But we dropped the entire stance thing after we were "unofficially" told that it would not happen until after the expansion came out.

Well it's almost October now and maybe, just maybe we could get some kind of update?

Stances out?
Stances in?
Stances being worked on now?
Stances being worked on when?

No hostility here.... just an honest question. I'm hurting big time for groups and since caster DPS is so screwed up I'm only taken for a healer now and since I have taken darn near every healing AA I can I need to know how to obtain my spells if I cannot get groups in areas that spells drop.

(You guys on the board have been very helpfull in regard to suggestions and I did gain my very first level 69 spell but at the rate I obtain groups it will be years before I see my spells)

Whether druid issues are real, perception or a little of both, the end result is still a class that few really want. At this stange of the game I'm open to "anything" that could be done to increase our class desirerability be it new spells or abilities, tweeked existing spells....

heck I'll even resort to some card tricks if that will get groups to want druids :)

Thanks

-Cass

I'm hurting big time for groups and since caster DPS is so screwed up

I disagree, how do you justify this statement as true?

I'm only taken for a healer now and since I have taken darn near every healing AA I can I need to know how to obtain my spells if I cannot get groups in areas that spells drop.

Not only did they just make a bunch of spells researchable, but they added Shadowspine runes (equiv to Muramite) into the DOD zones to make it easier.

Whether druid issues are real, perception or a little of both, the end result is still a class that few really want. At this stange of the game I'm open to "anything" that could be done to increase our class desirerability be it new spells or abilities, tweeked existing spells....[/quote]

Muldari can confirm this, druids are in demand, as she's looking for some, and is one of several guilds on ct looking for skilled druids.

Alot of it is based on perception. Spells are no longer really that hard to get, esp now. and the spells we have are decent and I find very little wrong with them.

-Fenier

Who says we've dropped the stances issue? I know I sure as hell am still waiting on em! But you know it doesn't help is there is an overwhelming number of druids saying that they don't want them either...

Nooooooooooooooooo!

i'm still waiting on my OFFENSIVE stance too!

Caster DPS is screwed up. This is universally known. Way back the top DPS "melee" class and the top DPS "caster" class were rogues and wizards.

Everything was balanced off of those two classes. Now I'm talking sustained DPS and not burst damage. The simple fact is that a "like" level rogue will wipe the floor with a "like" level wizard in the DPS department.

This is known and supposedly SOE is going to fix this in the future.

Just for laughs do a log while in group and see the damage that the melee classes are doing vs caster and you are in for an eye opener.

As far as druids being wanted. Sorry but on Eci this is not the case. I wish I was on your server but on Eci we're 2nd rate healers.

Now I guess I need to fingure out how to research my 69-70 spells. Last I saw it seems that we are back to the same ole rune drops in zones just as hard as RS.

-Cass

But you know it doesn't help is there is an overwhelming number of druids saying that they don't want them either...
I'm one of those druids who doesn't want stances.

I think druids should work right out of the box, no need to guess which outfit to wear in each encounter.

As for druid DPS, yes, it sucks.

The new level 70 fire DD helps somewhat. Although I don't know how hard it will be for other druids to obtain it. I'm in a guild that just started Anguish, so I didn't have any problem obtaining it but unlike some people who work at Sony, I'm aware that not everyone is in such a guild.

Generally, if you max all your AAs, you can do pretty well. Along with having focus items.

But again, this requires that you both dedicate your life to gaining hundreds of AAs and be a member of an uber guild.

I find druids are wanted. Of course, there is a real problem with keeping up as main healer with the huge mana cost (and s l o w casting time) of our healing spells as well if you are DPS maintaining decent DPS. This might be shared with other casters as well, I really don't know.

What it comes down to is that people like to constantly pull mobs and telling them that you have to take frequent breaks to med if you are healing or if you are DPS being unable to do much besides one or two nukes per mob leads people to prefer other classes that don't have those limitations.

Melee classes never have to stop to med. Clerics are so much more mana efficient with heals (by a huge, huge amount). So groups are going to pick them over a druid if they have a choice.

This has always been the case and we druids have had to deal with it in various ways.

Not only druids, but every class suffers from limitations unless they have uber gear and massive AAs.

Is there an answer? Should there be one since those who work harder (or are lucky enough to be in a uber guild) should have some benefit?

I don't know. I do know that there should be a real effort to try to make every druid, from those with 12,000 HP and mana to those right out of the box, feel they can contribute to a group (in different zones / against different mobs, of course).

Sony's answer is stances (since some genius *sarcasm here* who works there played WoW once). I think it is the wrong answer since flexibility is what druids are all about.

We at The Druids Grove have offered Sony some very well thought out suggestions on how to improve the situation. Generally, Sony tells us they will consider them very seriously, pats us on the head and then goes and throws them in the trash.

Top Ten list? Sony says, "Oh, right, you guys gave us that list a year ago, well someone is working on it, I think Bob or Stan, someone, I don't know who but really, we swear, we listen to you............oh, by the way STANCES! They are really cool, you will love them."

Now I guess I need to fingure out how to research my 69-70 spells. Last I saw it seems that we are back to the same ole rune drops in zones just as hard as RS.

This one point stuck out in your post.

.. Did you honestly expect them to make 69/70 spells drop off easier mobs then where they where in Omens?

Fanra, I hear you and somewhat agree with your reasoning BUT to me it boils down to one simple two-part question...

1) given that our Healing tools in our current healing toolbox are never going to change, ie. lower the mana cost for our gimp CH, give us a real fast heal, give us a group heal, etc.,....

2) given the new Dawnstrike spell, the recent changes with Ancient cold nuke and fire nuke, no new instant nuke crit AAs in DoDh, that our DPS isn't gonna really change.....

Then why not support the stances idea?

Yes, I hear the problem with the penalty-to-gain-factor while in a stance is out of whack. But I still say stances are at least a way to give Druids a way to play that provides a new toolbox for both nuking and healing AND if you don't think the stances fit your style of play simply stay in "Normal" stance and never make the Offense or Defense hotbuttons.

if you don't think the stances fit your style of play simply stay in "Normal" stance and never make the Offense or Defense hotbuttons.
Dozens of people have said this exact thing to me.

My reply is that Sony will tune all encounters to take into account stances so that if we stay in the "Normal" stance we will be unable to either do the encounter at all or have to suffer from being a gimp.

Those of us with a memory of how Sony deals with such issues remember quite well when all complaints about druids were answered with, "Well, that is the price you pay for being able to solo. Working as intended."

So I have no doubt that any complaints in the future will be answered with, "Well, it works fine if you are in the correct stance. Working as intended."

So, no, I don't really have a choice to not use stances if I want to be anything more than a useless anchor on the group / raid.

