I dunno, but I just can't get into it. It feels like all they did was take EQ basics and copy all the good stuff from WoW, but it's not quite either one of those games. So far my quests have been "kill 10 X" and "get me 10 Y" and I feel like I've done this 100 times before. Maybe I'm missing something, maybe a shadowknight isn't the class to be playing. Is there any point it gets addicting, maybe I'm just not there yet?

when you start hitting dungeons, like tengral keep, the game picked up alot for me anyway

I haven't played the live version, but the solo quests don't differ much from EQ and WoW. The meat of the game does seem to be grouping and hitting the dungeons, but I just haven't felt the urge to get into it.

It gets better once you hit the first tier of dungeons, which on Qalia was around 10-11. Keep in mind that in the beginning most classes are simply cookie cutter - as you advance they begin to become much more diverse. My bard is 25 and he is finally feeling like a minstrel and not a rogue with particle effects.

Levels 1-10 were designed in such a way to be a basic intro to MMos and your class. Not much interesting going on there for a veteran player. The teens are more for intro to VGs style of play. Around level 10 or so, you should begin to get some of your class defining abilities and have more and better opportunities for grouping, which is where the game is much more fun. I have found combat (esp in groups) to be MUCH for fun than EQ (never played Wow.) Even healers like I play have a much more interesting role in combat than the usual EQ healer role. Playing a bloodmage, I never find myself bored in combat at all.

What would be a good class to be if you like to heal and nuke, but not beat on stuff?

Shaman or Bloodmage

Bloodmage, without a doubt!

I dunno, but I just can't get into it. It feels like all they did was take EQ basics and copy all the good stuff from WoW, but it's not quite either one of those games. So far my quests have been "kill 10 X" and "get me 10 Y" and I feel like I've done this 100 times before. Maybe I'm missing something, maybe a shadowknight isn't the class to be playing. Is there any point it gets addicting, maybe I'm just not there yet?

You'll find with this game that every class is very similar at the early levels. Some start to differentiate themselves from the others VERY early (IE: Druids!) and some it takes awhile (DPS and Tank classes).

Usually by mid to late teens you are really starting to see what seperates you from the other classes and what makes you "special". Needless to say, I LOVE my bard. At lvl 35 there is not a whole lot I can't do. Heck, I can take down 4 dot mobs if I so choose (could even do 5 dot if I wanted to, though it'd be a WHOLE lot of arrows).

*Note: In Vanguard, mob difficulty is rated two ways: a) Level and; b) Dots: 1 Dot - Easy, 2 Dot - Solo, 3 Dot - Hard Solo or Two Pers Grp, 4 Dot - Small Grp, 5 Dot - Full Grp, 6 Dot - Raid.*

Before you judge this game, do me a favor and play this game till the late teens, then make your decision. Also keep in mind that this game is still being worked on. Even if you decide not to play it for awhile, keep an eye on it. I can see this game possibly having the same lifespan as EQ if Sigil keep making the fixes and tweaks that they continue to work on. They're not perfect, but Sigil does get an E for Effort.

Starrla,

I have been playing a bloodmage and I have been soo impressed with this class as a healer. I can solo very easily (tap-tanking). In groups, I can do some pretty serious dps and still heal just fine. In fact, much of the damage/healing I do is by lifetapping mobs to heal myself, the tank, or even the whole group. At level 22, I have like 7 or 8 different healing tools and I use them all... not anything like in EQ where I would spam the same heal over and over. In addition to healing and nuking/dotting, I can do some simple CC with root and a short duration charm. We are also able to counterspell caster mobs (which is a nice twist and keeps you on your toes.) Did I mention we get canni and invis too? =)

Be aware though, that the BMG is one of the more complex classes in VG. (Think EQ bard). You are constantly having to manage your hp, mana, and blood union with a mob. But thankfully Sigil has given us a great set of tools to work with.

