'Maelstrom' Arena for Healers and Tanks

soochie52_ESO

I would like to see ZOS make a couple Maelstrom-type arenas that are designed to test the skills of and give bragging rights to healers and tanks. The Healer arena can involve multiple NPC's that the player has to keep buffed, healed, give resources to, shield, mitigate damage etc - all the things awesome healers do. The tank arena can involve the player moving mobs, keeping up taunt and interrupting etc to protect NPC's and of course taking and avoiding huge damaging attacks.

Just think of how fun it would be for healers and tanks to have the same bragging rights and go thru the same challenges the DPS get to - it would be so much fun!

themaddaedra

Imagine all the bugs they could put in there omg

Xarc

Why not

MeadDrinker02

Hmm.. NO!

ThisOnePosts

The Secret World had something similar when you wanted to face "Nightmare" level Dungeons you face the "Gatekeeper".

You could choose from DPS/DD, Healer, Tank and you'd do exactly those things while going through this trial to see if you are "ready". It was not just a gear check but also a tactical check.

There should be some sort of solo-practice for healing/tanking, that would be cool tbh

Dojohoda

Intriguing idea, A+ for creativity

ForzaRammer

Eh, stormproof is hardly a bragging right anymore. Now you want gryphon heart, immortal redeemder, tic tok, and the even more ridiculous dragon godslayer.

Jeremy

soochie52_ESO wrote: »

I would like to see ZOS make a couple Maelstrom-type arenas that are designed to test the skills of and give bragging rights to healers and tanks. The Healer arena can involve multiple NPC's that the player has to keep buffed, healed, give resources to, shield, mitigate damage etc - all the things awesome healers do. The tank arena can involve the player moving mobs, keeping up taunt and interrupting etc to protect NPC's and of course taking and avoiding huge damaging attacks.

Just think of how fun it would be for healers and tanks to have the same bragging rights and go thru the same challenges the DPS get to - it would be so much fun!

I could care less about bragging rights. But it would be nice if Maelstrom Arena was designed to accommodate all combat roles instead of just DPS. That's one of the reasons I have so little interest in it. It's basically just one long DPS race and that's just not that interesting to me. I've always considered DPS race mechanics a lazy and cheap way to make content challenging. VMA is exhibit A for what I would consider horrid game design, especially in a MMO context and on a game that prides itself on diversity of play. So I like your approach to the arena far better.

Foxhearted

It would be great practice. I'm sure there are others (like me) too intimidated by tanking/healing in a trial, vet dungeons etc. So a solo arena can help boost your skills and confidence

FatFred

WoW legion artifact appearance challenge ?

Katahdin

I'm sure a healer could use dps skills on one bar and beat vma. Your healing is a big help for you that others don't have .

exeeter702

Vma was never a dps bragging right.. if they are going to add a challenging trial for both healer and tank builds then they would also need to add one for a dps build because vma is not that for dps builds.

Alidel

Jeremy wrote: »

I could care less about bragging rights. But it would be nice if Maelstrom Arena was designed to accommodate all combat roles instead of just DPS. That's one of the reasons I have so little interest in it. It's basically just one long DPS race and that's just not that interesting to me. I've always considered DPS race mechanics a lazy and cheap way to make content challenging. VMA is exhibit A for what I would consider horrid game design, especially in a MMO context and on a game that prides itself on diversity of play. So I like your approach to the arena far better.

Have to correct you on that. VMA is not a dps race and it never was. Granted arenas can feel easier with higher dps but you can still finish it with around 15k dps. High dps won't help you against number of mechanics. I like VMA a lot and especially it's attitude to kill you in plenty ways at the moments you did not expect. VMA has excellent design and each arena feel unique inside with their own flavour and mechanics you need to master.

Katahdin

exeeter702 wrote: »

Vma was never a dps bragging right.. if they are going to add a challenging trial for both healer and tank builds then they would also need to add one for a dps build because vma is not that for dps builds.

I agree. It's more of a can you learn and survive mechanics bragging thing

Zyaedra

Idk about an arena but dummies for healers and tanks could be helpful

Xarc

Katahdin wrote: »

I'm sure a healer could use dps skills on one bar and beat vma. Your healing is a big help for you that others don't have .

That's not the point.
He is not saying vma is too hard for him(or her), just asking for a new content focusing on heals and tanking for solo player.

The main problem about that is healing/tanking in HL insnt only a question of amount of blocking/heals done. We all know healers must be healers+support giving bonus & shields, and tanking isnt only blocking because boss hit like more than 100k (one shot hits) so the strat must be known and placements / moves are important.

