A Compilation of information on the Cleric Class

A complilation of information for the Cleric classes gathered from the forums

face=Arial>

face=Arial>Vanguard healers will be cut from a different cloth than most other game's healers. We really wanted the healer's game to be something other than healing bot.

Our combat system allows us to take the focus off of the traditional MMO paradigm of Tanking, Healing, DPS. While each of these is still important, interaction within the group and the player's ability to react to the NPC will play a larger role. We can make things more challenging without increasing NPC hitpoints and damage alone. Games of the past only gave you a few options - Aggro it, Nuke it, Heal us, etc.

This allows us to reduce the focus of healing in combat. It is still needed in combat, but you won't spend all of your time managing the red bars. Instead you will be engaging the NPCs and healing when needed.

Each healer class (Cleric is one of them) will engage in combat differently. The Cleric is mainly a martial combatant, using specialized attacks and spells that will augment his damage and accuracy. He can also choose to use spells to damage and debuff his opponents.

It may be that some people like doing nothing but managing the red bars. If that is the case, then you can still do that, but there will be many things that you could be doing if you chose to.

face=Arial>Combat is reactionary. You can react in many ways. To list a few:

Detect errors in your opponent's melee attack, and defend against it. This will allow you to counter attack.
If your defensive target is in trouble, you can choose to rescue him or intercept the attack.
Other members of your party can create openings for you to exploit. you can do the same for your allies. The attacks that are made in response to an opening will be more effective than standard attacks.
Work sympathetically with your party members to create powerful spells.
Perceive and counter incoming NPC spells. Choose your method of countering.
Create an attack chain that is made of
openers (basic attacks), Bridges (more powerful attacks) and finishes (Extra
powerful attacks)

face=Arial>-Talisker speaking about the new "battle cleric class" -

If people are countering spells and defending combat maneuvers, the health bar isn't going down fast. Healer has time to add some non-healing type aid with his/her other abilities.

Consequently, if the party is going for a more offensive approach, throwing out damage spells and using the heavy damage attacks, health will be dropping. Healer will be focusing on healing.

The classes have a nice set of
abilities that allow for different approaches to different
scenarios. - face=Arial>Jansen-

face=Arial>

You will absolutely need a healer in group situations. We are focusing less on the frequency of heals, but they need to be there. A group could find that in some easier situation that they don't need a cleric, but then they would all have to be on the defensive (which we allow you to do in Vanguard), which means that their Damage goes down the tubes, which prolongs the fight, which means that, although the NPC is doing less damage, he is doing if for a longer period...Combat becomes far less certain.

These groups will find that a healer can end the above mentioned cycle of attrition. Not to mention that healers bring powerful buffs and debuff to the table...You won't leave home without one. -Talisker-