Creature Handler Archive
Thread: ONE more time..Creature Handler IS a combat profession
sadnebula wrote:
Lol, these threads are fun, it is, it aint, it is. Well what it is and what it's supposed to be may just be two different things, so I vote with support, err, combat suport. Now if Ch is a stand alone combat class, then why do most, not all, but most ch's have an elite combat class to go with it ? is it perhaps bacause a pure combat Ch will either die of old age or simply die using pets alone? If Ch is a combat class, which it was before the nerfs, then we could all become Be's and rule. Since most of us use an elite class, be it tka, rifleman or whatever as out MAIN form of attack then it would seem CH has become a support class through nerfs.
So, since most BH take another combat class, does that make BH a support class?
This is my first MMORPG, so perhaps I just don't get it, but shouldn't combat fit our roles?
I remember when I first decided to become a CH. I thought about using my pets for hunting and self protection--then there are the movies, where CH's use creatures for executions...cool. Anyway, I master Ch and pickup novice rifleman, and then I go'a'hunting, only to be frustrated by the fact that pets and rifles concentrate on different HAM--but shouldn't hunting with pets+rifle be more complimentary?...it was taking me forever to take down creature lairs. So I had to take up novice pistoleer to hunt effectively with my pets--what the...? Anyone ever thought about what pistol they should bring on their next hunting trip?...what about getting mad because you forgot your brass knuckles?...ever thought about using a sword or a lance upside that deer's head? Ironically these weapons are used to go hunting all the time, and very effectively on their own I might add, but only in this game...is that right? Don't get me wrong, players with these skills should do very well against low level creatures, and even high level npc missions, as long as they're tailored to their specific roles.
A couple of thoughts on how things should be IMHO:
As CH's we have a role--it's the use of creatures in combat. That can be good, and it can be great. It should have it's strengths and it's weaknesses when dealing with other combat professions. Melee and ranged fighters should fear our pets, but ranged players should have the advantage of stopping our charging pets with some well placed blaster bolts, especially rifleman. At range, a master rifleman should "own" our pets up to their highest levels, but no player should be able to take down our highest level pets in close combat unless greatly out-numbered or a jedi--that only seems unbalanced. We, being the "handler" are still vulnerable, even if we have our own combat skills. It's a mattaer of tactics, as it should be. A Ch with a rancor vs. a rifleman, should give a slight advantage to the ch if he also has a ranged profession, because one way: riflman fires on CH, and rancor eats him, therefore they both die...or the other way: the rifleman fires on the rancor, killing it, but the CH gets off a few shots killing the riflman...there is however the chance that the CH and the rancor are close enough together, that the rifleman could use a couple cone type shots and get lucky enough to kill them both rather quickly. This is where having multiple pets may have advantages, and the use of formations. Also, having a pet with a ranged attack could surprise the rifleman who thinks his range will give him the upper hand on a pet that's supposed to charge, if he misses, and thinks he'll have time to get off another shot--he may be mistaken.
For high level creatures, TKA and other melee players need not apply. Nothing but running should be on their minds...unless perhaps they are skilled with a spear or something, which could allow for short ranged attacks as well as melee. These guys should own when it comes to close combat with npc's/pc's. It should be some superior kung fu action happening, maybe some limbs being cut off too.
Another thought: perhaps there could be a slight change to our cloning system. When we get killed, perhaps a message could appear saying that we lost an arm in battle, and that we can clone with or without the arm--if we choose without, then we could go to a doctor and have a prosthetic arm attached...the doc could get the arm from a DE...requires more thought.
Anyway, we are a combat profession, and all combat professions are support professions when used accordingly. I just think our roles should define how effective our fighting is in different situations.