What were wards like in Beta?

[watts4]

<DIV>I recall them doing a big revamp of healing just as Beta ended and am curious if anyone can comment on the mechanics of wards prior to this change.  Just trying to understand there reasoning.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thx,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Tactus</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>50 Mystic</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Butcherblock</DIV>

[Mystiq]

The healing revamp didn't have anything to do with wards directly, it just made wards for shaman, hot's for druids and reactives for clerics into their only "special" heal lines, whereas before all priests had some of each to use. Apparently early in beta wards actually had the heal upon expiration element still, why it was removed I don't know, I didn't join beta untill after it was already gone, and I played a Templar mostly anyway. Other than that to my knowledge wards have always worked (in the loosest sense of the word) the same as they do now.

[Owlbe]

In beta wards were the best heal and prevention in the game.  Everyone had each of the 3 main heals (direct, regen and ward as reactives did not exist til almost release (3 days before I believe, it seems so long ago)) and wards would resist damage (as they do now)then if there was anything left in its pool upon time expiration then that heal would go towards the person as a direct heal.  They did'nt stack (as they do now) but if a higher lvl ward was cast on a lower lvl ward the lower lvl ward would get pushed out for a large heal.  So with some good tactics you could push out some very large heals. Believe it or not in beta the shaman was the prefered healer. Of course they were too powerful so were nerfed before release and this the prime reason (I beleive) wards are so bad now as we are still suffering from the post nerf trauma of SOE's heavy handedness (as exemplified by the haze nerf).  This is partially why reactives are so good is they were never really tested for any length of time by the player base and I don't think they were ever adjusted properly because of this.

[Banditman]

The other big thing in beta was the lack of testing at the high end. Because of character wipes, very little testing occurred at the high end. Ever notice how things are GREAT in EQ2 through the first 20 - 25 levels?  Those levels were extensively tested and balanced and things work great. The last minute healing changes really hit Shaman the worst.  Yes, they were the preferred healer in beta.  At that time, Shaman were the masters of Wards, and those Wards healed on expiration.  But don't forget, at that time Shaman ALSO had access to some Reactives and some HoT's as well!  So, given my current set of Wards with heals on expiration, a Reactive like BoV and a regen or two . . . yea, I could heal really well. Unfortunately, there was a HUGE knee jerk reaction.  Heaven forbid anyone outheal a Templar! By taking away all the peripheral tools like reactives and HoT's and further nerfing Wards to not heal at all they effectively crippled the class. Coupled with the lack of testing at high levels . . . well, here we are. <div></div>

[deadc]

Wards in beta were the heat. I really didn't bother with anything but my wards. Things just seem really jacked up right now. <div></div>