I have a 4x Berserker in Bartz and sometimes feel lonely because people don't actually *need* me except for raids... So I just wanted to roll a char in which I could log and almost always have people wanting to play with me.
I have considered the Healer class.... also the PP which people would want to have around because its a bit of a chore to go back to town every 20 mins for buffs
I have a 4x Berserker in Bartz and sometimes feel lonely because people don't actually *need* me except for raids... So I just wanted to roll a char in which I could log and almost always have people wanting to play with me
I never realized how good are tankers until I played one.
BH with a pole are great if you can convince them to accept party and share spoil... I would accept if I am just questing and not after something special like a BSPS recipe.
If everyone just wants BD/WC/Healer/etc in a group, who's doing the killing?
See that's the funny part. The answer to this is:
ME! Mememememememe!
Everyone wants to be their Gladdi/Destroyer/HE/SR/Necro/SH/whatever and have all the helps to be wickedkewlbadazz!
Who wouldn't want to be the center of attention?
OTOH, I think some of the more mature players more enjoy being part of a party with a system, and this is where you understand non-OOP / live healers, spoilers, dancers, singers, debuffers, etc. are lots of fun!
I know tankers are good, my main is a TK... but try to convince people to exchange VR for a Shield...
Tankers on partys should be extremly necessary, not an option.
Everybody nowadays has an oop 56lvl pp ... it's a sad class to play.
As to healers, like I said before, ppl beg for healers in PvP but dont really invite them for pve
Everybody nowadays has an oop 56lvl pp ... it's a sad class to play.
As to healers, like I said before, ppl beg for healers in PvP but dont really invite them for pve
Everybody nowadays has an oop 56lvl pp ... it's a sad class to play.
As to healers, like I said before, ppl beg for healers in PvP but dont really invite them for pve
Which is sad but understandable. Any other game like L2 relies on the "Holy Trinity of classes"(Tank, DD, Healer) but in L2 you actually don't want healers and tanks since you don't need them(most of the time) and every last bit of exp is precious considering the grind.
Everybody nowadays has an oop 56lvl pp ... it's a sad class to play.
As to healers, like I said before, ppl beg for healers in PvP but dont really invite them for pve
If you'll excuse my ignorance, what's "oop"?
I Think it's "Out of Party" I have an OOP level 62 SE and OOP level 62 PP :p
Ok how is it I posted 2 mins later when 30sec ago no one answered him yet?
Everybody nowadays has an oop 56lvl pp ... it's a sad class to play.
As to healers, like I said before, ppl beg for healers in PvP but dont really invite them for pve
Which is sad but understandable. Any other game like L2 relies on the "Holy Trinity of classes"(Tank, DD, Healer) but in L2 you actually don't want healers and tanks since you don't need them(most of the time) and every last bit of exp is precious considering the grind.
Well played NCsoft, well played. :(
Beyond sad.... But i think they adapted the game to the low population it has, that's all. And thus they made some classes useless or not necesarily needed as actively played (and thus noone needs a live one in truth).
Anyway, it's disturbed. Distrubed L2.
Ok, forgetting about the sadness... lol... back to topic.
Buffers: ruled out cause people use them oop. :confused:
Healers: nobody needs them. :(
That means that we are down to WC, BD, and SS, right?
Jacent anyone tell you your a handsome Mature Man?
/Back on Topic
What were we talking about?
My avatar is an inside joke between myself and a friend. The guy in the pic is actually Cesar Milan (//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Millan) a.k.a. "The Dog Whisperer".
c2 messed up l2 tbh ... small party xp bonus etc. People that were around before will remember the cruma days, when people actually made 9man parties including a tank healers etc to go exp.
Which is sad but understandable. Any other game like L2 relies on the "Holy Trinity of classes"(Tank, DD, Healer) but in L2 you actually don't want healers and tanks since you don't need them(most of the time) and every last bit of exp is precious considering the grind.
With my Shillen Oracle level 21 she could solo first room in NOS but when I dual boxed her with my level 24 Palus Knight then they could go to Pilgrim Necropolis,..
Just UD the first fight and then chain the room. XP wise it was better XP for her than soloing in NOS.
If it is just kill green mobs I don't think tanker is any useful, but with tanker you can take mobs way tougher than your normal level range.
Of course it's only a level 2x experience, but this is why I'm impressed so far :)
yeah, I remember every room in cruma having a 9 man party, no one spammed shots back then either. And the farmer wars were hilariously fun. (ACTUAL PEOPLE playing farmer toons, would pvp each other, and other players to get the good spots etc.)
and Ash, if you are ever without group let me know and you can group with my Destro.
