Toe-to-toe Solo Survivability, PVE (slow soloing OK)

[Ash2k]

Hi all,<p>I wondered if anyone had some recommendations for me on a new alt to play solo PVE.</p><p>I'm currently playing an illusionist and enjoying it quite a bit - I think I've taken a total of like 25 points of damage in 15 levels. I.e., mobs are mezzed, rooted, dazed, blasted and dead before they even get close. Lots of fun so far.</p><p>But I was wondering about a change of pace character to play solo for variety's sake. I thought it would be fun to try the opposite route - toe-to-toe mixing it up with the bad guys. In particular, I think it would be fun to go for total survivability, so I was thinking about either a Templar or Paladin. I know both have a reputation as slow soloers - that's ok. </p><p>Is one or the other dramatically more effective on its own? </p><p>Would either be able to solo a zone that the other class couldn't?</p><p>I really do prefer to play a good side character, but if it's the case that SK or Inquisitor is night and day better at a similar style of solo play, that would be good to know.</p><p>Thanks for any light you can shed on the comparison.</p>

[Seidhkona]

I'd say Paladin or Inquisitor. The Inquisitor has that battle-healer spec that lets them do more damage.

[Mychel]

<p>Never done a Paladin, but I can say a well played SK can Solo amazingly well, with the reactive heals and lifetaps.</p><p>though the most fun I've had in quite sometime is a Bruiser alt, its amazing to me how fast he can kill stuff, might wan tto consider a monk or a bruiser as well, there Self heals are vey few and far between, but better than nothing, and rarely needed.</p>

[StormQueen]

<p>I love my Inquisitor.  Spec those AAs to Battle Cleric, Melee Crits, and Steadfast, have a good time beating down those mobs.  </p><p>I also have a Paladin, my first character; she is good but I think the Inquis outsolos her by a decent margin.</p>

[ke'la]

Another good Toe to Toe Class is the 2 Rouges, Swash and Brig. Both can handle them selfs very well toe to toe and with the Walk the Plank AA and thier stun, they really don't have to worry about getting into position for thier Back/side attacks.While they don't have thier own heals, they can buy them. On mine I have the Imbued Armor Piece that procs a heal, I use the Vampiric Pith Adornment that Procs a life tap, and I use the Vitality Breach Poision(available at lvl 50+) wich also procs a life tap. With all of those active, plus the 2 other poisions I can have active(I use Stupifiing and Gracelessness when solo) I rarly have issues in a toe to toe fight.

[evilgamer]

<p>Brawlers, rogues, crusaders, and inq all solo effectively going toe to toe.</p><p>Templars are a pain to solo.</p>

[gatrm]

Any of the melee healers (warden, mystic, inquisitor) put AAs in the respective battle lines and you have CAs instead of spells- and the heals of a healer.  Warden has the lowest dps of the three, but the best roots (1 single target, 1 encounter) in the game (enhanceable via AAs) if things get dicey and you get adds.  Mystic probably has the best dps of the three and nice debuffs.  Inquisitor has the best mitigation but requires a whole lot more AA points before they can solo effectively.

[Finora]

<p>Warden/mystic/inquistor would all be dandy. They can be a wee bit slow to start out with, due to requireing the aa's to get up to full speed, but aa's come very quickly with all the quests available a low levels and mobs won't be THAT hard to begin with. I personally have a melee mystic and a melee warden. Not tried an inquisitor yet as SOE hasn't given us more character slots and I haven't rolled one up on a euro server yet hehe.</p><p>SK/paladin would work well likely for you. I enjoyed the pally I made as a test of leveling up in basically a vacuum. I LOVE soloing with my little SK (only lvl 20 atm). Monks are good as well. Bruisers probably would be decent too.</p>

[Ash2k]

Thanks for all the input, everyone.I went ahead and started a Paladin.  So far so good, especially in terms of handling groups and adds.  But, of course, I'm still still in the low levels.  Based on all of this I may give one of those Battle-specced healers a try too, just to compare.  I feel like Warden and Inquisitor come up more often as suggestions for solo, but the Mystic is sort of appealing to me RP-wise.Anyway, thanks again.

[Mirrian]

I would go for Mystic, mine is a fairly slow killer, thou not too bad if I really try, and has amazing survivability between the wards and the heals they can take a lot of damage before it starts to show.

[Elebu]

<cite>Ash2k wrote:</cite><blockquote>Thanks for all the input, everyone.I went ahead and started a Paladin.  So far so good, especially in terms of handling groups and adds.  But, of course, I'm still still in the low levels.  Based on all of this I may give one of those Battle-specced healers a try too, just to compare.  I feel like Warden and Inquisitor come up more often as suggestions for solo, but the Mystic is sort of appealing to me RP-wise.Anyway, thanks again.</blockquote><p>Very wise choice!  You're just a betrayal away from the really fun class, the SK <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /></p><p>As far as soloing with this badboy, he routinely takes on multiple orange ^, ^^ type mobs (groups of them are fine) and just piles up the carnage, usually ending with full health tho perhaps a bit deplete in power (but there are all manner of ways to deal with power drain!!).</p><p>Glad you found something that is fun to play for you since after all the advice, that's what really matters.</p><p>PS - I've actually combat-xp locked this guy from time to time because I don't like having to keep buying him his x2 MC armor every couple of days as he levels WAY too fast  /wink</p>

[Milaevo]

I have found for fun toe-to-toe fighting and close fights, I enjoy the Paladin and Mystic (once they get the AA for a combat spec, otherwise I despise healers). Bards are also fun if you don't mind the very slow grind past 50 when solo'ing, with a bard solo can be a challenge but i can be done.

[Karlen]

Add Defiler to the list.  I just turned 48 in lesser faydark, and I need to fight level 55-56 mobs if I want any sort of challenge (at least one on one).  I don't even bother casting my ward for anything 54 or less as I don't really take damage from them (what damage I do take is mitigated by my buffs and 70 health regen).  I have mostly adept IIIs and level 42 mastercrafted armor.Several level 51 mobs at once will warrant casting a ward.   My first death in about 10-15 levels just came from a 56 fight when I got a 56 add.  I have never casted my instawards (just noticed a few minutes ago that I have them) and haven't ever bothered summoning the pet dog (never really liked him with my mystic), so it's possible I could have survived the fight if I had made more of an effort.I have 46 AAs and they are all in the AGI and INT Shaman trees.