Best solo/duo melee class?

[Athri]

<p>I'm coming back from a year off, having recently seen the overall good progress that EQ2 has made in my absence. I'm dragging my girlfriend with me this time, hoping to drag her away from WoW, where she's getting slightly frustrated by doing the same thing over and over and the massive amounts of immaturity.</p><p> Anyway, I've basically wiped my characters clean, deciding to start over fresh, especially with the way AAs are available at lower levels now. I'm looking for a class that's good for soloing and for when I want to duo with my girlfriend, whom I can only guess will play either a healing class or a rogueish type, depending on my choice.</p><p> Being that GU35 just came out, we've decided to follow the dark side, so classes are somewhat limited to the shadow. This is strictly PvE, we have enough stress without PvP videogames. </p><p> My initial thoughts came to either SK, Bruiser or a melee-styled Inquisitor. Can anyone with more experience than I lend some information as to what may be suited to our particular needs?</p><p> I'll be lurking while being bored at work. Thanks for any help!</p>

[Norrsken]

<cite>Athrias wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I'm coming back from a year off, having recently seen the overall good progress that EQ2 has made in my absence. I'm dragging my girlfriend with me this time, hoping to drag her away from WoW, where she's getting slightly frustrated by doing the same thing over and over and the massive amounts of immaturity.</p><p> Anyway, I've basically wiped my characters clean, deciding to start over fresh, especially with the way AAs are available at lower levels now. I'm looking for a class that's good for soloing and for when I want to duo with my girlfriend, whom I can only guess will play either a healing class or a rogueish type, depending on my choice.</p><p> Being that GU35 just came out, we've decided to follow the dark side, so classes are somewhat limited to the shadow. This is strictly PvE, we have enough stress without PvP videogames. </p><p> My initial thoughts came to either SK, Bruiser or a melee-styled Inquisitor. Can anyone with more experience than I lend some information as to what may be suited to our particular needs?</p><p> I'll be lurking while being bored at work. Thanks for any help!</p></blockquote>Well, it depends a bit on what she'll play, but the melee inqy is a powerhouse. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />and it works ok together with a rogue, the brigand would be that. SK/Inqy duo is sick as well, just saying. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Athri]

Just on looking at the available spells it seems that SK/Defiler may be the way to go. Both focus on and debuff the same resists, not to mention that Defilers seem to have access to some of the better buffs, debuffs and mana-regenerating abilities in the game. Plus they get a (albeit weak) pet, which always help. Every group needs a mascot.

[Norrsken]

<cite>Athrias wrote:</cite><blockquote>Just on looking at the available spells it seems that SK/Defiler may be the way to go. Both focus on and debuff the same resists, not to mention that Defilers seem to have access to some of the better buffs, debuffs and mana-regenerating abilities in the game. Plus they get a (albeit weak) pet, which always help. Every group needs a mascot.</blockquote>That is definately the healer for the sk if you bring some dps class along. The defiler suffers a bit form poor dps. And that dog. Ugh. Dies on the first AoE unless you pour tons of AAs into it.

[Athri]

So, after having talked it over, we've decided to go Sk/Defiler. I think it best that I have another character, though, to play by myself when she's at work or doesn't feel like playing. So what's a good solo melee class I can look at? My initial three choices still seem like the best, probably, but I have little to any experience with any of them in the game. SKs seem like they'd be a blast, though, and Bruisers look pretty raw, too.

[Beldin_]

<cite>Athrias wrote:</cite><blockquote>So, after having talked it over, we've decided to go Sk/Defiler. I think it best that I have another character, though, to play by myself when she's at work or doesn't feel like playing. So what's a good solo melee class I can look at? My initial three choices still seem like the best, probably, but I have little to any experience with any of them in the game. SKs seem like they'd be a blast, though, and Bruisers look pretty raw, too.</blockquote> Sk is a great class, however i wouldn't really call it a melee-class, because they are more casters <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Beside Bruisers Brigants are also very nice melee-classes <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Athri]

<p>I kinda like the battlemage concept, actually. I just don't want to have to kite/root/stun/stifle or rely on a pet to keep from dying. Standing toe to toe with the beast is my way of gaming. Plus SKs can use one-handed spears and a shield, which I remember liking from my paladin in the past. So few games include spears, it's quite sad.</p>

[Lornick]

For your soloing experience, you might consider a brigand.  They have a solid compliment of stuns, debuffs, dps, and even a few defensive abilities.  A very solid class solo and desireable in groups/raids.

[Bosock]

<p>Brigand and Fury would be a wicked combo or a bruiser and defiler.</p><p>The thing i dont like about the SK/Defiler combo is that the SK has a ward that can be useful which is rendered useless as that is how the defiler protects is with a ward.  Kinda like double warding.  Where if you went Fury...which has good ability to heal spike damage.  The SK could use his wards and the fury blast away and heal just when the damage is starting to exceed his ward protection.  Makes it a little funnier for the healer too (there just not healing).  </p><p>Brigand and Fury would be just sick for damage and the brigand can tank with right setup...Kill extremely fast in this scenerio...may not be able to take the same beating as the SK and healer....but baddie may not be around long enough to give it.</p><p>Bruiser and defiler wont kill as quick as the other to combos...but they can take on anything the other groups have to offer and more...bruiser is your tank and the blunt of your DPS...with their avoidance and Defiler wards...hard to beat this combo down.</p>

[Athri]

<p>I read the Shadowknight skill as more of a reactive (the Blessing line, I assume) in that you lifetap the monster when you get hit. I'm not sure if this goes off if you're warded, that may make it slightly less useful. Still, the whole class can't be balanced around that.</p><p> The Brigand sounds cool, too. Nice abilities, and poisons would be fun. The hat is awesome, too. Robble!</p>

[Athri]

Bump for more opinions. Are Battle Cleric Inquisitors reliable (and safe) soloers? I don't mind being kinda slow, but I dislike dying. Bruisers have FD, which looks really nice for staying alive.  

[acable]

My g/f and i duo a SK and Fury. Good combo IMO.. the fury gets ok heals, and some really good nukes.