Rune Priest / Zealot: please make Runes/Marks buffs

[Omegus]

Disclaimer
The RP and Zealot are perfectly viable when using their healing abilities. It's the other buttons I'm trying to fix

Overview
Every class has its own mechanic, such as auras, pets, hate, rage, etc. The mechanic for the Rune Priest and the Zealot is actually their Runes / Marks which are single target buffs they can place on group members that last for an hour. These buffs also provide a granted ability which the group member can use (usually some kind of magical damaging ability). In addition, they can use different buffs but can only put a single buff on each member of their party.

It's a crappy mechanic (buff and forget) and the bonuses are crappy (usually match or are beaten by all other buffs) and the granted abilties are so crappy the RoR devs haven't bothered with them. In addition...

The Issue
Other than the pet classes, the Rune Priest and the Zealot are the only classes where their mechanic can be affected by other players. The Runes / Marks they put on players are classified as blessings rather than buffs, meaning loads of classes can instantly remove them.

In comparison:

• KotBS/Chosen: Auras cannot be removed by other players.
• IB/BG: Grudge/hate cannot be removed by other players.
• Slayer/Choppa: Rage cannot be affected by other players.
• WP/DoK: RF/SE cannot be removed by other players.
• etc

Solution
Change the four Runes / Marks from blessings to buffs. This means that like all of the other non-pet mechanics they cannot be removed.

If changed, the mechanic (which grants stats pretty much identical to auras which cannot be removed) can no longer be removed which is a buff (no pun intended) to the two classes. However, it actually removes one of the useless effects that get severed so it will make Sever Blessing better as well.

This change on its own won't make the mechanic actually useful outside of PUG scenario groups but it's a start and IMO this needs to be part of the mechanic's design before any other changes to the Runes / Marks are considered.

[eks]

I mostly lurk in the RoR forums but I had to log in to second this.

I would also suggest switching the Willpower+Initiative buff and the Resistances buff within the Mastery trees. The Resistances buff is solidly the least useful of the three, as it is eclipsed by both Chosen/KotBS resist aura as well as Shaman/AM resist buff. It might as well be in the least useful mastery tree as well, while the Willpower+Initiative buff would get more love. This would be nice as this buff is the most unique buff out of the three.

Or you could make all three buffs core abilities. That would work also.

But first change them from blessings to buffs. This first please.

[magter3001]

Eh, I don't mind the way they are now. You mis-use your comparisons as all those auras and covenants don't have a time limit. A more correct comparison would be shammy or sorc buffs as both are timed.

For someone who plays a defensive tank, our usefulness and impact on the dps side of things come from us severing blessings or enchantments. You would remove the usefulness of a tank if all timed buffs wouldn't be able to be removed.

[SilverWF]

Bad idea, not
Mostly agree with magter3001

[Omegus]

Eh, I don't mind the way they are now. You mis-use your comparisons as all those auras and covenants don't have a time limit. A more correct comparison would be shammy or sorc buffs as both are timed.

That's not even close to being a correct comparison. I'm comparing the class mechanics which Runes/Marks are while Sorc/Shammy buffs are not (their mechanics are Dark Magic and the Gork/Mork Waaagh). I am not asking for all Zealot/RP abilities to be turned into buffs, only the ones that form part of their mechanic so they are unable to be adversely affected... just like every other (non-pet) class.

For someone who plays a defensive tank, our usefulness and impact on the dps side of things come from us severing blessings or enchantments. You would remove the usefulness of a tank if all timed buffs wouldn't be able to be removed.

Again, not all timed buffs. Stop putting words into my mouth (or my post). I'm on about the 4 abilities that comprise of the Zealot/RP's mechanic (will/init buff, resistance buff, str/int/bs buff, tou/res). You can still shatter and sever all the heals you want. In addition, as I said in my original post this actually removes some effect padding that might prevent you from severing better blessings.

[magter3001]

You can't change the zealot buffs unless you change all buffs. Sorc and Shammy buffs would also have to be unshatterable/severed. That severely nerfs tank's sever blessings and severing heals alone is not ideal.

If a tank manages to sever a zealot buff or a sorc buff, it can hinder his enemies greatly and give his group the advantage. Keep it as it is.

[Toldavf]

Thought the whole point was you could spend a buff for damage or a res?.

[Omegus]

If a tank manages to sever a zealot buff... it can hinder his enemies greatly

Thought the whole point was you could spend a buff for damage or a res?.

Seriously, have either of you looked at the RP/Zealot's mechanic? . It has 4 different buffs available:

1) Single target resistance buff. That's all it does. Can be severed unlike any other class mechanic bonus.

2) Single target "damage" (bs/int/str) buff. That's all it does, and it gets beaten by pretty much any other buff and potion. Can be severed unlike any other class mechanic bonus.

3) Single target wil/int buff. That's all it foes, and it's probably the only part that is close to useful as most people don't stack those stats. Can be severed unlike any other class mechanic bonus.

4) Single target toughness buff with a res attached. 10m cooldown. Toughness buff may as well not exist (like the bs/int/str it gets beaten by everything else) and as the buff can be severed (unlike any other class mechanic bonus!) by the time you die you no longer have the ability to res.


As for changing all buffs, you realise that there are plenty of buffs in the game that are not part of a class's mechanic that can't be severed or shattered, right?

Black Guard: Feeding on Weekness, Brutal Smash, Chains of Hatred, Dark Protector, Guard (lol),
Black Orc: Da Biggest, Da Toughest, Da Greenest, Save Da Runts
Choppa: Charge!, Shrug It Off, Hurtin' Time
etc

Unlike the Sorc/Shaman/BW/AM passive buffs, the RP/Zealot buffs are supposed to be part of its core mechanic. In addition, they require one GCD per party member to replace as opposed to one GCD for the whole party. The RP/Zealot at this point in time - and for pretty much all of AoR - does not have a functioning mechanic as the buffs are terrible and the only really useful one can be removed before you get to actually use it (and again, 10 MINUTE COOLDOWN).

And if the issue is that the Marks/Runes have a duration... then remove the duration? There's really not that much difference between 60 minutes and forever in this game

[magter3001]

Unlike the Sorc/Shaman/BW/AM passive buffs, the RP/Zealot buffs are supposed to be part of its core mechanic.

I bet the sorcs/shams/etc think their buffs are part of their core mechanic as well.

[Bozzax]

Bad ida premades will roll with all buffs all the time if it is changed (even wo rp/zeals in grp)