Returning Player -- Need Help with Class Decision

[Nikta]

<p>Hey guys,</p><p>I would have posted this in "New Players", but apparently I can't make a new topic there, or even reply to others. Hm. Anyhow, I've been playing on and off since November of 04 and have never really gotten very far in the game (Pipsy on AB is actually my highest character) and I think thats because I've never really played a class that suited me.</p><p>After playing a ton of MMOs, I've finally found that I seem to associate best with a melee-based healer of sorts. If you've ever played Age of Conan, the Bear Shaman class was my favorite class that I've found in any game that I've played and I've played the majority of them.</p><p>So, I've kind of narrowed down my class selection to three choices which would be Inquisitor, Mystic & Defiler. I have tried all of the "rogue-classes", I've tried a Wizard, I've tried a Shadow Knight, but none of them resonate well with me. Perhaps a healing class will suit me better.</p><p>So, my question is, which of those solo's the best as I tend to solo more especially in the lower levels, can they all get groups effectively, and are all three considered decent if I decide to raid towards end game?</p><p>Any insight would be great.</p><p>Thanks,</p><p>Pip</p>

[Yimway]

<p>Inquisitor</p><p>Its the best of the melee priests hands down.  Has the best survivability of all the melee priests as well as the highest dps potential.</p><p>It would be hard for me to imagine an arguement for any of the other priests to have as much soloability.</p>

[urgthock]

<p><cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Inquisitor</p><p>Its the best of the melee priests hands down.  Has the best survivability of all the melee priests as well as the highest dps potential.</p><p>It would be hard for me to imagine an arguement for any of the other priests to have as much soloability.</p></blockquote><p>I would say that the mystic is actually very close if not equal on survivability, due to debuffs and on average higher stamina and agility due to buffs, although the mystic has a slightly lower dps potential due to AA differences (stupid pet buffs).</p><p>Armor could/would matter greatly in a comparison between the two as there are different stats and effects on the different types of gear, although they can usually wear the same jewelry. Overall though I would say they are very close.</p><p>Both mystics and inquisitors are very welcome on raids and groups and rarely have a problem getting some action.</p>

[Yimway]

<p><cite>urgthock wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Inquisitor</p><p>Its the best of the melee priests hands down.  Has the best survivability of all the melee priests as well as the highest dps potential.</p><p>It would be hard for me to imagine an arguement for any of the other priests to have as much soloability.</p></blockquote><p>I would say that the mystic is actually very close if not equal on survivability, due to debuffs and on average higher stamina and agility due to buffs, although the mystic has a slightly lower dps potential due to AA differences (stupid pet buffs).</p><p>Armor could/would matter greatly in a comparison between the two as there are different stats and effects on the different types of gear, although they can usually wear the same jewelry. Overall though I would say they are very close.</p><p>Both mystics and inquisitors are very welcome on raids and groups and rarely have a problem getting some action.</p></blockquote><p>Plate vs chain mitigation is a dealbreaker for me if you compair their survivability.</p><p>It was trivial for my inq to kill even con ^^^'s.  My defiler or mystic that task was quite a challenge if not impossible.</p>

[Nikta]

<p>I appreciate both of your replies. I believe Inquisitor is the way I'll go then. It seems to me, that it may be the best bet I have in actually enjoying the game for the first time in so many years. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I've tried so many of the other classes and I've truly just never found one that fit, but I've never healed in this game, so perhaps that is the way to go.</p><p>We shall see!</p><p>Thanks again. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Eugam]

<p>Playing both, mystic and warden at 80. Warden since 4.5 years, mystic since like 2.5 years. And the warden has much higher survivability then the mystic. Slow cast is interrupt, is death. The warden also suvives extremly long fights where the mystic goes oom and dies.</p><p>That said i d like to say both are fun, else i wouldnt play them both <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Jasuo]

<p>defiler with deadly bane warding</p>

[Yimway]

<p><cite>Eugam wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Playing both, mystic and warden at 80. Warden since 4.5 years, mystic since like 2.5 years. And the warden has much higher survivability then the mystic. Slow cast is interrupt, is death. The warden also suvives extremly long fights where the mystic goes oom and dies.</p><p>That said i d like to say both are fun, else i wouldnt play them both <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>Luckily clerics get steadfast and are un-interuptable.  Yet another reason inqs are the most OP of the priests for solo play.</p>

[urgthock]

<p><cite>Jasuo wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>defiler or mystic with deadly bane warding</p></blockquote><p>Fixed!</p>

