What will the Sorceress do now?

[Estebar]

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ARCHMAGE

ARCHETYPE
Healer/Nuker
- Most powerful magic users
- Master of all Winds of Magic

GAME MECHANIC
Drain Magic
- Draws energy from targets
- Uses drained energy to heal
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So, it looks like the Archmage has taken the game mechanic that everyone was expecting the Sorceress to have. Pretty unexpected from my point of view, actually.

So, with the High Elf support-type taking the drain & heal tactic, what else is there for the Sorceress to do? She has to remain unique after all.

Do we suppose the Archmage will have reasonable nukes and mega-heals after draining, whereas the Sorceress will have reasonable heals and mega-nukes after draining?

Will the Sorceress be Drain & Nuke as opposed to the Archmage's Drain & Heal? Will that make her unique enough? Will she still qualify as a support class?

Thoughts?

[Grrblt]

I never expected Sorc to be a healer tbh. She fits the role of ranged dps much better.

[Jonas]

While I know that there are people who disagree with me, my initial interpretation of the Archmage's gimmick is that of AP damage gating healing spells more than the whole life drain element that everyone thought the sorceress would do.

[Vianne]

Well, what it looks like is that the Archmage drains magical energy that they use to power up their spells.
High Mages have drain magic in the TTG as well, though it's more of a power sink than a power leech.

Whereas a Dark Elf might actually drain their life instead, like health and maybe even morale.
But, the sorceress might not be the support class.. Would fit in the ranged dps slot as well.

[Arcadox]

from what we've been told (a very limited amount) it looks like the archmage's mechanic is draining AP (which could mean actually stealing, or just attacking AP directly) and using that energy to cast healing spells.

This could be totally wrong, but I don't think it's like a sorceress' drain health gimmick.

[Estebar]

Could someone explain the abbreviation AP, and its purpose in MMO's?

[Grrblt]

Could someone explain the abbreviation AP, and its purpose in MMO's?

AP is Action point, the mana if you will in WAR. But everyone has it, not just mages.

[Estebar]

When talking about the Archmage in his presentation, Paul talks about the Archmage's game mechanism, asking Jeff whether it's classed as "life-tapping", and then assumes that it works through "DOTs".

"They can take magic from ANYBODY (what do you call it, life-tapping?) ...DOT's? Whatever it is..."

I imagine this means it's more likely they'll be stealing health through damage instead of AP.

[Crazeh]

I took it to mean that their damage spells may well leech AP from the target at the same time.

[Jonas]

Apparently it's a life-tap style effect. :/

Personally, I would have preferred to see a AP attack style deal, as it creates a different dynamic for the class. Where it can Nuke, AP drain or Heal, depending on what is necessary. Further, the AP drain mechanic plays into the idea of the Archmage controlling magic etc..

[Loekii]

Whereas a Dark Elf might actually drain their life instead, like health and maybe even morale.
But, the sorceress might not be the support class.. Would fit in the ranged dps slot as well.

This would be my guess.

[Vikingkingq]

from what we've been told (a very limited amount) it looks like the archmage's mechanic is draining AP (which could mean actually stealing, or just attacking AP directly) and using that energy to cast healing spells.

This could be totally wrong, but I don't think it's like a sorceress' drain health gimmick.

My guess:

Archmage drains AP and uses to power up Heals/Nukes.
Sorcerer/ess drains HP and uses to power up Heals/Nukes.

Similar, yet different.

[Estebar]

My guess:

Archmage drains AP and uses to power up Heals/Nukes.
Sorcerer/ess drains HP and uses to power up Heals/Nukes.

Similar, yet different.

Paul has already said that the Archmage's mechanic works with "life-taps/DOT's" in that sort of category.

[mongoose]

So, it looks like the Archmage has taken the game mechanic that everyone was expecting the Sorceress to have. Pretty unexpected from my point of view, actually.

So, with the High Elf support-type taking the drain & heal tactic, what else is there for the Sorceress to do? She has to remain unique after all.

Do we suppose the Archmage will have reasonable nukes and mega-heals after draining, whereas the Sorceress will have reasonable heals and mega-nukes after draining?

Will the Sorceress be Drain & Nuke as opposed to the Archmage's Drain & Heal? Will that make her unique enough? Will she still qualify as a support class?

Thoughts?

