Unbelievable

[Zatok]

<DIV>Maybe it's just the way I play, I don't know.  I've been though alot of updates and nerfs, in alot of games besides Everquest, and never have I felt like this after an update.  I totally HATE my Necro right now!  I'm not usually one who posts to these boards.  I read, get some good ideas, different viewpoints, strategies, etc....but I've never been one to whine about the infamous Nerf-Bat---until now!  I can't slay anywhere near what I was slayin' before, and the downtime afterwards is horrible.  It's quicker now to summon a new pet after each battle, as the pet now takes a serious beating!  The necro has always been a fun soloing character to play, and until today, I loved playing my necro.  I'm just totally shocked at how angry this "great" update has made me feel.  I feel a little guilty now for others who have ranted like this, and I'd just read their posts, shaking my head, thinking it can't really be all that bad.  I'm not sure if I wanna roll a new toon or just hang the game and move on to something else.  Never before have I had a patch make me wanna just give the game up......well done SOE.</DIV>

[Za]

<DIV>Go play the game. Alot of this patch is hard until you realize that the WHOLE game is changed, not just your 1 char. Also look at the spells and how they work now. Mobs are nerfed also, and the exp you get from lesser leveled mobs is higher, so I get similar exp today from a white mob that I did yesterday from an orange. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Its cumulative, if you look at just one aspect you're not looking at todays patch at all.</DIV>

[Greggthegrmreapr]

<P>if you haven't noticed, that was the whole point of the combat changes.  people were soloing mobs that were never meant to be soloed.  granted, it will still happen, but not nearly as much.  </P> <P>I am having a blast with my necro.  maybe i'm just a sucker...  I beat the snot out of the arena champ first thing today after several failures in the past few weeks (had beat him before aswell, but not to often) </P>

[Weba]

<DIV>I have to agree with the original poster.</DIV> <DIV>I currently have a level 23 moderately geared Necro who could hold</DIV> <DIV>his own in most encounters. He was by no means over powered</DIV> <DIV>in comparison with other class of the same level prior to the 9/13 patch.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Immediate changes I had noticed</DIV> <DIV>1. Loss of 30 hitpoints as Gift of magi and favor of the fallen no longer stack (not a huge deal but a step in the wrong direction).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2. Loss of my Fallen Hero....this was my savior as the Grim Spellbinder is usefull in a  group dps setting only and I only have Tellurian recruit apprentice II.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3. I'm not sure of the pre nerf actual numbers but Essence shift now converts much less pet hp to my power (at apprentice II it is 125hp to   31 power I believe).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4. I had (prior to nerf) been able to adventure into Fallen Gate and was diligently working on my AQ quests....not any longer. I currently have 21% xp debt and find myself unable to adventure beyond the first hallway as I know it is certain death if I do.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm sure there are many additional things which I have failed to mention here but I have as of yet been able to identify a single change which has made my playing experience more enjoyable.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I guess it's back to the Commonlands kiting with my new snare (whoopie!) until i can get to level 24. Wait that won't work since the snare can be broken when the mob incurs damage.... looks like it's time to reroll.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[cfteagu]

<P>Gregg, sry to single you out, but im sick of your response "thats what the revamp was intended to do" I dont care if the revamp was intended to turn water into wine or lead into gold.</P> <P>I had a necro, i liked the game.  They changed it.  Now necro is not fun.</P> <P>Should I congratulate sony because "that was what the revamp was intended to do"?   Im sorry if the revamp was really intended to make EQ2 less fun, then I will whine about it for a little while, in hopes they will make changes.   and then I will go away</P> <P>(and for anyone who tells me to hurry up and go, I would gladly go now, IF you can get SOE to refund the 3 months Im paid ahead.  until then I might as well look and see if they made my necro fun again)</P>

[naeuin]

<DIV>sorry to say. i dont have a problem, 39 necro, ya i have to actualy pay attention to whats happening and use my heals but so what. its very boring the way it was. send pet , dot dot dot..recast dot dot dot. if the necro isn't fun anymore play something else because you obvisiously dont enjoy what a necro realy is and the way we were before the revamp was NOT a necro. i for one loved in eq1 how we cycled through hp and mana we could have a endless supply and right now this necro is close to that.</DIV> <DIV>its simple re-learn and play as a real necro or go away. oh and lvl 23 wasn't even a necro in the old ways untill you got to about 35, your still working on summoner spells.</DIV>

[Janl]

People comlaining about the loss of the Training options is the very reason they were removed.  Most of us who were in beta tried to tell everyone to get used to not having them, but apparently nobody wanted to listen.Upgrade your Tellurian Recruit and when you get it, your next pet (sorry, I'm a Conjuror and your next pet upgrade escapes me at the moment).  The Level 20 training option was of Adept II quality.  It was only slightly better than your existing tank pets at Adept I quality and slightly inferior to your pets at Adept III quality.<div></div>

[ecook280]

<P>I have to say, as a 35 Necro, I do see some changes, and its gonna take some time to work out all the new spell combos, but all in all it was much better than I was expecting. Yes, I have to heal my pet now, and have to watch my back a little more, but all in all it could have been much worse. I was soloing 35 to 37 level solo mobs in Zek before the patch with no problems, and still do for the most part, just have to pay more attention to what is going with the fight now. I have never been one to solo heroic mobs before the patch, dont plan on trying it now, so for me, nothing was really lost. I guess I always played conservative and only hunted solo mobs when I was soloing. Guess I was missing out on soloing heroics before the patch <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P>

[molinaro]

<P>Nerf?!?!?!?  What nerf?</P> <P>I'm waaaaaay stronger now.</P> <P>I soloed around the tundra terrors killing the 47-49 solo mobs, from about level 43 up to my current level of 46, before the update.</P> <P>Now, after the update, I tell my adept 3 rotting thrall to attack a level 48 solo mob, and he starts by nuking it down to 80% on the 1st hit... from a distance.   Then he finishes it off with about 78% hp and 88% power left.</P> <P>I cast nothing... no dps... no heals.</P> <P>If I join in, the mob is dead faster than I ever could kill it before when duoing with another player.</P> <P>I wonder if those who are not happy have less than an adept 3 pet.</P> <P>Fighting heroics is another story.  I used to duo with a warden killing the frozen constructs 44^^ in everfrost.  We had no trouble at all killing them quickly with no downtime.   Today after the update, my pet was in the red many times.. and I was healing like mad along with him.  It is definitely harder to tank the heroics with my pet.</P> <P>I tried as hard as I could, but not once did I ever steal agro from my pet today.  Even when I was using the offence stance (without the hate +).</P> <P>And I love that when I tell my pet to attack linked mobs.. they all rush him instead of me.</P> <P>I'm very happy.</P>

[Barthalemeou2]

you solod *around* the tundra terrors? I solod the tundra terrors. Now i don't have any chance against them snare wears off 2 seconds after it hits them, my pet cant tank em, yeah I know they are a group type mob but I had alot of fun kiting them and now everything I got to like from level 40-50 is gone.  My exp gain is crappy again and the game is not worth playing, thank you sony for getting my hopes up with a good looking expansion, only to make me hate the class i loved playing for 50 levels not to mention 20 levels in the original eq2 beta.