[Lethe5683]

<p><cite>Pipsy@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>So, I've kind of narrowed down my class selection to three choices which would be Inquisitor, Mystic & Defiler. I have tried all of the "rogue-classes", I've tried a Wizard, I've tried a Shadow Knight, but none of them resonate well with me. Perhaps a healing class will suit me better.</p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #993366;">Any reason that you did not include wardens?</span></p><p><cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Plate vs chain mitigation is a dealbreaker for me if you compair their survivability.</p><p>It was trivial for my inq to kill even con ^^^'s.  My defiler or mystic that task was quite a challenge if not impossible.</p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #993366;">That has absolutly <em>nothing</em> to due with armor type.</span></p>

[MrWolfie]

<p><cite>Eugam wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Playing both, mystic and warden at 80. Warden since 4.5 years, mystic since like 2.5 years. And the warden has much higher survivability then the mystic. Slow cast is interrupt, is death. The warden also suvives extremly long fights where the mystic goes oom and dies.</p><p>That said i d like to say both are fun, else i wouldnt play them both <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>I agree, a melee specced Warden is much more suited to soloing than any of the other classes the OP mentioned.</p>

[Torri]

<p>Looking at it over the entire leveling and gearing up life of a character I'd have to say Warden. I'm open to the discussion that when maxed out in level/AA/raid gear that may change.</p><p>Wardens wear leather armor, but have a self buff that boosts your mitigation up to chain wearer levels.</p><p>Wardens get the highest modification on your run speed buffs of any Priest.</p><p>Wardens get the ability to open portals for faster travel (Yes, there are still places beside the Guild Hall where people want a port).</p><p>Wardens get the best roots in the game. Get into real trouble you can root enemies and get out of range.</p><p>Somewhere in the level 26-28 range you get the buff Instinct which boosts your weapon skills signifigantly. I know Inquisitor and Mystic can get 100% Melee crit vs. 75% for a Warden, but that doesn't really help when you swing and miss, which both do more often than my Warden does.</p><p>At 39 Wardens get evac. It all goes south, get out of jail free.</p>

[urgthock]

<p><cite>Aemm@Splitpaw wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Eugam wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Playing both, mystic and warden at 80. Warden since 4.5 years, mystic since like 2.5 years. And the warden has much higher survivability then the mystic. Slow cast is interrupt, is death. The warden also suvives extremly long fights where the mystic goes oom and dies.</p><p>That said i d like to say both are fun, else i wouldnt play them both <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>I agree, a melee specced Warden is much more suited to soloing than any of the other classes the OP mentioned.</p></blockquote><p>I play all three mystic, warden and templar. The tempar usually has to drop a reactive buff before pulling and make sure to put healing fate on the mob to be able to chain solo; kills relatively quick. The mystic pulls with haze and goes to town. Never has to heal or ward or anything, not even prewards (thank you dogdog and rune buff); kills very fast. The warden almost always has to stop DPSing to drop a heal or 2 during the fight. Kills the slowest of the 3. All 3 are equally geared, AA'ed and have myths.</p>

[TheSpin]

<p><cite>urgthock wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Aemm@Splitpaw wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Eugam wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Playing both, mystic and warden at 80. Warden since 4.5 years, mystic since like 2.5 years. And the warden has much higher survivability then the mystic. Slow cast is interrupt, is death. The warden also suvives extremly long fights where the mystic goes oom and dies.</p><p>That said i d like to say both are fun, else i wouldnt play them both <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>I agree, a melee specced Warden is much more suited to soloing than any of the other classes the OP mentioned.</p></blockquote><p>I play all three mystic, warden and templar. The tempar usually has to drop a reactive buff before pulling and make sure to put healing fate on the mob to be able to chain solo; kills relatively quick. The mystic pulls with haze and goes to town. Never has to heal or ward or anything, not even prewards (thank you dogdog and rune buff); kills very fast. The warden almost always has to stop DPSing to drop a heal or 2 during the fight. Kills the slowest of the 3. All 3 are equally geared, AA'ed and have myths.</p></blockquote><p>Inquisitor is a lot different than the templar though... you may wanna start out with a reactive on yourself, but with the flurry proc and the crazy auto attack inquisitor can put out, you can kill the mob in just a few swings.</p>

[Torri]

