So then what is the point?Follow

Yes but could you go heel to toe with a rogue

No class is best at DPS in every situation. Most classes each have a situation they shine in. Going face to face with a MOB with a rogue you might outdamage a Rogue, but put the rogue behind the MOB and there is no way your going to touch his DPS.

Hehe... Well you know what they say: Opinions are like ********. Everyone's got one". I'd focus on not worrying that much about what other people say about one class or another, and just focus on what you can do with the character that you've chosen to play. People say lots of things for lots of different reasons. They don't always apply to you. You've also got to realize that in EQ, classes have a *lot* of different things they can do, and different situations in which particular abilities are better then others. It's extremely simplistic to say that ClassA is "better" at anything then ClassB. It's always situational.

For example. Let's turn things around. Why should you get discouraged if someone says that Rangers are "just as good" at DPS as a monk? If that's all we're looking at, then isn't that fair? After all, if the monk was better at DPS then rangers, they why should anyone play a ranger?

Psst! I'll give you a hint though. For most levels, a monk will have a higher DPS then a ranger, assuming equal gear. You've got extra attacks. He doesn't. End of story. However, later on (post 60ish really) rangers get a huge boost in DPS from their bow AAs. But monks get other stuff as well. You get FD. Monks have the highest defensive combat table IIRC. You get mend. You get the highest bandage skill in the game (not sure if AAs allow warriors to match it now). You can't carry as much stuff, but you don't need to. You're indispensible in many situations as a puller and CR specialist. There's lots of things monks do that rangers can't (and vice versa).

Just focus on what you can do, and don't worry about other classes. You'll be happier that way...

Every class has as one point been nerfed or been among the most powerful.

There was a time when Monks were very overpowered. They could tank as well as FD pull. They could solo things others dare not touch. Then SoE decided to downplay their powers and now there are less monks.

Rangers were once the laughing stock of Norrath, now considered one of the more valued classes. Able to deal obscene dps and so much more.

the point I am making? Why play the class you enjoy? Because you enjoy it, and at some point your class will change, for better or worse but it will not stay the same

every class has its ups and downs.

knights are great exp tanks, but nothing matches a warrior's defensive discipline or sheer HP advantage for raids.

monks are pullers, rogues are not.

rogues can be used for "rogue CH" on raids--nobody else.

all classes-- ALL classes have their place in the world of EQ.

It's usually a good idea to ignore most fan-boi class trashtalk you read online; most of the time it's totally irrelevant.

Debaucher Soulrender
Arch Lich 75AA
Hegemony
Rodcet Nife

The point is...

I've seen fantastic players of every class. Who know what they are doing and know the class they are playing. These people do things that us normal players haven't learnt yet or will never be able to pull off.
Then again...
I've seen players of every class who i would remove from EQ and cancel their account, for the simple fact that they just don't have a clue about anything. These are the ones that stick out like sore thumbs and usually give a class a bad name.

All classes have their place and purpose. Nearly every player has their favorite class (for me it's Beastlord). Realy you don't need to worry about which class is best. Find the best class for you and learn to play that class well and maybe you'll show the negative people, who bag your favorite class, just how wrong they are...

but on the other hand this is the MOST DUMB reason to decide for your class

When I started playing EQ 4 years ago, I picked a race/class combination that I liked based on image alone -- large, dumber than a rock, strong and evil. That was the image I had before I even looked at the classes available to me. I made, of course, an Ogre SK, and my wife liked the general feel of the Shaman class, so that's what we ended up with, and we played these characters to 51, finding by accident that SK/SHM is an extremely powerful combination.

After a while in EQ I needed a mule in FP (Ogres aren't very welcome away from Oggok, even less so SKs), so I made an Enchantress (because of charisma for selling) that I had never intended to play actively ... she is now my highest character. I wanted a pet class, I liked the whole independence of a Mage, so I made a Mage. I wanted a healer, I made a Dwarf Cleric. When I make a class it's never based on "soandso said suchandsuch class is better than everything else because blah blah blah." I've learned one thing from reading posts on public forums -- ignore them. Just remember this: the majority of posters have played this game for less than a year or two. Also, when you see someone who has 2000 posts more than the average poster, they probably spend more time on the boards than in the game, and the only thing they'd really be able to give good advice on is how to post, not how to play EQ.

Play a class for whatever reason you want, but play because YOU want ... if you try to follow in someone else's footsteps, you'll find all the places they slipped, fell, and needed help getting up.

I started playing EQ waaaaaaaay back in Beta phase 3 (this was prior to public release for that that dont know the term).

