4 awesomonium things: map size, killing FvS healers, killing assasin, shadowfell 'fct

[SSFWEl]

yes. Ill rant a bit, need to blow of steam.

before the rant, Ill just say that the 1 quest I ran (culvert or something) was not bad at all. I mean, it was mostly just hack and slash, no thinking needed but still, not bad. the tree system is very very good - i.e. the system itself is nicely done, thank you devs.


1. Map size. way way way too big. (Almost) no one cares about a huge explore area. it just wastes time from having fun. I used to play SWG and one of the reasons I loved DDO when I started was how fast it was to get to quests (relatively speaking). The last 2 expansion packs have changed that. I HATE that it takes so much time, yes, even if you know the way. HATE IT. (Add some expletives of your choice here)

2. killing FvS healers. this was talked about and talked about on the lam forums. and of course, it went live just as it was for the pre pre pre pre alpha "this is just a preview and things will change with your feedback" alpha.

3. Assassin pre. killing assassin scroll healing capabilities. Can I waste another 5 AP just getting to open Scroll Mastery on mechanic? Yes. But can I? no. Not unless I want to gimp myself. Instead of those useless, useless, stupid DC based poison attacks, that no one will ever bother with, they should have given the UMD, scroll using assassins, the option for mastery. My scroll healing is now horrible.

4. Shadowfell affect. For the first 5 seconds it's cool. no really. Then it becomes SO DARN ANNOYING. I want to claw out my eyes and ears. It just goes on and on. At least the Underdark gave you goggles.

/endrant

I know the devs really tried hard to give us a good product, but do they even play this game? I am all for change, I think its good to shake things up. I love new options. but destroying things we love is detrimental.

[HAL]

Yea, I have a FvS healer and I'm hoping I missed something. If not, any suggestions on how I can redeem my character? Should I splash some Cleric or completely reroll as Cleric or something?

[Flavilandile]

Yea, I have a FvS healer and I'm hoping I missed something. If not, any suggestions on how I can redeem my character? Should I splash some Cleric or completely reroll as Cleric or something?

If you want to be a healer ( and more or less nothing else... at least for now ) go Cleric all the way.

Beware : I've discovered while redoing the enhancements on one of my cleric that the Radiant Aura ( former L12 enh ) is almost impossible to get at LVL 12 ( 30 AP to spend in tree to unlock ). Now it's only a matter for non Epic characters.

[cru121]

@fvs healer: Guess you did not get the memo. Everyone splashes Ranger for cheap devotion enhancements in the DWS tree.

[dejafu]

Enough with the hyperbole. Favored Souls still make perfectly good healers as long as they invest in the Heal skill. Sure, a Cleric can get bigger numbers, but healing spells - unlike damage spells - don't need obscenely huge numbers to stay effective. Even the most hyper-hitpoint inflated defensive tank can be easily topped off in one or two heals from an Angel of Vengeance build.

[zwiebelring]

Why does everybody complain about map sizes when you can spend astral shards to skip the way? This time the dev.s thought about saving time at least, even, when the teleporting should be free or platinum at max.

[Ashlayna]

Healing on my FvS? Not bloody likely, it will use up sp I need for Destruction, Implosion and Comet Fall, along with my healthy dose of Blade Barrier...

Ok, seriously though, I didn't notice any problems when I did stop dps'ing to heal on my FvS. Looking back on her past life, as a Silver Flame AA, she doesn't seem any less effective in that regard than she was previously. I'll admit, however, that even then I wasn't a dedicated nanny. I would heal when I had to, but that wasn't my focus or intent, so I could be missing something. I did have a Devotion item, don't recall which one now, I'll have to dig through my TR stash to see.

