I am returning to L2 after a year (something about this game that gets in your blood so you can't stay away), and I am looking into class choices (and servers for that matter).
I am a support party member through and through, in all my MMO experiece, I always gravitate to a healer type, and usually have a second main for when I want to bash some skulls... But I am a back line healer/buffer all the way - just love helping party members!
So heres the dilemma... do I go Bishop, Prophet, Shillen Elder, Elven Elder, or one of the orc Mystic classes?
I do have some preconcieved notions of these classes, but looking to just add to that the perceptions of some of the community as to what they think of the classes.
Bishop - big time healer, more active than a buffer class
Prophet - the main buffer that people seem to want, but i see this not being a very active class, not to mention people dual-box this class a lot
Shillen Elder - I dont know too much as of yet about this class
Elven Elder - Don't know much, but this seems to be a more boring sort of healer class from what I have heard
Orc Mystics - these two are still a bit of a mystery to me, but I know they got some great buffs...
Certainly no one can make the decision but me, but as this will be my main I would like to make the right choice. I want something active (as active as a backline support class can be :p ), and party/clan wanted. I expect an uphill battle to level this character, but I'm in no rush. I here to have fun and not power level... the levels will come so I'm not concerned.
Thanks in advance for any helpful info - also if you can make a server req that would be great too - but most people just say go to Bartz for the higher population (im in the US).
Everything depends from ur play style.
For example, if u prophet, u can get damage dealer weapon and go with small parties. Like duo-trio. And ppl will love u. Or u can go with big party and make rebuffs every 19 min. (oh, u can pick drops too. Its fun)
EE/BP are healers - both are good. If you want fun - go with aoe groups. Btw, most aoe groups prefere EE - in higher lvls antishock helps a lot.
EE can recharge, BP cant. So, with EE u can ge duo with nuker. Its good option too.
SE is universal char. Duo with nuker, aoe groups, small/big groups. U can be not bad healer; or buffer - depends from party.
WC/OL are great. Like all orcs o_O But lvl them is harder.
Bishops have all the unique heals, highest rez, the incredible AOE rez, the 100% exp rez buff that also heals and keeps buffs when the rez is used, an entire party HP buff, highest levels of all the heals, etc. We are, the best healer. Rather rare class though but anyone in the top level clans knows the value of bishops at the high raids.
Warcriers are much loved right now... you have all the best offensive melee buffs in the game and are the beginning of a party all by yourself.
Warcriers buff their whole party at once and thus can skip some of the tediousness of being a support class, yet they are one of the best buffers and also one of the most powerful individually.
The tradeoff is that their heals are ALL over time or through VR (melee = heal) and not direct. (most people want a direct healer, but you will always be welcome as a buffer!)
Warcriers can also dish pretty solidly in melee and even nuking for a very short time (their drains are massively expensive)
Bishops have gotten a number of buffs lately and can solo into their 7x years as a nuker (vs undead) This isn't particularly mana efficient, but it very easy while you have mana.
Bishops are the specialist healer and resurrect champion in the game and also have some decent buffs from their 3x years (focus, acumen, berzerk1) not to mention some very underrated unique buffs (Body of avatar/Prayer/7 second invulnerability)
Note that due to interlude changes, bishops are the only healer to retain the ability to be recharged AND have invocation (mana recovery spell).
Only downsides with bishops are:
-You have a massively good res, but you never seem to get them. (clannies will bres you)
-You will never be an offensive powerhouse... except vs undead.
SE - best balance of offensive buffs for both melee and mage in the game, good heals (not the best), recharge makes you into every mage's dream duo and VR makes you one of two classes who is a must have for most melee parties. SE are much loved, but are a tad boring sometimes.... heal, recharge, root something, heal, heal, heal, buff, buff, buff, heal, heal, heal...
Did I mention heal?
EE has a defensive buff set... which frankly is usually ignored.
(offense >>>>>>>>> defense in this game)
The only exception to this really is their buff which reduces mana costs (clarity)
EE's have party return and very good reses...
EE's have the fastest recharges in the game.
EE's can also nuke their way to 7x with undead nukes.
EE's have some of the best heals in game... and they cast them very quickly... but they are all single target.
EE is a very good primary support class choice, but you have to love healing and support...
For server choice, I am happy on Hindemith...
We have a solid balance and political battles which include plenty of PvP if you want it, but also leaves most people who don't have warring tags from being randomly PK'd every other second... (due to the balance of power, killing potential allies is a bad plan)
Hindemith prides itself on its community which is a great deal more democratic than other servers who are controlled by a single clan/alliance or botlords.
Check the tax rates for other servers...
You will find Hindemith's are low... why? Because anyone who raises them too high is likely to see the entire server show up to siege them.
