Unannounced Templar Nerf in December 1st 2004 Patch

[SilverNi]

<DIV> <DIV>Greetings all,</DIV> <DIV>Let me provide you all with some background information. I am a level 30 Templar on the Oasis server who solely plays in guild group. Our guild is very small, made up of six main players, and we are very effective in using each others strength's and weaknesses. Likewise, this group has two Templars in it to make healing a non-issue. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Unfortunately, post-December 1st, we found ourselves having a difficulty healing with monsters, who only the day before went down rather easily (mostly even and yellow conned multiples using an enchanter). When I logged on after the patch and entered the guild group, there was something very strange going on. Our tank was taking the normal 250-300 damage a shot; however, after reactive heals, he was taking only 100-150 damage. This is compared to 0-60 damage the day before.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So what is the difference between pre-December and Post-December 1st? Templar reactive heals no longer stack with one another... Soothing Sermon no longer stacks with Intercession nor does Bestowal of Vitae stack with Supplicant's Prayer. When I was grouping with the other Templar, one was casting Intercession while the other cast Soothing Sermon. If the battle got really hectic, we would cast Supplicants Prayer or Bestow of Vitae as needed. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What does this mean for us Templars? First, it means that our healing power is <STRONG>GREATLY</STRONG> reduced as we can we only use a single reactive heal at a time. Secondly, we lose the ability to group with another templar and split our downtime and healing potential. Third, it further fortifies Templars as the <STRONG>WEAKEST</STRONG>, less versatile healing class in the game. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Why do I say the <EM>weakest</EM>? Because a Templar has three main functions: Heal, Buff, Debuff. Our debuffs, for all intents and purpose, make a minimal difference, our buffs are effective, yet are homogenous, and our primary heals have had their effectiveness reduced by nearly 50%. Compare this to a Shaman (with extremely powerful wards, debuffs, nukes, and damage over time spells) and a Druid (with stackable regeneration spells, versatile buffs, extremely powerful thorns spell, effective nukes, and damage over time spells).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What makes this even more irritating is that Shaman Wards stack with Reactive Healing as do they with Regeneration spells, not to mention that SONY Online Entertainment, and its development, used <U><STRONG>subverssion techniques</STRONG> </U>to advance this preposterous gameplay imbalance. The consumers are not completely ignorant to change SONY!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The solution to this problem is simple, which was also used in Everquest 1. I have NO problem with not being able to stack my lower level reactive heals with my newer reactive heals (as long as the newer is better, unlike Supplicants Prayer); however, my Reactive Heals should stack with another Templar's Reactive Heal so much as we are in the same group. <STRONG>Prior to release, it was specifically stated that all subclasses can perform their primary functions equally, just in different ways.</STRONG> This is <STRONG>NOT</STRONG> the case as Shaman and a Templar grouped together would be 200% more effective than two Templars; How is this "performing... primary functions equally?!" Am I <EM>completely</EM> missing something?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Even before the <EM>stealth nerf, </EM>Templars were underpowered with their healing mitigation spells; however, I felt that because of the power of our hitpoint, mana point, and AC buffs in addition to our ability to use Heavy Plate offset these differences. Regardless of not being able to heal AS WELL as other healers, I was still able to keep my group alive -- I was still able to feel like my abilities were being utilized to their effectiveness -- the game <STRONG>WAS </STRONG>somewhat balanced (WAS!). </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Overall, my issues are with the functional inability of two identical classes grouping and having their abilities overwrite one another (namely Templars and other healers), as well as the inappropriate and belligerent use of subterfuge their customers. For me, and for any other Templar that wants to group when there is another Templar with more than 20% experience than them, this is a <STRONG>game-breaking issue! <EM><U>SONY, PLEASE MAKE ALL REACTIVE HEAL SPELLS STACKABLE WITH ANOTHER TEMPLAR'S REACTIVE HEALS!</U></EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I hope that you will take the time to read this SONY and that you consider the problems that you have forced unto us Templars.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If any one has any comments or questions regarding these issues, please feel free to express them.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Sincerely,</DIV> <DIV>Hadekin Unavailable</DIV> <DIV>30th Level Dwarf Templar of Oasis</DIV> <DIV>Rockeaters -- 21 Provisioner</DIV></DIV><p>Message Edited by SilverNine on <span class=date_text>12-02-2004</span> <span class=time_text>09:25 AM</span>

