Shortly after I started playing roleplaying games, one role stood out from the others as my favorite: spellcasters. Eventually, rogues/thieves/sneaky dudes took their turn at the top. Casters gradually made their way back to the fore the more I played. So when I started playing Everquest, the very first character I made was a Erudite wizard. I played him for quite awhile to the exclusion of all other classes. I eventually tired the rogue but wasn't too crazy about it. The magician and necromancer also go their chance to show me their power. But for some reason I seemed to avoid the enchanter class.
Finally after playing for over a year, I broke down and tried one. Holy crap! I was in love. The more I played Sino (my enchanter) the more I loved the class. Being able to mesmerize a group of creatures, charm one of them to fight for me, and almost totally control the field of battle. What a better and more elegant way to handle fights then simply blasting away huge spells or controlling a single summoned pet. A really skilled enchanter was one that had to have his attention not just on a single creature or two, and the main tank and off tank, but rather on the entire battlefield and beyond. I knew I was playing the class well as more and more people complimented me on how well I handled not just the creatures we were supposed to be fighting but also the ones that would add whether because they wandered into us or because one ran and got more. The enchanter is by far away the crowd controlling class that I compare all other CCers against no matter the game, MMO or table top. The only one that comes close is the D&D 3/3.5 wizard especially one that specializes in enchanting.
Not all MMOs that I've played have really had a true CC class. Some have had classes that can do CC but none that are so focused as the enchanter. The only real exceptions so far has been the Controller archtype in City of Heroes and of course the wizard/sorcerer in Dungeons & Dragons Online (DDO). Ever since playing Sino, I have tried to recreate that experience in other MMOs as best as I can usually with little success.
Lockdown was my Mind Controller in CoH. While I couldn't personally control a creature with him, the role of crowd control was definitely there. While most of my friends loved to see the big damage numbers appear above a mob's name, my thrill was from keeping the enemies locked down (hence his name), stunned, mezed, or whatever you want to call it. And I personally think I did quite well.
Brel Sino (there's that name again) was my character in a long running (~2 yr) D&D campaign. The setting was Forgotten Realms just after the return of the Shade Enclave and the shadovar. Because of this, I created Brel with the Shadow Magic feat, meaning he cast his spells using a different form of magic then vast majority of other wizards and sorcerers. And of course, using Shadow Magic gave him a bonus to casting spells that involved illusions, necromancy, and (tah-da) enchantments. Although I did not have him specialize in enchanting, Brel did have numerous feats and magic items (some he created himself) that enhanced his enchantment spells. He was quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with if I do say so myself.
Recently DDO has let me create somewhat Brel although with a different name: Erradin Mordraehel, yet another name I have used several times. While only just over 3rd level, he too is a non-specialist wizard that is getting enhancements and feats that boost his enchantment, illusion, and necromantic spells. Even at that low level, my ability to control things is obvious. Granted undead and non-humanoid creatures are currently safe from my influence, Burning Hands is there to fill in that (temporary) gap in his powers.
In Champions Online, my main character is Xel Varu. He currently has most of his powers from the Darkness power set with some from the sets of Telepathy, Arcane Sorcery, and Supernatural. His build is of course heavily geared towards CCing plus AE (area of effect) damage.
As for Aion and Fallen Earth, I am still learning those games but have a slight clue for each about how to proceed. In Aion, sorcerers are supposedly good at CC so my second character there is on the path to becoming a sorcerer. The Traveller faction is Fallen Earth had access to mutations that are supposed to be able to CC also. Again, my character in FE will be trying to gain as much favor with them as possible.
This seemly obsession with crowd controllers is not from some deep seated desire to be a dictator, tyrant (although my middle name means tyrant, hmm), or a control freak in real life. Rather it comes from the fond memories of a certain EQ character and my attempts to regain that feeling.
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