Trio Suggestions

[bmay1011]

Can anyone offer suggestions on some good 3-man group setups? Something for leveling together but also melding into full groups when they are available? I'm not sure if it would be better to streamline or look for three classes with utility.

[Excision Rottun]

SK
Shaman
Monk or Necro or Enchanter

Would be a nice trio, give you tank, heals, slow, haste, pulling/dps or crowd control

[guineapig]

Enchanter druid combos give you access to every single ability in the game so if you add any sort of tank to that duo you are golden.

heal
slow
haste
nuke
dot
root
snare
ds
charm
mez
regen
mana regen
buff
debuff
stun
invis
invis vs. undead
sow
ports
evac

Am I forgetting anything?

[Ferok]

Bard
Shaman
Anything - (tank is obvious here, especially a hybrid. Ranger can even be considered, since the collective debuffs of the above classes render him a viable tank until you can group something else in.)

[Ballerklein]

I like the War (make sure you get something that procs) Cleric Mag groups

[bmay1011]

I like the War (make sure you get something that procs) Cleric Mag groups

It's funny cause this is what we were thinking and have somewhat started. I think we're nervous about the Warrior aggro issues. These are not twinks so getting geared up will not be easy.

Thank you all for the suggestions. We're reading this and getting some very helpful ideas.

[CPTMULLER]

As a warrior I would recommend the SK/Pally/rang/ or whatever to serve as a tank... I play a warrior and it's pretty demoralizing sometimes how hard I have to work to hold aggro
edit* not that it can't be done or whatever, just that you're better off with an SK unless your tank friend or yourself is committed... warriors are still cool as hell, just take that much more work for the same return

[Ballerklein]

If you guys know how to play the game, argo wont become a problem in that group till you get close to lvl 8 or so and by then you should be able to pic up a procing weopen for the war

[CPTMULLER]

I don't know of a pre-10 proccing weapon

[Ferok]

Enchanter druid combos give you access to every single ability in the game so if you add any sort of tank to that duo you are golden.

<list>

Am I forgetting anything?

Nope, pretty interesting combo when you put it that way.

Unfortunately, prior to the addition of the %heals (which is PoP era I think) I remember druids just not being a very adequate group healer in Velious/Kunark.

Similarly, I can remember being annoyed when a group had both a druid and a cleric: the druid ended up spending mana nuking since typically a cleric could handle the heals (especially when you count in slows). And unfortunately, druid is a very weak dps class for group purposes.

I guess my point is: it's a nice trio, but at some point you've got something akin to dead weight in a class that isn't very useful in a 6-man group. I guess the utility makes up for it though, if they're very skilled. Since druids solo so often/easily, there's often a lack of "group skills" in many players which may account for part of my sentiment.

[CPTMULLER]

I'd actually just save up for 2x obsidian shards or 1 shard and an enameled black mace

[bmay1011]

I'd actually just save up for 2x obsidian shards or 1 shard and an enameled black mace

Thanks mate. I will be playing the Warrior if we go this route, which seems the most likely as we have the characters already made (I'm sitting just shy of level 10). I'll make getting the weapons a priority and we'll see how it goes. I like to think we're relatively competent players and we have vent access so we can learn to work together.

I would try a hybrid tank but the exp penalty will have me losing sleep at night. Plus, since we'll be playing together, I'll be constantly losing ground.

[Trimm]

http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=165

I believe proc's at level 1.

[yaaaflow]

Three mages is the only answer. You'll level stupid fast.

[CPTMULLER]

http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=165

I believe proc's at level 1.

I have heard that it adds no threat, which is pretty lackluster to me

[bmay1011]

I have heard that it adds no threat, which is pretty lackluster to me

Hmmm, that would be good to know. If it generated aggro plus the heal proc, that could be very handy to pickup.

Can someone give me a ballpark on the pricing for some of these weapons so I have an idea? I probably realistically need something in the sub 50 plat range and that would take forgoing any armor upgrades which makes me cringe.

[Excision Rottun]

I have heard that it adds no threat, which is pretty lackluster to me

Not the best source, but all I can find.

