Hi! I'm completely new to this game. But I'm very used to MMOs and have played or tried most of the major games in this genre (old and new), so I'm very familiar with the terminology, mechanics, etc. I don't really want help 'choosing' a class; I can do that fine, once I understand what I'm dealing with. Instead, I just want to get a basic idea of what each Class is like in this game, so I know what would be a good fit for my tastes. If someone could just briefly summarize (or direct me to up-to-date information like this somewhere else): What is the class' general gameplay design / playstyle? What standard MMO role(s) does the class serve in PvE group content? What does the class actually do in PvE content? What is its expected job in a group? Does the class do its job(s) from Melee (up close / in the thick of things) or Ranged / far away? What does this class do special / differently from other classes performing the same Group Role? For example, in WoW I could say "A Druid heals with lots of HoTs, while a Priest puts up lots of absorb effects instead". That kind of thing. I do not care about any of the following details, at all: Low-level class issues. I'd rather focus on the high-level perspective, that's what matters in the end. Solo playstyle / design. How well the class can solo. Ease of leveling / leveling speed. PvP performance. Basically my focus is entirely on PvE Group concerns, that is what makes MMOs fun for me. TY if anyone can run through this for me, it would help a lot. I know the game has a ton of classes, so it's OK if you keep it simple and don't go into tons of detail. ^.^
Without having numerous folks recite you varying descriptions for each class, you can take a gander at this general information here: Zam EQ Class Descriptions Also, the EQ2 character creation screen gives brief description 'cards'. Even summed up, for the sheer number of classes and their reasons for standing out could be a hefty write-up lol My best advice, be a Member, and do trial runs on Heroic classes that sound interesting. If you don't think you will like it then delete it and move on to the next one. Don't be scared to roll a toon and delete it if you hate it. Can't tell you how many I have deleted even after leveling mid-way! I understand this may be a bit too general, but I hope it at least gives you a starting point.
Thank you for trying to help.Unfortunately that page was not very helpful and did not answer any of my gameplay-oriented questions, though.
I'm afraid that old fashioned research will get you further, because it'll narrow your questions down some. Asking us to dissect all classes is going to net you a lot of differing opinions, and long posts to sift through. Read up in the basics, try a few out in game, and then come back and ask about the one or two you enjoy the most. All classes are viable, there's not a bad choice. But you're asking for an ocean of knowledge much of it difficult to express without you having tried the classes yet.
Answering questions such as these might help people narrow things down for you: Edit: I know this may look like "choosing a class", but it's more like narrowing things down to something managable in providing answers. Honestly there are way too many classes in EQ2 for any one player (other than maybe Cloudrat...has anyone seen her lately, BTW? Hope she's OK.) to give an overview/comparison of them all.
It's a game where tanks tank, dpser dps, healers heal and utility buff/debuff whatever they do. can you get out of it? Sure. But well, what's the point in tank dpsing. the choice is very wide, and really depends on what you like to do. You'll find a match for what you wanna do (pallys for the win btw) ;-)
Actually, I found a write up that might get you started: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=167340554
