Yet another "Which class"..

[Yezra]

<p>Hopefully this is the right forums...</p><p>I'm having trouble deciding between some classes. Shadowknight, Bruiser, Wizard and Mystic.</p><p>I solo a lot, but I'd also like to be able to be useful in end-game grouping--I prefer tanking and healing to DPSing.</p><p>So, more specifically: can bruisers tank epic mobs, seeing that they're avoidance tanks? Do wizards have any AoEs? (I know they're not as good at AoEing as warlocks, but can they handle encounters?)  And how well do Mystics solo?</p>

[LardLord]

<p><cite>kemekien wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>So, more specifically: can bruisers tank epic mobs, seeing that they're avoidance tanks? Do wizards have any AoEs? (I know they're not as good at AoEing as warlocks, but can they handle encounters?)  And how well do Mystics solo?</p></blockquote><p>1) Bruisers can tank epics.2) Wizards can do good AE DPS relative to every class except Warlock.3) Mystics solo very well.</p>

[Novusod]

<p>Note: Bruisers "can" epics but only the most skilled and best geared bruisers get the chance to tank. Generally the bruiser class is considered undesirable in end game raiding and groups.</p>

[erin]

<p><cite>Quabi@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>kemekien wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>So, more specifically: can bruisers tank epic mobs, seeing that they're avoidance tanks? Do wizards have any AoEs? (I know they're not as good at AoEing as warlocks, but can they handle encounters?)  And how well do Mystics solo?</p></blockquote><p>1) Bruisers can tank epics.2) Wizards can do good AE DPS relative to every class except Warlock.3) Mystics solo very well.</p></blockquote><p>3) disagree.  Mystics can solo but its only somewhat faster than a templar soloing.  Its sloooow.</p>

[Edith]

<p><cite>erin wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>3) disagree.  Mystics can solo but its only somewhat faster than a templar soloing.  Its sloooow.</p></blockquote><p>3) Disagree.  A mystic can solo very, very nicely, though you must spec  and gear for it.</p>

[Dareena]

<p>Well I might as well go class by class...</p><p><strong>Shadowknight</strong> - Early on in TSO, this expansion was nicknamed The Shadowknight Odessey.  At least until the next expansion, SK is a power house class.  They've got amazing AE dps and great aggro control.  If you're going for just Heroic tanking, it's a great choice.  However if you're looking to raid, this may be a poor choice.  Most raid guilds only have 2-3 tank slots and it's hard for new tanks to get added to their ranks.</p><p><strong>Bruiser</strong> - I like my bruiser.  It's a lot of fun soloing and duoing.  But honestly...  Right now brawlers don't have a real place.  If you're very geared out, you can easily dps like a scout.  However in this role, you'll lack enough -1 Threat deaggros.  As a result, a highly geared dps brawler can easily rip aggro from a less geared tank.  And if you're looking to tank...  Well most brawlers are dps'ers these days.  These brawlers don't know how to tank and even if they did, most people would prefer a plate tank.  Once the new expansion comes out, this limbo state may change.  But right now, they really don't have a clear role or generally accepted function.</p><p><strong>Wizard</strong> - Top tier dps classes can always be used.  However the current resist rates have been frustrating some dps casters that I've known.  While the root and nuke style will always work for soloing, some people are of the opinion that you should roll a dps scout instead for Heroic and Raid situations.  (To be more specific, roll an Assassin since they'll always be in season while the current mechanics dev plays one as his main.)  However if you're looking to get into raiding, this would be a decent choice.  These are a lot of slots in raids that are open to dps classes, which gives you a lot of flexibility in finding a home.</p><p><strong>Mystic</strong> - As a melee spec'ing healer, you'll have some solo capability.  Though when compared to dps'ing healers like Fury and Inquisitor, a Mystic will be much slower.  But if you like running a pet class, this would be a good choice as a healer.  (But if you don't like pet classes, this is a poor choice.)  Also while Defiler has the reputation of being the better healing class from a raiding stand point, TSO started to level that playing field.  Warding is a very powerful healing mechanic and is very useful in the TSO era.  Considering this, a mystic will be a valued healer in both Heroic and Raid situations.  Also like the dps classes, there are multiple slots available for healers in a raid.  Therefore you'll have a decent chance of finding a raid guild.</p>

