Class that matches playstyle?

[Pemolis]

We hear it all the time, but need an opinion. Have nothing, best method to start out based on playstyle?

• Never done a pure cloth caster before but have no real interest in them
• More of a in your face, but melee not required
• Healing is ok, but don't want to be solely relegated to it
• More interested in support roles, but want options

From what I came up with, I believe I'm relegated to about 6 choices. That is Druid, Shaman, Shadowknight, Ranger, Bard, Monk. I've done a Monk and a Druid before. I have no real interest in shaman (I find them unwieldy for some reason). I'm debating on the Shadowknight, Ranger or Bard. I'm not sure of the bard mostly because I don't want to break my wrist twisting songs and flipflopping weapon/instrument/weapon. (if there is a method to this madness I'm all ears).

Which leaves me with Shadowknight or Ranger. I get the basics of a shadowknight (pet, dots, feign, spells, dps, tank, etc). The ranger is a complete mystery.

Any thoughts?

[Expediency]

You will get a group faster with the SK but the ranger is probably more fun. Also consider necro, they have more "utility" than they get credit for

[Pyrion]

Looks like you already made up your mind mostly. Ranger is a nice class, but groups don't really need them. So if you want to group often, SK seems to be the best choice. Also consider paladin.

[Morlaeth]

I am having a BLAST on my Iksar SK.

Played a ranger on live. My favorite memories are exp groups in OT, DL, etc chain pulling like crazy.

[Pemolis]

I'm bouncing between Shadowknight, Bard, and Ranger.

Note the broke part so these are not twinked guys. I'd love to do the bard but.. yea broken wrist syndrome :-(

I kinda dont want to do a Shadownight (I kinda think I would be bored oddly enough).

So Bard, Ranger, possibly a monk (though there are a bunch of them).

The debate continues.

[Lojik]

Shaman

[Daywolf]

sk good for dungeons, ranger good for outdoors. What you said, sounds most like shaman, but yeah I pref a druid over shammy, too. Ranger is a good choice, since velious for the most part, and a strong solo char but still gets groups.

imo best thing about ranger is tracking, which yes does make up a lot for the lower xp gains. sk makes up for the slower gains by dungeon bonus and being wanted there more. Both can fear kite, though in dungeons it's not so good for sk while ranger has fear and tracking for outdoors. If you liked druid, ranger is just a melee druid for the most part, and weapons are going to matter much more than spells in most situations, you'd probably even keep booze on your ranger and bind wound helps for a while at least.

Either one, you'll want some gear early on. A lot of sk's around, so gear can cost a bit more. Less rangers, armor can cost less. Seems to be more choice for sk armor though, more armor quest etc. But for ranger, epic armor is just fine, while normal banded will carry you a long way (with a little mixed in items).

[Sebastionleo]

Hybrid EXP penalty went away a while ago...

Personally I'd recommend Necromancer, despite you saying you don't desire to play a pure caster. Necro and Druid are the best no gear classes in the game. You could solo to 60 on a necro with zero gear and not really have any trouble.

[Daywolf]

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

Hybrid EXP penalty went away a while ago...

Did it? Thought that was just for grouping penalty hit. Wiki still says 40% by class, addition in some cases with race.

Ranger:
Half-Elf Ranger: -40%
Human Ranger: -40%
Wood Elf Ranger: -40%

SK:
Dark Elf Shadow Knight: -40%
Erudite Shadow Knight: -40%
Human Shadow Knight: -40%
Iksar Shadow Knight: -68%
Ogre Shadow Knight: -61%
Troll Shadow Knight: -68%

[Expediency]

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

Did it? Thought that was just for grouping penalty hit. Wiki still says 40% by class, addition in some cases with race.

Class penalties are gone. Racial penalties remain and will not go away.