[RTFM]

1. Map size. way way way too big. (Almost) no one cares about a huge explore area. it just wastes time from having fun. I used to play SWG and one of the reasons I loved DDO when I started was how fast it was to get to quests (relatively speaking). The last 2 expansion packs have changed that. I HATE that it takes so much time, yes, even if you know the way. HATE IT. (Add some expletives of your choice here)

Well running around today, and seeing 1/2 the party pay shards to get to quest entrance and the other 1/2 (including myself) not pay astral shards and take the slow way, it is obvious why they are so large. It the nag factor. Nag us into making astral shards a currency of convenience. Don't want to run a really long and round about way (seriously, how many switchbacks to get to that glacier?), well pay us. Don't like your loot this run, pay us now or run a long way out or pay us again to run out. Nag nag nag. I really am not fond of the nag factors in this game over the past year. Yes, I will pay for the xpack. No, I don't want to pay you micro-payments for every single activity What is next, are /tells going cost Astral Shards to send?.


2. killing FvS healers. this was talked about and talked about on the lam forums. and of course, it went live just as it was for the pre pre pre pre alpha "this is just a preview and things will change with your feedback" alpha.

I have not tested FVS yet but setup his enhancements and it looks fine. Fact is players today of every single class have self healing options and you don't need to be a 100% dedicated "healing stick" anymore anyway. Go shiradi FVS with 3 healing springs and cocoon twisted in and your are good to go. If you really want to be healing only, go Cleric as that's pretty much all they can do now, which I find incredibly ironic considering the entire enhancement pass was supposed to fill in the "war priest" line. Another bait and switch thank you.


3. Assassin pre. killing assassin scroll healing capabilities. Can I waste another 5 AP just getting to open Scroll Mastery on mechanic? Yes. But can I? no. Not unless I want to gimp myself. Instead of those useless, useless, stupid DC based poison attacks, that no one will ever bother with, they should have given the UMD, scroll using assassins, the option for mastery. My scroll healing is now horrible.

Same issue on other classes as well. One might assume that there is an effort to tone down the swiss army knife approach. UMD may be killed someday you watch.


4. Shadowfell affect. For the first 5 seconds it's cool. no really. Then it becomes SO DARN ANNOYING. I want to claw out my eyes and ears. It just goes on and on. At least the Underdark gave you goggles.

We had the FVS Aura effect in MOTU...with enough complaints it will be modified I'm pretty sure.

[Coyopa]

3. Assassin pre. killing assassin scroll healing capabilities. Can I waste another 5 AP just getting to open Scroll Mastery on mechanic? Yes. But can I? no. Not unless I want to gimp myself. Instead of those useless, useless, stupid DC based poison attacks, that no one will ever bother with, they should have given the UMD, scroll using assassins, the option for mastery. My scroll healing is now horrible.

I really do not understand this point. It isn't like you are wasting points in the Mechanic tree. The enhancement on the first tier, 2nd in from the left that says "Lacerating Shots" is actually the search/disable speed-up enhancement, which is really nice to have. So, that's three points. Drop 1 in the Mechanics enhancement (it's literally called Mechanics, probably just to cause confusion :D) and then you get your Wand and Scroll Mastery. Besides, if you want Wracking Strike (or Shot), then you'll need 10 points spent in the tree anyway. Since you already admitted you aren't taking the poison enhancements, then you're clearly not giving up something else you desperately want in order to get this stuff. For my assassin, I went so far as to be able to take Improved Detection so that I have proficiency with light and heavy repeaters and I get to use my intelligence for damage with ranged and thrown weapons.

[Fedora1]

Not liking my L9 assassin any more. Pally is okay - meh. Fighters still look good.

[Coyopa]

Not liking my L9 assassin any more. Pally is okay - meh. Fighters still look good.

Give it some time to get to know the enhancements, then. My assassin is L13 on his third life and I like him a lot better now than before (and he doesn't even have access to repeaters yet). I pretty much took enhancements from the right 2 columns (full sneak attack training line, damage boost, +2 intelligence) and stayed away from the poison and the clicky attacks (which are in the center column). I also opened up Thief-Acrobat for 50% faster sneak and Subtlety (required 1 point into Charming or whatever it is to get Subtlety), but there isn't much else from Thief-Acrobat I am interested in. With the added changes to sneak AI that came in yesterday, rogues are about to get a whole lot more fun!