[Seidhkona]

<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Shadowknight</strong></span></p><ul><li>Plate tank, needs STR for autoattack damage and INT for spell damage.</li><li>Currently the best plate tanks out there (subject to the next whirl of the nerf bat)</li><li>Do best when wearing really good armor. I keep my crusaders in mastercrafted devout plate until end game.</li><li>Look for good hex dolls for STR and INT, get a good bow, I suggest an imbued flamberge and imbued kite shield for weapons.</li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Bruiser</strong></span></p><p><cite>kemekien asked:</cite></p><blockquote><p>can bruisers tank epic mobs, seeing that they're avoidance tanks?</p></blockquote><ul><li>It really depends on the epic mob. My raid group has had our bruiser tanking <a href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Thet-em-aua" target="_blank">Thet-Em-Aua</a> a few times... the tank needs crit mit for this fight, but it's no harder as a healer keeping the bruiser standing than it is with a plate tank.</li><li>Brawlers can and do tank mostly for groups. In general, you will have good single-target aggro. Brawlers do not have good AOE or group aggro tools... I think they have one group taunt. When you pull a batch of mobs, your group members need to work with you and let you get aggro. You have to switch targets to taunt and hold aggro solidly.</li><li>Brawlers need lots and lots of STR and AGI then STA. Generally mastercrafted leather armor works very well until you get the good stuff in end game. You can also choose to go empty-handed (no weapon) or equip inexpensive batons or staffs as weapons.</li><li>Brawlers are great soloers. Once you learn to Feign Death (FD) you can sneak in almost anywhere and FD to get aggro off you, then stand up and go on. That maes brawlers really efficient farmers of shinies in dunegons, for example, and fabulous explorers.</li><li>Brawlers have really cool fight animations. Nothin' sexier than a hawt elf babe doing the kung fu moves in <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">pajamas</span> a gi! <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Wizard</strong></span></p><p><cite>kemekien asked:</cite></p> <blockquote><p>Do wizards have any AoEs? (I know they're not as good at AoEing as warlocks, but can they handle encounters?)</p></blockquote> <ul><li>I recommend reading through the <a href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Wizard#Spells_By_Category" target="_blank">Wizard guide at EQ2i</a>. Wizards have some AOE DOTs (damage-over-time) and one good AOE. But mostly your bread-and-butter is HUGE single-target nukes.</li><li>A wizard can handle an encounter with multiple mobs, but it takes practice. Usually you root one, move away from it, then nuke another. You will get an AOE root+stun which is helpful for this sort of thing.</li><li>If you want to play a wizard, you MUST have a sense of humor about dying. You have to be like Daffy Duck... from time to time, you WILL get your bill blown off, and you have to be willing to wipe the gunpoweder out of your eyes, screw your head back on, and try again.<img src="http://www.alexross.com/81122-big.jpg" width="400" height="316" /></li><li>A wizard will do well in mastercrafted cloth armor until end game. You need INT for your spell crits and STA so you can take a hit or two until you get that mob re-rooted! Don't neglect your jewelry, either. WIS will help your resists, AGI helps you dodge some hits, but mostly you are after INT and STA.</li></ul><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Mystic</strong></span></p><p><cite>kemekien asked:</cite></p> <blockquote><p>And how well do Mystics solo?</p></blockquote><ul><li>I *LOVE* my mystic. She's easily the most fun of any of my toons.</li><li>From the moment where you get your first AA point, you will have the shaman dog companion. The dog is a berzerker, it can tank a little (but of course has zero armor) and can be used to pull mobs and help you fight. Subsequent AA I recommend putting into the Stregth line of the Shaman tree (which has cool buffs for your dog) then as soon as you can into the Combat line in the Mystic Tree.</li><li>The Mystic AA Combat line gives you a second version of your various attack spells that is a combat art. These fire much faster than the default version, and if you add in the various melee damage AA enhancers, you can do some very nice close combat damage.</li><li>The key to soloing tough fights with the shaman is to cast your single target ward, your group ward, then debuff the heck out of your foe.</li><li>Groups and raids always like a shaman. A great pairing in a group is a brawler tanking with a shaman healing - the shaman's wards provide the armor the brawler doesn't have!</li></ul>

