what classes in EQ are good now

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » December 20, 2003, 3:43 am

okay so I'm starting a new character with some friends but I haven't played since the beginning of Luclin. I'm probably not going to play very much but I still want to play a class that isn't totally gay. I'm going to go way out on a limb and guess that SOE still hasn't even come remotely close to anything resembling class balance so I need to know which classes don't suck enormous amounts of ass.

the ones I was thinking of playing are:

necromancer (are they still worthless)
SK
ranger
monk

but I will pretty much play anything except a fucking cleric. may the almighty strike me down with a christing thunderbolt if I ever have to play that asinine horse shit class ever again. I'm kind of leaning towards playing a ranger because archery makes my pussy wet, but I always had the most fun playing a necromancer. I'm kind of worried about playing a necromancer though because when I was playing, they were laughably worthless at high level content.

so what is a good class to play? let's say, if you had to start a brand new class tomorrow, what would you pick?

Pahreyia · Post by **Pahreyia** » December 20, 2003, 3:49 am

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » December 20, 2003, 3:50 am

Monk! Just remember your mitigation has been nerfed so when you get hit it mostly hurts.

I have a SK. Only made it to 52 but they're a fairly decent tank class in the high levels. Moreso than a monk anyway.

Necro.. Too much casting for me.

Ranger.. Maybe. But not for me.

As for ones not listed, I'd probably try a warrior someday. Paladins not too bad in the tank category. Bard probably the one I wouldn't try. No thanks on the carpal tunnel.

Casters.. I'm not really into casters.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » December 20, 2003, 3:50 am

Pahreyia wrote:Bard

haha

no, seriously.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » December 20, 2003, 3:51 am

Aslanna wrote:As for ones not listed, I'd probably try a warrior someday. Paladins not too bad in the tank category. Bard probably the one I wouldn't try. No thanks on the carpal tunnel.

my friend said warriors are totally gimped now and to play a hybrid. is that true?

Wiever · Post by **Wiever** » December 20, 2003, 3:53 am

I can honestly say that my bard has never bored me. We can group and solo. Our soloing isn't limited to one soloing style, and when it comes to grouping you can be damn near everything ie puller/slower/cc/snarer for your group. Sadly no other class has a gayer class concept though. Something just isn't tough about running around with a drum or lute for extended periods of times and having discs that announce to everyone that your have begun to PRANCE /sigh. Even with all that in mind, I have no regrets playing a bard (and I do realize this wasn't a class you had in mind).

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » December 20, 2003, 3:54 am

kyoukan wrote:
Aslanna wrote:As for ones not listed, I'd probably try a warrior someday. Paladins not too bad in the tank category. Bard probably the one I wouldn't try. No thanks on the carpal tunnel.
my friend said warriors are totally gimped now and to play a hybrid. is that true?

Mostly. Paladins make pretty good tanks and they have a lot of utility with spells (stuns, healing, whatever). Not sure how the melee changes will balance things out. If at all.

But I'll let a warrior/paladin answer that question since all I know is what I see while playing a Monk.

Drustwyn · Post by **Drustwyn** » December 20, 2003, 4:02 am

beastlord = the only reason I still play... revived the game for me.

I consider them to be one of the most balanced classes in the game

.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » December 20, 2003, 4:04 am

Shaman

SoW, root, slow, buffs, dots, nukes, pets, heals

there isn't much a shaman is incapable of doing. you will have a lot of fun playing a shaman.

Kithyen · Post by **Kithyen** » December 20, 2003, 4:30 am

kyoukan wrote:necromancer (are they still worthless)

Necros are pretty varied as far as grouping goes (At least from what I've noticed in the higher end). Everything from siphoning mana to group members, dot's, pet dmg. However they seem to be one of the more "underestimated" classes as far as grouping goes. I still catch some resistance when I say we should invite a necro.

Ducru · Post by **Ducru** » December 20, 2003, 4:33 am

I'm partial to Monk (being that is what I am, and alwys will be my main). Mitigation has been fixed a bit, and still in the process of being fixed. With enough AA points, you can get around most of that for the normal gameplay. High end game content hits for 2k+... no matter what class you are, it's ALWAYS going to hurt.

I also box a cleric and a shaman, the latter being fun on his own even.

As for the "if I had to do it all over again" question...

Necros are NOT worthless anymore, and could arguably be one of the most powerful classes in the game now if played PROPERLY (mind you I don't mean every Necro is a god... just the good ones, but that can be said for most any class).

Bards... incredible. Simply incredible. Few serious guilds can live without a few good ones, granted you will be use and abused and bitched at, and a scapegoat for your clerics that have a shitty mana pool since you didn't play mana song the entire 3 hour event.