[molinaro]

<P>I have no pity for any who complains about not being able to solo heroics.. no matter what the strategy.. or what was broken about the game before, that allowed it to be done.</P> <P>Now, the game plays the way it is suposed to play.</P>

[schrammy]

<P>I absolutely LOVE the new necro.</P> <P>Lich works great (procs with ALL disease based spells), Lifetap taps life (ALOT), Heal is great, ...</P> <P>I kill faster with less downtime now. And yes, i will miss kiting the Tundra terrors very much, those nice guys got me from about 46 to 50. In fact I kited a few terrors last night before pacth, just to say "goodbye" <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.</P> <P> </P> <P>But look at it from the other side. You can get linked mobs fairly safely now. Not ony does the pet taunt, IT HAS AE taunt.</P> <P>It was a real pain in the butt before patch to take on a grp of mobs linked (while still beeing solo encounter). Now with his ae taunt, its awesome.</P> <P> </P> <P>Sorry guys but i gotta give the thumbs up to SOE on this one</P>

[Zimike]

Seems like people who play a Necro level 30 and below are having problems and people playing Necros level 30 and above are not.

[schrammy]

<P>i hear ya.</P> <P> </P> <P>I believe a lower level lich would be helpfull for the minus 30 crowd. If not solve your problems.</P> <P> </P> <P>Hehe i remember necro's have always sucked before lvl30, now SOE says we fixed it; Necro's still suck below lvl30 lol</P>

[Psyrus2]

<div></div><span></span><hr>Seems like people who play a Necro level 30 and below are having problems and people playing Necros level 30 and above are not.<hr>The biggest complaint pre patch was it takes up to level 30 to "feel" like a necro. 37 here and droped the champ with ease.  The biggest thing I am currently having trouble with is the game play is MUCH faster for necro's.  Also the pets take more of a hit when it comes to damage. I still have a LOT of getting used to on this new update, but so does everyone else.  Give it time and relearn your class like everyone else has to.  That's my best advice.  The thing is we still are Necro's, but we do not "need" our pets to accomplish what other classes do now.  People complained that our DPS was way too low on smaller mobs pre LU13. -fixed  People complained it took until 40+ to get a "good" life tap spell. -fixed  Pets would not hold aggro on grouped mobs. -fixedHere's an idea, lets give all necro's Harclave's buff all the time, make their pets able to solo ^^ red mobs, and allow us to nuke for 4k damage every spell.  Anytime something is changed everyone is ready to jump ship, relax and relearn, everyone is in the same boat.<div></div>

[KBern]

<DIV>At lvl 50, I had a great time with my necro.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So far I am very happy with the improvements though I have not had enough time to test out all the pets fully, nor different strats since I was exploring in a guild group mostly.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Other people were noticably impressed by the DPS and pet.</DIV>

[MrGrimm9]

<DIV>Snareing was the only way some of us soloed and I enjoyed it very much.  Now with 0 mitigation, I am frustrated that my pet has problems tanking solo mobs.  Also in pvp snareing was how we could kill some rediculously powerful classes *monks for example* and now we stand no chance.  Will I still play the game, of course, but I am having much less fun because a main part of my gameplay has been erased <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[Eirgo]

<P>I had a blast last night too.  The pet was keeping aggro like a champ, and dps was very nice.</P> <P>The only thing I can see that needs beefed up is our heal line.  Both the ratio of the heal and the magnitude of the heal need to be increased in my opinion.  As it is now, I just let my pet tank adds until it dies while I go nuke/tap crazy and then finish off any left over mobs by tanking them myself.  Healing the pet in these cases seems inefficient and actually counter productive due to lost dps.</P> <P>Other than that I LOVE lich even at app1 (gonna bust rocks in Feerrott tonight to get ad3 - the new rare rate is mighty nice hehe already have a T6 rare root), The fast recast on the swarm pets is awesome, the increase to siphon life makes solo mobs cry, the master strikes make me happy for letting me hit for 1200+, I like the wis/sta drain, and pretty much everything else.  Even being able to rez without being grouped (with nice confirmatin box) was very convenient last night.</P> <P>I cant wait for consumption.</P> <P>I just want everyone who is upset at this change to try to spend a little more time examining all our spells and relearn your casting orders and what not.  Other than that, just get out of the mindset that kiting heroics is the only way to level and you should be fine.  I kited leopards and tundra terrors for a majority of my 40's, and while it was fun it was definately unbalanced.</P> <P>To sum it all up: I like these changes alot and I love the new DoF zones (soloing in Clefts was a blast last night)</P>

[Gin]

<DIV>@MrGrimm999</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You wrote:</DIV> <DIV>Also in pvp snareing was how we could kill some rediculously powerful classes *monks for example* and now we stand no chance.  Will I still play the game, of course, but I am having much less fun because a main part of my gameplay has been erased <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1st. Last night fellow lvl50 necro killed one of our lvl50 Beserker 4 to 1 in the arena.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2nd. What part of your gameplay has been erased? the one you had in beta that never made it to the live server?......You are talking about something here, that you never really had. beta TESTING aint the same as the live stuff, so stop whining about loosing something that you in fact never even had you [expletive ninja'd by Faarbot]er</DIV>

[pythed]

I read some of the upgrades before hand and was ready also.  My adept III pet (rotting thrall) is a beast out there.  There is a big bonus I guess to the upgraded pets now.  I do miss my undead puppies but I was about to give up on them and go with the rats soon anyway.

[KBern]

<P>Oh one negative are the swarm pets.</P> <P>My rats never had direct agro and were dying from AOE's.</P> <P>Did they revert back to allow swarm pets to die from AoE's?  I thought that was taken out?</P>

[Brickya]

<P>I have a level 43 almost 44 necro. </P> <P>I love a lot of the stuff in this patch, to include:</P> <P>1) Rotting Thralls actually does nuke damage before he get to the mob</P> <P>2) Siphon health (or whatever it is called) does tremendous damage even at app1.  A bit slow to recast but very nice.</P> <P>3) Kill things a lot faster now.  Of course other when I harvest I never was one to sit back and not nuke.</P> <P>4) Killing grouped mobs is easier in the sense that I don't have to worry about the majority of the group attacking me, they go straight for the pet now.</P> <P>5) I like the ghastly stench pet.  Looks cool.</P> <P>6) Love the fast recast time on the rats.</P> <P> </P> <P>Things I wish SOE will revisit:</P> <P>1) Only one pet heal can be used now.  The lower level and higher level one is on same timer.  </P> <P>2) Devour health seems a bit imbalanced.  Also can't use Essence Shift anymore since on same timer.</P> <P>3) Mobs 10 levels lower are still green con and a 33 ^ mob beat that crap out of my rotting thrall adept 3.  Don't even want to try a ^^.</P> <P> </P> <P>Other then that I am pretty happy for now.  I haven't tried the warlock or scout pets yet.</P>

[soulrais]

<DIV>for those who think necros are screwed in pvp causes the snare issue are WAY wrong....</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Just think of some of other skills u have as a necro .... esp those with same recast times **hint hint** and you will see u can dominate most classes.  There are a few classes who have the have some sort of instant stun/stiffle/knockback that can still kick my [expletive ninja'd by Faarbot] but normaly i do farly well</DIV>

[Stealer]

<P>as  A lvl 50 necro with all master or adept 3 I have to say I LOVE the new revamp.  Nuking for 900, healing other member, Combat Rez, Improved Liftaps, Lich Working as a proc, incressed DPS swarm Pets, Master Strikes that Hit for 1400, High Speed Dots, I Loved my Necro Befor the Revamp But I Love it even More Now. I allway hear People Complaining that they cant Solo I dont seem to have that problem at all.</P> <P>But for Everone in any  Class that is Upset here is the Fix for you.</P> <P>Let all Classes Wear Vanguard Armor, Let all Tank Classes Cast as good as a Warlock give us all Evac and Pathfinding and some Great Bow Skills and we should all be able to hit like a monk and Yes we should all get HUGE heals if that Happens we can all solo and there will be no need for a mporg we can jsut log on to our own computers and play by ourselfs and we can make jsut one Class the Wiznecroguardanger thats Sounds like a good fix. But Sony if your listning please put all these guys on one server so the rest of us can injoy playing the class we picked and not have to Worry about why we cant tank or cast like a Wizard BECAUSE WE ARE NOT.</P> <P>Play your Class if you dont like it DONT</P> <P>And allways remember its not what you play its how you play.</P>

