Good duo?

[tanknspank]

Originally Posted by Daywolf [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

For groups? One is healing while the other is doing DD's, DS' ,buffs and heal assists. It only sucks when one drui refuses to team with the second in pugs to split duties (I've seen this happen).(

Sure they can work together and split duties but it's a lot harder to get into groups because you need to find a group with 2+ spots that are can/want to take 2 druids. From a group's pov they can get a lot more from clr+dru or shm+dru. Also they may have 2 openings but require/want specific abilities (tank, CC, mana regen, lockpick, etc). A dru + something else will fit in with a lot more groups.

Originally Posted by rgostic [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Your best bet is convincing your friend to not play a druid. They're pretty awful, and there isn't anything unique they bring to the table.

While I agree with you about rolling an enc (probably my top pairing for dru), I think druids are excellent first-timer characters. They can let you experience very many ways to play (healing, caster DPS, root-rot, fear-kite, charming, quad-kite) and have a lot of tools that make life easier for a new player (sow, ports, invis, forage, track) combined with low gear needs.

Originally Posted by Daywolf [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Nah they do fine with a drui actually. I mean compared to like what, ranger??? hahahaa.... er but um not bad especially with DS added, str buff, heals seem to go a long way if fighting undead etc.

I would say dru/pal is the bottom choice as far as dru + tank duos unless you're planning to stick solely to undead. Dru+SK takes less damage as they can fear-kite, so druid can apply more DPS (pet and dots help a little too). Dru+War benefits from higher DPS, can fear-kite animals or can aggro-kite with the warrior zerking for extra DPS.

[Daywolf]

Originally Posted by tanknspank [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Sure they can work together and split duties but it's a lot harder to get into groups because you need to find a group with 2+ spots that are can/want to take 2 druids. From a group's pov they can get a lot more from clr+dru or shm+dru. Also they may have 2 openings but require/want specific abilities (tank, CC, mana regen, lockpick, etc). A dru + something else will fit in with a lot more groups.

Hmmm... I've never had an issue with having two healers in a group, one on main healing and the other a backup healer. Three healers, no, but two, depends on who and where. In a game where groups are begging to have just even one healer. Well... maybe two clerics if not fighting undead, that's probably not so good. But I've been in plenty of groups with two druids, as well as two clerics in other groups, wouldn't be hard to get into my group.

Yeah, Pally's fight undead. Just like my cleric, pretty much I just hunt undead especially when soloing. Plenty of undead around in this game lol. Post PoP this could be a problem, but not in this era nor the expansion to come. Pally + Drui, in so many ways an excellent match such as for tower of frozen shadow.

But still, like I mentioned, drui does well in most any duo. And I don't see any serious problem with two in a group, though depending on the group and local and if the drui's are actually working together. After all, this isn't live where you could have 1000 people just in one zone let alone just 1000 at peak in the whole game. Be happy if you have a full group.

[tanknspank]

Originally Posted by Daywolf [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Hmmm... I've never had an issue with having two healers in a group, one on main healing and the other a backup healer. Three healers, no, but two, depends on who and where. In a game where groups are begging to have just even one healer. Well... maybe two clerics if not fighting undead, that's probably not so good. But I've been in plenty of groups with two druids, as well as two clerics in other groups, wouldn't be hard to get into my group.

Me either, I've had plenty of 2 healer groups (even 2 clerics). If you're making the group from scratch, that's easy. But that depends on having a free popular camp or people willing to travel to some out of the way place.

When it comes down to getting into existing groups it limits the likelihood. An existing group might have some extra spots (they've been 3-4 manning), but is likely to already have 1 healer in there (and not want 3). Otherwise you need a group that's losing either their solo healer + 1 non-specific slot or one losing both of their healers at the same time.

[Daywolf]

Originally Posted by tanknspank [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Me either, I've had plenty of 2 healer groups (even 2 clerics). If you're making the group from scratch, that's easy. But that depends on having a free popular camp or people willing to travel to some out of the way place.

When it comes down to getting into existing groups it limits the likelihood. An existing group might have some extra spots (they've been 3-4 manning), but is likely to already have 1 healer in there (and not want 3). Otherwise you need a group that's losing either their solo healer + 1 non-specific slot or one losing both of their healers at the same time.

Yeah, but you do know (and I'm sure you do) druids and clerics are not just healer slaves, right? [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]
I know it may be a shock to some people... well, quite a few, but they [druids] sometimes specialize in other things rather than healz or petz. I don't see them as generic and interchangeable, myself, but recognize that druids have strengths and weaknesses depending on their specializations (I've experimented with two side-by-side before - on a different server of course).