[Gwynet]

<DIV>It wasn't yesterday. It happened last week, thursday or friday, I forgot.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I think their stacking was a bug, and I'm not surprised it was fixed. Regens don't stack for druids, and I'm sure wards don't stack either, just they probably don't notice it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The problem for us though, is that supplicant's prayer is completely bugged, it heals for 106 at 31 when it should heal 140+, and it heals for much more with the Inquisitor version. I've bugged it, I have a 4 pages long thread on the subject on the Spell forums, still no fix and no word from the dev. Honestly I'm losing my patience, and the end of the free month is in one week, I'm not sure I'm going to renew at this point.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Sparkleb]

<DIV>Yes, they stated that same-class Priests' heals are not supposed to stack.  That was how it was always supposed to be.  You feel as though you were 'ripped off,'  I feel that you should be greatful that you got away with it this long.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I love my Templar.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-Deacons</DIV>

[JF]

<DIV>Regardless of the stacking issue our heals are still rediculously low end.  </DIV>

[Danm]

As of last night, my soothing sermon and bestowal of vitae still seemed to stack.

[Steelbl]

<DIV>I thought you were going to metnion the apparent increase in healer aggro.  Fighting the same mobs with the same tank as the night before, I was getting the **** kicked out of me last night where they hadn't been touching me before.  Sometimes I would get popped <EM>before</EM>  doing anything and <EM>after</EM> the tank had taunted.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Or maybe it's because I upgraded my weapon and was now hitting the mobs for 12 points per hit rather than 10.</DIV>

[blargh]

<DIV>Your tank not using shout to pull?  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I haven't seen any increase in aggro.  Last 3 nights that I've been playing in pick-ups I haven't been whacked yet.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Learn to use what you have.  If you don't like the "nerfs" as you call it, delete and remake a different toon.  I'm liking my Templar the way it is.  If things change, then I'll have to adjust and do what I can.  It's what keeps me interested.  </DIV>

[Phyrehart02]

<DIV>Tonight a friend and I were out hunting for exp.  I am a level 19 Cleric and he a level 16 brawler.  He didn't have crapy armor but was not top notch either.  Well... what was strange is the vitae (sp) would sometimes work then sometimes not.   We boggled of this a few times since he and I have been fighting together since the beginning of EQII.  He is actually my roommate and so we can communication directly.  Well he went down and I was left to tank the scarecrow.  I casted the vitae on myself and ran.. while I was running I got beat down.. I stopped again and casted it one more time. Guess what it would not work.. I thought maybe it might be something to do with the scarecrows.  I was mistaken. We were later hunting the Giant bears and again the same thing happened.  I then started casting the group heal over time spell and guess what it worked like a charm.. It kept healing  without sorry.  As I ran yet again (it was only use two) using this particular spell I was healed enough and ran long enough to gain enough mana to take out the mob.   Something is very wrong.  I do not understand the difference between now and a couple of days ago but this is wrong.. I don' t mind an endless fizzle. . at least then I know it didn't work.. However if I cast a spell and it shows that its there however its not working something needs to be asap.   Sorta like putting armor on and it show you have it but the ac acts like zero...  I wonder if this was intended or /shrug what?</DIV> <DIV>I don' t like it and want it fixed.. Give me a 100 fizzles vs something I am counting on that is not going to work.  </DIV> <DIV>/end rant</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Phyre</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>~Melodies~</DIV>

[TheUlibos]

<DIV>I died to the same thing last night.  It looked like I cast BoV, the power was used, the recast timer started, and the little symbol showed up in my active spells list.  But It didn't heal me at all.  I noticed at the same time my Combat Heal was doing the same thing.   Really strange and very annoying.</DIV>

[Epon]

<DIV>FYI Wards dont stack with reactive heals. If a ward absorbs damage, and a reactive heal reacts to damage, the reactive wouldnt react. </DIV>

[Holyfor]

<DIV>Ahhh. I have had an issue with Combat heal too. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. And I did wonder if something had happened to the reactive heals. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Garumn</DIV> <DIV>Malevolent Spirits</DIV> <DIV>Najena</DIV>