Warriors... Always needed. Not gimp, just kind of fell into the same boat as monks for a while, playing second fiddle to other classes with AA skills that made them comparable for tanking. It is steadily being fixed (hopefully). Again, if played properly, there is no replacement.

Sk... aggro king. For some reason still not very many around, in the grand scheme. Partially due to the shittiness at lower lvls.

Beastlord... THIS would easily be my route if I wanted to spend the time again on it. Class balance to solo, incredibly versatile, and makes or breaks a good group. Arguably THE most powerful class in the game, but I imagine the hardest to play WELL. You have to have the reflexes of a Monk/Rogue (to know where to be on the mob and why you are there), the attention span of a Mage (to control that monster pet and still cast properly), the fearlessness of a Shaman (to take the hits because the mob is pissed at YOU), and the will to sink tons of hours into AA and equipment to really make yourself worth a shit.

The rest of the classes sem to have remain virtually unscathed in all the changes. All can be gods... just have to be played like a god first. I've seen Clerics these days that deserve the reverie that only a badass Enchanter would have gotten "back in the day".

Whatever you decide on, please just play it well and have fun. Ultimately that's all that matters.

Ducru

*sorry for long ass post, but servers are still fucked and I'm too drunk to get upstairs to bed at this moment*

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » December 20, 2003, 4:39 am

I have a blast playing a paladin these days.

No, seriously.

Drinsic Darkwood · Post by **Drinsic Darkwood** » December 20, 2003, 4:42 am

Warrior or Cleric if you're looking for something easy / simple, yet important just the same.

Any Hybrid class is fun, and can be extremely useful on a raid if you know what you're doing.

Bards are fairly awesome in almost every aspect these days. If you're looking for something fun, flexible, and desired, go with bard~

As for the four you listed... hard to say. SKs and Rangers are pretty interesting; monks are ok~; necros can be pretty fun I guess in the solo aspect still but on raids - have fun pumping~

Raistin · Post by **Raistin** » December 20, 2003, 4:53 am

Fuck every class but wizards.

Also necros are fun to play and own in groups.

Salis · Post by **Salis** » December 20, 2003, 6:15 am

How the world turns!

Balek · Post by **Balek** » December 20, 2003, 6:53 am

Lets see,

Monks are an awesome class from 1-55ish. Remember this class was balanced from 1-50 with the idea they would be in plain cloth or leather armor. So with the influx of +stat gear for monks, they are gods in the early levels.

Shadow Knights are amazing at 65 with tons of AAs. Shadow Knights have superb damage when 60+, and can tank as well as warriors with plenty of AA's. However, a SK doesn't really come into true power untill 65 with plenty of AA's

Rangers pre-65 are very middle of the road. Their spell lineup is great for soloing, and groups. They have ok DPS, and ok tanking ability. Once this class gets the right AA's their DPS jumps considerably. Like SK's a ranger doesn't really become a killer class until 65 with plenty of AA's. However once at this point they become a true force.

Necros put out beautiful damage at all levels. They can solo easily, and they can group decently. Necro's are IMO very well balanced. However many people still see this class as worthless in groups. Don;t be lead on though, they are an asset to any group IMO.

Ducru · Post by **Ducru** » December 20, 2003, 6:58 am

After much consideration, I've decided that you should NOT play EQ. Instead you should channel all that energy into the new game Horizons, which is a tradeskill haven.

Folllow this path and work on gardening (or baking, whatever the hell they decided to call it)...

Use teh knowledge gained there to grow a couple of UCBerkely genetically engineered cucumbers, and sell them on the black market in Texas...

I figure it this way... A 7 inch dildo/vibrator sells for $140(US) and the woman gets arrested like she's a crack pimp.

Your new cucumbers would be at LEAST 18 inches, look the same, a tad bit thicker and more "bumpy". Sell them for $250 (US), tell Texas to Fuck Off "It's a vegetable, not a dick". And in turn you will overthrow a law that should have been forgotten somwhere around the same time the first cowboy got caught crankin it

Just a thought for the way Kyou could spend her time. And it may save us from more angst ridden posts, but this time about an actual topic that she is involved in. Eq will not be fun for you. Stick to the cucumbers. In the end, they will still be your friend... If not shaven like a carrot at Thanksgiving, due to over-use.

