Ok, so 24 classes... how do you pick?

[Arayonae]

<p>I played EQ2 way back when it first came out, then dropped it for WoW awhile later.Well I'm back now and ready to roll.  The only problem is the game seems to have changed a lot since I left.</p><p>I played an Enchanter in EQ 1 and love the CC aspect of the class, but with how combat has changed from 1 to 2 I know that mezzes aren't as big of a deal as they used to be.I've got several questions that I hope you guys can help answer:</p><p>1) Are the differences between two of the subclasses (Ranger vs Assassin or Illusionist vs Coercer for example) massive?  Does the role change from one subclass to the other?  In what cases (specific classes please) is the role completely different?</p><p>2) What level do raids start?</p><p>3) Are enchanters needed for CC in raids, or are they just mana batteries and sub-par dps?</p><p>4) Are there any classes that really aren't wanted in a raid, if only because another class does their job much better.</p><p>5) What are the top performing (or most requested) tank/dps/healer/support classes?I know these are pretty general, but I'm really just trying to get a general feel of the game again!</p><p>6) Why does the SoE forum screw with my formatting!?!?!</p>

[StoneySilen]

<cite>Arayonae wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I played EQ2 way back when it first came out, then dropped it for WoW awhile later.Well I'm back now and ready to roll.  The only problem is the game seems to have changed a lot since I left.</p><p>I played an Enchanter in EQ 1 and love the CC aspect of the class, but with how combat has changed from 1 to 2 I know that mezzes aren't as big of a deal as they used to be.I've got several questions that I hope you guys can help answer:</p><p>1) Are the differences between two of the subclasses (Ranger vs Assassin or Illusionist vs Coercer for example) massive?  Does the role change from one subclass to the other?  In what cases (specific classes please) is the role completely different?</p><p> <b>Generally the roles are quite similar, however how they do those roles is the difference.  For example, Troubador's buff the group they are in, Dirges debuff the mobs your fighting.  Rangers do DPS from a distance while Assassins do DPS from behind the mob (melee).  Illusionists get a permanent pet while Coercers charm a pet.  Etc... </b></p><p>2) What level do raids start?</p><p> <b>Raids can start as low as mid-20's I believe.  They are never done though. </b></p><p>3) Are enchanters needed for CC in raids, or are they just mana batteries and sub-par dps?</p><p> <b>Can't answer, don't know.  I would guess Mana batteries. </b></p><p>4) Are there any classes that really aren't wanted in a raid, if only because another class does their job much better.</p><p> <b>Probably Bruisers/Monks because they are basically DPS but there are much better DPS classes out there.  Probably a few others but not sure. </b></p><p>5) What are the top performing (or most requested) tank/dps/healer/support classes?I know these are pretty general, but I'm really just trying to get a general feel of the game again!</p><p> <b>Never been a min/maxer so never paid attention, read that Shamans seem to be the top parsing healers. Guardians are the raid tank although most others can do it too. </b></p><p>6) Why does the SoE forum screw with my formatting!?!?!</p><p><b>Because they like to mess with your mind? :p</b> </p></blockquote>

[Wrapye]

<cite>Arayonae wrote:</cite><blockquote>3) Are enchanters needed for CC in raids, or are they just mana batteries and sub-par dps?</blockquote> There are a few raids where the CC abilities of enchanters come into play (and enchanters are the only ones that can use CC abilities on epics).  More often though is that they provide power regen and buffs to melee classes.  Illusionists, due to the nature of their reactives, are actually pretty good dps.  Coercers are the aggro management experts and have good power management (not just regen) abilities as well.  There is a reason that coercers are in high demand by raid guilds.

