LF3M. Need Tank! Nope, not anymore!!

[Ancient]

As I said in that same post; It wasn't posted to be a pissing contest but an attempt at comparison using a common example.

Back to the main topic. Scotts latest podcast (#19) mentions the role switching, using an example of 5 DPS classes sitting around with their thumbs up their butts. Information has already been seen for the Riftstalker, Bard and Chloromancer for the two squishy Callings.

As the topic of the thread just seems to be recycling itself now I don't see the need to continue my input as it is just the same point of view written in different text now.

As far as the outcome of the topic on release day who knows.

What I would like to see is:
Warrior: Phalanx style using a Light lance or Spear in one hand and a Shield in the other, with a Gladius sheathed for closer quarters.
Cleric: Melee DPS/Melee Healer (Justicar)
Rogue: Thief (High Utility).
Mage: A soul that visually looks like stereotype wizard but has little to no ranged spells. His hands would crackle with magic and he would walk into melee and discharge magical damage just by touching the enemy. Having protective shields that reduce incoming damage at high mana/action point cost.

They are main style of class I am interested in seeing, but I do show my support for Mage Tanks/Mage healers for the sole reason is that I want to see the genre advance. Everquest has held us back long enough.

I didn't take it as a pissing contest. Simply giving a different perspective a near identical situation.

I think you need to go back further than EQ to find the roots of MMO gaming. Back to table top games and the rule books that existed to give structure to the games being played. I think they are up to version 4 atm (don't quote me on that though)

[Michello]

5 so far, with larger raid groups at 10 and 20.

Thank you.

[Elth]

I didn't take it as a pissing contest. Simply giving a different perspective a near identical situation.

All good I'm glad that we can have different opinions on the subject and discuss them passionately without resorting to passive aggressive name calling.

I think you need to go back further than EQ to find the roots of MMO gaming. Back to table top games and the rule books that existed to give structure to the games being played. I think they are up to version 4 atm (don't quote me on that though)

It's funny that you mention this, because I feel that the root of my problem lies in my table top background. I played the first 3 and a half editions of D&D but the earliest AD&D edition is where my heart still lies. It is here that I can still visualize when Thieves were not the prime damage dealers and their were no Tanks, to convert that 1st edition of AD&D into an MMO form, the Fighter would be the melee DPS, the Cleric would be the Buff/Melee/healer, the Mage would be anything he damn well wanted to be once he reached the high levels, but the Thief was still Utility first with crafty backstabs to finish the job.

I wonder sometimes how an MMO would fare if a NPC AI would work in similar fashion to a D&D Dungeon Master. Picture a room full of goblins (Trash) with an Evil Boss (Fighter/Cleric) and his adviser (Mage). In table top games, the combat would start with goblins rushing forward and the Fighter and Cleric taking them on, The Evil Boss would probably go straight for the Party Mage to either silence/interupt or outright kill him as he is the biggest threat, and the Advisor would try to CC the Party Cleric or Debuff either the Fighter, Cleric or Mage. The Party Thief would sneak around the side of the battle, try to get the best loot before his group noticed him and then backstab the Adviser (NPC MAge).

Of course, depending on the initiative prior to combat the Mage might just fireball the goblins and everyone go all out on the Evil Boss and Co, but that was the beauty of table top. There were no clear defined tanks because the enemy could change tactics to fit the situation. At low level AD&D the Mage was the glass cannon and his party really needed to protect him, but in the later levels a AD&D Mage had a great variety of spells that would allow endless possibilities; Iron Skin, Globe of Invulnerabilty, Mirror Image would protect him while he belted out Fireballs and Lightning bolts. When things got rough he could Dimension Door to a safe spot. This was the reward a Mage was gifted with for the early levels of terrible weakness.

All this talk of table top just makes me wish there was a Thief soul.