[Greggthegrmreapr]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> cfteague2 wrote:<BR> <P>Gregg, sry to single you out, but im sick of your response "thats what the revamp was intended to do" I dont care if the revamp was intended to turn water into wine or lead into gold.</P> <P>I had a necro, i liked the game.  They changed it.  Now necro is not fun.</P> <P>Should I congratulate sony because "that was what the revamp was intended to do"?   Im sorry if the revamp was really intended to make EQ2 less fun, then I will whine about it for a little while, in hopes they will make changes.   and then I will go away</P> <P>(and for anyone who tells me to hurry up and go, I would gladly go now, IF you can get SOE to refund the 3 months Im paid ahead.  until then I might as well look and see if they made my necro fun again)</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>i say that because everyone knew it was coming.  when someone is soloing yellow and orange heroic (designed for 3 or more) its going to get nerfed.  </P> <P>complaining won't really accomplish much.  Thats why i say thats what it was intended to do.</P>

[Purita]

I hate the changes utterly.

[Xalmat]

<blockquote><hr>MrGrimm999 wrote:<DIV>Snareing was the only way some of us soloed and I enjoyed it very much. </DIV><hr></blockquote>It was never intended in EQ2 for snare kiting to be a viable form of soloing.

[wurtin]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Puritain wrote:<BR> I hate the changes utterly.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>more detail is helpful.</P> <P> </P> <P>I'm still not sold on the changes.  I dinged 47 last night, but I did it with my Ad I Shadowy Assasin instead of my AD III Rotting Thrall.  I was in EF killing everything but what I used to kill in there (tundra terrors and other heroics in that area).</P> <P>My observations</P> <P>1) Scout pet is now my main solo encounter pet.  He struggles with an add, but if you're in a place like EF where there isn't a lot of wandering aggro, he cleans up.  I used both the offensive stance (AD I) and defensive stance (Master II) on him.  He took a little more damage wiith the offensive stance, and the mob died a little quicker.  I'm sure Thrall will be back out once I'm someplace with more linked solo encounters.  I still think my AD III Thrall with Master II defensive stance takes too much damage from a white v encounter.  </P> <P>2) Our heals aren't nearly enough.  I got the Master II version of Transfer life which gives 567 health.  I think it's the level 34 training option, so it's nice.  The problem is the App I Exchange Life we get at 47 only gives 400+ health.  One of the reasons for the revamp was so this wouldn't happen.  Exchange life needs to start at 600 and move upwards.  That would help our healing ability greatly.  We have various ways to get health back.</P> <DIV>3)  I can actually do melee damage to the mobs again.  I haven't been able to do this since at least level 30.  I feel strong!!!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4)  I'm not sure I like the frenetic pace.  I've always liked the slower methodical approach which is why kiting appealed to me, but we'll have to see.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>5) I took out Flerb in Ferrott (level 38 to my 46).  Was grey before, but now he was a close fight.  Exp wasn't worth [expletive ninja'd by Faarbot], but it was more of just a test if I could do it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>6) Master Strikes do a crap load of damage.  Those choices definitely matter now.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>7) dumbfire pets are very nice.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Snare is worthless.  Completely and utterly worthless.  I understand why it's worthless, I just don't understand why they gave us the darkness line and then destroy it. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Shipwreck_GPA]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> IVIilkman wrote:<BR> <P>as  A lvl 50 necro with all master or adept 3 I have to say I LOVE the new revamp. </P> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>Hello, all. Relative newb here. And I don't mean to single anyone out.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The problem is, for my 30 Necro, I DON'T have Masters and Adept III's of most spells. And as best as I can tell, Adept III is the new standard. My App 4's or less just don't cut it, even with even cons. Even Adept I's are sometimes questionable. I am sure I still have a lot to master, but from where I sit, I need another 6 or 7 Adept III's to be in good shape consistently against even cons.  My pet Heals are very very thin, so even in Defensive Stance with me helping the DPS along, an even con puts my pet at about 50% health and power. Adept III Soothe Servant is only healing for 132. I will need Adept III Mend Bones before I can remedy the down time issue.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I am not saying I can't solo, or anything like that. Just that without Adept III or better, it seems to be a bit of an uphill battle now. I imagine that as I build up the Adept III's and get some practice, I will do better. But as a non-uber lower level Necro, it isn't quite as easy as some might think. But my Warlock is in the same boat.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Gonna be a tricky couple of weeks, methinks. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[carlspackler]

<DIV>I'm not usually one to complain, but I created a necro a long time ago, and only recently started playing it. (I couldn't afford the spells having the Necro as my first toon). I just hit 24 last night and have adept 3s for Soothe Servant, Essence Shift, Agitation, Tellurian Recruit, Grim Spellbinder, and UA. I used to be able to solo orange mobs and usually do pretty well. I tried this last night and got beat pretty bad. (I didn't take the lvl 20 training pet, because I knew it was going away).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Little did I realize that they took away the HoT from Agitation for my pet. This sucks bad! On top of that, my Adept3 SS used to heal for about 225 at lvl 23, and now only for around 120 or something (can't remember exact number right now). The new Master 2 SS heals for less than my adept3 SS pre-revamp. That's really all I am going to complain about right now, since I didn't have much of a chance to play last night. This is one major change that I really dislike. But hey, at least I can now see my UA swinging his arms while attacking. I equate his motions to a [expletive ninja'd by Faarbot] trying to fight when both arms have fallen asleep.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Also, someone mentioned earlier that the XP has changed for even leveled mobs and it is now the same as fighting an orange. This is because of the XP bonuses they are giving for people below level 50. Just wait until next week, when this bonus goes away.</DIV>

[Kirotaan]

<span><blockquote><hr>GPA_Shipwreck wrote:<div></div> <blockquote> <hr> IVIilkman wrote: <p>as  A lvl 50 necro with all master or adept 3 I have to say I LOVE the new revamp. </p> <hr> </blockquote> <div>Hello, all. Relative newb here. And I don't mean to single anyone out.</div> <div> </div> <div>The problem is, for my 30 Necro, I DON'T have Masters and Adept III's of most spells. And as best as I can tell, Adept III is the new standard. My App 4's or less just don't cut it, even with even cons. Even Adept I's are sometimes questionable. I am sure I still have a lot to master, but from where I sit, I need another 6 or 7 Adept III's to be in good shape consistently against even cons.  My pet Heals are very very thin, so even in Defensive Stance with me helping the DPS along, an even con puts my pet at about 50% health and power. Adept III Soothe Servant is only healing for 132. I will need Adept III Mend Bones before I can remedy the down time issue.</div> <div> </div> <div>I am not saying I can't solo, or anything like that. Just that without Adept III or better, it seems to be a bit of an uphill battle now. I imagine that as I build up the Adept III's and get some practice, I will do better. But as a non-uber lower level Necro, it isn't quite as easy as some might think. But my Warlock is in the same boat.</div> <div> </div> <div>Gonna be a tricky couple of weeks, methinks. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div><hr></blockquote>ARRR matey shipwreck <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  y9our funny in NGD but I gotta tell you the majority of my spells right now are adept 1 (and of the new spells I got most of those are app 1 cause I am lazy) And i can solo happily.  The biggest thing that does help is the adept 3 pet.  You also get master 2's from your respec so I wouldn't worry about all the people who say they have masters (it's probably their respeced skills).  I have always maintained that this game can be played with app2's (and I do it on my poor scout all the time).  I actually think the new system is a blast cause it keeps me on my toes and I don't cast the same 3 spells over and over again. The hardest thing is controlling the AOE that I got.  Let me say ...... WOW 1000 grey mobs for BBC that will be cake. </span><div></div>

[Shipwreck_GPA]

<P>Please don't misunderstand. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>I can solo, if I am careful. It is just that even the Adept I's seem underpowered for the rarity/level. And at App3 or 4, really seem gimped. </P> <P>I dunno. Will have to play more, I suppose.</P>

[Kirotaan]

Yeah ditto I am sure I will have to play more.  It does look like to me that necro's should be able to solo many things after about lvl 30 that are yellow and when they hit 40 they should be able to take oranges.  THats how I have been doing it so far so let me know how that lower bracket goes.  I can confirm that at 45 I can still take oranges. <div></div>

[Selantyr]

Any arrows, up or down, on those oranges?  I couldn't get into the game at all yesterday and am at work today.  How's the xp on the orange mobs?