Gundug

I wouldn’t call veteran Maelstrom much of a DPS race really. I’ve gotten a fairly casual flawless conqueror with a character that can pull maybe 20-25k DPS in ideal conditions. The only time a 15k DPS or lower player should really struggle is during the final burn phase of the ice float stage.

If your character is self sufficient as far as healing and sustain, with solid damage mitigation, and you understand what is going on with the mechanics, you can get through with pretty modest damage output. Higher damage just makes everything go quicker and easier.

It’s not impossible to switch skill choices and gear to adjust a tank or healer character so they can get through it. Being a completely dedicated healer, tank, or group oriented DPS character is not really optimal to running the arena. You need to be able to do enough of all three things.

I understand the OP is making a statement about creating solo arenas that cater to the group support roles in particular, but I feel it is a mistake to begin with to think vMA caters to damage dealing players. It doesn’t. It caters to self sufficient solo oriented players. Group role players already have plenty of group dungeons and trials where they can shine.

Alidel

Also there are 2 other arenas that require group play to finish. Though vDSA can be done without healer, and I'm not sure about vBRP.

Jeremy

Alidel wrote: »

Jeremy wrote: »

I could care less about bragging rights. But it would be nice if Maelstrom Arena was designed to accommodate all combat roles instead of just DPS. That's one of the reasons I have so little interest in it. It's basically just one long DPS race and that's just not that interesting to me. I've always considered DPS race mechanics a lazy and cheap way to make content challenging. VMA is exhibit A for what I would consider horrid game design, especially in a MMO context and on a game that prides itself on diversity of play. So I like your approach to the arena far better.

Have to correct you on that. VMA is not a dps race and it never was. Granted arenas can feel easier with higher dps but you can still finish it with around 15k dps. High dps won't help you against number of mechanics. I like VMA a lot and especially it's attitude to kill you in plenty ways at the moments you did not expect. VMA has excellent design and each arena feel unique inside with their own flavour and mechanics you need to master.

VMA is a DPS race. Most of the mechanics revolve around doing just that and you aren't going to convince me otherwise because I've done it and come to that conclusion myself through my own experiences. Try doing VMA as a low damage defensive tank and see how it works out for you. I'll give you a hint: it won't end well.

I'm glad you like VMA. But I found it incredibly lame trial and error game play reminiscent of ancient video games from the 1980's. So I wasn't impressed with it. If you consider it "excellent design" I think it's safe to say me and you are not going to find common ground here.

rotaugen454

VMA teaches hybrid builds that have to do all three roles to survive. Good resistances, healing and damage. Other than showing you can learn mechanics, it is useless for doing a group dungeon or trial role.

soochie52_ESO

'Bragging rights' was the wrong way to word it - more like a goal to reach that indicates a certain level of accomplishment and capability in your role. It would be awesome for Tanks and Healers to have that. And yes, as a couple other people have said, it would also be great practice for healers and tanks as well.

Jeremy

rotaugen454 wrote: »

VMA teaches hybrid builds that have to do all three roles to survive. Good resistances, healing and damage. Other than showing you can learn mechanics, it is useless for doing a group dungeon or trial role.

I don't find that it's much use as a training guide either. It punishes otherwise effective builds by forcing them to meet certain criteria to pass its assortment of cheesy trial and error mechanics that simply kill you otherwise. It's more like mini game a developer came up with to try and pigeonhole players into specific character set ups - which accounts for most of it's so-called "challenge" outside of learning what ever silly new gimmick you have to die over and over again figuring out.

I understand some players may like this sort of gameplay. But it wasn't my cup of tea and was one of my biggest disappointments. I was looking forward to some fun solo content when I purchased Orsinium (which I bought mainly for the arena) but instead all I got was some of the most annoying and irritating content I've ever had the displeasure of suffering through.

DocFrost72

Jeremy wrote: »

Alidel wrote: »

Jeremy wrote: »

I could care less about bragging rights. But it would be nice if Maelstrom Arena was designed to accommodate all combat roles instead of just DPS. That's one of the reasons I have so little interest in it. It's basically just one long DPS race and that's just not that interesting to me. I've always considered DPS race mechanics a lazy and cheap way to make content challenging. VMA is exhibit A for what I would consider horrid game design, especially in a MMO context and on a game that prides itself on diversity of play. So I like your approach to the arena far better.

Have to correct you on that. VMA is not a dps race and it never was. Granted arenas can feel easier with higher dps but you can still finish it with around 15k dps. High dps won't help you against number of mechanics. I like VMA a lot and especially it's attitude to kill you in plenty ways at the moments you did not expect. VMA has excellent design and each arena feel unique inside with their own flavour and mechanics you need to master.

