Just posted a few many times but here goes an extreme idea...I've been playing a PPU extensively lately and have seen the countless posts about parashock, etc.. Anyone wonder what it would be like if there were NO PPU's at all? The only reason I'm thinking about is that no one seems to do anything without them now. I remember the "old" days when some quality whoopass tank would sneak up behind mine when hunting and start plugging away. It was a one on one challenge. And there were also times when entire groups of players would raid and/or defend OPs without them. Now no one goes anywhere without a PPU. And we've all seen posts and complaints regarding eager OP raiders who are met with no opposition because "Our PPU's aren't on. Sorry..." Raids on TG, TH, and MB as well are almost NEVER done without PPU's present.
Not sure about other classes but as a tank, in a team, Ive been able to get through the Chaos caves without PPU buffs. MC5 is screwed IMO so I won't mention that, but before the glass was removed I witnessed players soloing it (AoE, kill, zone, come back and collect loot). I've seen EVERY class solo a Grim Chaser with the right approach. The only mobs I can think of where a PPU is a necessity in a team, other than MC5, are in the Worm Tunnels.
There are class imbalances, given, but I'm being idealistic
Then there's resurrection. How many players out there rely on resurrection in PvP? It's a given now. Most people play with the attitude that if they bite it, they bank on getting resurrected. What if there was no resurrection? What if when you died, the penalty was you HAD to get your pokes. Hardly a penalty compared to, well, RL.
The bottom line is, without PPU's, the outcome of both PvM and PvP situations would be be based solely on character development and player skills. Gameplay would be faster and more intense, and even more entertaining I think because you wouldn't have the comfort of a PPU, essentially, correcting your mistakes and/or misfortunes, and neither would your enemies.
Bedtime. Flame away.