[Eirgo]

<P>I spent alot of last night in the Clefts, and I was mainly killing blue to yellow solo mobs either no arrow, or groups with down arrows.  I'd get about .1-.2% per encounter, but the encounters went by amazingly fast.  No more than 15-30s fights Id guess.  I'll probably turn on the logs tonight and get more concrete numbers.</P> <P>Either way, xp seemed to be coming along nice and quick to me, especially considering most the night I was exploring and not grinding.  vitality does go down quickly though - I think close to 2% vit per 1% xp.</P>

[Sosum]

<P>Im 46th necro and the changes are hard, but dont necessarily suck. after the initial /respec I now have 4-500 more mana, I regen mana a whole lot faster, the robe of invoker feels like it works now.  my pets take a lot more hits but that was until I found my proper spells hidden on pages 1 and 2 of my spell book. even as app1 the new spells did there job and was able to easily solo a new instance in DoF where you fight in a harem much like the arena in SP. got a nice +8sta +10int +25health +50power ring out of it...</P> <P> </P> <P>I think necro's work much better now, I just have to learn all the tricks again.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P>My only true complaints are my splinter of essecnce and dark heart are now joined on timer and I can not summon both right away now and they took my master1 cloak of venril away.</P>

[DmonInjected]

to the dude who posted 1st and to all who agree with him u must be out of your tree or dont know how to play your class, we are always goin to have to kite because it isnt eq1 but as far as grps go yesterday i was pullin so much agro do more damage in such a short amount of time this is like the best thing theve done for the necro i feel like i can take on so many mobs and with our aoe's we can do grps like come on pull it together gents havnt been on a raid yet but i shouldnt imagine its goin to change that much and from 50-60 we should prob get more dots and nukes as far as im concerned its great what they have done and ur already whining less then 1 day after release go play wow there loosing people rapidly. with the combat changes takes so getting use to and a bit of a new side to the game but its so much better, but WoW's waiting for the whiners so enjoy:smileyvery-happy: and from what i continued to read is that its mostly the necros who arnt 50 complaining, well then play another class ur not 50 yet so who cares<p>Message Edited by DmonInjected on <span class=date_text>09-14-2005</span> <span class=time_text>11:45 AM</span>

[Lodor]

<P>The pets are no longer priority since they all pretty much suck compared to a liched out necro past lvl 50.</P> <P>None the pets can handle tanking at all even with master 2 buffs.</P> <P>My necro tanks better then a adept 3 zombie with master 2 defense buff.  i aptly renamed all my pets to Wetpaperbag.</P>

[kuprishuz]

I cant speak for any higher lvls as i have not gotten to that point yet , but from what it looks everyone under 30 is unhappy, in my opinion they arent changing their strategy, i logged on last night hoping that i was atleast the same, praying that they could not make me anyworse, and to my suprise, im in heaven , i couldnt have asked for more, i feel more like a necro then i ever have, and i find fights to be less challenging then before, however you do have to be a little more strategic to make it through.My only suggestion to lower lvls, is use your lifetap, i took it as an upgrade and its one of my best friends, also the the Undying Adherent is great now, i am lvl 28, using adept1 version, (defensive stance) and was sending it into groups of 3 whites and it was managing to hold agro away from myself and a 26 sk, pay attention to the stances they really do make a difference, your pets make a difference aswell , the grim spellbinder cannot take much damage, and is best used in conjunction with an offensive stance, i would say this is more of your group based pet, if you are soloing i would suggest using your UA and a denfensive stance, your pet doesnt do as much damage but it will manage to hold the agro and can take a pretty heavy beating. if you dont have your UA yet, hang in there. It doesnt appear that we can take as much damage but as i said your pet is great at managing agro now. Also pay attention to spells, it took me a couple minutes to realize i actually did have a couple upgrades i didnt think i did, also one of my spells has a stun in it aswell, swarm of rats appears to be much better now and is always a good choice. as for the pvp comment i duel'd a lvl 26 sk last night, and took him out with out a problem.Just give it a chance, test your limits, try some different strategies, i was very impressed, and im only using apprentice 1 versions of most of my spells.<div></div>

[Zatok]

Well I feel better since my original post, and look forward now to getting back on my horse <that's a lie, I can't afford one>.  It would appear that many of us who are struggling some right now, are sub 30 in level.  I also need to spend some time upgrading many of the new spells I have that are apprentice I, as well as working on strategies using these spells.   Too many of you state you're having fun to be wrong.  I thank the many of you that added your ideas/strategies and what's working for you.  For those of you that just love to jump on the "So just quit you whiner!" band wagon, the rest of us expect and tolerate your types.  Oh, and DmonInjected, dude, learn what a period or a comma is before your next post.  It's one thing to post such dribble as yours, but to create a one sentence long paragraph of dribble is really difficult for the rest of us to laugh at you, and yet not feel sorry for you.

[tonemand]

<DIV>I was a bit unsure of how things were going to pan out, but I must admit that once I spent the 90 minutes sorting through my spellbook, hotkey banks, and reading all of the spell desciptions (some seemed even updated from what I saw when I was on Beta), not to mention the /respec, I was very pleased with the results.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I got a few mentions about my Rotting Thrall (Adept III) and it's ability to handle mobs even better than before, and the changes along with some of the subtleties turned out to be an overall pleasantly surprising experience for me last night.  I will look forward to some more raiding to really get a grasp on the casting times and strats for that kind of gameplay, but group gameplay is very nice.  Once I got my initial rework done, I was able to hone the new methods quickly and things went VERY smooth after that.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I was very impressed with the pet taking linked mobs and only getting the initial hit.  There were several times where I would follow the tank in SS and start to see the pet's health bar start to drop.  I would turn around and three aggro blues would be getting the brunt from the grunt.  No assistance from me and they were down in no time.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I am impressed - thumbs up for SOE on this one.</DIV>

[Za]

<blockquote><hr>cfteague2 wrote: <P>Gregg, sry to single you out, but im sick of your response "thats what the revamp was intended to do" I dont care if the revamp was intended to turn water into wine or lead into gold.</P> <P>I had a necro, i liked the game.  They changed it.  Now necro is not fun.</P> <P>Should I congratulate sony because "that was what the revamp was intended to do"?   Im sorry if the revamp was really intended to make EQ2 less fun, then I will whine about it for a little while, in hopes they will make changes.   and then I will go away</P> <P>(and for anyone who tells me to hurry up and go, I would gladly go now, IF you can get SOE to refund the 3 months Im paid ahead.  until then I might as well look and see if they made my necro fun again)</P><hr></blockquote>Or you could try learning how to play the game as it exists today!It really doesn't matter what <b>you</b> don't like or want. Fact is that EQ2 the way it was isn't around any more. So if you don't like that you have only 1 choice. WoW is fun for a ton of people. Maybe its more your liking. The revamp wasn't designed to make EQ2 less fun, but it may very well have made it less fun for you. But the world doesn't turn for your personal pleasure.