[Fedora1]

Give it some time to get to know the enhancements, then. My assassin is L13 on his third life and I like him a lot better now than before (and he doesn't even have access to repeaters yet). I pretty much took enhancements from the right 2 columns (full sneak attack training line, damage boost, +2 intelligence) and stayed away from the poison and the clicky attacks (which are in the center column). I also opened up Thief-Acrobat for 50% faster sneak and Subtlety (required 1 point into Charming or whatever it is to get Subtlety), but there isn't much else from Thief-Acrobat I am interested in. With the added changes to sneak AI that came in yesterday, rogues are about to get a whole lot more fun!

Well I'd have to use my +20 heart now, as I already made my selections.

I had an assassin STR based build using cutlasses/rapiers. Now I get to waste AP on x-bows (after finally aquiring the Silver Longbow) or quarterstaves (I am a TWF). The descriptions on the poison attacks included durations, so I assumed all my attacks in that time frame would have the effect, but it is not the case. It's a clicky-attack, like trip or sunder with some effects that last for the duration. I got hood winked into making some poor choices.

[Coyopa]

Well I'd have to use my +20 heart now, as I already made my selections.

I had an assassin STR based build using cutlasses/rapiers. Now I get to waste AP on x-bows (after finally aquiring the Silver Longbow) or quarterstaves (I am a TWF). The descriptions on the poison attacks included durations, so I assumed all my attacks in that time frame would have the effect, but it is not the case. It's a clicky-attack, like trip or sunder with some effects that last for the duration. I got hood winked into making some poor choices.

They have re-enabled the free lesser reincarnation (not counting the +20 lesser heart). Did you already use this? Also, note that you do not need to take any q-staff enhancements from T/A. Just take the first core ability to open the tree, spend three on Faster Sneak, one on Charming, three on Subtlety. Something like 8 points spent in tree total.

Also, you do not have to get a bunch of crossbow-related stuff from Mechanic. The enhancement currently called "Lacerating" is mis-labeled. It actually speeds up your search/disable times (tested this yesterday to be sure). Grab 1 from Mechanics to make 5 spent, then max your Wand and Scroll Mastery (75% increased effectiveness, 6 AP). This opens the third tier and you can snag Wracking Strike (or Wracking Shot, your choice) and then exit this tree. If you want access to repeaters (or want to be able to use your Int to hit and damage with ranged), then get the second through fourth core abilities, too. You'll already have spent enough AP in the tree to get to the 4th core ability. If you do not want the extra core abilities, then ignore them. You don't need them.

[Fedora1]

Appreciate the advice. Will take a second look from home tonight.

[Coyopa]

Appreciate the advice. Will take a second look from home tonight.

You're welcome. So, those will be my choices from those two trees. From Assassin, I went full sneak attack training, all core abilities, full damage boost, +1 intelligence on tiers 3 and 4, 1 point into Critical Accuracy, 1 point into Critical Damage, Execute, 1 point into Killer, Assassinate, full ranks in Measure the Foe, and Knife Specialization. I already used Kukris and Daggers - Midnight Greetings, and especially Epic Midnight Greetings, are indispensible in my opinion; Deception and Improved Deception are amazingly helpful. Now, I'll grant that my assassin is 16 Int/18 Dex (halfling) at creation with every level up into Int. So, my goal is to max my sneak damage and my fortification by-pass, which makes Improved Deception (he wears Seal of House Avithoul at high levels plus uses the Epic Midnight Greetings) a critical part of my arsenal.

[Ancient]

2. killing FvS healers. this was talked about and talked about on the lam forums. and of course, it went live just as it was for the pre pre pre pre alpha "this is just a preview and things will change with your feedback" alpha.

Have you seen how many HP a caster level 40 divine wrath heals for? And my toon isn't even a pure FVS, so level 42 might be possible.

[Hendrik]

Why does everybody complain about map sizes when you can spend astral shards to skip the way? This time the dev.s thought about saving time at least, even, when the teleporting should be free or platinum at max.

Teleporting in the Stormhorns IS free.

But you have to read AND explore.

