As it seems clear that there will be a major class revamp in the near future, I thought it might be fun to speculate what it might be. Here's a summary of my thoughts on the subject:

Anti-Paladin: They've gotten a lot of minor attention in recent times. While there is still the possiblitity of them getting some more loving, they really are in the middle of the pack as far as need for changes go.

Assassin: Kicks and assassinate were added several years ago. Since then, there has not been any major work on them. They can get to be a bit boring, but over all are well balanced. I'd place them firmly as a maybe.

Bard: Not a chance. Just got a major bump with the new songs, they won't be the class worked on.

Berserker: Fairly new class in general, and for the most part underappreciated. I don't think they are a likely choice.

Conjurer: Another fairly new class with lots of modifications made recently. They won't be getting an overhaul.

Druid: Druids have been stagnant for some time, however, they also are probably one of the least played classes. This makes them somewhat mysterious still. I would suggest that makes them unlikely for a revamp.

Healer: Old powers haven't changed much at all since the breaking up of the cleric class. I don't know what they could do with them, but they are a candidate.

Invoker: Just got the affinity stuff added.. they'll be left alone.

Necro: Some major loving added recently with the addition of mummy. Perhaps vampire might get added, but not likely a major overhaul.

Paladin: Virtues, dedications... nothing going on here for a while.

Ranger: They have had a recent minor overhaul when bears were taken away (I want my bears back!).. but still in need of some work I think. May be a possibility.

Shaman: Very similar to healer.. been the same for a while with only minor changes. A powerful class, but can be a boring one without much mystery. I'd say they are as good a candidate as healers.

Shapeshifters: Middle of the pack. Could use some more tweaks, but have been getting steady attention. Not a strong possibility.

Thief: Minor upgrades maybe, major overhaul no. Changes too recent.

Transmuter: Just worked over when shapeshifters were spilt off. A pretty powerful and interesting class. They'll be left alone.

Warrior: Not a chance. Warriors are the most played, most deverse class of them all. They'll be staying that way for a while.

So in summary.. If I had to pick which classes were going to be overhauled I would say Shaman or Healer, with the possibility of Assassin or Anti-paladin.

What do you think?

...Rome...

I would absolutly love to see rangers be revamped. They are about the only class I can think of where the rp just seems so cool to me, but the difficulties of fighting outside the woods seem too great to overcome.

I might be full of it, as I will stipulate that I've never played one above 35, but even then I felt limited to trolling the past for prey.

Someone earlier suggested giving rangers 'paths' to follow, whether healing, stealth or fighting. I think this is a good idea.

I just looked back and realized I didn't make any solid suggestions, only opinions. Oh well, maybe someone as bored at work as I am will apreciate it.

.

My list was thieves, shamans, rangers and possibly shifters.

nt

Not so recent.

Wow... my last serious character was a ranger with bears in sylvan.

Didn't realize how much time had passed.

...Rome...

I think it's longer than that, honestly. More like '98 or so?

just my guess

HAd just started my new job after college. Was right around October or November when the revamp went in.

...Rome...

"So in summary.. If I had to pick which classes were going to be overhauled I would say Shaman or Healer, with the possibility of Assassin or Anti-paladin. "

I have recently played to hero a couple of these so here are my thoughts.

Shaman - This is a strong and self-sufficient class, well balanced and sometimes overwhelming with the amount of choices you have. Sure you end your sup list at 42, but that is okay. I cannot picture a complete overhaul here.

Assassins - Another strong, well balanced and self-sufficient class. You have defense, unstoppable lagging, potential for very high damage output and also assassinate. This is another class where I cannot picture a complete overhaul being done.

Healer - I have not played one, but the scope of this class is focused..not sure that an overhaul would be needed here at all.

Anti-Paladins - I would be interested to see some changes here, but there is also so much there already.

Now if I had to guess, I would say a new class is on the horizon (or a break off / modified version of an existing class)

Shamans being an example of a class that is balanced, healers being an example of a class that is good at what they do.

I'm not so sure class balance comes into play. I ask myself what class feels the "stalest" and to me that is shamans. Other opinions may vary.

As an aside for rome, the ooze path was a bigger bump to invoker "newness" than affinities. All affinities do is make it easier or harder to master the stuff they already had.

You left out shifters which haven't seen much new under the sun recently, and I imagine it is a smaller project to add new interesting forms than a class revamp.

"We're working on a couple of the big projects you're looking for. With any luck, one substantive class revamp is getting fairly close, and another one of tremendous proportions is also coming - how soon depends on how often I get GANGZ0RD at work. Some other things have happened in the last week or two that should also pique the interest of the "veterans". And more is in the works, of course. "

The above is a quote from Sebeok.. this is my 'source' for the assumption that a big class revamp is coming. I don't consider adding some forms to shifters as a big revamp.

I do agree with you that they could use some more forms. I'd really like to see more earlier forms (they get old fast). As it is now, you can pretty much count on every shifter perfecting every form without any focused effort. When you get a new form, you use it and perfect it as a matter of course.

I'd like to see at least double the low to mid rank forms. Of the forms they have, they should be far more speciallized. One form should be good at dodging large two handed weapons.. one's skin too think to be pierced by daggers.. etc.. so that it becomes a chess game of matching the form to the correct situation. This would also lead to a whole lot more 'shifting' going on.

...Rome...

I'd love to see shifters shifting in fights as a tactic as opposed to just shifting from their two major forms depending on whether they want more offense or defense. I've long considered it silly that lower level forms are only useful so far as avoiding summoners (or for utility abilities). Why shouldn't the magically imbued rabid ferret be just as reasonable to use in a fight as the grizzled ram? Sure it might not make total sense realistically, but then... who cares?

I wouldn't suggest making minor forms equal to major forms.. but perhaps have times when they would be a choice..

For instance:

Perhaps the rabid ferret will give rabies to its victim after a successful bite.. and rabies happens to make you not know who you're fighting (they always look the same no matter who they are..).

Once that bite is done with, now that rabid ferret isn't so much fun anymore, so you can then switch to thorn elemental. Thorn elemental is a minor elemental that throws thorns on the ground (aka caltraps). Once the victims dex is lower.. then..

Change to fluttering hummingbird which causes your opponent to miss often.. and when missing will have a chance of hitting a group mate and disengaging combat. The more people in the room, and higher the dex difference, the more often it happens.

Now you've taken three forms that aren't so hot by themselves, put them together in to a deadly combo that could seriously mess up a group of people in a raid situation... wouldn't be great all the time, but for that one situation would be a nice trick to have.

...Rome...

I think there should be a lot more 'quest' type forms available. Not only ones given by imms, but automated quest forms, cabal forms.. etc.

Why couldn't an imperial shifter turn into a centurion?

Why couldn't an outlander shifter turn into a centaur?

How about if all tribual shifters could turn into special guards?
..that one would be really cool.. which special guard do you attack?

Maybe Maran leaders always get the pheonix form.

Maybe battle shifters get to become a massive giant .. er.. you get the idea.

There may be automated quest's to get forms as well.. but I've never heard of them. Would be pleasant if you could find some very minor forms this way. Especially utility type forms.

...Rome...

So while Maran leader form of pheonix might be possible... Something like imperial to centurion probably isn't going to happen.

I dont really agree with you on all the quest forms, they should be special and rare, I do think though that there should be some type of learnable skill for in formed shifters dependant upon their form. Nothing too overly powerful, just a few little neat tricks your animal would do that you can pick up via a quest here or there.