I want to play a Coercer, but mixed reports have me balked.

[Athri]

<div>Hey all.</div><div> </div><div>After having searched extensively trying to find the information that I seek, I am still perplexed. It seems as if there are two camps of Coercers, one that think they are gimped and one that thinks they are good. I have absolutely no idea, as I think I've seen *maybe* three Coercers in game in the few weeks that I've played. That's actually one of the reasons I want to play one, as I hate FotM classes.</div><div> </div><div>Anyway, I was looking for information primarily on how well Coercers can solo adventure/grind/quest. Grouping is alright, too, but if I want to group I'll probably play my Troub. I keep having fond memories of my Enchanter in EQ1 charming ridiculously powerful monsters and going to town in the GoD zones. Can that feeling and high risk vs. reward be similarly attained here with the Coercer class? I'm not looking to be the "best" soloer, I'm simply looking for the ability to do it in ways that no other class can approximate.</div><div> </div><div>Thanks for any info/stories/feelings that you may have.</div><div> </div><div>Ciao.</div>

[Delameko Stone]

<div></div>Give it a try, is the best answer I can give.  You've got nothing to lose by giving it a shot.Coercer's solo, but the battles can be long and more dangerous than a lot of classes.  They're also a lot more involved.  With my necro I sick my pet on the enemy cast my debuffs and then sit back and wait for victory most of the time, Coercer is a lot more hands on, and probably the most difficult class to play well.If you're in a group that knows how to work with a coercer you'll thrive in that environment, unfortunately most groups haven't got a clue.Female halfling coercer is the least played race/class in the game btw <span>:smileywink:</span><p>Message Edited by Delameko Stone on <span class="date_text">03-30-2006</span><span class="time_text">02:10 PM</span></p>

[Ulrick85]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>Delameko Stone wrote:<div></div>Give it a try, is the best answer I can give.  You've got nothing to lose by giving it a shot.Coercer's solo, but the battles can be long and more dangerous than a lot of classes.  They're also a lot more involved.  With my necro I sick my pet on the enemy cast my debuffs and then sit back and wait for victory most of the time, Coercer is a lot more hands on, and probably the most difficult class to play well.If you're in a group that knows how to work with a coercer you'll thrive in that environment, unfortunately most groups haven't got a clue.Female halfling coercer is the least played race/class in the game btw <span>:smileywink:</span><p>Message Edited by Delameko Stone on <span class="date_text">03-30-2006</span><span class="time_text">02:10 PM</span></p><hr></blockquote><p>I agree...  the only way to really know is to try it... being a coercer has a lot to do with your own preferance.. though I will say you need to play it up into atleast the high 20's low 30's before making a decision... we do get better in the higher levels</p><p> </p><p>and um...  I would say the Female froglok coercer is the least played class/race >.<</p>

[Roriondesexiest]

My Main is a Warlock and my new favorite alt, maybe Main someday is my Coercer.Soloing, there is a bit more risk required than other classes (read: I die alot)  but at 32 I was charming lvl 34 mobs on the beach in EL and fighting lvl 35/36 mobs no problem.  The risk is when your pet breaks and turns around and both mobs are beating on you.  Same with my warlock if the root breaks and they resist I am dead....In a group you have multiple play styles, CC, DPS, Pet class, the everpopular Mana Bot...The [Removed for Content] comes from raids, most of the coercer abilities can't be used in a raid, so coercer is relegated to being a mana bot....I figured my 7 foot female Troll Coercer was pretty rare....<div></div>

[Ulrick85]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>dalessit wrote:I figured my 7 foot female Troll Coercer was pretty rare....<div></div><hr></blockquote>nope.. your the second female troll coercer I have met <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  ever heard of gramma <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  he was always entertaining when we were both on innothule

[Delameko Stone]

<div></div><div><span><blockquote><hr>Ulrick85 wrote:<div></div><blockquote><hr>Delameko Stone wrote:<div></div>Give it a try, is the best answer I can give.  You've got nothing to lose by giving it a shot.Coercer's solo, but the battles can be long and more dangerous than a lot of classes.  They're also a lot more involved.  With my necro I sick my pet on the enemy cast my debuffs and then sit back and wait for victory most of the time, Coercer is a lot more hands on, and probably the most difficult class to play well.If you're in a group that knows how to work with a coercer you'll thrive in that environment, unfortunately most groups haven't got a clue.Female halfling coercer is the least played race/class in the game btw <span>:smileywink:</span><p>Message Edited by Delameko Stone on <span class="date_text">03-30-2006</span><span class="time_text">02:10 PM</span></p><hr></blockquote><p>I agree...  the only way to really know is to try it... being a coercer has a lot to do with your own preferance.. though I will say you need to play it up into atleast the high 20's low 30's before making a decision... we do get better in the higher levels</p><p> </p><p>and um...  I would say the Female froglok coercer is the least played class/race >.<</p><hr></blockquote>Female was an assumption <span>:smileywink:</span> but there are only 2 halfing coercers on Lucan, but 7 Frogloks...For completion...Worldwide -Halfing coercers 32,froglok coercers 158,troll coercers 285...</span></div><p>Message Edited by Delameko Stone on <span class="date_text">03-30-2006</span><span class="time_text">02:45 PM</span></p>

[Ulrick85]

<div></div>>.<  really.. i've never seen another froggie coercer on my server...  i have seen illus.... looks like im ganna have to start looking harder

[Delameko Stone]

You're the only one higher than level 32 <span>:smileywink:</span><a href="http://www.eq2census.com" target="_blank">http://www.eq2census.com</a>