The Raw Data on Lucy is not very helpful, most spells have 0 as their "hateammont" value, including Enraging Blow...so it is obviously incorrect.

Also... lifetaps generate about the same agro as a DD + a heal, so although they are decent they are not enough to hold agro in a nuking situation...

From this post. (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=17345&page=1&howmany=50#m109485172210123)

[Ferok]

The Raw Data on Lucy is not very helpful, most spells have 0 as their "hateammont" value, including Enraging Blow...so it is obviously incorrect.

After doing a little looking, it looks like "raw hate" is listed in lucy for "older" effects like Rage of Vallon and Enraging Blow as attribute 92.

Rage of Vallon has attrib2: 92, Base2: 500 (500 hate)
Enraging Blow has attrib1: 92, Base1: 700 (700 hate)

The lifetap effect of the tentacle whip has only one effect, and that's the lifetap (attribute 0, base 4). I think it can be presumed the hate generated is equivalent to that of a DD and a heal.

Source:
Rage of Vallon: http://lucy.allakhazam.com/spellraw.html?id=1935&source=Live
Enraging Blow: http://lucy.allakhazam.com/spellraw.html?id=2675&source=Live
Lifetap: http://lucy.allakhazam.com/spellraw.html?id=341&source=Live

[Ballerklein]

As a war with 2x obsidian shards i recomend getting dex above 110. It is amazing how many more times they proc with a dex buff bringing my dex from 99 to 109. With out the buff it seems to proc 1 to 2 times a fight and with it i have seen 5 many times.

[guineapig]

I don't know of a pre-10 proccing weapon

the whips from the terrors in najena and Unrest proc at lvl 1 and so do the staffs that are usable by int casters and bards.

[Tallenn]

I'll add my vote for the druid/ench/tank combo.

I leveled in classic on a druid from about 15 to low 50s with a steady group of druid/ranger/ench/mage. We had no problem with any old world or Kunark content until about mid 50s. Having a combo of slow and clarity made a huge difference, not to mention the stupid crazy DPS the mage added.

Once we started in the higher level content of Kunark though, the mobs were hitting too hard for a ranger tank, druid healer combo, even with slow.

I wouldn't have traded anyone in that group for the world, but I think having a plate tank instead of a ranger would have allowed us to group all the way to 60 that way.

[CPTMULLER]

Obsidian Shards are 200-400 pp per depending on the seller and demand
Enameled Black Mace is 150-300
Executioners Axes are 150-350

As for normal weapons pre-30 etc
There's a dagger that I'm blanking on the name of, 6/26 +3dex for <50p
also a 1hs 5/19 thats <100p that if you catch me near a bank I'll give you

[CPTMULLER]

the whips from the terrors in najena and Unrest proc at lvl 1 and so do the staffs that are usable by int casters and bards.

but for the same amount of money you can do more threat with a magic weapon at those levels

[CPTMULLER]

the Axe from HHP gnolls is a great lvl 10 tanking item as well

[bmay1011]

Obsidian Shards are 200-400 pp per depending on the seller and demand
Enameled Black Mace is 150-300
Executioners Axes are 150-350

As for normal weapons pre-30 etc
There's a dagger that I'm blanking on the name of, 6/26 +3dex for <50p
also a 1hs 5/19 thats <100p that if you catch me near a bank I'll give you

Thanks CPTMULLER, for all the sound advice. I have some idea of what I need to be effective and I'll make a run of it.

[Derpus]

3x mages

[CPTMULLER]

'course, feel free to whisper Tugtog in game with any questions or whatever

[Scrooge]

Enchanter, Necromancer, Bard!

[Hasbinbad]

As far as the "classic group" goes, the best 3 man group is Cleric, Enchanter, Warrior.
Anyone who says differently doesn't know how to play Everquest very well.

You don't NEED anything that these three classes cannot give you, and you can add ANY 3 classes to this base, and it is a great group.

If you just want 3 characters of any class to hit 50 ASAP, probably 3 mages or a bard and 2 mages.

[Ferok]

As far as the "classic group" goes, the best 3 man group is Cleric, Enchanter, Warrior.
Anyone who says differently doesn't know how to play Everquest very well.