[Qezuzu]

3. Assassin pre. killing assassin scroll healing capabilities. Can I waste another 5 AP just getting to open Scroll Mastery on mechanic? Yes. But can I? no. Not unless I want to gimp myself. Instead of those useless, useless, stupid DC based poison attacks, that no one will ever bother with, they should have given the UMD, scroll using assassins, the option for mastery. My scroll healing is now horrible.

I'm gonna have to disagree here.

http://i.imgur.com/nCyntb8.jpg

[myliftkk_v2]

2. killing FvS healers. this was talked about and talked about on the lam forums. and of course, it went live just as it was for the pre pre pre pre alpha "this is just a preview and things will change with your feedback" alpha.

3. Assassin pre. killing assassin scroll healing capabilities. Can I waste another 5 AP just getting to open Scroll Mastery on mechanic? Yes. But can I? no. Not unless I want to gimp myself. Instead of those useless, useless, stupid DC based poison attacks, that no one will ever bother with, they should have given the UMD, scroll using assassins, the option for mastery. My scroll healing is now horrible.


I've got a FvS25 Evoker/Healer who ended up with a boosted Healing Word, and bunch of spell power clickies, better defensive capabilties. Mass heals on a tank w/ appropriate Hamp should have no problem keeping them up.

I've also got a Rogue25 Assassin, and I don't know what you're complaining about on the scroll mastery. You're going to take that tree anyhow to get to the Int I & II Enhancements, so you just take the scroll mastery on the way to the Int boosts. And given the new clicky attacks Rogues get in the assassin tree, you realize you don't have to take the "poison" based attacks at all, right?

[HAL]

If you want to be a healer ( and more or less nothing else... at least for now ) go Cleric all the way.

Beware : I've discovered while redoing the enhancements on one of my cleric that the Radiant Aura ( former L12 enh ) is almost impossible to get at LVL 12 ( 30 AP to spend in tree to unlock ). Now it's only a matter for non Epic characters.

No, I don't want my FvS to be only a healer. But I don't understand why they took away healing / Positive enhancements from a class that is supposed to heal. When I initially opened the FvS enhancements I thought they meant for them to just not heal at all anymore. Then I saw a few references to Healing.


@fvs healer: Guess you did not get the memo. Everyone splashes Ranger for cheap devotion enhancements in the DWS tree.

So, how many people actually do this?

[count_spicoli]

for soloers and people who don't heal others its fine. try solo healing a fall of truth or citw hard with these new enhancements. IF you really dig chugging pots then by all means enjoy these new enhancements. you are exactly the people turbine is loving. You will be buying pots like crack from the store.
Me I built a raid healing fvs with a massive sp pool and now I don't think I will bother healing these raids anymore.

[Hendrik]

for soloers and people who don't heal others its fine. try solo healing a fall of truth or citw hard with these new enhancements. IF you really dig chugging pots then by all means enjoy these new enhancements. you are exactly the people turbine is loving. You will be buying pots like crack from the store.
Me I built a raid healing fvs with a massive sp pool and now I don't think I will bother healing these raids anymore.

Funny, I find it FAR easier now to solo heal but I am a CLR designed to Heal.

[myliftkk_v2]

You can scroll/healing word/mass heal EH CiTW just fine on 3.2k SP and still only use 2 shrines as a solo FvS healer. Unless you're offended by dumping fairly useless plat for scroll stacks, there's zero reason to ever chug a pot in 99.99% of content even after the enhancements.

[SirValentine]

If you really want to be healing only, go Cleric


Yes, Cleric is a great choice if you specifically want to fill a "Healer" role.

And also if you don't.



...healing only, go Cleric as that's pretty much all they can do now


I guess you missed the entire Divine Disciple tree? It's not perfect, but it's decent for a non-healer caster Cleric.

