If you could ask a Dev...

[Kendricke]

<DIV>Hypothetical situation:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You've just sat down to lunch and realized that the next table over has some of the most well known and connected developers and designers from the Everquest 2 team sitting at it.  You decide to get up and walk over and ask just one question regarding the current Combat Revamp.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What one question do you ask?  :smileyhappy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Jida]

<DIV>How are templars supposed to be. such as .. what is the vision for templars.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>(i know thats kinda confusing without being in my brain, so ill elaborate)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Since the conbat revamp i have seen the templar kocked from the healing god he was (rightfully so) down to a suburb healer but not hugely advantagous over other classes.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Where do templars fit? Are we built mainly for raiding? are we for those few difficult instances where you need the extra healing a templar can provide? What abilitys would make a group perfer a templar over other classes (such as [random priest class])?</DIV> <DIV>What is the direction for templars considering solo quests and soloing in general?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I know it ended up being more of a bunch of questions than an explanation of the original statement. But I believe that answering those questions and many more that i just cant think of right now, will give us a better understanding of the direction that game developers envision for the templar player base.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hope i made sense and plz lemme know if i didnt so i can fix it =)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Elder</DIV>

[Grimhamm]

<P>I would first express appreciation for the scope and boldness of the Combat Changes, to set a sincere and respectful tone.</P> <P>Then I would ask why they assumed everyone would be happy and satisfied and did not provide any alternatives to those of us who, after trying very hard to enjoy the changes, ultimately found the changes moved us out the play style we enjoyed.  For some of us, our Templar represents a year's investment in time - shouldn't that have been managed a little more carefully?  What were the discussions in the concept and design phases of the Combat Changes on this point?</P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P><SPAN class=time_text></SPAN> </P><p>Message Edited by Grimhammer on <span class=date_text>11-07-2005</span> <span class=time_text>09:56 AM</span>

[Kendricke]

<P>Thanks for the responses so far.  I'd truly like to get more discussion on this topic, hopefully within a relatively short amount of time...even, and especially from those who have issues with the current state of the Templar or the Combat Revamp in general. </P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[Buckelnase]

<div></div>Personally I have no problem with combat revamp or my Templar toon. Maybe it's because I don't have a broader perspective, as I have no alts and not much knowledge about other classes. And I don't care about dps, as I am nearly 100% in a (mainly guild) group anyway - to which (I think) I don't get invited to because I am an uber healer but my guildies love my stupid mistakes and such. (Just a couple of days ago I managed to zone myself two times out of a raid zone by chosing the wrong revive spot, highly embarrassing to me and source of endless amusement to my guild.) This said - the main question on my mind, the main thing bothering me with EQ2 right now, is *no* questions about combat revamp, but rather something completely different: "What are the current plans to increase armor / weapon diversity?" (Edited some spelling errors) <div></div><p>Message Edited by Buckelnase on <span class=date_text>11-07-2005</span> <span class=time_text>08:35 AM</span>

[Nari]

First I would ask "Are you going to eat all of that?" A few months ago I would have offered to bribe him for a pony, but I have one now.  I guess I would ask him how he felt about the way that templars advance at this moment.  It seems as if there are levels that just aren't as fun to play (like the early 30s before you get involuntary healer and such.)  It seems like the levels that templars have access to spells like Glory of Combat are even more fun. Maybe if the utility spells that we get at the low levels had a little more oooompf. Then, I'd offer to buy him some more to drink before challenging him to a game of Darkstalkers on the PSP. <div></div>

[Antryg Mistrose]

<div></div>I'd have to compliment them on the graphics engine and physics model, but would like to slip in the (obvious) question: Are there any plans to make Templars any faster to solo?  'cause not all of us spend much time in raids/groups, and right now it ain't a whole lot of fun. I'd even have suggestions: <ul> <li>Big heavy mace/club (and heavy armour), maybe make melee damage worthwhile?</li> <li>A group inconvenient stance/buff that helps soloing  /WheedleOn Even fighters and other priest classes have one, so how hard can it be...</li> <li>We can wear heavy armour, so how about some with stats that we'd actually want to wear - Nightblood stuff has no spiffy upgrade, and actually make it so that its an advantage to wear it - ie. get the mitigation/agility/interrupts... equation better tuned.</li> <li>Or just up the damage of one of our damage spell lines</li> </ul> I'd even volunteer the things I don't want <ul> <li>Damage shield?  ( probably not - its a ShadowKnight class flavour thing, but we did almost get one, before it went to the Paladins instead )</li> <li>Pet? No way.  Not my thing, and stopped playing an illusionist as a result.</li> </ul> <div></div><p>Message Edited by Antryg Mistrose on <span class=date_text>11-07-2005</span> <span class=time_text>05:29 PM</span>

[Ond]

Hm, think I'd ask if the person was currently job hunting. <div></div>

[Stjarna Kvar]

I'd ask if they had plans to add armor dyes to the engine any time soon. I'm tired of looking like every other schmo on the block. I mean, I've gotta have some flair, man!