<p><cite>urgthock wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Aemm@Splitpaw wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Eugam wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Playing both, mystic and warden at 80. Warden since 4.5 years, mystic since like 2.5 years. And the warden has much higher survivability then the mystic. Slow cast is interrupt, is death. The warden also suvives extremly long fights where the mystic goes oom and dies.</p><p>That said i d like to say both are fun, else i wouldnt play them both <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>I agree, a melee specced Warden is much more suited to soloing than any of the other classes the OP mentioned.</p></blockquote><p>I play all three mystic, warden and templar. The tempar usually has to drop a reactive buff before pulling and make sure to put healing fate on the mob to be able to chain solo; kills relatively quick. The mystic pulls with haze and goes to town. Never has to heal or ward or anything, not even prewards (thank you dogdog and rune buff); kills very fast. The warden almost always has to stop DPSing to drop a heal or 2 during the fight. Kills the slowest of the 3. All 3 are equally geared, AA'ed and have myths.</p></blockquote><p>It's easy enough to cast a heal between auto-attack swings so it's not actually losing any DPS if you do it right. I'm not soloing with my Mythical though, I'm soloing with my Thex Mallet or some other huge 2-hander.</p>

[Lethe5683]

<p><cite>Torri@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Looking at it over the entire leveling and gearing up life of a character I'd have to say Warden. I'm open to the discussion that when maxed out in level/AA/raid gear that may change.</p><p>Wardens wear leather armor, but have a self buff that boosts your mitigation up to chain wearer levels.</p><p>Wardens get the highest modification on your run speed buffs of any Priest.</p><p>Wardens get the ability to open portals for faster travel (Yes, there are still places beside the Guild Hall where people want a port).</p><p>Wardens get the best roots in the game. Get into real trouble you can root enemies and get out of range.</p><p>Somewhere in the level 26-28 range you get the buff Instinct which boosts your weapon skills signifigantly. I know Inquisitor and Mystic can get 100% Melee crit vs. 75% for a Warden, but that doesn't really help when you swing and miss, which both do more often than my Warden does.</p><p>At 39 Wardens get evac. It all goes south, get out of jail free.</p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #993366;">I agree, my warden can solo <em>any</em> solo mob easily and even some equal level heroics.</span></p>

[Nikta]

<p>Okay, well... I had no idea that the Wardens were melee healers, actually. My friend just discussed that with me in game and now I'm wondering if I just wasted time leveling my character to 21, lol.</p><p>Let me ask this however. There was chat going on this morning and people were talking about Wardens not getting into end game raids and what not, that they weren't as good a healer as <enter other class here> and that no one usually takes them.</p><p>Is this the case? I mean, I love melee healers more then anything, I really enjoy them a lot, but I do not want to [Removed for Content] myself by picking a class that can't in fact go to end game raids as well.</p><p>Definitely need to be able to solo too, but as Lethe just said, she can solo anything, so if thats the case, that is good for me. <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Yimway]

<p><cite>Pipsy@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Okay, well... I had no idea that the Wardens were melee healers, actually. My friend just discussed that with me in game and now I'm wondering if I just wasted time leveling my character to 21, lol.</p><p>Let me ask this however. There was chat going on this morning and people were talking about Wardens not getting into end game raids and what not, that they weren't as good a healer as and that no one usually takes them.</p><p>Is this the case? I mean, I love melee healers more then anything, I really enjoy them a lot, but I do not want to [Removed for Content] myself by picking a class that can't in fact go to end game raids as well.</p><p>Definitely need to be able to solo too, but as Lethe just said, she can solo anything, so if thats the case, that is good for me. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>I've got a mythed warden, fury, mystic, defiler, and inquisitor.  I've done the melee spec on the 3 that have them and I'm quite confident the inquisitor is the best in both dps and survivability between the 3.</p><p>Furthermore, I'm quite confident the additional cures afforded the inquisitor via their mythical also makes them the most OP healer in game in regards to raiding as well, as such they're in high demand.</p><p>There is a tremendous player stigma in regards to wardens, and no matter how good a healer or dps you are or are not, your burdoning yourself with having to change player perception to be respected playing the class.</p>

[Torri]

<p>Sadly Atan has a point when it comes to the reputation of Druids in general. You can overcome it but it will take work.</p>

[Lethe5683]