[Nighrbringer]

<p><cite>Ykiphia1 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>erin wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>3) disagree.  Mystics can solo but its only somewhat faster than a templar soloing.  Its sloooow.</p></blockquote><p>3) Disagree.  A mystic can solo very, very nicely, though you must spec  and gear for it.</p></blockquote><p>Mystics can solo very well indeed if geared and speced for it. Well enough to handle level appropriate heroic content if you are careful and know what you are doing.</p>

[Thunndar316]

<p>My shaman (defiler) solos very well.  He can take down 3 up heroic namers.  However, he does it very slowly <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Aull]

<p>I will comment on the sk and bruiser.</p><p>If looking exclusively for solo then both will be very good choices. Bruiser with faster refreshing feign death will be able to run into places and flop until you get to an area where you need to either harvest, collect, or if the mob is easy enough you can take it out. If mob is to hard just use intimidate and mez the mob then harvest or collect what ever you need if you don't need the mob. Once bruiser gets close mind at lvl 50 or 55 you can run past mobs that root, stifle, snare, ect to get to your destination. Bruiser aa selection is ok, but needs revision.</p><p>For groups in the tso expac will be hard to get. Not that bruisers cannot do this but classes like sk's, paladins, and zerkers are more desirable.</p><p>Sk's can do more than any other tank at this time. Awesome class. They have a feign death ability that they can use on other grouped players as well as their self. It is just on a longer reuse timer. They also get an evac at lvl 44 or 45 that is nice to get out of areas if needed. Sk's with the proper aa's can almost but not quite heal their self and damage the mob(s) they are fighting constantly. Harm touch is also very very handy. They are also possibly the best aoe tank in the game and groups are always willing to have an sk. Best aa selection across the all areas than any other fighter.</p><p>If I did it all over again the sk would be the only fighter I would have rolled.</p><p>Just my opinion.</p>

[arieste]

<p>People are trying to be helpful and sugarcoat things and give you the nice "you can do anything you put your mind to" answers.  </p><p>That's great and it's true.  Then there is reality.</p><p>You said you like to be useful at endgame.  This eliminates the Bruiser.  Yes, some bruiser can do stuff well at endgame, but the vast majority can't and are shunned by guilds.   </p><p>You said you like to tank or heal versus DPS.  This eliminates the Wizard.  Wizards are pure dps.  They do good dps, even with limited skill and gear.  They are one of the easiest classes to play and still get into endgame with.  But you like to TANK or HEAL.</p><p>So this leaves SK and Mystic. </p><p>The choice is, do you want to walk the easy path or the hard path. </p><p>SK is a solid tank.  Great at soloing, great at groups, great at raids.  As any tank, gear plays a massive part and unless you're well geared and VERY GOOD, you'll have a tough time getting into raids.  Simply put - raid guilds already have tanks.  There is no shortage.  You'll have to take someone's job.  If you're up to a massive challenge, pick SK.</p><p>Mystic is a good healer.  Can also solo well compared to other healers.  Healers (and Mystics) are always in demand and even with crap gear you'll be wanted for groups and raids and get lots of opportunity to play.  You'll never be the center of the raid, but you'll be needed and always have a place to go.  If you just want to get out there and get playing and not worry about having to "make the grade", pick mystic.  </p><p>good luck.</p>