Hello devs and players,
I wanted to talk about general balance on the topic of what newbies like to pick as DPS-Classes.
In the past few weeks I have been helping out smaller Guilds run Hoto, Idk, Kalin etc. and have come to the conclusion, that support is horrible. They never play music, no SA, no Warp Charge and CC is very bad which makes melee-classes harder to play (they die more). New guilds have no idea how important these buffs are and instead of starting to support better, they adapt in an interesting way: They all become ranged Mdps (not CPS-based).
We all know that Mdps (except Cps-based classes) are less dependent on Lute/Guitar, SA, FT, Warp Charge etc. than Leather and Chain-classes. What happens in this new guilds is the chain or leather-dps cannot keep up with a class like Mage/Knight, Bard/Mage or Mage/Rogue. They either become mdps and or quit being dps.
This sad reality will always make Mdps popular from the start and once you are Mdps you most likely will continue to be Mdps even if your guild becomes better at supporting or if you change to highend-Guild.
I do not know if devs care about this but as a chain-dps I think it is sad that new chain-players think that chain is bad. Even I was a victim of this when I started as newbie.
I have a long-term suggestion but feel free to add or take away:
Modifiy the Newbie-Patch and rewards to give new players free tutorial music instruments and free Siege-War titles. For example there should be a Tutorial Storm Assault +2 with same cooldown and mechanics as real Storm Assault +2.
The tutorial Siege-War buffs/debuffs and tutorial Instruments should be given out after reaching level 105 and should last for 90 days.
An ingame or external Tutorial on how to use a Countdown-Macro, when to use which Siegeware buff/debuff and music would be very valuable. I recommend an official video on Vimeo made by devs on how to use these skills.
Optionally, if a party successfully has all debuffs and buffs (Tamb+Lute/Guitar), Tactical Attack, Seeds/Void, Midnight Ritual and Storm Assault+2, reward the party with additional newbie items like Siege War Badge and free bufffood.
After the 90 days are over, most newbies now have had the chance to farm enough Coins to exchange for Siege-War Titles and have enough experience to play in highend-random parties.