Kilsin said:Community Debate - What is the best in-game character buff of all time and why? #MMORPG #CommunityMatters
Oh, the Clarity line of mana regen buffs, hands down. Man regen was the fulcrum on which an entire group and raid balanced. While a large mana pool would let you cast more spells, eventually you would empty it and then you're screwed. It was the ability to regen mana quickly that is much more important. It gets you ready for the next fight that much quicker.
Clarity line of spells then Haste line of spells. SoW was sort of made obsolete once you got J-boots from Drelzna in Najena or later when it was turned into a quest. Thorns/fire shield and regeneration was typically for early game when leveling. Late stage at level 30+ it wasn't as much of a concern or as highly desired which is why I ended up at Clarity and Haste as a means of enhancing direct performance.
What got me hooked were the Druid buffs. It allowed for hour long sessions of solo exp. Like if I knew I had exactly an hour to play before my mom made me go to bed. The whole experience of /who to see if a Druid was in the zone so that I could solo on my mid level rogue for a good hour- high level could solo single low dB till thorn/regrowth dropped, 10-15min. But thorns was the game changer. Returning 100 dmg on a quad was more important than 15hp. Hunting open world animals in Druid zones was fun, running ASAP to the aviaks is a memory for sure.
Cinda’s Charismatic Carillon from EQ - the bard’s goto faction booster.
Obviously melee haste and mana regen are key for increasing the success of slaying inordinate amounts of poor defenseless critters and gaining yet more loot, which we all spend hours upon hours achieving.
But CCC was a crafty non-combat buff that allowed access to adventures otherwise forbidden. I can’t simply spend all my time killing stuff, it damages the soul.
Shrink/Grow/X illusion
Most “buff” spells are just about improving mathematical advancement and are there for manufactured “relevance”. Spells that change the way you play or have in game effects that are not numerical combat effects are much more compelling and interesting. Especially if said choices also come with possible draw backs.
This question could almost be split into two and be combined with gameplay vs content and immersion vs fourth wall (like ice on the screen *ahem*)
Gameplay/fourth wall side? I would say movement buffs, or temporary flight buffs, definitely especially in a big world
Content/Immersion side? I would say illusions that can affect faction, and what trasak said. Nothing wrong with a little Alice in Wonderland puzzling to figure out a pathway.
Combine them both, and wow.