This one point stuck out in your post.

.. Did you honestly expect them to make 69/70 spells drop off easier mobs then where they where in Omens?

No but I honestly thought they might increase the drop rate and/or make the runes tradable so , instead of rotting, the ubers could sell them to us low lifes :)

Either that or make them some multi-part quest that was "doable" for the casual players like cabbage was.

What puzzles me is this....

If druids have a hard time obtaining groups for trials/MPG/RS or any other areas that the high level runes drop then how is adding more zones that are just as hard help?

I mean it's not like the issue is that RS is camped 24/7 so we could get a spot if their were openings :)

Holding spells hostage is not a good thing to do. Casters look forward to new spells as we level. When you remove the possibility of obtaining new spells then why level?

I was in full support years ago when SOE put in anchient (sp?) spells so that the ubers could get better version as a reward for doing the hard stuff while the rest of us had to settle for the regualr versions.

What happened to this concept? Why at SOE things it's better to hold "all" spells hostage?

-Cass

Dozens of people have said this exact thing to me.

My reply is that Sony will tune all encounters to take into account stances so that if we stay in the "Normal" stance we will be unable to either do the encounter at all or have to suffer from being a gimp.

Those of us with a memory of how Sony deals with such issues remember quite well when all complaints about druids were answered with, "Well, that is the price you pay for being able to solo. Working as intended."

So I have no doubt that any complaints in the future will be answered with, "Well, it works fine if you are in the correct stance. Working as intended."

So, no, I don't really have a choice to not use stances if I want to be anything more than a useless anchor on the group / raid.

And if SOE trashes stances what guarentee is their that druids will get anything?

I'll take something for sure at this point.

You see the issue with "some" of the more casual druids is that we are not a part of a high level raid guild in which we can obtain all our spells, tons of AA's like water and uber equipment that helps overcome the class shortfalls.

What gets some people upset, myself includedm is that it always seems to be the high level "uber" druids that are trashing stances and/or saying "all is well move along now"

Well it may be fine for "you" but does that mean that it's fine for everyone?

I'm glad you have no issues obtaining groups.
I'm glad you were able to get all your spells.
I'm glad you have no issues healing or doing DPS.
I'm glad you are able to enter all the zones and can do the things you can do.

but

we all can't do what you can. Some of us have to go /lfg publically each day and hope that some group cannot find a cleric and will take a chance on a druid. Some of us have to respond to tells.... "I don't have that spell yet" or "I'm not flagged for that zone" or any number of things that life as a casual player will bring.

Sure stances are not perfect. Sure many of us have better ideas on how to fix druids but I'll tell ya what... stances will help the casual player get groups. Stances will allow us to change rolls if a cleric pops up to heal or if a cleric leaves we can enter healing mode.

It will also tell the population that druids can now DPS and heal. Sure we could do it before to a lessor degree but that does not help us as long as players "think" we can't heal or DPS.

I just fine it really suspicious that I do not see lines of "casual" druids poping up here and on the SOE board saying.... I don't want stances or I'm fine as is.

I know this board seems to attract more of the "professional" druids of higher level and caliber. I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinions but remember this... many druids are stuggling and this has nothing to do with lack of skill or dedication but rather life... some of us cannot raid alot or at all, some have very limited play time.

We're not asking or demanding to be included in your circle. We're asking that we be accepted in our own circle and when a "casual" druid is not even wanted in casual groups then something is wrong.

So if you don't like stances I ask this... stop shooting down every proposal that comes up and come up with some of your own ideas.

I swear it seems like some people are against everything and for nothing. Dare I say it's almost as if some worry that helping out the casual player "may" infringe on their terratory.

In closing.... my intent for this thread was to see if we could get some form of answer from SOE be it stances yes or stances no but once again I see the thread, like all others, has gotten mucked up with endless debate about class power between the haves and the have nots.

Sorry I even started the thread. :(

-Cass

Cass you said you know everyone has a right to their opinions so you have to accept that some of us will not agree and say so.

I don't like the stances idea myself, I want to see Druids with something different that makes us desirable as a class, not something that lets us fill the roll of a class the group can't find, and poorly at that. Stances will not change the fact that druids are always considered 2nd choice for any roll we can fill, I prefer to see us become first choice for our own roll. Clerics are THE healers rezzers, Shammies are THE Buffer Slowers, Druids are THE.... ? Skin of the Reptile is a step in the right direction I think.

That all said if people feel it will help get us groups then ok, I will stop bagging the idea for the sake of all, I just don't like the idea that I will be forced to use these stances as content will be made with them in mind, as has been said. The scary part to me is that SOE seem to think stances will solve all, as do alot of druids and I just don't see how they can think that.

As for spells, I totally agree. I am lucky in that I have access to spells through to 70's via my guild. I now have all but a couple 70's. I fail to see though how it helps the game or anyone to limit a class spell the way it has been done to date. I like the idea of Ancient Spells, these should be something only the elite can obtain (thats not me by the way) they should be no drop and awsome in their power. Regular spells that we all need and honestly expect to be able to obtain should be simple to get, and not limited to zones that not everyone can get a group in. Our regular line of spells is a casters bread and butter, I honestly think they should be buyable and dropable to allow everyone some type of access to them. Make ancients worthwhile again and make then hard to get, but allow everyone who plays the ability to get their standard spells.

Regular spells that we all need and honestly expect to be able to obtain should be simple to get, and not limited to zones that not everyone can get a group in.

It does not get much simpler then Loot Rune / Turn in for spell, less your talking about paying money for the scrolls.

Futhermore, your ability to get a group, or lack thereof, is not determined by Sony. Unless a zone is level locked or in some other way keyed, and you are lacking that requirement, there is nothing preventing you from grouping in that zone except players choosing not to pick you. Again, not thier fault and not something they can control, and it doesn't prevent you from making your own group for that area.

I did a good half of my DoD spell missions in pickup groups, aye it was a tad rough but it is totally doable.

-Fenier

It does not get much simpler then Loot Rune / Turn in for spell, less your talking about paying money for the scrolls.


By that standard, Ancient spells were the simplest off all, since all you had to do was loot the spell off the corpse. No money or turn in required.

Of course, the fallacy in your statement is that you neglect the difficulty of getting to and creating said "corpse". After all, this time, I myself still only have one 69, and no 70 spells. It is a primary cause of a bitter taste the game now has for me, and a strong disincentive to log in.

A few ancient-style spells are one thing. However, all level 69 and 70 spells are now, in effect, ancient-style spells. That's just wrong.

I like the idea of Ancient Spells, these should be something only the elite can obtain (thats not me by the way) they should be no drop and awsome in their power.

Substitute "skillful" for "elite" and I agree.

I really do disagree.

