The Final Insult

[Temporis]

I am a level 72 NT, I have always played Mage like characters in other games, it fits my 'style' of play.
I have nano armor as high as i can wear, I am Mat crea implanted as high as Treatment will bear, I am max nano/nano pool/max health implanted as high as treatment will bear, I have a decent token bar
I also use Enfraams Major prot, and the 102 humid extractor
When I started AO in juli, the NT was described in the manual as the master of Direct damage, and potentially on of the most powerfull characters at higher levels when played right...

Now back to reality..yesterday I'm doing solo missions, I choose about medium difficulty, which yields me a fair amount of 'grey' missions, with no token as result, but thats not even the MAIN issue here,
when I do finaly get a mission with green mixed with some yellow, I run into mr hardened highwayman... (and lets not even Bring up the Torpedo's)

Now mr highwayman is GREEN to me, yet he hits me HARD, so I root him, draw away, and try to nuke...
- Although I invested in Evade Close combat as much as Ip would allow (dark blue!) Im getting hit hard and critted so much that i cant stand toe to toe for more than 15 sec
- My 1:30 min root, which I can just squize in now, breaks after one or two DD spell hits...it used to only break that easely if the rootee is hit by gunfire (after which i decided 'suck up' the wasted IP and do away with the gun)
- When I do actually survive long enough to do extended damage, my Nano pool runs out before I can get Mr highwayman lower than 1/3 of health left, that thing seems to have over 5000"

So in short, I can live with melee monsters doing high damage, but I cannot live with 1:30 roots breaking in 6 seconds and my implanted, humidified, and 'tokened' nanopool not being able to put out enough damage to 'empty' his healthpool
I hope all agree with me that repetitive zoning is not a viable mission tactic for doing 50% mission with GREEN mobs....

* So, No solo missions anymore for NT

* Group Hunting you say? Facts : Groups are not overly exited about NT, Why?:

- NT are not the king of damage, the 'artilery'...we should have been, A good weaponwielder with a high QL gun outdamages me easy
- NT used to be good for 'MOB' control..., however, our range has been taken away, and roots just don't do the job anymore (read above)
- Since 13, When the DOC is casting Group heal, I CANT CAST MY SPELLS, add a bit of lag to that, and you get useless fast!!!
- since 13, When I'm Casting my spells, THE DOC CAN'T GROUP HEAL, this gets people killed

* Well of to PVP then... NOT

- With 50% rule in, my Implanted, humidified, 'tokened' mana pool doesnt last me anymore to kill most non healing chars, lets not even discuss the healers...
So Im now mathematical unable to kill these players, even if they chose not to fight back.
- Roots break easely, try keeping an MA away from you now....
- My range was capped, you can only start casting the root once target is in range, by the time cast is done, your already taking heavy melee damage,
- and guess what, I have very low Health, I have INT/PSY armor, which cant be buffed, I cant wear tank, IM WEAK...an NT is supposed to be weak..BUT THAT WEAKNESS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR BY THE ABILITY TO KEEP DAMAGE AWAY IF GOOD TACTIC IS USED : GOOD ROOTS, RANGE AND HIGH DAMAGE
This was so in July, and although we were not Uber, our compensations have been taken away one by one...

So...we are now 13.1, and my Class has become totaly unplayable, each patch has made it progresively worse...

If you (FUNCOM) are not going to handle these issues...and I mean ALSO THE PVP ONES, I would very much like to know, I like 'the potential' of this game very much, but most contructive critisism that people on these boards try to put out seems to fall on deafmans ears
I know I'm only one of 35000, but I took my time to provide feedback, I would like to know if these things will be dealth with, or if the intention is there to deal with them
Because frankly, I would like to draw my conclusions either way...

Regards

Temporis

aonyenna@hotmail.com

[________________Miir]

Group Hunting you say? Facts : Groups are not overly exited about NT, Why?:

Uhm, NTs always get a spot in groups.
They deal assloads of damage.....fast.

since 13, When I'm Casting my spells, THE DOC CAN'T GROUP HEAL, this gets people killed

Casting what spells?
I've never seen a doc not able to group heal.
In a good group, a good doc will use mostly single target heals.