EQ2 tends to have classes paired off. This is because the classes used to split from a main role (fighter, scout, priest, mage) to a sub-role (druid, cleric, shaman) and then ultimately to your final class (fury, warden). Generally, the sub-roles share some traits, like the type of armor they can wear, the general focus of their spells, and so on. And then the final role splits a bit more, with some variances like one being more AoE focused and the other more single target, or in the case of the priests, one getting AAs to be more melee, the other being more of a caster. Two new classes have been added (Beastlords and Channelers) and they are stand alone, without a sister class. Also, class balance can swing with expansions, and we've got one of those coming up that will tack on five more levels. The classes that are currently underpowered could well end up being at the top, and those at the top might well wind up being underpowered. Sadly, the devs aren't too good at making adjustments between expansions. Fighters: Paladin: more single-target focused tank that uses spells. Has some heals. Shadow Knight: AoE tank that uses spells. Life taps. Guardian: more single-target focused tank that hits stuff. Berserker: AoE tank that hits stuff. Monk: more single-target focused target avoidance-based tank. Bruiser: AoE avoidance-based tank. <-- currently the worst tank. In general, single target tanks are better at shrugging off incoming attacks/damage, though the mechanics of SKs and Berserkers are such that they can heal themselves quite a bit against multiple mobs. Scouts: Pretty much all scouts want to stab stuff from behind or from the flanks. Ranger: use a bow to plink stuff, but due to its mechanics still winds up fighting quite close to mobs. Assassin: stabs stuff. Brigand: stabs stuff but not as hard as an assassin. Debuffs a bit more instead. Swashbuckler: betrays to Brigand. Overall, like its sister class, the Brigand, but with weaker ST/debuffs and a bit more AoE potential. Dirge: a DPS/support class, tending toward buffing the group's melee, as well as some enemy debuffs. Troubadour: a DPS/Support class, tending more toward buffing the casting side of things, as well as some enemy debuffs. Beastlord: melees alongside a pet, and gets special hard hitting attacks due to the pet. Can play a bit of support, but that side of them is currently a bit lackluster at 95, so typically just DPSs. Priests: All priests have regular heals, and each type specializes a bit in an other type as well (HoT, reactive, ward). Clerics - plate healers. Use reactives (a buff with a limited number of charges that triggers a heal when the buffee is hit. Also some debuffs that trigger heals when certain conditions are met. - Templar: The cleric that nukes. A strong healer. - Inquisitor: The cleric that melees. More of a melee focus for its damage, with AAs that give them melee versions of their nukes. Shaman - chain healers. Specialize in wards, a shield that soaks a bunch of damage. Currently the weakest healers at 95, but that can change. Tend toward DoTs for offensive spells. -Mystic: The shaman that melees. Also has some pet buffs. -Defiler: the nuker shaman. Weakest healer at the moment. Druids - leather healers. Specialize in HoTs. Can port. Can charm animals. Currently at the top of the healer pile. -Warden: the melee druid. -Fury: the nuker druid. Lots of AoEs at 95. Generally the most offensive of all the healers. Channeler - another leather healer. Uses a bow. Has a pet that also helps it heal. No clue how exactly they play. Don't have one and haven't grouped with one. Supposedly don't come into their own until they get access to Prestige (90+). Mages: Don't know too much about these guys. The only mage that that ever really interested me was EQ1's Enchanters, and I did not care for EQ2's take on them. Warlock: DoT/AoE nukes? Can port. Wizard: blows stuff up. Can port. Necromancer: DoTs, undead pets. Conjuror: Nukes, summoned pets. Illusionist: nuker/support, with a more caster support focus. Coercer: nuker/support, with a more melee support focus, I think. Best at charming stuff as well. Really though, if you want better info, you're probably better off providing some info as to what you do like to play. There's a lot of classes, with a lot of little quirks, and typing it all up takes rather a lot of time, which means you won't get all the info you're looking for. Simple things like whether you prefer to play DPS, tank, healer, or more of a support role. Prefer to be at range or in melee. And so on.
