AoC PvP: Class breakdown

Looks like we'll have a roaming group of Barbarians sending people to Crom this weekend!

WiredAsylum wrote:
wickbroke wrote:

Halp! I know not what to pick! In EQ/WoW/D&D/RoleMaster/whatever, I enjoyed melee much more than magic. Although my highest character was a Shaman in EQ. Missile was not played much. I don't necessarily want to be a tank, as it seems tanks always must tweak to get that last .005% mitigation. I will be around often, I hope, and like to help others. I still think I want something roguelike, but I am not sure if race plays importantly. Critique my first choice, please. What kind of mileage will I get (solo and group) from a Stygian Thief -> Assassin? Second would be the tank - maybe Aquilonian ? (soldier?)?

All comments, tweaks and suggestions welcome. I don't mean to derail this thread. Should I start another? Thanks!

Races just give you some flavor in your interactions with the world. No bonuses or negatives outside of every class is not available to every race.

Outside of that, I think the Assassin or Barbarian are excellent choices from the Rogues, and the Conqueror from the Soldiers (unless you want to weild dark magic, too, then a Dark Templar).

The Bear Shaman was an interesting mix of Melee with Healing support spells that were (often) activated by melee attacks, if you want to try something a little different.

I would recomend everyone take the first couple days and play around with the classes. This game is so different than anything else as far as classes go.

That's a lot of Barbarians. Oh yeah, I'm planning on Conqueror for my main not Assassin, it was too much fun in Beta. But seeing how we're low on Assassin's now I might just stick it out.

Swat wrote:

That's a lot of Barbarians. Oh yeah, I'm planning on Conqueror for my main not Assassin, it was too much fun in Beta. But seeing how we're low on Assassin's now I might just stick it out.

No, feel free to jump ship. I'm ok being the only assassin. That just helps seal my plan of taking over the throne. I won't have any other low life back-stabbers to fight for it.

Any word on if they've bumped the Demo class to something respectable? All the chatterings I've heard is that it's a pretty boring class to play (at the moment) and is somewhat squishy. Not to deter anyone from rolling one, but I hear they are a 1-2 shot in PvP. That's just random forum snippets I've picked up on though, maybe it's just a late bloomer?

WiredAsylum wrote:

I would recomend everyone take the first couple days and play around with the classes. This game is so different than anything else as far as classes go.

And you don't say that because you plan on power-leveling your main so you can gank anyone who gets out of line or doesn't salute your every order, either, do you?

I should note that while my PvP main will be the PoM, I'll be playing a Guardian on the PvE server.

Shade shut it you will spoil everything.

Demo's are a late bloomer, on the pvp side. Mid 20s and up in the right hands they are devestating.

+ spellweaving at 50 make them a powerhouse in end game.

Halp! I know not what to pick! In EQ/WoW/D&D/RoleMaster/whatever, I enjoyed melee much more than magic. Although my highest character was a Shaman in EQ. Missile was not played much. I don't necessarily want to be a tank, as it seems tanks always must tweak to get that last .005% mitigation. I will be around often, I hope, and like to help others. I still think I want something roguelike, but I am not sure if race plays importantly. Critique my first choice, please. What kind of mileage will I get (solo and group) from a Stygian Thief -> Assassin? Second would be the tank - maybe Aquilonian ? (soldier?)?

All comments, tweaks and suggestions welcome. I don't mean to derail this thread. Should I start another? Thanks!

[edit] According to opinions expressed below - I may just stick with Assassin. I do appreciate the help. It is one thing to read about a class, it is another to get some points from someone who has played.

Swat wrote:

Any word on if they've bumped the Demo class to something respectable? All the chatterings I've heard is that it's a pretty boring class to play (at the moment) and is somewhat squishy. Not to deter anyone from rolling one, but I hear they are a 1-2 shot in PvP. That's just random forum snippets I've picked up on though, maybe it's just a late bloomer?

While they can be on the weak side they're also very powerful so i'd say it's a fair balance. If they were hardier we'd be hearing people crying for nerfs. Plus all casters were a bit on the boring side, but with spell weaving in place... I'd say it's a brand new world.

WiredAsylum wrote:

Shade shut it you will spoil everything.

Demo's are a late bloomer, on the pvp side. Mid 20s and up in the right hands they are devestating.

+ spellweaving at 50 make them a powerhouse in end game.

See, that's why I'm wary of literally anything i've read on the official forums. So much disinformation. I really, really hope it's cleaned up once it goes subscribers only like WoW.. hopefully broke up into separate class forums as well.

I'm having second thoughts now after playing a Ranger for a few levels last night. I've done so much melee I may have to stand in the back and just pew pew pew!

Demo for me was all about being able to get your root spell cast before dying. Also, since I had stamina to spare I used that to my advantage. Root, run away and burn as much as possible, when they got just close enough that they were about to hit I would turn and sprint to make them chase me, wasting all their stamina. When they have no stamina, they're not nearly as dangerous... I know there were plenty of angry people on the other end of that tactic.

Bear wrote:

I'm having second thoughts now after playing a Ranger for a few levels last night. I've done so much melee I may have to stand in the back and just pew pew pew!

