Dark and darker - The issues about War Maul and Cleric class

We need to address the issues surrounding the War Maul and the Cleric class. While I'm currently maining the Fighter, I started my journey as a Cleric back in playtest 2 and continued until about a month ago. With my extensive experience as a Cleric, I feel compelled to highlight the problems with the War Maul and the Cleric class as a whole:

1, The War Maul: The War Maul stands out as one of the most unconventional and underperforming weapons in the game. Despite boasting high damage (especially with armor penetration), its slowness makes it almost unviable. In a fast-paced combat environment like Dark and Darker, a weapon with a -55 move speed penalty that lacks blocking capability is a significant handicap. Face-tanking enemy attacks isn't a practical option due to the lethality of skills. To make this weapon more usable, I suggest a simple adjustment: reduce its armor penetration and damage while providing a substantial increase in move speed reduction. This change would help balance the weapon and improve its overall viability.

2, The Cleric: The Cleric is the game's primary source of reliable and swift healing. This support role is what makes the Cleric valuable, thanks to team buffs, effective healing abilities, and the potential for boss runs in Inferno. However, the issue lies in the Cleric's overall enjoyment factor. After spending a significant amount of time playing as a Cleric, it becomes evident that this character is one of the most monotonous in terms of combat. The Cleric starts slow and has only four weapon options. Two of these weapons share the same moveset (repeated overhead attacks), while the other two are less viable in the current game state. The Cleric's only practical weapon choices are the Morning Star and Flanged Mace, both of which share a limited moveset, primarily relying on a single move. To enhance the Cleric's combat experience, options include introducing a new weapon, buffing the less effective weapons, or introducing the Paladin class (an idea many of us would welcome, Ironmace).

3, Cleric with the War Maul: The combination of the Cleric's inherent slow speed and the War Maul's impracticality creates an unplayable experience. However, if the War Maul were to receive a meaningful buff, it could become a viable weapon choice. Such a change would not only make the weapon more useful but also introduce a more aggressive playstyle for the Cleric, adding excitement and variety to the character's combat repertoire.

In summary, the Cleric's combat capabilities currently feel limited and stale due to having only two viable weapon options, namely the Morning Star and Flanged Mace. The War Maul's sluggish nature exacerbates this issue. Buffing the War Maul by reducing its armor penetration and damage while enhancing its move speed could revitalize the weapon and offer the Cleric a new, engaging playstyle. Additionally, introducing more weapon options or considering the Paladin class would go a long way in addressing the Cleric's combat-related shortcomings. These changes would not only make the game more enjoyable but also potentially breathe new life into the Cleric class. Whatever choice you make, you'll need to prepare plenty of Dark and Darker Gold and learn more about the game before then to get stronger.