if any of you missed ..the NDA was lifted today

[Giral]

<p><a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=434314">http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=434314</a></p><p>so we are open to discuss anything about Beta now <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/908627bbe5e9f6a080977db8c365caff.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Nero]

<p>NDA lifted.I was so disappointed to see the nerfs from new AA originally leaked in EQ2Flames.</p><p>(1)Malevolent ProtectionWhy did they change "Increases caster's chance to block with shield by 3.0%" to a proc of decease damage, hate, and heal?Avoidance was most important in RoK.And SK has lowest avoidance in fighters.Why?</p><p>(2)Shadowknight's FurorWhy did they nerf this?Why did they delete "Increases threat priority of target by 3 positions" from Shadowknight's Furor?</p><p>When I saw new AA originally leaked in EQ2Flames, I was so exciting.But after seeing this two big nerfs, I was so disappointed.Someone may say "But SK got some love".Yeah, not big love, but a little love against SK's long years' unhappiness.</p>

[Latpow]

<p>Before the New AAs we got...</p><p>Str line revamped it increase cast speed by 33 %</p><p>Str now also adds 17% ish Double Attack (replaced the haste)</p><p>Base damage increase on Spells AND CAs (took away the "crusader int" penality pretty much)</p><p>Pain Wraith is now almost insta Cast</p><p>The Siphon Hate AA is now a "Block" ability that doubles as ANOTHER AoE nuke.  You cast it on you and if you take a hit that would take over 25% of your health you block it, Heal yourself, and AoE nuke.  If you don't that big of a hit, at the expiration of the spell you get healed and AoE nuke. </p><p>Unholy Arms has had it's proc rate increased</p><p>Death Touch is now on a 5 min Timer</p><p>Def Stance now adds INT as well as WIS</p><p>Str Tap now taps INT AND STR</p><p>Lucan's Leadership now adds 3.5% Base Spell Damage at ADIII... I think it's 5% at M1</p><p>Pet spell is now a huge AoE / Taunt Nuke</p><p>Mana Siege is now a pretty hefty Disease DoT / Mana increaser</p><p>.....</p><p>New AAs add ...</p><p>10% to Cast / Recast group buff to Relentless Hunger</p><p>1h Weapon Bonus</p><p>Ability to self cure Control effects and be immune for a few seconds</p><p>extra Resue ability</p><p>Riposte Ability (16 secs) (20% Spell damage boost)</p><p>30% Shield Effectiveness</p><p>ANOTHER Str / INT buff / debuff that also gives the group +spell damage</p><p>...................................</p><p>I'm sure there's some stuff I missed.  I'd say we made out pretty well. </p><p>YES, they changed the 15% Shield block AA... but now you can tank in Defensive and hold aggro</p><p>YES, they "nerfed" Shadowknight's furor... but that's not a big nerf imo. Why? a) We got enough tools / DPS now to easily hold aggro b) Now you can use it as a DPS clickie when you're not tanking c) You still get added hate per hit</p>

[Kaarim]

<p><cite>Nero wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>NDA lifted.I was so disappointed to see the nerfs from new AA originally leaked in EQ2Flames.</p><p>(1)Malevolent ProtectionWhy did they change "Increases caster's chance to block with shield by 3.0%" to a proc of decease damage, hate, and heal?Avoidance was most important in RoK.And SK has lowest avoidance in fighters.Why?</p><p>(2)Shadowknight's FurorWhy did they nerf this?Why did they delete "Increases threat priority of target by 3 positions" from Shadowknight's Furor?</p><p>When I saw new AA originally leaked in EQ2Flames, I was so exciting.But after seeing this two big nerfs, I was so disappointed.Someone may say "But SK got some love".Yeah, not big love, but a little love against SK's long years' unhappiness.</p></blockquote><p>1) Block is not contested anymore..so...not that big of a deal. The new change to protection is not bad....but I personally will not spend points in it...it's more effective though than just a typical Block.</p><p>2) This is not a nerf at all......SK's are hate heavy...this was a good change and u still have a hate proc on it.</p><p>Shadowknights should be extremely happy...we got a lot of help we have paladins scared wanting to betray lol.</p><p> SK's got the DPS boost they needed and asked for, and some help with their suvivability which they needed and asked for. Also the tanking mechanics fixing, mitigation is more important now for plate tanks than avoidance...which is probably why Block got changed and the new +crit mitigation stat. It's a brand new game in a few weeks. SK's gonna be jumping for joy.</p>

[DMIstar]

<p>Alot of big changes to look forward to.. one of the better ones that was just put in, was more Base Damage Percentage ups ..</p><p>Reaver now has 5% spell up along with our Raid Buff lucan's leadership now does 5% as well... along with an AA that should be raiseing it farther..</p><p>Base dmg percents does stack with Spell damage, and is also not limited to the 50% rule.</p><p>Fixes on Itemization are being done as well.. Our Crusader set so far base stat wise looks like:</p><p>152 str</p><p>171 sta</p><p>270 int</p><p>270 wis</p><p>86 agi.</p><p>this is a very good start compared to the other gear.</p>