Fighters - main stat is strength All are tanks - absorb damage, some are good at DPS some aren't so good at it Warrior Type - plate armor Guardian Known for having the largest health pools, largest immediate threat generation and lowest DPS, Guardians have buffers meant to help protect other classes, defense-focused, generally fight with a weapon and shield and has great single-target threat generation tools and desperation defense abilities, and the best damage mitigation in the game Berserker Known for being DPS tanks, Berskers have more AOEs, more offensive-minded, better AoE threat generation and will mostly build threat via DPS, generally fighting with two weapons Crusader Type Paladin A hybrid class of sorts, with threat-over-time capabilities and threat transfers, along with some limited group healing and respectable DPS, some healing and warding ability, but not to the extent of being able to serve as a main healer in dungeon content, although they can off-heal and may suffice for a lot of open-world group content Shadowknight Possibly the highest DPS of the tanks, SKs are known for their self-healing DPS, threat-over-time and ability to feign death, solid debuffs and damage buffs and do better DPS but lack the Paladin’s ability to heal others, although they have the ability to self-heal through vampiric abilities. Brawler Type - leather armor avoidance tanks, light off-tanking in raids, can feign death, good for soloing, weak mitigation but focus on not getting hit in the first place, weak self heal Monk Another DPS tank that wears leather armor and relies on their Avoidance and limited self-healing to make up for their lack of plate, better sustained DPS Bruiser Arguably higher DPS than a Monk; still a leather DPS tank that relies heavily on Avoidance, better burst damage, have more stuns and knockdowns but have longer cooldowns Scouts - main stat is agility Some are mostly utility types and some are mostly DPS, chain-wearing DPS classes. Most are more reliant on positioning than, say, a Fighter would be, and all have Stealth Animalist Type Has pets Beastlord DPS - A pet class, also widely considered among the highest DPS. This class relies on its pet Warder and knuckle/melee and thrown weapons similiar to the Monk and Bruiser tank classes, group heals, power regen/buffs Bard Type Utility, considered very desirable for group content of all kinds. They do the weakest DPS of any of the Scouts but offer an array of powerful buffs and debuffs Troubador Scout-based buff bot. Troubadors have songs/buffs that really benefit mages in the same group; offensively the Troubador brings some limited stuns and charms to enemies, along with limited direct damage spells, Troubadors have better caster buffs and have some mez and charm abilities that can be used to take control of opposing mobs. Will accompany Mages Dirge Scout-based buff bot counterpart to the Troubador. Generally allowing for a more active playstyle than the Troubador, the Dirge also brings songs/buffs that really benefit melee classes in the same group or raid. Offensively, the Dirge hosts a lot of debuffs against enemies as well as a few limited damage over time spells, better at buffing melee classes and can do lifetaps to siphon away enemy health. Will accompany scouts. Predator Type DPS Ranger DPS - The highest ranged DPS of the scout tree; what the Assassin does with melee weapons to the back, the Ranger does with arrows from...well, anywhere, Ranger is quite good at kiting where there’s room. Assassin DPS - "Tier 1" DPS; generally considered among the top of the food chain, this class accounts for its DPS through stealth, stabs and poisons, most dependent of all the Scouts on proper positioning and has some excellent aggro management abilities Rogue Type DPS, melee DPS classes, slightly less good at dealing damage than Predators but with more utility and less dependent on either kiting or position, can also do some light tanking, especially in open-world group content. Swashbuckler DPS - the Swashbuckler is a type of Scout DPS that can actually tank somewhat.Swashbucklers have very high DPS and even some threat-generating capabilities. can debuff enemies’ offensive abilities, has some token AoE ability and is less dependent on positional damage than most Scouts, Brigand DPS - lends itself to high damage output by way of large debuffs against a mob, leaving it vulnerable to all sorts of pointy things (as well as magic, etc. from groupmates!), Brigand debuffs enemy defenses and has a lot of stun and show-your-back ability Too long, so two posts. I gathered this from a few different sources and some of these I haven't played. I'm sure some folks can correct anything that is in error here.