Anicents tend to come from a excessivly small set of mobs. Typically in the single or low double digits. They are often in locked zones, in raid encounters.

The 69/70 Runes from Omens where not "easy" to get, but they where by no means ancient difficulty to obtain. Omens 69 runes can drop from any named in WoS on up, 70s can drop from any named in MPG on up, as well as including all Six MPG Group trials.

Anicents tend to drop on mobs hitting well over 3k, a 70 rune named hits like 1300? maybe? 1500 if in RS. Easily single groupable.

Futhermore, the DoD versions are not limited to named that I saw, we got a greater off yard trash in the Ruins.

All the player needs to do is hunt the area. With the gear coming out of DoD just for doing a mission, it is not hard to be on average 120+ hp/mana per slot without any augs, provided you spend some time there.

You can't take ToV armor and do DoD tho, it just won't work, you actually need to follow the progression path somewhat, even if thats LDoN Armor then DoN Armor then Tier 1 Omens stuff. Its very hard to go directly from ToV to Omens less people carry you.

-Fenier

Everything you say is true. Ancients are obtainable only by the elite. They, and all spells, should be available to a player of sufficient skill. Being able to group/raid/sit-on-your-backside-all-night should not be the deciding factor.

if you don't think the stances fit your style of play simply stay in "Normal" stance and never make the Offense or Defense hotbuttons

Because people will expect Druids, when healing, to be in healer stance (and when druids are there for DPS - they will be expected to be in offensive stance).

The whole stance idea is pathetic. Either make all toons have to deal with stances - or none.

I dont post much, but I do read a whole lot. I'm really not sure where people come from saying druids can't do their job. I may be slightly above average with 400 AAs and 10khp/9km raid buffed, but Im certainly not uber. However, I had no trouble healing Ice side RS with a bard slower. The only time we had to take a break was after a series of bad pulls when the warrior wanted to play puller. DPS is about the same. Am I as good as a pure "DPS" class? No, but when the cleric is AFK, OOM, etc, the group can keep going with me healing. No mage? I DS. No Wiz, I evac and DPS. We have a lot of roles to play and can play them well. Perhaps one of the reasons I have so little trouble grouping is because I make my own groups. I dont sit and wait with LFG on, I'm proactive. Would I like to be given better options by SOE? Sure, but I think I'm very competitive as I am.

But we dropped the entire stance thing after we were "unofficially" told that it would not happen until after the expansion came out.

For what it's worth, DoDH release is not done. The Devs and many folks are still working on it. After a new piece of software comes out there are often bugs that need to be ironed out. Thus all the additional patches.

It may take a few weeks for this all to get iresolved.

Now I am not saying this is your answer but merely providing one possible reason that would keep the devs occupied at this point still.

Ok - dont want to rehash the whole entire stances thing - there is a post for that already.

But I disagree with the expectation part of your rebuttal. I actually think it helps the pro stances arguement... say you are zone_01 acting as main healer, really tough named_01 pops. You hit stance for heals and the named is pulled and you succeed with a win without having to use every trick in the book. People will recongize that.

Or say you are on a raid and the crap is hitting the fan, healers are dying, tanks are dropping and the raid leader shouts OFFENSE!, you can hit the offense stance and jump in helping to burn it down. That appeals to me.

Again don't want to rehash the entire pro-con agruement of stances just think you should realistically frame your response and not use huge generalizations that are impossible to prove or disprove.

Everything you say is true. Ancients are obtainable only by the elite. They, and all spells, should be available to a player of sufficient skill. Being able to group/raid/sit-on-your-backside-all-night should not be the deciding factor.

The purpose of the ancient spells, then and now is to limit them to the upper echelon of raiders as an additional incentive/reward for the effort/work they put in. Also, your perception of what a high-end raiding druid does on any given night is a bit skewed especially considering all the new encounters that SoE is coming out with.

You see the issue with "some" of the more casual druids is that we are not a part of a high level raid guild in which we can obtain all our spells, tons of AA's like water and uber equipment that helps overcome the class shortfalls.

What gets some people upset, myself includedm is that it always seems to be the high level "uber" druids that are trashing stances and/or saying "all is well move along now"

Well it may be fine for "you" but does that mean that it's fine for everyone?

The level 69 and 70 spells are not difficult to obtain, if you do some research on where to get them. MPG group trials yield them. RS groups yield them. 3-5 group, low end raid mobs in WoS, NC, RCoD yield them. Raid mobs in MPG/RS yield them, but these get a bit tougher. The issue you pose is not as cut and dry as you would like it to be, groups do not want to invite you when they can get a cleric or wizard or rogue for the spot is not based on the class limitations that you preceive. I get invites to groups now from my guildmates but before joining them did a lot of pickup groups. Even if I only popped on with time for 1 or 2 Creator runs in DoN. Making yourself available AND developing a reputation for a good player will help you get groups more than any spell or level.

And if SOE trashes stances what guarantee is their that druids will get anything?
So we should take crap and smile and say thank you Sony because it is better than nothing?

You see the issue with "some" of the more casual druids is that we are not a part of a high level raid guild in which we can obtain all our spells, tons of AA's like water and uber equipment that helps overcome the class shortfalls.

What gets some people upset, myself included is that it always seems to be the high level "uber" druids that are trashing stances and/or saying "all is well move along now"

Well it may be fine for "you" but does that mean that it's fine for everyone?

I don't consider myself an "uber" druid.

In fact, a few months ago before I was accepted into my current guild, I was a gimp druid with crappy gear, very few AAs and missing most of the OOW spells.

And guess what, I hated stances back then too.

Perhaps you should go back a few months or more and read some of my posts complaining about how Sony designs the game around uber gamers and that they should help out the "casual" player more before you jump on someone with the accusation that they are elitist.

In fact, if you had read my post here correctly, you would see that I said that druids right out of the box should be able to have as much ability to get groups and have fun as a druid with 12,000 HP and mana and 1,000 AAs.
Sorry I even started the thread.
Yes, perhaps you shouldn't have started this thread if you can't do anything other than flame people who disagree with you.

So if you don't like stances I ask this... stop shooting down every proposal that comes up and come up with some of your own ideas.

Dozens of druids here did exactly that. It's called the Top Ten list and if you were actually a member of the community here instead of a drive by flamer you might know this.

I would like to apologize to the moderators for my tone here but his post was an attack on me that I felt I wanted to respond to. If you want to remove this post, feel free. I'll just try to ignore the attack on me.

P.S. Looking at your post count, I see you actually have more posts here than I do. So I guess I should retract the "drive by flamer" remark. Still, I don't understand how you can have so many posts and be totally ignorant of what goes on here.

Here we go again...