It's the core to a great group, but it's not much of a group as a threesome.

[karsten]

steak quesadilla tower, spin dip, and WONTON TACOS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VyQMd_48o8

[Hasbinbad]

It's the core to a great group, but it's not much of a group as a threesome.
Anyone who says differently doesn't know how to play Everquest very well.
.

[bmay1011]

fajita rolls, mozerella sticks, and WONTON TACOS

I was actually waiting for:

Me + Kate Beckinsale + Megan Fox but you must be hungry.

[Ferok]

I'm hurt.

But seriously, 3 defensive classes doesn't make a fast-killing exp group. No matter how bad you think I am at everquest.

[Glitch]

My vote goes to Enc+Druid+Mage.

[guineapig]

I'm hurt.

But seriously, 3 defensive classes doesn't make a fast-killing exp group. No matter how bad you think I am at everquest.

Agreed, kills would be exceedingly slow and there is no travel ability available at all. It's safe to be sure, but overly so in my opinion.

Enchanter, druid + *pick your favorite tank* will allow you to do pretty much anything you want at any time in classic.

But like I said, it's my opinion, and we all have one of those.

[CPTMULLER]

Bard/druid/tank also has some merit
if you don't want to play ench

[guineapig]

Bard/druid/tank also has some merit
if you don't want to play ench

Very true, in the right hands a bard just as good as an enchanter for most situations and is less squishy.

[CPTMULLER]

Very true, in the right hands a bard just as good as an enchanter for most situations and is less squishy.

this is pretty key in the 3man situation if you ask me

[Ferok]

Bard/druid/tank also has some merit
if you don't want to play ench

Bard Shaman Monk.

Nobody is squishy.

Multiple CC redundancy. (Monks can usually pull one, bard lull + monk = very reliable one pulls, bard mez takes care of adds/respawns, sham can root mezed/unmezed targets)

Can pick up any class you want and it'll add right into the group.

Can take on much higher level mobs with a high rate success. (Combined bard/sham debuffs and regens with monk mitigation/avoidance make for a very difficult-to-kill tank.)

Can kill lower level mobs very quickly.

Monks are absolute monsters with bard/shaman buffs, pretty much at all levels.

Shaman receive huge benefit from bard songs as both health and mana can work towards mana pool.

Bard's contribution to the group expands as the group grows, regardless of the way in which it grows.

[CPTMULLER]

not to mention at low levels bards are pretty much as good as anyone else at tanking
do shammys get pets in classic? if they do that would just add on to the ridiculous power of that combo

[Ferok]

not to mention at low levels bards are pretty much as good as anyone else at tanking
do shammys get pets in classic? if they do that would just add on to the ridiculous power of that combo

Spell lists say yes, but I'm not 34? yet so I don't yet know!

[CPTMULLER]

the intensity level rises!

[Hasbinbad]

If you seriously think cle/enc/war has low dps, you don't know how to play very well.

[CPTMULLER]

relative to sham/monk/bard?

[guineapig]

If you seriously think cle/enc/war has low dps, you don't know how to play very well.

It depends on what you compare it to. Compared to replacing the cleric with a druid with DS, nukes, and dots, then yes. (Not to mention the regen, snare, sow and quick travel aspect.)

Now if you said specifically versus undead then a cleric MIGHT have a dps advantage but that's assuming the cleric doesn't need to heal much.
In a general all purpose situation though, I would pick the druid over the cleric.

[Spud]

i love threesomes

I would go high elf and erudite (brown sugar!)

[Spud]

Enchanter druid combos give you access to every single ability in the game so if you add any sort of tank to that duo you are golden.

heal
slow
haste
nuke
dot
root
snare
ds
charm
mez
regen
mana regen
buff
debuff
stun
invis
invis vs. undead
sow
ports
evac

Am I forgetting anything?

Very true, the utility is just insane. I would add track to that list as well which is very useful. The only other stuff i can think of that your missing is FD and pets (if you dont count charmed mobs) so i would get an SK tank!