Jacent anyone tell you your a handsome Mature Man?
/Back on Topic
What were we talking about?
My avatar is an inside joke between myself and a friend. The guy in the pic is actually <a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Millan" target="_blank">Cesar Milan</a> a.k.a. "The Dog Whisperer".
yeah, I remember every room in cruma having a 9 man party, no one spammed shots back then either. And the farmer wars were hilariously fun. (ACTUAL PEOPLE playing farmer toons, would pvp each other, and other players to get the good spots etc.)
and Ash, if you are ever without group let me know and you can group with my Destro.
If you make a support class/melee class be ready to get killed by [censored] just for the reason then are able kill you. After all it is easy to kill someone who is not able to fight back...
and yeah what Handel said, in fact there was a hilarious "pvp" video where some archer was running around killing obviously afk or boxed healers and buffers like he was some kind of bad "as"... it was very lol. Support classes can't do anything against anyone really (not counting the oly) so as a summoner friend of mine once said they are just "big bags of free points".
and yeah what Handel said, in fact there was a hilarious "pvp" video where some archer was running around killing obviously afk or boxed healers and buffers like he was some kind of bad "as"... it was very lol. Support classes can't do anything against anyone really (not counting the oly) so as a summoner friend of mine once said they are just "big bags of free points".
Granted they cant really hit back, but if I am going to attack a Glad and his healer, chances are I will kill the healer first. Thats just how it works. Now killing just the healer and then running off is a bit of a chicken move,
If you think you are going to solo at least half of the time, go Warcryer. If you are in group most of the time, go Prophet. At end game, prophets are a nice and fun class. Then again, so are warcryers.
Jacent anyone tell you your a handsome Mature Man?
/Back on Topic
What were we talking about?
My avatar is an inside joke between myself and a friend. The guy in the pic is actually <a href="//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Millan" target="_blank">Cesar Milan</a> a.k.a. "The Dog Whisperer".
If you make a support class/melee class be ready to get killed by [censored] just for the reason then are able kill you. After all it is easy to kill someone who is not able to fight back...
Very and I mean Very Few class can kill my WC her lvl with her new set up (which I will post later) I Give S grades a Hard time. WC is a Support class but they are not to be toyed with and don't even attack one solo when they have a High lvl Black Wolf as a pet, it's like fighting a fully buff DA in light armor with Killer Fast casting Drains with a panther out fully buffed. Just think how strong my WC will be at 78 and I can already take lvl 78's at 73?
Very and I mean Very Few class can kill my WC her lvl with her new set up (which I will post later) I Give S grades a Hard time. WC is a Support class but they are not to be toyed with and don't even attack one solo when they have a High lvl Black Wolf as a pet, it's like fighting a fully buff DA in light armor with Killer Fast casting Drains with a panther out fully buffed. Just think how strong my WC will be at 78 and I can already take lvl 78's at 73?
I can probably kill you ;) Been holding my own with most classes in S grade since I was 66. (I did say most, the majority of nukers give me a pretty hard time, and glads who know what they are doing can be a bit of a challenge)
Very and I mean Very Few class can kill my WC her lvl with her new set up (which I will post later) I Give S grades a Hard time. WC is a Support class but they are not to be toyed with and don't even attack one solo when they have a High lvl Black Wolf as a pet, it's like fighting a fully buff DA in light armor with Killer Fast casting Drains with a panther out fully buffed. Just think how strong my WC will be at 78 and I can already take lvl 78's at 73?
Ah, yes... You give S nukers hards time... In what exactly? In counting how many times they killed you without ever noticing they killed someone?
Do NOT go prophet. Most prophets rerolled years ago because a.) it's boring to be a prophet - buff then sit for 20 minutes and b.) many people have OOP prophets. Chances are, if you get a group of players together, at least one of them is going to have a boxed prophet available.
There are certain parties when healers (Bishop & EE) are essential, but through the years L2 has gone from a large group game to a small group game. There will be times when you'll find a group right away and there will be times when you can't find a group at all. And soloing a healer is not something you'd want to do all the time.
I suggest BD. SwS are good too but are more suited for archer and melee parties, whereas BD have dances for any type of party. Also, while the SwS has good buffs, the BD's buffs are typically considered to be more "necessary". Most parties, if they have to pick one or the other, would go for BD.
The good thing about BDs is they can also solo pretty well. They have some good debuffs and drains, which combined with their dances, makes them more capable of solo xp than most other support classes.
