Hello folks.  As a refugee from the recently defunct City of Heroes, I'm very interested in finding another game (a) that has a player class that focuses (partly or primarily) on providing group buffs and/or enemy debuffs, and (b) where such a class is either needed or at least considered desirable for basic group content and beyond. 

It seems that most games that allow buffer/debuffer roles in their group makeup ultimately render these roles irrelevent and undesirable because the other roles manage to get by fine without the extra support, and an extra DPS or healer ultimately provides more utility than the guy who buffs or debuffs.  I'm not complaining about these games, mind you.  I'm simply asking if there are games out there that do manage to maintain a need for buffs/debuffs even in the context of ubergeared tanks, healers and DPSers.

Any suggestions would be most welcome.  Thanks in advance.

Rift has Support souls and thats probably as close you will get in the modern age.

But dont expect groups to beat down your door clamoring for you. Theres a reason most other MMOs have ditched the "Buff/Debuff" class role.

Closest thing I can think of is Lotro.

Burglar is a Debuff/Group utility + Dps class. Captain is a Buff/Off-tank class.

EQ2. Bards - Troubadours or Dirges. Hands down.

Troubadours:

Debuffs

• Stun + restun if low con: Cheap Shot (4)
• Debuff mental resist + snare(5% break): Depressing Chant (7)
• Debuff defense + loses health+power when losing power + reduces casting speed + does minor damage: Vexing Verses (8)
• Snare(breakable) and debuff magic resist, chance of root: Trick of the Hunter (20)
• Charm (short): Bria's Entrancing Sonnet (20)
• Mesmerize: Lullaby (50)
• Lower damage of next spell/combat art, remove AE Auto-attack of target for duration: Countersong (80)

Encounter Debuffs

• Debuff STR and AGI (maintain cost): Disheartening Descant (19)
• spell resistances (maintain cost): Zander's Choral Rebuff (35)
• Interrupt + blur vision of encounter around target, chance of knockdown of target (free, instant cast): Breathtaking Bellow (40)
• Debuff Debuff AGI + STR + INT + WIS, spell+physical offensive skills, focus + aggression (maintain cost): Demoralizing Processional (55)

Constant Group Offense Buffs

• +Attack Speed: Allegretto (14)
• Mental damage chance on hitting with a hostile spell proc: Aria of Magic (22)

Short Group Offense Buff

• +Int and mental damage on hitting with a hostile spell proc: Perfection of the Maestro (58)

Originally posted by Sevenstar61
EQ2. Bards - Troubadours or Dirges. Hands down.

also enchanters!

Originally posted by Zarriya

Originally posted by Sevenstar61
EQ2. Bards - Troubadours or Dirges. Hands down.

also enchanters!

 

Of course. Most of classes have buffs/debuffs too but not in that numbers.

Coercer

Crowd Control

• Single Target Mesmerize: Mesmerize (1)
• Single Target Root(5% break) + Daze(breakable): Forced Hesitation (5)
• Encounter Stun: Stupefy (16)
• Encounter Mesmerize: Pure Awe (25)
• AoE Fear: Reek of Terror (40)
• Stun/Hate Wipe: Amnesia (55)

Pet

• Control of Target: Charm (2)
• Call Pet: Call Servant (10)
• Shink Pet: Shrink Servant (10)
• Copy of Target: Possess Essence (65)

Power

• Self Convert Health into PoT: Shift Mana (13)
• Group In-Combat PoT: Breeze (18)
• Group Temp In-Combat PoT: Mind's Eye (48)
• Group Power on Dmg: Mana Cloak (35)
• Group Power Equalize: Channel (58)

Hate Control

• Reduce Hate vs Encounter/Teleport Encounter: Blink (15)

Dispel

• Arcane Dispel/Power Drain+Gain: Absorb Magic (9)

Originally posted by Xiaoki

Rift has Support souls and thats probably as close you will get in the modern age.

But dont expect groups to beat down your door clamoring for you. Theres a reason most other MMOs have ditched the "Buff/Debuff" class role.

And what is that reason exactly?

Debuffer role has always been my favorite.

Originally posted by dave6660

Originally posted by Xiaoki

Rift has Support souls and thats probably as close you will get in the modern age.

But dont expect groups to beat down your door clamoring for you. Theres a reason most other MMOs have ditched the "Buff/Debuff" class role.

And what is that reason exactly?

Debuffer role has always been my favorite.

Agreed , I liked class roles of the sort. Enjoyed being both a support and mez/cc type character many times over the years.

Originally posted by dave6660

Originally posted by Xiaoki

Rift has Support souls and thats probably as close you will get in the modern age.

But dont expect groups to beat down your door clamoring for you. Theres a reason most other MMOs have ditched the "Buff/Debuff" class role.

And what is that reason exactly?

Debuffer role has always been my favorite.

The primary reason would be that they dumbed down their game. It is a lot harder for them to create encounters with classes that excel at crowd control and debuffing.

Originally posted by Mardukk
Every game I play now I look for the buff/debuff/cc role. Unfortunately I'm running into a bunch games lately with 3 second fears and 4 second cc max...GD PvP balance. What I would give for a modern mmo that didn't hamstring itself in the name of PvP balance. Age of wushu claims to haves debuff and cc type classes...we will see.

Actually Age of Wushu claims to have "No classes or levels".

Originally posted by Xiaoki

Rift has Support souls and thats probably as close you will get in the modern age.

But dont expect groups to beat down your door clamoring for you. Theres a reason most other MMOs have ditched the "Buff/Debuff" class role.

When looking at classes in Aion, a player written document described the same thing about their Enchanter class.  Support classes are often seen as non-essential in tank-n-spank combat.