Returning Player - Questions about class selection/solo options

[serjordanmormont]

I'm not a new player but haven't really played in about 6 months and am looking to make a return to Norrath now that I have a bit more time to play.

I don't want to exclusively solo cause the game is obviously more fun in groups, but there are times where I only have a bit of time to jump on and getting a group isn't super worth it.

I've been debating a wizard, magician, or ranger so that I have the option to solo when I don't have a ton of time to play. How well do you think those classes would work for solo? Are they wanted in groups too? Is there another class that may work better for what I'm looking for?

Any help is appreciated.

[Pyrion]

Wizard is the group pariah, stay away from it if you want to group a lot. The reason: Wizard is supposed to be a DPS class, but since all the DPS is coming directly from mana, the wizards sustained DPS is not great. Mix in the fact tha basically all melees are twinked. If you play wizard you will solo a lot (higher level wizards are pretty good at it with quadding). Wizards do have a role in raids, so end game is not hopeless.

Magician is still a nice DPS class, can fill DPS role in groups and can solo pretty well. It's not super wanted in groups due to the unflexibility of the class, but better than wizard by far.

Ranger is a mixed bag. Can tank in earlier levels, does pretty nice (although not amazing) DPS and can solo decently with snare and panic animal. Gets group invites (but isn't a core group class) and is needed for tracking.

The best solo/group class is enchanter. Soloes amazingly well (but soloing is risky) and is very valuable in groups. There is a good amount of enchanters around though.

Bard is another great solo/group class. Bards can do pretty much everything.

Another nice class is necro. Although most people think of it as a solo class, necros can do amazing things in groups if they stop using their solo tactics.

[Subidoo]

Don't forget shaman, they can solo pretty well and are useful in groups.

[serjordanmormont]

Thanks for the feedback Pyrion & Subidoo. I'll stay away from Wizard. Not much interest in enchanter or bard.

Just out of curiosity, what do you mean by core group class? Well less what do you mean, and more what classes would be included. I'm assuming Warrior/Cleric/Enchanter?

I'll also look a little harder at Ranger, Magician and Shaman.

[Spyder73]

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

Just out of curiosity, what do you mean by core group class? Well less what do you mean, and more what classes would be included. I'm assuming Warrior/Cleric/Enchanter?

The prototypical min/max group would be -Warrior/Cleric/Rogue/Monk/Enchanter/Shaman - SK/Pally can fill in for War with no issue in group content. Maybe sub out the shaman for a second Rogue but shamans have a role as slower.

Anything outside this paradigm will find themselves on the outside looking in when it comes to higher level grouping.

Druid/Wizard/Bard/Mage/Necro/Ranger are all fun classes that can bring great value, but they are definitely not "core" in the sense that they are optional....where as lots of times the other classes are not optional or are more efficient. For example, a Necromancer could fill the DPS role for a rogue and the group would be fine, but it would not be quite as fast - so any rog will probably get the invite over the necro.

[jolanar]

Originally Posted by Spyder73 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

The prototypical min/max group would be -Warrior/Cleric/Rogue/Monk/Enchanter/Shaman - SK/Pally can fill in for War with no issue in group content. Maybe sub out the shaman for a second Rogue but shamans have a role as slower.

Anything outside this paradigm will find themselves on the outside looking in when it comes to higher level grouping.

Druid/Wizard/Bard/Mage/Necro/Ranger are all fun classes that can bring great value, but they are definitely not "core" in the sense that they are optional....where as lots of times the other classes are not optional or are more efficient. For example, a Necromancer could fill the DPS role for a rogue and the group would be fine, but it would not be quite as fast - so any rog will probably get the invite over the necro.

That's just like, your opinion, man. The real answer to the min/max group is "it depends."

As long as you aren't playing a wizard you'll probably be fine.

[Serowin]

I know its unorthodox but I love to solo on my warrior. I just solo'd all of 38 in the overthere using a combination of bow kiting and zerking.
You need to twink out a bit but nothing beats it.

[serjordanmormont]

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

I know its unorthodox but I love to solo on my warrior. I just solo'd all of 38 in the overthere using a combination of bow kiting and zerking.
You need to twink out a bit but nothing beats it.

I didn't realize warriors could solo. What do you do, BW to reduce downtime and take one mob at a time?

How is tanking in groups? I heard Warriors have a hard time with that until higher levels.

[Subidoo]

Enchanter, cleric and rogue are loved by all in groups. The only one out of those three that can solo anytime they want would be the ench, a shaman is a versatile class they get slow, haste, a pet at mid lvls, they heal and at lower levels can solo tank with their slows.

[serjordanmormont]

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

Enchanter, cleric and rogue are loved by all in groups. The only one out of those three that can solo anytime they want would be the ench, a shaman is a versatile class they get slow, haste, a pet at mid lvls, they heal and at lower levels can solo tank with their slows.

Shaman sounds intriguing. Are they difficult to play?