Test Update 8/5/2014 - Pet Changes Round Two

I see a lot of EM 18-20, these are group mobs. How does the EM15 (and 16 if they put Grael in game) parse out is the real question. I wouldn't expect to have an air, water or fire pet EM15 tank an "average" named, but I would expect the Earth pet to be a viable option in T1 with EM15 and T2 with EM16 even if it is a marathon, since those are the current highest group focus' there are.

I'm trying to get a feel for the RS pet, so I basically spammed them (along with summon companion to fade my pet) so I could get multiple tests. Gamparse merges them all together, so the following is of 31 Relentless Servant Rk. IIs with Max Pet AA and EM 15 (453 seconds):

Tanking summary for: Sancus`s pet --- Total damage: 3200545 --- Avg hit: 11190 --- Swings: 384 --- Defended: 87 (22.7%) --- Hit: 286 (74.5%) --- Missed: 11 (2.9%) --- Accuracy: 96.3% --- Dodged: 9 (2.9%) --- Parried: 13 (3.6%) --- Blocked: 18 (4.7%) --- Riposted: 47 (13.3%) --- Absorbed: 0 (0%)

Sancus`s pet - vs - A murkweb spider
Attempts 384 100%
Missed 11 2.86%
Dodged 9 2.34%
Parried 13 3.39%
Blocked 18 4.69%
Riposted 47 12.24%
Absorbed 0 0%
3661 16 4.17%
4336 29 7.55%
5012 2 0.52%
5687 8 2.08%
6363 11 2.86%
7039 9 2.34%
7715 9 2.34%
8391 1 0.26%
9066 13 3.39%
9742 10 2.6%
10418 15 3.91%
11094 18 4.69%
11770 15 3.91%
12445 16 4.17%
13121 14 3.65%
13797 11 2.86%
14473 12 3.12%
15149 4 1.04%
15824 10 2.6%
16500 11 2.86%
17176 52 13.54%
Bash accounts for 21 values (rather than 20), but it's alarming how often the pet is hit for DI20.

A murkweb spider on 8/6/2014

Sancus - 81
--- Aegis of Nefori Rk. II - 1
--- Auspice of Shadows Rk. II - 1
--- Promised Amelioration Rk. III - 2
--- Relentless Servant Rk. II - 31
--- Renewal of Hererra Rk. II - 15
--- Stone Core - 1
--- Summon Companion - 29
--- Vie faded - 1

Produced by GamParse v1.0.5

The RS Pet really needs a major bump in something, be it avoidance or mitigation (or some innate ability).

Here is the same parse as above (this time 32 RS Rk. II) but with EM 20:
Tanking summary for: Sancus`s pet --- Total damage: 3590716 --- Avg hit: 10686 --- Swings: 444 --- Defended: 97 (21.8%) --- Hit: 336 (75.7%) --- Missed: 11 (2.5%) --- Accuracy: 96.8% --- Dodged: 14 (3.9%) --- Parried: 15 (3.6%) --- Blocked: 27 (6.1%) --- Riposted: 41 (10.2%) --- Absorbed: 0 (0%)

Sancus`s pet - vs - A murkweb spider
Attempts 444 100%
Missed 11 2.48%
Dodged 14 3.15%
Parried 15 3.38%
Blocked 27 6.08%
Riposted 41 9.23%
Absorbed 0 0%
3661 23 5.18%
4336 34 7.66%
5012 10 2.25%
5688 14 3.15%
6364 8 1.8%
7040 9 2.03%
7715 12 2.7%
8391 18 4.05%
9067 10 2.25%
9743 15 3.38%
10419 16 3.6%
11095 17 3.83%
11771 12 2.7%
12447 10 2.25%
13123 18 4.05%
13799 13 2.93%
14474 10 2.25%
15150 8 1.8%
15826 12 2.7%
16502 13 2.93%
17178 54 12.16%

EM18 drops off a group named in Plane of War

I wanted to take the time to address one of the problems I personally have with Mage defensive abilities. To quote Roshen:

So obviously part of maintaining our pets is healing. My personal feeling is (for Mages) our Promised Heal is good because of its low cast time, but our single target heal has an extremely long cast time if it's meant to be used for patch healing.