<p><cite>Pipsy@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Okay, well... I had no idea that the Wardens were melee healers, actually. My friend just discussed that with me in game and now I'm wondering if I just wasted time leveling my character to 21, lol.</p><p>Let me ask this however. There was chat going on this morning and people were talking about Wardens not getting into end game raids and what not, that they weren't as good a healer as and that no one usually takes them.</p><p>Is this the case? I mean, I love melee healers more then anything, I really enjoy them a lot, but I do not want to [Removed for Content] myself by picking a class that can't in fact go to end game raids as well.</p><p>Definitely need to be able to solo too, but as Lethe just said, she can solo anything, so if thats the case, that is good for me. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #993366;">Right now they are a bit disadvantaged to other healers because of mobs hitting so hard that HoTs just can't keep up sometimes.  I heard rumors of this being changed in the expansion though so that HoTs will add up into a temporary ward if the target is at full hp.</span></p>

[Lethe5683]

<p><cite>Torri@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Sadly Atan has a point when it comes to the reputation of Druids in general. You can overcome it but it will take work.</p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #993366;">Yeah but you're the best warden I have ever grouped with. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></span></p>

[Bjerde]

<p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Pipsy@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="color: #00ccff;">Right now they are a bit disadvantaged to other healers because of mobs hitting so hard that HoTs just can't keep up sometimes.  I heard rumors of this being changed in the expansion though so that HoTs will add up into a temporary ward if the target is at full hp.</span></p></blockquote><p>Good thing wardens get instant heals too ^.^</p><p>It isn't that Wardens can't heal, they have the potential to heal a ton....as much as any other healer if not more. The problem in raids is in heal mechanics. Wards trump reactives which trump regens.</p><p>Regens sit on the bottom and are used last. As a Templar I see my reacitves wasted a lot, and regens have it even worse. Throw a Warden into a big ae fight and watch them heal. They will do very well.</p><p>In the expansion they do get some help (now that the nda is lifted) they get an additional group cure, and on the Sylvan Bloom line, there is a ward that procs when regen is done. Starts as a 500 ward, and you can put aa's into it to increase the ward.</p><p>On the group regen line, there is a dmg absorption component that will absorb .25% of incoming damage when the regen is up. This can be increased to over 1% with AA's.</p><p>The Inquisitor has traditionally been the dps healer, and can crank out the most dps (at least in previous expansion) and I am not sure what is happening with them in the exp pack. With the Wardens getting the extra group cure, Inquis will  will have cure competition for that raid spot.</p>

[Lethe5683]

<p><cite>Odinn@Blackburrow wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Pipsy@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="color: #00ccff;">Right now they are a bit disadvantaged to other healers because of mobs hitting so hard that HoTs just can't keep up sometimes.  I heard rumors of this being changed in the expansion though so that HoTs will add up into a temporary ward if the target is at full hp.</span></p></blockquote><p>Good thing wardens get instant heals too ^.^</p><p>It isn't that Wardens can't heal, they have the potential to heal a ton....as much as any other healer if not more. The problem in raids is in heal mechanics. Wards trump reactives which trump regens.</p><p>Regens sit on the bottom and are used last. As a Templar I see my reacitves wasted a lot, and regens have it even worse. Throw a Warden into a big ae fight and watch them heal. They will do very well.</p><p>In the expansion they do get some help (now that the nda is lifted) they get an additional group cure, and on the Sylvan Bloom line, there is a ward that procs when regen is done. Starts as a 500 ward, and you can put aa's into it to increase the ward.</p><p>On the group regen line, there is a dmg absorption component that will absorb .25% of incoming damage when the regen is up. This can be increased to over 1% with AA's.</p><p>The Inquisitor has traditionally been the dps healer, and can crank out the most dps (at least in previous expansion) and I am not sure what is happening with them in the exp pack. With the Wardens getting the extra group cure, Inquis will  will have cure competition for that raid spot.</p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #993366;">But sylvan bloom sucks... <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e78feac27fa924c4d0ad6cf5819f3554.gif" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="color: #993366;">Those fixes seem pretty darn weak...</span></p>

[Torri]

