My thoughts on the Guardian Class in EQ2

[Lemm]

<DIV>Let me preface my comments with this:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My character is a level 38 Guardian.  I've been playing since about January, and have no other characters besides this guy (well no others that I've played past level 10) and I have never played any other MMORPG (but I have played online RPGs-D2, NWN...)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>OK.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I think SOE has taken the approach that the guardian is, litterally, a *guardian*:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>- We may tank as well as others, aggro on par, or slightly better than, other fighter classes.</DIV> <DIV>- We mitigate damage slightly better than *most* other classes (depending on a number of factors including equip, buffs...)</DIV> <DIV>- We can use tower shields to add to our mitigation</DIV> <DIV>- We don't avoid damage very well due to our heavy equipment (this makes sense)</DIV> <DIV>- We can buff the defense/health/stamina/... of the group</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>But here is the kicker.  Guardians can "guard" our allies.  We have a number of spells to allow us a chance to take a % of damage dealt to an ally. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Think of it as taking a bullet for a pal.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I think this has been SOE's plan for us since the beginning.  To aid our allies in battle.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>We buff them, try to maintain aggro, but most importantly take direct damage away from them and onto us.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>We can complain that we are not the best aggro holder, the best shield, the best dps, but we certainly are the best at GUARDING our friends from damage.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I for one like the way our class is setup.  We now have a bunch of "take damage away from others" spells.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The problem, however, is it was not like this from the beginning.  They made us one way and then changed it.  But we were not alone, as SOE has changed the majority of roles in the game.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I don't believe that this was a "character balancing" excercise though.  Classes now have a specific purpose, like it or not. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What we can complain about is the 85% of the time played spent looking for a group to protect. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><IMG height=16 src="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/i/smilies/16x16_man-happy.gif" width=16 border=0></DIV>

[Ashgaarl]

<P>Well... To me the Guardian class is ruined. I made this guardian because SOE's material before launch clearly indicated, that Guardian would be MT on raids.</P> <P>I have been the Main tank of my guild up until now, now - after the revamp - I've been reduced to a MT support class.</P> <P> <BR>- I've lost 3 taunts (1 gon, 2 other now on same timer).<BR>- I've lost approx. 10pp+ Adept III's cause our buffs doesn't stack anymore.<BR>- Screaming Mace has been nerfed<BR>- Ring of Removal has been nerfed<BR>- I've lost 5 group hp buffs equivalent of approx 2300 hps selfbuffed<BR>- My avoidance is screwed, getting stunned / stifled constantly<BR>- My damage skills is completely nerfed = DPS is a freaking joke (was low to begin with)<BR>- My autoattack damage has been nerfed<BR>- I now have serious problems holding and maintaining aggro<BR>- My selfhaste has been replaced<BR>- I've been given alot of (to me) useless protection skills, which renders me Berserker buffwhore_01</P> <P>I am about 2 clicks away from leaving EQ2, but since I am Guild Leader of my guild, and love my guild mates, I will give SOE a chance to see what they've done.</P> <P>I still can't believe how much they ruined my game. Feeling sad right now. Truely.</P> <P> </P> <P>Regards</P> <P>Stromgaard</P> <P>Guild Leader and former Maintank of Mighty Danes, Splitpaw Server</P>

[Vorling611]

<DIV>All these "Guard" spells are fine. But we have to still be alive to guard our group. We can't protect the group if we die or can't hold aggro off of them.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>A Tower shield and a Kite shield both have the same Avoidence (10%) which I don't agree should be the same.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you had trouble finding groups before, when Guardians were the best MT. Just think how hard it will be now that we are just poor buffers and secondary tanks with no DPS to speak of.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Lemm]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Vorling611 wrote:<BR> <DIV>All these "Guard" spells are fine. But we have to still be alive to guard our group. We can't protect the group if we die or can't hold aggro off of them.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>A Tower shield and a Kite shield both have the same Avoidence (10%) which I don't agree should be the same.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you had trouble finding groups before, when Guardians were the best MT. Just think how hard it will be now that we are just poor buffers and secondary tanks with no DPS to speak of.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Say hello to specialists...</P> <P>Also regarding avoidance of shields.  I realize this is a game, but put it into context. </P> <P>I would understand if they reduced mitigation on the tower, but come on.... How do you avoid getting hit with a shield that is twice as big as the other?</P> <P>I understand the 10% avoidance for both kite and tower.  Actually, there should be an avoidance penalty for using all shields.  It is just another thing the character has to carry and weighs him down during battle.</P> <P>ALL Shields stats should be something like</P> <P>Avoidance -xx%<BR>Mitigation +xx%</P> <P>Or something along those lines.</P>

[RafaelSmith]

Shields and shield mechanics just seem totally borked...None of it makes any sense. Tower/Kite = 10%.  Stats for Tower/Kite virtually the same.  What is the shield factor value for?  Whats the point in even having it? So the only difference between Tower/Kite is the look?  That makes no sense...there should be some advantage/disadvantage to each. No different than if they made 2h Axe and 1h axe the same except for graphic. <div></div>

[Vorling611]

<DIV>I am looking at the shields how they are making them now. They are factoring Blocking in as the same as Avoidance now.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Quote from Combat/Spell Changes Currently in Testing (Updated 9/12/05)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Shields now have the following base chances to Block: Tower (10%), Kite (10%), Round (5%), Buckler (3%). Your chances to Block scale up or down based on the con of your opponent.</FONT></DIV> <P>So along this same thought, Tower shields should have a better blocking (avoidance) percent then Kite shield. I think we are one of the few (if not the only) class that can use them. So we should get something for this besides a different look to the shield.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[CyndeeAnne]

<DIV>Thats the reason why I made my guardian. I wanted to be the a MT. Now I don't know what I am.  If people were upset with their characters before all they need to do was try another.  People said there were bored before recent changes took place so I can see why Sony made some changes. Personally, I think they should have created another zone for people that were bored all the time and made the changes for them effective once they zoned in.</DIV>

[Rakooliuss]

I for one like the changes. So what if our class has changed some? Its not that bad. We gained some and we lost some. Despite what some of you think, guardians are still a preferred mt. Wonder if some of you just looked at the abilties in the city and decided your class would suck. And if grps are so hard for you to find, soloing has alot greater reward. The mobs are harder but the reward outweighs the change in difficulty. It might be a challenge now, but thats the whole point. I personally do not want a newbed down game thats easy to go through like EQ2 used to be. If you don't find fun in a challenge then maybe this isn't the right game for you. <div></div>

[Belce]

<P>I use never surrender on the main tank, gives that person a small chance to use my avoidance to avoid getting hit and without a chance fo rme to be hit, unlike our intervene line which also has a much better chance of success.  </P> <P>Before the changes, it used to be that a guardian in your group contributed very little if they weren't MT, now we have alot to offer in a support role.  I also know we are still the best for when the shizznet hits the fan as well.  </P>

[mastalynx]

<DIV>Skills are good, but we should get some guardian only armor imo</DIV>

[Mentin]

<DIV>Problem with guardians currently is we go not have any distinct advantages to bring to a group. There is no reason to say 'get the guardian, because he can xxxx'.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Guardians do not have a noticeable tanking advantage, and we do not offer much extra utility in a group setting.  Other tanks offer same/better tankage + more utility to a group.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>