While generally reluctant to start topics, search gave me little in the way of meaningful information, probably due to differing viewpoints on the classes. I'm trying to figure out which class to pursue and would appreciate any input.
I had initially intended to go straight for BladeDancer, no questions asked, but then read some things after a search that gave me pause. I understand that the BD is basically the L2 equivalent of the Bard from D&D though perhaps not as powerful as its EverQuest incarnation. My questions lie more with the ability of the BD to grind xp on its own. Is it doable or is it an exercise in frustration? I don't mind complexity but I don't think jamming a square peg into a round hole is my idea of fun. :)
With regard to SK, is it typical for them to use duals or is "sword & board" the generally accepted/followed path? Is it something like, "Oh, an SK with duals. Cute." or par for the course?
Basically, I was looking for a class that can wear heavy armor (cuz it looks soooo cool here, if the library's any indication) and dual wield, has good group utility and at least some soloability. I realize the game revolves around clans and such and plan to join one but I also realize that there will be times when no one in the clan or alliance is on and/or available for grouping so I will have to be prepared for that.
Also, since there's a 50/50 chance I'll start a second account and my current one has 'action' types on it (BD/SK, PR, AW, SH, Tyrant planned), are there particular classes that duo well with these or is it a case of 'any support class will work'?
Thanks for any replies. Trying to get an idea of where all the pieces fit into the puzzle.
well well... for heavy armor and duals, go BD. Not that you can't go duals with a SK (i had a try with fist weapons once, and trust me, was hella fun :)) but you will miss a lot with the second attack since you don't get masteries, and at same time, you basically "waste" shield masteries you have...
So far, being a SK, i can say i easily solo white mobs (that have stun even) without spamming healing pots (with the 2 life drains, actually i rarely use any). Don't know much about BD in solo, but you won't find any difficult to join a rift party ($$!) as any other party ^_^
that said... take a look at skill tree maybe, and see if you get any inspiration (you could be Zzapped by the lightning strike, or raise you fever for saturady's night blade dances!)
^_^ for any other question, ask and i'll do my best to find any good answers :P
as side note to my previuos post: of course also SK has it's spot in party, is not like a "solo machine", and can easily swap role between main tank and "side" tank (we can say almost DD with berz on... :P) and the good nukes it has give the playstyle (and why not, equipment setup) a lot of variations ^_^
I can answer from a BD point of view - I have several toons and this is by far my favorite and my main.
I'm currently 63 and I'm usually in a party because BD are very very popular. The dances give bonuses to practically everyone you party with and are very easy to keep up. Having said that I can also solo BUT with a boxed buffer. I use a Prophet (just because he's on my other account and SE isn't) and I manage adequately.
I find I struggle more without any form of buffs (aside from my dances) trying to solo.
I can make no comment on SK's as I've never played one.
A bd can solo all the way to 75 if he wants,especially whit a boxed buffer.SE is the most usseful because of the vr buff but an wc can also be good..if your looking for a party toon BD is the way to go.If your in to heavy armor and duals you could also consider gladiator,its a very powerfull class both in pve and pvp.
If you go SK with duals, people won't say "cute", they'll say what the ... were you thinking?
Probably they'll say it about as much as if the nuker starts meleeing or the archer gets a two-handed sword out.
A tank's forté is it's defense, so heavy armour + shield + sword is the way to go. Some will go with a one-handed blunt for the health SA, but most who tried a focus sword and a health blunt will stick to the focus sword.
I was getting about 30-40% in a weekend on a 75 BD, albeit with a Prophet and SE to buff me, so "soloing" can be done. Whilst having the buffers isn't what I would class as soloing, a large majority of players do have a boxed prophet or SE.
I'm not sure what the call is for tanks outside of Raid Boss parties these days. With the catacombs, large groups aren't usually the thing and VR means that any decent DD can probably tank in many cases.
I don't know how it works in places like Pagans, Imperial Tomb and MoS but those are a way off for you yet.
My personal opinion would be to go BD, purely from the party opporunities that you will probably get.
If you go SK with duals, people won't say "cute", they'll say what the ... were you thinking?
I was a Shillien Knight with Duals from lv20 to lv45, and it was so cool and so fun !!!
But then again, i also was a Shillien Knight wearing Light Armor (my most-wanted Rind Leather) :p
To the OP, at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is for you to have fun.
So, if you think Shillien Knigth's skills are fun, and Duals are great, and Rind Leather looks cool, just go for that, who cares ?
My questions lie more with the ability of the BD to grind xp on its own. Is it doable or is it an exercise in frustration?
Yes, it's doable. Any class can solo. The question is can it solo efficiently without an out of party buffer. I'd say yes for both the BD and SK. Efficiently, but not quickly.
With regard to SK, is it typical for them to use duals or is "sword & board" the generally accepted/followed path?
At lower levels, sure, use whatever you like. But around level 58 and up, you'll want the sword and board. The defensive skills that an SK gets at higher levels are just too good to pass on. Some of the skills can only be used with a sword or shield, not duals.
Basically, I was looking for a class that can wear heavy armor
Both BD's and SK's get heavy armor masteries. You can also use Plate Leather Set at C grade (because of the +4 Str) if you solo in a place where pots drop or if you don't mind popping heal pots or if you have VR at all times.
Also, since there's a 50/50 chance I'll start a second account and my current one has 'action' types on it (BD/SK, PR, AW, SH, Tyrant planned), are there particular classes that duo well with these or is it a case of 'any support class will work'?
The second account should be either SE, EE, or PP. I'm told WC are the best buffers in game, but they don't get the good stuff until they are further along. The SE, EE and PP all get buffs that can help your main sooner than later.
