them loads more than Wizards...but that may mean the wizards are all already lvl 70, not in there 50s anymore. <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div>

[oyroy]

<blockquote><hr>In all seriousness...I think i've seen an increase in the number of warlocks recently on Splitpaw.  It almost seems like everytime I group or see someone lfg there is another warlock there.  I see them loads more than Wizards...but that may mean the wizards are all already lvl 70, not in there 50s anymore. <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><hr></blockquote>Heh, one can always hope those have inside info from devs on extreme über warlock changes, and wanna get to 70 just in time to get it all going <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Warlock2001]

As for not finding warlock any fun I do admit it started getting more challenging at around lvl 55 when soloing.  I dont get many resist but i get iritated when my root keeps getting broke.  Sometimes i double up with my group root and my regular root when going gets tough.  I am in the same boat when talking about ^^^ ( i am assuming heroics) maybe I cant play my toon but the best I did was stileto and he was ^^ and this was when he was yellow.  I havent been able to solo a ^^^ for some time.  Maybe Someone can provide some insight.  When approaching a heroic mob by usual stragegy is like so.  Single Root - Group Root Abhorrent GIft - Spell with Dark Broodlings- Netheros- Devastation-  Roots Again -  Distortion  - Absolution.  Now normally the root is broke by the devasation point and me and my paper armor cant handle too much violence.   So if someone could enlighten me that would be great.  Oh and adds when soloing suck <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <div></div>

[Melseb]

Dont expect to keep a mob rooted with dots on him. double up root and use devastation, distortion, soul blister, aura, absolution.Daenarys70 WarlockMob SquadKithicor<div></div>