That threesome could do ANYTHING!

[Hasbinbad]

It depends on what you compare it to. Compared to replacing the cleric with a druid with DS, nukes, and dots, then yes. (Not to mention the regen, snare, sow and quick travel aspect.)

Now if you said specifically versus undead then a cleric MIGHT have a dps advantage but that's assuming the cleric doesn't need to heal much.
In a general all purpose situation though, I would pick the druid over the cleric.
If you seriously think a druid - unloading everything he's got - could seriously outdps a hasted, dual-wielding, procing charmed pet, then I'm starting to agree with Karsten about you.

[TheDudeAbides]

cleric
enchanter
mage/wiz/necro take your pick

anyone who thinks a melee is needed as a third with cleric/enchanter needs to L2P

[karsten]

the three pointers. NOOO, the three musketeers



WONTON TACOS

[Hasbinbad]

..blither blather..
When you read, are your eyes open?
That's not what I said.
Twit.

[Finawin]

TWIT?!

TWAT!

[TheDudeAbides]

When you read, are your eyes open?
That's not what I said.
Twit.

I wasn't even addressing you bro or responding to you at all

Continue on with your regularly scheduled forum trolling/attention whoring brew

But lemme go ahead and address what you said

If you seriously think cle/enc/war has low dps, you don't know how to play very well.

DPS would be decent sure, but it's not very efficient to be honest. So less efficiency would = over time considerably less DPS than a cleric/enc/nec for example.

There. You win at the internetz

[mitic]

with

.) any tank
.) clr (ull need the CH highend and lull)
.) any slow/haste class (shm or ench)

you can farm EVERYTHING except dragons & gods in classic

[Bodisatva]

Asian lettuce wraps, tex-mex quesadillas, mini-sliders.
This isn't an Applebee's thread?
/sigh

[Ferok]

If you seriously think a druid - unloading everything he's got - could seriously outdps a hasted, dual-wielding, procing charmed pet, then I'm starting to agree with Karsten about you.

If you give haste and two fast weapons to a charm pet, I regret to inform you of what will happen when charm fails. Especially without snare.

Unless your group is extremely talented and coordinated (and well geared at that), that's going to end up being more pain than it's worth. Given, I haven't experienced charm on project 1999, but from my experiences kunark era-live (and beyond), that's simply a recipe for disaster. Of course, aside from that very rare, very skilled, very well geared enchanter.

Of course, if you're going to go that route, why not use a ranger rather than a warrior so you can snare your pet? Not like it makes alot of sense to heal a warrior when you can just let the pet tank. I seem to recall snare being something most enchanters wouldn't consider hasting a charmed pet without.

[yaaaflow]

^lol at the basic strategy for like every level 50 enchanter on the server needing a "very rare, very skilled, very well geared enchanter."


Anyway, involving melee classes in anything in this game just causes problems. Theyre always asking for heals and crying for rezzes and shit, skip all that and just go with a caster group. Mage/cleric/necro/enchanter/druid. Pick any 3 of those an you'll have a powerhouse group. Preferably mage-mage-mage.

[Ferok]

^lol at the basic strategy for like every level 50 enchanter on the server needing a "very rare, very skilled, very well geared enchanter."

What can I say then? That's not very classic. Charm was fairly rarely used on live until dire charm was available in PoP.

[Tallenn]

So, if you're going to use a hasted, dual-wielding, proccing charmed pet, what the hell do you need a warrior for? A charmed mob kicks ass for tanking, as well as DPS. Be better off with another caster- probably mage or necro- or druid to keep pet snared.

Warrior, cleric, enchanter is the basis for an excellent full group, but as just a trio, sucks ass compared to many other possible combos.

[Trimm]

Anyway, involving melee classes in anything in this game just causes problems. Theyre always asking for heals and crying for rezzes and shit, skip all that and just go with a caster group. Mage/cleric/necro/enchanter/druid. Pick any 3 of those an you'll have a powerhouse group. Preferably mage-mage-mage.

As much as I want to trash you, I can't. With the way pet vs. melee aggro works, having a lone melee in a caster group causes nothing but problems. Its a shame really, because caster groups are amazing and can do things your typical tank/heal/dps group can't.

[mitic]

As much as I want to trash you, I can't. With the way pet vs. melee aggro works, having a lone melee in a caster group causes nothing but problems. Its a shame really, because caster groups are amazing and can do things your typical tank/heal/dps group can't.

just wait for kunark. everything will change by then

[Trimm]

Oh I know, I wasn't complaining or anything. I still love playing a rogue and can't wait for the Kunark upgrades. It was just frustrating being in a druid/enchanter/rogue group in Lguk a few weeks ago and not being able to help out without the enchanter chain-stunning or the druid spam healing.

At the same time, it always makes me smile when people in groups or raids send me tells saying my combat spam is filling up their chat logs.

[karsten]

Asian lettuce wraps, tex-mex quesadillas, mini-sliders.
This isn't an Applebee's thread?
/sigh

pretty sure it is. their chefs have come up with a GREAT new recipe, mixing two of america's favorites: asian and mexican food

http://www.applebees.jobs/images/menu/highlight_appetizers.jpg

[Simon Belmont]

It's funny cause this is what we were thinking and have somewhat started. I think we're nervous about the Warrior aggro issues. These are not twinks so getting geared up will not be easy.

Thank you all for the suggestions. We're reading this and getting some very helpful ideas.

if you want to go war, send a tell to Belmont in game. I have a bunch of stun whips. I can give you a few.

[bmay1011]

if you want to go war, send a tell to Belmont in game. I have a bunch of stun whips. I can give you a few.

Thank you. The advice and offered help is greatly appreciated.

[Crone]

I'm a warrior, and only level 18, but it hasn't been too bad. No, we can't just cast 1 spell and have perma aggro like an SK, but the only ones that have been able to really hold aggro over me for very long have been twinked Monks, but in that situation they should be tanking anyway.

I use Gnoll Hide Lariat (won't proc stun until 25), and Bladed Thulian Claws, which are the 5/19 1hs the dude was talking about earlier in this thread.

At 25, I'll pick up another stun whip and that'll last me into the 40s from what I hear.

[Hasbinbad]

So, if you're going to use a hasted, dual-wielding, proccing charmed pet, what the hell do you need a warrior for?
To tank the target mob while the enchanter re-charms his pet. Duh.
:)

[CPTMULLER]

I'm a warrior, and only level 18, but it hasn't been too bad. No, we can't just cast 1 spell and have perma aggro like an SK, but the only ones that have been able to really hold aggro over me for very long have been twinked Monks, but in that situation they should be tanking anyway.

I use Gnoll Hide Lariat (won't proc stun until 25), and Bladed Thulian Claws, which are the 5/19 1hs the dude was talking about earlier in this thread.

At 25, I'll pick up another stun whip and that'll last me into the 40s from what I hear.

I much prefer obsidian shards, you get more damage between procs which helps when the rng hikes your skirt up and starts poking you :p

[Tallenn]

To tank the target mob while the enchanter re-charms his pet. Duh.
:)

Cleric, necro or druid (depending on what 3rd class is) could just root it while re-charming is done.

I think the time for speculation is over. We need proofs! Need some trios of various makeups to post some results: group make up, location, mobs per hour, etc.

[Reubin]

I'd be tempted to go with

Shadow Knight
Cleric
Enchanter

That gives you a tank who can generate great agro/snare/feign death pull, crowd control/mana regen/slows/haste, best healer in the game/rezzes/lull.

This group would be ideal as the basis for a larger group by adding DPS. With the "holy trinity" covered it would make finding group mates extremely easy if you want or you could function well as a trio. It would work well outdoors or in dungeons. It would excel against undead. The only negatives I could see is that the SK has a xp penalty so they would level slightly slower than with a warrior and they wouldn't have access to ports. But the SK's abilities and snare more than make up for the xp penalty and ports can be bought or druids could be befriended.

