Hey .. I just signed up and my computer is currently being fixed for Lineage 2 .. I Played the beta so i have very little experience.
I was just wondering .. im looking at more end game .. i want to be able to heal fairly well and rez .. and buff also a bit .. i want to be very needed in end game ..
so im not sure which to choose
bishop , SE , Phrophet, or maybe another ??
basically i want to be wanted the most in groups / clan's in the end game.
Bishops have heals and res, and two decent buffs (as well as what they learn before level 40).
For the most versatile buffer/healer hybrid, go for an SE who has decent heals, good buffs, and a crappy res.
Prophet has good buffs and an equally crappy res, but only cleric heals.
If you do not think you will have a good, supportive clan, become a Shillien Elder (SE) or prophet (PP), preferably an SE. Bishops have a very very hard time finding pick up groups - you need a good clan who understands your value and doesn't neglect you when they don't need you if you wish to play a bishop successfully.
Once you've made it to a decent level with a good res, though, chances are you will be able to find that clan - high bishops are rare because they are so undesired in PvE, and for the exact same reason, sought after for PvP.
If u want heal power and the ability to rez high % go Bishop they kick Butt haha. they can also solo the undead witch is good for ancient battle grounds. but yea bishop are nice and have alright buffs.
U might also wanna consider Elven Elder, has mainly defensive buffs, A high % res, a good heal
(and heal speed) and a very desireable end game skill called party return wich is an instant teleoprt to the nearest town for all party members.
EE is not as popular as buffer because ppl prefer offensive buffs but is valuable in endgame.
I play an EE. I can tell you right now once you get used to an EE's casting speed, you will think an SE crawls in comparison. Personally, I don't have *too* many problems finding a group, but people *do* prefer to party with an SE, by and large. But I would rather have the faster casting speed & higher rez (And the 'Return' and 'Party Return' skill) than VR buff.
Plus, healing is more challenging/fun without VR. Tests your skills as a healer more. ;)
I know nothing about Bishops, so I can't tell you about them. But I wouldn't give up my EE for an SE, knowing what I know.
EEs are rare, SEs are common. EEs have the same problems as bishops and weren't in your original suggestion, so I didn't name them.
Personally, I think EEs fit your profile a bit better. =)
ETA: In PvE healing, the Shillien Elder leaves the elven elders miles behind - they have the very important 'purify' spell (which can now fortuantely be provided by a non-healer party member, an elemental summoner), which cures certain status effects, and Greater Group Heal, which allows you to heal all your team members at once.
The elven elder, however, has two chainable heals (the expensive and sort of useless - outside of chaining it for fast HP return per time - Vitalize and the normal Greater Heal), which, from what I hear, makes for excellent PvP healing.
EE has a bit less casting power then an SE but the higher casting speed will compensate that AFAIK. For more excact info i think u need to talk to someone playing SE and EE.
playing an EE myself, and seeing most SE's that were my level pass me because thier buffs are generally more desired is a little discouraging... both elf classes (EE and SE) get recharge... SE gets less res % and slower cast speed, but they do get empower and VR along with greater group heal which has already been mentioned. SE's are very common because of this, since usually only the more pvp oriented, or those who value party recall group an EE, who cannot buff very well and is secondary as pure healer to a bishop.
well i cant speak for myself but my girlfriend has played prophet, ee to 60+ and bishop on pts, she by far likes the bishop best, she plans to sub it soon as shes able.
Soloing is definatly the easiest with bishop(hold undead hits atleast 50% of the time)
and far as finding groups/clans go, if you find a good clan who cares more for comraderie and friendship then who's party can kill the best you will never have to look for parties.
Ok let me lay it down for advantages and disadvantages of each class
Shillen Elder -
Advantages: Empower (increases magical attacks significantly), Vampiric Rage (returns a % of damage you deal to your HP on a melee attack, so when a character with this buff does damage to a mob it heals them), 2nd only to prophet in providing offensive buffs, Greater Heal, Greater Group Heal, recharge (restores MP)
Disadvantages: Slowest Casting speed, only a 20% rez skill, does not have greater battle heal, no high lvl sleep
Elven Elder -
Advantages: Fastest Casting Speed, best defensive buffs, Party Recall (port your whole party back to town almost instantly at lvl 56+, unique skill), Greater Heal, up to 50% rez skill, recharge skill
Disadvantages: No purify Skill, no greater battle heal or greater group heal, no high lvl root
Prophet -
Advantages: has all offensive buffs except VR, Heavy Armor masteries (great for pvp)
Disadvantages: no greater healing skills at all, 20% rez skill, no high lvl sleep, boring to play at high lvls in large groups (buff, sit for 20min, repeat), no recharge skill
Bishop -
Advantages: Best rez skill 70%, mass rez for alliance, rezzes multiple alliance members in range for a 50% rez, has all greater healing skills which makes it the best healer in PVP
Disadvantages: No high lvl root, not very good buffs, no recharge skill
A Shillen Elder and a Prophet are the 2 most desired classes in PVe (fighting monsters). An Elven Elder and a Bishop are the 2 most desired for PVP (fighting players). A prophet and Shillen Elder are still required for PVP for their buffs and that is about it, but the SE can heal in PVP too but isleast desired healer because of their slow casting speed.
I play a SE and I love my class,it is very challenging especially in PVP. I tried to resolve my slow casting speed by increasing my wit by +4 (increases casting speed) and I now have a sword of valhalla with acumen SA, which increses my casting speed more....But i am still slower than an Elven Elder as they can do the samething to stay ahead of me.
Well thats all I have to say... GL on your choice.
EEs can get up to 70-something% rez, and bishops 90-something% (with blue wolf robes and +4/5 wit)
And a plus to the EEs, they get high levels of sleep, I think you missed that (knowingly, I don't know).
SEs can get quite good casting speed at higher levels (namely, when they hit 61 and can wear tallum robes, and of course with +4 or 5 wit), but the elves will always be the kings of casting speed.