The Vocal Minority?

[soundslikewood]

I have been paying and playing an ogre Shadowknight since realease of EQ1...over 10 years now. I'm not much of a poster generally, but I figured it's high time I jumped on the SK issues bandwagon. I have seen a limited number of dev team responses in regards to the multitude of SK complaint threads and they seem to usually carry a tone which implies that the SK posters are typically part of the vocal minority. It may be true that certain people tend to be more vocal than others, but in this case that should not negate the issues that have been brought up. Those issues are real and need to be addressed. I won't rehash those issues here...there are plenty of easy to find threads containing a plethora of examples and suggestions on ways to help the SK class become a more viable choice particularly for raiding. The point of this post is simply to add my voice to the cause of the frustrated Shadowknight and show that it is not just the vocal minority or a handful of whiny jerks that just enjoy racking up their post count.The penny is dropping here guys. Many SK's have quit because of the complete lack of response to these problems. Many have rolled other toons so that they can feel more 'raid desireable'. I myself have rolled up a dirge so I can participate in my guild's raids consistently.I would ask simply that someone who works in the area of class balance let us know whether or not there are plans to look into these issues or not so I can have something to look forward to; or conversly, so I can stop spending time and money on playing a game in which my chosen class is let to fall by the wayside.Do devs regularly check in on these class forums btw? Or is there a better place to make one's voice heard?Thank you.

[Tiberuis]

<p>Nice post soundslikewood.</p><p>To answer your post, no, the Devs have not responded to address any of the many "SK class balance issues" threads.  </p><p>The only responses we have received from SOE from our many complaint threads have been about "not calling out the Devs" in posts.</p><p>There was also an ambiguous post from Aeralik that basically says a class revamp for the SK is not in the works right now.</p><p>Many SK's, including myself, have been trying to get the Devs to post answers to our questions regarding the many current (ROK) SK class imbalance issues for many months now.  And so far, nothing. </p><p>I have become very frustrated with SOE's " /ignore "  approach to our community on these forums.  </p><p>Based on the response to date, quite frankly, I do not believe the Devs ever will respond.  All we can really do at this point is :</p><p>1) suck it up, keep playing the SK class as is, and hope SOE properly balances our class when scaling the next expansion</p><p>2) re-roll another class,  or</p><p>3) like so many recent SK's, quit the game</p><p>It would be nice to hear something positive from SOE.  But don't hold your breath.</p>

[piro]

<p>I dont wanna start a flame war or anything but i have been under the impression for the 8 yrs ive played EQ1 and 2 that hybrid classes such as the SK and pally were never meant really meant for MTing a raid ? </p><p>Just wanting some clarification on this as im sure i could have missed something.</p>

[Norrsken]

<cite>piro wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I dont wanna start a flame war or anything but i have been under the impression for the 8 yrs ive played EQ1 and 2 that hybrid classes such as the SK and pally were never meant really meant for MTing a raid ? </p><p>Just wanting some clarification on this as im sure i could have missed something.</p></blockquote>in eq2 the tanks (and healers) were promised equally well but different.

[piro]

ahh ok thanks for the clarification <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[sirmorte]

<p>Do you really, REALLY want to know when developers make changes? Here is your answer:</p><p>When enough people stop playing their Shadowknights so that Shadowknights become relatively rare, the developers will make changes. </p><p> Thus, PLEASE stop playing your Shadowknights.</p>

[Senrea]

I've been trying to scour the Shadowknight forums to try and see any valuable advice on tanking. Theres so many topics on this issue. My Shadowkight is level 46 at the moment and I have no desire whatsoever to raid with him. I have been enjoying the tanking aspect, but I've been trying to figure out what exactly the issues are and if there will be any for me up the road.Is most of the issues raid desirability? Or are there single group issues too?My biggest suggestion would be to create a consolidated list of the issues and keep them in one thread so it's easier to see a good overview of issues. I'm really having a hard time figuring it all out myself.

[Razlath]

<cite>Senrea wrote:</cite><blockquote>I've been trying to scour the Shadowknight forums to try and see any valuable advice on tanking. Theres so many topics on this issue. My Shadowkight is level 46 at the moment and I have no desire whatsoever to raid with him. I have been enjoying the tanking aspect, but I've been trying to figure out what exactly the issues are and if there will be any for me up the road.Is most of the issues raid desirability? Or are there single group issues too?My biggest suggestion would be to create a consolidated list of the issues and keep them in one thread so it's easier to see a good overview of issues. I'm really having a hard time figuring it all out myself.</blockquote><p>Check out the threads begun by DarkC that begin with "SK Raiding Ideas:"</p><p>While these threads are primarily from a raider perspective the issues brought up for the most part affect the class as a whole.  If the issues in those threads were addressed we would see a more defined role in both raids and groups.</p>

[Margen]

<p>It is in the raid enviroment that our weakness are the most prevenlent, but at the high end of the game we really don't shine at any aspect.  We can fill the job of group tank, but we are hardly the best, plus on numerous of the zones you can use a rouge tank if your healers are good.</p><p>We where up to ROK a strong solo class, but in ROK we dropped back to the middle of the pack.</p><p>The problem in tanking is we don't have strong agro, our dps in tier eight has dropped to 5th in all the tank classes (yes guardians are kicking our butt), and we have the worst avoidance of any of the tank classes.  These problems are caused by numerous issues, itemization, poor AA lines, and weak base spells/CAs.  So we really have no aspect of being a fighter that we really shine in.</p><p>The class has always been fun and up until tier 8 our issues wheren't as pronounced (although we always where the least desired plate raid tank), but the class does need to be looked at.  If you don't want to raid and find the SK fun, by all means stick with it.  But as you advance in levels and AA's you will find it harder to be choosen over other tanks, but you can make a good name for yourself, unfortunatly it usually comes with some statement like "You tank really well ... for a Shadow Knight".</p>