Note, I will warn you now... Hindemith's "heroes" are drama queens and hero chat will likely be turned off by anyone over the age of 11 after about 10 seconds of it... This is the only downside to Hindemith IMHO.
Wow some great info there especialy from Thalenduros, thanks! Now I am wondering if I should lean towards Elven Elder as they can buff and heal...so to make them a bit more active.
Are there any downsides to the EE? and what are peoples favorite things about them? Are they a highly played class or are they rare and wanted?
I have a lvl 65 SE so I guess I can clear up some things for you. As Stated SE's are a very universal party character, very welcome in melee and mage class and a requirement in AoE for their buffs, the downside of this of course is that it makes it thee most boxed class in the game. You'll rarely see another Live SE who isnt boxed. Because of the large boxed population there arent many Lives, and since there arent many lives, people continue to make boxes for themselves keeping their happy little mindless ******* drone out of party and reaping all the benefits without sharing exp. Nobody freaking looks for live SE's anymore everyones got their happy little boxes and when your called on a party it'll rarely be for your buffs, itll be cus better healers arent around. I cant tell you how many times ive been outclassed by a **** drone, its basically killing the need to even have Live SE's anymore cus they'res almost nothing a Live SE can do that a boxed one cant. Its sickening is what it is... and the best part is is no one really cares either so.... yay......
Yeah I dont think I wanna go Shillen Elder as they dont have the heals I would like - I really enjoy healing, but its nice to have some buffs too (as well as nice rezzes).
I do intend to get into a clan when I can, but I will wait around for the right one. Biggest hurdle is picking a server as I am narrowing down my class selection. (I hope to get set up tonight - waiting for the cable guy come set me up in the new domicile)
Wow some great info there especialy from Thalenduros, thanks! Now I am wondering if I should lean towards Elven Elder as they can buff and heal...so to make them a bit more active.
Are there any downsides to the EE? and what are peoples favorite things about them? Are they a highly played class or are they rare and wanted?
Note your unique or mostly unique buffs are all defensive... which isn't bad, but it means most XP parties will search for a "buffer" other than you... You will fit the part of "healer" very well and can for the most part handle almost everything the bishop can do minus her unique buffs, plus yours... You don't have the bishop's flexibilty and you do not have her group heals either which are invaluable when some random person who is NOT the tank steals aggro.
However, you do have the best "oh $#!%" button in the game. Party return almost instantly transports you and your party to town.
Some red "hero" rounds the corner all glowy and stuff and you and your 6x friends don't feel like handing him clan points? Poof!
IMHO elven elder is a very active class... as you are constantly taking care of your group... you get more buffs than the bishop, better heals than the SE, some offense vs undead, and recharge (which heals a LOT while crafting)
AND the much loved Party Return.
EE has it's faults.... no battle heal line, no group heal line, res lesser than Bishop, you cannot be recharged, your undead nukes hit for less than the bishop, your buffs are mostly defensive and some would say less useful and you wil never be an offensive power against anything really...
All in all I'd say EE is a good choice for a live healer...
Then again, so is a bishop.
I'd go look at their skill descriptions to get the best idea and then ask questions if you have them.
We've been over EE/bishop skills a number of times but as far as straight heals go it's
EE: Major heal, greater heal, vitalize, group heal, battle heal
Bishop: Major heal, major group heal, greater heal, greater group heal, greater battle heal, vitalize, restore life, balance life, body of avatar (a buff that also heals).
if your in the US, join Bartz, its the most populated US server, if your in Europe or around it, join franz or teon, unless you absolutely want to join a US server then join Bartz
If you are a person who enjoys political intrigue and cautious political maneuvering... then play on Hindemith.
I hear Bartz is more like quake deathmatches... If that's your thing, play on Bartz.
Take a look at the castle control listing...
Bartz is at 15% tax rate for every castle... meaning its owned by bot lords or by alliances that have absolutely no respect for other alliances or the average joe.
Hindemith's castles are listed at 5% for the most part (with a few odd ducks, but none at 15%). This is because of the server's rep for punting bad lords to the curb... misbehave or even just screw up the manor system and you will find an unstoppable zerg at your gates... play it right and you will find a much smaller force each siege cycle.
I play active EE
I do love my class, tho I think nowadays its bit harder to lvl them to 40, because you were able to recharge them earlier with higher lvl SE. But never the less.. its an awesome class IF you like healing.
You can nuke undeads pretty much all the lvls, but now at 62 I haven't found a good place to do it, that also drops herbs.
1. Chose EE if you want to go gank-pvp :p, great when you need to escape quickly - Party Return ftw.
2. Chose EE if you have friend mages (who also dualbox SE) cause Clarity and fast recharges are nice to have + Invocation usage and your mage almost never runs out of mp :)
3. Chose EE if you plan to do lots of raids - fastest 1-target healing + pretty good rez (up to 80% if I'm correct, but maybe was 75%).
