Cant decide between Zerker and Guard

[Feldr]

<DIV>Looking for a little insight here...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I play a 38 Wizard as my main, and I have a 23 Defiler also.  Now am intersted in doing the tank thing, but I am torn between Guardian and Berserker.  From what I have read they both tank "kinda" the same, but Guardians are more of a defensive role (less dps) and a Berserker is more of an offensive role (more dps).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now my questions are:</DIV> <DIV>1.  Those of you that play a Guard, is it boring to not have as much "utlilty" as Berserkers, and be doing less dps?</DIV> <DIV>2.  Is it a bad idea to roll a Guard with the rumored nerf coming?</DIV> <DIV>3.  Is it tougher to find a group as a Guardian? OR is it tougher to find a group as a Berserker?</DIV> <DIV>4.  How is the solo ability of these classes in comparison?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm on the fence here, lemme know some thoughts plz!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any other opinions or advice about rolling a Guardian / Berserker is welcome, thanks!</DIV>

[ChristopherK]

Roll a warrior, Get to 19 and wait to see what happens. If nothing changes, I would say guardian if your end game focus is to be up front in raids (only thing to do at 50) When I play my healer (level 49), I don't pass up a beserk as the MT in a group. In a raid, it's the guardian with MAX everything he can have. <div></div>

[sidgb]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Feldrin wrote:<BR> <DIV>Looking for a little insight here...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I play a 38 Wizard as my main, and I have a 23 Defiler also.  Now am intersted in doing the tank thing, but I am torn between Guardian and Berserker.  From what I have read they both tank "kinda" the same, but Guardians are more of a defensive role (less dps) and a Berserker is more of an offensive role (more dps).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now my questions are:</DIV> <DIV>1.  Those of you that play a Guard, is it boring to not have as much "utlilty" as Berserkers, and be doing less dps?</DIV> <DIV>2.  Is it a bad idea to roll a Guard with the rumored nerf coming?</DIV> <DIV>3.  Is it tougher to find a group as a Guardian? OR is it tougher to find a group as a Berserker?</DIV> <DIV>4.  How is the solo ability of these classes in comparison?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm on the fence here, lemme know some thoughts plz!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any other opinions or advice about rolling a Guardian / Berserker is welcome, thanks!</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>1. Guardian is boring if you are in a utility role.</P> <P>2. I would take a wait and see if I were you. If other fighters catch up in tanking ability Zerker is the way to go because Guardian will be as useful as a 3rd small toe.</P> <P>3. If group already has a tank you will only get pity invites from friends and such.</P> <P>4. Guardian solo ability sucks. My templar solos better.</P><p>Message Edited by sidgb on <span class=date_text>03-25-2005</span> <span class=time_text>03:44 PM</span>

[Hastur Bloodwa]

sidgb obviously has no idea how to play a guard.  One of my characters is a 37 guard and solo's 80% of the time, with absolutely no problems. I NEVER have problems getting into a group when I feel like it, I get cold invites all the time. Soloing is fine; recently in a group I jumped into in Zek, the berserker in the group  died twice while I didn't die at all, so that I ended up being MT. I have a berserker in FP, and I honestly prefer to play my Q guard. <div></div>

[Mouadieb]

I agree I have no trouble soloing with my 30 guardian. It all depends on your gear and skills and how you play your class. I am however saddened to see my brother in law at 27 soloing the same level 33 mobs that I am at 30 and not taking as much damage. He claims he doesn't even need to use his ward or heals to do it and I am in pristine feyiron Vanguard and he is in AQ.  I know many guards that got bored because lets face it, it is a boring class and they switched to zerker. Those same people got just as bored and switched to a healer and never play there meele classes anymore.  I myself play a healer and a ranger and my guard and tradeskill so it helps some but I also have a conjuror and if you really want to see boring, try one of those. <div></div>

[CherobylJ]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Feldrin wrote:<BR> <DIV>Looking for a little insight here...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I play a 38 Wizard as my main, and I have a 23 Defiler also.  Now am intersted in doing the tank thing, but I am torn between Guardian and Berserker.  From what I have read they both tank "kinda" the same, but Guardians are more of a defensive role (less dps) and a Berserker is more of an offensive role (more dps).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now my questions are:</DIV> <DIV>1.  Those of you that play a Guard, is it boring to not have as much "utlilty" as Berserkers, and be doing less dps?</DIV> <DIV>2.  Is it a bad idea to roll a Guard with the rumored nerf coming?</DIV> <DIV>3.  Is it tougher to find a group as a Guardian? OR is it tougher to find a group as a Berserker?</DIV> <DIV>4.  How is the solo ability of these classes in comparison?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm on the fence here, lemme know some thoughts plz!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any other opinions or advice about rolling a Guardian / Berserker is welcome, thanks!</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>3. It is not really hard at all finding a group as either class (especially if you make the group).  Our base armor mitigation is roughly the same (the difference in that Guard spell abilities focus on defense and Bers on offense).  Bers have an edge in raw agro and dps, Guards shield better and have debuffs that help alot against tougher mobs.  The later attribute really helps Guards in the end game.</P> <P>4. Bers is a solid good solo class.  But I have also seen talented Guards tank pretty much anything I can so I'd say they are pretty balnaced in that respect as well.</P> <P>I cant comment on the poster who said a Bers died 2x to themselves, it could be they were playing like a fool or were wearing mid level 20s quest armor at 35 (see this with frightening regularity).<BR></P>

