WC buffs are for any grou, OL buffs are for ally members only, so is <3 of paagrio, thats a full ally heal. i've never played an orc (green skin really isnt my thing :P) so cant answer many othr questions acurately, sorry!
Warcryers are group buffers. They have few offencive spells. They have very good group buffs though. Also you can use any weapon or amor and have masteries. Life drain rocks to retore HP and there good in PVP. IMO melee WC are the best set up. Some think differently.
OL are Alliance buffers. They can not buff party members or strangers unless there in the alliance. OL's heal may be stronger then WC, not sure but it works well but costs a lot. OL doesn't get the haste buffs or vamp regen. Though they do get some good ones.
OL's get AOE holds, debuffs and DOT damage. They get all the same masteries as well. They get soul cry like a WC, it buffs p.att. They also get soul guard that raises p.def. bolth keep draining mana while on.
Having said that I think a fight would be close. WC improved buffs against OL's wider range of skills. Bolth are inteesting playable classes. I think between the two it may come to the one with the most luck or skill.
I don't believe OLs get to upgrade their Soul Cry after they become OLs.
Otherwise, all of the above is correct, to my knowledge.
In my opinion, Overlords are better for (alliance) mage parties, due to acumen and zerk, and lack of the most coveted fighter buffs, which the Warcrier gets (crit buffs, VR, haste). However, they both get might, shield, guidance and magic barrier. Overlords get bless the shield...and stuff :p
Thanks a bunch for your answers guys. Now I have something to talk about with a clanie who's yet indecisive about going either OL or WC.
On a side note, Since we're about equal lvl (my Raider and his Shaman, things are very interesting. I don't have a problem with Green skin and the Orc Mohawk Rocks :p but running speed took a bit getting used to especially after considering that my main is a Silver Ranger.
I enjoy correcting everyone if I think I know better. Even myself. I'm just more likely to click threads with names of people I know don't make me want to pull my hair out - so it turns out that I correct there more.
OL are Alliance buffers. They can not buff party members or strangers unless there in the alliance. OL's heal may be stronger then WC, not sure but it works well but costs a lot. OL doesn't get the haste buffs or vamp regen. Though they do get some good ones.
And in a party, although I always appreciate buffs, I prefer to know what kind of damage my partner is dealing. Will they run into melee and **** away? Or will they prefer to use drains/DoTs? (Do they have the mana for that? ^.^)
OL is not about buffing parties, it is about crowd control and debuffs. So many think they are alliance healers and buffers but beyond that they bring so much more to the table. Seal of silence, seal of winter and CP heals which no other character in the game receives.
WC is a party size dynamo. He buffs the complete party himself with very good buffs. He can then turn around and be a good damage dealer. His heal is not quite as good but nice in a pinch. He also has offensive DoT's and the dreaded drain.
1 on 1 if the OL knows his character he will win. The CP heals and debuffs outweigh the DoT's of the WC. This is tested in the arena. Not in any way saying a WC is not powerful, just saying between them both i have seen and have won many matches in the arena.
I really wish that actual WC's and OL's would answer questions about these 2 characters. They are misunderstood by so many and most go with what they have "heard".
I'm a Warcryer, but I've never battled an Overlord. I get along with Orcs too well. I noticed that most players in the game will ignore you but if your an Orc an Orc will all ways be friendly.
Our alliance OL is higher level then me but maybe I should challenge him in the arena some time.
Much Orc love....WC rock and OL rock also. ...challange the OL and see the power, it is almost overpowerered. The only reason players are not crying overpowered is because their are not many OL's.
This is just from my point of view.
We, as a clan are activatly seeking a good WC. This is because they segment quite well into an active clan and especially since their stuff and an OL buffs seem to fit quite well together or, in best case, one can take over buffing, and the other debuffing with the heals being equal. Now, these heals are nice, but no where close to a spot one-on-one heal you need in those nasty situtations where nothing goes as planned.
I, if I have any problems with the OL, is that the debuffs are something that works best on mops full time, on other players who flag ya, and in wars. PvP is generally a hard time unless you get them to flag first.
Now, once initated, the debuffs, the soul cry and shield are increadable.
The other hard part, is the setup of the OL. You, as the player, but understand how to set it up and then how to use the setup correctly. This seems to be much harder than my old SR, my tank or other toons I have played.
All in all, the only time I regret my OL is when there is no alliance or clan members to party with. Then, I am not as useful other than just another player, but with a clan or allinace, then OL's Rock!
One more thing, lets keep that "overpowered" thing a bit quiet. We don't need any NcSoft love in that respect... K...