By the way, it sounds to me like the class that you really want to play is the BD. I would never advise anyone to play an SK with their first toon. It is a more expensive class than the BD.
Thanks tons! I kinda figured BD would be the class I was looking for but as I said, some searches here came up with threads where the viability of a BD solo was called into question.
Grazzt, I see what you're saying but as I said, I'm not one to try to jam a square peg into a round hole. That is, if the class's skillset lends itself to a particular armor and/or weapon setup, I wouldn't go against that just in the name of "fun". I'd find a class that fit what I wanted to do and how I wanted to play. IMO, it's never fun (in the long run) to play a class against its strengths. Efficiency is somewhat important to me given the long row to *** I have ahead of me (it's a LONG way from 19 to 80, after all). Plus, I have to admit that I'm kinda burned out on the tanking thing (I always wind up playing either the tank or the healer or both, in games I play with friends) so BD fits better in that respect as well.
But thanks everyone, lots of helpful info here. :)
I'm not sure what the call is for tanks outside of Raid Boss parties these days. With the catacombs, large groups aren't usually the thing and VR means that any decent DD can probably tank in many cases.
don't know why to all seems so hard to find a party for a tank... maybe is me (luky) or the SK (required?) but i find no probs in gettin a party... and when i don't find any, i just start one ^^
well, don't mind me, it's just a thought cause i often hear these kind of statement and i never really experienced that difficult :P
to OP: happy we where of help in your choose! now grab your duals and have fun! :)
A general remark to the OP. In D&D all classes are able to solo. In L2 it's not like that. Sure, all classes can solo. But some classes need to be in party to be more effective. That beeing said, a BD's description is:
"The Bladedancer primarily uses two-bladed swords and raises the abilities of his party members by dancing. He assists in the hunt by increasing the attack power of his party through Dance of Warrior. The Bladedancer also raises the critical damage of party members through Dance of Fire."
I think it's obvious that BD shines in party, not in solo.
I think it's obvious that BD shines in party, not in solo.
Understood. However, does that also mean the BD is completely helpless outside of parties? That was my primary concern and the reason for my asking. Every class in every MMO since Ultima Online can solo to some degree but as you said, some may find the core of their strength lies in what they enable others to do. I'm okay with that. I surely don't intend to solo my way to 80. :)
I've been playing a BD for almost 2 years now and i have to tell u that in every chronicle i see the role of tanks being brushed aside. The use of vr and dance of vampire stacked with all the damage buffs you wont need a tank. I hate to say it but even in raids they can be replaced. 2 or 3 Destroyers with frenzy and a couple of healers and dances/songs can tank out a raib boss and kill it just as efficiently and quickly as a party of nukers.
All im saying is play a class that will benefit youself as well as the friends u play with. bladedancers are very capable of tanking mobs and playing a nice role as a dd. Believe me when i say you'll enjoy playing the bd.
I think it's obvious that BD shines in party, not in solo.
Understood. However, does that also mean the BD is completely helpless outside of parties? That was my primary concern and the reason for my asking. Every class in every MMO since Ultima Online can solo to some degree but as you said, some may find the core of their strength lies in what they enable others to do. I'm okay with that. I surely don't intend to solo my way to 80. :)
No, he is not helpless. He just might solo harder (slower) than other classes. But remember that at a certain point soloing becomes hard and unproductive almost for every class. In this case BD finds parties easier because a) he can deal some good damage and b) his dances stack with all other buffs. If you go BD, try to exp in parties as much possible. That way you make friends and a clan invitation will only be a matter of time.
Understood. However, does that also mean the BD is completely helpless outside of parties?
Not at all.
So as not to confuse, a BD's receives the effects of his dances whether he is in party or not. A BD can even dance when Silenced. In that respect, a BD's dances helps him/her to level in ways that other magic-based skills cannot.
However, dances have a limited duration, hence the "mp consumed with continuous dancing" (paraphrased) line in the skill descriptions. Mana management does become one of your concerns as a BD. A combination of dances can easily drop your MP bar to below 50%, and you won't regen all of the MP before the dances expire. As long as the effect remains, you'll be a killing machine. But once the dances lapse, you'll XP at a "normal" pace.
That isn't to discourage you, only to point out that "normal" is the variable that you should try to tweak the most... by adding tatoos, armor and weapon SA's, overenchantments, and the like. Adding an out of party buffer is also a good way to tweak "normal."
ALL classes can solo now with herbs... some are better than others due to damage output being more important in this game than defense...
Both BD and SK deal damage quite well.
BD with duals is roughly equal to a SK with a 2H sword, but this is before buffs.
The BD has his dances which make him even more powerful but he has less defense than a SK.
If you want to play a BD, then have no fear, you will be wanted in nearly every group and be able to solo just fine.
The BDs only real flaw is PvP... and it isn't really a weakness as much as it is you don't have a lot of defense or HP and your enemies know that leaving you alive makes all your party members a great deal more powerful in the long run.
SK shouldnt use duals in most case a single sword will be more patk due to masterys... try using a hp weapon and shiled for groups and a 2 hand sword w/ focus of haste for solo/dd
SK shouldnt use duals in most case a single sword will be more patk due to masterys... try using a hp weapon and shiled for groups and a 2 hand sword w/ focus of haste for solo/dd
Point is moot, I'm going BD. Nice to know though and I'm definitely adding that to the notebook. I also don't think I'll be trying any "traditional" tank types (DA, SH, TK, Destroyer) for quite some time. I need to get the stench of tanking in other MMOs out of my skin first. :p