Beyond heals, we have 8 activated defensives that I can think of. My problem with the majority of them is they fall behind when tanking 2 mobs. I briefly mentioned this in a previous post, but here's a run down of all the abilities I could find that are activated in regards to tanking.
To look at pretty much every activated defense we have in game:

Code:

[11936] Prism Skin
Target: Self
Resist: Beneficial, Blockable: Yes
Casting: 0s, Recast: 45s
Duration: 05:09:00 (3090 ticks), Extendable: Yes, Dispelable: Yes
[B]3: Absorb 2 Hits or Spells[/B]
Text: Your skin shimmers with energy.

This is a proc off of Iceflame/Maloseniac. It blocks 2 hits (no max), meaning if 2x the hits are coming in, it is half as effective.

Code:

[35702/9524] Aegis of Nefori Rk. II
Classes: NEC/99 MAG/99 BST/99
Skill: Abjuration
Mana: 735
Target: Pet
Range: 100'
Resist: Beneficial, Blockable: Yes
[B]Casting: 6s[/B], Recast: 36s, Timer: 10, Rest: 1.5s
Duration: 36m (360 ticks), Extendable: Yes, Dispelable: Yes
[B]1: Absorb 9 Hits or Spells, Max Per Hit: 21811[/B]
Protects your pet with a shield that absorbs up to @1 damage from the next #1 melee strikes or direct damage spells before dissipating.

This is a 9 hit rune. Again, 2x the hits means 1/2 the effectiveness. This also locks out Groundswell Stance

Code:

[35979/7510] Groundswell Stance Rk. II
Classes: MAG/98
Skill: Abjuration
Mana: 1076
Target: Pet
Range: 100'
Resist: Beneficial, Blockable: Yes
[B]Casting: 6s, Recast: 2m,[/B] Timer: 10, Rest: 1.5s
Duration: 36m (360 ticks), Extendable: Yes, Dispelable: Yes
[B]1: Absorb Melee Damage: 33%, Total: 52700[/B]
2: Decrease Movement Speed by 80%

The current damage cap makes this ability useless considering it blocks less than Aegis of Nefori and has an over 3x longer recast time. Again, they share a recast timer. It also will fade twice as quickly with 2 mobs.

Code:

[B][/B]
[30643] Fortify Companion
Classes: SHD/254 SHM/254 NEC/254 MAG/254 ENC/254 BER/254
Skill: Abjuration
Target: Pet
Range: 100'
Resist: Beneficial, Blockable: Yes
Casting: 3s
Duration: 10m (100 ticks), Extendable: No, Dispelable: Yes
1: Decrease Damage Shield Taken by 58
[B]2: Increase Chance to Avoid Melee by 58%[/B]
[B]4: Absorb Spell Damage: 19%, Total: 160000[/B]
[B]5: Absorb Melee Damage: 19%, Total: 160000[/B]
[B]7: Increase AC by 66[/B]

Fortify Companion is a very powerful tool while it is up (15 minute recast timer). Unfortunately, it now lasts for less than a minute in any scenario where it is worth using, and lasts 1/2 as long on 2 mobs.

Code:

 
[CODE][B][/B]
[33909] Host in the Shell
Classes: MAG/254
Skill: Abjuration
Target: Pet
Range: 200'
Resist: Beneficial, Blockable: Yes
Casting: 0.5s, Recast: 1.5s, Rest: 1.5s
Duration: 5m (50 ticks), Extendable: Yes, Dispelable: Yes
[B]Max Hits: 30 Incoming Hit Successes[/B]
[B]1: Absorb Melee Damage: 25%, Max Per Hit: 5000, Total: 50000[/B]
Text: You are protected by a shield of runes.

This ability is up every 4 minutes and lasts a good 15 seconds. Again 1/2 as effective on 2 mobs.