4. Chose EE if you want to play an active healer, sometimes those defensive buffs come in handy. Especially now that bless shield & advanced block got passive boost (blocks certain magic attacks).
Overall its a nice balanced class, of course you need a good clan behind your butt ;)
P.S Don't chose EE if your friends want "pwning" buffs from you and EE is not THAT suitable for duoing with DDs, more like a great asset in big parties with a real buffer (PP,WC or even SE).
Thanks for all the info. I think I will be choosing an EE as it gives me a little bit more variety beyond just healing. That and I like the look of the elves better =P
Hopefully I will be able to get set up tonight... Hindemith does sound interesting as I am not afraid of drama.
Bishop is better overall for a raid IMO because we have a higher lvl of MBH. Bishop does the healing, EE's and SE's rehcarge us.
QFT. At a raid bishops in a tank group use major heal, restore life (30% hp heal), and balance life. (party based % heal) All an EE can do is use major heal. If there is a bishop around the mana is better put into the bishop since the heals are more effective.
While I do love bishops...
The concept of Elven Elders recharging bishops instead of healing with major heal seems incredibly silly to me.
Both balance life and restore life are on timers... Let's be honest here.. are those two running you out of mana?
No... its the Major Heals.
In a raid the point is now single target heals... and mana efficiency and speed.
Having two healers healing (or able to heal) the tank at the same time is MUCH better than one of them recharging the bishop at a loss in both mana and time.
Furthurmore, an elven elder can cast major heal faster than a bishop can and thus fill the gaps easier without losing mana efficiency. (GBH is very fast but not mana efficient.)
Note that two communicating healers is better than one being recharged... two healers who aren't communicating are indeed better off recharging...
Recharging a Phantom Summoner is indeed efficient because they have higher mana gain and they can use this mana to heal their shade which then uses HP to heal the tank...
Restore life and balance life heal for way, way more than major heal and at less cost for a high hp class. So between the two it's more valuable to keep the bishops mp up for these efficient heals than have a EE, who now cannot be recharged, to be quickly banging out major heals.
BUT OF COURSE it depends of course on the raid, you may be just fine with a bishop and ee just healing, sure. But I've been sole tank healer with several rechargers for a level 80 raid boss between greater heal (before major came out), restore life, and balance where an EE couldn't do the same without many more rechargers.
And this would not be at all possible with an EE now, thanks to the recharge nerf.
So sure in balanced party depending on the situation both classes could heal at a raid a bishop is just way more efficient, just like an EE is way more efficient at recharging. Nothing wrong with being a "mp battery"... bishops ARE the hp batteries after all. Hell I had that as my title for a while even XD
Uhm, so you run OOM doing just restore life and balance life? o_O You don't use major heal on raids?
You can just stop using major heal if you need to preserve MP for balance life and restore life ... your major heal is not better than the EE's by such a margin that you using it is somehow better than them using it. o.O MGH aside.
What Crawlerin said. Last time I did sole healing at a big raid, there was no major heal yet. It's unlikely any big raid will have just ONE healer on the tank, I'm just saying what a bishop can do when it comes down to it.
Both Bishop and EE are appealing classes (more so than an SE). I do like to be able to dole out some buffs with the heals, so just thinking an EE gives me a little bit of everything... as long as I shouldnt have an issue getting a group - either one is fine by me =)
I used to play a healer and shaman in DAoC and loved them both... A Shillen Elder seems like the shaman of this game as it is botted a lot for its buffs, and it isnt really healer (though my old shammy could heal **** well), so thats why the EE seems like a good fit as if gives me both healing, a few buffs that some people like, good rezzes, and the teleport speciality...
What applies to major heal now applied to greater heal then. If your levels of the skill are close enough, telling the EE to recharge you so you can use greater heal instead of using their own greater heal which is a whole six levels (for heals the efficiency difference here is as good as absolutely insignificant, and the EE probably has higher HPS with GH) behind is unsensible.
I look forward to meeting a new EE on Hindemith Mantooth.
If elven is how you want to look and it means you are more likely to play it... then you have made your choice and don't worry about the whole Bishop/EE thing... both are wonderful.
Live healers are ALWAYS useful and very much needed.
You are correct in that Elven Elder does indeed seem to be (at least one of) the mid-point(s) for all the priests.
Buffs, recharge, some of the best heals, higher resses, some undead offense...
Live Elven Elders are a boon to any clan... you should be quite valuable... Especially if they like PvP.
Here's hopin our new batch of "heroes" doesn't scare ya off the first night... the rest of Hindemith is a great deal less "drama queen" than our "heroes".
I hope to roll up tonight - If you give me a character name I can give you a shout. But I am not beggin for eupiment or adena - its just to chat with someone is all =)