[rtoub]

<P>I would ask about heal amounts as you level.  It seems strange to me that as you go up in level the heal amounts don't change.  It creates difficult levels right before you get a new version of the heal.</P> <P>Do they think maybe proc heals are a bit low, they seem to not have much effect in the grand scheme of things.</P> <P>What was the reasoning behind not giving spells when you level and forcing purchacing.  It removes some fun when you level and don't see new spells pop up.  They are useless mostly at app 1 so most everyone buys upgrades anyway.</P> <P>Another thing I have been curious about is rares, are the pre generated or randomly chosen when you harvest?  Does skill effect your chance of harvesting a rare.</P>

[CasieStarfi]

<DIV>Hello, mister developer man.  Can I buy you and your friends a round?  Cool, cool...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So can we get Bounty of Virtuous on its own timer?   You could do it for all the healers, keeping it balanced and stuff.   That would own.  I could use a little somethin' somethin' to fill the time I'm waiting on my recast timers.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Hey, are those tats real?</DIV>

[scooc]

<P>just wondering why i have this cool heavy armour and a mage takes less damage because his avoidance is twice as high as mine?</P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P>Ceeara </P> <P>54 Templar former Battle Cleric</P> <P>Oggok </P> <P>Hands Of Time!!!!!</P>

[Blast2hell]

<P>I like the question above about what the perceived role of the Templar is.</P> <P> </P> <P>My question would be, more of a general priest question, not a templar only one:</P> <P> </P> <P>What is the goal, or reason behind the priest stacking design?  why can an Inquistor Single Target Reactive cancel a Templar and visa versa?  And why is there no code to check to see which one is better?</P> <P>((I would ask why, because this problem hasn't been addressed by any dev, so we can only assume it's working as intended, and thereby I would like to know the reason behind it))))</P> <P> </P>

[Takeo1]

<P> </P> <P>"What the hell is 'utility'?"</P> <P> </P> <P>Lates.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[AzraelAzgard]

<DIV>Do you have a clue or a say with whats going on or do you all just follow someone without a clue in balance?</DIV>

[Wossname]

After "What the heck are you doing in our staff canteen, 6000 miles from home?" it would be "Why are negatives of being a Templar not compensated for by the supposed advantages? I have low HP but my heavy armour counts for little more than paper. I have pitiful DPS compared to others but my healing is in line with theirs. I have a shield on my arm little bigger than that plate your dinner is on yet here I am in 100+ lbs of finest Fulginate Vanguard plate armour." OK, technically that is a paragraph not a question but it answers the dev's response, "What negatives do you feel are not being compensated by what supposed advantages?" <div></div>

[Cowdenic]

<P>I would ask a Dev what he sees in the future for our class. Where are the differences between healing classes. Is there a baseline for healers and should not all healers move from this baseline albeit in different directions.</P> <P>I would then show what I would think are some ideas, I would get a direct email address, so that I could forward ideas found on forums directly to them (whether I personally agreed with them or not). </P> <P>You know they wonder about balance and all between healers, I think the easiest way to achieve balanceis to have a baseline and move from there.</P> <P>I will go with Tier 6 since I am most familiar with this and give an example. </P> <P>Direct Heals. All classes going max burn with all direct healing lines can heal 14000 HP a minute at the same level of spell. (fictional but just coming up with a number for a baseline)</P> <P>Now you could do this multiple ways for the healers.</P> <P>You could have 3 classes get 2 Direct heal lines. </P> <P>1 class would get a 1 second 400 point heal with a 5 sec. recast. (6 secs total for 4000 points) and a 3 sec cast time heal with a 7 sec recast for 1666 (10 secs total for 10k points)</P> <P>then mess with cast times, recasts and heal amounts so it equalized.</P> <P>That would be healing, then move to equipment.</P> <P>More armor choices = less weapon choices, like it is currently.</P> <P>More DPS = less survivability</P> <P>More utility = less dps</P> <P>soloability vs. group function. </P> <P>etc. etc.</P>

[AzraelAzgard]

How do you get to 1 sec cast 5 sec recast for a heal of 400 allowing you to heal 4000hp in 6 seconds, and 3 sec cast 7 sec recast for a 1666 heal alloing you to heal 10k in 10 seconds?

[Sinnester]

I would ask...does Soe currently have a Quality Control department?

[SenorPhrog]

What would I ask about the combat revamp?   How many trees were utilized in making of the nerf sticks used in the Combat Revamp?   Were new trees planted in their place?   Was the rain forest harmed in any way?

[Sleet_Levanter]

<P>Does SOE perceive there to be any problems with the Templar and Guardian classes as they are currently defined and if so, can we expect some effort to address the player concerns, or should I just continue playing my alts?</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[Vylo]

<DIV>"What is the advantage of having a cleric (templar or Inquisitor) in your group over another priest?" they have other "stuff" they can do... what is our "other stuff"?</DIV>

[mjmartin]

I would ask two things. What do you think my Templar should be, since she's not what I thought she was for the last 9 or so months, and can i please have that mana stealer that the inquisitor who kicked my butt in a duel used on me ?  Or something like it ?  That's pretty nice utility and frankly I'm jealous.  Steal 120 power from X and give me back 70 ?  And when the dev says 'no' i would say can i respec my class to anything else ? please ?  Like illusionist ? My guild needs an illusionist.....*sigh*  If the conversation continued, I would ask about SOE's customer service, and if he could direct me to someone who would help me make the original version of everquest not crash after the patcher runs.  And if the conversation continued, I would ask about rares, and if there really was a 'luck' factor associated with characters. My husband's dwarf, created 4 days after my templar has harvested 7 times the number of rares i have in the same number of nodes.  it's really unbelievable.Oh, and if the conversation still continued, I would be begging to have the dev look at my templar's mitigation. I am standing there in armor as good as my guardian husband and i take like 100 times the damage he does.  /sigh.<div></div>

[KingOfF00LS]

The only single question I can think of worth asking is: "Do you think Templars are fairly balanced as a class against the rest of the priest classes in the game?" If he says "no" then you've got hope fixes are coming.  If he says "yes" then you're screwed and may as well give up and move on. <div></div>

[Kendricke]

I wish to thank those of you who chose to participate.  I no longer require new questions at this time.  Again, thanks to those of you who helped out.

[Kayle]

<DIV>It's water over the bridge at this point.  You have too many healing classes for one MMO, imho.  How are you going to fix that without another revamp/reroll?</DIV>