Code:

[33908/2754] Frenzied Burnout
Classes: MAG/254
Skill: Melee
Target: Pet
Range: 100'
Resist: Beneficial, Blockable: Yes
Casting: 2s
Duration: 42s (7 ticks), Extendable: Yes, Dispelable: Yes
[B]2: Increase AC by 180[/B]
4: Increase Melee Haste v3 by 30%
7: Increase STR by 35
8: Increase Chance to Flurry by 15%
9: Increase ATK by 580
10: Increase Chance to Hit by 16%
11: Increase Hit Damage by 176%

We get some AC increase for 3 minutes out of any 10 here.

Code:

[B][/B]
[36599] Earth Elemental Strength IX
Target: Self
Resist: Beneficial, Blockable: Yes
Casting: 0s
Duration: 18s (3 ticks), Extendable: Yes, Dispelable: Yes
[B]4: Absorb Melee Damage: 20%, Total: 10298[/B]
Text: You gain the strength of the earth.

This is the Earth pet's proc. Again because of the damage cap it only ever lasts a couple of seconds, and lasts 1/2 as long on 2 mobs. It also only works on Rooted mobs.

Now with that in mind, all of these abilities other than FBO drop twice as quickly against 2 mobs, 3x as quickly versus 3, etc.

So here are my suggestions:

• Since we are trying to actively support our pets, give us an ability that fits into a spell weave. Purely as an example, a 9 second recast 6 second mitigation buff that does not switch our targets. This would force us to sacrifice one of our DPS spells for a tanking spell if the situation required it.
• Give us a fast casting long refresh heal to deal with spikes
• Create some long recast tanking ability that is duration based, not damage cap based
• Make our heals not switch targets
• Make the RS pet an effective off tank again

Edit: I forgot Aegis of Kildrukhan, but it's basically the same as Aegis of Nefori for the purpose of the argument (blocks 8 hits with a lower damage cap), since it fades 2x as quickly on 2 mobs

No one goes to plane of war, or kills anything in plane of war, remember?

Okay, outside of that cheap shot at the other thread people...

That gear has been stated to be equal to T4 raid gear from RoF. It runs a slot 8. It has stats superior to any other gear outside of raid in EQ.

The next place you have to go to receive this focus, is T2 RoF--

Chapterhouse: Raid Instance

• an ornate chest (Chapterhouse raid)

I guess I can see either way looking at this. My mage has it, but no groupers are going to 1 group the mob.
The devs put war in as limited raid gear to a couple groups of "groupers" or a very very good group or raiders (and then the in betweens).
I would guess they would still consider EM18 a raid focus, saying that the next EM is going to be EM16 from Grael supposedly in Argin Hiz, still TWO EMs behind War.

Has anyone parsed lower level pets? It would be interesting how it has effected the 1-90 game.

Just wanted to say its nice to see some good information posted on these tests with some reasonable analysis and possible areas that could be problematic from the community. In particular the last few from Sinfae, Sirene and Sancus have been interesting.

You also forgot Auspice of Shadows:

[36053/7543] Auspice of Shadows Rk. II
Classes: MAG/96 BST/96
Skill: Abjuration
Mana: 856
Target: Pet
Range: 100'
Resist: Beneficial, Blockable: Yes
Casting: 1s, Recast: 48s, Timer: 16, Rest: 1.5s
Duration: 36m (360 ticks), Extendable: Yes, Dispelable: Yes
2: Absorb 5 Hits or Spells, Max Per Hit: 48094
Text: You are protected from harm.

Which does NOT lock out Groundswell, making it a better choice to cycle than Aegis of Nefori.

Now you're chaining Aegis of Kil, Groundswell, Auspice of Shadows, Host in a Shell, Promised Heal, Single Heal, RS pet initial mitigation, Comp Blessing, Fortify, 2nd Wind, and Replenish Comp and in between all of this there's still time to DPS.

Obviously, you'll save what is needed for the right times. You wouldn't use Comp Blessing for a single trash unless merc died or something.

Plus add in the two tank pets own ability to mitigate.