Ducru

*even MORE drunk than earlier.. servers back up, but too late to make it worthwhile.. crawling upstairs.. thanks for humoring me=)*

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » December 20, 2003, 7:11 am

If you want a challenge, try a hybrid. Big pros to rangers, sks and pallys if you can stick it out... Fuck all that crap about "raid benefit". Being one of a few, in my opinion, weighs much more heavily. In truth, any class can level quite quickly...obviously... I think it would suit you best to just have fun with it.

And also... don't bother with the opinions of those fucking children on any class boards, most boards have been overrun and barely a good thread can be seen.

PS: SKs > *

EDIT: And yes, Necros are one of my favorite classes to group with. They are often overlooked, like many "non-standard" classes due to Kunark dogma. Basically, any class can be fucking amazing if the person behind the keys isn't some fucking tool that is.

Salis · Post by **Salis** » December 20, 2003, 7:52 am

lol yea, horizons is a real piece of dogshit. I don't think I've ever wandered so far and seen so little, there's some fucking rocks to beat on though. With pickaxes, so all the australians will probably sign up. !!!

Badpassion Seelentrinker · December 20, 2003, 8:04 am

Clerics > ALL

Note:
at low lvl your going to be nothing but healer and buff bitch but later with the right gear, and AA's you can melee your ass off

I love my character I'd never redo her

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » December 20, 2003, 8:54 am

Shadow Knights are the pwn dps factory class atm. Necros are really, really good dps on raids and what not. From the recent parses that went around on the steel warrior/foh msgboard monks needed some work. I'm not sure what its like with the new abilities and openings etc. but SK is still #1 and I would imagine with that much utility, isn't boring.

Warriors are/were totally fucked in the ass and basically worthless, but from what I've heard with provoke and everything thats changed slightly... imo I'd really go with sk.

Kwonryu DragonFist · December 20, 2003, 10:20 am

Kyokan! MONK is for you!

Then you can spank anyones azz!

MERRY XMAS!

Xyun · Post by **Xyun** » December 20, 2003, 10:57 am

Raistin wrote:Fuck every class but wizards.

word.

go with wizard.

XunilTlatoani · Post by **XunilTlatoani** » December 20, 2003, 12:05 pm

I know one of your major gripes with Necros was that the pet damage output was crap. Well, their damage output still isn't great. The 63 pet (rogue) can backstab for mid-100's to low-200's, and the 65 pet quads for 78.

That being said, the 65 pet is a great tank. Especially when duetting with a shaman, you will be able to have your pet tank in many exp zones. Plus, Veksar is the plaything of the solo 65 necro.

For the low-level solo game, I think fear kiting is still the best solo option but you will either have to reverse fear kite, root dot or have your pet tank past level 60, because most of the exp mobs at that level become unfearable.

As far as grouping, it has been much improved. I don't know much about the low-level necro grouping nowadays since many changes down there have been made once I was 60+. I think we shine the best when we are in a single group doing a primarily undead zone. The Guk LDoN theme, for example, allows us to both slow the mobs as effectively as a shaman and perform crowd control almost as effectively as a chanter. Plus, you can throw in a Mind Wrack on the casting MoBs and everyones mana stays up pretty well.

The high-end game for a necro is pretty good considering our strong solo ability. Yes you still need to pump mana on raids at times, but not all the time. Things like MGB, AE bard mana song, and KEI/VoQ have lightened the pumping load. There are very few fights where all I do is pump the clerics. I am in a pre-elemental guild however, so I don't know how the necro's life is past there.

I don't really know much outside my class, but I hope that info on necros helped.

Coatlicue [KoE] · Post by **Coatlicue [KoE]** » December 20, 2003, 12:14 pm

That shaman he has so much fun dueting with would be me

Shaman > all!

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » December 20, 2003, 12:16 pm

Necros are awesome with someone competent behind the keyboard.

Beastlords, SKs and rangers are good too. Lots of demand for all 3, and all are fun to play as well.

Starting my beastlord really revived the game for me, I'd probably have quit at PooP release otherwise. Cool class, though not the powerhouse people make it out to be.

I love my bard, he's a lot of work to play well and doesn't see much use anymore.

Klydon · Post by **Klydon** » December 20, 2003, 12:29 pm

The game has probably evolved to the point that just about any class can be awesome if there is someone good at the keys.

The druid was my first character and what I would still play today if I had a choice (although I do enjoy playing other classes, primarily casters).

Necros are far from being worthless and I think Xunil laid it out pretty well. Other characters that have mana pools like being with a necro because of mindwrack. Necros are very good on adventures and there are a lot of areas now that are more "necro friendly" with Veksar leading the list. Besides, any class that can have their pet pull and FD has to have something going for it.

Your other choices are also valid along with the comments for SK's and rangers that you really need to be 65 and have some AA's going for you to really have the character come into its own.

