Dark Age Of Camelot: Warden TL report 1.66

Taken from VN Boards

Overview

Wardens are a highly desired class in both RvR & PvE. The primary reason for this desire is PBT but this is problematic for a few reasons. In terms of fun factor, its because our active role is somewhat diminished compared to other classes. Otherwise, its problematic because with everyone so focused on our PBT many wardens are left with a feeling of inadequacy or a sense of being pigeon-holed into a role in which they can't make a noticeable difference.

Concerns

Leveraging of abilities

Our two primary active abilities, melee and healing are mutually exclusive of each other. Unlike all other hybrids (except the Friar), there is no leveraging between the two and Wardens must choose to heal or fight. Even if they chose to give up nurture and go all regrowth and weapon they can only use one or the other at any given time. This tends to cause wardens to give up one in a vain attempt to max the other for little to no gain. This giving up of one for the other adds more to the pigeon-holed feeling.

Lack of hindering ability

Wardens have no means to stop or slow an enemy from attacking a group mate nor a way to keep from being kited across the zone. More specifically, we lack things like guard which hinder the ability of an enemy to hit our group mates and we lack any form of direct hindrance, whether it be through styles or some castable form, to allow us to halt or slow an enemy from attacking someone or kiting us.

PBTs effectiveness

The many instances where this ability has been toned down since release has left a question as to it's efficacy in RvR. Since this ability provides no feedback to the chanter when it absorbs a blow, it is virtually impossible to quantify its usefulness.

Specline Issues

Nurture

Nurture as a whole is generally looked upon as a pretty solid line whose biggest issue is with the damage add chant. This chant is relatively seen as useless not to mention the fact that it is still does not stack with the enchanter's DA buff. The sole reason that it is seen as useless is because unlike a group timered buff or a targetted conc buff, there is no way to make use of the DA chant while PBT is running, and PBT is expected.

Regrowth

There is a lack of utility or lack of value for speccing in Regrowth, especially higher levels of it. One of the major gripes is the inability to leverage that healing with our melee skills. There is no ability to heal while filling our role as a fighting class. "We're Hibernia's fighter/healer on paper, but we can't effectively fight and heal.".

Parry

There is virtually no visible benefit to speccing parry as there is with shield. This is one of the reasons many Wardens ask for shield spec. When one compares the two there simply is no comparison. Speccing in both, offers the same 0.5% chance per level to block/parry, but shield provides many options which parry doesn't. The fact that parry has no additional benefits such as a parry version of guard or an advanced parry of sorts, is seen as its biggest detriment. Lastly, parry rates degrade as the number of attackers increase, as is common in RvR. Current RvR tactics specify all melees attacking a single target which not only nullifies PBT, but also drives parry rates down to the point where nothing is parried at all. Parry is commonly used for leftover points for the most part and anything else is seen as a waste.

Weapons (General)

When it comes to weapon spec, the largest issue overall is seen as a lack of damage/weaponskill. Essentially, There is little to no return on the points invested. Over the course of leveling/speccing, Warden damage changes very little, meaning the most significant benefit we get out of speccing a weapon is the styles which brings up the next issues with Warden weapon spec. The styles are hardly complimentary of our investment and really need to be looked at and made usable. As an example, its pretty bad, that Slam (a 8 spec taunting style which incurs a medium defensive penalty) is seen as the best use anytime style in blunts or that Hib 1h weapon lines are the only ones without any rear positional or use anytime chains with snare/stun components.

Blunts

Blunts has a 4 style off block chain which is extremely difficult to complete and viewed negatively. The snare style in this line is the second style in the side positional chain and really needs to be moved to from behind so it can be effectively used.

Blades
The snare style in this line is a side positional and really needs to be moved to from behind so it can be effectively used.

Other Issues

Intercept & Protect

Many Wardens feel that not having intercept and some level of protect takes away from out protective/defensive nature.

End Regen/Redux

Many Wardens feel that end regen and end reduction being in regrowth instead of nurture, the buff/chant line, is an issue as it makes no sense due to its combat orientation and those needing it most are least likely to get it.

Shortbow

Many feel that the lack of range or damage of the shortbow take away from its usability.

New Issues

Realm Abilities

The community generally feels that the cost of hybrid RAs is too high considering that hybrids need to spread their RAs out to enhance two roles (healing/power vs. offense/defense) instead of one. It is also commonly felt that given the defensive nature of the class, not having Avoid Pain takes away from that.

Item Problems

Epic Armor

Our epic armor salvages for a value substantially less (~400g) than that of similar armors (approximately half). It also 'appears' that our epic armor may have the lowest utility of any epic, by a fairly wide margin. In general, epic armor needs to be looked at in relation to ToA quest armor that is far more easily obtainable.

Crocodile Tear Ring

This item has the ability to make all chants affect all friendly targets near the caster. This item is listed as usable by focus casters & Minstrels/Skalds/Bards. Wardens find this to be a huge issue since Theurgists and Runemasters can now provide AE PBT and we cannot. We would like to have access to this artifact.

Eternal Plant

This artifact is listed as for those who tend the wounds of others, but Wardens can't activate this artifact.

Documentation Issues

None at this time