Thank you Welas for your input. EQ has done alot better than having just one heal for a cleric now. I use alot of my AAs has healing tools, and how I can heal can change in a event quickly and still need to watch my mana as I was reminded a few nights ago. hehehe EQ has improved in that area IMHO. My mana pool I have now spoils me. http://www.ayonae.ro/images/smilies/tongue.gif


I wanted to put a shout out to Binuven. I went to check out your guild in Vanguard and I noticed it said we do not need anymore clerics. Whats up with that? Everyone wants to play a cleric in Vanguard? So much the opposite of what you have in EQ. lol I see blood mages and disciples seem to be the shortage. Why do you think those two seem to be in short supply? Or is it just a fluke that at this time your guild just needs those and is not a reflection of a shortage in the game in general? What is a disciple like?

Get on Hilsbury Starrla!

I'm only level 30 and the game is so big without reading a bunch of the literature on it it's really hard to know what any other class does. It seems like half the classes have evac and summon.

When I look for a healer I generally don't care if it's a blood mage, shaman, or cleric. I do know that damage scales Blood Mage > Shaman > Cleric, so if you want to make things die and heal I'd start there.

Hehe, no worries about that Starrla. I've been trying to get that updated. Right now, until told otherwise, I'm leaving the doors wide open to those that apply. Even if it were closed, I'd tag you in a heartbeat, regardless of what they say. ;)

Hehe, no worries about that Starrla. I've been trying to get that updated. Right now, until told otherwise, I'm leaving the doors wide open to those that apply. Even if it were closed, I'd tag you in a heartbeat, regardless of what they say. ;)

*HUGS Bin* regardless of what they say? oh man..... :eek: ;)

Thank you Welas for your input. EQ has done alot better than having just one heal for a cleric now. I use alot of my AAs has healing tools, and how I can heal can change in a event quickly and still need to watch my mana as I was reminded a few nights ago. hehehe EQ has improved in that area IMHO. My mana pool I have now spoils me. http://www.ayonae.ro/images/smilies/tongue.gif


I wanted to put a shout out to Binuven. I went to check out your guild in Vanguard and I noticed it said we do not need anymore clerics. Whats up with that? Everyone wants to play a cleric in Vanguard? So much the opposite of what you have in EQ. lol I see blood mages and disciples seem to be the shortage. Why do you think those two seem to be in short supply? Or is it just a fluke that at this time your guild just needs those and is not a reflection of a shortage in the game in general? What is a disciple like?

I think BMGs and DSCs are fewer in number because of their difficulty. Both are very complex classes that not many understand how to play to their fullest. Mind you that both are just as effective at healing as shaman and clerics, but they way they do it requires a lot more micromanagement to do it well. Watching one played by an average player is interesting, but seeing one played by a good, knowledgable player is a sight.

DSCs are a monk type healer. From what I understand most of their heals are done thru completing melee attack chains (kinda like proccing a heal when they crit kind of thing.) I haven't played one, so I can't be too descriptive.

Best way I can describe a blood mage is like they are a cleric/necro hybrid (i.e. mainly lifetap based heals) with a little shammy (canni! woot!) and mage (nukes) thrown in. Sounds kinda bizarre, I know, but I have found it to be quite effective in both heals and dps on many mobs. Fights definitely never get dull or routine (well except for maybe soloing easy stuff.) We are cloth wearers (the only VG healer that wears cloth), but we are given some nice buffs and tools that add greatly to survivability. We also have stances, like EQ promised druids forever ago. DPS mode adds 25% to our attacks (and therefore our lifetap heals as well) while draining our own hp. Heal mode adds 25% to heals, cuts 50% dps, and adds 15% mitigation and a small amount of regen. These are switchable mid-fight. We also get self invis at an early level and we are the only healer class that can counter enemy spell casting.

I found it very interesting, when I went to cancel my subscription, all I got was a "Your subscription has been cancelled. Thank you for your patronage."
When I cancelled EQ2, I had to answer a bunch of questions, and what not.

Anyway, I may try Vanguard again down the road, but what with moving and all right now, it did not make sense to keep paying for something I have not even looked at, or had any desire to, in weeks.

I really would like to see this game become something that would rival EQ and WOW, but from the little I saw it was not ready to do that. EQ will still have my attention, when time allows.