Is melee DPS "viable" for a newbie?

[Paradoxic]

Hey guys,

hope this post is fine here. I looked for a newbie subforum but didn't find anything so I thought I'd post here.

So I played a Shadow Warrior back when the game was still live but quit at max level quite quickly so I would consider myself a newbie.

I searched through a lot of recent topics and the common theme I always spotted were things like "everyone is playing range DPS", "if you hate yourself, play melee DPS" etc. etc. I prefer melee classes and would like to play a Witch Hunter but I fear that I will die constantly because I am not able to even reach all the range classes that play.

Do the posts maybe just give an exaggerated/false impressions or is it really that bad and I should just go for a ranged class?

Thanks a lot!

[Jaycub]

MDPS need guard, generally more than 1 healer and a lot better game knowledge when it comes to engaging fights and when to run.

MDPS are also much more heavily group dependent when it comes to leveling up, and their ability to get RR/inf in ORvR.

I'd stay far away from MDPS unless you happen to be a in guild at the moment that needs one is and essentially willing to sponsor you. Otherwise RDPS is gonna be a whole hell of a lot easier on you.

[blaqwar]

...or if you have masochistic tendencies...

Give it a go, level a MDPS to R10+ and then try a RDPS.

[Paradoxic]

Thanks for the very quick answers. That makes me sad but I understand.

Is my old "main" class, the Shadow Warrior viable then in terms of ranged dps or should I go with an engineer/caster that most people seem to play?

[Jaycub]

SW is fine, BW right now is really powerful, engineer is with the new buffs best explained by "Best pug class in the, still the worst in organized 6 mans, and only finds a niche in warbands as a pull bot" basically.

If you are gonna be mostly solo as you level up going SW is your best bet, BW relies more than any other RDPS on healers and a decent group but it's not as bad as playing MDPS.

If you don't care about the nerdy/competitive side of the game at all go engineer and you will have a blast.

[GodlessCrom]

Engi is also a dwarf and therefore better than skill wizard and legolas-clone.

But yeah, rdps is easiest thing to play in most MMOs, this is no exception.

[Paradoxic]

Thanks for all the helpful replies. I will probably pick up my old class then since I am not really a fan of having a pet class that has to redeploy turrets all the time.

[zabis]

If you really want to MDPS, play a 2h tank. You can get decent numbers and not be as squishie

[GodlessCrom]

Still remember to guard and cc though. I play 2h tank and while it's not hard to get a decent kdr (not Korze level but who is?) you're definitely still not an mdps and to actually make an impact, you need to use your entire range of abilities.

I would also say that 2h tank isn't necessarily all that durable when confronted by the rdps firing squads that populate scs and orvr now. More so than a slayer or marauder? Yes. But you're also a pretty big target (rdps love killing 2h tanks) and you don't have the detaunt or escapes that at least give mdps some kind of out. You're not a free kill by any means, but sorcs/magi can still burst you down rather quickly, even with capped resists and 600 toughness.

So if you find mdps frustrating, 2h tank might also be a bit annoying to play. You do very well against other melee, and if you can catch rdps unprepared, you can put the hurt on em, but good sorcs/magi are probably your worst enemies (squigs less so cuz phys dmg) and there a lot of them out there.

Plus knowing how and when to utilize your cc and guard as 2h can be complicated (kinda) if you're unfamiliar with the game. It's very rewarding when done right, but fairly difficult to pull off without gimping yourself.

[dur3al]

Reading this thread I'd say we need to buff mDps, especially my WL and marauder!