The ideas posted by druids here are -for the most part- waaaaaay far-fetched. Like i've said again and again, when you come up with an "idea" to improve our class you have to take in consideration the total balance of the game.

Ready? Set? Go!

Those that know me know I'm not a drive by flamer. I have been around for years... had to restart my account for some reason but I have been on this board longer than most :)

I do want to comment on what people seem to consider "average"

The "average" druid does not have 10k or 9k or 8k or even 7k mana!

The "average" druid has 5 or 6k mana!

I know many of you may not realize this as it happens so slowly 50 mana here, 50 mana there but most of you saying you are "only" slightly above average are, in fact, now in the ranks of what the average druid calls uber.

Don't believe me? Check out eqrankings. I know it's not perfect but take a look at the mana pool of the "average" druids listed there.

I myself still have yet to crack 6k mana. I'm close and I do it buffed but I'm not there yet. Do I think I'm the best druid in the game? Of course not but I would think I was at least above average in skill having played a druid exclusively for so long.

So why don't I even have 6k of mana yet? Hmmmm easy. My playstyle does not allow alot of raiding and my guild is still trying to get elemental flagged.

I do respect others opinions but I'll tell you what I also do that several people do not do. I try and come up with ideas and suggestions for change instead of just saying "that sucks" all the time.

If you think the druid class is 100% fine as is then say so and I will respect this

but

if you think we need something, anything, then after you shoot down someones suggestion come up with "your" alternative.

This "give and take" is what SOE will see and hopefully implement. If all they see is enought druids shooting down everything then maybe they just give up on our class and move on labeling us as a class who cannot agree to anything and just fights within.

-Cass

Cass, what is your basis that the average druid only has 5-6k hp. Who should SoE balance, the level 65 druid to other level 65 comparable equip/aa classes that is eventually going to level up to 70 and be "unbalanced" as some claim? That does not make sense.

Taking into note that EQRanking numbers are not always 100% accurate.

Filters/ druids/ all servers/ mana
5598 entries, median mana roughly...5200 mana

Filters/ druids/ all servers/ level 70/ mana
2566 entries, median mana roughly...7739 mana

To assume the average, over that many entries will be somewhat close to the median I do not think is too unreasonable, if someone has a better analysis, then please post.

If you are NOT level 70, SoE is going to say, there is the answer, level up = more mana = more available aa = more hp/mana/stats.

They do understand not everyone is level 70, but 45% roughly, of the druids listed in eqrankings are already level 70. Say that the lower level druids do not make profiles and link to eqrankings, fine.

Who should SoE balance, everyone? the level 70s? the "uber-elite" as they are sometimes refered? the level 60 player? the person who is missing aa and levels and gear and finds it easier to complain about the elite getting l33ter and the average person being trashed in the wake?

Cass, what is your basis that the average druid only has 5-6k hp. Who should SoE balance, the level 65 druid to other level 65 comparable equip/aa classes that is eventually going to level up to 70 and be "unbalanced" as some claim? That does not make sense.

Taking into note that EQRanking numbers are not always 100% accurate.

Filters/ druids/ all servers/ mana
5598 entries, median mana roughly...5200 mana

Filters/ druids/ all servers/ level 70/ mana
2566 entries, median mana roughly...7739 mana

To assume the average, over that many entries will be somewhat close to the median I do not think is too unreasonable, if someone has a better analysis, then please post.

If you are NOT level 70, SoE is going to say, there is the answer, level up = more mana = more available aa = more hp/mana/stats.

They do understand not everyone is level 70, but 45% roughly, of the druids listed in eqrankings are already level 70. Say that the lower level druids do not make profiles and link to eqrankings, fine.

Who should SoE balance, everyone? the level 70s? the "uber-elite" as they are sometimes refered? the level 60 player? the person who is missing aa and levels and gear and finds it easier to complain about the elite getting l33ter and the average person being trashed in the wake?

I agree that each server may have a difference "average" but my point was that many people who still think they are just an average druid have slowly crawled out of the average class without realizing it.

I know balance is difficult and it's hard to hit a moving target but one of my suggestions has always been to add percentage based debuffs for druids. This would help all types of players as it would affect each class of mob the same.

Why is slow and haste just as powerfull no matter what level it is used or what class of mob you are fighting? Why because it's percentage based and affects each class of mob the same for the content it is used against.

My thoughts were that the Anchient (sp?) spells were, at one time, designed to be more powerfull as they were to be giver to the high level raiders to be used against high level raid targets. Since I was not a high level raider, I would not obtain them "or" need them.

I also know that eqrankings does not represent everyone but, IMHO, you can take eqrankings two way...

1. People who want to post the stuff they have to make it easier to keep track of upgrades for both themselves or their guild

2. People who have worked very hard to obtain nice things and want to brag. Hey nothing wrong with that. We all like to show off to a certain degree :)

So eqrankings prob represents people that are above average as I do not think people who play very little, with sucky stuff, take the time to post, and update, their stuff on eqrankings?

And just for yuks, since a few of you seem to think I have only been on this board for a few months.... this is me :)

http://eq.forums.thedruidsgrove.org/showthread.php?t=3640

Take care all and lets pull together to get some fixes for "all" types of druids :)

-Cass

P.S. I finally did obtain moonfire :)

Things I'd like to address:
1) Raiding druids sit on their backsides? Umm no. I'm usually so busy on raids that I can't carry on conversations or do much of anything else but focus on my job. Between debuffing, healing (assist healing is very busy work), curing, nuking and sometimes root CC, I'm doing anything BUT sitting around. And I LIKE it that way!

2) 69 and 70 spells are hard to get. If you are not a raiding druid with the gear, AA and focus to perform at peak on those mpg trials, you need friends that are capable of doing those trials and willing to take you along. Yes, I've been main healer in them. But I'm not an *average* druid. Yes, runes drop in WoS and MPG besides trials. But they are very rare. RSS drop rate is pretty good, but again unless you have the gear, focus and AA, druids have a hella time MH there. The people that say they are easy to get are the ones that already have them. Yes, I have mine. No, it wasn't easy. SOE needs to make them more easily available, because an *AVERAGE* druid can NOT easily obtain them.

3) Stances. I, too, worry that stances will force me to choose one or the other. I know from past experience that SOE will design encounters with stances in mind. However, I also see some benefits to stances as has been mentioned here. I think SOE had a good idea with Reptile Skin. I'd like very much to see spells and AAs for druids that make us unique instead of 2nd rate whateverclasswecouldntget.

4) Top ten list. I wish to Tunare that SOE would pay attention to it and do something about these instead of the standard "currently under consideration" crap we've seen for how long now?

