Worried...

[Nhuman]

<p>Don't wanna make this a whine post but if it comes off as one I appologize.  I recently left wow due to it eating all my personal time, I was maintaining 2 raid chars on different servers (crazy I know) and I spent every waking moment in a game I didnt like.  So I took a 2 month break and decided to give eq2 a shot (story time over).  Well after 3 weeks of experimenting with various classes I have whittled it down to a Summoner (either type), Coercer, or a Brawler.  The problem is I dont wanna end up at 70 w/ a class that isnt desired in raids.  From what ive gathered brawlers, although fun, are limited atm due to game design and bad mechanics so they would not be the best choice if my desire was to "raid", summoners although a great class, seem fairly common and I dont want to be overly competetive for "end game positions".  Now make no mistake, I have very little knowledge on what the "end game" of eq2 entails but it seems ALOT more interesting than anything provided by the other game.  Either way, I am now looking at the coercer, I played one to 20 and although it is a challenge it seems fun, but ive yet to find a "possitive" post or player in game that will ease my concerns.  It seems from what ive gathered that Coercers have recently been hit hard with the Ye Olde Nerf Bat and the class is "not as fun" as it used to be.  Now from a new player point of view would I really notice?  </p><p> 1.  I guess alot of the raiding concern is that we are no more than a mana battery, which although not what I want, is understandable as it is a required function Im assuming.  That being said is it standard that all you do in a raid is supply mana and can easily be replaced with a bard or do you also provide decent dps as well (Please refrain from quoting parses I really just want opinions not numbers with ideal situations)</p><p>2.  THE DREADED QUESTION!  Solo~ its pretty obvious that a coercer can solo, and well, though at a higher risk than others.  That being said without breaking it down into technical terms and stuff I cant quite grasp (dungeon and encounter abbreviations) what in general can I expect to solo?  Will I be able to solo to 70 without much "heartburn" IE Hell Levels from EQ1.  Or can I expect it to be an overly frustrating experience for 50 more levels?</p><p>3.  As far as "endgame" is concerned what can I expect if I dont participate in the "hardcore" first kill type guilds.  I realize that it will be on a server and guild basis on what can be accomplished, but for a "casual" type of guild will I still find content that is rewarding or has eq2 followed most of the status quo where raiding is the only real option.</p><p>Thanks in advance for your replies</p>

[JackAll]

<p>I find that coercer are fun solo. Charm is still the most fun spell in the game.</p><p>In groups we are so so. Not much content really make use of enchanters. We can still hold our own tho and are nice if your tank or healer doesnt have the best skill or gear.</p><p>In raids Im sad to say we are not a good choice. So if raiding is your thing you might want to take a look at the illusionist class its a more balanced class and always in high demand.</p><p>GL with EQ2</p>

[Mistletoes]

I think this is why coercers are among the least played class. Coercers are different from every other class out there. To be a good coercer requires quick thinking, quick reflexes, and choosing correctly any of several different strategies on the fly. Solo, I was always blowing through content very quickly. I would jump into a packed room, and start taking out the trash, letting the trash help take itself out along the way. I hardly ever kept a charm very long. Charm to me was more of an "I'm not going to kill you right now" promise (and one that I didn't always keep). Solo, I can get around in the tight confines of a dungeon to go wherever I want (that's not blocked by an epic anyway). I can solo any non-named mob I want. I might die a few (dozen?) times figuring a new mob out, but once I do, he's mine for the taking. I love the challenge, and I love the risk. If you don't love both of those, you probably won't be a very good coercer. In groups, I easily replace healers. I can keep mobs almost perma-stunned, so that even the toughest named (save a very few exceptions) are just target practice for the group. If too many encounters add to the fray, up to maybe an extra 3 - 5 extra encounters, that's probably ok. The healer will have to work a little more to keep the original encounter(s) in line, but all those adds can be locked down until we can get to them. In groups, sometimes I'll charm, sometimes I won't. Sometimes I will just charm when things start to hit the fan. I can change my playstyle completely depending on group makeup. Nearly every group I've ever been in has commented on how much easier it was to do this than it was "last time". I don't raid much, but maybe twice a week on average, about half of which being pick-up raids. I raid on my mystic as well, and one thing I notice immediately is this. When I play on my coercer, the raid has a far greater chance of success, and it's not due to poor healing, I'm fairly certain of that. That said, it could be an unfair comparison I'm making, as I'm usually asked to play the mystic when we don't have enough healers, and when we do have enough, a coercer is just icing on the cake. In raids, everyone already knows about the power regen and aggro boosting benefits, but a good coercer can save a raid headed into a downward spiral with well timed stun / silence / aggro snap. Having me on your raid is like your MT having a few extra taunt buttons, and your healers getting an extra several seconds to get that heal off in time. Similar to the group experience, I can't count how many times I've heard how much easier the raid was compared to "last time". I don't generally brag about what I can do on my coercer, but I still have a pretty big head about it. The most I'll generally do is say things like "it's not fair, is it?" to people when we're grouped and they see me run the show for a while, telling me how amazed they are, and how they are going to roll a coercer now. I think it's all about your playstyle though. Are you the kind that wants his hands all over 152 knobs and dials, making and breaking everything around you. Or are you the guy who reads newsgroups after he presses autoattack? I get bored stiff playing most other classes, but that could be because I don't understand all the intricacies of the necro, or the bruiser, or the ranger, for example. I was the same way in EQ1 too... Never could play a fighter in that game. The nerf bat is never fun, and we've been hit with it many times now, but so far, it's only meant we've had to learn new tricks. Some of the pleasures of life you may never get to experience, such as charming level 70+ dragons, but if you enjoy this kind of character, you'll enjoy the entire time you're levelling. All that said, I think I'm truly a glutton for punishment. Sorry so long...

[Nhuman]

I do appreciate you takin the time to answer my questions.  Really for me raiding is secondary until I learn the game, and im sure the status quo exists that your first toon is typically the most difficult and time consuming to level.  Personally I always do enjoy the challenge and find the coercer class to be interesting enough that I can stick with it.  I do also enjoy the summoner pet taunts which makes life easier.  I never really understood enchanter mechanics and it seems you really just chainstun til the mob dies which is interesting in and of its self.  I guess in the end I will need to decide if its what I want to do long term or not.  Again thanks