I've played several classes over the years and one thing I've found to be true is that in the right situation, just about every class is UBER. The reverse is also true - in the wrong situation, just about every class SUCKS.

Take a warrior for example. On a raid they can tank some extremely nasty mobs. Put a ranger in that situation and he takes a major beating and drains the cleric in no time. Some might think Wars are great and rangers suck.

Now take these two classes and try soloing some dark blues (in the 50s+). The war takes a pretty good beating then goes and sits somewhere for half an hour or 45 minutes to heal up (assuming it didn't die). The ranger on the other hand, casts spells, root/snare bow kites and only goes toe to toe when the mob is good and softened up. Then he sits around for 5-10 minutes medding and healing himself. The Ranger gets single pulls using harmony while the war has to find single mobs. From this perspective, wars suck and rangers are da bomb.

Anyone who takes (or rejects) a class because other people say they suck is a fool (New players exempt, they have no knowledge of the classes really).

Currently wars are out of favour due to thier less than stellar aggro generation ability. Personally, I don't understand that sentiment at all. Palladins and SKs have spells to generate aggro (Rangers are GREAT at keeping aggro too). While wars have to rely on items and taunt. As a shaman, I *have* to cast early (slow/cripple) and the spells I cast generate a LOT of aggro. Believe me when I say that Wars that dual wield fast proc weapons are GREAT at keeping aggro. In some ways they're better than Pally and SK because they dont use mana to do it and dont need med breaks. The problem with wars in general is that they seem to think they MUST have the highest damage weapons (some even us 2h the idiots) and shun lower damage weapons with procs. Well, thats fine if they aren't MT but if they are the MT, get a freakin' copper hammer and some other fast proc weapon and KEEP AGGRO. If the war keeps aggro then shamans slow faster and can actually toss in a DOT or two etc, wizzy's can blast and pets can be sent in earler. Add that to the mana-conservation that is CH/War and you have a great group.

My current most played character is a shaman. Good soloist but also good at grouping. DPS doesn't approach war or ranger in a group and in fast-kill grinds is relegated to buffing and casting a single spell (slow). I do find it easier to get into groups with a shaman but its also a little less exciting than with a ranger or war.

So, best class has two determinates. How do YOU want to play and how do YOU play that class.


Edited, Thu Jan 22 09:40:30 2004 by Rhodan

I want to echo the thoughts in this particular post - my first character was a dwf pally and my daughter's is a Hi Elf Clc who decided to major in jewelcrafting. We created a chanter solely to enchant bars for the JC skill, which meant that we had to play the chanter to reach the necessary levels for elect, silver, and gold currently. Much to my surprise, I enjoyed playing the chanter after tanking/healing with the other characters - when LDON came out both the clc and chanter were much in demand and both now have more LDONs under their belts than pally. My point is that each class has a different feel and contribute something to EQ groups - try LDON without a clc to heal, rogue for dps/trap disarm/chests, or chanter for mez and crowd control and it is a struggle (can work but is a lot tougher). Play because you enjoy the character and not because someone thinks it is the "best class" to play.

That is exactly how Breez was born, a RL friend's cleric wanted to do Jewelery so I made a Enchanter and had to level it to stay ahead of his skill. My druid gathered more and more dust. At around level 20 there was no going back.

Today I am 65 with 49 aaxp, Grandmaster Jeweler with Trophy, and Epic. His Cleric is level 58 with skill 150ish in Jewel crafting, and that silly Druid only got leveled up to 30 so he can imbue gems better.

You would be amazed at the number of alts on Firiona Vie.

I run 3 accounts on FV, two I use and one is .... retired.

The two mains are both level 65 and levelled up together a little This is true of most players who have alts on FV. They create second accounts so they can create a class that well compliments their own.

Common are:
Shamen + melee
Cleric + melee
Enc + hybrid

etc etc

Also to note, as it costs one account per character on FV, characters tend to be active or cancelled. There are no sleeping characters there :)

Edited, Thu Jan 22 14:24:31 2004 by JennockFV

like someone has said, class "importance" changes with every patch and expansion..yes monks seem a little weak now. mine is sitting collecting dust at L32 right now. how do you get around this frustration?

create a variety of different characters and play them each as the seasons turn. its easier that way and you get variety...plus you get to understand how other classes work as well. IE its easier to ask for shammy buffs if I know what spells to ask for...because I've played a shammy. or now that i've played a cleric I won't have to ask 11 clerics for aego because i now know only a L60+ can cast it from having played one. (just a couple examples.)

just go with the flow and play for fun..its what the game was intended for.