5) *edited* Play times. I always see posts about how "casual" and "part time players" can never obtain the stuff raiders can. What makes people think raiding means you play 6 days a week, 6 hours a day? My guild raids 3 days a week for 3-4 hours at a time. That's it. We are in Anguish. I really do have a life outside of EQ.

Overall, druids are still a versatile class. But we've lost a lot of utility and uniqueness lately. What do we have that's not shared by other classes? PoSeasons? Reptile Skin? There really is NO reason to choose a druid over a cleric or dps class currently. With the guild lobby and summoning, groups don't even need exodus anymore. I'd like to see some spells, skills or AAs given to druids that make them a class people look for when making groups. How often do you think a group of say, 4, pulls up lfg tool and says, "we need a druid, let's see if any are lfg"?

I think stances as they have currently been proposed are a terrible idea. The tradeoff of 25% gain to 50% loss is completely out of whack. We are already behind the specialists in these area's and to limit our flexibility 50% more will absolutely destroy us, meanwhile the 25% gain still puts us behind the cleric/wizard we are trying to take the group spot from.

Maybe I became part of the "uber" and didn't know it, but I really think stances will be a bad idea, perhaps as a "casual" player you don't have the foresight to see how this is going to affect things down the road for druids. Someone mentioned before that encounters will be developed around these stances and lock us in even further and lose all our flexibilty.

As far as 69/70 spells, I do feel they should be droppable, this would allow the casual players to at least buy their spells in the bazaar. Leave the ancient spells as the ony no drop ones. This would still allow a difference between the "raider" and the "causal" player to be defined.

In closing, alot of casual players have the "can't do" attitude that is so sad to see. If you claim to be skilled, there is nothing holding you back from grabbing a few other players and taking on that content you feel is beyond you. Live a little, challenge yourself, and if things go bad, there's always the guild lobby.

Caster DPS is screwed up. This is universally known. Way back the top DPS "melee" class and the top DPS "caster" class were rogues and wizards.


I agree, but quite the opposite of what you think. Get a well geared wizzy with their new 5.5k base DoD nuke and Gift of mana 3. Now watch them crit for 22k+ for a single point of mana and watch them do it regularly. Wizzys (and also mage with their new 500dps pet) with gift of mana 3 blow rogue dps out of the water.

2) 69 and 70 spells are hard to get. If you are not a raiding druid with the gear, AA and focus to perform at peak on those mpg trials, you need friends that are capable of doing those trials and willing to take you along.

This varies by Trial. Fear, for example, is much easier then any of the remaining 5.

Yes, I've been main healer in them. But I'm not an *average* druid. Yes, runes drop in WoS and MPG besides trials. But they are very rare. RSS drop rate is pretty good, but again unless you have the gear, focus and AA, druids have a hella time MH there.

But you are also not restricted to being a healer. You can make a group and assign yourself to a DPS slot. While I agree Glowings outside of MPG/RS are fairly rare, they do exist. Depending on who is hunting RS, glowings may infact even rot - I've seen some in my groups no one needed.


The people that say they are easy to get are the ones that already have them. Yes, I have mine. No, it wasn't easy. SOE needs to make them more easily available, because an *AVERAGE* druid can NOT easily obtain them.


Took me over 5 months to get all my 69/70 runes. However, I did get 3 Glowings and 2 Greaters in a two week period because I finally got sick of not having them and did RS/MPG for a few weeks.

I'm not understanding the situation I guess. Back in Kunark our 59/60 spells dropped off raid level targets only for the most part. Even in Velious and Luclin this was true - Who remembers how rare Mask of the Stalker was back then?

Granted the system changes somewhat with PoP, but Greater runes are still not *that* common off anything less then multigroup below the Elementals. Do people feel this way becuase you could purchase the result of the Rune turn-in?

Even our GoD spells, all 4 of them, where difficult to get with a single group, tho more probly becuase people are scared of GoD for some reason then it actually being difficult for people who Hunt (not raid mind you, but exp) there.

So following this trend, What on earth makes you think that greaters and glowings should be easier then single group? Would you have perfered it be more like which expansion? As is they added several more zones in DoD where you could get the greaters/glowings, and, according to Lucy - Anicents from Omens of War.

So really, honestly - what would you have them do? Give you the spells? DoD style progressive missions? I am completly at a loss here.

Overall, druids are still a versatile class. But we've lost a lot of utility and uniqueness lately. What do we have that's not shared by other classes? PoSeasons? Reptile Skin? There really is NO reason to choose a druid over a cleric or dps class currently. With the guild lobby and summoning, groups don't even need exodus anymore. I'd like to see some spells, skills or AAs given to druids that make them a class people look for when making groups. How often do you think a group of say, 4, pulls up lfg tool and says, "we need a druid, let's see if any are lfg"?

The reason to choose a druid over a cleric is we are versatile. That is the reason. I do not infact, see how you can claim we lost alot of utility lately. Unquiness can be argued with way, but I think we have tons of utility.

As for how often does a group of 4 say do we need a druid? I would say pretty often becuase its pretty rare when I have to lfg for excessivly long periods of time. Typically I am the 3rd or 4th slot added, and often times, there are clerics lfg. I don't know these people and they have no reason to invite me except my class.

Could this be unquie to my situation? Sure. But I find it very hard to believe the entire server-wide player base hates druids so much as to punish them by making them LFG forever and a day.

-Fenier

Its because you are you Fenier! <3


Quote:
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td class="alt2" style="border: 1px inset ;"> Originally Posted by Dari
2) 69 and 70 spells are hard to get. If you are not a raiding druid with the gear, AA and focus to perform at peak on those mpg trials, you need friends that are capable of doing those trials and willing to take you along.
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

This varies by Trial. Fear, for example, is much easier then any of the remaining 5.

Had to put my 2 cents in on that part. Like Fen said, Fear is easily done. And you do not need to be in an "uber" guild or have "uber" friends to do it. I have done Fear on my main (Pally 11k hps fully buffed) with a druid healing me.

You can get your 69 / 70 spells... It just takes time.

You could also consider actually making groups yourself instead 0f putting LFG up. That works too! :smile: If you make the groups then you can be whatever you choose to be -- healer or dps.

Why is slow and haste just as powerfull no matter what level it is used or what class of mob you are fighting? Why because it's percentage based and affects each class of mob the same for the content it is used against.

I so wish I could let you play my shaman for a night.
He can't fully slow a single mob in MPG. Hasn't gotten a 75% slow in a very long time unless I'm farming old content.

Your spell was only partially effective ( or somthing like that )
Thats the message I get after I cast slow, get resisted, cast malos, cast slow, get resisted, cast slow again and it lands(partially).

