State of the Zerker....

[Erick_Stormfu]

<DIV>Overall, I'm still VERY happy with my zerker.  I think we have it better then most as we can fairly easy change from offensive to defensive and be viable dps or viable tank.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>their are two things that i'd like to be changed or improved though (not bad, most other classes have many more)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Taunts, we have some very good taunts.  Over the past year we have had one aspect to our taunts that have changed, and the overall effect has left us lacking only in one department here.  If we do NOT have aggro, gaining it is very difficult.  Rescue is our only viable means of really drawing mobs around onto us quickly.  quite some time ago they changed taunting defense so that the proc has a chance of firing when you get hit.  it used to proc as YOU hit the target.   Again, eveyr class has strengths and weaknesses, and this just might be ours.  Once I have aggro, I rarely lose it, but when I do lose it.. it can be a bare to regain it if rescue is down.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Suppresed rage line - With the increased defensive items, this line has really become worthless.  It trades haste and damage for increased defense.  Sounds great... however, with all the defensive gear, most level 70 zerkers that are decently equip'd already are at the defensive max.  You GAIN NOTHING when you use this spell line.  A switch to parry or block instead of increasing defense would bring this spell line back into the fold.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>as i've said before overall, i'm pretty happy with the state of the zerker...   these are the last two items i would like to see improved.  the Suppressed rage line I believe is definatly an unintentional side effect to the expansion and REALLY should be looked at. The taunt thing could very well be argued that this is designed as intended.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-Erick</DIV>

[Hardain]

I gotta agree with taunts, even if i use all 3 main taunts right after i lose aggro, i wont get it back, and it gets bit annoying <div></div>

[Bremer]

<P>After KoS launch they increased the hate gain of taunts, but beserker are more depending on their damage output for hate gain, so this left a slight disadvantage in hate gain for zerkers.</P> <P>And you are right with suppresed rage. I spent some plat on the master only to notice on raids I gain zero more avoidance using this spell. Solo I allready have 411 defense, raidbuffed I'm far above the cap, the spell is totally useless. Parry is also easily maxed out, so changing the buff so that it increases shield factor (block) would be great.</P>

[Dimgl]

<DIV><FONT color=#00cc99>The only thing I can think of that sticks out as good/bad to me is our Offensive Stance. Is it just me, or did this really lose its luster after all the proc changes? I say this comparing it to the damage improvements that other fighters get out of their O stances, and in comparison to my 60 SK who gained 10-20% DPS from the INT the O stance gave. Furious procs from berserker O stance don't add very much (almost an auto-attack worth of damage at 10% = 3-4 auto-attacks worth of damage a minute), and because the hits are limited to encounters they really suffer in a lot of situations.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99>With the playing of fighters that I've done it has usually been worthwhile to be in O stance while soloing, or in duo-trio situations depending on make-up. With my berserker I find that it is more worthwhile to stay in D, as the O stance adds little DPS to a small party, but costs a lot in defensive potential. Obviously in a full group situation it is more worthwhile to be in D stance (if tanking), so I find the placement and potential of berserker O stance to be a bit awkward or nonexistent, unless you're fighting significantly weaker mobs.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99>So that makes me wonder if berserkers are intended to be able to do decent damage in D stance, but in exchange have less of a boost going to O stance, or if our O stance instead simply lacks and needs some uptweaking.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99>I think our O stance could use an increase in proc %, or some other modifier attached to it, like improved chance for critical hits, improved double-attack chance, improved hasted/dps, or improved combat art damage. Not much, just 5-15% depending on the mod, but something to make it compelling for me to actually use the stance while solo/in small groups.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99>Anyone else find our O stance lacking?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99>I also agree with the OP that the suppressed rage line is pretty bad, given the +DEF gear available, and the +DEF achievement.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99>As for taunts, berserker is a -lot- better than my SK was at snapping back aggro when it is lost. I don't think any fighter excluding maybe guardians is very good at doing this. Personally I think we're doing just fine on snap aggro, and even if you're in a situation you can't get the threat back, try stunning the mob until you can, we have several long versatile stuns.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99>As for great stuff we've got going for us now:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99>- Group buffs are -top- notch. If you group with melees you really add a lot to them.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99>- Great tanking with great DPS potential.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99>- Very gear dependent, but generally it isn't hard to find warrior gear that caters to the limited stat focus. (For comparison try finding INT plate as an crusader, or WIS plate for a cleric. It's a lot harder.)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99>- Well rounded slew of combat arts (only lacking ranged ability.)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#00cc99>- A great achievement tree.</FONT></DIV>

[Jvaloth]

<P>I never lose agro.</P> <P>Zerkers rule.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P> </P>