EverQuest Rangers - News on Paladin and Shadow Knight upgrades

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The following was posted by Abashi:

Major SK and Paladin News

Hot of the Gameplay forum, Abashi just announced some big news for the Shadow Knight and Paladin classes. Here's the post:

Hello all, I said I'd stop in tonight and let you know what was decided. As of the next patch, Paladins and SKs will receive additional hitpoints, and increased caps on bash and taunt.
The additional hitpoints will be noticeable for Paladins and SKs over level 25. This was done because the Paladins, SKs, and Rangers had the same HP base, which was incorrect. This change will basically put Paladin and SK HPs midway between rangers and warriors of the same race.

The taunt skill was increased because SKs, and in particular, Paladins could not taunt opponents off of Rangers, Monks, Rogues, and Warriors due to their lower damage output. Though the Paladin and SK will never equal the warrior in their ability to taunt, this change in addition to some of the taunting spells should help them fulfill their role as a tank.

Bash was increased because Paladins typically aren't switching to two handed weapons, choosing instead of using the bash skill. Most warriors, being ogres, trolls, or barbarians for the most part, do not worry about bash and instead opt for slam, which uses the same skill. Paladins are typically the only characters who use a shield throughout their lives.

The problem of an AC disparity between Paladins/SKs and rangers still exists due to the ranger class-specific armor typically having an AC that is too high. We'll be further examining the AC disparity over the coming weeks, and will address it with items.

Additionally, the need for Paladin/SK 1H weapons above that of the Ghoulbane has been brought to the attention of our Live team (the item/quest people). Quite frankly, if you are still wielding a GB in the high 40s, you aren't doing the damage you should be doing. However it's apparent that Paladins (and the smaller SKs) prefer to retain their bash.

Also, the Armor of Ro should be more obtainable after the next patch. The class-specific mid-level armor in general is still being analyzed and will improve over the next few patches.

Finally, Fear will drop more items. I was able to obtain several pieces for each class upon testing it last night.

-Gordon

Ok, now that you read the article, here are my thoughts on some of what was posted. As far as Paladins and SK's getting Health Point boosts, thats fine. I don't have a problem with it cause they are Plate wearing classes. So in theory, I would think they are considered better "tanks" because of that and thus, in turn would merit additional HP. The taunt skill increase for Pal's and SK's, I think would fall under the same theory as I metioned above. So, again, I don't have a problem with that. As for their Bash skill increase, doesnt really pertain to us. Now the next part of the article I found to be interesting and a bit concerning. I will talk about that in a minute. As for there being more 1H Slash weapons for Pal's and SK's, well then I think they should add a couple of 2H Slash Ranger Only weapons or better yet, add more, better 1H Slashing Ranger only weapons. I will also elaborate on this in abit. As for Paladins being able to obtain their armor a bit easier, not really too important to us either.

Ok first, the on the subject of the class specific armor. He said there is an Armor Class dispairity between Pal's/SK's and Rangers that exists due to our class specific armor having an AC that is too high and that they are going to look into that dispairity and will address it with items. Ok, personally I don't think that our AC on Ivy Etched Armor is too high. On most pieces it is 1 to 2pts lower on AC than the corresponding Pal/SK piece. To me, I think that is the way it should be. Let me show you what I mean. Steel Plate armor is the best non-magic armor that Pal's and SK's can wear. Banded is the best is the best non-magic armor that Rangers can wear. If you examine the AC's on both of them, you will notice that on most pieces that 1 to 2 AC difference exists there as well. So to me, it is logical that the same difference would exist on Class specific armor since supposedly, they would take about the same level to earn. I don't know, maybe I am just taking it too personal? But in any case, whether I am wrong or right, I just hope that in the end, they don't decide to "nerf" our armor. I also hope they they don't decide to increase the AC's on Pal/SK armor by alot either. Maybe a 1pt AC increase on some pieces would be fair, maybe even justified, but any increase over 1pt I really think would be unfair. After all, we Rangers had to work just as hard as those Paladins and Shadow Knights to earn our very special armor and deserve to have good armor with good, fairly comparable AC

Now as for about adding more 1H Slashing weapons for Paladins and Shadow Knights....I mean come on. They already have some of the better 2H weapons in the game, which to me makes sense because when you think of a Paladin or Shadow Knight, you tend to associate a 2H Slashing weapon with those classes. Giving them more class specific 1H Slashing weapons (which you know would probably have good stats) I feel takes away from the Ranger class. When you think of a Ranger, you tend to associate 1H Slashing weapons with them because of our ability to duel wield. As it is, I don't feel most of our Ranger Only weapons are really outstanding. They all pale in comparison with the mighty Paladin Only Ghoulbane. As, I suggested before, if they are going to add more 1H Slashing weapons for Paladins and Shadow Knights, they should also add more for Rangers or add Ranger Only 2H Slashing weapons. In a way, I kind of see it as them being rewarded for electing NOT to use those good 2H Slashing weapons that are made available to their classes, which I feel is unfair to us Rangers.

Well in any case, after reading the article and my thoughts, please bear in mind that they are just that.....MY thoughts. You may or may not agree with them, which is fine. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Well that was my 2 copper on the subject of the Paladin and Shadow Knight upgrades. Thanks for taking the time to read it!

- Kinien