<p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Odinn@Blackburrow wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Pipsy@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="color: #00ccff;">Right now they are a bit disadvantaged to other healers because of mobs hitting so hard that HoTs just can't keep up sometimes.  I heard rumors of this being changed in the expansion though so that HoTs will add up into a temporary ward if the target is at full hp.</span></p></blockquote><p>Good thing wardens get instant heals too ^.^</p><p>It isn't that Wardens can't heal, they have the potential to heal a ton....as much as any other healer if not more. The problem in raids is in heal mechanics. Wards trump reactives which trump regens.</p><p>Regens sit on the bottom and are used last. As a Templar I see my reacitves wasted a lot, and regens have it even worse. Throw a Warden into a big ae fight and watch them heal. They will do very well.</p><p>In the expansion they do get some help (now that the nda is lifted) they get an additional group cure, and on the Sylvan Bloom line, there is a ward that procs when regen is done. Starts as a 500 ward, and you can put aa's into it to increase the ward.</p><p>On the group regen line, there is a dmg absorption component that will absorb .25% of incoming damage when the regen is up. This can be increased to over 1% with AA's.</p><p>The Inquisitor has traditionally been the dps healer, and can crank out the most dps (at least in previous expansion) and I am not sure what is happening with them in the exp pack. With the Wardens getting the extra group cure, Inquis will  will have cure competition for that raid spot.</p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #993366;">But sylvan bloom sucks... <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e78feac27fa924c4d0ad6cf5819f3554.gif" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="color: #993366;">Those fixes seem pretty darn weak...</span></p></blockquote><p>/cheer Akodia <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" /></p><p>It's not so much that Sylvan Bloom, or any other heal sucks but the fact it and all our other heals are worthless if our heal targets are dead. That issue has been addressed somewhat with a boost to our HP buffs to bring them into the same ballpark unmodified as Shaman and Clerics. Due to the mechanics of healing as stated above in a Raid situation, when whittling down a raid's healing power to boost DPS as encounters are learned Druids were always the first ones on the chopping block in the high end/WW 1st goal oriented forces. No one can help a party recover from damage like a Warden, but it'll always be better to absorb that damage instead of having to heal it. On paper the changes overall seem to at least put us in the ballpark to where a highly skilled Druid may keep a spot over a less skilled Shaman/Cleric or have the tools not to be asked to re-roll as one of those, but time will tell.</p><p>On a totally unrelated note, you'll love Instinct even more now</p>

[Lethe5683]

<p><cite>Torri@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Odinn@Blackburrow wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Lethe5683 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Pipsy@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote></blockquote><p><span style="color: #00ccff;">Right now they are a bit disadvantaged to other healers because of mobs hitting so hard that HoTs just can't keep up sometimes.  I heard rumors of this being changed in the expansion though so that HoTs will add up into a temporary ward if the target is at full hp.</span></p></blockquote><p>Good thing wardens get instant heals too ^.^</p><p>It isn't that Wardens can't heal, they have the potential to heal a ton....as much as any other healer if not more. The problem in raids is in heal mechanics. Wards trump reactives which trump regens.</p><p>Regens sit on the bottom and are used last. As a Templar I see my reacitves wasted a lot, and regens have it even worse. Throw a Warden into a big ae fight and watch them heal. They will do very well.</p><p>In the expansion they do get some help (now that the nda is lifted) they get an additional group cure, and on the Sylvan Bloom line, there is a ward that procs when regen is done. Starts as a 500 ward, and you can put aa's into it to increase the ward.</p><p>On the group regen line, there is a dmg absorption component that will absorb .25% of incoming damage when the regen is up. This can be increased to over 1% with AA's.</p><p>The Inquisitor has traditionally been the dps healer, and can crank out the most dps (at least in previous expansion) and I am not sure what is happening with them in the exp pack. With the Wardens getting the extra group cure, Inquis will  will have cure competition for that raid spot.</p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #993366;">But sylvan bloom sucks... <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e78feac27fa924c4d0ad6cf5819f3554.gif" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="color: #993366;">Those fixes seem pretty darn weak...</span></p></blockquote><p>/cheer Akodia <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" /></p><p>It's not so much that Sylvan Bloom, or any other heal sucks but the fact it and all our other heals are worthless if our heal targets are dead. That issue has been addressed somewhat with a boost to our HP buffs to bring them into the same ballpark unmodified as Shaman and Clerics. Due to the mechanics of healing as stated above in a Raid situation, when whittling down a raid's healing power to boost DPS as encounters are learned Druids were always the first ones on the chopping block in the high end/WW 1st goal oriented forces. No one can help a party recover from damage like a Warden, but it'll always be better to absorb that damage instead of having to heal it. On paper the changes overall seem to at least put us in the ballpark to where a highly skilled Druid may keep a spot over a less skilled Shaman/Cleric or have the tools not to be asked to re-roll as one of those, but time will tell.</p><p>On a totally unrelated note, you'll love Instinct even more now</p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #993366;">How did you know who I was? <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span></p><p><span style="color: #993366;">What's changing with instinct?</span></p>

[Birna]

<p>Personaly I think a melee specced warden is the class that most resembles a Bear Shaman. (I have a lvl 80 BS in AoC)</p>