Im not really sure why you would be disappointed that the Archmage would have a drain as their main mechanic because if you knew anything about High Magic you would know that the most potent ability in the game is the ability to drain the very energies of magic. Its all over the books and primarily what High Magic is all about......3 of the 7 high magic spells are directly related to the use of magic; Drain Magic (self explanatory), Vaul's Unmaking (renders any one magic item inert...poof, all gone) and Fortune is Fickle (causing opposing magic users spells to be miscast)

on the opposing side the Sorceress relys on Dark Magic which has only one spell considered a lifetap; Soul Stealer backed up by an arsenal of death and destruction.

So one uses drains while the other will use lifetap.......somewhat similar but very different. This also makes sense based on their descriptions of the Elves being opposites.

Paul has already said that the Archmage's mechanic works with "life-taps/DOT's" in that sort of category.

lol, have you learned NOTHING in the past two years listening to Paul???? Man he gets stuff wrong all the damn time and for him to start being correct now just wouldnt fit. :D

[Lorik]

Paul has already said that the Archmage's mechanic works with "life-taps/DOT's" in that sort of category.

Oooo, where'd he say that?

[Mortissia]

It might be interesting if the Archmage AP drain would immediately (same spell) fule a Spreadheal (health would be sent to group member(s) who needed it the most). IF the Sorceress is also the support class then a completely different mechanic with drains and blood heals would make the two classes quite a bit different. I still would hate to see both Elven mages be support classes.

[Estebar]

Oooo, where'd he say that? Look for one of the videos where Paul and Jeff alternate describing the new career classes in front of the giant screen. He mentions it during his summary of the Archmage after Jeff.

I've been watching the big one, found here. (http://files.filefront.com/enL_Warhammer_Online_GCavi/;8375503;/fileinfo.html) Paul talks about the Archmage about 3/4 of the way through the video.

[Lorik]

Look for one of the videos where Paul and Jeff alternate describing the new career classes in front of the giant screen. He mentions it during his summary of the Archmage after Jeff.

I've been watching the big one, found here. (http://files.filefront.com/enL_Warhammer_Online_GCavi/;8375503;/fileinfo.html) Paul talks about the Archmage about 3/4 of the way through the video.


Thankya! :D

[Kaid]

Personally I would prefer the sorceress not to be a healer. I have been deeply saddened by such decsions, most recently with the HE. Their casters are among the best in the world, they have casters that can change the balance of battle in ways that hundreds of warriors cannot, thousands of years of experience and what do they do? Heal...

That just burns me. And I would hate to see the sorceress degraded down to the damage of a healing class like the "mighty" Archmage has.

[Estebar]

I have been deeply saddened by such decsions, most recently with the HE. Their casters are among the best in the world, they have casters that can change the balance of battle in ways that hundreds of warriors cannot, thousands of years of experience and what do they do? Heal...

That just burns me. And I would hate to see the sorceress degraded down to the damage of a healing class like the "mighty" Archmage has. Your over-simplifying the role of the Archmage far too much. Paul and Jeff have stated that healing always comes second to knowing how to fight. The Archmage is a Healer and a NUKER.

Paul: "The High Elf magic user is the best magic user in the world. They wander around like they own the place, and they can take magic from everybody, put it in their heads, and then they're able to do any type of magic they want. If you want to play a big showy-offy magic user, [the Archmage's] your boy."

[Kaid]

I don't remember rolling a Wizard to heal. When I wanted to heal I made a priest. By combining them into 1 class you dilute their various natures. And in my personal preference, idk about you but I would want a caster that could dish out the damage!

That and I'm still hoping for a Warrior Priest for the DE :D

[Jonas]

Developer: "Hey there Mr Archmage, you can cast ANY type of magic you like. Your spells can do anything, isn't that cool?"
Archmage: "Hey yeah, that's pretty cool. Hm, you know, that Dark Elf I just killed kinda cut me up a little. I think I'll heal myself then, since I can cast ANY type of magic I like."
Developer: "Um, well.. y'see.. you can't actually cast healing spells. See, you have to go talk to Mrs Priestess of Isha over there to do that."
Archmage: "... but you said that my spells can do anything..."
Developer: "Uh yeah. Anything except healing; that would be overpowered."
Archmage: "Right."

[Kaid]

*shrug* Its implemented in a bunch of other games in that same way. I mean when I think Sorceress I don't think of healing... At all. Is the possiblity there? Of course. I think that the healing role would go towards something like a warrior priest but to khaine like Malus Darkblade's brother however.