Extreme Noob Questions:

[Healinglight86]

<p>I have quite a few questions mostly regarding monk/bruiser classes and I was hoping I might get assistance.</p><p><b>Back Story:</b> (Skip if not interested)</p><p>I played EQ from release until the expansion with frogloks. I know that EQ2 isn't identical but it will have some similarities I would assume. I have also played DAOC for 3+ years and WoW for 3+ years. I am bored with all my current games so I decided to pick up EQ2. I have installed it and am waiting for patching to finish (~3 more hours).</p><p><b>Actual questions:</b></p><p>I want to play a brawler class but can't decide which one. </p><p>On one hand there is the monk. If I go with him I'd be good obviously. The main reason I'm considering monk is that I played good races in EQ (Mostly Wood Elfs) and know the Faydark begining areas pretty well. Are they remotly similar to EQ2 or are they completly different? </p><p> Also I was trying to compare the Bruiser to the Monk. The major difference I noticed was one of their buff lines. Monks get an ability that increases Strength and Wisdom where Bruisers get an ability that increases Strength and Agility. I would think that the Bruisers buff is substantially better because Wisdom was always a healer/caster stat. Could someone explain why a monk would want wisdom?</p><p> Crafting:</p><p>I am debating between tailoring and weaponsmithing. In most games weapons make or break a melee character where as casters instead benefit more from having lots of armor with good stats. As someone with no friends and no guild which would benefit me more while leveling up? Weaponsmith or Tailoring?</p><p>In EQ1 AAs wern't available until lator levels and you had to dedicate incomming experience to the AA points. It appears that this is not so with EQ2. I read somewhere that questing is the best way to get AAs. Also I read that you should work on AAs from the begining. How do you level them up? </p><p>Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.</p>

[Quicksilver74]

<p>Wisdom increases your resists.  Agility is more important from the tanking perspective, yet wisdom is more important from the "Stay alive through the next AoE" perspective.  Generally though, most fighter classes don't strive to achieve high wisdom, because bases resists on high end gear is pretty good.  </p><p>  Generally, Bruisers have high damage output and monks have slightly better tanking abilities until you get into the endgame, then bruiser gains a bit of an advantage with the mythical epic weapon.  Monks are currently more desirable in raids do to a very good raid buff, and brusiers aren't really needed at all in raids as they have nothing crucial to bring to a raid.  </p><p>  Grouping though, they truly are very similar in playstyle and flavor.  </p><p>Some highlights:</p><p>  Monks get alot of haste buffs, allowing them to autoattack Much faster than Bruisers</p><p> Monks get Tsunami, a 10-15 second duration 100% riposte buff (not sure on exact duration sorry)</p><p> Monks get Group Feign Death, sometimes pretty usefull.  </p><p> Monks get a heal that can be used on others or self. </p><p> Bruisers get Close Mind, 30 seconds of immunity to ROot, Mez, Stun, Stifle, Daze... all control effects other than charm.   It's really nice.</p><p> Bruisers get Knockout, an amazing temp buff that deals alot of damage after every combat art.</p><p> Bruisers heal has a faster reuse than monks, but is self only. </p><p> Bruisers have slightly less avoidance than monks but a better Mitigation buff.  </p><p> Bruisers gain the ability to fly at lvl 80.</p><p>Ok I lied about the ability to fly... but that would own!</p>

[Dagator]

<p>Generally speaking though, EQ2 classes aren't really that much like EQ1 classes.  I mean like dirges aren't the speed gods like in EQ1 and things like that.  I would suggest you try out a few classes and see what you like since the differences are pretty dramatic.  I mean bruisers and monks can still dps good and have the feign death skill though.  However, if you intend to play end game content, it may be difficult to do so as a bruiser in todays EQ2.  Like I said, try out every class and see what you like....</p><p>Thats what I did, and I have an 80 dirge, 80 coercer, 80 bruiser, 80 ranger and currently leveling up a shadow knight....</p>

[Karlen]

>>>I am debating between tailoring and weaponsmithing. In most games weapons make or break a melee character where as casters instead benefit more from having lots of armor with good stats. As someone with no friends and no guild which would benefit me more while leveling up? Weaponsmith or Tailoring?<<<Both armor and weapons are important.  You only need one or two weapons per tier (each 10 levels is a tier), while you need 6 armor pieces per tier. >>>In EQ1 AAs wern't available until lator levels and you had to dedicate incomming experience to the AA points. It appears that this is not so with EQ2. I read somewhere that questing is the best way to get AAs. Also I read that you should work on AAs from the begining. How do you level them up? <<<You can start getting AAs at level 10.  You can earn AAs from:- quests - killing named monsters (they have a particular name rather than a generic monster type) for the first time- discovering new areas for the first time- getting certain loot for the first timeYou will only get AAs from things that are level 10+ (a level 9 quest won't do it) and occasionally you will run into things that don't give AAs.   Repeatable quests only give AAs the first time.

[Pnaxx]

<p>Really, the tradeskill doesn't matter much if you re in a guild. Thye should make you something free anyway.  Also, you probably will go STR Line til 70's anyway which means no weapon.</p><p>Also, a couple things Crabby forgot.....Bruisers have Mezz and Fear which Monks don't.</p>

[Mordith]

Crabbok gave a great breakdown on the differences between monk and bruiser.  For me, the bruiser is much more fun to play.  My main is an 80 conjy and then I rolled a monk. I had fun with the monk up until level 56 and then decided to create a bruiser.  From a solo standpoint the bruiser was tons more fun if for nothing else than the fact that it seemed I could kill things much faster and also kill tougher mobs.  My bruiser is now level 60 and still going.

[Dorieon]

<p>Pnaxx- monks have a fear as well....but not a mez.</p><p> Crabbok gave a good rundown. Both classes are a blast to play. Currently Monks are more wanted for raiding but both can do a great job as tank or dps in any instance.  </p><p>Roll what sounds more fun to you.....and if you wanna raid later I'm sure bruisers will be more wanted next tier so it doesn't really matter. </p><p>One thing to remember though is not to listen to naysayers (even from within your class) both brawlers are great.</p><p> PS. Crab since you said you didn't know-Tsunami at M1 is 12 sec.</p>

[Quicksilver74]

<cite>Dorieon@Unrest wrote:</cite> <blockquote><p> PS. Crab since you said you didn't know-Tsunami at M1 is 12 sec.</p></blockquote>Thanks

[Errolflynn]

<cite>Crabbok@The Bazaar wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Dorieon@Unrest wrote:</cite> <blockquote><p> PS. Crab since you said you didn't know-Tsunami at M1 is 12 sec.</p></blockquote>Thanks</blockquote>I'm sure it's 12 secs at A3 as well so I'm not sure what the point of the Master is?

[Dorieon]

<p>I hate you for making me check....at Ad3 its 10.5sec. </p><p> I knew it wasn't 12 but why the hell is it 10.5?</p>

[Errolflynn]

Pahh, now I'll have to go and double check mine. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/97ada74b88049a6d50a6ed40898a03d7.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

[Errolflynn]

Yes, you're right Tsunami is 10.5 secs at adept 3. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/47941865eb7bbc2a777305b46cc059a2.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />