So how bugged are defilers and wards as a whole

Rhe · 12-10-2004, 12:41 AM

So I'm 31 now, and finding groups are becoming an issue, WHY? Oh I don't know, might have something to do with Wards on armor tanks not taking advantage of their innate Armor class, so instead of the tank dodging and not taking damage, nope the ward just absorbs it then and there. If the armor factor came into play and then there was a miss and the only time wards got hit was when the ARMOR FACTOR failed, then sure that would work.

Now lets talk about our group wards, Seeping Escher for instance. It covers everyone with a ward, however instead of each individual getting one ward, NOPE its just one big pool and when that pool is gone it only goes off an hurts and lifetaps 1 mob, thats it, 1 mob. SoE could take the easy way out and make it when it goes off that its an AE lifetap to all argo mobs, and it would work well. And guess what, in some instances the defiler might actually be worth a lot more.

How about some stat taps also. I can deal with the fact that I won't buff as well as any other priest class, we do some OK damage and have some decent stat debuffs. However, to get groups, people like high stats and high armor class. How about defilers get some form of a spell that taps the stats of mobs and gives to the part, might be nice you?

Pretty much the more I play the Defiler class and the higher level I get, the more I see clerics, mystics and druids getting picked for RE and Zek. Heck, even mystics get an AE slow, what do defilers get AE? oh thats right a pissant dot that reduces noxious resists for a short period of time.

Reevanthara · 12-10-2004, 09:03 PM

I can understand your frustration, but I have had a totally different experience. Wards are great for saving mages, scouts or if you have brawler tank. If I am main healer in a group I use Healing Ritual and Putrid Balm and can throw an AOE heal in an emergency, and just use wards if my heals have yet to refresh.

Its true that wards are not as useful on the main tank unless they are a brawler (in which case they rock). We are tailor made to group with brawler tanks, or to serve as a great back up healer and debuffer.

However, I do have to agree that we are low on the list of priests picked when a group needs a healer. But since most groups have two healers, and we are one of the best soloers in the game there is still hope. I would say chill for a little bit. At 31 there are not that many people your level since you are ahead of the pack. Slow it down a bit and there will be tons of groups.

Hope that helps in some way...

Eats · 12-10-2004, 09:08 PM

could be the fact that my defilier is only lvl 26 sofar but ive never found any problems with our wards or for finding groups and alot of the times im main healer where the cleric or druid spot heals what gets thru my wards.ive found that sofar the only things that are frustrating are our broken spells and the fact that we do such junk dmg with melee weapons its sad ( i for 1 think we should be able to atleast do base dmg with a weapon since tanks can do above dmg with weapons what would it hurt ).

EgilRon · 12-10-2004, 09:14 PM

We have the same problem with a Guardian that a Cleric has with a Brawler. Our primary heal can't keep up to the damage they are normally taking, and we then need to use the insta-heal, which is horribly ineficient. Your STILL better off using wards as often as you can (IMHO), but you often need to throw in the insta-heals alot more.

Since we can't efficiently up the tanks HP, it also helps to let them stay in the yellow, its really not a big problem, instead of keeping them full.

Priest of Fe · 12-10-2004, 10:58 PM

also 31 now and i have the complete opposite experience. As soon as I zone into EL on my way to RE, im getting tells "hey, you need a runnyeye group?" The problem is not the class, its your tactics.

Dr.Dew · 12-12-2004, 06:15 AM

Now im only lvl 22, but I love my defiler. With my debuffs and ward I can keep the tank at over 80% health just about every fight without using any heals. Sure every once in awhile the healing rit. is very nice, but I dont really need it. Also I group with my guild and we have a druid that comes out and with me, the druid, a corcer, tank and 2 DPS we can take on just about anything we find with no problem. I know defiler isnt a good main healer, but IMHO it is a **mods 4 teh win!!1!**ing awesome backup player that any group should stive to get. The debuffs and wards are so helpful in groups, and I look so bad **mods 4 teh win!!1!** at the rabbid racoon thingy! I love defiler and will always have him as my main toon to play!

Darr · 12-12-2004, 05:23 PM

I have no problem getting groups.

MerBear4 · 12-12-2004, 08:51 PM

I have found that people who have grouped with a defiler before realize their worth. Its the people who think they need to have a cleric in their group because they are 'real healers' that tick me off. I know i'm a good healer, and I don't ever have any problems finding a group. I think my debuffs are the best thing about the class, I really notice the difference and the people in the group do also.

Maybe its not the class giving you problems, but how you play it.

Neothe · 12-13-2004, 09:58 PM

The biggest problem is people that are still in the mind set that shaman's can't heal. I have joined groups where they don't think of me as a healer and I need to tell them that "Yes I can heal" I would have to say that this is the single problem that would be keeping us from groups as we inform more people over time we should be able to get groups just as easily.

Krelias · 12-13-2004, 10:40 PM

I was surprised last night by a level 20 character who asked me if I could heal, AFTER we had fought around 20 mobs. He saw the wards but never realized I was healing as well. I'm sure this does keep us from getting groups when they're looking for healers.

BrickyardRac · 12-14-2004, 01:39 AM

I've never had problems getting groups at all.

Of course I'm only 26, so haven't had any experience beyond the Ruins of Varsoon, but I get cross-zone tells sometimes asking me if I would come to X to party.

In parties, with another healer, the way I do it is ward/debuff. Let the other heal what goes past my wards. Has worked well so far.

