I think it's generally understood (at least by those who don't play clerics) that the class has become *extremely* powerful since the 1834 patch. Truth be told, they were powerful before. The 1834 patch pushed them over the top
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy powerful classes. But there is a difference between "powerful" and "munchkin". 1834 pushed clerics from the former, to the latter.
before 1834 I had my Test Cleric - Sophestra
the following were facts before 1834
- I would have to pull intelligently
- Adds provided a significant challenge at +1 level (if i got one or two of them)
- I would *never* pull three dots unless they were -1 or -2
- My racial ability could turn the tide of battle (dwarven)
- Resting between fights was needed sometimes
- I would not kill as fast as a light fighter
- Tanks were better at holding aggro
- Taking on +3 two dots last *forever* and was incredibly thrilling when I finally won and lived to brag about it (happened for the first time at level 20)
After the 1834 patch the facts have changed
- Pulling does not matter unless I'm taking a +4 two dot
- Adds of same level or +2 no longer pose a thread - at all unless I'm mobbed (more than three adds)
- Three dots no longer concern me - even at +2 levels
- I've not hit my racial ability ONCE since the patch
- I don't rest between fights unless I was mobbed
- I still cannot kill as fast as a twinked out light fighter - but I'm not too far behind
- I died three times when teamed with a tank because I pulled aggro from him and forgot to change my healing target or hit my racial ability
- I believe doing either of those would have saved me from death - so I take it as a learning experience and a testament to the power of the class
- +3 two dots take only slightly longer to kill and the thrill has long since faded
so why do I think Clerics need help? The short and sweet of it is, they are far too powerful. I solo with my cleric. I have only teamed with her twice. her power will continue to grow as she gains affinities (yea - she does all of this WITHOUT affinities) and continues to level.
Add the war affinity for the additional offensive power, and you have a light fighter, wearing heavy armor, that can heal and buff - she's a party unto herself.
To be fair and make sure my view was not skewed due to level (I mean she *is* 21) I rolled a new cleric on Live.
- I have to pull intelligently - sorta - I can take up to three mobs before I start getting worried
- Adds of the same level or +1 are a bit of a thrill, but not a challenge.
- I have not pulled three dots (she's only level 6)
- My racial ability saved me ONCE
- Due to the damage bug (hand of censure deals doubles all of your damage)I kill as fast as a light fighter
- I don't' know if a tank can hold aggro better than I can at this point, I'm willing to guess they can as I have no hate generators other than attacks
- Camped a +3 two dot just to level. No thrill. Little challenge and the only time I hit my racial ability is when i had that and a +1 add
Look guys. I appreciate power. I really do. I LOVE powerful characters. But there is a fine line between the powerful characters and the game not being fun anymore. Making munchkins is what I expect to happen around a paper and pencil gaming table. I expect my MMO's to be balanced and to present me with a reason to want to play the other classes.
I want the flavor and if I want to twink my toon so she can solo that is my choice and I should be forced to see the concessions elsewhere. Right now my test toon is using the URT armor and my live toon is using dropped armor from named mobs - I don't buy armor for my toons - so add that to the equation and you have something truly disgusting. My toon is not twinked and this is what she can do. If I REALLY set out to break this thing - I'd be insane!
Please, look at doing something to bring the cleric power level back in line with the rest of the classes (read
lower the clerics power level). Please fix the damage bug and then leave clerics alone. There are tons of other classes out there that need help and need love and need their power level adjusted up. Cleric is not one of them