Hey Pils, maybe you could use Balance of the Nihli?? That always lands(partially).
/ooc Shaman LFG Barindu Sewers (voice echoes through an empty zone )

The grass is not always greener :cry:

Agreed, the grass is not always greener. Here's the wizard's perspective:

I'm not in an Anguish guild. We're farming Time, and are working through Ikkinz. I do have my DoD 70 nuke. I don't have GoM yet, that's my next thing. I have all but one glowing rune; I seldom get groups, so I was of the mindset, too..."it'll never happen for me"...but y'know what? It did. Slowly, sure. But I got 'em.

Yet no way do I see me regularly outdamaging a rogue.

First off...resists. Great, I blow a 16k crit on one point of mana. Well, that's nice. It'll help make up for the 1.5k mana I blew on full resists (6 casts of snare...yay, level 51 snare...thundaka...resist...thundaka...resist...ge lidin comet...resist...frig it I'll toss out a lure....on a debuffed mob!)

Second off...aggro. That 16k crit is going to get me pretty well smeared. Clicky concussion pants often are still not enough to save me. A rogue can dump aggro a whole lot faster than I can. Ether Flame has a +25% hate over our last highest nuke. Yowch.

Third off...groupage doesn't come very easily to anyone these days, I think, and wizards are also bottom of the barrel. A lot of other classes can dish out dps, and bring other things to a group.

So my point? I still play my wizard. I love my wizard. I don't get groups often, but when I do, I have fun.

Every class has issues. Some are real, some are perceived. Read any class board. And I've played enough classes that I understand and appreciate a lot of those issues. As a shaman, I was frustrated by my inability to heal, and my lack of dps. As a druid, well, I heal better than the shaman, but I do hound through mana like nobody's business (she's average gear for her level), and unlike the shaman or wizard, I have no quick way to get it back (canni or harvest). I started with a bard, but with carpal tunnel...forget that (in the pre-/melody days).

Clerics, rogues, shadowknights...many others have complaints, and some are legitimate.

If you aren't having fun, stop playing. I'm not being sarcastic. I'm serious. Ask yourself why you hang on. After all, you're paying good, hard-earned money to play a game and enjoy yourself.

PS...as to waiting on promises...well, we been waiting on manaburn a whole lot longer /wink you get used to it! :rolleyes:

I am sorry but I think you give stances way to much power by saying sony will design content around them. I highly doubt that. The stances are akin to discs, nothing more. Agree the 25%-50% ratio is out of whack, BUT what else do we do - keep crying about Karana's forever?

Going to share a story.

Last night, it was around 2 am, and raids where over and I decided to go lfg.

Turn on LFG message. 2 Minutes later I have a tell asking me to come to RS. Typically, I don't like RS, but I decide to go anyway. I was asked by a cleric to attend this group. The Group was: Paladin, Paladin, Cleric, Monk, Chanter, Myself. I was DPS/Snarer. I was selected by people I did not know, for that role - reguardless of the fact that there where 20 other people, several of which where classes that exceed my DPS.

We setup at Riftseeker/Balancer. We pull for 2 or 3 hours, killing Riftseeker, Balancer, and Venomtail from the hallway.

We have the following drop:

5 AC 25 Augs
2 Range items with Minion of Darkness Focus
2 Fire Damage 2 Hander Augs
6 Greater Muramite Runes
2 Glowing Muramite Rune
1 Priest Only Aug which gets stronger at midnight

Of what dropped, both Range items rotted, 4 of the Greaters went to the SAME PERSON, 2 rotted and both Glowings Rotted. The Priest Aug, also rotted, the Fire Damage Augs where taken only becuase they where going to rot. The only items from the camp people actually wanted where the AC Augs.

So yes, groups like this do exist. Its totally possiable to be asked to a group for a dps slot, even if others are lfg. Finally, it is possiable - like that person, to be in one of those groups and get 4 Runes in one evening.

-Fenier

The point about Caster DPS being out of whack vs melee DPS is due to casters not being able to "sustain" the DPS while melee's can whack and whack.

I guess melee's "mana" is supposed to be endurance or whatever its called :) and in theory any melee would have to stop and "med" so to speak but I do not see that happening.

Now if melee classes can go non-stop then so should casters or we have a balance issue.

Now the rogue/wizard example was picked because, for the most part, both classes are mainly pure DPS. Sure they have other secondary roles but the classes are mainly DPS so should both classes not be equal in "sustained" DPS?

Now supposedly SOE will be addressing this caster/melee DPS issue sometime in the future.

As far as the post above.... I sure hope that someday I get in such a group :)

-Cass

P.S. Originally, IMHO, melee was supposed to run out of endurance or whatever and some classes could "heal" this with now useless spells. This would make it important to have someone in the group who could do that.

SoE has decided that the druids get realistically 2 nuke lines. Fire and Cold. The dpm for the fire ones are not very efficient but have higher damage for more bang for your buck so to speak. The Cold line were reduced in damage slightly for a significant reduction in mana cost. This spell line is designed for more long term sustained dps nuking with it. The rain/AE/pbae spells we also have, mixed cold/magic for the most part, are a nice complament to our straight dd nuke spells. While chaining Tempest Wind + Glitterfrost/ancient: Glacier frost will drain almost anyones mana pool, the dps that is put out is very nice. We have dots. Stack 1 or 2 dots on a mob and then toss out some nukes. The dps is there, while not as simple and straightforward as a rogue, sneak behind mob, BS, turn on attack. It is still there, you have to get creative with your spell casting, seeing what works for you. We do not have the simple select 1 DD spell, cast repeatedly on end to due max dps. That is not the druid. If you do not have Glitterfrost, then compare Summer's Flame and Winter's Frost. The cold nukes are still much more efficient. SoE basically is saying you can't have your biggest, strongest nukes and most mana efficient nukes at the same time. Agree with them, disagree, but don't complain it's not there.

If you have never seen a warrior run out of endurance, then they are either very good at holding aggro, have some downtime in between mobs, or have very large endurance pools. My warrior alt is constantly running out because his gear is not that where he can just hold aggro from dps/procs yet and lacks the aa to help with that. With no endurance he can't bellow and that is still his primary aggro. A rogue with no dps can only poke and BS like normal, they can't use their discs. It happens, but is much rarer than a caster running oom.

I gotta say I have been level 70 for a while now and have NO lvl 69 or 70 spells, and until I just read this thread I didn't know they were researchable? Would someone explain this more to me, like do you have to own DOD? Cuz personally I just bought DON a few months ago and have no desire to own DOD at this point.
I would like to get my spells though and I am by no means elite or uber and my guild is a family guild and no where near anguish.
Thanks for the help

Guv

Sorry to say this but you where asked to that group Fenier because you could snare not dps.

I gotta say I have been level 70 for a while now and have NO lvl 69 or 70 spells, and until I just read this thread I didn't know they were researchable? Would someone explain this more to me, like do you have to own DOD? Cuz personally I just bought DON a few months ago and have no desire to own DOD at this point.
I would like to get my spells though and I am by no means elite or uber and my guild is a family guild and no where near anguish.
Thanks for the help

Guv

Add me to this list. How do we research 69 and 70 spells?

Thanks

-Cass

I believe someone mistakenly said 69 and 70. If I recall, the new spell research that is exclusively for INT casters in the new DoD expansion works up to level 65 GoD and earlier expansions. If you want to know somemore, I would recommended checking over on EQTC for some more info as that will probably be the best collection of drop info, recipes and whatnot for that.

Yep, everything I've read re: new research is that it'll be 61-65 spells.

9 months ago - lvl 65, 3.5k hp, 4.5k mana, missing tons of spells

today - lvl 70 9.4k hp, 9.6k mana, missing a few relatively useless spells

What happened between there?

I met a cleric/beastlord duo who basically found that I was a pretty decent druid and could do a lot with what I had. They helped me level to 70 and grind out about 100 AAs. Why did they like me? I could back-up heal, I could save their butts when things got hairy and do other stuff when things were running smoothly. When I parted company with them (primarily due to the time commitment of raiding with the guild I began to app to) and stopped exping with them, I was up to about 7k raid buffed hp from exp drops and 6kish mana and not missing a lot of spells.

There's a very prominent mechanic of time vs. reward for EQ. If you don't have the time to commit to grinding, raiding, etc... then there's other content for you to try besides the latest zones. I great quote I saw on someone's sig "Getting to level 70 - easy.... staying level 20 and being happy - hard" (or something to that effect, and sorry I can't remember the person who's sig it was ><).

Moral - make some friends, show that you're a capable druid (and yes, I mean druid... dps and healing, imo there's no difference except in the spells that see more use), and you can go pretty far!

9 months ago - lvl 65, 3.5k hp, 4.5k mana, missing tons of spells

today - lvl 70 9.4k hp, 9.6k mana, missing a few relatively useless spells

There's a very prominent mechanic of time vs. reward for EQ.



That was a pretty inspiring story Dayuna! I'm about where you were 9 months ago.. lvl 65, 3k HP, 4.3k mana. Here's to hoping I can find a few good friends such as your Cleric / Beastlord combo that can help me along.

I've been reading this thread and kinda feel like I'm in Cassea's corner. The stances or top 10 reason lists seem like good ideas to help those who can use a little boost. When I had a few lvl 60-65 druid friends and compared gear, I had to gasp for air after viewing links to their raid gear. For all those lvl 65-70 druids who think they're still "average" with over 7, 9, or even 10k HP / mana, well... you guys are kinda ubber compared to me. :wiggle:

I'm very much in agreement with the time vs. reward theory. So for that matter, it's my fault that I haven't been seriously guilded for a few months and cut down on playing time. I'd love to be over 9k, heck, even over 7k with HP and Mana. I'd love to be able to solo NC for my 66-68 runes rather than buy them. Heck, I'm still trying to get LDON groups together for my Vengenance dots. Oh - and my lvl 63 Swarming Death would be nice too. Provided I didn't have to pay 12.5 k like I did for Pot9. :lmao:

I realize DoN has some great opportunities but I've been turned down by more than a few groups cause I'm "only lvl 65." Guess that idea of building groups myself is a good one. Unforunately when I did that and tried my first DoN mission, we didn't have a decent method of single pulling and my CC skillz must have sucked. 90 minutes of double pulls and one nasty 4 mob pull that wiped the group ended up in a failed mission. :(

I suppose getting guilded and re-building my friends list should be a priority. I just wanted to chime in and voice my thoughts on what seemed to be a few different topics in this thread.

HAPPY September to everyone! Twas my B-day on the 19th. YAY me. :hb2:

So you can research GOD spells? Cuz my unuberness doesn't have those either :P


Thanks again

Would need to check EQ traders, but I believe so. GoD was like what? 2 years ago?

-Fenier

So you can research GOD spells? Cuz my unuberness doesn't have those either :P


Thanks again

What's a GoD Spell? :)

-Cass

Going to share a story.

Last night, it was around 2 am, and raids where over and I decided to go lfg.

Turn on LFG message. 2 Minutes later I have a tell asking me to come to RS. Typically, I don't like RS, but I decide to go anyway. I was asked by a cleric to attend this group. The Group was: Paladin, Paladin, Cleric, Monk, Chanter, Myself. I was DPS/Snarer. I was selected by people I did not know, for that role - reguardless of the fact that there where 20 other people, several of which where classes that exceed my DPS.

We setup at Riftseeker/Balancer. We pull for 2 or 3 hours, killing Riftseeker, Balancer, and Venomtail from the hallway.

We have the following drop:

5 AC 25 Augs
2 Range items with Minion of Darkness Focus
2 Fire Damage 2 Hander Augs
6 Greater Muramite Runes
2 Glowing Muramite Rune
1 Priest Only Aug which gets stronger at midnight

Of what dropped, both Range items rotted, 4 of the Greaters went to the SAME PERSON, 2 rotted and both Glowings Rotted. The Priest Aug, also rotted, the Fire Damage Augs where taken only becuase they where going to rot. The only items from the camp people actually wanted where the AC Augs.

So yes, groups like this do exist. Its totally possiable to be asked to a group for a dps slot, even if others are lfg. Finally, it is possiable - like that person, to be in one of those groups and get 4 Runes in one evening.

-Fenier

Not only were you picked for snare but for posible back up healing, plz tell me you don't actually believe it was for DPS.

Not only were you picked for snare but for posible back up healing, plz tell me you don't actually believe it was for DPS.

I quoted exactly what was told to me.

She said I can heal fine - you are on dps. I was like ok then, and that's how it went.

I don't claim to know what she was thinking, but clearly some people do think like that. So really what I believe isn't important in that sense, becuase she choose the druid, and not another class. Its not like I was building the group and selected the cleric.

-Fenier

Would like to share how my own last few RS groups have gone. Greater rune drops..two people roll. Aug drops, two people roll. Glowing drops, 5 people roll (the tank was there because he was bored).

When I can get a RS group I am always finding groups that the bulk or the people are there because they dont have their 70 spells.

While I will be the first to admit that I have been having terrible luck rolling, having one 70 spell while having well over 700 aa just seems like perhaps the bloody things are a wee bit too rare...

The reason I like the stances idea is that to me druids have always meant flexibility and stances seem to add nicely to our flexibility. We arent ever going to heal as well as a cleric or nuke as well as a wiz but we certainly are more flexible than either.