If you look at it, on raids, being sensible with a water pet or fire pet, you have at your disposal without sacrificing much at all:

[36054/7543] Auspice of Shadows Rk. III
Classes: MAG/96 BST/96
Skill: Abjuration
Mana: 890
Target: Pet
Range: 100'
Resist: Beneficial, Blockable: Yes
Casting: 1s, Recast: 48s, Timer: 16, Rest: 1.5s
Duration: 36m (360 ticks), Extendable: Yes, Dispelable: Yes
2: Absorb 5 Hits or Spells, Max Per Hit: 50499

[35703/9524] Aegis of Nefori Rk. III
Classes: NEC/99 MAG/99 BST/99
Skill: Abjuration
Mana: 764
Target: Pet
Range: 100'
Resist: Beneficial, Blockable: Yes
Casting: 6s, Recast: 36s, Timer: 10, Rest: 1.5s
Duration: 36m (360 ticks), Extendable: Yes, Dispelable: Yes
1: Absorb 9 Hits or Spells, Max Per Hit: 22902

[23683] Aegis of Kildrukaun
Classes: NEC/254 MAG/254
Skill: Abjuration
Target: Pet
Range: 100'
Resist: Beneficial, Blockable: Yes
Casting: 3s
Duration: 36m (360 ticks), Extendable: No, Dispelable: Yes
1: Absorb 8 Hits or Spells, Max Per Hit: 18918

All easily and quickly cycled for helping out on AE Ramp and AE spells.

Ask other DPS classes how much they would like to have this on their main char, nonetheless a pet.

Yes I did forget to mention why I didn't include Auspice of Shadows. Compared to our other abilities, it is, in my opinion, the best way to deal with a spike. It has a 1 second cast time, which is better than can be said for most of our relatively quick reuse abilities. 5 hits isn't much, but I've found it can be the difference between life and death after a spike since it gives enough time to either cast another Aegis or a Heal. Therefore in the group game I'd rather have it refreshed when I need it rather than chain it and not have it up. However, I were to chain them, I'd probably chain both Auspice and Aegis of Nefori since they stack.

As for Companion's Blessing it's... Funky . For whatever reason it seems to get knocked off the pet prematurely before it can do any significant healing. I do hit it, but I don't think it's ever saved my pet (this might be a bug or there might be a part of the spell description I'm missing).

Regardless, the point meant to be illustrated didn't pertain to the raid game. I can't try the water pet out on a raid, but I think in that area this change won't be particularly bad (I do keep Aegis of K/Auspice of Shadows on my pets usually during a raid).

------------

What I was going for is yes, we have some very powerful activated abilities. For whatever reason, the vast majority of them seem to be much stronger when fighting one mob. Anecdotally, I have more trouble fighting 2 mobs in Argin-Hiz than Roon.

Unfortunately, multiple mobs are the reality in many situations. My hope is that we could get some new abilities to help us with them or retune our existing abilities so that a second mob isn't quite as much of a struggle. Right now it seems one strong mob is much easier to handle than two weaker mobs.

Edit: Not sure why the quoted post is so dark...

Anyways if there's confusion, I'm not lobbying for an ability that helps us fight a named or similar mob. Ideally whatever we get (if anything) would not be hugely powerful, but also would be available a large portion of the time. One suggestion could be an ability that is weaker than a Rune vs 1 mob, but stronger vs 2 that shares a recast timer with one of our runes. I find many of my pulls in the group game are 2 mobs rather than one, so it would be helpful to have some defensive abilities that don't degrade so much when adding a mob.

"[36054/7543] Auspice of Shadows Rk. IIIClasses: MAG/96 BST/96
Skill: Abjuration
Mana: 890
Target: Pet
Range: 100'
Resist: Beneficial, Blockable: Yes
Casting: 1s, Recast: 48s, Timer: 16, Rest: 1.5s
Duration: 36m (360 ticks), Extendable: Yes, Dispelable: Yes
2: Absorb 5 Hits or Spells, Max Per Hit: 50499

[35703/9524] Aegis of Nefori Rk. III
Classes: NEC/99 MAG/99 BST/99
Skill: Abjuration
Mana: 764
Target: Pet
Range: 100'
Resist: Beneficial, Blockable: Yes
Casting: 6s, Recast: 36s, Timer: 10, Rest: 1.5s
Duration: 36m (360 ticks), Extendable: Yes, Dispelable: Yes
1: Absorb 9 Hits or Spells, Max Per Hit: 22902

[23683] Aegis of Kildrukaun
Classes: NEC/254 MAG/254
Skill: Abjuration
Target: Pet
Range: 100'
Resist: Beneficial, Blockable: Yes
Casting: 3s
Duration: 36m (360 ticks), Extendable: No, Dispelable: Yes
1: Absorb 8 Hits or Spells, Max Per Hit: 18918

All easily and quickly cycled for helping out on AE Ramp and AE spells.

