Some questions on GU51

[Myanta]

<p>I am not a poster on this forum very much but I do troll it quite often, especially with the upcoming fighter changes.</p><p>Let me first state that I am a level 80 Paladin and have been playing since EQ2 started. If you recognize my name it is because I was the Paladin correspondent for EQ1 Paladins for a time.</p><p>Let me also say that I am a tank, this is a personal choice and not one I expect that every paladin will make. I have tried to play other classes and I simply can't do it. I now have for the first time an alt Guardian that I am having some fun playing (with the thought rolling around that I may need to play him instead of my paladin that I never want to stop playing).</p><p>Due to these coming changes I have some questions of those that are currently playing the paladin class on the test server. Please, if you do not have a paladin on the test server, and do not have first hand experience with the changes, do not post on this thread. I have nothing against you and even if you have not played you may have concerns exactly as I do and that's fine but I am looking for first hand experience.</p><p>If possible I would even ask that the people monitoring the forums would remove any of those posts.</p><p>Criteria:</p><ul><li>I am a defensive ONLY tank, I never enter offensive mode.</li><li>I have TSO tier 1 armor with a single piece of tier 2.</li><li>I have my mythical. (Thank you Twisted Priorities)</li><li>I have choosen Achievements Tree choices to make me a better tank.</li><li>I only get about 1500dps against a dummy.</li><li>I only group.</li><li>I raid very little but would like to be a raid main tank.</li><li>Do debate on the threat meter please!</li></ul><p>Questions:</p><ol><li>Is agro control going to be a problem while tanking in a group?<ol><li>With a single high DPSer?</li><li>With multiple high DPSers?</li></ol></li><li>Is agro control going to be a problem while tanking in a raid?</li><li>Are we going to lose any of our AOE abilities?</li><li>Since we are an AOE tank have you noticed any changes to how that works with the changes to agro?</li><li>What changes will I need to make to tank properly given the way it is going to be?</li><li>Are their additional changes that you know that are coming to Test soon?</li></ol><p>I reserve the right to add additional questions =).</p><p>I do appreciate any helpful comments you can make, if you have direct experience with the new content.</p>

[Kordran]

<p>1. No, you're not going to have a problem holding aggro, even against high DPS classes. The only time that you'll potentially get into trouble is on encounters where you have a large number of mobs who stun/stifle. That will take some coordination with your groupmates so they backoff until you're cleared.</p><p>2. No, aggro control shouldn't be a problem with raids, either. The Paladin and the Guardian are close in threat generation, and most TSO raid encounters are single-target. If you want to start raiding though, I'd really recommend getting a full suit of T2 void armor and as much good fabled tanking jewelry as you can get. Generally speaking, since your playstyle is already defensive, I think you'll find the changes in GU51 to be fairly easy to adjust to.</p><p>3. No, the AoE attacks are still there. There's a damage reduction multiplier, so they won't do as much damage when you're in defensive, but Circular Smite has a threat component added to it. Consecration, etc. haven't been changed.</p><p>4. Paladins have been re-designated as ST (single target) tanks. Yeah, don't ask. Anyway, what it means is that single target taunts will generate more threat and use less power; but you'll still be perfectly capable of tanking multiple mobs in an encounter.</p><p>5. Tanking properly for any fighter, not just Paladins, will boil down to taunt, taunt and taunt. Damage output, timing autoattacks, spell casting order, etc. all pretty much go out the window as secondary concerns. If a taunt is up, no matter where you are in your spell rotation, you use it. And because of the higher recast rate, you'll be doing a lot of taunting. The goal for tanks is to get their TPS as a high as possible so that it raises the maximum DPS threshold for all of the DPS classes. If you spend more time trying to do damage, rather than increasing your threat, all it ends up doing is forcing the other DPS classes to scale back their damage output so they won't rip from you. So make sure you're taunting. And you'll want to taunt the taunting taunt that you've taunted while taunting. Did I mention you'll be taunting a lot?</p><p>6. I'd read through the patch notes. Biggest changes to the Paladin are Amends being replaced (no longer a hate transfer, instead a second version of a rescue-like taunt), stances and certain buffs are being merged, Divine Favor being changed so it's useful (no penalties, procs a couple of stoneskins), single-target taunt can now be cast while stunned/stifled, +parry has been added to defensive stance ... there's a few others that I've probably forgotten.</p>

[OrcSlayer96]

<p>Just for clarification, on Kordran's post with number 3 reply, damage multiplier reduction of .4 (as of today) only applies to autoattack with melee and bow attacks.  This damage reduction does not apply to spells or combat arts.  One thing to keep a eye out for is the proposed proc changes on test as of the moment.  Not sure how much it effects us as a class unless we have some +base spell damage gear on, but i know quite a few friends with other classes that will be affected by it.  Make sure you have a silicate loam kept to the side for the restitution level 73 taunt we are given to replace amends for, as the master drop will probably be pricey for awhile...<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Myanta]

<p>Thanks everyone for the feedback from those with the experience and the non-feedback from everyone else!</p><p>I feel much better about the change that is coming. I am sure their will be bugs but overall it sounds like I will still be able to do my job.</p><p>Thanks again!</p>