[DwarvesR]

Arayonae wrote: <blockquote><p>1) Are the differences between two of the subclasses (Ranger vs Assassin or Illusionist vs Coercer for example) massive?  Does the role change from one subclass to the other?  In what cases (specific classes please) is the role completely different?</p><p><span style="color: #ffff00">I wouldn't say "massive" but they ARE different.  I betrayed an Illusionist to Coercer and had to completely relearn my class. . . and this was in the teens.  I didn't betray my defiler from mystic until 39, and while the "healing and warding" was the same, there were a lot of other differences.</span></p><p><span style="color: #ffff00">However, that said. . it is as the prior poster stated too -- the role is generally the same, it's just "how they do it" that's different.  A troubador makes the casters in his group generate less hate, while the dirge makes his tank generate more hate.  End result -- casters can do more dps without gaining aggro.  Or see the other poster's examples too.</span></p><p>2) What level do raids start?</p><p><span style="color: #ffff00">I've raided as low as level 18, though this was back when the con system was all borked and if you were in a group and the mob wasn't red you didn't bother looking at it.  Nowadays, even the lowest level raid mobs are 25-ish, and they're relatively rare contesteds, so a level 22 would still have a hard time finding a raid.  Most "instance raids" (not counting the possible guild raids you can do for your city registrar) start in the 40's for the "old world" zones, with the most common ones being done anymore in the upper 50's for the DoF zones up through 70 for the KoS and EoF zones</span></p><p>3) Are enchanters needed for CC in raids, or are they just mana batteries and sub-par dps?</p><p><span style="color: #ffff00">Some raids have times where CC helps, but for the most part we buff and put out decent dps.  A coercer in the MT group can keep him and his healers pretty well full mana for a long time, plus the hate buffs help a lot too.  Illusionists in a caster group will dehate the casters plus add a lot of damage via spell procs.  Coercer are more rare, and seem to be more in demand.  I know if I log in on my coercer on a weekend if I don't /anon myself I WILL be getting random invites to raids -- yes, they're that in demand.  I've even seen raid guild offer to pay the IRL server transfer costs of coercers, if they'll switch server to join their guild. . . . . </span></p><p>4) Are there any classes that really aren't wanted in a raid, if only because another class does their job much better.</p><p><span style="color: #ffff00">/agree with the prior poster.  Generally this is the brawlers.  One of my guilds uses a monk as a puller, and in another guild we sometimes have trouble filling 24 slots, so we won't turn a bruiser or monk away even if only just to fill a slot, but generally a "pure dps" class is wanted over the brawler.  Some argue that Shadowknights aren't really needed either, but. . I've been on raids with SK tanks that did just fine, other raids with an SK as the off tank, and he did just fine, etc.  Plus an SK can do some pretty wicked dps to boot.</span></p><p>5) What are the top performing (or most requested) tank/dps/healer/support classes?I know these are pretty general, but I'm really just trying to get a general feel of the game again!</p><p><span style="color: #ffff00">The Berserker is actually the most popular tank class, and serves well as a raid tank.  The guardian is still generally thought of as the "pure tank" though.</span></p><p><span style="color: #ffff00">For dps, generally wizards are thought of as the primary caster.  The assassin or ranger are both considered pretty equal for the scouts.</span></p><p><span style="color: #ffff00">For healers, templars are generally thought to be the "pure" healer, but for a raid, the defiler seems to be the most in demand.</span></p><p><span style="color: #ffff00">For "support" the dirge is generally considered the most in demand, but any support class is kinda rare and sought after.  After all, most of what they do makes everyone else look good, not themselves, so not many players do that.</span></p><p>6) Why does the SoE forum screw with my formatting!?!?!</p><p><span style="color: #ffff00">Yeah, I hate their forum's automatic double-spacing too.</span>  </p></blockquote>

[FlamingDuck]

<p>EQ2 enchanters aren't like EQ1, they're not that important. Really in your normal group you're a power battery and crappy dpser (coercers at least.) CC isn't that important, you'll run into a few fights where its useful but they are honestly far and few between. Having rapid power regen in a group is useful, but you're better off taking along a dirge, which does all our buffing abilities even better. I keep hearing I am wanted in raids, but mezzing only lasts like 1 second in epic mobs, pretty pointless. </p><p>Coercers are a pain imo, and being the least played class in EQ2 shows that. I have been coercer level 11 to 62, and soon going to re-betray back to Illusionist since I felt like I made a big mistake and was in denial. Other classes do what we do better. Illusionists are also alot more fun, with a permernant pet, better dps, and less agony overall.</p>