Champion-GuardianFollow

I have played a Guardian so far to level 12 after trying a Captain and Loremaster. For those other two classes, I found soloability to be quite difficult, particularly when adds are involved. Haven't died so far with the Guardian, even with as many as 3 adds.

One of the things I like most is the ability to chain moves together... it makes combat much more active and interesting. My question is regarding the Champion... does this class have damage mitigation that rivals a Guardian? How is the soloability with adds and whatnot?

I can take on multiple yellows (or an orange + a yellow add) with my Captain and survive. Captains aren't true defensive tanks but they're not especially fragile, either.

Back on point, Guardians are defensive tanks who wear heavy armor before anyone else. Champions are offensive 'tanks' so I'd imagine (though I can't say for sure) that their mitigation is inferior. Otherwise Guardians would be pretty pointless.

Champions do have 1 attack (achieved at level 10?) that restores ~120 morale at the end of the attack. I've had my Champion at 15 for awhile and as I was building up my traits in open beta, my deaths were few and far between. My last death was when I ventured a bit too far into the Old Forest and encountered a swamp of level 18 bears. I killed 1 okay but the next bear aggro'ed me before I had a chance to recoup. It's definitely a fun class to play and I enjoy taking on 3-4 dark blues with my AE attacks.

I almost always play with Fervor on since I believe the Champion's damage output with the special attacks surpasses my defensive capabilities at my current level.

Champions can use shields as can Captains; however, Guardians are only ones able to use heavy shields. Heavy shields provide significantly more mitigation than regular shields.

I'm suprised. I have very little trouble with my Herald; I usually have him set to Assist and, when I'm pulling from range and don't want him to run out there, I turn off Assist and just hit Attack when the mob is upon us. I've yet to find a need to play with Aggressive/Defensive modes.

But to each their own. If you think Captains suck, I guess you have six other classes to choose from.

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I tried a Champion for a few levels, and I just don't enjoy the aggressive style of play... I seem to have too many buttons that just do damage without much of a strategy of what to use when.

I enjoy the reactive style of a Guardian much more, along with the fact that these guys seem built to generate aggro and be the true tanks. Learning in this thread that only they can use heavy shields solidified that point. I've done the dps role in other games, and I really want to try tanking in this game.

As to the last post about having to throw more heals at the Champions than Guardians... an obvious response is that the Champions would need to tone down their dps for the Guardian to hold aggro, but along with that the Guardian gets Traits (and also more skills, I believe) that will help him acquire and hold aggro (such as the Trait that makes Vexing blow hit multiple targets, etc).

Its amusing sparring as a Gaurdian. Every class ive fought has trouble beating me, im yet to lose.

Doesnt really mean much as the game wasnt designed for that kind of PvP