[Kizef_warri]

<span><blockquote><hr>IVIilkman wrote:<p>Master Strikes that Hit for 1400, </p><div></div><hr></blockquote> How are you nuking for 1400? I dont even come close at 48.</span><div></div>

[Za]

<blockquote><hr>KBern wrote:<P>Oh one negative are the swarm pets.</P> <P>My rats never had direct agro and were dying from AOE's.</P> <P>Did they revert back to allow swarm pets to die from AoE's?  I thought that was taken out?</P> <hr></blockquote>My rats don't take AoE hits, neither did that other new dumbfire pet we got. Kinda nice not having to circle strafe mobs to cast rats now.

[Viromage]

<DIV>I logged in tonight for the first time since the patch and was stunned at the changes...  I feel totally useless atm as a necro.  As I flip back and forth thru my spell book of adept III's and masters I look for something that makes sence..  It appears to me they took away our ability for DD and gave us pets with a faster recast timer..?  Our Rune is now only for pet and we get a AOE lifetap with a huge radius....</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I don't know I like the Everquest saga and liked playing but this just isn't enjoyable.  It makes no sence.  I don't feel like I am doing any damage in a group.  I can't move thru zones without being attacked my grey mobs that are 20 lvls below me (like they really stand a chance).  Now I haven't bought DoF yet was planning on buying tom. but now I am really thinking not.  I just don't know...  It is so... Hmm so just not right....  I just am not sure what to make of it...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Xalmat]

<blockquote><hr>Viromage wrote:<DIV>I logged in tonight for the first time since the patch and was stunned at the changes... I feel totally useless atm as a necro. As I flip back and forth thru my spell book of adept III's and masters I look for something that makes sence.. It appears to me they took away our ability for DD and gave us pets with a faster recast timer..? Our Rune is now only for pet and we get a AOE lifetap with a huge radius....</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I don't know I like the Everquest saga and liked playing but this just isn't enjoyable. It makes no sence. I don't feel like I am doing any damage in a group. I can't move thru zones without being attacked my grey mobs that are 20 lvls below me (like they really stand a chance). Now I haven't bought DoF yet was planning on buying tom. but now I am really thinking not. I just don't know... It is so... Hmm so just not right.... I just am not sure what to make of it...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV><hr></blockquote>Several things wrong with your post.1. Mobs 20 levels below you will not attack. 10 Levels in your 40s and above, yes, but not 20 levels.2. Sit down and read through your spell descriptions. They don't perform the same as they used to. Look at your Minion's Stances, you need them now. For example Grisly Stele is your defense stance, use it when you solo with Rotting Thrall.3. There is a sort button in your Knowledge book now. Sort by level, it should give you a feel for your spellbook a little better (The ones you're likely to use are at the back of your spellbook, if you sort by Level).4. The DD spells are super-fast DoTs now. By the time you can cycle them they will have done full damage, making them "DD-like".5. Between your pets in offense stance, your swarm pets, and your many AoE abilities and Single-target abilities, Necromancers do insane damage now. Maybe not as much as a Sorcerer or Predator, but still insane damage.

[Barthalemeou2]

<P>Would like to say that I hated the changes at first, I hated the nerfs and didnt really give the changes a chance.  After playing all day today I am more happy with the class now than I was before, my dps is crazy, my rotting thrall pet can tank in a group who has no tank.  This evening I was grouped with a templar and a wizard and we were killing level 51 and 52 tripple up arrow heroic mobs.  The exp was even better than when I used to solo and duo tundra terros in everfrost.</P> <P>Give the changes a chance before you go off and and rant about how much you hate SOE and what a bad thing this was. I ranted and am now sorry that I ever did, the changes made are awesome and I hope they leave it this way.</P>

[schrammy]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Barthalemeou2 wrote:<BR> <P>Would like to say that I hated the changes at first, I hated the nerfs and didnt really give the changes a chance.  After playing all day today I am more happy with the class now than I was before, my dps is crazy, my rotting thrall pet can tank in a group who has no tank.  This evening I was grouped with a templar and a wizard and we were killing level 51 and 52 tripple up arrow heroic mobs.  The exp was even better than when I used to solo and duo tundra terros in everfrost.</P> <P>Give the changes a chance before you go off and and rant about how much you hate SOE and what a bad thing this was. I ranted and am now sorry that I ever did, the changes made are awesome and I hope they leave it this way.</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Hehehe.</P> <P> </P> <P>Welcome back to the dark side m8. But be afraid, cuz there are allready alot of losers out there (other classes) who are screaming for nerfs to necro's.</P> <P>I had a few /report me last night. Just because i could solo mobs they couldn't.</P> <p>Message Edited by schrammy on <span class=date_text>09-15-2005</span> <span class=time_text>08:52 AM</span>

[Arogati]

I really don't know what some of you are complaining about.I'm playing a 30 Necro. Other than my Master II training options, I don't have a single spell ranked above Adept I. About half are Adept I, half App IV, and everything new is still App I.I'm having no trouble soloing. None. Sure, oranges are all but out of the question, but I burn through yellows and evens like nothing. Sure, I actually have to heal my pet now. Sure, our heals are a lot weaker. But pre-revamp, how often did we actually need to heal the tank pets? Once, maybe twice per fight? Now I cast my HoT between HOs and Lifetaps.The class is much more engaging, and combat is much more interesting and exciting. It's not just a repetetive, boring grind to go solo, it's as much fun as grouping (Which I haven't had much chance to do since the revamp).Obviously I can't speak for the levels beyond my 30, but I can say with certainty that as of where I am, we certainly have nothing to complain about. They've made the game more fun for us, there's more danger and intrigue, more versatility in how we kill. My only real complaint is that they even bothered to give us the Darkness line if snare is so easy to break. As far as I'm concerned, they should just remove snare from the game if that's their idea of balancing it.<p>Message Edited by Arogati on <span class=date_text>09-15-2005</span> <span class=time_text>01:46 AM</span>

[KBern]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Lodor wrote:<BR> <P>The pets are no longer priority since they all pretty much suck compared to a liched out necro past lvl 50.</P> <P>None the pets can handle tanking at all even with master 2 buffs.</P> <P>My necro tanks better then a adept 3 zombie with master 2 defense buff.  i aptly renamed all my pets to Wetpaperbag.</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>What lvl are you?</P> <P>At lvl 50, I am having a totally different exp than you are describing.</P>

[Frud]

<P>Just my two cents...I LOVE the changes!  Finally, my Necro is more like the necro I knew and enjoyed in EQ1.</P> <P>1.  DPS...oh..my..gawd...  As a 39th necro, I just eat through even con's like they were pet snacks.  My fighter pet can clean house, and the caster is the ultimate blast machine (just don't let it get hit).   Both are adept1.  Don't even start me on those DOTS and my new friends (rats and ghastly corpse).</P> <P>2.  Slow Spells again!  Whoohooo!  Ok, so I can't use em to kite cause Terror is too weak, but it does help the fight.</P> <P>3.  Necro Nurse!  YES!  Me and a fury held down a guardian's health when no cleric was available.  Have my transfer life and tap life buttons right next to each other.  As long as the manna holds out, and the dps on the guardian isn't too nasty...it's great.  </P> <P>Do I miss not soloing heroics?  No...cause I never bothered to try.  Should a necro be able to solo heroics...IMHO nobody should solo them.  That's why they're (cough) heroics.</P> <P>Now to just try and get close to 45 before the xp bonus runs out.  I've some gators to discuss suitcases with.</P> <P>Clavicle </P>

[RipFlex]

