I can't believe people are actually having problems ranking..Doesn't it take just a few hours to get to 50 now?
More time at lower ranks = very good for any new players (new players...ho ho ho). We just don't have the content to support dwelling there for long.
Lol ok nvm
It's really ridiculous how much faster a melee ranks lol
Which one of you naysayers wants to roll your fave C/C and I'll roll a melee and we can see who gets to 20 first and where the other person is by that time
4 hours ago, egreir said:
It's really ridiculous how much faster a melee ranks lol
Which one of you naysayers wants to roll your fave C/C and I'll roll a melee and we can see who gets to 20 first and where the other person is by that time
yeah I recently leveled a werebeast warrior. It was stupid fast compared to a cleric for example.
You leveled a werebeast warrior..? Now that's some talented shit... Leveling a combination that can't even be rolled.. :P
I still maintain the idea that we give newly rolled characters a pet at creation depending on archetype until level 25 or 30.
Caster/communer - Damaging mob that dirt kicks.
Melee - Healing mob.
Just now, Fireman said:
You leveled a werebeast warrior..? Now that's some talented shit... Leveling a combination that can't even be rolled.. :P
I still maintain the idea that we give newly rolled characters a pet at creation depending on archetype until level 25 or 30.
Caster/communer - Damaging mob that dirt kicks.
Melee - Healing mob.
op op sorry i meant zerk.
Solar flare prayer or spell (dirt kick) allowing Alsatian to be more useful to c/c would be perfect imo. It's useful, has a weakness (only during day and only outside, only works on things lvl 25 and below)
the time I've spent getting to level 13 on my current headache I'd be almost level 30 on a melee That's a vet playing not a new player who knows all the quests all the locations etc
So how is it going to make things faster if it works only during the day?
Also why should a mage spend practice sessions on a spell that offers nothing at pinnacle?
The problem is less that c/cs are hard to rank, and more that the easy way to rank them isn't obvious to those who don't know of it - if you have no idea what or where the stone golem scroll is or haven't heard of the pet shop in the Elven Kingdom, ranking your necro or cleric to 20 or so will not be a fun experience but instead a simple grind. The problem here is that the existence of these is not made obvious in-game to newbs. So I think more obvious directions to the stone golem scroll and pet shops would do far more to help c/cs rank than adding a new spell - make a newbie quest that triggers for c/cs that has them visit these places and boom, problem solved (naturally, have the quest either explain charmie commands or point to relevant help files somehow).
Hell, it doesn't even need to be limited to c/cs. A melee or rogue will still benefit from getting a pet, and hybrids can use scrolls... I don't know if the spell mechanics would allow it, but perhaps the quest to get a stone golem scroll could end in your guild master casting the scroll on you and giving you a stone golem as your reward for completing the quest regardless of your class, giving melees an incentive to finish the quest (one time chance for a stone golem charmie for your warrior! Show your skills off by still having it 50 hours later!).
1 hour ago, Pali said:
The problem is less that c/cs are hard to rank, and more that the easy way to rank them isn't obvious to those who don't know of it - if you have no idea what or where the stone golem scroll is or haven't heard of the pet shop in the Elven Kingdom, ranking your necro or cleric to 20 or so will not be a fun experience but instead a simple grind. The problem here is that the existence of these is not made obvious in-game to newbs. So I think more obvious directions to the stone golem scroll and pet shops would do far more to help c/cs rank than adding a new spell - make a newbie quest that triggers for c/cs that has them visit these places and boom, problem solved (naturally, have the quest either explain charmie commands or point to relevant help files somehow).
Hell, it doesn't even need to be limited to c/cs. A melee or rogue will still benefit from getting a pet, and hybrids can use scrolls... I don't know if the spell mechanics would allow it, but perhaps the quest to get a stone golem scroll could end in your guild master casting the scroll on you and giving you a stone golem as your reward for completing the quest regardless of your class, giving melees an incentive to finish the quest (one time chance for a stone golem charmie for your warrior! Show your skills off by still having it 50 hours later!).
Spot on - the issue is that our veteran player-base has long since worked out ways of doing just about everything easily - and they then argue that everything is easy.