[JoePa]

<div></div>Pulled from EQ2CENSUS.com, Coercers, All Servers, Levels 1-70, as of 3/29.  It would be safe to assume that Dwarf females are pretty rare also.race       class       count  Barbarian    Coercer    112Dark Elf    Coercer    6817Dwarf    Coercer    17Erudite    Coercer    2728Froglok    Coercer    158Gnome    Coercer    2254Half Elf    Coercer    1218Halfling    Coercer    32High Elf    Coercer    234Human    Coercer    989Iksar    Coercer    1152Kerra    Coercer    406Ogre    Coercer    303Ratonga    Coercer    2366Troll    Coercer    285Wood Elf    Coercer    89

[Athri]

<div>Very well, I suppose that just finding out is the best way to go. I actually have a Coercer up to level 7, but that doesn't really count. One thing I noticed though is that it's nigh on impossible for your charmed pet to hold aggro on something. Is this an issue that plagues the class throughout it's life? I could see that being a bit of an issue. On the good side it seems as if we get good roots, a nuke/root and a veritable bevy of stuns to keep the monster either hitting the pet or not hitting anything at all.</div><div> </div><div>Thanks for the responses :smileyhappy:</div>

[FrostyXN]

<div>I'm on a week afk, but if my memory serves me correct I can chain stun a mob for 19seconds(+/-3) This is by casting 3 stuns at the perfect time.  The last stun is an out of encounter AoE so be careful (pyschic wail i believe is the name).  There are 2 roots, a normal root and a damage root.  I started playing a coercer after I grouped with one waaaayyy back in the day.  I was playing a warlock and decided coercer because of the power regen and the mez.  Both can be an important part in chain pulling xp.  I will either chain pull (go out, nuke a mob, run my lil gnome behind off, and mez it right next to the group) or a scout class will do it.  With raids, yea we are primarily used for just mana regen.  We do have nice hate procs for the MT, as well as, an AA ability that decreases the hate of the entire group (except for fighters), and with all our buffs up we can throw 2 DPS (mine currently +57%) modifiers on the MT and someone else.  I am in the MT group about 7/10 times usually.  Power regen may have been nerfed many moons ago; however, I can see a significant difference in the power of my group and other groups in the raid.  Another cool spell we get in the 50's averages the entire groups power.  This can be usefull or it can destroy your group (pending on if you know when to use it).  An example would be if your healers are extremely low on power... I throw that spell out and it gives em a little bit more to hopefully last the rest of the fight.  Charm...well, I'm not a charm fan really, your right that your pet doesnt hold agro, they are basically just more dps to speed things up.  I hardly ever charm while in a group though, it could get messy and i rather just be a mana bot than be a dead mana bot <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Such as if the charm were to break and you get 3 shotted before the healers can even blink.  Ok i think i covered everything, wanted to keep this short though.  Hope this info helped a lil bit on your decision; however, like everyone has said thus far: Try the class <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div><div> </div>

[Apathyloves]

Like someone else said, make sure you play the class to the high 20s before making any real decision.As for agro, yes, it gets better.  Coercers get a damage modifer (not haste!) and a hate modifier when they get older, it helps considerably soloing (and grouping) with the agro management.  M1 charm is mando unfortunately.  The difference between ad3 and m1 is shameless.  Pony up the coin and watch the damage go.  If you have splitpaw, it's a good place to get a feel for the agro management and try out the different classes.  At 38, I find that it was hardest around 21, and then got very easy around 27, and at 38 I can turn up or down the risk/reward.  Currently using m1 on 45(1 down) in LS and going against other 45s, very fun.nektulos.willbender

[Delameko Stone]

<div><span><blockquote><hr>JoePa wrote:<div></div>Pulled from EQ2CENSUS.com, Coercers, All Servers, Levels 1-70, as of 3/29.  It would be safe to assume that Dwarf females are pretty rare also.<hr></blockquote>Dammit, Joe!  I play a Dwarf Coercer, I was trying to keep it quiet! <span>:smileyvery-happy:</span></span></div>

[Boonga]

<div></div><p>i think you will find that most people generally love playing their coercer, its a fun class with a lot of challenges and possibilities.</p><p>the reason that you find those mixed reports is that while people enjoy their class there are also several issues going on with coercers.</p><p>but like other posters mentioned, play the class to a higher lvl, try both grouping and soloing, and if you finally decide that its not for you, well atleast you will have had some fun in the meantime :smileyhappy:</p><p>the thing to remember about various forum posts is that they are written by people, hence emotions will quite frequently flare up and obscure what might be a valid question/problem with a class. the fact that other people from other forums come trolling through posting pure flame bait doesnt help it either :smileyhappy:</p><p>personally, my little ratonga is my main, and i adore playing him :smileyhappy:</p>

[Mage-Apprentice]

<div></div><p>The person saying a female halfing coercer is rare......I made one since launch (or 3 weeks after it due amacrap.com)</p><p>In both solo and group a coercer can be good/great with the right pet/charm.</p><p>Solo without a pet, than you are weak, though the many reacitives and good/many stunns we get later does make it up somhow.</p><p>Group without a pet/charm.... Depending on the group there isn't a huge difference (but is still pet-dependent)</p><p>Raid......No need to say why they are in general underpowerd here.</p><p> </p><p>With the new class changes (mainly starting at lvl 1 as coercer), could've made the coercer a hard class to level to lvl 20, the lvl 20-28 period can be boring, from 28+ it does increase a bit, but than you will feel the average strength of the coercer throughout the game.</p>