[Neph]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Feldrin wrote:<BR> <DIV>Looking for a little insight here...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I play a 38 Wizard as my main, and I have a 23 Defiler also.  Now am intersted in doing the tank thing, but I am torn between Guardian and Berserker.  From what I have read they both tank "kinda" the same, but Guardians are more of a defensive role (less dps) and a Berserker is more of an offensive role (more dps).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now my questions are:</DIV> <DIV>1.  Those of you that play a Guard, is it boring to not have as much "utlilty" as Berserkers, and be doing less dps?</DIV> <DIV>2.  Is it a bad idea to roll a Guard with the rumored nerf coming?</DIV> <DIV>3.  Is it tougher to find a group as a Guardian? OR is it tougher to find a group as a Berserker?</DIV> <DIV>4.  How is the solo ability of these classes in comparison?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm on the fence here, lemme know some thoughts plz!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any other opinions or advice about rolling a Guardian / Berserker is welcome, thanks!</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>25 Guardian, married to a Templar.  My take follows:</P> <P>1) Not for me - Zerker DPS is nice, but I don't get penix envy over it.  </P> <P>2) Depends on why you want to be a Guardian. The level 19 suggestion is a good one, IMAO </P> <P>3) Dunno, I;ve never played a Zerker, and I'm married to my healer.  Tank + healer = instant group.</P> <P>4) So far I solo pretty well when I have to, but I haven't played a Zerker, so can't comment on relative strength,<BR></P> <DIV>My general advice is, if you don't know what you want, we sure as heck can't tell you.  Play the character that resonates with your soul, and don't sweat the other consideration.  But then, I'm wierd, I played a Shadowknight in EQ1 <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[-Aonein-]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Feldrin wrote:<BR> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now my questions are:</DIV> <DIV>1.  Those of you that play a Guard, is it boring to not have as much "utlilty" as Berserkers, and be doing less dps?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Berserkers and Guardians in the same armor at the same level, non buffed have the exact same base mitigation. Utility is both the same, but Guardians are Defensive Utility and Berserkers are Offensive Utility, meaning we buff a groups Offensive skills to increase there Attack ratings, and a small group Haste buff. Berserkers themselves get a self haste buff + Berserk which is what makes us DPS better. Where a Guardian can add to Defensive skills + add more HP to a group then a Berserker can. So the choice is basically Guard = Defense / HP or Berserker = Offense / Haste ( Bare in mind the group haste we get is only 9%, nothing real huge, but its not bad, stacks with other forms of self haste and spell haste ).</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2.  Is it a bad idea to roll a Guard with the rumored nerf coming?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Probally, id wait and see what happnes personally, no one really knows yet.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3.  Is it tougher to find a group as a Guardian? OR is it tougher to find a group as a Berserker?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>Well, since you are talking from a group point of view, all the Fighter archetype is well balanced reguarding group and small raids. When tanking you will sacrafice DPS to be a suffcient tank for a group.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4.  How is the solo ability of these classes in comparison?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>In a solo point of view, the best Defense is a Strong Offense, so id more then likely say that Berserker can solo not better, but just faster because of Berserk + Self haste = Kill faster, a Guardian can still solo just fine. Keep in mind, you wont get the self haste buff till your late 30's, level 37 to be exact. So you have to put in some decent crunch time to get it. Guardians also have a few single target debuff combat arts which are very useful in both solo and group, also a few AoE debuffs also, which are very handy against group mobs.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'm on the fence here, lemme know some thoughts plz!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ffff00>The main thing to remeber, any Fighter class can fill a Tank role in a group and raid, just Guardians Self buffs give them the edge for a trade off in DPS, where a Berserker is a middle man, not the best at Tanking but decent and not the best at DPS with in the Fighter archtype but decent. Just remeber one thing, reguardless of which one you chose, dont expect to get in a group to be DPS or group utility. Its Main Tank or LFG / Solo.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any other opinions or advice about rolling a Guardian / Berserker is welcome, thanks!</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>Taemek Frozenberg 45th Berserker<BR>16th Outfitter<BR>Blood and Ice<BR>Everfrost Server<BR><BR>Enlightened Aonein Amillion ( retired )<BR>70th Stone Fist of The Celestial Fist<BR>Five Rings on Luclin Server</DIV>

[sidgb]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Hastur Bloodwake wrote:<BR>sidgb obviously has no idea how to play a guard.  One of my characters is a 37 guard and solo's 80% of the time, with absolutely no problems. I NEVER have problems getting into a group when I feel like it, I get cold invites all the time. Soloing is fine; recently in a group I jumped into in Zek, the berserker in the group  died twice while I didn't die at all, so that I ended up being MT. I have a berserker in FP, and I honestly prefer to play my Q guard.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>Yep, you solo's 80% of the time. Groups sure are looking easy to get.</P> <P>You got invited to a group where the existing tank died all the time. Big surprise. Cold invites from unknown people building exp groups to a group with a quality tank already there? Maybe once in a blue moon.</P> <P>I can solo, it just sucks compared to my cleric. On my Guardian it takes forever to kill stuff that gives decent exp not to mention the regen time.</P> <P>Reading comprehension is your friend, you didn't even rebut my comments directly and managed to contradict yourself.</P> <P>If it helps any, I still love playing my guardian though. I actually play my Templar more because of our guild need for healers.</P><p>Message Edited by sidgb on <span class=date_text>03-27-2005</span> <span class=time_text>11:36 PM</span>