Post on Live about hybrid's spells from parent classes....

[Samanna]

[Jalelin]

While I would agree with you about the contents of the original manual being mostly irrelevant, I don't think you can say that and then also classify hybrids based on a traditional definition. The so called hybrid classes have been given abilities unique to themselves for quite some time. They are (supposedly) balanced on their own merits. A Ranger getting new abilities simply because a Druid does makes no more sense in todays game than a Shaman automatically getting new abilities just because a Cleric did.

[Samanna]

[Unmei]

[Keltsete]

[Kellenial]

[Scowls]

[runeshaman]

[Unmei]

[Mukshaak]

[Tordail]

That was hilarious!

[runeshaman]

I think the very simplest way to look at hybrids in EQ is this:

Do you only use mellee and attack skills? Yes, then you are a mellee class.
Do you use spells as your primary function? Yes, then you are a caster.
Is your primary purpose to heal and or buff? Okay, your a priest.
Can you do any two of the above well? Guess you are a hybrid.

Why worry about the parent classes in trying to define the hybrids of EQ. You are either a fighter, a caster, a healer, or a mix of two of those. The ones that are mixed are hybrids. Bards are hybrids because they are equally adept at combat and casting, even if it is in the form of songs.

Just as a side thought though, if I had to label bard's parent classes I would go with rogue/chanter. Before you say "What about Warrior because they can wear plate?" look at a ranger, whose parent classes are warrior and druid. Do Druids or warriors wear chain? Nope, plate or leather... so a bard's ability to wear plate dosn't necessarily make him a warrior offshoot.

[Unmei]

[Veril]

[jdthomas]

[Tugela]

[Torl]

[Brohg]

[Fenier]

[Brohg]

[Fenier]

[Brohg]

[Fenier]

[Veril]

[Fenier]

[Brohg]

Veril, come on now. # people meleeing vs. # people tanking? really, man.

[Veril]

Shaman Stackability: 1 shaman can panther an entire raid and maintain a coupel of dots on a mob. (9 groups, assume 3 are caster groups and 6 are melee groups).
HoT's don't stack.

Brogh, I was just pointing out that stackability issues do exist.

[Kianor]

Veril's right in a way, panther is a buff and doesn't stack the way that someone nuking would. However, even if a shaman could maintain panther on all the melee groups in a raid (theoretically with the right focus and AA, 6 groups is possible), expecting one to do so would be considered cruel and unusual punishment.

But a shaman isn't just about panther, and a druid isn't just about spur.

You can get by on a raid with just one shaman, but you can get by with just one druid too. Either way, you wouldn't want to. Neither class is as stackable as clerics, or pure dps classes, but I don't think we have huge problems.

[Ughbash]

[runeshaman]

[Ughbash]

[Unmei]

[Kianor]

[Unmei]

[Funi]

[Unmei]

[Ughbash]

[runeshaman]

[Funi]

[Funi]