VMA is a DPS race. Most of the mechanics revolve around doing just that and you aren't going to convince me otherwise because I've done it and come to that conclusion myself through my own experiences. Try doing VMA as a low damage defensive tank and see how it works out for you. I'll give you a hint: it won't end well.

I'm glad you like VMA. But I found it incredibly lame trial and error game play reminiscent of ancient video games from the 1980's. So I wasn't impressed with it. If you consider it "excellent design" I think it's safe to say me and you are not going to find common ground here.

Wow.

Qbiken

vMA.......bragging rights.......

Pick one.

Jeremy

DocFrost72 wrote: »

Jeremy wrote: »

Alidel wrote: »

Jeremy wrote: »

I could care less about bragging rights. But it would be nice if Maelstrom Arena was designed to accommodate all combat roles instead of just DPS. That's one of the reasons I have so little interest in it. It's basically just one long DPS race and that's just not that interesting to me. I've always considered DPS race mechanics a lazy and cheap way to make content challenging. VMA is exhibit A for what I would consider horrid game design, especially in a MMO context and on a game that prides itself on diversity of play. So I like your approach to the arena far better.

Have to correct you on that. VMA is not a dps race and it never was. Granted arenas can feel easier with higher dps but you can still finish it with around 15k dps. High dps won't help you against number of mechanics. I like VMA a lot and especially it's attitude to kill you in plenty ways at the moments you did not expect. VMA has excellent design and each arena feel unique inside with their own flavour and mechanics you need to master.

VMA is a DPS race. Most of the mechanics revolve around doing just that and you aren't going to convince me otherwise because I've done it and come to that conclusion myself through my own experiences. Try doing VMA as a low damage defensive tank and see how it works out for you. I'll give you a hint: it won't end well.

I'm glad you like VMA. But I found it incredibly lame trial and error game play reminiscent of ancient video games from the 1980's. So I wasn't impressed with it. If you consider it "excellent design" I think it's safe to say me and you are not going to find common ground here.

Wow.

Oh that's nothing. That is actually me being restrained when it comes to describing my contempt for VMA. ^^

rotaugen454

I finished VMA the first time for the skin and title. Then I did it over and over for the weapons.

CPT_CAPSLOCK

ViciousWayz wrote: »

The Secret World had something similar when you wanted to face "Nightmare" level Dungeons you face the "Gatekeeper".

You could choose from DPS/DD, Healer, Tank and you'd do exactly those things while going through this trial to see if you are "ready". It was not just a gear check but also a tactical check.

There should be some sort of solo-practice for healing/tanking, that would be cool tbh

There should be something like this as a requirement for Vet Dungeons but not for Maelstrom arena

exeeter702

Jeremy wrote: »

Alidel wrote: »

Jeremy wrote: »

I could care less about bragging rights. But it would be nice if Maelstrom Arena was designed to accommodate all combat roles instead of just DPS. That's one of the reasons I have so little interest in it. It's basically just one long DPS race and that's just not that interesting to me. I've always considered DPS race mechanics a lazy and cheap way to make content challenging. VMA is exhibit A for what I would consider horrid game design, especially in a MMO context and on a game that prides itself on diversity of play. So I like your approach to the arena far better.

Have to correct you on that. VMA is not a dps race and it never was. Granted arenas can feel easier with higher dps but you can still finish it with around 15k dps. High dps won't help you against number of mechanics. I like VMA a lot and especially it's attitude to kill you in plenty ways at the moments you did not expect. VMA has excellent design and each arena feel unique inside with their own flavour and mechanics you need to master.

VMA is a DPS race. Most of the mechanics revolve around doing just that and you aren't going to convince me otherwise because I've done it and come to that conclusion myself through my own experiences. Try doing VMA as a low damage defensive tank and see how it works out for you. I'll give you a hint: it won't end well.

I'm glad you like VMA. But I found it incredibly lame trial and error game play reminiscent of ancient video games from the 1980's. So I wasn't impressed with it. If you consider it "excellent design" I think it's safe to say me and you are not going to find common ground here.

Having damage requisite checks does not equal being a dps race. Vma is most definitely not a dps race, that isnt an opinion.

Rave the Histborn

soochie52_ESO wrote: »

I would like to see ZOS make a couple Maelstrom-type arenas that are designed to test the skills of and give bragging rights to healers and tanks. The Healer arena can involve multiple NPC's that the player has to keep buffed, healed, give resources to, shield, mitigate damage etc - all the things awesome healers do. The tank arena can involve the player moving mobs, keeping up taunt and interrupting etc to protect NPC's and of course taking and avoiding huge damaging attacks.

Just think of how fun it would be for healers and tanks to have the same bragging rights and go thru the same challenges the DPS get to - it would be so much fun!

Aren't there teo other maelstrom type arenas already for this purpose?