12-10-2004, 09:03 PM	#2
Reevanthara Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 45	I can understand your frustration, but I have had a totally different experience. Wards are great for saving mages, scouts or if you have brawler tank. If I am main healer in a group I use Healing Ritual and Putrid Balm and can throw an AOE heal in an emergency, and just use wards if my heals have yet to refresh. Its true that wards are not as useful on the main tank unless they are a brawler (in which case they rock). We are tailor made to group with brawler tanks, or to serve as a great back up healer and debuffer. However, I do have to agree that we are low on the list of priests picked when a group needs a healer. But since most groups have two healers, and we are one of the best soloers in the game there is still hope. I would say chill for a little bit. At 31 there are not that many people your level since you are ahead of the pack. Slow it down a bit and there will be tons of groups. Hope that helps in some way... __________________ Arkelias 49th Level Defiler on Antonia Bayle Server

12-10-2004, 10:58 PM	#5
Priest of Fe Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 39	also 31 now and i have the complete opposite experience. As soon as I zone into EL on my way to RE, im getting tells "hey, you need a runnyeye group?" The problem is not the class, its your tactics. __________________ "I told you so." - PoF

12-12-2004, 06:15 AM	#6
Dr.Dew Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 10	Now im only lvl 22, but I love my defiler. With my debuffs and ward I can keep the tank at over 80% health just about every fight without using any heals. Sure every once in awhile the healing rit. is very nice, but I dont really need it. Also I group with my guild and we have a druid that comes out and with me, the druid, a corcer, tank and 2 DPS we can take on just about anything we find with no problem. I know defiler isnt a good main healer, but IMHO it is a mods 4 teh win!!1!ing awesome backup player that any group should stive to get. The debuffs and wards are so helpful in groups, and I look so bad mods 4 teh win!!1! at the rabbid racoon thingy! I love defiler and will always have him as my main toon to play! __________________ {Ez0} Dewey {Ez0} Boxy Brown

12-12-2004, 05:23 PM	#7
Darr Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 26	I have no problem getting groups. __________________ Jarrik - 50 Defiler Legacy - Neriak

12-12-2004, 08:51 PM	#8
MerBear4 General Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 10	I have found that people who have grouped with a defiler before realize their worth. Its the people who think they need to have a cleric in their group because they are 'real healers' that tick me off. I know i'm a good healer, and I don't ever have any problems finding a group. I think my debuffs are the best thing about the class, I really notice the difference and the people in the group do also. Maybe its not the class giving you problems, but how you play it. __________________ Ekido ~Shadow Assassins~ Defiler ~ Unrest

12-10-2004, 12:41 AM	#1
Rhe Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 43	So I'm 31 now, and finding groups are becoming an issue, WHY? Oh I don't know, might have something to do with Wards on armor tanks not taking advantage of their innate Armor class, so instead of the tank dodging and not taking damage, nope the ward just absorbs it then and there. If the armor factor came into play and then there was a miss and the only time wards got hit was when the ARMOR FACTOR failed, then sure that would work. Now lets talk about our group wards, Seeping Escher for instance. It covers everyone with a ward, however instead of each individual getting one ward, NOPE its just one big pool and when that pool is gone it only goes off an hurts and lifetaps 1 mob, thats it, 1 mob. SoE could take the easy way out and make it when it goes off that its an AE lifetap to all argo mobs, and it would work well. And guess what, in some instances the defiler might actually be worth a lot more. How about some stat taps also. I can deal with the fact that I won't buff as well as any other priest class, we do some OK damage and have some decent stat debuffs. However, to get groups, people like high stats and high armor class. How about defilers get some form of a spell that taps the stats of mobs and gives to the part, might be nice you? Pretty much the more I play the Defiler class and the higher level I get, the more I see clerics, mystics and druids getting picked for RE and Zek. Heck, even mystics get an AE slow, what do defilers get AE? oh thats right a pissant dot that reduces noxious resists for a short period of time.

12-10-2004, 09:08 PM	#3
Eats Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 37	could be the fact that my defilier is only lvl 26 sofar but ive never found any problems with our wards or for finding groups and alot of the times im main healer where the cleric or druid spot heals what gets thru my wards.ive found that sofar the only things that are frustrating are our broken spells and the fact that we do such junk dmg with melee weapons its sad ( i for 1 think we should be able to atleast do base dmg with a weapon since tanks can do above dmg with weapons what would it hurt ).

12-10-2004, 09:14 PM	#4
EgilRon Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 80	We have the same problem with a Guardian that a Cleric has with a Brawler. Our primary heal can't keep up to the damage they are normally taking, and we then need to use the insta-heal, which is horribly ineficient. Your STILL better off using wards as often as you can (IMHO), but you often need to throw in the insta-heals alot more. Since we can't efficiently up the tanks HP, it also helps to let them stay in the yellow, its really not a big problem, instead of keeping them full.

12-13-2004, 09:58 PM	#9
Neothe Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 8	The biggest problem is people that are still in the mind set that shaman's can't heal. I have joined groups where they don't think of me as a healer and I need to tell them that "Yes I can heal" I would have to say that this is the single problem that would be keeping us from groups as we inform more people over time we should be able to get groups just as easily. __________________ Rhankim, 32 Defiler Neothe, 20 Necromancer Befallen

12-13-2004, 10:40 PM	#10
Krelias Loremaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 21	I was surprised last night by a level 20 character who asked me if I could heal, AFTER we had fought around 20 mobs. He saw the wards but never realized I was healing as well. I'm sure this does keep us from getting groups when they're looking for healers.

12-14-2004, 01:39 AM	#11
BrickyardRac General Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 104	I've never had problems getting groups at all. Of course I'm only 26, so haven't had any experience beyond the Ruins of Varsoon, but I get cross-zone tells sometimes asking me if I would come to X to party. In parties, with another healer, the way I do it is ward/debuff. Let the other heal what goes past my wards. Has worked well so far.