Good healer, evil healer or rock and roller?

[jmik]

I currently have a 30 bruiser, who I’m having fun soloing and duoing with, but I’m seriously considering rolling something else. My main concern with the bruiser are that they seems to only truly excel at soloing. In a group can fill in as tank or DPS, but for neither am I ideal. Plus, I’m not entirely comfortable with tanking. It’s not something I’ve even been comfortable with. Possibly because everyone always expects the tank to lead the group and I get lost easily…   Anyway, I’m considering an inquisitor, mystic or dirge. I’m very comfortable with healing and I think I’d be good at assessing and maintaining the optimal buffs and debuffs for a group as well. If I went with either healer I’d probably go for the melee AA route. I’ve gotten each class to the 8-10 range and am still having a bit of trouble deciding. Here are my main questions:   I’d imagine all 3 would be pretty desired in groups, but is any the top pick? I’m talking about through the levels. I’m not intending to power to 70. I know healing is always welcome, but does a mystic’s healing style (wards) work better in the average group than the inquizzies (or the other way around)? I know dirges are very in demand for raiding, but how about for FG or Runnyeye? I have a wife, kids and a job so my schedule is pretty sparse and unreliable. So I’ll be soloing a good bit when I can only play for an hour or less. Are any of these three much better at soloing? My buddy plays a ranger, and I’m not sure if I’ll ever catch him. But if I do which would be a good duo choice with him? Overall, how much do those who play each class like them? Are mystics always [Removed for Content] their doggie dies? Does an inquisitor’s plate armor chafe during long dungeon crawls? Do dirges cry at night?  Or is there a completely different class that anyone thinks I'm overlooking? Thanks all for reading this post. I kind of got carried away there.

[Lamarre]

I have a dirge and recently started an inquisitor. Haven't played mystic. Dirges are a lot of fun. I usually solo with mine and she solos fine. Of course she doesn't kill as fast as lets say, a swashbuckler but she has nice abilities & I like her a lot.  She doesn't cry at night, she is a tough little cookie. My inquisitor is still a baby, but I like her a lot from what I've seen. I am a healer who wears plate, it doesn't get any better <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Some might say inquisitors kill very slowly but I think they are just fine. If you want fast kills get a scout or a wizard. Inquisitors a solo friendly class IMHO. To avoid armor chafe, always carry polishing kit with you, comes in very handy. I would also suggest to you to try a paladin. My main is a pally & I love her. Very solo friendly class, plays well with others, can be ether dps or healing focused. Can tank really well..... Whatever class you'll end up with, I hope you'll enjoy it & have lotsa-lotsa fun with it <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Berri]

<p>I am an inconsistant player, ie kids, wife, job. I play a Fury mainly and have found it to be a robust puppet.</p><p> SoW, Invis, ports great for questing. Heals for groups. Nukes and dots for solo activity. Its the great allrounder.</p><p> Just my 2cw</p>

[jmik]

Thanks guys for the replies. I thought about a fury, but there just seems to be so many of them around. Although I can certainly see the advantage of SOW and ports given I don't have too much play time. Mystics have SOW as well though, correct? Right now I'm vaguely leaning toward one of the healers just because I think I could get into a group that much faster when I'm able to play for a bit. It seems a lot of groups get stalled out by having no healer. Still on the fence though. Anyone else have any opinions?

[azekah]

I gotta 53 mystic....lot of fun in groups... so so soloing...but definitely not impossible Yea, mystics get SoW too... Mystics main healing tool is warding, not actually "healing" Wards prevent damage from happening. There's a big difference in feel between a warding healer and a regular healer. Sometimes groups don't know the difference either. The tanks hp could be down to 15% and you could have full wards up and be in ok condition. You do get some heals, but def not as much as a regular healer. In a group it can sometimes get boring though. You can throw in some dps and debuffs, but when the mobs are going down in 10-15s it hardly feels like your contributing. So as a healer, mystics kick @$$, but as far as adding other utility to the group...so so... The reason you see so many furies is because they are the "fun" healers. Fury's are by no means "bad" healers...they can do their part...perhaps in a pinch not as reliable as others, but will do well in most groups. The difference is they can actually add a good amount to group dps. So if your tank is doin ok you can actually feel useful by dpsing. Also, as a soloer, fury's have it the best out of the healing class for the same reasons... but with all the fury debate, you never know when they will get nerfed and be back in par with the other healer dps <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Odalia]

My main is a Warden I love her to pieces, before EQ2 I have ALWAYS played a bard or what ever the equal was. The Warden just kicks butt they do decent damage and I have brought her up to lvl 42 almost with no groups, I like to solo. The evac is a huge help it is what the Wardens get in place of the group invis of the Fur

[Twoboxer2]