[Ferok]

The only negatives I could see is that the SK has a xp penalty so they would level slightly slower than with a warrior

Not that you insinuated otherwise, but I've been thinking about how this would work for a group that stuck together. Generally, I've found that I exp faster if I'm in a group of higher levels, as they're able to kill things that are harder or faster which bring in a ton more xp. I get slightly less xp than they do, but they need so much more because they're higher level (and the mob con compared to their level is lower) that it more than balances out.

I'd be willing to bet that if you did a trio like this, the SK would stay maybe a level or two behind the rest of the group, but by no means would he be 40 when everyone else is hitting 50.

On the other hand, if you were grouped with a warrior, he'd consistently be the highest level in the group due to him getting an exp bonus. Of course, he'd need it, as he cant taunt anything that is better than white to him.

Generally though, I agree with your post. If you're going to do a "holy trinity" group, SK or Paladin is the way to go. Especially if you're going to depend on charm.

[guineapig]

Taking the above post into account I would specify that my chanter, druid, tank trinity would include a Paly over SK.

My reasoning:

Even though SK does have slightly better agro control and FD, paladin has rez which is the only in other in game ability that the druid/chanter combo does not have. A good chanter knows how to keep the agro on the tank and FD isn't that important when you have a tank that can lull (not to mention the crowd control and charm).

So my final answer would be:

Paladin
Druid
Enchanter

That trio can do everything!!!

[Ferok]

Even though SK does have slightly better agro control and FD, paladin has rez which is the only in other in game ability that the druid

SK's do generate better aggro than a Paladin, it's true. However, both are able to generate so far-and-away more aggro than any other class, it hardly matters. As a paladin, nothing could break my aggro lock unless they succeeded a taunt, or they were a Shadowknight trying to get aggro.

That's actually a pretty ideal charm group as well, as the druid's snare and the paladin's stun make controlling that mob when charm breaks pretty manageable.

I still think druids post-50 are broken as healers until the %heal, however. Which, on this server, they'll never get.

[guineapig]

I still think druids post-50 are broken as healers until the %heal, however. Which, on this server, they'll never get.

Agreed. However this is yet another thing that is helped by having the tank be a Paladin who is his own backup healer in a pinch, especially with the group having clarity.

Regen, slow and the Whirl spells (4-6 second stuns) do help lessen the need for CH in most cases. and on the rare occasion when the absolute worst case scenario happens, you have Lay Hands.

[Kluren]

Three Magicians *hands down*


Three Magicians with 3 air elementals that hit hard, have good hp, and chain stun spell x3. My god.

[Rophel]

Holy shit, first of all if you take a 0% rez and are above level 25 and not maxed out a 50, you're either getting power leveled or just an idiot. Also how relevant would a paladin be with rezzing when they're the first to die in that trio? Looks like they're all OTW back to corpses.

Second of all everyone who says that Cleric / Warrior / Enchanter isn't enough DPS is stupid. I don't know what else to say about that. Maybe you guys are used to playing with bad female enchanters (see: guineapig), but the ones I play with know that one of their top roles is DPS, and lots of it.

[TheDudeAbides]

Holy shit, first of all if you take a 0% rez and are above level 25 and not maxed out a 50, you're either getting power leveled or just an idiot. Also how relevant would a paladin be with rezzing when they're the first to die in that trio? Looks like they're all OTW back to corpses.

Second of all everyone who says that Cleric / Warrior / Enchanter isn't enough DPS is stupid. I don't know what else to say about that. Maybe you guys are used to playing with bad female enchanters (see: guineapig), but the ones I play with know that one of their top roles is DPS, and lots of it.

It's not really about DPS

It's about efficiency

A melee grouped with a chanter/cleric is not efficient

And it doesn't really compare to the DPS a wizard/nec/mage can bring anyways

[Rophel]

You're missing the point again. The warrior can effectively tank while doing relatively alright DPS (depending on gear). The cleric can keep him up so that he can continue to chain pull mobs. Enchanter provides the DPS with charm, some blasts, can handle adds, pumps mana to cleric through Clarity. It's simply the best trio in the game and is very damage effective, and if it's not it's because the enchanter is doing something wrong.

