New DoL class idea

[DrZombieMantis]

A class possibility that i think would be interesting for DoL is a Scavenger class. This class can specialize in scavenging specific spots, or use a random ability with a cooldown of, lets say 30 minutes, similar to the Ranger ability in Xi. Equiping a shovel, you can find specific areas that can give you random items, and leaves plenty of room to find antiques, like armor, and crafting materials. You simply would never know what you will get, which would be alot of fun!

[Nakiamiie]

There are actually a lot of ruins, deserted camps and other trash throughout the areas. (It's awesome!)

I would totally exploit those as the gathering nodes for this new DoL.

The gathered spoils would include a large variety of broken tools, weathered armors, moldy furniture, etc.
(DoH use them in new recipes to restore them.)

It would be great way to introduce furnishing, low levels items, vanity stuff, etc. from the older civilizations/beast tribes that just don't make it into dungeons.

[DrZombieMantis]

Yup! This can include a multitude of items such as old Allagan furniture, armor (For Glamour), rare and common items alike. the simple fact is every time you dig, you never know what you will get, which i think will be an exciting gamble. Being able to gather ancient mount(s), rare crafting supplies for all classes, rare armor and weapon parts like Nakiamiie stated, it has millions of possibilities on top of the obvious perks! :3

[Gralna]

There was an explorer subclass similar to that in LotRO, cant recall off the top of my head what they were called, but they'd go to ruins throughout various zones and collect artifacts from them that could be used for crafting. Basically though they were archeologists, and with the deep lore involving Amdapoor, Allagan, and other extinct cultures from Eorzea's past, I would love to have a class like this added to game.

[Shadygrove]

Call it archeologist and I'm in.

[DrZombieMantis]

Omg Archeologist sounds a bazillion times better than Scavenger. With one, you search ruins, with the other you search the McDonalds dumpster

[PoeRangutan]

True, main hand tool could be a shovel, created by a blacksmith or armorer, or even a carpenter. and the off hand tool would likely be a brush or a hoe.

The class could dig up things like bones from the ground and shells from areas near rivers or lakes. The moldy / rotted armor is good idea too, as that would make perfect sense.

[Baithin]

This is a cool idea! The only thing is that they seem to be very self sufficient and there might not be very much demand for them. The other DoL exist specifically to gather crafting materials for DoH. While they can get other odds and ends (minions and the like) their main focus is to supply the crafters.

Scavenger/Archaeologist wouldn't have this benefit, and I don't know if they'd make a class that purely exists to gather unique items. Maybe if they also added a DoH class that worked with bones or stone? Boneworker or Mason (maybe these two can be combined into one crafter class as well, since it seems their options would be limited otherwise).

Regardless, I still think it's really cool. Perhaps they can be really heavy on the lore as well and can also discover new things about ancient civilizations that no one else could.

Also! There's a group of these in the South Shroud investigating Gelmorra's ruins. Perhaps quests could involve them.

[PoeRangutan]

For my OCD, here is a breakdown of my ideas for abilities 1-50

• LVL 1: Excavate - Survey the landscape to locate non-surveyed ruins and rich sediment. Activates automatically when class is changed to archaeologist.
• LVL 2: Auto Excavate (trait) - Automatically activates Excavate upon changing your class to archaeologist.
• LVL 3: Reconnaissance - Survey the landscape to locate the nearest non-surveyed ruins or plot of rich sediment within skill range. Can only execute while Excavate is active.
• LVL 4: Divine Provenience - Increases the chance of obtaining items while gathering by 5%.
• LVL 5: Divine Provenience II - Increases the chance of obtaining items while gathering by 15%.
• LVL 6: Reconnaissance II - Survey the landscape to locate the highest-level non-surveyed ruins or rich sediment within skill range. Can only execute while Triangulate is active.
• LVL 8: Stealth - Conceal yourself and tread quietly, reducing movement speed, but enabling you to avoid enemies level 50 and below.
• LVL 10: Divine Provenience III - Increases the chance of obtaining items while gathering by 50%.
• LVL 11: Ruin Whisperer (trait) - Allows you to better identify the characteristics of non-surveyed ruins or plot of rich sediment, improving gathering rate when conditions are met.
• LVL 12: Preparation - Reveals the conditions for obtaining HQ items while gathering.
• LVL 15: Preservtion - Increases the chance of obtaining HQ items while gathering by 10%. Does not increase chances for items which start at 0%.
• LVL 16: Ruin Whisperer II (trait) - Allows you to better identify the characteristics of non-surveyed ruins or plot of rich sediment, improving gathering rate when conditions are met.
• LVL 18: Enhanced Stealth (trait) - Increases the range of enemies avoidable when using Stealth to level 30.
• LVL 21: Ruin Whisperer ||| (trait) - Allows you to better identify the characteristics of non-surveyed ruins or plot of rich sediment, improving gathering rate when conditions are met.
• LVL 25: Lithic Look - Increases the chance of obtaining regular or HQ items to 100%. Can only be activated after chain #4.
• LVL 25: Voice of the Past - Grants another gathering attempt.
• LVL 26: Ruin Whisperer IV (trait) - Allows you to better identify the characteristics of non-surveyed ruins or plot of rich sediment, improving gathering rate when conditions are met.
• LVL 28: Enhanced Stealth || (trait) - Increases the range of enemies avoidable when using Stealth to level 40.
• LVL 30: Perfect Preservation - Increases the number of items obtained during a single gathering attempt by one.
• LVL 35: Preservtion || - Increases the chance of obtaining HQ items while gathering by 30%. Does not increase chances for items which start at 0%.
• LVL 38: Enhanced Stealth ||| (trait) - Increases the range of enemies avoidable when using Stealth to level 50.
• LVL 40: Perfect Preservation II - Increases the number of items obtained during a single gathering attempt by two.
• LVL 41: Ward of the Twelve (trait) - Extends gathering ward increases to crystals.
• LVL 46: Truth of Ruins - Further survey the landscape to uncover pristine non-surveyed ruins and rich sediment
• LVL 50: Ward of the Twelve II (trait) - Extends gathering ward increases to clusters.
• LVL 50: Toil of the Scavenger - Renders all out-of-reach items reachable.
  

I have some ideas for main hand weapons, starting quest / location, and even some leve ideas. I'll jot them down on my train ride home.

[Gralna]

Scavenger/Archaeologist wouldn't have this benefit, and I don't know if they'd make a class that purely exists to gather unique items. Maybe if they also added a DoH class that worked with bones or stone? Boneworker or Mason (maybe these two can be combined into one crafter class as well, since it seems their options would be limited otherwise).

The way it was implemented in LotRO, the parts of extinct civilizations they'd find would be ruined beyond use, but they could either be restored by crafters, or in case of some metal artifacts, melted down and remade into weapons/armor/accessories.