Heavy metal and GU 1.0.6
Today we saw Game Update 1.0.6 go live on the servers, and with it an influx of tanks. Part of the GU was the addition of the two tank classes that were initially slated for launch but never made it, Order’s Knights of the Blazing Sun and Destructions Dark Elf Blackguard. Our guild has seen a few Blackguard alts and a number of new members joining. I haven’t rolled a BG yet, and don’t intend to for the moment because I’m still pushing to get my Disciple of Khaine (DoK) into Tier 4.
With the Game Update came a lot of changes to all of the classes in some way or another, some minor and some major. One of the changes that I’m particularly happy about with my DoK is the improvement of the Chalice, the left hand weapon that benefits healing. Now, as well as the increases to Wisdom or other stats, we have a regeneration of Soul Essence (SE). SE is what fuels a DoK’s healing spells. The addition of a SE regen chalice makes carrying one far more useful now, and worth the sacrifice in damage. And it also encourages me to go in and melee more. Meleeing generates SE but it never did enough to keep the heals up in RvR so I would have to back away and cast my Blood Pact, which roots me for 5 seconds and regenerates my SE. So I would just hang back healing and casting Blood Pact all the time. Now I don’t need to cast it anywhere near as often and I can run in and melee and keep throwing heals out. Great improvement.
One other thing I saw today which has been absent for a long while; server queues. I only had to wait 4 minutes fortunately. There was lots of action today across Tiers 1, 2, and 3, and Open RvR going on as well as scenarios popping frequently. A good day.
Comments
Comment from caliga
Time: December 3, 2008, 4:48 pm
I think the issue with the BG, and with all classes, is that they expect to be able to 1-on-1 with every class, or with other classes. The complaint seems to be that they don’t hold up against the KotBS. We need to remember that class balance isn’t based on 1-on-1 but group vs group. I’m sure the BG has a place within a group at which it shines.
Comment from Kyrana
Time: December 3, 2008, 6:58 pm
QUOTE: We need to remember that class balance isn’t based on 1-on-1 but group vs group
That’s a very good point. Everyone seems to expect that they should be able to win in any given fight, regardless of class. As a witch elf, there’s no way I can take down a heavily-armored tank before help arrives for that tank without some support (ie, you behind me healing me like crazy and dps’ing as well). That’s not what I do. One on one vs. a BW in close quarters? No problem. I think the BG will be a good group addition–and a vital one for dark-elf centric guilds. I don’t know enough about the class yet to be able to pinpoint exactly what it’s going to bring to the table, but I look forward to finding out. 
caliga
Comment from Kyrana
Time: December 3, 2008, 2:32 pm
I was actually happy to see the queue, which was something I’d not seen in a very long time. A wait of less than 5 minutes is a small price to pay to see an influx of interest. I made my own BG to see what they look like and also to goggle at the sheer numbers of them running around the Blighted Isle. I think that it’s going to remain a popular class, even if it’s not perfect, simply because of the desire for a dark elf tank. I’ve been seeing some complaints already about them, but I think those small issues will be overlooked because of the rp appeal. But maybe I’m naive.