What class to make for casual player?

[toby]

Hi all,

It has been a while since I've played, but I have a bit of experience with most classes (some post-Kunark) -- Warrior, Cleric, Shaman, Ranger, Necromancer, Monk all 65. 60's Rogue, Magician, Bard. 50's Wizard, Enchanter, Berserker, Druid. 40's Shadow Knight, Beast Lord... and a 20 something Paladin.

So, I have a fair amount of residual knowledge about each class, but am having trouble deciding what to pick if I'm making just a single character.

I will probably play off and on and not really have a set schedule, so it will be hard for me to find some friends and always have a group to go with. I will probably just go to relevant zones and try to solo some stuff and if people come along that want to join up, great.

That said, it seems like it would be really hard for me to play a class that is dependent on groups like a straight up Warrior or Cleric, or a utility class like an Enchanter. I imagine that if I am stuck without a group, I'd have a really hard time making things work with a class like that.

Question 1) What class do you think can do well on their own, but people would still want in their groups? I can go play a Necromancer to the level cap by myself no problem, but if people come into the zone they might not want a Nec in their group as much as other classes, right?

I sort of also want to play one of the classes I didn't get into as much, like a Shadow Knight or Paladin, but I don't know how useful they were in Kunark era.

Question 2) I come from playing a server that was post-Kunark and Shadow Knights and Paladins weren't that great. Were they any better in Kunark era? Sorry! no offense meant -- remember, I'm trying to maybe play one! :)

So basically, I like playing support classes, but don't want to screw myself over if I have to go solo. If I only have an hour to play and no regular group I level with, I think by the time I group up with people it would be time to go...

Ideas?

Thanks!

Edit: I am probably most interested in rolling a Druid or Shadow Knight this time... any specific thoughts on those around what I mentioned?

[jijii]

bard

support class, good in groups, can solo

[toby]

bard

support class, good in groups, can solo

I've only done Bard as a support class before. Are there any special tactics for soloing?

Also, I was leaning away from Bard as an option since this server has a no assisting program policy. Or is there a way to twist spells easily in game?

[Bantam 1]

I've only done Bard as a support class before. Are there any special tactics for soloing?

Also, I was leaning away from Bard as an option since this server has a no assisting program policy. Or is there a way to twist spells easily in game?

Macro 1 song then another.. repeat a few times for different situations. If you put the delay between them correctly you'll twist pretty well.

[toby]

It seems like Shadow Knight is probably going to be too group dependent also, and I might actually prefer a class where I can boost my own movement speed... just for my sanity if nothing else.

Between Druid and Bard, which do you think is better for soloing and why?

Thanks again for any help!

[Ahldagor]

shaman

[senna]

iksar war

[toby]

If you are providing new class suggestions, can you explain why you think it would be good?

For instance, I don't see how a warrior would be good if I am trying to solo part of the time... can't self-buff speed, can't feign death, can't really escape.

[Varzii]

You sound like a druid

[poofph]

enchanters can solo decently using charm, I play an enchanter on p99, seems to do ok, obviously they do best in a group and getting groups is not to tough for me usually.

[toby]

enchanters can solo decently using charm, I play an enchanter on p99, seems to do ok, obviously they do best in a group and getting groups is not to tough for me usually.

Can you give a little more insight on playing an Enchanter? I only had mine tag along in the group for buffs and Mesmerize before... I see now here http://wiki.project1999.org/Loraen%27s_Class_Selection_Guide that this guy ranks them in the #2 bucket for soloing and says they are better for duos and better in groups.

Isn't their DPS only through charming, really?

[Calibix]

Can you give a little more insight on playing an Enchanter? I only had mine tag along in the group for buffs and Mesmerize before... I see now here http://wiki.project1999.org/Loraen%27s_Class_Selection_Guide that this guy ranks them in the #2 bucket for soloing and says they are better for duos and better in groups.

Isn't their DPS only through charming, really?

Basically, but charmed + haste + DW and your pet will do more dps than a player. Enchanters are solo gods, great in groups if you feel kind enough to grace them with your presence. They are the most gear dependent of the INT casters imo, but being an INT caster your not really that gear dependent.

Shaman, Druid, Necro, Mage are all good choices for what you want as well. I would say Bard as well, but their capabilities are a little odd imo. You can solo just about any mob, but very slowly. But you can swarm for crazy xp as well. I think they perform very well in groups, but only smaller groups. In a full group, the majority of what you do is going to be done better by someone else unless its a really odd composition. You end up in situations a lot where your just twisting songs to buff your already dismal melee dmg to slightly less dismal.

[toby]

Basically, but charmed + haste + DW and your pet will do more dps than a player. Enchanters are solo gods, great in groups if you feel kind enough to grace them with your presence. They are the most gear dependent of the INT casters imo, but being an INT caster your not really that gear dependent.

Shaman, Druid, Necro, Mage are all good choices for what you want as well. I would say Bard as well, but their capabilities are a little odd imo. You can solo just about any mob, but very slowly. But you can swarm for crazy xp as well. I think they perform very well in groups, but only smaller groups. In a full group, the majority of what you do is going to be done better by someone else unless its a really odd composition. You end up in situations a lot where your just twisting songs to buff your already dismal melee dmg to slightly less dismal.

Enchanter sounds interesting since I never really played one like that before. It would be nice being able to play in zones where I don't have to kite -- I don't think any Bard strategies for soloing involve actually _hitting_ anything, right?

What about movement speed? Healing? Is it fine going solo as an Enchanter with those -- just don't get hit?

Thanks!

[myriverse]

If you are providing new class suggestions, can you explain why you think it would be good?

For instance, I don't see how a warrior would be good if I am trying to solo part of the time... can't self-buff speed, can't feign death, can't really escape.
Mind you, my warriors are only in their 20s, but I've had zero problem soloing them. My schedule means I cannot really ever group. Cheap weapons and armour are easy to come by, and there's usually some kind fellow around to buff.

[Coriolis]

If you want to be loved in groups, and be great at soloing (especially at higher levels) I would go with a shaman.

That being said enchanter charm duoing is pretty awesome. Definitely takes a bit more planning and focus, but I love it.

[Laugher]

Ench might be cool, they are always a good compliment to any grp with a healer haha. I made my second drood ever here and its been fun too, soloing gets awesome around 34 with ensare and of course you can heal which will get you the grps. On this server its kind of a money maker to be one cz of ports too:)

[toby]

If you want to be loved in groups, and be great at soloing (especially at higher levels) I would go with a shaman.

That being said enchanter charm duoing is pretty awesome. Definitely takes a bit more planning and focus, but I love it.

I liked how self sustaining my Shaman was before (heal, SoW, cani, etc), but I always found it took forever to kill things. That was also one of my earliest, classes, though, so it has been a long time since I played one... Is that true? Or can a Shaman level up pretty quickly on their own if need be?

[Tasslehofp99]

I would go with druid, they can solo/group and porting makes for time saved when you just want to hop on and play for a short time. They are decent classes for starting off as folks will pay plat regularly for ports and druid gear for the most part is inexpensive.


If you want more of a challenge and worry aboutgroups passing on a druid try enchanter imo. They are harder to level at lowe levels than a druid and setting a chanter up I'm good gear is expensive though. However at higher levels your potential for income and group invites is way higher.

[MaksimMazor]

Rogue 4 shur