[RIFT] - 5 Box Mixed Set Up

[methodical13]

I'm currently trying out a bunch of group configs for instancing and finding myself getting frustrated with mages. I tried a reaver/pal/war, 2x cloro, mm/bard/ranger and sentinel group at 19-20 in IT and could not bring down the 3 kings (cleric) because of lack of dps and eventually lack of mana.

I then rollout my old 5x bard team at 17 and rampage through IT without any issues.

Am I doing something wrong or are mages and general gimped right now? Even questing I'm having issues with mana where there constantly running out and slowing me down.

I was thinking of dropping mages completely for now and go war, cleric, 3x bard for instancing.

Good idea or suck it up with the mages?

[Lyonheart]

I'm currently trying out a bunch of group configs for instancing and finding myself getting frustrated with mages. I tried a reaver/pal/war, 2x cloro, mm/bard/ranger and sentinel group at 19-20 in IT and could not bring down the 3 kings (cleric) because of lack of dps and eventually lack of mana.

I then rollout my old 5x bard team at 17 and rampage through IT without any issues.

Am I doing something wrong or are mages and general gimped right now? Even questing I'm having issues with mana where there constantly running out and slowing me down.

I was thinking of dropping mages completely for now and go war, cleric, 3x bard for instancing.

Good idea or suck it up with the mages?

If your cleric is a healer, your rogs should be mostly MM with 8 in bard for cadence. If healing is not an issue then the MMs can do tons of dps. Also after mid 30s, I think Ranger specs offer a little more then MM. DPS is great, not as good as MM but the upgraded pets can be used for CC/OTing and you can still go 8 points in bard for cadence for when the extra healing is needed. Also Ranger AE is awesome, the best of the rog ranged speced, and there is a ton of AE needed in instances. ( MM fan of knives is easy and good, but less dps then rain of arrows from ranger )

[Flight]

I'm currently trying out a bunch of group configs for instancing and finding myself getting frustrated with mages. I tried a reaver/pal/war, 2x cloro, mm/bard/ranger and sentinel group at 19-20 in IT and could not bring down the 3 kings (cleric) because of lack of dps and eventually lack of mana.

I then rollout my old 5x bard team at 17 and rampage through IT without any issues.

Am I doing something wrong or are mages and general gimped right now? Even questing I'm having issues with mana where there constantly running out and slowing me down.

I was thinking of dropping mages completely for now and go war, cleric, 3x bard for instancing.

Good idea or suck it up with the mages?

lvl 20-30 sees a massive boost in a mixed parties capability.

I found myself drinking regularly until mid 20s on my Chloros. Living Shell helps a lot at 21. By level 30 and 5 points in Exhiliration in Archon (2.5% mana returned each crit) I hardly ever take a drink and going low on mana is uncommon.
Having said all that, of the party in my OP I'd possibly drop the second Chloro for another Bard. No way I'd go without at least a single Chloro, though.

[Berserker]

I'm currently trying out a bunch of group configs for instancing and finding myself getting frustrated with mages. I tried a reaver/pal/war, 2x cloro, mm/bard/ranger and sentinel group at 19-20 in IT and could not bring down the 3 kings (cleric) because of lack of dps and eventually lack of mana.

I then rollout my old 5x bard team at 17 and rampage through IT without any issues.

Am I doing something wrong or are mages and general gimped right now? Even questing I'm having issues with mana where there constantly running out and slowing me down.

I was thinking of dropping mages completely for now and go war, cleric, 3x bard for instancing.

Good idea or suck it up with the mages?

If you interupt, cc, or silence the cleric in the middle of his big heal, he dies. I kill him with virtually no dps -- a warlord/pally and 3 bards spamming cadence. Most fights, I keep the cleric in dps mode.

My wife and I did the 3 kings last night at lvl 15-16. I played a wl/pally and 3 bards, she played a champ/reaver (2H spec).

Just wait for the cleric to stop fighting and then slowly draw his hammer back. As he's doing that, use sergeant's order, fear, squirrel or silence on him. You can immediately go back to kicking his face in -- the cc isn't what's important its interrupting the heal.

Also, when fighting all three, sic your pets on the caster, tank on the cleric, and then get the warrior to attack pets or your warrior as you kill the cleric, the pets kill the caster (or nearly) and then take out the warrior.

[Flight]

I'm currently trying out a bunch of group configs for instancing and finding myself getting frustrated with mages. I tried a reaver/pal/war, 2x cloro, mm/bard/ranger and sentinel group at 19-20 in IT and could not bring down the 3 kings (cleric) because of lack of dps and eventually lack of mana.

I then rollout my old 5x bard team at 17 and rampage through IT without any issues.

Am I doing something wrong or are mages and general gimped right now? Even questing I'm having issues with mana where there constantly running out and slowing me down.

I was thinking of dropping mages completely for now and go war, cleric, 3x bard for instancing.

Good idea or suck it up with the mages?

Mixed party capability grows dramatically between lvl 18 - 25 or 30. Was drinking a lot on my Chloros at lower levels. Living Shell at 21 made a big difference, though I hardly ever used it from 30 on. Once you are level 30 Exhiliration from Archon makes a massive difference. lvl 36 now and never have any mana problems, don't use Living Shell and rarely drink (in instances).


Of the set up in the OP if I did it over again I'd possibly swap one of the Chloros out for another Bard. No way I would do a party without at least one Chloro, though.

[methodical13]

I tried out reaver/pally, 2x bards, cloro and a sent with some pretty good success. The 2nd bard made a huge difference my sent barely ever has to heal and she is dps'ing more then healing now. Once bards get there heal finisher I don't think I will ever need the cleric to heal at all. Added a few points into pally on my tank to get stun make a massive difference on healer king. Group is not the unstoppable machine that the 5x bards are but I might be able to get close if I config on another cleric role for dps and switch to healer for bosses when extra healing needed.

Going to try another run soon with a dps config cleric in the next day or 2.