Feldon So Kinya from the Polish EQ2 fansite Babagra.pl caught something during the SOE Live 2013 keynote specifically the EverQuest II segment — that the Channeler class will not only be playtested here on Saturday in a 4 hour open workshop/panel, but that the class will be available on the EQ2 Beta server. The Beta server is currently down, but hopefully it is brought up at least for Friday-Sunday:
@EQ2Wire Windstalker said “we also are openning Channeler on Beta during SOE Live for evryone to try”…
— Kinya (@BabaGraPL) August 2, 2013
@EQ2Wire https://t.co/dDGoaPIO7Q 48:25 – tests in Mezzanine, 48:35 – Beta server — Kinya (@BabaGraPL) August 2, 2013
I know I can’t wait to roll my Ranger/Healer, I mean Channeler.
UPDATE from Holly “Windstalker” Longdale:
Channeler will open on Beta about noon Friday! Try it out! #eq2 #SOELive
— Holly Longdale (@WindstalkerEQ2) August 2, 2013
Thank you Feldon.
Unfortunately Beta server is not available in Launcher atm as I was ready to jump in and create my ranger-healer!
But why damn leather armor again? More plate! ❓
I couldn’t tell whether she meant a Beta server that would only be accessible from the clients on the soelive computers or if everyone at home would be able to test it. I’ve been checking my test patcher every hour or so to see if Beta is up yet, just in case.
The window showing the information was only up for a couple seconds, but I managed to pause it there. The beta starts at Noon on Friday. What time zone they are using for this noon start time is unclear, but I would assume PST.
Server status is showing the Beta server as up. Don’t know if anyone can get in or not, I’m not at a PC where I could try.
While beta server is up, there is no Channeler class available as of yet.
Beta server is not available for me in launcher.
Yep, on the launcher I cannot select Beta right now.
man, the LAST thing this game needs is another class…
man, this game gets so much more that even the last thing it needs has its place. Enjoy and dont Meeeeeeh.
I think it’s going to be a fun class.
The problem is, the potential backlash of merging EQ2’s 24 base classes down to 12 (or even 14 or 16 if you keep Pally, SK, Necro, and Conjy separate for lore reasons) prevents this idea from ever getting past the drawing board. If EQ2 could go down to 14 or 16 classes, plus Beastlord, plus Channeler, that would work out really well. Then the difference between a Fury and Warden would be AA spec.
I have a feeling the Channeler class may be a kind of yin/yang to the beastlords.
Beastords – Pet Class – Primarily Melee – High DPS – Low heals
Channeler – Pet Class – Primarily Ranged – Low DPS – High heals
It’s just my early opinion.
I actually had exactly the same thought. Should be interesting.
Every Fan Fair I hope they announce a class merge and a rework of AA lines to do just that. The problem is players can’t see past their own self interest enough to even consider the possible benefits to themselves and the game as a whole if this were done.
I’ve been playing since launch and some characters are just boring where their counter part is leaps and bounds more enjoyable to play (I’m looking at you bards).
If given a chance and done well a class merge would give each class more unique rolls to fill with and more interesting abilities. Sometimes less really is more.
class merge? what for? we already have the opportunity to betraye our starting city. In my case, i have 25 characters, i maxed all class so i don’t see anything “heroic” in the free level 85 toons.
I don’t see class merges happening this far into the game. I think a good chunk of people, including myself, would be fine with it. But I know a lot of people would be absolutely livid. People rage for much much less than something so jarring to their character’s identity.
What on earth are you talking about. I heard nothing about taking our 24 classes down to 12, I sure hope your joking. Oh my that would be a disaster.
Last thing a priest needs is a pet dying; hopefully this is not the case.
Well I think next x-pac we will see new class for Mages or Tanks 😀
Woot a healer class that if the pet dies can’t heal. woohoo. guess we will see what happens.
You’re assuming it’s a mob-targetable pet.
The biggest problem will be those that instant 85 the class without taking the time to level up the pet, assuming the pet works Beastlord style, then spouting out how bad and inadequate the class is.
It doesn’t. UI info was leaked a week ago, it’s either 4 equip slots with 5 abilities or 5 equip slots with 4 abilities or 9 equip slots and abilities are seperate or something something something. We’ll find out in 2-3 hours.
I’m excited. As someone who plays healers mainly, it’s great to have a new toy to play with. Can’t wait to be a Defilerangermancer.
Stupid question … is the beta server TEST? How do you change your launcher to get to beta? I see in versions, Public Test? Same thing?
When I hit version all i see is:
US English
EU English
EU Francais
EU Deutsch
Pyccknn
Public Test
The new class should have been the Squirrelmancer
shamans are already a pet class.
this makes me wonder if this will be weak on heals and high on dps.
i could see a weak healer with utility and dps as a good alternative in many situations.
imo ranged weapon and pet class is a bad combo. ranged weapon and huge heal radius would be awesome tho.
I can’t complain about the new class. It will probably be popular and fun.
All I wonder is why they spent Dev time on something not needed that we didn’t ask for (did we?) But that’s a nitpik 🙂
But overall it’s a positive.
I’m just glad I’m not in charge of class balancing Lyndro
I just hope it’s not as OP as beasts were. What’s the over/under on the # of these on the next xpac launch day?
Started one on beta, as a good race. They tried to put me in chain armour (which I couldn’t wear) and gave me a wand (instead of a bow), so I couldn’t use any of my attack skills (all of which require a bow).
They might want to have given this a little bit of thought.
It’s a sneak-peek at the beta for it. Xpac is likely 3+ months away? Easy to assume that stuff would be fixed soon.
Beta starts September 15th, Release is October 15th. Which could mean they had to move the XPack from the usual November release to make room for EQNL.
I wasn’t anticipating fully formed code and new content. I do think that, if you’re going to provide a sneak peek, you should probably do at least a superficial check to make sure it works.
So…pretty sure this class is going to be amazing.