<P>Heroics are for groups only now the WAY it's suppose to be.  Stop saying I use to do it all the time now my Nerco broken stuff.  If you Solo,then attack solo mobs and you will notice you are pretty much stronger.  Want to do group mobs grab a healer friend and maybe 1 other and have your healer buff/heal your pet tank on a Herioc mob for GROUPS.</P> <P>This was the way it's meant to be in the first place... "Hellllloooo, McFly !?"</P> <P>Solo = Solo</P> <P>Heriocs/Epics - Group</P> <P>Any questions?</P>

[qazxswe]

<P>Well, now Im quite complicated mage, but I cant consider myself as a pet-class.</P> <P>My tank pet is now kinda root (mob need a time to kill pet, I never bother with healing him - pointless), </P> <P>even more then root!!!</P> <P>1. It has predictable duration - I see hp bar of my pet )</P> <P>2. It has stifle and power tap - mob spending his power to kill pet, and doesnt casting his nukes on me</P> <P>3. It has a DoT component - pet can deal damage!</P> <P>Combat is much simple for me now - send pet to attack, cast swarm, tap, tap, fear, tap, tap ...</P>

[Viromage]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Xalmat wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Viromage wrote:<BR> <DIV>I logged in tonight for the first time since the patch and was stunned at the changes... I feel totally useless atm as a necro. As I flip back and forth thru my spell book of adept III's and masters I look for something that makes sence.. It appears to me they took away our ability for DD and gave us pets with a faster recast timer..? Our Rune is now only for pet and we get a AOE lifetap with a huge radius....</DIV> <DIV>I don't know I like the Everquest saga and liked playing but this just isn't enjoyable. It makes no sence. I don't feel like I am doing any damage in a group. I can't move thru zones without being attacked my grey mobs that are 20 lvls below me (like they really stand a chance). Now I haven't bought DoF yet was planning on buying tom. but now I am really thinking not. I just don't know... It is so... Hmm so just not right.... I just am not sure what to make of it...</DIV> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Several things wrong with your post.<BR><BR>1. Mobs 20 levels below you will not attack. 10 Levels in your 40s and above, yes, but not 20 levels.<BR>2. Sit down and read through your spell descriptions. They don't perform the same as they used to. Look at your Minion's Stances, you need them now. For example Grisly Stele is your defense stance, use it when you solo with Rotting Thrall.<BR>3. There is a sort button in your Knowledge book now. Sort by level, it should give you a feel for your spellbook a little better (The ones you're likely to use are at the back of your spellbook, if you sort by Level).<BR>4. The DD spells are super-fast DoTs now. By the time you can cycle them they will have done full damage, making them "DD-like".<BR>5. Between your pets in offense stance, your swarm pets, and your many AoE abilities and Single-target abilities, Necromancers do insane damage now. Maybe not as much as a Sorcerer or Predator, but still insane damage.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Ok I admit I was alittle upset last night and was overblowing the grey agro thing.  I was unaware of the sort feature in the spell book and now see I will have to giveup my custom UI pieces to find all the new things that I must me not seeing.  The way some of you guys describe it I should have been having a totally different experience than I did last night, but again I was in total disarray not being able to find spells, trying to figure out what does what, ect.</P> <P>I see we no longer have stacking shards or pet heals and have to say that AOE life tap's radius seems just a tad large.  I hit it last night and drew in everything in a fairly large radius.  It is nice though that FD no longer drops the pet and all out buffs.  I forgot to look to see if it still has a 80hour reuse timer.</P> <P> </P> <P>I will clear my UI mods and give it another shot tonight.  Maybe I wasn't taking advantage of everything I should have been...</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[Kyysh]

<div></div><span><blockquote><hr>schrammy wrote:<p>I absolutely LOVE the new necro.</p> <p>Lich works great (procs with ALL disease based spells), Lifetap taps life (ALOT), Heal is great, ...</p> <p>I kill faster with less downtime now. And yes, i will miss kiting the Tundra terrors very much, those nice guys got me from about 46 to 50. In fact I kited a few terrors last night before pacth, just to say "goodbye" <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.</p> <p>But look at it from the other side. You can get linked mobs fairly safely now. Not ony does the pet taunt, IT HAS AE taunt.</p> <p>It was a real pain in the butt before patch to take on a grp of mobs linked (while still beeing solo encounter). Now with his ae taunt, its awesome.</p> <p>Sorry guys but i gotta give the thumbs up to SOE on this one</p> <div></div><hr></blockquote> I agree with you the new Necro is amazing, the dmg we do is insane and its fun to play now not just send in the pet and watch a movie. Lich could use a little tweaking with the heal/dmg ratio so i can heal up decently after a fight but with the new life tap increase we get now I don't mind it all that much. Sucks we can't kite Heroics anymore but I agree with SOE on that one, nobody should be able to. Best thing I can say to those having problems, toss out everything you thought you knew about the class then clear out your hotbar start with some green SOLO encounters and fight, after the fight add the spells that worked for you to the hotbar and try a new strat. then slowly work your way up. You'll see after a while that is its a 180 degree turn around from before we have alot of DD spells that turned to DoT and mage pets arn't always the best. Hopefully after a session of doing this you'll be able to find a solo friendly way of fighting. </span><div></div><p>Message Edited by Kyyshan on <span class=date_text>09-15-2005</span> <span class=time_text>08:33 AM</span>

[Kirotaan]

On the solo orange mobs I was killing they were anything from 51double down to 52^.  I chose a master 2 of rending frenzy and with the defensive stance it chances berserk so the pet does a little more dps than just having the defensive stance.  One thing that really helps is the Necromantic seal.  Since it debuffs on proc it should help you with your dmg every time it procs for about 10 seconds. As for grey things attacking you you might be grouped with someone too low but if you were running solo through a 20's zone and got aggro your obviously making that up.  The only  thing I have to gripe about now is that after I FD and my pet still attacks thing they get [Removed for Content] off at me and come after me.  Dev oversight I think. /bugged it <div></div>

[Tallika_Runwithbears]

<span><blockquote><hr>Viromage wrote: <blockquote> <hr> Xalmat wrote: <blockquote> <hr> Viromage wrote: <div>I logged in tonight for the first time since the patch and was stunned at the changes... I feel totally useless atm as a necro. As I flip back and forth thru my spell book of adept III's and masters I look for something that makes sence.. It appears to me they took away our ability for DD and gave us pets with a faster recast timer..? Our Rune is now only for pet and we get a AOE lifetap with a huge radius....</div> <div></div> <div>I don't know I like the Everquest saga and liked playing but this just isn't enjoyable. It makes no sence. I don't feel like I am doing any damage in a group. I can't move thru zones without being attacked my grey mobs that are 20 lvls below me (like they really stand a chance). Now I haven't bought DoF yet was planning on buying tom. but now I am really thinking not. I just don't know... It is so... Hmm so just not right.... I just am not sure what to make of it...</div> <div></div> <div></div> <div></div> <hr> </blockquote>Several things wrong with your post.1. Mobs 20 levels below you will not attack. 10 Levels in your 40s and above, yes, but not 20 levels.2. Sit down and read through your spell descriptions. They don't perform the same as they used to. Look at your Minion's Stances, you need them now. For example Grisly Stele is your defense stance, use it when you solo with Rotting Thrall.3. There is a sort button in your Knowledge book now. Sort by level, it should give you a feel for your spellbook a little better (The ones you're likely to use are at the back of your spellbook, if you sort by Level).4. The DD spells are super-fast DoTs now. By the time you can cycle them they will have done full damage, making them "DD-like".5. Between your pets in offense stance, your swarm pets, and your many AoE abilities and Single-target abilities, Necromancers do insane damage now. Maybe not as much as a Sorcerer or Predator, but still insane damage. <hr> </blockquote> <p>Ok I admit I was alittle upset last night and was overblowing the grey agro thing.  I was unaware of the sort feature in the spell book and now see I will have to giveup my custom UI pieces to find all the new things that I must me not seeing.  The way some of you guys describe it I should have been having a totally different experience than I did last night, but again I was in total disarray not being able to find spells, trying to figure out what does what, ect.</p> <p>I see we no longer have stacking shards or pet heals and have to say that AOE life tap's radius seems just a tad large.  I hit it last night and drew in everything in a fairly large radius.  It is nice though that FD no longer drops the pet and all out buffs.  I forgot to look to see if it still has a 80hour reuse timer.</p> <p>I will clear my UI mods and give it another shot tonight.  Maybe I wasn't taking advantage of everything I should have been...</p> <div></div><hr></blockquote>Thats a good plan Virodeath.  Tuesday i spent 3 whole hours carefully rearranging and reading all my spell descriptions and ajusting my hotkeys.  then i went out and started testing my pets and spells carefully on low green mobs (single and groups) and worked my way up higher and higher lvls too see how my pet could handle it.  i died a few times with this testing.  but last night a went out again and just started owning mobs left and right.  i got my healing pattern adjusted with my clicking damage spells and i did sooo much better.  the only death i had was using my PBAE to get a group of 3 --- mobs out from under a rock shelf that my pet couldnt get to.  and i had a couple interupts on that.  about the only thing im wanting to get tweeked right now is our pets mitigation.  with just a little more mitigation our pet healing abilities would work sooo much better.   and my tank pet taunts like a frelling pro!!  i'm having one hell of a time getting aggro off of him.</span><div></div>