Ah, yes... You give S nukers hards time... In what exactly? In counting how many times they killed you without ever noticing they killed someone?
it probably takes them a bit more effort to kill her than you think, with the passive Mdef of WC's and all. That and the fact that if she gets close with soul cry WC's can actually do a fair bit of damage.
Do NOT go prophet. Most prophets rerolled years ago because a.) it's boring to be a prophet - buff then sit for 20 minutes and b.) many people have OOP prophets. Chances are, if you get a group of players together, at least one of them is going to have a boxed prophet available.
There are certain parties when healers (Bishop & EE) are essential, but through the years L2 has gone from a large group game to a small group game. There will be times when you'll find a group right away and there will be times when you can't find a group at all. And soloing a healer is not something you'd want to do all the time.
I suggest BD. SwS are good too but are more suited for archer and melee parties, whereas BD have dances for any type of party. Also, while the SwS has good buffs, the BD's buffs are typically considered to be more "necessary". Most parties, if they have to pick one or the other, would go for BD.
The good thing about BDs is they can also solo pretty well. They have some good debuffs and drains, which combined with their dances, makes them more capable of solo xp than most other support classes.
Not everyone plays this game for the maximum damage output per minute. Not everyone plays to "race to the highest" first. Wouldnt a prophet be great for a social player?
Just some food for thought, for what seems like a hungry brain.
I would suggest a WC as well. Basically a Prophet and SE rolled into 1, and groups tend to party them more, as they are usually out dealing damage when they aren't buffing. Prophets tend to sit at a safe corner and stand and do stuff every 20 mins.
An SE/Bishop isn't a bad way to go, They can get into alot of Pick-up parties. And are needed more and more the higher the level they are.
The best advice though, find a clan, work your way through the academy (assuming your under 40) and ask them what they are lacking. Reroll, go through the Academy again (hey it doesn't take long to go through Academy) and then you will have a needed class. As long as the clan is fairly active you should be able to get into lots of parties.
Very and I mean Very Few class can kill my WC her lvl with her new set up (which I will post later) I Give S grades a Hard time. WC is a Support class but they are not to be toyed with and don't even attack one solo when they have a High lvl Black Wolf as a pet, it's like fighting a fully buff DA in light armor with Killer Fast casting Drains with a panther out fully buffed. Just think how strong my WC will be at 78 and I can already take lvl 78's at 73?
I can probably kill you ;) Been holding my own with most classes in S grade since I was 66. (I did say most, the majority of nukers give me a pretty hard time, and glads who know what they are doing can be a bit of a challenge)
MRT 6:00pm EST me and you 1 on 1.
And Nukers lol SPS and SH stun so easy it's not even funny I just stun and melee them to death with me and my Wolf i don't even have 2 cast magic and my wolf is a 2 to 3 shot hit now 2 by most classes but I still hold my own. Now when me and my wolf hit 78+ I like see them still kill my wolf in 2 to 3 shots and they can't do crap stuned. so either I know my class very well or the people I have been fighting suck that bad.
Sleep I was sleeping a 78 SPS in Arena last night he had DC robes and a SOM and BSPS I have a blunt no acumen and DC robes and I cast sleep faster then he could. it started as a Sleep fight then guess he got a little mad that I could cast sleep faster and it kept landing then it turn into a pvp match he hit hard but I stun him so easy and sleep that after I got fear 2 land it was over. now that was 78 vs 73 think if lvls were =. It also helped that my M attack on my weapon is over 179 with argument I say over becasue of the .6 :D
+4 Majestic Jewery (Full set is +4 Except Necklace is +5)
Crono Blunt (for Stun)
+4 STR -4 CON Tatto
+1 DEX -1 CON Tatto
+4 WIT -4 MEN Tatto
Level 67 Black Wolf With Top Weapon and Armor (Tank/Killer DD)
White Mask (From The Epic Collection )
I never have a problem getting a Party....the moment I log on some one sends me an Invite :D
yeah. all you need to clear catacomb double rooms is a BD+WC with good weapons/armor. (I personally love focus weapons)
hex+atk speed+crit rate/ crit dmg+WC buffs (vr) and you don't need heals.
I second subbed BD w/ +10 Tsurugi*SLS and I duo a WC with greatsword-focus. it is great kill speed.
Are we doing this self buffed ash, if thats the case prolly wont be close you will torch me, but if we are doing this with buffs should be fun. Also, can we make it 6:30 EST, I wont get home til a little after 5 p.m. CST, which is 6 pm EST.
