Both classes need heavy armor.Go BD and get in a big clan-EVERY party needs a BD.And our lvl 70 SK shouts for party much more than all our (7 atm) BDs combined.
You should have made an SH for solo.
SK is better solo than a BD. they get VR from their cubic way before a BD gets VR from their dances, and they have more heavy armor masteries. just get a high m att weapon you can switch to.
I do prefer soloing with a BD up to lvl60 or so, it will be kinda slow after lvl50, but its doable.
yes, there are plenty of BDs around, but hey, I would love one more :) there is never enough BDs around.
SK is WAY better soloing at higher lvls.. sure, they may be slower at 1-50, but BDs get way to fragile after lvl60. (no armor masterys)
so if you gonna solo forever, go SK. if you plan to join a clan one day, or just want partys, go BD.
(soloing a BD at lvl 60-70+ isent an option, I think, unless you got outside buffers)
If you plan on going solo most of the way, then SK is a better choice. Self-buffed with DD setup, my SK can solo the front of Saints or Disciples while using a lot of pots at level 62. I can solo Devotion with ease, and minimal downtime. SK has numerous choices in attacks. I would suggest a Mage Weapon for better heals from your two drains. I personally used a SoV/Acu for more than half of B Grade, and I switched between the SoV and a Kesh/Focus for the latter half.
In A Grade, using a Tallum Heavy Set, a Tallum Blade/Haste and Elemental Sword/MP makes for a very good character. You may have some difficulties tanking RB's with that setup however.
In addition to being able to solo more effectively, at higher levels you are better able to PvP in most gank-style settings, as most classes will have a very difficult time killing you. Not only do you get massive defensive capabilities, your nukes hurt a lot with the right gear, and your cubics will be amazing.
Thanks for all the great information. It's a great help.
I used my dwarf to make me some SS and I borrowed some duals and I'm just mowing down mobs. Not even using any skills. I'm wondering if I'd like something like an AW. Granted I'd have to level a new toon, but getting to 30 isn't that hard. Though, I wonder if AW is any better solo over 60 compared to say SK. Especially since they wear LA.
No seriously.... you don't know [censored] about your class until you are high enough to consider bsoeing before losing exp.
Ooookay... So I should continue to play a nuker class even if I don't like their play-style because I apparently don't know anything about them after 40? That's helpful, thanks... So should I play every class to 78 then decide what I like cause I won't be able to get a feel for them until then? Right. Well then I guess this game isn't for me. *rolls eyes*
I'll keep grinding along with my Palus Knight then till I have to decide. ^^
Don't be discouraged. I had to roll both classes before I could figure out which one I liked more, and to tell you the truth, there's no contest: I like BOTH classes.
The SK I like because of it's balance between defense and offensive skills, the options in terms of builds are endless, and , of course, the cubics rock.
The BD, on the other hand, gets the coolest weapons in game in the form of dual swords, and dances which help make you and your party a more efficient killing machine.
Each class has it's downside. For one, SK's need D crystals to use cubics. Secondly, most ppl that really like playing SK's can afford more than one weapon, and one armor set. I have my SK in Majestic, but I keep Doom Heavy on standby when I need to go to my "para-tank" build.
BD's suffer from potentially breaking their weapons in order to activate the SA, and of course, you have to keep an eye on your mana bar...you can't dance forever. BD's are also squishier than SK's at higher levels. You'll notice a recurring theme in L2. Those classes designed for grouping ultimately have to group as the mobs get tougher. I think BD's fall into this category.
So at what point does the BD's squishiness out way their damage output? I'm using duals right now since they do more damage and I don't even notice the difference of not having a shield. I kills mobs before they can do any major amount of damage to me. Granted these are greens etc.
I think I'd actually go SK, but my biggest fear is their killing rate. In my experience with other MMO's the tanks are the slowest killers. I had a friend that complained about is DA all the time being so slow or unable to kill anything. SK's sound like Dark Knights, which could be fun if they do decent damage.
I know they are not nukers, but I have an equal level Dark Wizard and Palus Knight and I have more fun with the Knight. Both using shots the knight actually feels faster, though I'm sure it's not really, just feels that way due to less micro management of mana etc.
What's a decent armor/weapon progression for SK? Damage setup and otherwise. I already have a dwarf that can crush items so that should help. But it does look like it gets expensive. 13 Crystals for one cubic that only last 15mins, from what I read, seems a bit steep. :confused:
What lvl are you again?
Im curently 61 killing white mobs that drop herbs.I can go for around 40 minutes before stopping (no buffs).
If i had tallum+dama*tall however things would be different.
Dont forget the new top A grade weapons-other chars need to go hunt for rec/parts.BD/Glad just need 2 swords.
dont just think of "which class can solo best" because in the long run you are gonna start looking for parties and you are gonna get bored of soloing and wanna play something else. See it as which class is good at soloing and good in parties in which case BD is the way to go.
Tons of people say "bd's dont get armor masteries so they r fragile"... lol well they dont play bd's do they. even without heavy armor masteries bd's have just about the same pdef as most heavy armor classes.
http://img164.imageshack.us/my.php?image=buffedbdis8.jpg
taht pic is of me as i was before i decided to sell my gear and stick to lvling subclass only but u can see that with those stats soloing is no problem. and those buffs arent anything special. especially when everyone now adays has a 2box prophet or se.
my tip. tanks arent generally wanted in parties and are slow at xping. im guessing that if you do pick an sk for soloing, bd is still going to lvl faster due to better damage output in the long run.
A note about getting parties, the clan I'm in doesn't really care what class you are etc. Too I'm not entierly sure I want to play a buffer/support type class. Though it sounds like they do more damange then an SK...
A BD is a lot more than a buffer/support class. They also deal a lot of damage, hex the enemies, can pseudo tank with VR and Dance of Vampire.
The heavy armor available on the PTS is not for DD's. Sure, the +STR and +HP is nice, but the -DEX isn't. Tallum is a much better set for both the SK and BD.
You can only get S-grade armors and weapons. And no enchant scrolls. Meaning only the SK will have a weapon with an SA. The BD will be left out with just clean duals and no bonus to CP/HP/MP.