General

Spilling the Tea

So I just got to 120 on my Shade, and I fully intend to get to 150, I was planning that if I liked the class I would possibly use it as a side main, but no. Shade is lack luster, Shade plays more like a Battle Mage than a pirate, which is not a bad thing, in my opinion, as I love Battle Mages more than pirates, except, Shade takes the worst things from a Battle Mage, and uses them as his/her home ground. Filled with repetitive attacks, slow animations (when using mob skills), and overall horrible modifiers (only one skill that gives him damage), not to mention the fact he has only three buffs in his entire arsenal that's unique to him (buffs as in casting buffs). I played Shade in KMS, where it's referred to as Eunwol, and I didn't have much fun in KMS on it, in fact, the class ranked just ahead of Mihile in terms of the worst classes that I've ever played. Each class has it's redeeming qualities, Shade has about two, while other classes have more pros than cons. The problem with Shade, is that it's a generic class, it's pretty as hell, don't get me wrong, a BEAUTIFUL piece of artwork, but it all crumbles when coming into actual battle, you end up spamming two skills, if that, and I know, you're able to play other playstyles as well, blah blah blah, however those playstyles don't give you the best EXP output or DMG output. Maybe I'm too used to my Battle Mage, and the whole "Woop I can break the speed cap, fxxk you" but that second job skill is cringeworthy, and yes, I understand second job is boring for every class, but Jesus, worst skill ever.

In terms of story ((MASSIVE SPOILERS)): Shade is as lackluster in his story as his skills. It started off really cute, Shade was finally feeling at home (super pissed about him not keeping the ears and tail, cutest items ever.) but he got all nostalgic (which I don't know if it's a criticism on the average maple playerbase, who just seems to complain about the old times and not look into the present or future.) and decided he wanted to move on, all is fine and dandy, he meets up with Athena and through the course of leveling up, you encounter all the other heroes. They all say, "whotehfuxxru? uwanfitem8", which is whatever. The last hero you meet up with is Luminous, who is with Lania, she's like "He's such a good friend" and Luminous just completely cxckblocks you. Again this is all okay, UNTIL Shade starts getting a little nostalgic again and decides to go back to "Where it all started" and encounters the furry little fox people once again, which is a furries utopia. Only this time somethings different, it's raining again, moonbeam is gone, and everyone doesn't know who you are. They get angry with you and demand you leave, but you meet Moonbeam praying to the Fox God statue. She tells you that you smell familiar after you leave, but you notice that the friendship symbol you carved into the tree is gone, and fearing another heart-wrenching goodbye, you leave telling her that you will return the thing that you borrowed from her. Up till here, the story is good, very climactic, very sad, but then it takes a whole 180 and shifts into some wannabe-edgy crap. Shade goes back to Maple World and goes to Athena to ask her something, but she doesn't remember him anymore either. He again, cries, or something, and then goes to Temple of Time to see if he can end it all. He goes there and is able to enter the middle portal to the Black Mages' seal. He meets with Black Mage who asks him if he would do it all over again. Que edgy shix, Shade goes into reflection then makes the realization that Black Mage is the one keeping him alive, and if Black Mage dies, he will die as well. He then goes on to say that he was just fulfilling his duty and never thought anything of it. Blahblahblah, you leave and then at level 75 you get a quest from Empress Cygnus you go to Ereve, and bam you get Will of Alliance skill, along with the medal. And from here the quest line ends abruptly. I don't know if it was just my quest line that ended abruptly but I was extremely disappointed. I was hoping it would continue at 100, so I got to 100 and did the job advancement quest, well Shade is about to reveal his name, but then says nevermind. SO NOW SHADE KNOWS WHO HE IS?

The story was a mess to be honest, it started off strong, but ended all over the place.

Class 5.5/10
Story (had it been more natural instead of abrupt endings and awkward skips it would have gotten a definite 9/10): 7/10

I realize that people will love this class, and that's cool. I love Kanna even though she's a mess in terms of damage output and people only use her for a mule. I fully intend to get this class to 150, and hopefully (most likely not) more quests will show up in between. I would have liked it if I knew how to go back to the world again, so that I could freely go back and forth, because the BGM to it, and the scenery itself is beautiful. It's a beautifully constructed map.