Are we doing this self buffed ash, if thats the case prolly wont be close you will torch me, but if we are doing this with buffs should be fun. Also, can we make it 6:30 EST, I wont get home til a little after 5 p.m. CST, which is 6 pm EST.
6:30 is fine
We could go either way self buff becasue I won't have mp 2 do much but will be fun self buff lol
But I can See _Charmille_ now saying
"NOOBS Who PVP Self Buffed I will come and Own both of you Noobs while I'm fully buffed with COV......&*%*&%* Self Buff (picks up a rock hits a bystander in the back of the head) &^%$$* Noobs!"
Shows how much you know about the world, Spuddy. Btw, you're more on the girly side :) Perhaps you should start eating some hormones to make it a reality.
As to buffs, I always have atleast Fort buffs or SE+PP buffs so yeah...
Shows how much you know about the world, Spuddy. Btw, you're more on the girly side :) Perhaps you should start eating some hormones to make it a reality.
As to buffs, I always have atleast Fort buffs or SE+PP buffs so yeah...
@Ashley, arena fights mean nothing lol.
fights mean nothing anyway.
show me the bonus you get for +1 pvp. since there isnt a bonus, fights mean sweet FA.
Are we doing this self buffed ash, if thats the case prolly wont be close you will torch me, but if we are doing this with buffs should be fun. Also, can we make it 6:30 EST, I wont get home til a little after 5 p.m. CST, which is 6 pm EST.
6:30 is fine
We could go either way self buff becasue I won't have mp 2 do much but will be fun self buff lol
But I can See _Charmille_ now saying
"NOOBS Who PVP Self Buffed I will come and Own both of you Noobs while I'm fully buffed with COV......&*%*&%* Self Buff (picks up a rock hits a bystander in the back of the head) &^%$$* Noobs!"
So might as well Buff up. :D
I'm going to come and who ever loses gets trampled on by everyone within a 200feet radius
Oh really? So killing the enemy raid force does not give you the ability to do the raid instead? Right-o Spuddy, right-o. You know, Epic bosses are alot more valuable than a castle.
Oh really? So killing the enemy raid force does not give you the ability to do the raid instead? Right-o Spuddy, right-o. You know, Epic bosses are alot more valuable than a castle.
why would you? killing an enemy raid force takes more effort than the raid itself. best bet is to %heal and Celestial shield the boss and bsoe.
If you think Celestial Shield lasts long enough in the first place to wipe a force, you got no [censored] clue. Secondly, you cannot enter some of the Epic Bosses after a certain period... You also fail to understand that +1 PVP is +1 CRP and -1 CRP for the enemy. But hey, you dont probably have any clan skills yet so you dont understand the value of CRP either.
I'd like to 1vs1 Spuddy boy T_T To see if he can even break the CP lol.
I've already learned on the PTS.
Spud is too scared to steep out of town cause he'll lose 4%, and have to spend an extra 2 minutes grinding back his lost XP.........LAWL carebear spud!!!!
Maybe I should transfer my SH to Lionna just to kill Spuddy until he stops playing... sounds like a plan! Anyone on Lionna wanna donate a full set of DC and a SoM Acumen for my SH? Dont wanna waste good gear transfering to a dead server.
This coming from the person who took a war death on the pts and spent at least an hour on the ground looking for a brez. On the PTS. Did I mention it was the PTS?
This coming from the person who took a war death on the pts and spent at least an hour on the ground looking for a brez. On the PTS. Did I mention it was the PTS?
lol prove it!
you forget a good tactic is to make people think that, while a group comes to kill them!
besides I was playing PTS to test high lvl WR. so even if such is true so what I spent alot of my time trying to get to a lvl to test a new skill.
This coming from the person who took a war death on the pts and spent at least an hour on the ground looking for a brez. On the PTS. Did I mention it was the PTS?
Ellie, I like you but that has to be a lie. Please tell me that you made that up. Please?
hmm.
i'm guessing a WC would be the class for me to go then?
i'd like to be invited to things everytime i log on and since WC are buffers. they are a must huh?
If you cant decide on your own class alone, why do you even play?
to some people it's hard to make up your mind about what is better.
^^;
i have that problem a whole lot.
they just want to find the right server, race, class, and items.
WC looks like it would be alot of fun. You will definitely get parties, and you can actually do a fair bit of damage with the right set up.