Monks are a bit behind right now (but then all pure melee are), but depending on how the new melee changes shake out, it could help. I know in our guild, most of the changes have been met as a positive and the melee enjoy the different timers on the discs, which is a huge change in of itself. (Warriors in particular don't have to hold defensive/evasive in reserve for "just in case" and can go offensive independently).

The bottom line is play what you enjoy and any class can be really good if played by someone who knows what they are doing.

Arundel Pajo · Post by **Arundel Pajo** » December 20, 2003, 12:44 pm

Raistin wrote:Fuck every class but wizards.

I was hoping somebody would say that! I haven't played in a super long-ass time though, and figured that wizards had just totally been crapped on in that time.

I had a blast with my wiz...sorta rough in the mid levels, though, due to nobody wanting to group. That ended with the AE spells you got in the mid-50's, though. At least it did back then. God only knows what has changed in that time.

Can wizards solo better now with the newer changes? I remember I had to have jboots and flux staff to really solo well. Pain in the ass to wait for that damn giant in Ro in order to be a viable solo class.

Kwonryu DragonFist · December 20, 2003, 12:44 pm

Kyoukan!

Monk is teh Best!

MONK! MONK! MONK!

Sabek · Post by **Sabek** » December 20, 2003, 12:46 pm

I would have to throw my vote out for Beastlord as well.
Game was getting tiresome for me with Sabek. Just so many warriors out there with pally/sks tanking more now it left a warrior with not a whole lot of options.

I enjoy the bst because I can solo if I need to, but I offer a lot to a group/raid because of the versatility.

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » December 20, 2003, 1:22 pm

What is the best class to Solo with?

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » December 20, 2003, 1:22 pm

I havnt logged on in about 6 months and im just wondering...what have they done/or not done to mages

So fucking glad they took mod rods away, and are we still in some cases arguably the strongest offensive class in small raids/groups/etc, or have they made us vending machine bitches again?

Sionistic · Post by **Sionistic** » December 20, 2003, 1:32 pm

Dont go monk yet untill they introduce the new openings system. Right now endurance is ok but its only applying to discs. Since discs burn end. good enough people are worried about openings.
I quit because they gimped over the monk class hardcore.

Kelshara · Post by **Kelshara** » December 20, 2003, 1:55 pm

What is the best class to Solo with?

Bard has been the best solo-class hands down until the recent nerfs. Bard also was the most overpowered class in the game heh.

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » December 20, 2003, 1:56 pm

Bubba Grizz wrote:What is the best class to Solo with?

Probably necro.. until you get 65 + AA + focus gear, then some nuking class since DoTs don't crit.

Regardless, the grouping xp nerfed soloing. You're better off with a group of 6 soloers all killing the same mob if respawns aren't an issue.

Nilaman · Post by **Nilaman** » December 20, 2003, 2:35 pm

As much as I don't want to say this, druids are some of the best soloers at this point. In PoP mages get knocked out of the ranks. Necros at higher levels get screwed with fear at higher ends. Bards got nerfed. Wizards do not have many places at higher levels to solo. But a druid charming things in PoN or PoS or wherever else can do serious damage and its good AA.

miir · Post by **miir** » December 20, 2003, 2:40 pm

Bard or Wizard, I recommend.

Xatrei · Post by **Xatrei** » December 20, 2003, 2:43 pm

I'm a wee bit biased, but I'll chime in for a necro.

Since you're interested in something very casual, I think you'd like the necro. At low to mid levels, a necro isn't nearly as gear dependent as most other classes. You contribute pretty nicely to groups, and if/when you feel like playing alone you certainly have that option.

The problem with necros being accepted by everyone is that there are too many necros with their heads up their ass. Even moderately well played necros bring a lot to any situation (solo, group or raid), and the really good ones are pretty amazing. Necro DPS is extremely underrated, so too many retards see them only as mana batteries rather than as a DPS class. However, it takes some severe stupidity to use necros just for mana whoring. There are only a handful of fights where the mana contributed to a CH chain is more valuable than the DPS contributed by a good necro working a solid DoT & nuke stack

Xatrei · Post by **Xatrei** » December 20, 2003, 2:44 pm

Nilaman wrote:Necros at higher levels get screwed with fear at higher ends. Bards got nerfed.

Any necro that's worth a shit hasn't fear kited much in his life anyway...

Nilaman · Post by **Nilaman** » December 20, 2003, 2:46 pm

I do not see a whole lot of necros soloing anymore for whatever the reason. Do you?