[FrancisP.Fancypants]

Well running around today, and seeing 1/2 the party pay shards to get to quest entrance and the other 1/2 (including myself) not pay astral shards and take the slow way, it is obvious why they are so large. It the nag factor. Nag us into making astral shards a currency of convenience. Don't want to run a really long and round about way (seriously, how many switchbacks to get to that glacier?), well pay us. Don't like your loot this run, pay us now or run a long way out or pay us again to run out. Nag nag nag. I really am not fond of the nag factors in this game over the past year. Yes, I will pay for the xpack. No, I don't want to pay you micro-payments for every single activity What is next, are /tells going cost Astral Shards to send?.


What, seriously? This is an actual thing? And did they even bother doing that for the CoF run?

Even when Turbine does something stupid, they still **** it up.

[Ancient]

You can scroll/healing word/mass heal EH CiTW just fine on 3.2k SP and still only use 2 shrines as a solo FvS healer. Unless you're offended by dumping fairly useless plat for scroll stacks, there's zero reason to ever chug a pot in 99.99% of content even after the enhancements.
I did my first FOT raid recently. I ended up having people telling me over voice chat that the raid was almost over and it was ok to spend sp.... problem is no one needed healing. Between rejuv cocoon, renewal, healing capstone and heal scrolls, it doesn't cost much to keep everyone healed.

[HAL]

I wish people would stop responding as though everyone had maxed EDs, or EDs at all. Epic is not the only level that people are concerned about their build.

[Coyopa]

I wish people would stop responding as though everyone had maxed EDs, or EDs at all. Epic is not the only level that people are concerned about their build.

Of course it is! We all know that characters are created at level 20, fully-geared and ready to go. ;)

[Zirun]

I wish people would stop responding as though everyone had maxed EDs, or EDs at all. Epic is not the only level that people are concerned about their build.

Forum-goers tend to have much higher-than-average skill, devotion, experience, and knowledge levels than non-forum-goers, which makes sense. Angry people also tend to be the loudest. That's why you get what you do on the forums!

[Fedora1]

Of course it is! We all know that characters are created at level 20, fully-geared and ready to go. ;)

Close, some start at 15 fully geared. :)

[myliftkk_v2]

I did my first FOT raid recently. I ended up having people telling me over voice chat that the raid was almost over and it was ok to spend sp.... problem is no one needed healing. Between rejuv cocoon, renewal, healing capstone and heal scrolls, it doesn't cost much to keep everyone healed.

FoT is a breeze on a healer, provided no one brings the boom. I had enough SP to end up backup tanking Reaver when the first tank went down and hold him safely from the party 'til we could get the tank back up. I see no reason why the new system changes this, and in fact, I even got better clickies/Hamp/and a no-fail GH out of it.

If you're used to one button healing, maybe it changes things, but if you're used to deploying an array of tactics available to the FvS for healing, there should be no issues.

[myliftkk_v2]

I wish people would stop responding as though everyone had maxed EDs, or EDs at all. Epic is not the only level that people are concerned about their build.

Unless you completely park your build, Epic is where builds are deemed either viable or not with exception being something like a low level challenge farmer, which I highly doubt Turbine is interested in the relative permanent viability of. And, if you are in Epic levels chance and you've not bought access to EDs, you're viability is questionable regardless of build.

[MagicalDad]

yes. Ill rant a bit, need to blow of steam.
2. killing FvS healers. this was talked about and talked about on the lam forums. and of course, it went live just as it was for the pre pre pre pre alpha "this is just a preview and things will change with your feedback" alpha.


I'm going to have to disagree with this - I haven't run any raids on my Evoker, but I did take him into GH with a small group yesterday, and found him just as playable as before. My positive spell power is sitting @ 250 before boosts, and with all the crit chance from the AoV tree my heals regularly drop for 1K. In a small group running anything below EE, I do all my healing with a twisted Cocoon and occasional Mass Heals.

I am actually having a great time running in FotW, which was unexpected, as I really disliked leveling other melee destinies. But Primal Scream and Boulder Toss give me lots of free damage (regularly crit with the rock for over 3K, it appears to feed off spell crit and force spellpower), and Fury Made Placid (stacking +6 WIS, yes!) + either of my SP boosts take my Wisdom to 54, giving me DC 55+ on Implosion and BB.