First off, this is not a paladin board. Second off paladins and SK's have a
much better selection of equipment. Third, smithing is not that difficult
and I am GLAD that they are trying something different for a class that was
always wrought with powergamers looking for the next big ass sword of death.
Paladins werre supposed to be good, well liked, and a reason why they got
all those benefits. Not so they can kill gnomes or dwarves with impunity and
not worry about their "goodness."

Without a protest, there armors were changed, fine.

Lets review some other quests.

A shaman comes over to Unrest, gets all three pieces he needs for these
areas (2 unrest, 1 Dragnor's Cauldron) in one night. ALSO, these monsters
and fighting groups are mostly of parity level so you can (GET THIS!!!)
Group AND get EXP!!!

A Ranger's griffawn feather drops as easily as rain on the Karanas.

You look around and See Paladin, ShodowKnight, Bard, Ranger, Shamen, Mages,
all with new gear. But you barely see ANY Cleric armor. (I finally saw one
person with cleric armor yesterday).

Now lets look at a Cleric scenario...

Before Kith became a death zone (RULE #1: careful what you wish for, you
just might get it) we all sat in the woods screaming for something to do.
Now we got it. but you would have to be a psycopath to sit in the kith now
for 8+ hours EACH PIECE.

Before no one would sit around with a cleric for 16 hours plus with no EXP
and no money. So it is a solo sit match. I brought a book and read
"Stalingrad" for a weekend. ANY game where you have to sit online just to
burn time to "hold" a spot, is at the very least flawed.

Now in Kith, you need a group 35-50 if you expect to live for the time
needed to do the quest.

BILGE: Ah what a wonderful time for this MOB. No one will tell you where he
is or help you, due to the fact that all druids (with tracking) and Shamen
are also trying to kill him instantly for a shot at the belt or totem. AND
he spawns once a week. People usually get this item on a fluke, I know I
did.

Sludge: Easy enough but no one wants to take a cleric down to a green
monster to let you kill it.

GULL: Ah, I love this lil guy. A 17 hour spawn that takes you an hour to get
to where he is to find out, HE isn't there! JOY. "Hey anyone want to travel
with me for an hour with no exp and barely any money just to see if Gull is
there?"

Guk: Sit in a room for seven hours, good thing you didn't attack any
froggies. What? You did? better come back after 30th....to sit. No exp and
no coin.

Babbinsbort: Pin the tail on the gnome! He is a rare 7 hour spawn which may
or may not show up in the seven hours. FEAR not! just sit and wait for a few
days until he does, no exp and no coin, and good luck trying to find someone
to sit around with you for no exp and no coin.

Same goes for the Glacier Bear, Zahal, and Maugrim.

The Cleric armor has the following flaws:

Time consumption (Stump sit, MObs spawn very rare while in other zones other
classes mosters show every 5 minutes) with little or no reward, and no
social interaction.

Weak AC for a class that gets whalloped after the second heal.

Heavy Weight for a weight conscious class.

Stat Add which add very little to our premium stat.
(it is my belief that stats adds give the best boneses to 85 or 100, and
therefore having pieces which help all stats will actualy help MORE than
having all have wis)

I would be happy if any ONE of these things changes.

Jeff
Cadfael, EM