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Buffer classes in games. Eliminate them or keep'em?
odysseas70
Member Posts: 103
My opinion:
Who wants to play a buffer? To just sit or run around buffing friendlies and then......doing nothing?
So why the heck are buffers implemented in most MMORPGs?
Well, I can come out for 1 only reason.
Freaking game companies found one more way to get our money via the need for buffer accounts.
And to be precise, not all have 2 accounts with buffers etc, either as a principle or they don't want to bother or they can't afford them, but the game companies know that some / many do that (have 2nd or 3rd account for buffers etc) so they add them too in their game to gain some (many) more "extra" accounts.
While they do that though, they force the majority of the rest players to constantly seek a buffer in order to be able to xp or pvp or force them in a much slower/frustrating "gaming experience" since they don't have a buffer around the clock besides them to xp or pvp.
So in other words, for 10-20% extra accounts - which is -ok- a lot - they screw the majority of the players over.
I don't know about you guys, but I find it very frustrating. In many games I just wanted to grab my toon and go out and have some fun but I could do nothing just cuz I didn't have or couldn't find a buffer.
Comments
Exaclty what I said shorta.
Who would like to play such a class as their main?
Nobody.
Which leads to the rest of my opinion stated in my initial post.
Buffer classes are great and should be kept. They also must have something to do in combat / raids / groups -- something that gets their hands dirty, i.e more then spamming debuffs.
They must be able to solo.
It's not an easy balance -- I always wondered why they didn't just make them competant solors / dps, but not allow them to buff themselves (more then say a wizard can buff themselves. It seems a quick path to balancing them against other classes -- it also makes them tremendously wanted for grouping.
So basically, there are a few people out there who like to play buffer classes. - In my opinion this comes from the fact that they can find grps easy.
The question thereon is: Is the buffer class so "necessary" in games? Is the addition of one more class to the already 8....10....15 ....justified when it ruins any solo capability (and thus quite of the happy gaming experience) of the majority of the rest of players?
They might not be popular but that doesn't mean the developers should favor fotm classes.
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Do not hate it, but instead embrace the diversity.
"Ruins any solo capability of the majority of the rest of the players"?
How?
And no matter what you say, I'll preissue my reply as it doesn't have too.
What I dislike are badly designed buffer classes which are not fun to play. The basic example being a class which has an assortment of "increase X stat for 30 minutes" skills. Basically a class that's purely utility without any consideration for making it fun and engaging to play.
I hated the buffing in Lineage 2 and shadowbane, with how it almost seems intended to be played with a bot or something.
I quite like the buffing in Eve. All the buffs are either passive and party-wide or toggles. You have to be in the party and actively play to buff.
Then you just have hundreds of buffbots running around
just say no to buffbots
Yes, what I meant by "pure buffer" classes are what you call "buffbots". I didn't want to call them this way initially even though that's what I am describing.
And yes, I have no problem with any classes that also have buffing utilities in their arsenal. My problem is with those games that have pure buffers/buffbots and you can't do much things if you don't have one yourself.
I remember in DaoC you couldn't kill with your solo archer/stealther if you weren't buffed and I know many had 2nd account with buffers that were hiding them in the water under bridges to keep their rangers buffed while pvp-ing or I also remember Lineage 2 where you couldn't solo xp or pvp if you didn't have a buffer to buff you.
That's the kinda buffers I'm talking about. The kinda buffers that make solo-ing without them extremely difficult and thus ruin this side of gaming for whoever doesn't have one.
Buffing class are strong edges into GROUPS.
The OP seems more of a soloer then a grouper, maybe he can't understand the reasons as to why someone would play SUPPORT.
A buffer however shouldn't spent his time buffing, this is not fun. It is easy to make a system, like in DAoC, where the buffer buff once and is done unless peoples die. Buffers are my FAVORITE choice, as long as buffing is done FAST and for a good time. Think of a system where when I click on my buff, I select all the targets once and the buffs remain on them until I reclick the buff. You can limit (and should) to your group only...or have an aura buff, which is everyone within X range of you.
I enjoy playing characters that are slightly weaker, but that make everyone else stronger. As long as you don't make me rebuff all the time. Buffing itself isn't fun.
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
Anofalye is a level 65 Enchanter in EQ.
It is my main toon for all my MMOs...
I never was a buff bot, I never wait behind the group, I actually enjoy pulling with tash and/or slow!
If remove this support option, I would play a "ranger-class". Dunno if you want more rangers, but that is what would happen. And yes, this toon was my main character, and it was fun. I wasn't spending much time buffing in the late EQ, which was good...but I would rather have a system where you buff your group only, and once you buff, it last forever.
See, if you built the buffers in an annoying way (think of the kinetic in CoH), I agree, it is pain. But if you buff once in a while, they are droolicious and yeah, I would always pick a buffer over a non-buffer as my main character. If the buffing system is worthy of it.
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
"Buffers" in SWG can be quite fun, as the majority of buffing is handled by Entertainers. Rather then getting a buff applie instantly, you watch or listen to the Entertainers performance and build up the buff time. Of course, for most Ents, it's more then just buffing, it is a very social profession since most tend to hang out in the major Cantinas. Not only that, but many put alot of effort into their performances with intersting routines involving different flourish combinations, dances and music.
Medic too could be considered a buffer, but it really depends if the Medic has taken those abilities in their expertise. It's rather normal for a Medic to sacrafice buffing abilities for general group support and/or combat abilities.
Well, In DAoC, to get the best buffs, you had to spec in the buffing line. This made your other lines less effective, and so you solo'd alot slower but were wanted in groups. This did however give rise to buff bots, which i had and yet hated.
I say if buffer classes are proberly implemented, such as giving range limits or timers (as more buffs do nowadays), and having thier secondary lines not quite as bad as they were in Daoc, would make buffer classes completely legitimate. I like hybrid/healer classes with decent buffs. Playing a fury right now in EQ2 and really like it. I do not necessarily have the same killing power as some classes, but i have survivability and can kill things and am loved in groups.
To err is human.
Thank god i'm not human!
Great classes that are often screwed up.
Buffs are often included in the strength of a class. So let's say we have a warrior with no buffs and an enchanter with buffs then that would mean:
Warrior = Enchanter + Enchanter Buffs = Standard Class Power
Wich in turn would mean:
Warrior + Enchanter Buffs > Standard Class Power.
Now in groups this is all good. It's standard MMO design that when grouping something stronger then the sum of the player's power gets created. A group of 5 working together is stronger then 5 solo-ers.
The problem arises when buffs still continue to effect when the buffer is long gone. With this you can get the advantages of a buffer without actually having one in your party. This is where a lot of MMOs go wrong.
Buffs should only be usable by having the corresponding buffer in your party. This shouldnt mean you have to go with stupid mechanics like buffs removed if buffer leaves group. That's open for exploit and is just plain boring.
Mechanics like: Evertime a buffer hits a foe with a special attack the party is buffer for 30 seconds. Auras around the buffer. Buffs increasing/decreasing in power based on the proximity of the buffer. Stuff like that makes buffers a great and balanced class.
We are the bunny.
Resistance is futile.
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