But, I covered that in a previous post in this thread. If going this rout, there are ways to match specialization depending on whether you prefer to add more to groups or more to the duo.

For clerics, I'd be fine with the whole group being clerics, depending on the situation and if they are not geared to be your typical heal-bot. Could work for druids too, but most being evo druids.

[Zeaol]

Originally Posted by Daywolf [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Yeah, but you do know (and I'm sure you do) druids and clerics are not just healer slaves, right? [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]
I know it may be a shock to some people... well, quite a few, but they [druids] sometimes specialize in other things rather than healz or petz. I don't see them as generic and interchangeable, myself, but recognize that druids have strengths and weaknesses depending on their specializations (I've experimented with two side-by-side before - on a different server of course).

But, I covered that in a previous post in this thread. If going this rout, there are ways to match specialization depending on whether you prefer to add more to groups or more to the duo.

For clerics, I'd be fine with the whole group being clerics, depending on the situation and if they are not geared to be your typical heal-bot. Could work for druids too, but most being evo druids.

What druids? ...
What other things do druids specialize in? ...
Grrrr, stupid broken quest text! [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[tanknspank]

Originally Posted by Daywolf [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Yeah, but you do know (and I'm sure you do) druids and clerics are not just healer slaves, right? [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]
I know it may be a shock to some people... well, quite a few, but they [druids] sometimes specialize in other things rather than healz or petz.

That is not the general attitude of pick-up groups, however. And I've yet to see one that cared to ask beforehand about specialization or if a druid intends to charm or any such thing.

Getting into an existing group generally comes down to it needing healing, DPS or utility (sow/ports/harmony). If it needs a lot of healing it'll favor a cleric+other or generally 2 different priests. For DPS other classes are far more favored than druids (rogue, mage, etc). And for utility there's no need of the second druid.

Am I saying a 2 druid duo can't ever get in groups? No. But they'll have a harder time of it than most other pairings.

[Daywolf]

Originally Posted by tanknspank [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

That is not the general attitude of pick-up groups, however. And I've yet to see one that cared to ask beforehand about specialization or if a druid intends to charm or any such thing.

Getting into an existing group generally comes down to it needing healing, DPS or utility (sow/ports/harmony). If it needs a lot of healing it'll favor a cleric+other or generally 2 different priests. For DPS other classes are far more favored than druids (rogue, mage, etc). And for utility there's no need of the second druid.

Am I saying a 2 druid duo can't ever get in groups? No. But they'll have a harder time of it than most other pairings.

Which is why I suggested alteration for working with a duo or group. I already have that covered if you read my posts. As for other classes, read the OP, he is asking what would work with "druid". Choice should be whatever he wants to play, every class works with a druid in a duo, even if a second druid. And depending on playstyle, that can as well be a really nice duo, as well as for working in groups, especially when bringing a duo into a group as opposed to a straight random pug. Really, for leveling, they would level faster mostly sticking to such a duo, many groups would just slow them down. Same with druid + nec imo.

Anyway, like I mentioned from the start, it may not be a good idea to just turn his friend into a pure heal-bot. Pugs can suck for the druid class. Wind up doing way too much healing while brainless pugs let the healer get killed from heal aggro. Even in a duo, imo it's just not nice to make someone med and heal day after day, endlessly. And I doubt that is what his friend has in mind for why he wants to play a druid. And that is why I favor drui + drui, very nice duo without someone getting stuck with boring labor. Even with my cleric in a duo, or even solo, I much rather gear to go toe to toe with mobs, lay out serious hurt. If you've leveled up a druid before, then you know you can play pretty offensively with them, a few ways to do so actually. Put two of them together, well then they can play like druids. Best part of the class. Want a heal-bot? Roll a high elf cleric.

edit: I mean really, anything will work with a druid in a duo, but it's really going to come down to play tactics/style. It's more than just "my buddy picked druid and now I pick whatever I want and he'll be happy". Picking certain classes will lock his friend into a play style he may not really like. And having never played a druid, he may not even know what he will like to do with a druid, but he probably has some idea which is why he picked the class... and that class not being a high elf cleric so he's probably not just looking to heal. So after capping a couple druids and yet another, I'd say look for a duo that allows freedom to play the class in different ways. I'd consider that choice more important to what will work with solo or duo rather than a pug since in a lot of cases pugs remain pugs and take what they can get. And even if they have trouble at times depending on their choices, they will probably get faster exp as a duo anyway. The only real caution I would submit is if they plan to do a lot of raiding, though casual raiding they probably won't have any serious issues if they remain flexible and splitting into groups or what not.