Low level / newbie game play is in a bad spot atm if you aren't a vet who can basically skip everything below level 40 without really needing to think about it. When I was a newbie I learned things because the vets were levelling alongside us - so they taught you the tricks as you went. This doesn't happy any more - so we need other ways for the game to teach people.
Overhaul of newbie school + extension of the newbie quest line to introduce Mounts + the Alsatian pet Would go along way to help with this - and would probably be a relatively decent ROI compared to some of the more complex issues we are facing around end game.
4 hours ago, f0xx said:
So how is it going to make things faster if it works only during the day?
Also why should a mage spend practice sessions on a spell that offers nothing at pinnacle?
Because it makes their life a whole lot easier and/or maybe it's available as an adventurer also. Also, a new player isn't going to be worried about min/maxing their character and what 1 or 2 pracs is gonna cost them in the long run.
I only included the "drawbacks" of solar flare in my suggestion just so it wasn't a ridiculous game changer type spell and instead just something that leveled the playing the field for early character advancement.
2 hours ago, Pali said:
The problem is less that c/cs are hard to rank, and more that the easy way to rank them isn't obvious to those who don't know of it - if you have no idea what or where the stone golem scroll is or haven't heard of the pet shop in the Elven Kingdom, ranking your necro or cleric to 20 or so will not be a fun experience but instead a simple grind. The problem here is that the existence of these is not made obvious in-game to newbs. So I think more obvious directions to the stone golem scroll and pet shops would do far more to help c/cs rank than adding a new spell - make a newbie quest that triggers for c/cs that has them visit these places and boom, problem solved (naturally, have the quest either explain charmie commands or point to relevant help files somehow).
Hell, it doesn't even need to be limited to c/cs. A melee or rogue will still benefit from getting a pet, and hybrids can use scrolls... I don't know if the spell mechanics would allow it, but perhaps the quest to get a stone golem scroll could end in your guild master casting the scroll on you and giving you a stone golem as your reward for completing the quest regardless of your class, giving melees an incentive to finish the quest (one time chance for a stone golem charmie for your warrior! Show your skills off by still having it 50 hours later!).
Even WITH alsatian/stone golem I will outrank a C/C by almost double. I know these "tricks" and it's still taking me hours to get to 20 whereas with a melee I'd already be there. Those pets past lvl 15 are not as effective as you make them out to be due to not being able to blind.
Here's 30 missed attacks in one fight.
<233hp 319m 94mv> c chi kind
A minor kindred turns blue and shivers.
Your chilling touch grazes a minor kindred.
A minor kindred has a few scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 304m 94mv>
Your flaming bite hits a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
A minor kindred's claw misses you.
A minor kindred has a few scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 304m 94mv> !
A minor kindred turns blue and shivers.
Your chilling touch hits a minor kindred.
Your flaming bite misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
A minor kindred's claw misses you.
A minor kindred has a few scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 289m 94mv>
Your flaming bite misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
A minor kindred's claw wounds you.
A minor kindred has a few scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<213hp 289m 94mv> c chi
Your flaming bite misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
A minor kindred's claw misses you.
A minor kindred has a few scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<213hp 289m 94mv>
A minor kindred turns blue and shivers.
Your chilling touch grazes a minor kindred.
A minor kindred has some small wounds and bruises.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<213hp 274m 94mv> who
c chi
Your flaming bite misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound mauls a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
A minor kindred's claw misses you.
A minor kindred has some small wounds and bruises.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<213hp 274m 94mv>
[14 Avian Bmg] Flynn Featherton the Magician
[ Minot ] Jukolw Thorny the Master of War
[ Duerg ] Ogrogor the Will of Gods
Players matched: 3
There are 3 characters on, the most on since startup was 25.
The title of Master Questor of Aabahran is currently held by Levia.
A minor kindred has some small wounds and bruises.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<213hp 274m 94mv> Your chilling touch scratches a minor kindred.
A minor kindred has some small wounds and bruises.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<213hp 259m 94mv> c chi
Your flaming bite misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound injures a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
A minor kindred's claw misses you.
A minor kindred has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<213hp 259m 94mv>
Your chilling touch scratches a minor kindred.
