Are you talking about this vid ?

Lol this video shows exactly why Thanes don't need any more love.
They are good as they are.

I watched first 6 minutes of that video. At that point, 90% of it was a free casting Thane playing against bads. Any caster would have been doing the same thing...

 

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Haha I was actually talking about 7+ minutes

Even though at times that is certainly true, it doesn't change the fact that this video shows what Thanes are capable of. It highlights the speed and range of their DDs that's clearly beyond average for a hybrid, their strong survivability in melee (considering their ranged damage), and strong AoE damage potential.

It's certainly not a top dog class that everyone will flock to once they see this video, but it clearly shows that Thane's are better off then people would like us to believe. As I and other have said, being average and relatively unwanted in groups, doesn't necessarily mean the class needs tons of lovs.

Adjustments yes, I think most agree that some things could be improved a smidgen.

Nice video, definitely enjoyed it...too bad I couldn't D/L it to keep in my library, for some reason I could only stream it.

 

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Only people that have a clue so far from glancing at the posts is Eithor / Skrewball...thanes have low casting dps and no real way to increase it significantly without dumping 50-60 RA points into passive casting and are HORRIBLE in melee COMPARED to the current state of all the other classes.

There are many very easy fixes to balance the class.

Option 1) give acuity buff / other minor changes + hammer/axe new attachments to match sword. (at least 34 style attachment if you want to have others different)
Option 2) give scythe like attachments to all sword/hammer/axe lines / summon energy weapons ability / minor changes

 

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In a group environment, i don't feel thanes face that much of an issue: they're just another victim of the current stance of the game which could be summed up as "Dark Age of Melee".
Since melee damage is nowadays so easily denied, and melee so vulnerable to F8+nuke to oblivion, the game is mostly about magic damage+melee interruption. Since it's only about melee interruption and so rarely about melee damage, tanks with low mobility/not enough instant spells are simply outdated.
Thanes are just tanks with magic potential in the end, not the other side around; they aren't needed as bodyguards since casters protect themselves well enough nowadays, stormlord will always be useless, they no have no specific mobility advantage, no more than one ranged instant.

Most BG classes suffer from the very same problem, starting with warriors on the same realm, wardens, paladins... and Mythic seems to be acknowledging the inferiority of melee by turning wardens into would-be healbots, same as friars which is a game design fraud for both these classes, in an environment where casters have gained either ~10% casting speed in the last year and a half(dex breaking points for casters with 2.8) or acuity(for the 2.6 casters who have 374dex, down from 386).
As long as pets do the job melee toons are supposed to, i doubt thanes or other BG classes will find groups waiting with open arms, and non-banelord/instant aplenty tanks can but pretend to the backline in that case.

So you basically want a casters DD value + good melee styles (while they are good already) + survivability?

Good then I want as a BD to wear chain armor, melee 5 sec stun aka Slam, engage, large shield, my damage type debuff, self STR/CON buff, melee styles with 100-150 magic damage damage proc, insta PBAE to reveal stealthers, insta DD, Dual Threat, tank HP and obviously 1700 range on my DD.
I think BDs will more balanced with these.

You have OBVIOUSLY NEVER actually played a thane...you get 75 dmg on the attachment usually if it isn't resisted.

DD's are crap I nuke for about high 200's/300 without crits and I've dumped 49 points into damage passives. Debuff takes awhile to cast and isn't even worth casting unless bombing/hammering 2476 hps with tough2/aug con2...seriously dude don't even post in this thread again...Your IQ and/or lack of knowledge is making me more stupid to even read your half illiterate statements.

 

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I think we'd agree then. I think Thanes are decent, and with right setup do a swell job, but they are just a tad behind most other classes. IMO the shield nerf (slam & block rate vs DW) was what put them over the edge for me.

Give them a 5% SP buff at 50 SC, a little WS buff (just to put them on same level as other hybrids), and maybe a small HP boost (maybe 200 hp's), and they are solid. Maybe a attach an energy debuff to the instant DD. None if this is over the top and just makes things a little more bearable (templating, meleeing, and taking hits).

I love my Thane, but against a class that can interrupt well they just have a very tough time given their poor melee ability (due to low WS and defenses) and difficulty templating.

edit: I would really!!! love end. reduction buff to be able to use BM styles. Yes, I could group with a Skald, but not all skalds are good about twisting chants and also must be in range, etc.

 

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