Am I missing something?

[Athri]

<DIV>Hi everyone.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I recently started a bruiser as my first real alt. So far he's a lot of fun, and it's nice having a large amount of DPS in such a survivable package. I expected to see bruisers all over the place after looking at the CA's that they get, but I find out that, not are they one of the lesser played classes, they are consistently getting denounced around the EQ2 forums. What about the class am I not seeing?</DIV>

[CosmicAcidGu]

there aren't many bruisers because people who want to play tanks play plate tanks. And people who want to be dps play scouts or mages. So only people who are appealed by the bruiser class play them and not people who want to fill in a certain role in raids or groups. But bruisers turn out to be pretty powerful. Too much dps if you ask any plate tank. They complain constantly about our dps and our soloability. And just talking about our soloability: it's great. Finnster <div></div>

[Athri]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> CosmicAcidGuru wrote:<BR>there aren't many bruisers because people who want to play tanks play plate tanks. And people who want to be dps play scouts or mages. So only people who are appealed by the bruiser class play them and not people who want to fill in a certain role in raids or groups.<BR><BR>But bruisers turn out to be pretty powerful. Too much dps if you ask any plate tank. They complain constantly about our dps and our soloability. And just talking about our soloability: it's great.<BR><BR>Finnster<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>That's what I've heard, and why I made the character. I tend to solo and do small guild-groups or duos, and the class seems exceptionally well built for that sort of thing. Lots of CC, devastating CAs (one-hundred hand punch looks ridiculous if they all land) and a good self-heal. Truthfully it looks almost overpowering from someone who has yet to experience it. With my luck it'll be nerfed now that I like the class =/

[ganjookie]

<font color="#0099ff">CC is </font><font color="#0033ff"><b><font color="#0099ff">ok</font>,</b></font><font color="#0033ff"> but <font color="#0099ff">lack of taunts</font> makes it <font color="#00ccff">hard for the beggining bruiser</font>..or <font color="#33ccff">long-term-dont-know-how-to-play-my-class bruiser</font></font><div></div>

[Zigmun]

<DIV>"Truthfully it looks almost overpowering from someone who has yet to experience it. With my luck it'll be nerfed now that I like the class =/ "</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>and that imo is the line of thinking that is getting you into to trouble...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This game is mostly about grouping and raiding - for every solo encounter you think you are "I ownjoo mobs in da face" there are countless others where you need a good competent group to complete.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>EQ2 is not a solo game although there are parts you can solo and yes you can solo to 70 - that's not what I am saying.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What I am saying is: in a raid is a Bruiser a must have? </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Would people call a raid off if no bruiser showed up?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>No</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>A Guardian is preferred over you, in fact a beserker is also preferred over you and a healer is a must have.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Why do I mention this? Many people who play EQ2 - play EQ2 as a raiding game - and really could care less about how strong Bruisers are as a solo class. They may have some momentary jealousy when they see X Bruiser say I soloed Y mob, but every class has it's moments to shine - and theirs is when they get to tank Triple Up Heroic Fire Breathing Dragon</DIV> <DIV>and your regulated to being the water boy.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So within the context of the game you have your chances to shine and your moments when you take a back seat - in other words - you are not all things for every situation.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Zh]

I started as a ranger in december (no I did not know they were flavor of the month, I arbitrarally (sic) picked that). But I was a monk in EQ and recently I made a Bruiser and he's now up to 40 and I absolutely love it. People loved me recently in Runnyeye. Now see here's the thing I was just an extra dps slot right. But as soon as crap hit the fan like, 2 more groups of mobs on inc or repop behind or any other various crap hitting the fan issues I popped into defensive and went nuts, many fights claimed by them that I saved the day and I loved it. I love being able to hit the high DPS one moment and turn around into defensive and save the group. There's just the strength there of doing both that's great. One fight 3 groups came in the tank and healer were done in seconds and quickly realizing this let me drop the FD to stand back up and clickie rez saving a full wipe. My ranger is only 55 (just got KoS yesterday, no motivation) and I'm likely seeing my bruiser take over the job of main character. There is a lot bruisers can do and a lot they can't do. Come across a tough caster mob or one that just hits through the avoidance a lot, or especially against bruiser mobs and we'll have a rough time of it while other classes could plow right through. I wish more people played for the enjoyment of it than the power-gaming.<div></div>

[ume]

<P>My Bruiser is level 40 now and 99.5% of those levels has been as main tank.</P> <P>Healer afk'd in Crypt of T'haen last night.  We cleared all 4 named (blue ^^^) with a SK as main healer.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>I love my bruiser!  I plan on being a raid tank someday.</P>