A minor kindred has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<213hp 244m 94mv> c chi
Your flaming bite hits a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
You parry a minor kindred's attack.
You have become better at parry! [78%]
A minor kindred has some small wounds and bruises.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<216hp 285m 109mv>
Your chilling touch grazes a minor kindred.
A minor kindred has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<216hp 270m 109mv> c
Your flaming bite grazes a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
A minor kindred's claw misses you.
A minor kindred has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<216hp 270m 109mv> chi
A minor kindred turns blue and shivers.
You cannot bring their temperature any lower.
Your chilling touch injures a minor kindred.
A minor kindred has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<216hp 255m 109mv> !
Your flaming bite hits a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
A minor kindred's claw misses you.
A minor kindred has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<216hp 255m 109mv> !
!
!
A minor kindred turns blue and shivers.
You cannot bring their temperature any lower.
Your chilling touch hits a minor kindred.
A minor kindred has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<216hp 240m 109mv> !
Your flaming bite misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
You parry a minor kindred's attack.
A minor kindred has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<216hp 240m 109mv> A minor kindred turns blue and shivers.
You cannot bring their temperature any lower.
Your chilling touch grazes a minor kindred.
A minor kindred has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<216hp 225m 109mv>
Your flaming bite hits a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
You parry a minor kindred's attack.
A minor kindred has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<216hp 225m 109mv> Your chilling touch grazes a minor kindred.
A minor kindred has some big nasty wounds and scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<216hp 210m 109mv>
Your flaming bite hits a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound wounds a minor kindred.
A minor kindred's claw misses you.
A minor kindred has some big nasty wounds and scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<216hp 210m 109mv> Your chilling touch hits a minor kindred.
Your flaming bite misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
A minor kindred's claw misses you.
A minor kindred has some big nasty wounds and scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<216hp 195m 109mv> who
Your flaming bite misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
A minor kindred's claw wounds you.
A minor kindred has some big nasty wounds and scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<199hp 195m 109mv> A minor kindred turns blue and shivers.
You cannot bring their temperature any lower.
Your chilling touch wounds a minor kindred.
A minor kindred looks pretty hurt.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<199hp 180m 109mv> c chi
Your flaming bite misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound mauls a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
A minor kindred's claw misses you.
A minor kindred looks pretty hurt.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<199hp 180m 109mv> [14 Avian Bmg] Flynn Featherton the Magician
[ Minot ] Jukolw Thorny the Master of War
[ Duerg ] Ogrogor the Will of Gods
Players matched: 3
There are 3 characters on, the most on since startup was 25.
The title of Master Questor of Aabahran is currently held by Levia.
A minor kindred looks pretty hurt.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<199hp 180m 109mv>
Your chilling touch hits a minor kindred.
A minor kindred looks pretty hurt.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<199hp 165m 109mv> c chi
Your flaming bite misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
A minor kindred's claw misses you.
A minor kindred looks pretty hurt.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<199hp 165m 109mv>
A minor kindred turns blue and shivers.
You cannot bring their temperature any lower.
Your chilling touch mauls a minor kindred.
A minor kindred is in awful condition.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<199hp 150m 109mv> c chi
Your flaming bite hits a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound misses a minor kindred.
An Alsatian's pound decimates a minor kindred!
A minor kindred is SLAIN!!
You receive 445 experience points.
A minor kindred's heart is torn from its chest.
A minor kindred's body disintegrates into dust.
Here's 27 missed attacks
<233hp 356m 206mv> c chi imp
A dark forest imp turns blue and shivers.
Your chilling touch injures a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp has a few scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 341m 206mv>
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound decimates a dark forest imp!
An Alsatian's pound mauls a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound mauls a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp's magic misses you.
A dark forest imp has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 341m 206mv> !
A dark forest imp turns blue and shivers.
Your chilling touch hits a dark forest imp.
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp's magic misses you.
A dark forest imp has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 326m 206mv> !
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
You parry a dark forest imp's attack.
A dark forest imp has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 326m 206mv>
You lost your concentration.
A dark forest imp has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 319m 206mv> c chi
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
You parry a dark forest imp's attack.
A dark forest imp has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 319m 206mv>
You lost your concentration.