[endaemoniada]

LU13 has broken something, ok the necro has better DPS etc... but, for some of us, LU13 has broken the connexion between the character and the player. This revamp is very bad thing if you consider that, I'm playing since the beginning with one char, SOE has dramatically modified the char ok it's their game but it was "my" char now I have a new one, I am not sure I like it :smileysad:

[Tokam]

<P>/giggle</P> <P>Buisy proving my way to T5 at the mo (just 90% to go) and real life bit me so I havent been out fighting yet. Im planning to go out this evening and prat about in splitpaw solo for the night - will edit this post tolet you know how I get on.</P> <P>From what I have seen so far my int has dropped 10ish, but my power pool has increased slightly. I guess this is because of the int component of the buffs being removed???? I seem to have a lot of Ap 1 spells that need upgrading post haste, our guild necro scholar is going to be quite buisy.... <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Asside from that Im just waiting to get out there and see what the deal is</P> <P>Good luck everyone</P>

[Reena617]

<P><FONT face=Verdana size=1>The thing I really can't stand about the patch, is that you are almost forced to group up now.  I almost always play solo, if I am not soloing then I am playing with my husband.  We can no longer solo alone, it's getting very difficult to level up.  We are casual players, and it was a lot easier when we could just log on, kill for awhile, log off.  Now, it's log on, look for a group for 20 minutes, find a group, run like crazy to get to the group, kill for 15 minutes, call then log off.  Soloing has been made almost impossible with all of the heroic ^^^ monsters.  I am trying my best to give this revamp the utmost patience but I, along with many others, am running out of patience.  Half of my spells are messed up, who cares if my pet can hold aggro better now, because he can't survive long enough to finish a battle and I run out of power faster than I can heal him.  Making the game more of a challenge is one thing, but they went a little overboard, I think..</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Verdana size=1>I tried rolling a new mage the other day and couldn't believe how ridiculously difficult it was.  At level 6, killing in the Forest Ruins, it took her 4 spells to run out of power.  Root, damage, damage over time, damage, and if the creature wasn't dead then I was screwed because I was out of power.</FONT></P> <P><FONT face=Verdana size=1>A lot of people have huge guilds and tons of friends to play with.  I don't.  I like it that way, and I got completely screwed out of a wonderful game because of it.  If it's not tweaked to a manageable level before my subscription runs out, I'm afraid I'll be shopping for a new game.</FONT></P>

[firewolf]

Do you ever con the mob before you attack? You CANNOT solo Heroic mob using pet tanking, especially  2 arrows and above heroic encounter. Heroic mobs are desgined for group not for soloing. In fact, besides heroic mobs, necromancer can solo quite well. At 37, I can solo up to 4  yellow con mobs (2-3 down arrows).  Gets 60% xp in 2 hours of play. All my spells are adept1 and below. Only UA at adept 3 and all the new spells at app1. All my gear are only treasured or crafted, no legendary or imbued items at all. The spells are not messed up, they works very nicely. Better than before revamp. The pet holding agro is the most crucial change. With pet doing ae taunting, I could nuke and ae down the mobs without worry about agro. Currently, I hardly ever need to cast pet heal during combat since the mob dies so fast.  So if you want to solo, go after solo mobs. And leave the Heroic mob to people that likes to group.  Besides the pet is not designed to tank Heroic mob. <div></div>

[Shipwreck_GPA]

<P>After a week playing my Necro, I have to rethink my post. My Necro does extremely well. To be honest, he is way better of than my other alts, possibly excepting my Warlock. This patch treated us mid-level Necro's quite well. </P> <P>BUT, you really need to round up at least App 4's, especially in your key spells.Anything less will hurt your effectiveness really badly, imo. I would say this game is now balanced around App I spell level now. </P>

[Kizef_warri]

<DIV>I am loving the changes.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I am putting out INSANE dps.</DIV> <DIV>My pet is tanking yellow ^ mobs solo without any problem.</DIV> <DIV>My pet is tanking Yellow ^^^ heroic mobs with my GF's cleric healing.</DIV> <DIV>My fire and forget pets are AWESOME.</DIV> <DIV>I am putting out INSANE dps.</DIV> <DIV>At 49 I can solo 25% of a level in 2 hours in Sifting sands while watching TV.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I always hate kiting. So far that is the only nerf I have seen. And to me its no big deal at all.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Only thing is Im worried about the Nerf bat incoming any time now.</DIV><p>Message Edited by Kizef_warrior on <span class=date_text>09-17-2005</span> <span class=time_text>08:14 PM</span>

[Lodor]

I have no problem soloing yellow con three up arrow heroic mobs, long as they arent a nuker.

[schrammy]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Lodor wrote:<BR> I have no problem soloing yellow con three up arrow heroic mobs, long as they arent a nuker.<BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Your kidding right?</P> <P>Those guys eat my pet in 3 hits. They eat me in another 3.</P> <P>Snare and fear is not good enough to kite. So I would love to hear your strategie on them.</P>

[Romka]

<span><blockquote><hr>schrammy wrote: <blockquote> <hr> Lodor wrote: <div></div>I have no problem soloing yellow con three up arrow heroic mobs, long as they arent a nuker. <hr> </blockquote> <p>Your kidding right?</p> <p>Those guys eat my pet in 3 hits. They eat me in another 3.</p> <p>Snare and fear is not good enough to kite. So I would love to hear your strategie on them.</p> <div></div><hr></blockquote>Same here. I can solo any ^^^ mob (even orange) if mob isnt nuker. </span><div></div>

[Viromage]

<DIV>Ok I had to go to a totally different UI that supported the patch #13.  NOW that I can see all the new buttons/features things make alot more sence.  I spent several hours reviewing spells and rebuilding my hotbars.  I can't tell if we are more powerful or if the mob spectrum is wack as far as cons but the changes are interesting.  I guess I like the ability to solo easier without having to hunt and peck thru zones to fine something to kill solo.  I hit 50 during this change so I got Lich and that is cool.  Still trying to figure out how it works but nice effect.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>All in all I will ride it out and see what happens.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Kausticus]