[Temporis]

Oh really?

who belongs here most exactly, me, trying to address the issues that ruined my gaming experience, or you, who just goes around and makes funny little comments on the ideas posted on this forum (i've seen your 'Work' on some other posts),

Doc's group Heals ARE getting 'prevented' at initiation by other group members initiating a spell, and I don't care particulary for your opinion on a 'GOOD' doc, the spells are in to be used, they are usefull, thus they should be bug free

Actually, the fact that because you havent SEEN it makes you state it isnt there, says alot about your personality

And if you feel me to be a whiner, just ignore me, I'll try to extend you the same courtesy

Oh and thanks for the tip on the baord!

ciao

[________________mege]

Hmmm... about the team heals/good doc thing...

Docs should be using team heal lvl 15-100 IMO, there isnt much difference in the heal rates in that range (single/team). It also depends on what type of group you have going. Bothackers - team heal ONLY with a possible single heal if someone is realy really stupid. Meduseas - individual heal because your only taking on one MOB with one tank at a time. There arent many "mass pull" areas post 100 also... that's why the change to mostly individual heal also.


NTs are definately as good now... almost to the point of my not building mine except to use NP skill and make some moeny, but that's a ways down the road now..

[________________Miir]

Allow me to address your other concerns.

Although I invested in Evade Close combat as much as Ip would allow (dark blue!) Im getting hit hard and critted so much that i cant stand toe to toe for more than 15 sec

This is a problem for all casting professions.
We are not meant to 'tank' mobs.

My 1:30 min root, which I can just squize in now, breaks after one or two DD spell hits...it used to only break that easely if the rootee is hit by gunfire

All the good NTs I know root after every nuke.
Very fast cast and relatively low nano cost.

When I do actually survive long enough to do extended damage, my Nano pool runs out before I can get Mr highwayman lower than 1/3 of health left, that thing seems to have over 5000

Do you know what your calm line of nanos does?
How can you whine about not being effective when you don't even know how to use your full repertoire of nanoformulas?

I cannot live with 1:30 roots breaking in 6 seconds

Any damage has ALWAYS had the chance to break root.
It took you 72 levels to realise this most basic of game mechanics?

So, No solo missions anymore for NT

Try using calms and then come back and post your results.

NT used to be good for 'MOB' control..., however, our range has been taken away, and roots just don't do the job anymore

No changes have been made to roots.
No changes have been made to calms.
Everybody's range has been capped at 40m.

Since 13, When the DOC is casting Group heal, I CANT CAST MY SPELLS, add a bit of lag to that, and you get useless fast!!!

Team heals have always screwed up casting nanos.
It has been like this since beta.
It took you 72 levels to notice this?

Well of to PVP then... NOT

Your only valid point.
Subtrating AC damage absorption after total damage is halved in PvP is bogus. AC absorption needs to be factored in before damage is halved.

Roots break easely, try keeping an MA away from you now....

Roots have not been changed.

My range was capped, you can only start casting the root once target is in range, by the time cast is done, your already taking heavy melee damage

Lies.
Factor in NanoC Init and roots are practically an instant cast.

and guess what, I have very low Health, I have INT/PSY armor, which cant be buffed, I cant wear tank, IM WEAK...an NT is supposed to be weak..

This is a problem related to breed.
If you chose Nanomage, you will be physically weak and have low HP.

So...we are now 13.1, and my Class has become totaly unplayable, each patch has made it progresively worse...

Even a chronic crybaby like Nanostealth has managed to get 5-6 levels since 13.0 patch.
Totally unplayable?
That's close to 10million XP.


hmnnn

[______________Xombie]

who belongs here most exactly, me, trying to address the issues that ruined my gaming experience, or you

I would say neither, since both of you payed for the accounts that allow you to post on these boards...
but I'd have to go with her, since she doesn't spam them up.

