Defiler or Mystic first?

[Elesta]

<p>I'm dead set on playing a defiler, and I already have a sarnak to lvl 23 (not high, but I don't enjoy the early levels haha). My question is, is it easier to level as a mystic and then betray to defiler? I don't mind rerolling if it will make it go faster in the long run. I'd also rather be High Elf anyhow, but thats not really that big of a deal.</p><p>Thanks =)</p>

[Tehom]

<p>Yeah, mystics definitely solo better with their melee spec than defilers do. I'd encourage you to level up as a mystic then switch over eventually. At level 80, defilers and mystics have the gap really narrowed because bane warding kind of overwhelms most differences in soloing ability.</p>

[Cragger]

<p>Imho doesn't really narrow the gap just makes it not as painfull and dull to solo. Makes Mystics solo even faster <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>To me though if you really want to excel at a class you should play that class from level 1. Yes there is not much huge variation between mystic and defiler but this way you learn and develop on the sutle differences. Just getting to level cap doesn't make you competent at a class in any form <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Zacarus]

<p><p>If you prefer to be a high elf, reroll.  High elves are better shamans than sarnak anyway, because of safe fall, and ooc power repleneshment.</p><p>I betrayed from mystic @ 77...  solo'ing the defiler is definitely slower.</p><p>However grouping, for me, is better.  Soul Cannibalize ftw.  I rarely run out of power as a defiler.  My $.02 would be, if you're going to level by solo'ing, go mystic then betray.  If you're going to level in a static group, start defiler.</p></p>

[Sedenten]

<p><cite>Striothia@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Imho doesn't really narrow the gap just makes it not as painfull and dull to solo. Makes Mystics solo even faster <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p><p>To me though if you really want to excel at a class you should play that class from level 1. Yes there is not much huge variation between mystic and defiler but this way you learn and develop on the sutle differences. Just getting to level cap doesn't make you competent at a class in any form <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>I fully agree with all of what was said in this quote.  Mystics <strong><em>will be</em></strong> faster to solo with, but if you get to 80 and then betray to defiler you'll find there's a lot of different mechanics you'll need to learn.  Sure, there are some players that will argue the change was smooth and they had no problems relearning the class, but that will not be the case for the majority.  The two shaman only share one single and one group ward (and the debuff Umbral Trap), but are otherwise very different in playstyle.  I would level the defiler from 1 to 80, regardless of how much longer it will take you, just to ensure you fully understand all of the mechanics of the class by the time you get to 80.</p>

[Arielle Nightshade]

<p><cite>Sedenten wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Striothia@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Imho doesn't really narrow the gap just makes it not as painfull and dull to solo. Makes Mystics solo even faster <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p><p>To me though if you really want to excel at a class you should play that class from level 1. Yes there is not much huge variation between mystic and defiler but this way you learn and develop on the sutle differences. Just getting to level cap doesn't make you competent at a class in any form <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>I fully agree with all of what was said in this quote.  Mystics <strong><em>will be</em></strong> faster to solo with, but if you get to 80 and then betray to defiler you'll find there's a lot of different mechanics you'll need to learn.  Sure, there are some players that will argue the change was smooth and they had no problems relearning the class, but that will not be the case for the majority.  The two shaman only share one single and one group ward (and the debuff Umbral Trap), but are otherwise very different in playstyle.  I would level the defiler from 1 to 80, regardless of how much longer it will take you, just to ensure you fully understand all of the mechanics of the class by the time you get to 80.</p></blockquote><p>I agree completely.   If someone handed me a level 80 mystic and said 'play it', after leveling a defiler, I probably could, I just would be missing 3/4ths of what the class could do (probably), and not playing to potential.</p><p>As far as soloing the defiler, I leveled on Defiler to 70 on a pvp server...and always always had a group so it wasn't bad. </p><p>I also have leveled a pve defiler to 74 (at this point)(there's only so many hours in a day..lol) I mostly solo, but have just taken all the aa's that allow me to damage better - still defiler, still getting the benefit of that experience, but killing faster than if I were completely heal spec.  </p><p>It's not 'fast' kills, but it's not bad.  You'd only really hate it if you have any melee or caster dps toons to compare it with, and you'd want to have a heal spec stored in a mirror for groups.</p>

[Elesta]

<p>Honestly, I don't think relearning the differences between defiler and mystic will be much of a problem for me. I've been an mmo healer for 7 years, and I like to think that I catch on to playstyles quickly. I probaly won't switch at 80, I might switch at 70 or something, so that when I hit 80, I'll have caught on to those differences. My problem is *getting* there. I know that after 50, groups are going to be scarce. And I don't want to /wrists over my dismal bottom of the barrel soloing capabilities if I'm forced to. Also, soloing AAs I imagine would be a lot easier as a mystic as well, which is important to me.</p><p>So... I think I'mma make my defiler High Elf =). If for some reason you all are spot on correct, and I never get used to defiler 100%, I'll betray back to mystic lol. I won't be a gimped player if I can help it.</p>

[Cragger]

<p>1. Other game experience rarely translates over into another game. EQ2 is not EQ by any stretch of the imagination in function or mechanics.</p><p>2. Some fundamental class variances come in well before 70.</p><p>3. Its learning whats effective and whats not with the tools a class is given with experience and use.</p><p>4. Really soloing speed doesn't matter anymore and #3 gets robbed from you anyway with how fast they've made it to go from level 1-70. I literally could do that in a weekend if I wanted no sweat. Its 70-80 where you hit the wall, and hit it pretty dang hard I might say.</p><p>5. One bit of advice I'll give any aspiring healer, especially one looking to raid in EQ2. Cure, cure, cure, cure, cure, cure. Use those cures. Another same class healer could put out half the hps of you, but if you don't cure, and aren't speedy about it and they do.... well then their the better and more effective healer in this game and will be taken over you, especially raiding. Most end game raid encounters are beaten through curing then healing, so get use to the curathon whackamole.</p>

[Ishnar]

<p>I don't recommend going mystic just to solo.  If you want to solo better, make an SK or something.  Soloing a mystic to max level, then switching over.  Your lack of defiler skills are the lesser problem, the real problem is your grouping skills will be seriously lacking.  Make some friends and group.</p>

[DravynX]

<p>Defiler's specced and geared properly can kill as fast as anything else, once the AA's are in place. Leveling on a heal specced or low-AA defiler is slow and painful, but a full int/sta specced Defiler with Litany of Combat and a nice 2h can mow through mobs. Tribal Rage + Litany of Combat is win.</p>