Sliggoth, druid/ tradeskiller of 7th hammer

My group in Stoneroot Falls yesterday. All lvl 70 SK, Pal, Chanter, Necro, Monk, Druid (me). Killed Orc Legionairres , white cons to us, easy to pull singles no deaths - or even any serious threat. Just steady pull, debuff, slow, and whack. About 4-5% aa xp per kill.

In about 2 hours we looted 2 greater, 3 regular, 2 minor and 5 lesser runes. That's 12 runes in 2 hours. Granted, no glowing dropped but still....

We are pretty much Time/Qvic geared, but I am certain that we could have handled things in elemental/cultural/DON gear.

I certainly wish the runes had been this available when I was doing 65-70.

My group in Stoneroot Falls yesterday. All lvl 70 SK, Pal, Chanter, Necro, Monk, Druid (me). Killed Orc Legionairres , white cons to us, easy to pull singles no deaths - or even any serious threat. Just steady pull, debuff, slow, and whack. About 4-5% aa xp per kill.


Benthair - was that a monster mission or a regular group in this new DoDH zone? 4-5% aa xp per kill seems like quite a bit in a group setting.

It was a regular xp group killing lvl 70 orcs. Even the SK (778 aa's) commented on the fact that his aaxp bar was moving. It is definitely not rs xp, but was reasonably good considering. We were working on the Scavenger Hunt mission to get the first drop for Dreadspire access. Casters Realm has the walkthru, and a very good map showing right where we were hunting.

Part I left out was the fact that after a couple hours, one of our guildmates explained to us we were killing the wrong orcs to get the 2 Chopping Swords we needed. That they actually dropped off of blue con Deep Orcs that you could visually see wielding swords. We switched to them, the xp was not good - but we got the 2 drops in about 20 minutes and left.

Benthair - was that a monster mission or a regular group in this new DoDH zone? 4-5% aa xp per kill seems like quite a bit in a group setting.

This is not in an instanced zone if that's what you're asking. You don't even have to get the expedition to kill these.

I've read through this thread, and I really don't get it. I'm another E's True-EQ Stories as well. I've worked my butt off for the past year or so to go from roughly 6kish mana to 10k, and over 10k hps. Most of it was in a guild that just broke into Time. Honestly, if you can put the work into it, you can do lots. The key my friends, is to make friends. I was in the same spot alot of you were... Level 70 with maybe 1-2 level 69 spells and 1 lucky glower drop, hardly ever getting invites, sitting LFG for hours.

After awhile, i just started grouping with a few people over and over. They weren't the most uber group, but they were good people, and always willing to come group with me. Well we eventually started doing DoN's alot together, and eventually RS, and MPG Trial groups. Ya know what? We would just do the MPG Trials over and over and over until ever person in our little "squad" had the drop they needed from that particular Trial. Same thing goes with the augs and drops from RS. It's all about putting in the time to get them.

I don't understand the problems healing/DPS'ing you all are having. I can easily hold up a RS group being the MH without having to take med-breaks unless we have multiple bad pulls. The only thing i can see holding me back is not having a group heal that i can use more than 1 time every 25 min, is not having any HoTT's. Big deal. I bring alot more to the group and that is eventually what lands me groups. I can pull, harmo, buff, snare, evac, heal, etc. etc. etc. I'm not the type that only does what is asked... in a DoN, i will take charge and go harmo/pull myself. Its all about showing that you can do more than just the minimum they need.

DPS wise, i know i've seen some parses we do. I know i've personally done over 500-600 dps , and honestly felt i can do even more. So saying that our DPS sucks is just.... wrong. It's all about how you use your spells. Time and perserverance is what you need. Back in the day, i must have camped Elysians for like 3 months straight, but you know what? I had my full Elysian Gear. Same goes for all. You can't expect everythign to be just given to you. SoE wants the game to be more player friendly, but still wants you to put in some kind of work to get to know the potential of your character. I had a Rogue, but didnt know how to use him effectively so his DPS sucked. Gave him to a friend, and boom, he's a super-dps'er.

It's not the size of the DPS, it's how you use it.

That was a pretty inspiring story Dayuna! I'm about where you were 9 months ago.. lvl 65, 3k HP, 4.3k mana. Here's to hoping I can find a few good friends such as your Cleric / Beastlord combo that can help me along.

I've been reading this thread and kinda feel like I'm in Cassea's corner. The stances or top 10 reason lists seem like good ideas to help those who can use a little boost. When I had a few lvl 60-65 druid friends and compared gear, I had to gasp for air after viewing links to their raid gear. For all those lvl 65-70 druids who think they're still "average" with over 7, 9, or even 10k HP / mana, well... you guys are kinda ubber compared to me. :wiggle:

I'm very much in agreement with the time vs. reward theory. So for that matter, it's my fault that I haven't been seriously guilded for a few months and cut down on playing time. I'd love to be over 9k, heck, even over 7k with HP and Mana. I'd love to be able to solo NC for my 66-68 runes rather than buy them. Heck, I'm still trying to get LDON groups together for my Vengenance dots. Oh - and my lvl 63 Swarming Death would be nice too. Provided I didn't have to pay 12.5 k like I did for Pot9. :lmao:

I realize DoN has some great opportunities but I've been turned down by more than a few groups cause I'm "only lvl 65." Guess that idea of building groups myself is a good one. Unforunately when I did that and tried my first DoN mission, we didn't have a decent method of single pulling and my CC skillz must have sucked. 90 minutes of double pulls and one nasty 4 mob pull that wiped the group ended up in a failed mission. :(

I suppose getting guilded and re-building my friends list should be a priority. I just wanted to chime in and voice my thoughts on what seemed to be a few different topics in this thread.

HAPPY September to everyone! Twas my B-day on the 19th. YAY me. :hb2:

Zacory,

I had to check to see if I wrote that post!! ;)

I agree with all your issues, but I likewise know it's not EQ's fault. I don't have time to raid, and haven't been able to find a crowd to hang with since my return 2 months ago. The biggest problem I have is getting on a little too late for most of the groups that form up. But even so, I've added all my 65 PoP spells (bought them), 1 OoW spell (got a WoS group one night :), and upgraded 7 slots (3 PoP ornates, bought, 3 bazaar attunable items, and one DoN purchase).

The one thing I did want to let you know about, was that you mentioned that you don't have all your 63-64 PoP spells (spectrals). I have had them all for quite some time (bought in Bazaar), but recently found an easily soloable spot that drops them. They are rare, but I have two already, sitting in the bank, after 10-12 hours of soloing. In HoH, the SE basement (one with three rooms), there are 4 Valorian Guards in the last room (not guardians or sentries) and some named quest mob. The Guards can drop spectrals. And if you are 66 or 67 (or lower), you will still get bonus XP for killing them (they are 62 and some may be 61).

Tat