(I won if you must know, but it was really close, but destro's are notoriously hard to kill, especially in the arena where you cant really kite forever. Pot spam probably would have changed alot but I reserve pots for actual pvp. That great wolf is harder to kill than I thought, will be crazy when it hits 70+. We both could have done things differently to turn the fight more in my favor, or so that ashley woops me big time, but you live you learn, next time will be interesting I am sure.)
While WC is good late game, they take a long time to develop. and those become frustrating if you don't have the patience to stick with it.
SwS, and BD are both great classes. but singing/dancing every 2 minutes gets obnoxious. SwS lacks skills for PvE, but make up for it by being able to sing with any weapon, and can use a vast array of weapons for both pve and pvp.
IDK why people say no to EE/bishop. those guys do some insane PvEing in rift duo's. once they get TuD they are unstopable.
Shows how much you know about the world, Spuddy. Btw, you're more on the girly side :) Perhaps you should start eating some hormones to make it a reality.
As to buffs, I always have atleast Fort buffs or SE+PP buffs so yeah...
@Ashley, arena fights mean nothing lol.
See I was close I knew it would be somehting like that just He forgot to throu the rock.
Yes Gecklar That was a lot of fun and good learning exp. we will Have to do it again when I get the wolf to 70 ;)
If I have to fight you Triyannos_AvaI0n I'm bringing my Wind Rider and Wolf :p
This coming from the person who took a war death on the pts and spent at least an hour on the ground looking for a brez. On the PTS. Did I mention it was the PTS?
Ellie, I like you but that has to be a lie. Please tell me that you made that up. Please?
ellie? lie??? you should put soap in your mouth for assuming that!!!
This coming from the person who took a war death on the pts and spent at least an hour on the ground looking for a brez. On the PTS. Did I mention it was the PTS?
Ellie, I like you but that has to be a lie. Please tell me that you made that up. Please?
ellie? lie??? you should put soap in your mouth for assuming that!!!
lol, it was a joke. :D
I would never think such a thing, but the prospect of someone actually wanting a % or brez on a test server just tickles me so I had to say something.
*Topic*
(I will probably roll a new char based on your opinions)
/discuss
This all makes me very sad to see. I'm currently playing my first healer, going EE, and i just dont believe this. I'm constantly in groups, i am CONSTANTLY being bothered to join RBG's granted, im only lvl 38, but i dont see why you wouldn't want a healer in the 6x's+?
I mainly created my character to party with a Spell Howler, we're pretty much only playing for PvP and plan on tearing it up in the later levels. The grinding is incredibly fast, because he never runs out of mana cuz of recharge and is one-shotting the reds and yellows for hours, with my buffs.
IMO, i've never been more wanted in a RBG. I've played hawk eyes, blade dancers, rogues, silver rangers, and never have i been so needed.
But i think the REAL key to getting your char into some serious RBG or party's, is getting your name out there and lett ing people know you're actually playing your character, not botting, boxing, or its just an alt. This is my first character on Bartz, and i'm already well enough established in the newbie towns of Dion with friends and alliances and other clans to get so much attention. It's really just making a name for yourself.
Let's say you have a good party which is getting wonderful exp in some difficult place for you level, whether its CT2 or the Bugz at the tomb or down in Pagans' or in a cata somewhere. Which player function is most important to the party? That will show us which class is most wanted in the party.
If one of the dd (damage dealers) leaves, then the party killing slows a bit. If the buffer leaves, you move back to an easier room. If the tank leaves, the second-best tank takes over. If the healer leaves, the party disbands and everyone goes to town.
In other words, a good healer is the most critical member of a good party.
Let's say you have a good party which is getting wonderful exp in some difficult place for you level, whether its CT2 or the Bugz at the tomb or down in Pagans' or in a cata somewhere. Which player function is most important to the party? That will show us which class is most wanted in the party.
If one of the dd (damage dealers) leaves, then the party killing slows a bit. If the buffer leaves, you move back to an easier room. If the tank leaves, the second-best tank takes over. If the healer leaves, the party disbands and everyone goes to town.
In other words, a good healer is the most critical member of a good party.
Not Always true i do big parties at DO with 70+ people on my WC and when the healer goes the party moves on....carefully but they move on but when I head for bed then the party is over. Wc is a buffer not a healer just with VR4 don't need many heals keep a few heal pots on you and the party is fine. now if I'm not on my WC and on my PW and the healer leaves then the party is over but 99% of the time they want my WC and not my PW.
Let's say you have a good party which is getting wonderful exp in some difficult place for you level, whether its CT2 or the Bugz at the tomb or down in Pagans' or in a cata somewhere. Which player function is most important to the party? That will show us which class is most wanted in the party.
