Any EQ2 veteran that can tell me a bit about the Warden?

[Weewolf]

<div>Hi! There is no secret that I am new to EQ2 and before I finalize my class selection I want to know a bit more about the Druid (Warden and Fury) since I already have the Cleric/Shaman covered. I am a group-player that never solo so DPS means nothing to me; - what I want is a good support-class that lives and dies for the group. I heard that the Fury has much DPS and thus I am not so interested of it and lean more towards the Warden.</div><div>Here are my questions:</div><div> </div><div><font color="#66ff00">1. What are the key differences between the Warden and the Fury regarding grouping?2. What is the strength and weakness for the Warden according to your own opinion?3. The Cleric has reactive heals, the Shamans have Wards and the Druids have HOT's - please tell me more about them.4. If you where forced to select another healer over your Warden to play who would you select and why?5. Try to act "salesman" for your Warden (or Fury) and tell me why I should play one myself over a Cleric or Shaman (it's just for fun so do feel free to joke around).</font></div><div>The very best regards</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><font color="#33ccff">P.S.</font></div><div><font color="#33ccff"></font> </div><div><font color="#33ccff">Please post a image of your Warden (or Fury) that is scaled/zoomed on him/her only (to avoid them huge long loading time images) as its great for me to get a "feel" on the class... oh, if you have any image of your animal-form please post it too.</font></div><div> </div>

[Arielle Nightshade]

<div></div><div>....'scuse me if I'm a bit suspicious about your motives posting the same kind of thread on 4 different forums <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />   Just calling attention to that before the normally helpful Warden community does your market research for you <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div><div> </div><div>Blessings on your 'new warden'...welcome to the Pack if you decide to go that way <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div><p>Message Edited by Arielle Nightshade on <span class="date_text">01-29-2006</span><span class="time_text">01:02 PM</span></p>

[Golembes]

<div></div><p>1.  Furies add more DPS to the group while Wardens are more defensive.  Otherwise they are very similar.</p><p>2.  We are good reliable healers for long fights.  Excellent power buffs.  The downside is we don't get many debuffing spells and none of our buffs except the Aspect line are too extraordinary.</p><p>3.  Heals X damage every 2 seconds for 10 seconds.  I'd say they are on par with the other classes special heals as far as effectiveness.</p><p>4.  A Fury because I like druids and they seem to have spells that make up for (what I see as) the weakness of Wardens.</p><p><b>All of the Warden's forms and particle effects. Also pictures with a robe, vest, and horse.</b><img src="http://h1.ripway.com/EolRaiding/Warden/wardenpics.JPG"></p><p><b>Meditating under my summoned tree.</b><img src="http://h1.ripway.com/EolRaiding/Warden/wardenpic2.JPG"></p><p><b>In a battle against a sand giant with my wolves</b><img src="http://h1.ripway.com/EolRaiding/Warden/wardenbattle.jpg"></p>

[SunDra]

1. We have a WIS + Power buff. Furies have an INT + Power buff. We can evac the group (takes the members to a safe spot in the zone) while a Fury brings group invisibility to the party.2. Weaknesses: In my opinion, being the defensive minded variation of the Druid, we could use some adjustment in terms of relative power when compared to other Priests.. this includes heals, buffs, and damage spells. With that being said, those are not issues which detract personally from my gameplay. I am still able to perform my assigned role in a group or in a raid.3. The inherent weaknesses of HoTs vs Wards and Reactives is well documented in the debates in this forum. However, I am still fond of HoTs as a means of healing. I'd take HoTs vs Reactives any day of the week as a matter of personal preference. Wards.. I like them, but I picked Druid over Shaman for a reason, and the HoT vs. Wards issue factored into that choice (I created my Warden at release, by the way, so this was not after I had seen which heals were considered more 'powerful'.)4. Hmm, well, I would go Warden again, if that tells you anything. If I had to pick a 2nd Priest subclass to pursue it would likely be either Mystic or Fury (in fact I do have a low leveled Fury, but leveling 2 Druids is not something I opted to focus on.)5. Other than issues with relative power vs. other Priests I have no issues at all with my Warden. Why should you play a Warden over a Cleric type? Roll one, you'll either discover that answer very quickly, or you'll enjoy it.. and if so, congrats <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I'll conclude by saying that the rarity of the Warden subclass is also something I have come to appreciate. On my server Wardens are one of the more rare healing subclasses, and that is perfectly fine with me.<div></div>

[Weewolf]

<div></div><p><font color="#ffffff">Thanks a lot for the images, hehe, you cover all aspects and the wolfs look very cool. Now I have gathered almost enough feedback so I can "level" my priest class tomorrow to either Druid/Cleric or Shaman. :smileyhappy:</font></p><p><font color="#ffffff">The very best regards</font></p><p><font color="#ffffff">P.S.</font></p><p><font color="#ffffff">Arielle Nightshade, I love your wonderful insight to my above described dilemma, feel free to answer my post too or upload a image of your Warden. :smileytongue:</font></p>

[spudAn]

<div></div><p>The only other difference IMO between warden and fury is that Wardens have a root, furies don't.</p><p>Friend of mine is a 55 Fury and often bemoans the fact that we have a root - very useful i've found though it takes us "longer" to kill things, just means we can root and blat, reduces damage we take, obviously. "If it can't touch ya, it can't hurt ya"</p>

[Catkin]

