At my current (and everyone in my now guild's) rate of progression we will
reach the levels that you claim their spells make a difference in
approximately 2.5 years. That's 128 patches. I doubt the game will look
much like it does now at that point. Why does everyone seem to continually
use the argument "Wait until you are X level, then things balance out" when
X is invariably well above 20? Shouldn't a game be balanced at all levels
of play?

-----Original Message-----
From: kim@... [mailto:kim@...]
Sent: Thursday, September 30, 1999 3:20 PM
To: 'eqbards@onelist.com'
Subject: RE: [eqbards] Hey this sounded interesting..

From: kim@...

On Thu, 30 Sep 1999, Kimes, Dean W. wrote:
>
> The other three classes you mention can function for 9 levels without
> spells. Their spells even after that are a nice flavor ability but really
> do not increase their abilities in combat very much. dance of fireflies
is
> the perfect example. What 9th level ranger can't kill a fire beele with
his
> bare hands and pick up an eye? Why have the spell? for flavor, no other
> reason.

Actually, they gave rangers Dance of the Fireflies so they
could practice conjuration before level 30 - my two ranger
friends spent something like two weeks meditating every chance
they got so they could fizzle their L30 DoT 20 times for every
1 success hoping it would raise their conjuration from however
many practice points they were willing to sacrifice for it.

And you are kidding yourself if you think it doesn't add to
their combat ability much. Snare's use is obvious, as are the
buffs. Paladins get good buffs and cures as well, and a L39
paladin is using the same heal spell as a L34 cleric. My
paladin friend was able to act as primary healer for a L35-40
party we had in Mistmoore.