<p>Everyone reacts differently, but I have a 70 Fury and a 70 Inquisitor. My Main, though, is a 70 Brigand so I am definitely not a professional healer lol.</p><p>Both healers were rolled to 2-box each with their own rogue (yeah, I have a Swashy too), so that's the environment I know best. But I've played the healers in groups a bit, and also some on raids when that was what the guild needed.</p><p>My experience is that the Fury is the far easier healer to play . . . he actually has great heals and AAs that support the healing role. He can heal an entire group . . . if I recall correctly . . . around 5.5k in a bit over 11 seconds with 3 button presses. If the numbers are off a bit, I apologize . . . but its impressive, and I believe unmatched in that specific role.</p><p>On the other hand, the Inquisitor is a struggle for me in raids. And based on my death and near-death experiences in raids as a rogue, it's difficult for a lot of people. Love the buffs, and I can keep them mana-full, but I'm always nervous when my main healer is an Inquisitor lol. The reactive heals mean you have to stay out in front of the damage curve . . . the ones that keep me in the fight and/or alive say its all about spamming the group heal . . . and finally, there are virtually no healing-related AAs. The Inquisitor seems to be moving in a different direction, more about damage. Verdict, for example, can be an important raid tool for specific mobs.</p><p>Please don't misunderstand - I'm not advocating Fury over Inquisitor, nor either of them over others I do not know as well. I just thought you might find these reactions useful as you choose a healer.</p><p>As for the Dirge . . . if your plans were going to include raiding, I'd say DEFINITELY play a dirge. There's always a spot for one or two in a raid, and there aren't nearly enough raiding dirges around.</p><p>As far as groups are concerned, its been so long since I did that . . . and won't do it much until November I suppose . . . I can't tell you what its currently like.</p><p>But you are correct - many groups stall because they can't find a healer or two (or a plate tank), so there's always a demand. OTOH, many groups have little respect for what a Dirge can do because it doesn't show up in the "Dirge" line in the parser. If groups have a 6th spot open, and the choice is between a Dirge and a known-DPSer, in my experience many would mistakenly take the DPSer.</p><p>Which is probably why there are few raiding dirges around <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Lornick]

<cite>jmiket wrote:</cite><blockquote> Overall, how much do those who play each class like them? Are mystics always [Removed for Content] their doggie dies? Does an inquisitor’s plate armor chafe during long dungeon crawls? <b>Do dirges cry at night?  </b> Or is there a completely different class that anyone thinks I'm overlooking? Thanks all for reading this post. I kind of got carried away there. </blockquote>lol, yes, every night I cry myself to sleep =p  I actually really enjoy my class.  We bring a lot to the table, but certainly not overpowering.  I would say one of the healers would duo better with the ranger, but I've duo'd successfully with rangers plenty of times though.  Screw it... be a dirge man!  We rock!

[jmik]

All your insights have helped me a lot. Thanks all. I think I’ve eliminated dirge as an option. It seems to be a really great class for grouping, but it strikes me that it’d be a bit passive at least until later in the game. I’d be helping the group by virtue of being there and having my songs up, but less so by actually participating in the fights. I could be off base there though. Unfortunately, a few of the above posters have peaked my interest in druids. Also, totally independent from everyone’s advice, the warlock has gained my attention as well. They’re very bewitching (I’m sorry for typing that).   So it seems the inquisitor is more of a traditional heal style, good buffs, can take a hit and can do very nice melee damage when AAed out. But it also seems that in most group situations it might be a choice between damage and healing. Hard group, heal and buff. Easy group buff and dps. Am I right?   The mystic can also do good damage when speced right, but not as much as the inquisitor can achieve it seems. Warding is quite different than actual healing, but I’d imagine would create a good “cushion” of time to buff, debuff and dps rather than having to react to the group taking damage by actively healing as much. Plus, spears make me smile.   The druids spot heal and top people’s health off like no body’s business, but might have trouble if a 2 pull becomes a 5 pull. They seem like scooters – they can get you around well without costing a lot in gas, but if you absolutely have to get across town in 5 minutes they might let you down. Plus ports, damage without the needs for AAs and invis/evac make then very solo friendly. But they’re EVERYWHERE. Like cockroaches I tell you…   Now the warlock can blow things to kingdom come, especially groups, but are truly a glass cannon. I have no real experience with a cloth caster so I’d have to get used to it. I get the feeling they’re always welcome but always have to rein themselves in so as not to steal agro? They can also port, which is cool. But being pretty much straight dps, are they easily replaceable by another class? Is anyone ever specifically looking for a lock?     Thanks again guys for the feedback.

[azekah]

Hehe... Well I can honestly say I've never seen lfwarlock on any chat channel...but...Warlocks are definitely a welcome class. You are 100% right about the aggro problems though. Warlocks, probably more than any class, have big issues with taking aggro from the tank. Mostly because they have so many encouter and area of effect damage spells. Some tanks have problems holding aggro from grouped mobs, though if you are warlock, count yourself lucky if you find a good zerker to group with. They have top notch ability to hold group aggro, even from a stubborn warlock who likes to die a lot. In any case if you go with the warlock I think you will enjoy it. You actually see the mobs hp drop significantly from your efforts...but plan to go down a lot as if you do get aggro...your goin down quick! You can also solo with a warlock...again plan on dying a lot, but with a root/nuke combo you can take out a lot of stuff before it even gets to you...that is, if the root isn't resisted : D As per inq doing more dps than a mystic? Not so sure...but I've never played an inq... And about the group situations, your on the right track. If your tank is losing lots of hp you might spend all your time warding/healing and not have time for anything else. If you see that the tank is doin ok w/out your undivided attention than yea, you can throw in dome dps/debuffs...but unlike the warlock it will be harder to notice your effects, especially if the mobs are going down in 10-15 secs... IMHO I would say try the warlock, fury, and mystic...they each play very differently and I think you will enjoy each. Who knows, you may even devolop altitis and start making one of every class. Don't be afraid to have lots of characters... <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />