Are defilers like shamans from EQ1?

[Aqualisk]

I'm a new player to EQ 2 and I'm having a little trouble choosing what priest class I want to try.I've been playing as a necromancer right now and it's pretty fun. I like the utility and solo friendliness of the class. Currently my healer is a fury. I've enjoyed it a lot so far. Being able to nuke and heal is a nice change from standard heal-boting in MMO's. But I find I sort of miss my shaman from EQ1 and I'm just wondering how similar the Defiler is to the old EQ1 shaman. I played a shaman main in EQ 1 and became pretty attached to my class. I liked having a pet, even if it wasn't the greatest, being able to a take a couple hits, and having some nice buff/debuffs with a few powerful DoT's thrown in. Can I expect the same from a defiler? Or are they another branch of healer type?

[Cadori Seraphim]

While there are similarities I would have to say the answer to your question is no.The pet, for starters this thing cant take a hit worth a crap.. the only way this thing is even worthy of being summoned is if you spec down the STR line and use it for the enhancements it brings to you and your group.Healing... I think Defilers are the best healers in the game.. (I am partial and this is highly debatable depending on your perspective) and are a highly sought after class for raiding as they are always stuck in the MT group.DPS.... Defilers dont really do squat for dps.. this is their biggest weakness.. Though I am sure if geared and specced right they can do decent..  (though Mystic would be better for dps then Defiler)EQ1 plays so much different then EQ2 it really is hard to compare.. you may as well expect this to be a completely different game.. other then the continuing lore.

[Fuury]

<p>The pet is weak, that is both for the Mystic and Defiler.</p><p>As for DPS you can turn your spells into combat arts(melee) for the Mystic for more damage.  Personally I did not like the long pauses inbetween while I was waiting for the attacks to refresh, I find going down the INT line for a Defiler can bring you some ok dps and the fights a little more interesting. (Just my play style).</p>

[Virulence]

<p>there is no bigger shock in terms of how they play than a EQ1 shaman --->EQ2 defiler especially in terms of soloing. </p><p>Personally if you were a hardcore shaman from EQ1, EQ2 versions will be a big disappointment. The mindset of the 2 are totally different.</p>

[Sedenten]

<p>Things that defilers have that EQ1 shamans have that mystics do not have:</p><p>Cannibalize</p><p>Hmm, I think that's about it.  I always considered defilers more like the EQ1 shamans than mystics purely due to the fact we get canni.</p>

[Memmoch]

mystic's get torpor...

[Besual]

<cite>Memmoch wrote:</cite><blockquote>mystic's get torpor...</blockquote>And avatar...

[Isinofre]

Though both EQ2 Defilers and Mystics are shamen, neither will ever be the soloing machine that EQ1 Shaman were.  Their true calling in this game is in ward/debuffing with a bit of healing on the side.  They do NOT heal well, though Defilers can ward like no one's business.  Mystics can actually buff/heal better than Defilers, but they do not have the power regen capabilities that Defilers have nor the ability to break their group free of stun/stifle/etc the way a Defiler can.  In all, of all the EQ2 sub-classes, these two are quite wonderfully balanced with pros and cons for each that make them fairly equal.  Choosing between the two will have everything to do with your particular play style and/or role playing preferences, rather than if one is better at something than the other.