It's worth mentioning that Furies get group invis, while Wardens get evac <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Catkin60 Warden/60 ProvisionerFabulae Marrii, Blackburrow

[Dragonreal]

<blockquote><hr>Catkin wrote:It's worth mentioning that Furies get group invis, while Wardens get evac <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Catkin60 Warden/60 ProvisionerFabulae Marrii, Blackburrow<hr></blockquote>Our actual equivalent going by lvl to their grp invis is duststorm =P and their actual evac equivalent is pact of the cheetah (1s cast, 5 min recast, 36s duration, +56% in-combat run-speed on the grp at ad3 and can be cast while running)

[Spag]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>Dragonrealms wrote:<blockquote><hr>Catkin wrote:It's worth mentioning that Furies get group invis, while Wardens get evac <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Catkin60 Warden/60 ProvisionerFabulae Marrii, Blackburrow<hr></blockquote>Our actual equivalent going by lvl to their grp invis is duststorm =P and their actual evac equivalent is pact of the cheetah (1s cast, 5 min recast, 36s duration, +56% in-combat run-speed on the grp at ad3 and can be cast while running)<hr></blockquote>Heh a do it yourself evac.

[Lopan13]

<font color="#66ff00"><font color="#ffffff">1. Warden macho n sexy. We'z take on da trait o da wolfies n protect da woods by scarin all da lil peeple out dat wuud do it harm. We'z use da fear dat da woods create ta aide our allies, makin spikey coats, fillin da ogur with Chloro, given da wisdom o da forest ta help dem help us. Just cuz we'z shine in a pack, nar mean we'z weak when alone. Me'z send chills down joo spine, n freeze joo in joo tracks.Da lil furies are mean lil buggahs, but me'z tink dat nar make dem sexy... just mean.2. Me'z strength is dat me'z Troll, n dat make me'z tall n sexah. oh fer da warden... Strength is dat we'z kin run fast, so it make it easier ta catch da lil fat halfies dat wander too close to da woods. Weakness is dat dere nar enough halfies!3. Me'z heal, but it take time ta git da full effect. dat guud cuz it take dem time ta fight. so me'z healz do guud job in keepin up wit what's goin on. N dey all stack on top o each other, so if joo da ogur takin da hits, joo feel all healthy.4. If me'z had ta choose another priest me'z prolly play a warden. Me'z like wut me'z do.5. Joo shuud make fat lil halfie... FATTER da betta' n win joo folks tell joo ta nar go in dem woods, dun lissen to dem. Dere nuthin scary in dere. Me'z make it qwik fer joo... n dem yum, HALFIE PIE!!!in conklusion, halfies taste guud.</font></font><div></div>

[Tob]

<div><div>It's pretty simple the way to boils down.  </div><div> </div><div>Fury have a little better damage, debuffs, and AoE attacks.</div><div> </div><div>Warden have a little better mitigation, single roots, and AoE roots.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Do you want control or power?  Defensive or Offensive? </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Remember that with a Druid you have nukes and heals.  Thats good but remember that you also use the same about of power as both a mage AND a cleric.  And despite a large power pool you WILL run out VERY fast if you use your power in moderation. </div><div> </div><div>It's simple.</div><div> </div><div>A fighter is limited by his lack of nukes but has the armor and health to survive a nasty fight.</div><div>A mage is limited by his lack of health but has the damage to kill things before they kill him.</div><div>A scout is limited by his lack of health and armor but as the damage and the stealth/speed to survive the same as the others.</div><div>A cleric is limited by lack of damage by has the healing power and armor to stay alive just like the others.</div><div> </div><div>The hybrid-like classes are the same. </div><div> </div><div>Brawlers have better dps and avoidance but lack the armor and mitigation skills of other fighters.</div><div>Enchanters have stuns, mezes, and temp pets but lack the damage of other mages.</div><div>Rouges have a large lack of dps but have very good stun and debuff skills,</div><div>Druids have much better damage than most priests but they lack the armor and quickly run out of power when forced to heal and do damage.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>The basis for the classes is fine.  Some individual skills are lacking on some classes though.  As you probably already read on this board the Warden Heirophantic Genesis skill is exetremely situational and of little to no use in standard gameplay while the Fury equivalent is very useable.   There are a few low level skills that Fury get that are pretty much useless to them as well (IE snare) that while they translate into better skills for Warden they have no use as a Fury.</div><div> </div><div>Stuff like that will be sorted out but as for the BIG questions.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>1.  See above</div><div>2.  See above</div><div>3.  Ask a shaman.   HoT are a finesse.  You have to know when to fire them to keep the tank and the group regening so they don't die and you don't run out of power as the AoE HoT's take LOTS of power to use.</div><div>4. I wouldn't play a healer.  I would move to Mage.</div><div>5. Can't. you have to pick based on your play-style.  Druid are their own animal.  Jacks of all trades but masters of none.  We can nuke and heal but just spamming attacks and heals with no concern for moderation will leave you out of power within 5 attacks and dead.  If you want to spam nukes roll a warlock/wizard.  If you want to spam heals roll a cleric.  You can't do either with Druid, you have to be calm in a fight and strategic with power use.  An excellent on their feet strategist will be able to solo a LOT of things and will be excellent in PvP.  Someone rolling into a druid because they got beaten by one will quit before 30 because of how hard the class is to adjust to.  It's not "uber", it's not "overpowered", if you play one you'll find out.</div></div>

[MaldekTM]

<div></div><img src="http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/6420/malleknagafen8qy.jpg">