[yaaaflow]

At this point in the game? I've gotta disagree. You take your 3 man warr/enc/cler and do any classic content you can - I guarantee I can do it it faster, more efficiently and with less downtime with a mage/enc/cler combo.

[TheDudeAbides]

You're missing the point again. The warrior can effectively tank while doing relatively alright DPS (depending on gear). The cleric can keep him up so that he can continue to chain pull mobs. Enchanter provides the DPS with charm, some blasts, can handle adds, pumps mana to cleric through Clarity. It's simply the best trio in the game and is very damage effective, and if it's not it's because the enchanter is doing something wrong.

You don't need a warrior to tank when the charmed pet is a vastly superior tank and does 10 times the DPS with haste a warrior could ever hope to do

Yes that includes raid encounters

[Bayleo]

for kunark, nothing is going to beat monk/sham/necro. not even close. also sham/monk can duo, as can sham/necro.

[Alawen Everywhere]

I should start by saying that my permanent groups always involved a warrior and a cleric. One that went far was a foursome of warrior/cleric/shaman/monk. We did not travel or level particularly quickly, but we were extremely rugged and could pick up two strangers of most any class and do well.

I was in a leveling group on Stromm that was warrior/cleric/enchanter/mage/rogue. Our usual sixth was a monk but he didn't play a very large role. This group was much faster but less durable.

I knew two extremely successful four-boxers. One played warrior/cleric/enchanter/rogue and the other played warrior/cleric/enchanter/wizard.

What I infer from these data points is that the warrior/cleric/slower trio needs at least one pure dps buddy always available. To be successful as a trio, abilities need to be more condensed. I know two ways to accomplish this successfully.

The first approach retains the tank/healer/slower approach in two characters, shadowknight and shaman. The knight also serves as effective puller. The third member should be pure dps. Rogue is probably best with the shaman buffs, but int casters or rangers for utility are interesting alternatives.

The other approach I've seen work effectively is to desert the tank paradigm in favor of a pet and go with pure casters. The best setup I've seen is cleric/enchanter/magician and it was very impressive.

I'm not much for theorycrafting, so these examples are all from real combos I've seen work and not work. My own three characters on live were warrior, cleric and druid. I had crazy mana regen and lots of clicks and procs to make it work, but my dps was awful and aggro was always touchy until I had very high end aggro weapons. On the other hand, I could port all over quickly after a server reset, the druid worked well for pulling outdoor zones and I could succor when things went bad.

I think the choice of a trio comes down to utility versus efficiency, but interestingly I don't think utility necessarily increases overall capability. The cleric/chanter/mage trio also works well starting with no gear at all while the shadowknight/shaman/rogue trio scale nicely with Kunark and Velious gear.

I enjoyed seeing everyone's ideas in this thread.

[Hasbinbad]

Really smart stuff.
I like both of your picks actually, especially shd/shm/rog mostly after kunark drops, but I think you glaze over the dps output of enchanters on p99 specifically and don't give credit (partially coz I didn't really say it - but I figured those that know, know) to the idea that the warrior is mostly there to pull, initiate rooms, and cover mistakes. Mage pets can't do that kind of stuff as well as a person who's only job it is to do so.

[Auvdar]

cmon kids, war + cleric + enchanter is the triforce. We all know this.

[Malavan]

while we're all bored, i'd like to see some more opinions on this. Right now i'm trying to get a 3rd friend to come play. We all played when the game came out and have since played everything under the sun. That said, we're looking for a good trio and had considered doing the war/cleric/enc thing, though after reading this, we may try something a little different.

I can't remember how well a shaman could heal pre-kunark, but that'd be fun to pair with a SK/bard duo

[karsten]

applebees appetizer menu

[Drubu]

yeah honestly tank + cleric + chanter would be your best bet longterm. then you can just grab the million dps that are always LFG. No porter would suck though but there are a million druids around just befriend one/two.

[rioisk]

Don't do warrior, do SK for pulling (FD).

SK, Cleric, Enchanter.

[Malrubius]

Can anyone offer suggestions on some good 3-man group setups?

No, but I've seen some damn nice 3-woman group setups. badaboom!

Sorry, just the way you asked the question :p