Ask other DPS classes how much they would like to have this on their main char, nonetheless a pet."

From a raiding beastlords perspective..I honestly don't like any of these spells.
Too long cast times and fairly quickly worn off.
Against AE ramp, might as well spam pet heal then...
There's better things to spend time on, like doing dps, than casting these spells imo.
The more you help your pet, the less you're killing the mobs.
One would probably lose more dps casting these pet-micro-managing spells, than it's worth having the pet up for.
I can say I don't look forward to AE ramp raid events...

There is 1 main reason why this is the case.

Regardless of what Piemaster thinks, Prism Skin procs actually form a significant part of mage pet avoidance. Some of your parses show this as high as 25%, but most of them are in the 20% range. i.e Iceflame is blocking 20% of the hits. Considering the accuracy of mobs, so it's only hits that are blocked (and misses can still proc Prism skin) it's blocking 25-32% of the actual number of swings.

I'd like to thank you for your parses and analysis.

Below’s an EM 20 Earth Pet fighting 2 spiders, in the entrance area of Argin-hiz on test. . I had 3 healer Mercs (2 on reactive and 1 on balanced) and the mage patch healing when needed. The same mob models and con where used in both the 1st round of changes on Test and then again after the 2nd round of changes on Test. In each case the pet has Mage / Merc buffs, including burnout 9 RK III, Maloe. RK III and Certitude RK II. Both parses are a touch shy of 10 minutes. This model is subject to the Earth pets root so Earth Pet Elemental Strike is included below. If I recall correctly it knocks a portion of the hit value down until the 10K per 18 second cap is used up. It’s partially what accounts for the DI values being very long (DI values for HITs and not total DI is listed below)

Test (the 1st round of changes)
A murkweb spider on 8/4/2014 in 517sec

Lantik (Raneern)
--- DMG: 1395014 (50.06%) @ 2698 dps (2698 sdps)
--- DMG to PC: 8619843 @16738dps

/2 Tanking summary for: Lantik (Raneern) --- Total damage: 8619843 --- Avg hit: 5843 --- Swings: 1943 --- Defended: 309 (15.9%) --- Hit: 1475 (75.9%) --- Missed: 159 (8.2%) --- Accuracy: 90.3% --- Dodged: 20 (1.1%) --- Parried: 21 (1.1%) --- Blocked: 75 (3.9%) --- Riposted: 26 (1.4%) --- Absorbed: 167 (8.6%)
Lantik (Raneern) - vs - A murkweb spider

