Five Paths of the Paladin?

[Caetrel]

Okay, I am not up to date on all the KoS info that is out there, but I get the idea that each class will have five paths to advance in, each with abilities related to that path.  What will this mean for us?  I can think of a few paths...Healing- okay, sureDPS- well, I am content to suck at this, this would be like a cripple getting a spiffy new set of crutchesMit/Health/Avoidance/Tankage- oh yah sign me upBuffing- improved mit buff, group buffsAggro- could be a path of zealousness with improved taunts, etc...Is this the sort of thing we will likely see with the new AA system?<div></div>

[Valandur1975]

<div></div><i><b>DPS- well, I am content to suck at this, this would be like a cripple getting a spiffy new set of crutches<span>:smileyvery-happy:  </span></b></i><i><b><span>:smileyvery-happy:   </span></b></i><i><b><span>:smileyvery-happy:</span></b></i><i><b><span></span></b></i><div></div><p>Message Edited by Valandur1975 on <span class="date_text">01-18-2006</span><span class="time_text">11:12 AM</span></p>

[Rasplori]

I wonder if they would do improved taunts, because almost every tank would take improved taunts.  I hope the advancements are versatile enough that none of them will be overly desired more than the others.<div></div>

[Anzak]

Well unless it is possible to complete all the paths given enough time I think this is a complete waste.  I hate having to limit one aspect to improve another.  Not to mention There will end up being a correct path that each class should take and god forbid if you take the wrong path.I'm a little disappointed with one of the screen shots as well.  Ogaming has it labelled as Paladin Sword.  While the sword is very cool looking it is a two hander which if this is going to be a class only weapon it means SOE is saying pick up the two hander and go DPS because that is your Job and stop trying to tank.  I really hope this is not what they are doing because I love tanking and I'm not going to give that role up without a fight.<div></div>

[Rasplori]

Anzak, for all we know it could have +10 avoidance on it like a shield, or it could be one of a few weapons.We're tanks and we will tank!  Besides, paladins have some of the worst dps ever - giving us a shiny two-hander will only make the other tanks laugh harder... except those guardians.<div></div>

[Anzak]

If it is a class only weapon is the problem.  I have a bunch of 2 handers that almost never get used.  Why?  Because for the extra 20 or so DPS I do with a two hander I gain more from having a shield and getting an extra taunt from my shield bash.  All a class specific two hander says is that you are not suppose to be tanking so just take your two hander and admit defeat.This is just like in EQ1 where I played a ranger.  They give use endless quiver and a bunch of Bow AAs and some good bow and arrows.  Then Epic 2.0 comes around and we got a sword instead of a bow.  Why did they do that?  Because the vision was to have rangers be a melee class with bow skills but Endless quiver and the other things we had made us more useful at range.The point is if they make only one class specific weapon in a style like the EQ1 epics then that becomes a class defining item and it defines your role.  If that is a two hander for us then they are saying your are not suppose to be in the main tank role you are suppose to be in a DPS/support role.  This is unacceptable to me.  I have been fighting the idea that guards are the only raid tanks since LU13 and some people are finally starting to come around and realize that we can do the job just as well.  To have Sony send a message like this will undermine the past 5 months I have put into proving that notion wrong and put me right back at square one of having to prove I can do the job just as well if not better in some cases.I respect there are a lot of pallies who like to play the DPS/support role on raids and that is fine.  We are a very good class for doing different roles depending on your play style.  I personally made a pally to be front line in the mobs face and tanking it.  Every skill. spell upgrade, item, etc... I have gotten intentionally was focused on doing exactly that.  If we get a two hander "epic" I will get it just to do the quest but it will be just like the other two handers I have a waste of pack space or mounted on my wall.<div></div>

[Kale]

<div><span><blockquote><hr>Caetrel wrote:Okay, I am not up to date on all the KoS info that is out there, but I get the idea that each class will have five paths to advance in, each with abilities related to that path.  What will this mean for us?  I can think of a few paths...Healing- okay, sureDPS- well, I am content to suck at this, this would be like a cripple getting a spiffy new set of crutchesMit/Health/Avoidance/Tankage- oh yah sign me upBuffing- improved mit buff, group buffsAggro- could be a path of zealousness with improved taunts, etc...Is this the sort of thing we will likely see with the new AA system?<div></div><hr></blockquote>I sure hope so. People have different views of what a Paladin should be, or what they want their Paladin to be. Some folks like to solo and want to be strong in DPS, others really enjoy the support role aspect of the class, and some of us want to be the MT. If the AA system allows us to shape and focus our character on a chosen role, I think it will be great.However, out of your choices I'd say there's only realy three options. I'd put healer/buffer in the same category (support Paladin) and the MT/Aggro in the same category (since you can't really MT if you can't hold aggro).</span></div>

[Celedon Silvertree]

<div></div><span><blockquote><hr>Kalera wrote:<div><span>However, out of your choices I'd say there's only realy three options. I'd put healer/buffer in the same category (support Paladin) and the MT/Aggro in the same category (since you can't really MT if you can't hold aggro).</span></div><hr></blockquote>Very true, but you could have 5 paths by having flavors of the above:1) Tank/Agro managnet .. ideally with some ranged pulling abiltity.2) Soloist (Probably and undead or demon hunter who solos especially well vs. specific mobs.)3) Off Tank Healer/Warder/Shield bearer who aids the tank and can use improved sacraficial abilities to help.4) Cavalier (Mounted abilties.. variant on soloist or specializing in paladin groups)5) Warlord (not quite off tanking.. but whole group effects like auras, inspirational abilties, resistance buffing and group "charge" temporary buffs/yells.)Just ideas. 4 is a variant of 2 and 3 is a specialty case of 5 but these flavors would play destinctively.</span><div></div><p>Message Edited by Celedon Silvertree on <span class="date_text">01-23-2006</span><span class="time_text">01:41 PM</span></p>