[hexxia]

everyone has had a hard time in 13.0 *shrug*

PS as an MA, your roots in PvP work JUST FINE on us :-)

[______________Lictor]

Originally posted by hexxia
everyone has had a hard time in 13.0 *shrug*

PS as an MA, your roots in PvP work JUST FINE on us :-)

Well, it actually seems to depend
My Fixer's roots don't stick much. On the other hand, my Trader's roots after a deprive did stick *very* well
I guess it's a matter of nano attack skill vs Nano resist...

As for having a hard time, didn't notice much difference since 13.0, still levelling about as fast... Just needed to adapt a few things, get some nanos ahead than the planned time...
And yes, you should research into the calm lines... My level 20 Trader discovered them, and WOW Probably the most powerful line in the whole game... Both for soloing missions and doing crowd control (provided the group you're with has some brain)...

[Temporis]

for reference, the unkillable mob was a hardened convict (and higher up torpedo), not a highwayman, My mistake

Temp

[____________Shepherd]

Original poster, let me guess -- you're a nanomage?

There are some serious problems with the NT profession, yes. But there are worse problems with the nanomage breed. They die too easy; the bonuses to intelligence and nanopool aren't worth the drawbacks to lifespan.

Reroll your NT as a solitus, I think you'll find it much more enjoyable.

[___________Misophist]

My first character at release was a nanomage NT. Got to level 50 and realized I had made a few mistakes. Now I struggle with the prospect of rerolling or going with what I have. Unfortunately, I can be a bit of a perfectionist. So looks like a reroll is in my future.

But during that course of time, while I learned how to play AO, I didn't find the nanomage breed to be too problematic, honestly. Now this was waaay pre 13.0, but I know a few nanomages -- of all professions -- who are doing just fine right now.

But I have to agree that there's not enough of an advantage in choosing this weak breed. My Solitus trader is amazing, and I bet an atrox would be even better. Opifex MA? Right as rain, except for min. damage, which is the fault of the profession and game mechanics and not the breed.

So... why would I bother with a nanomage *anything* when I know you can do just as well with another breed? The popular trend these days is to make a twinky atrox caster (NT, Meta, whatever), and they basically OWN no matter what. Not saying I will do this, but the fact is, it happens, and it works.

Nanomages need some sort of advantage that would make it seem completely insane NOT to choose one for your heavy nano user. Right now, the green int and psych and slightly higher nanopool seem like a miniscule advantage compared to the balanced feeling of the solitus and the amazing health of the atrox, and the green agility of the opifex is also very helpful for a lot of professions.

Yes, the original poster may be having trouble with his NT because of his weak breed, but I feel this should not be the case. Nanomages seem like the obvious choice for NT, right? At this point in the game, if you don't twink your nanomage whatever with the best life implants he/she can get into, you're going to be SOL when it comes to missions, etc. Even if you have a pet to tank, nanomages need every possible scrap of health they can get. Are nanomages just good for looking menacing and creepy and evil?

[Cheddar]

I'd have to agree with each of Miir's response.

NTs are not the masters of damage at all levels, but they could certainly be called the masters of "calming". I've watched very high level NTs calm their way thru difficult missions. Much, much better calming then what I as a Trader can do.

Humidity extractor ensures a hero's welcome in most groups.

Also, keep in mind that every character will become un-soloable at some point... some sooner than others. Most people hit the wall around 100 or so. As a nanomage, I'm sure you'd hit this breakpoint much sooner.

PvP? No more easy solo ganking with the recent changes I guess. But in group PvP, enemy NTs can not be left unchallenged or your defeat is inevitable. Today I saw an NT cast what looked like an A-bomb in 2ho. It was a monstrous fireball... me and a bunch of my 110+ guildmates flopped over dead. Now he didn't just waltz into 2ho and announce his presence. Rather, he had a pretty respectable screen of high level buddies tying everyone up. Meanwhile, he stood in the background casting his death blossum nuke.

I didn't mind dying to that one. Good strategy and a pretty nuke