This one is mostly in Graalx2’s words. He handed this to me yesterday evening and I forgot to post it then, I apologize for getting it out a little later that it could have been.
You’ll notice that Graalx2 uses the familiar “everything is subject to change” and threatens to roundly beat me about the head and body should the champions outshine the guardians.
Here are his words.
Guardian Plans
One of the secondary objectives to the removal/relaxing of stat caps will be to encourage the use of tank class characters. Characters without very high Block/Parry/Evade (BPE) ratings will be hit a lot in a world with monsters with Finesse. This renewed emphasis on tanks as well as our opinion that Guardians are in a decent place already led us to not make any major changes.
New Skills for levels 66-75
Guardian’s Ward will now also increase the Tactical Mitgiation of the Guardian.
Overwhelm will now add a debuff to the target’s BPE ratings.
Whirling Retaliation will now be useable after a Parry event and adds the Retaliation event when used so that the Parry chain can proceed.
Turn the Tables will now not be Blocked, Parried, Evaded or Miss an on level target.
Guardian’s Defence will now place an effect on anything that attacks the Guardian that will snare the attacker if it does not continue to attack the Guardian.
Challenge will now place an effect on a monster that will snare the monster if it does not continue to attack the Guardian for the next 30 seconds.
Skill and Trait Improvements
Protection – now useable on escorted NPC’s
Protection: By the Sword – a new version of Protection available while in Overpower stance. This new toggle skill will increase the target’s melee damage by +2% and transfer any Parry events to the Guardian while nearby.
Shield based stun attacks will now also interrupt any inductions for use on Stun immune monsters.
Fighter of Shadow
Selfless Defence – will now transfer threat to the Guardian every time the Protected target is hit.
Final Straw – not longer adds a 6th step to Fray the Edge. It will instead double the chance of triggering a Fellowship Manoeuvre each step.
Threatening Presence – moved to Defender of the Free
Defender of the Free
Stoic – moved to Fighter of Shadow. The increase in Vitality will now increase as the Guardian levels instead of being a flat +15 Vitality.
The Keen Blade
To the Rescue – add +5% attack speed previously on Quickness
Quickness – new trait. Adds +Parry rating (+1500 at level 75). Subtracts Evade rating (-900 at level 75).
Haemorrhage – adds +15% damage to all Guardian bleeds.
Conclusion
As an obligatory warning, nothing listed here is written in stone. Everything is still subject to change, though I imagine that most of these changes will be in Isengard in some form or another.
I know that there has been a lot of concern over the fact that Champions are getting a major revamp in their tanking line. I share your concerns. You should rest assured that it is not our intention to replace Guardians and I will be tracking the feedback from our QA staff as well as the player base once Beta begins very closely. I am fully capable of beating Orion soundly about the head and shoulders if it should prove necessary.
As far as tanking in Overpower stance, I really don’t care. If, with the changes to stat caps, you can still survive them more power to you. We gave some thought to giving an increase in damage plus a lowering of power costs and the locking out of some tanking skills. In the end, we decided that Guardians are not Champions and the classes are close enough already.
영어라서 ㅂㅂ...