Priests - main stat is wisdom All heal Shaper Type Has a pet (construct) can heal some Channeler a leather armor wearing, bow wielding healer. They use a pet called a Construct to absorb damage for a group member. Druid Type - leather wearing Direct Healing by means of fast-casting, generally heal-over-time spells (HoT), have root and nuke abilities and are considered strong solo classes Fury fast-casting heal-over-times that are marginally less healing than those of the Warden; however, the Fury possesses a number of impressive direct damage and encounter nukes, Fury is more of a ranged caster and has an edge in DPS Warden fast-casting heal-over-times that are marginally better healing than those of the Fury; however, instead of large damage spells, the Warden posses a number of limited crowd-control capabilities such as a root, is more melee-oriented and a somewhat stronger healer ClericType - plate-wearing Reactive Healing - Pre-emptive reactive healing that applies as needed when damage occurs; some slow-casting direct heals Templar slow-casting but very large reactive heals; lots of buffs to elemental and physical resistances for group/raid members, Templars have a variety of healing tools including reactive heals that proc when the target takes damage. Their DPS output in considered poor, and while they can be competent soloers in the right hands, you’ll likely need to do a lot of self-healing to make them effective. Inquisitor not-quite-as-slow-casting but not as large reactive heals as the Templar; lots of buffs to group damage output and enemy debuffs, Inquisitors also have a variety of healing tools, with an emphasis on reactive heals and debuffs, and can spec into a very desirable soloing configuration with good DPS. Shaman Type - chain-wearing Ward Healing -Preventing damage through protective wards; some slow-casting direct heals, strong debuffs and decent melee DPS, weak spirit pets Mystic ward-based healer with some light direct-damage elemental spells, higher burst Defiler ward-based healer with debuffs and some light direct-damage noxious spells, more DoTs Mages - main stat is intelligence DPS or Utility, cloth-wearing glass cannons Enchanter Type pet classes and crowd control specialists Coercer Mage-based crowd-control that generally takes place in the form of completely taking control of an enemy (allowing the Coercer to use them as a combat pet), or stunlocking them into oblivion. Buffs from the Coercer seem to favor the melee classes. They don’t get a regular pet, instead charms a mob and controls it. This offers great versatility, as you can pick from brute mobs, caster mobs, healer mobs, or whatever depending on the zone you’re in, but the trick to playing them is that their control over their pet will break – sometimes at the worst possible time. Instead of buffs they have reactive debuffs and damaging spells. Illusionist Mage-based crowd-control extraordinare! Along with that comes greatly enhanced in-combat power regeneration and a host of other goodies that fellow mages will love, Illusionist’s pet is an illusionary duplicate of the caster, and can cast all the spells the caster can. Nobody can lock down an opposing mob like an Illusionist; they’re tricky to play but unmatched soloists in the hands of a skilled player, and they have excellent group buffs, will accompany mages Summoner Type Different types of Pets play different roles - fighter, healer, scout, mage Conjurer A Mage-based pet class; very high DPS in later levels, the pets of this class are either a Tank (Guardian-based), a Mage (Wizard-based) or a Scout (Ranger-based), Conjurors do more AoE damage Necromancer Another Mage-based pet class that is very high DPS in later levels. The pets of this class differ from the Conjurer in looks and the fact they are Berserker-based for the Tank, Warlock-based for the Mage, and Assassin-based for the Scout, Necros have more DoTs Sorcerer Type DPS, root-and-blast classes, Both have similar roots, but the Warlock’s tend to break more often because they tend to do damage on more ticks. Both also have a variety of utility spells as well as a selection of pets that offer minor buffs. Wizard DPS - One of the two highest DPS mages, the Wizard focuses on single-targets, but it's damage-dealing capabilities are just as staggering as the Warlock or Assassin, more single-tick, single-target damage Warlock DPS - One of the two highest DPS classes in the Mage tree, the Warlock is primarily suited for massive DPS against groups of enemies (typically encounters and some AOE), more DoTs and AoE DPS.
oooooomg you guys are too nice! ♥ I was coming back here to be like, "OK, sorry for asking too much", and try to think of a simpler question to start with. And then SUDDENLY, INFORMATIONS — THOUSANDS OF THEM! Let me read through all this and then I'll reply if I have any more questions. ^.^
OK! Thanks guys, I think I get the basic idea of how this game's PvE is set-up after reading through that. And I have a feeling I know which classes are right for me, now that you've inspired me to research the right details a little further. ^.^ ~99.999999% sure I'll be starting and exploring the world as a Wizard, that sounds about perfect for me. The class had me at "Ice Comet". ♥ But that means I also need a couple alts, since I always get the urge to do other roles in groups and will need some backups for that purpose sooner or later, haha. What I think I'll do, is create other, much more specific threads as I encounter more questions, just to make it easier for people to find and reply to quickly. Hope that's OK, trying not to ask for too much at once again. : p TY again @Katz & @Axterix for typing up those huge starter summaries, helps so much.
You're welcome. Ask away. Most people here are fairly helpful and enjoy sharing what they know or can find out. I think you will enjoy it here, this game is just plain fun.