A dark forest imp has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 312m 206mv> c chi
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound wounds a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
You parry a dark forest imp's attack.
A dark forest imp has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 312m 206mv> Your chilling touch hits a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 297m 206mv> c chi
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound mauls a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp's magic misses you.
A dark forest imp has some big nasty wounds and scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 297m 206mv> A dark forest imp turns blue and shivers.
Your chilling touch grazes a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp has some big nasty wounds and scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 282m 206mv>
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp's magic misses you.
A dark forest imp has quite a few wounds.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 330m 221mv> c chi
A dark forest imp turns blue and shivers.
You cannot bring their temperature any lower.
Your chilling touch hits a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp has some big nasty wounds and scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 315m 221mv> c
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp's magic misses you.
A dark forest imp has some big nasty wounds and scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 315m 221mv> chi
Your chilling touch grazes a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp has some big nasty wounds and scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 300m 221mv>
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound mauls a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp's magic misses you.
A dark forest imp has some big nasty wounds and scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 300m 221mv> c chi
You lost your concentration.
A dark forest imp has some big nasty wounds and scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 293m 221mv>
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
You parry a dark forest imp's attack.
A dark forest imp has some big nasty wounds and scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 293m 221mv> c chi
You lost your concentration.
A dark forest imp has some big nasty wounds and scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 286m 221mv>
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
You parry a dark forest imp's attack.
A dark forest imp has some big nasty wounds and scratches.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 286m 221mv> c chi
Your chilling touch scratches a dark forest imp.
Your flaming bite hits a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
You parry a dark forest imp's attack.
A dark forest imp looks pretty hurt.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 271m 221mv> c chi
Your flaming bite hits a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp's magic misses you.
A dark forest imp looks pretty hurt.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 271m 221mv> Your chilling touch hits a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp looks pretty hurt.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 256m 221mv> c chi
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp's magic misses you.
A dark forest imp looks pretty hurt.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 256m 221mv> A dark forest imp turns blue and shivers.
You cannot bring their temperature any lower.
Your chilling touch grazes a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp looks pretty hurt.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 241m 221mv> c chi
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound mauls a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp's magic misses you.
A dark forest imp is in awful condition.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 241m 221mv> A dark forest imp turns blue and shivers.
You cannot bring their temperature any lower.
Your chilling touch grazes a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp is in awful condition.
Flynn: [===|===|===|===]
<233hp 226m 221mv> c chi
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound wounds a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound injures a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp's magic wounds you.
A dark forest imp is in awful condition.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<214hp 264m 236mv> Your chilling touch scratches a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp is in awful condition.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<214hp 249m 236mv>
Your flaming bite misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
An Alsatian's pound misses a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp's magic misses you.
A dark forest imp is in awful condition.
Flynn: [===|===|===|==-]
<214hp 249m 236mv> c chi
A dark forest imp turns blue and shivers.
You cannot bring their temperature any lower.
Your chilling touch wounds a dark forest imp.
A dark forest imp is DEAD!!
You receive 508 experience points.
You hear a dark forest imp's death cry.
You get 131 gold coins from the corpse of a dark forest imp.
Ulmusdorn gives you 51 gold coins for your sacrifice.
Just keep it all.
Now imagine I'm a newb and don't even know about the Alsatian lol
But we want to still say there's not something worth "fixing" here?
1 hour ago, egreir said:
Even WITH alsatian/stone golem I will outrank a C/C by almost double. I know these "tricks" and it's still taking me hours to get to 20 whereas with a melee I'd already be there. Those pets past lvl 15 are not as effective as you make them out to be due to not being able to blind.
The last two characters I played were a battlemage and a necromancer, both of which I solo ranked into the 20s as well - I'm well aware of the relative difficulty of ranking mages. You're still likely to get through those early levels faster with a mage today than you did five years ago, because it's not like we were swarming with low-level characters back then either and the exp boosts today are almost ridiculous - both the bmg and necro felt like they were flying through the ranks from my perspective, and honestly I'd really prefer ranking to be slowed back down a bit to give the low levels some amount of meaning again. If everyone couldn't hit 50 in two days, maybe there'd be more low level people to group with. :pardon:
The Alsatian is a level 8 mob - of course it isn't effective past 15 against high ac mobs like vampires and faeries. The stone golem, however, becomes accessible by that level and serves as an excellent tank, and by that level any mage has either the ability to blind or a decent damage spell (clerics still have some trouble here, and yes, bmgs don't get color spray until 16 if we're being pedantic). At level 20, the gorilla serves as the alsatian's replacement. At 30, you grab a professional soldier. Is this slower than ranking a melee? Yes. Is this unfair? I don't really think so.