<P>Okay....I have several "toons" that I play...and the necro was to say the least the last on the list to get attention (Lvl 50 Ratonga Zerker main). I logged in the Necro yesterday to check him out and see how things had changed......LOW AND BEHOLD, I had a EQ1 flashback where a necro could hold his own. The changes to the spell lines kinda threw me for a few and needed to study and learn new tactics.  I was never fond of the UA pet....now he has become my new best friend. I solo'd in the RoV and surrounding areas for 1.5 hrs and lvl...DING 28. I am probably not as skeptical as others because I play a variety of chrs, nor am I any kind of EQ2 Leetness God, with uber gear, or maxed out spells. A couple of things I noticed.....</P> <P>1) Lifetap your BUNS off (hits for about 316-330 of drain)....that helps with quick kills and if you get a pop behind you....you can tank that one while the pet finishes off the first mob, which I did when I thought I was tough enough being Barney Badass, Necro-Extraordinaire. Havent grp'd yet, as Im not that much of a "social butterfly".</P> <P>2) Rotten Blast works well...while underpower at this point (App1 I think) it is a DoT that will aid in taking the mobs down. Also use all the damage spells you can (see told ya I wasnt Leet, cant even remember my spells....or my name for matter on most days) we have several and as someone pointed out earlier.....we are still considered "Summoners" until lvl 30.</P> <P>The thing that I can say is....Necro to me now has the "Remember back in EQ1" feel.  I think with a bit more training and learning the Necro will cook.</P> <P>Just my 2 cents (hey can ya spare some coin.....need to upgrade my necro spells)</P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[vorek]

<P>This whole thread (yes I read all the crying) is just full of people who don't get the concept of CHANGING what you kill.</P> <P>The Necro is MUCH more powerful now.....but you have to learn to kill different things.</P> <P> </P> <P>Those of you saying your pet is getting killed in 3 hits on non-heroic encounters...take this part to heart:</P> <P>An NPC that considers WHITE with no arrows (up or down) should be an even match...toe to toe. (Lets leave kiting out of this discussion because SoE is going to continue to nerf spells until it is no longer feasable.....trust me, they have said it in unofficial channels)</P> <P>If you are used to the old way of killing groups of yellows, you need to rethink your combat selections. Go back to fighting whites and blues. The experience is BARELY noticeably different and you will be VERY suprised at how well you perform.....when you play the game as intended.</P> <P>People will no longer have sympathy for you complaining that you cannot solo yellow and orange mobs (or heroic mobs that TELL you that you should have a group)....you SHOULDN'T be able to....so that is working as intended.</P> <DIV>There is PLENTY of solo content if you go looking for it. YES...you cannot sit in TS and harvest-grind griffins for 5 levels in the mid-20s. You have to find NEW things to do....but NO you are NOT required to group. There is LOTS to do solo....learn your NEW character and you will be stronger for it.</DIV>

[Lyasa]

<P>lv 50 warlock here, me and a 49 necro were duoing pounders, giants, tarantulas in Sinking Sands, sometimes fight would go w/o a hitch sometimes we'd wipe, but was much fun, pet even kept agro off of me on full tilt till mob was down to ~5%, though w/ changes to nihilism in today's patch that may not even be a problem anymore (used to be giving me agro, now gives the target agro) in all you've got a very versaile class now, can rez, heal, tank, or dps depending on situation (ok, heals aren't GREAT, but they're there)</P> <P>if i didn't like my class, i'd probably be rolling a necro now.</P>

[Outwa]

<DIV>Hmmm...I can see both sides of this argument, and it has existed for a long time in various ways.  I played EQ1 and my main was always a necro, all the way up to level 65.  I loved my necro, but always there was the nerfs and changes.  First it was the pets getting nerfed, then it was the invisibility circlet (instant cast) and then the FD mask but through it all I loved playing my class.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have stayed away from EQ2 for a long time, played it when it first came out and didn't care for it at all.  Buddy got me back involved with the game and I picked up my mage character again (only level 19 so far) and I must say I'm impressed overall with the changes.  The group mobs attack my pet instead of me, he's a very decent tank, my spells are hard hitting and I feel like I'm hooked again (dangit all :smileymad<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.  I feel like I'm coming into this with a fresh perspective: I don't have to relearn the class, I can start out and play like I would normally play a necro class and so far it seems like it's going to work out (so long as SOE stays AWAY from the nerf-bat!) very well.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>A few things I hope SOE thinks about changing:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>- Snare and Fear: Oh come on!  Necromancers are and have always been all about fear kiting!  We love it, we do it well, at least think about giving us snare back if both is out of the question. (I don't consider our current snare a true snare....mob takes damage it breaks? [Removed for Content]?)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>- Pet heals.....ummm hello?  Can you bump it up a bit....even if it costs more power, who cares....as it is the heals stink.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>All in all, thumbs up.  Yeah not being able to solo orange and red mobs blows, heroics included...but honestly they were never meant to be solo'd.  Might wanna cut us a little slack when the heroic mob is green but hey....if you give us a full snare back minus the 0 mitigation I'd be willing to shut up bout the rest :0</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Just my 2 cents</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Murasa</DIV> <DIV>19 Summoner</DIV> <DIV>Necromancer to be</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[schrammy]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> vorek wrote:<BR> <P>This whole thread (yes I read all the crying) is just full of people who don't get the concept of CHANGING what you kill.</P> <P>The Necro is MUCH more powerful now.....but you have to learn to kill different things.</P> <P> </P> <P><STRONG>Those of you saying your pet is getting killed in 3 hits on non-heroic encounters...take this part to heart:</STRONG></P> <P><STRONG>An NPC that considers WHITE with no arrows (up or down) should be an even match...toe to toe. (Lets leave kiting out of this discussion because SoE is going to continue to nerf spells until it is no longer feasable.....trust me, they have said it in unofficial channels)</STRONG></P> <P>If you are used to the old way of killing groups of yellows, you need to rethink your combat selections. Go back to fighting whites and blues. The experience is BARELY noticeably different and you will be VERY suprised at how well you perform.....when you play the game as intended.</P> <P>People will no longer have sympathy for you complaining that you cannot solo yellow and orange mobs (or heroic mobs that TELL you that you should have a group)....you SHOULDN'T be able to....so that is working as intended.</P> <DIV>There is PLENTY of solo content if you go looking for it. YES...you cannot sit in TS and harvest-grind griffins for 5 levels in the mid-20s. You have to find NEW things to do....but NO you are NOT required to group. There is LOTS to do solo....learn your NEW character and you will be stronger for it.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>You are so Full of crap!!!!</P> <P>- First you are lying your butt of cuz you have not read my post and then went replying on it. I never said we die with 3 hits of non-heroics. I can chainpull orange solo losers thank you very much.</P> <DIV>- White cons even match? HAHAHA that is all i have to say there.</DIV> <DIV>- I was not complaining at all about not beeing able to kill heroics, I merely asked the others to share strategies.</DIV> <DIV>- If you look around for my posts i was one of the first people that embraced the revamp by stating i loved it.</DIV>

[Urbanna]

<span><blockquote><hr>Outward wrote:<div></div> <div> I feel like I'm coming into this with a fresh perspective: I don't have to relearn the class, I can start out and play like I would normally play a necro class and so far it seems like it's going to work out (so long as SOE stays AWAY from the nerf-bat!) very well.</div> <div> </div><div> </div> <div>Murasa</div> <div>19 Summoner</div> <div>Necromancer to be</div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <hr></blockquote>I think THAT is the best part about the combat revamp. People who are new to the game won't be biased by how it was before, and will pick classes that suit their playstyle, and have a blast =) Right now, there are alot of fighters/healers who really loved being DPS, and chanters who loved being total group buff tools. After the revamp, (new) people will take the classes that they fit better into. There are still kinks to be worked out, but overall the changes make the classes MUCH better.</span><div></div>