Attempts 1818 100%
Missed 146 8.03%
Dodged 19 1.05%
Parried 21 1.16%
Blocked 69 3.8%
Riposted 25 1.38%
Absorbed 154 8.47%
2181 176 9.68%
2202 1 0.06%
2203 1 0.06%
2212 1 0.06%
2324 1 0.06%
2329 1 0.06%
2330 1 0.06%
2452 1 0.06%
2454 23 1.27%
2455 1 0.06%
2456 1 0.06%
2591 1 0.06%
2592 1 0.06%
2595 1 0.06%
2617 1 0.06%
2722 24 1.32%
2726 306 16.83%
3062 3 0.17%
3262 7 0.39%
3263 11 0.61%
3402 24 1.32%
3423 1 0.06%
3670 3 0.17%
3671 2 0.11%
3803 4 0.22%
3804 12 0.66%
3812 1 0.06%
3816 1 0.06%
4077 11 0.61%
4078 18 0.99%
4082 1 0.06%
4278 1 0.06%
4344 24 1.32%
4753 16 0.88%
4754 19 1.05%
4884 16 0.88%
4887 1 0.06%
4898 1 0.06%
5425 18 0.99%
5429 19 1.05%
5430 21 1.16%
5446 1 0.06%
5495 4 0.22%
5578 1 0.06%
5722 1 0.06%
5965 8 0.44%
5966 9 0.5%
6105 32 1.76%
6506 10 0.55%
6507 5 0.28%
6647 1 0.06%
6662 1 0.06%
6711 1 0.06%
6712 1 0.06%
6781 30 1.65%
6788 1 0.06%
6928 1 0.06%
7047 2 0.11%
7048 10 0.55%
7319 2 0.11%
7320 3 0.17%
7456 11 0.61%
7457 13 0.72%
7588 16 0.88%
7928 1 0.06%
7929 1 0.06%
8128 8 0.44%
8129 8 0.44%
8132 15 0.83%
8133 11 0.61%
8416 1 0.06%
8536 2 0.11%
8537 3 0.17%
8668 8 0.44%
8670 11 0.61%
8674 1 0.06%
8678 1 0.06%
8695 1 0.06%
8808 16 0.88%
8809 19 1.05%
9144 2 0.11%
9145 1 0.06%
9209 9 0.5%
9211 8 0.44%
9354 1 0.06%
9359 1 0.06%
9484 12 0.66%
9485 10 0.55%
9496 1 0.06%
9616 1 0.06%
9619 1 0.06%
9640 1 0.06%
9750 9 0.5%
9752 5 0.28%
9753 1 0.06%
10033 1 0.06%
10034 1 0.06%
10160 14 0.77%
10161 18 0.99%
10291 3 0.17%
10292 3 0.17%
10360 1 0.06%
10542 1 0.06%
10571 1 0.06%
10832 4 0.22%
10835 21 1.16%
10837 12 0.66%
10971 2 0.11%
10977 1 0.06%
10998 1 0.06%
11252 1 0.06%
11372 1 0.06%
11373 2 0.11%
11382 1 0.06%
11400 1 0.06%
11511 10 0.55%
11513 12 0.66%
11514 1 0.06%
11578 2 0.11%
11912 2 0.11%
11914 1 0.06%
12186 1 0.06%
12187 9 0.5%
12189 7 0.39%
12453 8 0.44%
12455 7 0.39%
12464 1 0.06%
12468 1 0.06%
12476 1 0.06%
12863 8 0.44%
12864 16 0.88%
13017 1 0.06%
13401 1 0.06%
13403 1 0.06%
13412 1 0.06%
13539 10 0.55%
13540 6 0.33%
13676 1 0.06%
13959 1 0.06%
14010 1 0.06%
14214 9 0.5%
14216 6 0.33%
14890 7 0.39%
14892 8 0.44%
15431 1 0.06%
15566 22 1.21%
15568 20 1.1%

Quantitative data is fantastic, but qualitative data gives perspective, too. A sample of a conversation in the Mage channel. To keep identities private I changed the names to "Mage_Channel_Member". Transcript below:

[Wed Aug 06 17:31:01 2014] You tell serverwide.magicians:1, 'Will someone please give me a qualitative idea of how the pets are performing on test? I'm going to transfer my humble country Mage over and test it too, but want to see if there is some kind of quasi-consensus.'

[Wed Aug 06 17:32:42 2014] Mage_Channel_Member tells serverwide.magicians:1, 'badly, water pet gets rolled on almost any con mob'

[Wed Aug 06 17:33:09 2014] Mage_Channel_Member tells serverwide.magicians:1, 'earth pet (em21 max aa's) gets rolled if it tanks more than 2 .. even with 2 you will find yourself healing with your pet .. this is blue con *trash* btw'

[Wed Aug 06 17:33:43 2014] Mage_Channel_Member tells serverwide.magicians:1, 'RS pets have completely lost there ability to OT mobs, I've seen them get one rounded more than once by blue con trash'

[Wed Aug 06 17:33:56 2014] You tell serverwide.magicians:1, '!!'

