Bold idea to improve group play for undesired classes

Well we all know there are classes in DAoC you want for a PvE group and then there is the rest.

Most of us know that and after 18 years probably figured out a way to just deal with it. With the recent whining on the forum and considering Phoenix is progressive anyway I asked myself if there could be a better way.

To be viable in a PvE group you have to either heal, buff or AoE tank or AoE dmg. Well and then there are small things that also make you valuable.

For Hibernia the following classes are a must have:
Mana Ench / Eldritch for Pbae
Verdant Animist for AoE tank pet
Druid for buffing said pet and healing
Mana Mentalist for POM and HoT

These classes are also useful:
Bard mostly for pulling, base buffs and some heals
Warden for bubble, base buffs and heals

The other classes in most situations are useless:
Hero
Blademaster
Champion
Nightshade
Ranger
Valewalker

Well, since very specific roles make you useful for group PvE, espacially XP groups, why not extend these roles to the undesired classes as well and give them some new skills?

Hero -> Strong Pbae taunt
Blademaster -> Melee Pbae Dmg 320
Champion -> Pbae taunt with Dmg 225
Nightshade -> Pbae Dmg 320
Ranger -> AoE 158
Valewalker -> AoE 158

Just what I came up quickly, maybe there are better ideas out there. And obviously the impact should be considered carefully and some form of limitation needs to be in place. For instance no effect on enemy players or stops working on Lvl 50 altogether.

Sun 17 Feb 2019 4:01 PM by Afuldan

AOE abilities that don’t cause enemy players to be hit or interupted (You cannot use this ability on this enemy type!) is a great idea. +1

Sun 17 Feb 2019 4:21 PM by teiloh

Vales actually have some decent AOE styles. In general AOE styles should be fine to sprinkle into the game as long as they have a low radius, some target cap, aren't easily spammable and don't do huge damage.

Sun 17 Feb 2019 5:49 PM by Zansobar

Just make abilities that cannot be used in frontier zones (the only place you can encounter an enemy player). This is how all the TOA abilities and artifacts should have been set when TOA came out, if so that expansion wouldn't have killed DAOC.

Sun 17 Feb 2019 6:24 PM by Frigzy

I'd rather not see these in the game. Any group can use a dedicated puller who knows what he's doing. Any group needs someone to call the next spot and lead the setup.

If you're not a pve designed class there are still plenty of ways to make yourself useful.

I'd much rather have people experience their true class than being disappointed when they start RvRing because now they have to adapt an entirely different playstyle.

I like the unique class bonus (maybe boost it?) and the free respecs. If a non intrusive idea gets added why not, but please let's not go down the road mentioned in the original post.

Sun 17 Feb 2019 9:30 PM by Numatic

Unfortunately if it doesnt make it better than having say, a mana Chanter, it's still not going to do much. Sad fact is unless you nerfed the current setup or overly (and absurdly) buff the classes that arent wanted it's not going to change the current meta.

Sun 17 Feb 2019 9:35 PM by Quik

Numatic wrote: ↑
Sun 17 Feb 2019 9:30 PM
Unfortunately if it doesnt make it better than having say, a mana Chanter, it's still not going to do much. Sad fact is unless you nerfed the current setup or overly (and absurdly) buff the classes that arent wanted it's not going to change the current meta.

And as soon as you nerf one/buff another you will have screaming from the other classes.

I don't have an answer for this but I feel for the less wanted classes. I moved to Mid because of this issue and all I can say it is a night and day difference. On Mid I have no issues getting a group with my Warrior or Thane or Zerker, but on Hib I could not for the life of me get a group for my Hero or BM post 20.

Yes I know Mid has more tank groups, but I have even been in bomber groups on Mid with my toons.

I feel for stealthers the most for these groups.