[Ama]

<p>Only thing I was dissapointed in was how they changed our pet buff into a hate ability.  Would have rather had it done completely different.</p><p>Our pet while alive feeds us hate and when it dies the thing does a massive aggro bomb literally rescuing the target onto us.</p>

[Kaarim]

<p><cite>Amana wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Only thing I was dissapointed in was how they changed our pet buff into a hate ability.  Would have rather had it done completely different.</p><p>Our pet while alive feeds us hate and when it dies the thing does a massive aggro bomb literally rescuing the target onto us.</p></blockquote><p>The new ability works kinda like that. It's not a pet but it is a bomb, a pretty sweet one. It's a huge aoe positional nuke with added threat too it. It's roughly 4-5k depending on your int and crit on top of that it's hate which I think is like 4.4-5.2k.</p><p>Coinsder this, 1dmg=1hate, that is approx 8-10k hate on a single OR multi target. </p><p>The cool thing with this ability is that you can cast it from 25m and it has an effect direct hit radius of 10m. So a grp of mobs or random mobs around eachother 25m away from u...hit that nuke and they all gonna be comein, pretty neat I think.</p>

[DMIstar]

<p><img src="http://www.dark-riseing.com/temp/sk/skae3.jpg" width="603" height="518" /></p><p>that is the new spell... I am not missing the pet ...</p>

[the_heretic]

<p><cite>Istar@Mistmoore wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><img src="http://www.dark-riseing.com/temp/sk/skae3.jpg" width="603" height="518" /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small; color: #99cc00;">that is the new spell... I am not missing the pet ...</span></p></blockquote><p>exactly <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[rabid.pooh]

<p><cite>Nero wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>NDA lifted.I was so disappointed to see the nerfs from new AA originally leaked in EQ2Flames.</p><p>(1)Malevolent ProtectionWhy did they change "Increases caster's chance to block with shield by 3.0%" to a proc of decease damage, hate, and heal?Avoidance was most important in RoK.And SK has lowest avoidance in fighters.Why?</p><p>(2)Shadowknight's FurorWhy did they nerf this?Why did they delete "Increases threat priority of target by 3 positions" from Shadowknight's Furor?</p><p>When I saw new AA originally leaked in EQ2Flames, I was so exciting.But after seeing this two big nerfs, I was so disappointed.Someone may say "But SK got some love".Yeah, not big love, but a little love against SK's long years' unhappiness.</p></blockquote><p>So this is the reason why they have NDAs, there's a lot of balancing and what that goes on, and people really only point to the nerfs.  And this is really a complete picture type thing.</p><p>The state that the SK was in at that point was dead meat in every raid, so much hate generation/hate position climbing they would be grabbing agro left right and center.</p><p>Right Now SKs are monsters in Beta (they were nerfed a little from september where they were the anti christ).  I haven't been raiding in ToS but I have been soloing and grouping, and I can say this.  Toesmash my t7 raid geared Sk with a smattering of t8 fabled and t8 legendary totally out does my VP/Trak geared guardian in groups and soloing.  Add in Furor, the aa Hate line and the Mythical and I think SKs are the new off tank.</p>

[CHIMPNOODLE.]

<p>...looks like some wickedly good boosts. The dammage, recast,  and recovery changes alone seem viscious.</p>

[Mallfoy]

<p><cite>Nero wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>When I saw new AA originally leaked in EQ2Flames, I was so exciting.But after seeing this two big nerfs, I was so disappointed.Someone may say "But SK got some love".Yeah, not big love, but a little love against SK's long years' unhappiness.</p></blockquote><p>I was originally disappointed as well, but then I got in to beta about a week after these changes took place. I can tell you that even with these nerfs, all the other changes and additions has far outweighed any slight nerfs to our original SK2 AA tree. I don't even think about those two nerfs anymore because our hate is insane already and the mechanics behind shield block will be completely different in ToS verses how it is now. </p><p>Lastly, the changes / enhancements to our current spells and abilities are exactly what we've been asking for over these past few years. These changes alone make me a happy camper (especially the casting speed!) and add the SK2 AA tree to the mix, and it feels like Christmas came a month early to SKs.</p>

[Nocifer Deathblade]

<p>Very nice! Looks quite promising so far. Hope it'll hold true upon live release..</p>

[Tiberuis]

<p>Improved aggro management (while in defensive stance! woot!), improved dps...what can I say?  This is very exciting for our class, these enhancements look awesome!</p><p>Bring on the x-pac.  TSO ftw! </p><p><img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[prusso1970]

<p>I've not seen Grave Sacrament do any damage as an Adept 3 on t9 mobs -epic or otherwise -so the new one is very much welcome imo.  I'll check again  ...</p>

[Nero]

<p>Sorry if a dumb question.</p><p>I haven't taken part in beta because I don't be invited to beta.So, I want to question.</p><p>Can SK MT in raid?Or does Guardian still remain a best MT in raid?If so, what is SK's role? OT?</p><p>This is what bothers me a little.</p>