[Wed Aug 06 17:34:14 2014] Mage_Channel_Member tells serverwide.magicians:1, 'fire pet gets one rounded almost everytime'

[Wed Aug 06 17:34:55 2014] Mage_Channel_Member tells serverwide.magicians:1, 'air pet gets rolled if tanking more than 1, even on 1 vs 1 it doesn't do very well, you will see your merc chain healing it to keep it alive, mercs almost *have* to be on reactive healing now on any pet tank, on balanced they tend to die .. even earth pet'

[Wed Aug 06 17:34:56 2014] You tell serverwide.magicians:1, 'so earth pet has no avoidance as normal, but with the ac changes due to sturdy compansion (and others) he can't tank 2 mobs anymore. A big HP punching bag that gets eaten alive since there is no avoidance +AC changes. What about earth VS a yellow mob?'

[Wed Aug 06 17:35:23 2014] Mage_Channel_Member tells serverwide.magicians:1, 'earth vs yellow pushs ... you have to assist heal with your merc to keep your pet alive'

[Wed Aug 06 17:35:33 2014] Mage_Channel_Member tells serverwide.magicians:1, 'you can still dps it down but its nasty'

[Wed Aug 06 17:35:38 2014] Mage_Channel_Member tells serverwide.magicians:1, '2 yellows and you will gate'

[Wed Aug 06 17:35:51 2014] You tell serverwide.magicians:1, '... that obliterates my play style'

[Wed Aug 06 17:36:25 2014] You tell serverwide.magicians:1, 'thank you very much,Mage_Channel_Members

[Wed Aug 06 17:36:47 2014] Mage_Channel_Member tells serverwide.magicians:1, 'it does 90&PCT; of mages as well'

[Wed Aug 06 17:37:13 2014] Mage_Channel_Member tells serverwide.magicians:1, 'basically if they don't take back some of the nerf you will find yourself begging (someone) to come help you kill .... from this point on'

[Wed Aug 06 17:37:55 2014] Mage_Channel_Member tells serverwide.magicians:1, 'and if you raid you will find your pet / rs pets dying to ramp and such far more often, this is on top of the substandard DPS they are doing now'

[Wed Aug 06 17:38:13 2014] Mage_Channel_Member tells serverwide.magicians:1, 'basically the class is becoming a substandard wizard'

[Wed Aug 06 17:38:29 2014] You tell serverwide.magicians:1, 'this is exactly what we fought back in PoP'
[Wed Aug 06 17:38:37 2014] You tell serverwide.magicians:1, 'exactly'

[Wed Aug 06 17:38:41 2014] Mage_Channel_Member tells serverwide.magicians:1, 'yes, for those old enough to remember'

[Wed Aug 06 17:39:01 2014] Mage_Channel_Member tells serverwide.magicians:1, 'granted some (people) feel the changes are ok, and are giving the devs props for there work'

Anyway, without numbers and charts and harrumphs, this is what some Mages are *saying* about the changes, based on observation and past experience. This type of data is as valuable as any numeric data.

Test (2nd round of changes)

Again 2 Argin-Hiz spiders under same conditions as above

A murkweb spider on 8/6/2014 in 587sec

Gontik
--- DMG: 788647 (17.86%) @ 1346 dps (1344 sdps)
--- DMG to PC: 9370982 @16241dps

/2 Tanking summary for: Gontik --- Total damage: 9370982 --- Avg hit: 5611 --- Swings: 2195 --- Defended: 362 (16.5%) --- Hit: 1670 (76.1%) --- Missed: 163 (7.4%) --- Accuracy: 91.1% --- Dodged: 27 (1.3%) --- Parried: 29 (1.4%) --- Blocked: 74 (3.4%) --- Riposted: 50 (2.4%) --- Absorbed: 182 (8.3%)