Did you try going first person mode? I haven't, but I wonder if that would make it any more fun.

Tkyl wrote:
Bear wrote:

I'm having second thoughts now after playing a Ranger for a few levels last night. I've done so much melee I may have to stand in the back and just pew pew pew!

Did you try going first person mode? I haven't, but I wonder if that would make it any more fun.

It is a bit sluggish that way but fun.

lancejt wrote:

Demo for me was all about being able to get your root spell cast before dying. Also, since I had stamina to spare I used that to my advantage. Root, run away and burn as much as possible, when they got just close enough that they were about to hit I would turn and sprint to make them chase me, wasting all their stamina. When they have no stamina, they're not nearly as dangerous... I know there were plenty of angry people on the other end of that tactic.

hehe yea you made people drop from matches... i LOVED it!

Tkyl wrote:
Bear wrote:

I'm having second thoughts now after playing a Ranger for a few levels last night. I've done so much melee I may have to stand in the back and just pew pew pew!

Did you try going first person mode? I haven't, but I wonder if that would make it any more fun.

Wired's right. I'm not sure how much you could use it in a PvP situation as you're going to be move a lot and people are going to try to get you within melee range.

(constant jumping and moving) > FPS Ranger

While I know I am still a relative newbie to the order, I will be doing Bear Shaman on the PvE as my main. I may get brave and later try the PvP later down the road, but my dreams of making a master craftsman, or multiple ones, have me leaning to the PvE way of life to do it.

Put me down as a Conqueror. Thanks!

Undecided on my alts, will just have to try a few classes out and then decide.

As far as Demo and such we have to remember that we will probably usually be grouping for quests etc, so the squishy classes become a lot more powerful when they can attack from behind a melee class.

I'm sure we will learn a lot in the coming weeks.

karmajay wrote:

As far as Demo and such we have to remember that we will probably usually be grouping for quests etc, so the squishy classes become a lot more powerful when they can attack from behind a melee class.

I'm sure we will learn a lot in the coming weeks.

Yeah, that's why I am playing a Guardian to my wife's Demo. She had a lot of fun in beta with it, but when confronted with more than 2 mobs, she was sorely put to the test.

I'd love to try one of the rogue classes, but PoM and Guardian will occupy enough time as it is, I expect.

It looks like I accidentaly deleted all of our healers, whoops.

But that being said, It looks as though we were a bit light on them, so I will be rolling a sham instead of a Conq.

Edit: I had some issues deleting some people from the list. I went through and tried to fix everything, but dont feel bad if I left you out, it wasnt on purpose.

wickbroke wrote:

Hanta - convince me Bear Shaman can solo moderately well, and I might do that! Otherwise - Assassin.

I played a Bear Shaman to 13th (then 20th for a day) in Beta and they were a lot of fun, but definitely not your typical healer! So much of it was generated from attacks, combos, and the like. I often found myself forgetting I was a healer!

Hard for my to say how they will be as soloist because the first 20 levels don't say much on the long term prospects of the class. They do, however, look to be a very good class for PvP as they can heal while they attack, supporting themselves and groupmates while not being overly squishy.

wickbroke wrote:

Hanta - convince me Bear Shaman can solo moderately well, and I might do that! Otherwise - Assassin.
Also, your name makes the Fanta jingle go through my head every time I read it.
Hanta, Hanta... Hanta Ex Pee. (repeat 1x)

You can just leave it at Hanta, and that will be fine.

Well, I guess it comes down to do you like healing ? Healing and Tanking in mmos are usually the most stressful while grouping (ie most responsibility classes), and as a melee healer, I can imagine it will require alot of skill and practice to become very good at it (you have to watch healthbars, as well as combo correctly, and cast spells etc). Im sure all the classes can solo, but on a ffa pvp, if you are not a rogue class then it will be harder; you can stealth but not very well and only for a short time. During the open beta, it wouldn't actually let me stealth saying that my skill wasnt high enough, and that I need to find more shadow.

The pros of being a healer however are that you will almost always be able to find a group. If your good, people will be begging for your help (same with tanks), dps have a bit more of an issue.

HantaXP wrote:

I can imagine it will require alot of skill and practice to become very good at it

There is the hope that in AoC the skill aspect will be widespread, isn't there?

While I expect some classes will be easier than others, here's hoping the game will offer more challenge than pushing a few buttons during a raid while kicking your feet up & watching the ballgame.

Hanta - convince me Bear Shaman can solo moderately well, and I might do that! Otherwise - Assassin.
Also, your name makes the Fanta jingle go through my head every time I read it.
Hanta, Hanta... Hanta Ex Pee. (repeat 1x)

[Edit: Thanks for the answering posts, good thing I have another night to ruminate!]

Put me down for Priest of Mitra. I'll be playing the HoX too. I can't wait to heal all you mashers!

I was hoping HoX may be my main. But since I haven't played in betas I will most likely try a few alts along with it and then stick with one.

Hey, add me again as a Priest of Mitra! I really loved it and the healing aspect of the class in groups really start to shine past level 20. And I think it's a good soloer too. Repulse makes that possible.