Mages have always been harder to rank and equip alone. The trade-off is that they rely less on consumables, have access to some of the more powerful consumables through scrolls and wands, and are more innately survivable, all of them having forms of lag protection. Now, my recent experiences have inclined me to agree with @Kyzarius and others that EQ power creep has somewhat negatively affected the balance of c/cs, moreso for clerics, shamans, bmgs, and necros than psis and invokers, but that's a separate issue that only comes into play at level 50 - up until that point, the trade-off remains fair in my opinion.
2 minutes ago, Pali said:
The last two characters I played were a battlemage and a necromancer, both of which I solo ranked into the 20s as well - I'm well aware of the relative difficulty of ranking mages. You're still likely to get through those early levels faster with a mage today than you did five years ago, because it's not like we were swarming with low-level characters back then either and the exp boosts today are almost ridiculous - both the bmg and necro felt like they were flying through the ranks from my perspective, and honestly I'd really prefer ranking to be slowed back down a bit to give the low levels some amount of meaning again. If everyone couldn't hit 50 in two days, maybe there'd be more low level people to group with. :pardon:
The Alsatian is a level 8 mob - of course it isn't effective past 15 against high ac mobs like vampires and faeries. The stone golem, however, becomes accessible by that level and serves as an excellent tank, and by that level any mage has either the ability to blind or a decent damage spell (clerics still have some trouble here, and yes, bmgs don't get color spray until 16 if we're being pedantic). At level 20, the gorilla serves as the alsatian's replacement. At 30, you grab a professional soldier. Is this slower than ranking a melee? Yes. Is this unfair? I don't really think so.
Mages have always been harder to rank and equip alone. The trade-off is that they rely less on consumables, have access to some of the more powerful consumables through scrolls and wands, and are more innately survivable, all of them having forms of lag protection. Now, my recent experiences have certainly led me to agree with @Kyzarius and others that EQ power creep has negatively affected the balance of c/cs, moreso for clerics, shamans, bmgs, and necros than psis and invokers, but that's a separate issue that only comes into play at level 50 - up until that point, the trade-off remains fair in my opinion.
I get your argument. What I'm saying is that "slow" shouldn't be 2-3x as slow.
I'm here saying i can rank a melee about 3x as fast as anyone can rank a C/C and I don't believe that's fair to a new player or a returning player. That's all.
2-3x as slow would be a bit extreme, yes, but I'm not entirely convinced that actually is the ratio. When I wanted to level up my mages, it wasn't hard or slow going at all, and I hadn't played in years prior to the bmg - because I know how to level up a mage through use of pets. My suggestion is simply to make that information more readily available, such as through a newbie quest that points you to them - it could be the very first newbie quest even: you walk in and your guildmaster says "Good, you found the place! Now, go get yourself some decent help - I've got plenty of work for you to do and you'll need backup!", then gives you a few thousand gold and a scroll with directions to a pet store (they can then buy a level appropriate pet or experiment as they like). Have the stone golem quest be one of the last your guildmaster gives you before sending you to Tamara or Xavier, so that you're guaranteed to be up at least a few levels before you get your golem. Plenty of MMOs have a standard pet players get a few quests in, why not FL with a stone golem? When you get your pet killed it'll help hammer home that FL's a bit more ruthless than an MMO where your pet would come back automatically, but since you've done the quest, you'll know where to get a new scroll (unless you're a melee, in which case you just lost your pet and have to miss your golem for the rest of your character's life - cry, melees, cry, let us taste the grief you feel for your golems while we c/cs always have new pets to play with!).
I'm about to race another veteran player to see just how accurate my statement is. We'll see xD
I wouldn't mind racing you either, just out of curiosity.