Gontik - vs - A murkweb spider
Attempts 2054 100%
Missed 153 7.45%
Dodged 24 1.17%
Parried 27 1.31%
Blocked 66 3.21%
Riposted 48 2.34%
Absorbed 176 8.57%
2181 206 10.03%
2190 1 0.05%
2194 1 0.05%
2202 1 0.05%
2316 1 0.05%
2337 1 0.05%
2348 1 0.05%
2468 2 0.1%
2473 2 0.1%
2604 1 0.05%
2612 1 0.05%
2722 23 1.12%
2726 384 18.7%
2730 1 0.05%
2874 1 0.05%
3153 1 0.05%
3262 10 0.49%
3263 16 0.78%
3402 44 2.14%
3803 7 0.34%
3804 8 0.39%
3820 1 0.05%
3946 1 0.05%
4077 18 0.88%
4078 27 1.31%
4344 23 1.12%
4501 1 0.05%
4753 15 0.73%
4754 23 1.12%
4884 24 1.17%
4907 1 0.05%
5178 1 0.05%
5180 1 0.05%
5307 1 0.05%
5425 18 0.88%
5429 24 1.17%
5430 20 0.97%
5558 1 0.05%
5839 1 0.05%
5843 1 0.05%
5965 9 0.44%
5966 13 0.63%
5978 1 0.05%
6105 33 1.61%
6506 11 0.54%
6507 11 0.54%
6660 1 0.05%
6781 44 2.14%
6919 1 0.05%
7047 13 0.63%
7048 10 0.49%
7456 16 0.78%
7457 23 1.12%
7466 1 0.05%
7588 14 0.68%
7742 1 0.05%
8001 1 0.05%
8019 1 0.05%
8128 8 0.39%
8129 13 0.63%
8132 18 0.88%
8133 19 0.93%
8141 1 0.05%
8668 3 0.15%
8670 4 0.19%
8674 1 0.05%
8808 10 0.49%
8809 10 0.49%
8831 1 0.05%
8948 1 0.05%
9076 1 0.05%
9209 6 0.29%
9211 6 0.29%
9237 1 0.05%
9484 22 1.07%
9485 15 0.73%
9750 1 0.05%
9752 3 0.15%
9764 1 0.05%
9765 1 0.05%
10041 1 0.05%
10160 19 0.93%
10161 21 1.02%
10168 1 0.05%
10291 4 0.19%
10292 6 0.29%
10561 1 0.05%
10565 1 0.05%
10582 1 0.05%
10832 4 0.19%
10835 14 0.68%
10837 16 0.78%
10985 1 0.05%
11103 1 0.05%
11372 4 0.19%
11373 7 0.34%
11376 1 0.05%
11389 1 0.05%
11392 1 0.05%
11399 1 0.05%
11511 10 0.49%
11512 1 0.05%
11513 17 0.83%
11531 1 0.05%
11912 2 0.1%
11914 1 0.05%
12187 14 0.68%
12189 12 0.58%
12202 1 0.05%
12453 6 0.29%
12455 7 0.34%
12734 1 0.05%
12863 14 0.68%
12864 12 0.58%
12871 1 0.05%
13279 1 0.05%
13283 1 0.05%
13403 1 0.05%
13539 9 0.44%
13540 13 0.63%
13561 1 0.05%
13815 1 0.05%
13948 1 0.05%
14214 5 0.24%
14216 8 0.39%
14219 1 0.05%
14890 6 0.29%
14892 12 0.58%
15566 14 0.68%
15568 15 0.73%

BTW, I see a lot of EM20 and EM21 comments used as a baseline, which means that group-EM pets are going to be summarily slaughtered.

Slaughtered.

I agree partially.

Mages have sad everything under the sun to protect the status of the class.

To not say anything on my opinion one way or the other, I will say that some of it has been constructive and valid...

Others... jumped over the shark. Whale. Moon.

I think that sounds about right then. A little more mit on air, and a bunch on RS pet and they are close to finished. Water is a rog and fire is a wiz, both should turn to mist/smoke if trying to tank. Mages should help heal so nothing wrong there.

raid pet focus..............sirene group geared SK , tank much better than that raid pet focus.............

The old standard was that a Mage pet and its owner (before mercs) should be able to solo a blue mob right out of the box.

With a merc, there should be a similar standard of a Mage pet right out of the box. Or at EM10. Or at EM20.

But NO WAY at EM21, which was the focus being used in the above conversation, should you be having difficulty with two BLUES. That's absurd. EM21 is the pinnacle of power.

Until we have a standard reference by which to gauge various foci on the pets, all these numbers and hoo-hah mean nothing.

Put the standard at EM15 since it's the max group focus, and say that at EM15, a Mage pet and owner should be able to MOLO 2 blue mobs with little difficulty.That's a reasonable criterion, and it's both a springboard to gauge increases in EM potency, and an incentive for Mages to get a better focus.