If one of the dd (damage dealers) leaves, then the party killing slows a bit. If the buffer leaves, you move back to an easier room. If the tank leaves, the second-best tank takes over. If the healer leaves, the party disbands and everyone goes to town.
In other words, a good healer is the most critical member of a good party.
Usually it's when a buffer (or person with boxed buffer) leaves, everybody goes home
Let's say you have a good party which is getting wonderful exp in some difficult place for you level, whether its CT2 or the Bugz at the tomb or down in Pagans' or in a cata somewhere. Which player function is most important to the party? That will show us which class is most wanted in the party.
If one of the dd (damage dealers) leaves, then the party killing slows a bit. If the buffer leaves, you move back to an easier room. If the tank leaves, the second-best tank takes over. If the healer leaves, the party disbands and everyone goes to town.
In other words, a good healer is the most critical member of a good party.
You dont need a healer to start with in Pagans or Catacombs. Buffer you need, always. Boxed or otherwise.
Let's say you have a good party which is getting wonderful exp in some difficult place for you level, whether its CT2 or the Bugz at the tomb or down in Pagans' or in a cata somewhere. Which player function is most important to the party?
Usually it's dancing. It would be buffing if there weren't so many boxed buffers around.
If one of the dd (damage dealers) leaves, then the party killing slows a bit. If the buffer leaves, you move back to an easier room. If the tank leaves, the second-best tank takes over. If the healer leaves, the party disbands and everyone goes to town.
are people on Erica still doing c1 style 9 man in ct2?
generally you don't need a tank for PvE. Generally you don't need a healer for PvE. If you lose your buffer the party ends! (period)
the only time you need classes like tanks, and healers (bishop, EE) is when your doing raids, poles, and other special type PvEing. IE: rifting.
most General grinding doesn't ever need a healer, thats a game design flaw.
rum you need to think before you post, get your mind out of this pervial imagination.
imagine this situation you have a RBG banded together to go kill some RB's and you have 1 tank, a few healers, a few buffers, and DD's now you start the raid, the Tank keeps going waiting for everyone to contribute...Then he BSOE's...
Now imagine what happens to the RB
Imagine the same situation only this time instead of the tank BSOEing the Healers return or BSOE
That RB is gonna eat well.
Also you need almost every class for PvP and every class for sieges
generally you don't need a tank for PvE. Generally you don't need a healer for PvE.
EEs are needed in most highlevel archer groups. Cardinals (with Balance Life) are desired (or even required) by groups in some high-end good XP spots. Other than that, healers are needed (as you said) in pole groups, and in some (but not all) Rift and other dungeon groups.
Basically, I would consider EE the 3rd most wanted class on Hindemith, after BD and WC.
Tanks are another story. You don't need a tank for general PvE. There are places and group setups that can benefit from getting one, but it's still just an option.
I'm starting to think its a prefrence type thing. Game play style. Why is everyone argueing? If people dont see the point in leveling without buffs, then they wont play without them. Some people wont risk dying and refuse to go without a healer or a tank.
There is no risk of dying going without a tank or a healer. Heck, you can make better parties without one in some cases. As to buffs, you can try Pagans unbuffed, gogo!
This game is all about killing fast. In general, a buffer and a BD are always needed for a good exp group no matter what place or party size. SwS falls a bit behind the BD on boosting damage output (for general type parties at least). As for buffers, they are very often used OOP (although on tight spots with 5+ group of people, a WC is a must). My vote goes to BD because: a) he helps any mage or physical DD to do additional damage with his dances (SE are close to this end too, but are heavily boxed), b) he can do some good damage himself and c) he can't be easilly boxed.
lol well: 1 BD, 1 sws, 1 WC, and 2/3 DD's. an oop SE can be used if needed in a pinch for some heals.
IT boss/L room are fast XP with just small party XPing. 2 people with oop support works best.
these full 9 man archer parties are mostly in DVC (phytan, heart).
you can do pagens with a smaller archer group: bd, ee, 3 dd's, oop WC/PP. hell even a archer set up live PP can be in party as a archer (I've done it before). BD can be oop to. dismiss ee for BD when you need dances.
True tanks are not always required if DD is high enough.
I think the most desirable class overall would have to be an SE. Buffs, Heals, and Recharge. Vamp rage and empower are priceless. The problem is almost every party already has one.
After that (assuming you already have a healer), BD/SwS and Nukers are probably second most desirable. A lot of it depends on where and what you're hunting though.