Dark Age Of Camelot: Thane TL report 1.66

TL report was taken from the VN Boards

Overview

With the changes that were given in 1.65, Thanes recieved some much needed attention to certain vital areas such as power consumption; but most of the changes only amplified our effectiveness in the two fields Thanes needed no help in - PvE and Keep oriented RvR. We do quite well in every aspect of PvE. As for RvR, by design we can only attain an average performance in both melee and spellcasting, which can be done by other classes with less investment and risk, thus leaving Thanes replaceable in most aspects of combat.

Concerns

Groupability: The primary concern I would like to present is the general inefficiencies that burden Stormcalling and the lack of groupability in this line. As previously noted, regardless of what the situation or playstyle of the person is, any other class that falls under the same roles in group can duplicate if not exceed our limitations in combat due to Thanes linear theme of pure damage. This dissolves any possible defining role for the class in groups. We recieve no greater compensation for these deficiencies in Stormcalling or initial abilities, and without any form of abilities to bolster the effectiveness or durability of a group, there is little reason to invite a Thane.

Spellcasting: As straightforward as the basic set of direct damage this class recieves is, the intended multi-functional premise of Thanes is inadequate in the current enviroment. Unlike its counterparts, Thanes are incapable of fully combining both melee and offensive spellcasting simultaneously, which is a fun and unique aspect of the class. But, with the exception of the two instant spells that are burned through a fight in both options, the casted spells offer little damage in return for investing the time and power cost to use them. The amount of penalties that we recieve in spellcasting coupled with the highly demanded nature of utility effects found on weapon styles and procs, causes melee combat to be the only currently viable choice for the duration of most fights.

Weapon skill: A majority of combat for Thanes is spent in melee, which raises the issue of Thanes being on a slightly lower weapon skill than its hybrid counterparts. Our Strength/Constitution self buff, which is intended to partially mitigate the weapon skill penalty given, cannot entirely accomplish this alone due to an inundated enviroment of specialized buff bots in RvR. By recieving a lower than standard growth on weaponskill than other hybrids, there is a heavier dependency for Thanes to exert as much damage as possible through instant spells, which eventually falls short since only one is useful in anti-CC enviroments.

Durability: Thanes will naturally have a lower amount of hit points compared to others from the basic design of hybrids. Yet in a fully buffed enviroment, which is commonplace, the margin of health between Thanes and parent classes is widened even more due to having a lower growth per consitution point than even other offensive hybrids, no natural defense, and the redundancy of the self buff in everyday RvR. By most playstyles it is quite difficult to make up for this lack of health and natural defense by adding more investment into spec defense without severely hindering our potency in melee offense or nearly sacrificing all the benefits given from our defining spell line.

Specline Issues

Thunders Rend Line: At the highest level of this spell, Thanes can get a 9.4dps damage add, but every member of the realm can obtain an 11dps damage add at will. This indirectly widens the gap between Thanes and other melee classes overall damage, causing the damage add in group and the ability of having a self damage add to be virtually redundant.

Thor's Full Lightning Line: Even though the recast timer was taken off this spell, it is still rarely used in RvR. Due to the lack of a natural or purchased chance to broaden its effectiveness coupled with near inconsequential damage dealt, it inevitably becomes an unnecessary and avoidable part of most situations. Stormcalling is appropriately designed for pure direct damage and nothing else, but there is not enough damage potency in the Thor's Lightning line to equal the utility of effects on melee styles and the additional array of options that come with procs.

Command Mjollnir Line: With the recent increase in delve damage to this, Command Mjollnir has potentially become a much more viable tool to use in certain situations. However, due to the cast timer of four seconds along with faster outlets for interruption across all areas, it is increasingly difficult to land more than one at a time leaving no real mark unless the caster is extremely lucky. There are still very few situations in everyday RvR that allows for this spell to be used freely.

New Issues

Ice Storm: With the recent changes of the prerequisite to Evade, Ice Storm is now unusable for Sword spec Thanes.

Other Issues

-Wild Power: Without this ability, the option of broadening the effectiveness of our spells through RA's is not possible, unlike other offensive themed hybrids.

-Static Tempest: This RA largely goes ignored by most players, due to it not being worth the purchase cost and recast timer for its inadequate effect.

-Evade 1: Even though it has a small overall impact in durability, we are one of the few hybrids that still do not receive this ability.

-Avoid Pain: Given in most purchases, the option of lessening the impact of Thanes low natural HP's in battle through activated RA's carries little variety without this.

Item Issues

Thane Epic: The chest piece skin for Thane's epic armor does not quite befit the theme of the priests of Thor.

/salute