DocFrost72

exeeter702 wrote: »

Jeremy wrote: »

Alidel wrote: »

Jeremy wrote: »

I could care less about bragging rights. But it would be nice if Maelstrom Arena was designed to accommodate all combat roles instead of just DPS. That's one of the reasons I have so little interest in it. It's basically just one long DPS race and that's just not that interesting to me. I've always considered DPS race mechanics a lazy and cheap way to make content challenging. VMA is exhibit A for what I would consider horrid game design, especially in a MMO context and on a game that prides itself on diversity of play. So I like your approach to the arena far better.

Have to correct you on that. VMA is not a dps race and it never was. Granted arenas can feel easier with higher dps but you can still finish it with around 15k dps. High dps won't help you against number of mechanics. I like VMA a lot and especially it's attitude to kill you in plenty ways at the moments you did not expect. VMA has excellent design and each arena feel unique inside with their own flavour and mechanics you need to master.

VMA is a DPS race. Most of the mechanics revolve around doing just that and you aren't going to convince me otherwise because I've done it and come to that conclusion myself through my own experiences. Try doing VMA as a low damage defensive tank and see how it works out for you. I'll give you a hint: it won't end well.

I'm glad you like VMA. But I found it incredibly lame trial and error game play reminiscent of ancient video games from the 1980's. So I wasn't impressed with it. If you consider it "excellent design" I think it's safe to say me and you are not going to find common ground here.

Having damage requisite checks does not equal being a dps race. Vma is most definitely not a dps race, that isnt an opinion.

I was going to try, but re-read their second paragraph. They're not changing their mind.

So they got an Owen Wilson wow from me

Jeremy wrote: »

DocFrost72 wrote: »

Jeremy wrote: »

Alidel wrote: »

Jeremy wrote: »

I could care less about bragging rights. But it would be nice if Maelstrom Arena was designed to accommodate all combat roles instead of just DPS. That's one of the reasons I have so little interest in it. It's basically just one long DPS race and that's just not that interesting to me. I've always considered DPS race mechanics a lazy and cheap way to make content challenging. VMA is exhibit A for what I would consider horrid game design, especially in a MMO context and on a game that prides itself on diversity of play. So I like your approach to the arena far better.

Have to correct you on that. VMA is not a dps race and it never was. Granted arenas can feel easier with higher dps but you can still finish it with around 15k dps. High dps won't help you against number of mechanics. I like VMA a lot and especially it's attitude to kill you in plenty ways at the moments you did not expect. VMA has excellent design and each arena feel unique inside with their own flavour and mechanics you need to master.

VMA is a DPS race. Most of the mechanics revolve around doing just that and you aren't going to convince me otherwise because I've done it and come to that conclusion myself through my own experiences. Try doing VMA as a low damage defensive tank and see how it works out for you. I'll give you a hint: it won't end well.

I'm glad you like VMA. But I found it incredibly lame trial and error game play reminiscent of ancient video games from the 1980's. So I wasn't impressed with it. If you consider it "excellent design" I think it's safe to say me and you are not going to find common ground here.

Wow.

Oh that's nothing. That is actually me being restrained when it comes to describing my contempt for VMA. ^^

Thank you for being restrained

LadyNalcarya

I'd prefer a new 2-4 man arena tbh. For me, the whole point of playing as a healer or tank is to support my group. I don't really care about dummies or random npcs and just spamming heals on them or something sounds really boring.
I think it could work as a training mode for people who want to start vet dungeons, though.

Jeremy wrote: »

soochie52_ESO wrote: »

I would like to see ZOS make a couple Maelstrom-type arenas that are designed to test the skills of and give bragging rights to healers and tanks. The Healer arena can involve multiple NPC's that the player has to keep buffed, healed, give resources to, shield, mitigate damage etc - all the things awesome healers do. The tank arena can involve the player moving mobs, keeping up taunt and interrupting etc to protect NPC's and of course taking and avoiding huge damaging attacks.

Just think of how fun it would be for healers and tanks to have the same bragging rights and go thru the same challenges the DPS get to - it would be so much fun!

I could care less about bragging rights. But it would be nice if Maelstrom Arena was designed to accommodate all combat roles instead of just DPS. That's one of the reasons I have so little interest in it. It's basically just one long DPS race and that's just not that interesting to me. I've always considered DPS race mechanics a lazy and cheap way to make content challenging. VMA is exhibit A for what I would consider horrid game design, especially in a MMO context and on a game that prides itself on diversity of play. So I like your approach to the arena far better.

It kinda does, though? You can't just stand there and dps, you have to deal with incoming damage, too.
And I don't think that vMA is a dps race, it was released in 2016 and its dps requirements are quite low by today's standarts.