Xatrei · Post by **Xatrei** » December 20, 2003, 3:04 pm

Nilaman wrote:I do not see a whole lot of necros soloing anymore for whatever the reason. Do you?

You're right to a degree, but only because exp is better in a good group for virtually everyone. I'm very confident that I can out-solo a comparably geared druid for exp, though. I see several necros soloing in various spots, although I solo or duo (2box) when I'm farming, bored or don't have long to play. I'll get a group whenver I really want to get some exp'ing done, however. Following the exp changes a few months back, grouping is the way to go. I never cared for fear kiting, and I like aggro kiting about as much. Unfortunately, most necro-soloable exp mobs at the top end are killed most efficiently by aggro kiting. Charming is still fun (and good exp) if you can find a charmable undead and have a MR debuffer handy.

When in tactics, though I'll usually bring my shaman along and tank stuff with the necro because it's entertaining to me heheh. Got bored and started this a few weeks ago and it's provided some amusement to me.

edit: fixed a couple of things that my pre-caffeinated state allowed to get past me.

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » December 20, 2003, 3:13 pm

Nilaman wrote:As much as I don't want to say this, druids are some of the best soloers at this point. In PoP mages get knocked out of the ranks. Necros at higher levels get screwed with fear at higher ends. Bards got nerfed. Wizards do not have many places at higher levels to solo. But a druid charming things in PoN or PoS or wherever else can do serious damage and its good AA.

PoN is pretty mediocre, slightly improved since they dropped the minimum level for a blue con, but still.

PoS is a single camp, realistically, of 7 frogs that you can clear 2x as fast as the respawn. Which is nice, if you need to get some reading done and have an oven timer on your desk.

Fastest XP I've ever gotten, would be group of 6 druids/wizards kiting in PoFire =p And reliable too, w/ KEI and horses you can do that without stopping for as long as you care to. Still one camp, but at least it's 6 players (and can support more than one group if they're not jackasses)

Oh, and I don't think Kyou cares about XPing for AA at this point (since she started the thread..) not sure what type of soloing was really being questioned in the derail

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » December 20, 2003, 3:49 pm

I'm not really concerned with soloing. If I want to play by myself I'd play something that sucks less than EQ. It's nice to have the option to though.

I made a necromancer last night because I really enjoyed the class back when I played it pre-kunark. The two classes I was most interested in was that and SK and my other friend made an SK so it should be pretty fun. Thanks for the tips tho.

Nilaman · Post by **Nilaman** » December 20, 2003, 3:49 pm

I did not mention the EPs because Kyo said shes only looking to play a little bit. My suggestions were fine for her play style.

Xatrei · Post by **Xatrei** » December 20, 2003, 3:58 pm

Yes, my initial reply was directed more towards the type of play that she expressed interest in. My reply to you was in response to your comment about higher end necro (and others) soloing.

Jaxomer · Post by **Jaxomer** » December 20, 2003, 4:10 pm

I would have to say the Necro is best for so many reasons. As all the above posters said, plus I can't think of any other class that can solo as well naked as they can fully armored like a Necro can.

suppin · Post by **suppin** » December 20, 2003, 4:32 pm

I play a druid, and a shaman... they're both really fun. I enjoy being able to do pretty much everything on the druid, soloing great in fire, and before i was flagged I did PoN, then HoH for the longest time.... quadding is fun and since our snare lasts longer than wizards (ours is 15min~) it's easier imo.

Shaman is cool on raids... is that what you're going to be doing? like, mostly raiding, or just going with buds and grouping n stuff?.. Shamans have important rolls in both aspects... much much fun...

although I would have probably made Jawro a beastlord, or ranger, or maybe another melee class like a rogue than a shaman...

Melee's cool, but shaman and druid are tons of fun

Post by **Xouqoa** » December 20, 2003, 5:19 pm

kyoukan wrote:I made a necromancer last night because I really enjoyed the class back when I played it pre-kunark.

DID U NAME HRE PUDDLE>S?!!

Letania · Post by **Letania** » December 20, 2003, 5:45 pm

Yea, necro is the win. Heavily underrated at high end but you'll do fine if you go to that level, and up to that level they're as strong as ever. There's some fights you have to pump on, like Xegony and the Rathe, but it's not too needed. You'll really dish out damage once you get aggro control down and adjust to the new dots.

Anyways, if you need a pre-nerf circlet of shadow PM me or send me a tell, I'm not on much outside of raids though. That's assuming you're on veeshan though

Tegellan · Post by **Tegellan** » December 20, 2003, 5:53 pm

I am partial to sks, then again, i am one so that's prolly why. Necros are awesome at most levels in my book too, so not a bad choice there either.