Helping to decide class for new players.

[sadgod]

Hello. I will try to help new players to choose class for them with the knowledge I obtained so far.
1. There are 2 Tiers right now .
Tier 1 which is like tutorial tier. Level scale is 1 - 15 .
Tier 2 - 4 which is game itself . Level scale 16 - 40 .
This is important because classes don’t feel like they are doing exactly what their roles define them at T1 . Also T1 is very important part of players pla time because through T1 new player becomes familiar with game , his own class and he might fall in love with game or absolutely hate it . First impression is most important .
There are 3 types of classes in this game , damage dealer , healer and tank . For those who are not familiar with these terms damage dealer is here to simply crush his target either by strong meele or range pressure. Healer is negating this pressure by healing damaged player . Tank is here to protect his teammate thanks to his ability to lower enemy or buff guarded players stats , control enemy by slowing or knocking opponent and being able to soak damage dealt from enemy players by using special guard ability .
Now that even lifelong counter strike player understands roles in this game lets continue . Tier 1 is tier where tank have damage like dps but is twice as durable , healer is even tankier than tank thanks to his healing also with nearly same damage as dps. Also where dps feels very unrewarding and if you choose dps you might quickly loose interest in playing it because of how squishy and weak you will feel . Bear in mind that higher Tiers will define and shape your path you have chosen even that now you don’t feel it.
T1
Dps : I think that it’s easiest to play dps . You just nuke your target with correct rotation ( for now just few buttons spam ) leaving your survivability mostly to healer . You don’t need special addons and you don’t pay that much attention to anything else than enemy healthbar. You might feel squishy and underperforming . Worse is that this feeling will become stronger at higher tiers until you will know the game and get to level cap.
Tank : Now it’s as easy as playing dps but bear in mind that protecting someone and giving enemy hard time playing is your main role . Not killing so if you are okay with bodyguard role then choose tank . Now in T1 you are simply superior Dps and you might enjoy it now . Later you will have to download add on that will help you follow your guarded ally . Debuff and harm your enemy . When you build your tank as dps you might end as even worse dps with just a bit more defense and become useless .
Healer : nearly immortal being with good dps and great survivability . Depends on class you chosen but you shouldn’t have problem surviving harder pressure and you always win 1v1 . Everyone wants you and everyone needs you . Later you will loose that near immortality and become something like god of death . No matter what you will still be very helpful.
T2...
After getting to T2-4 with any class you have chosen you might just stop and think . This class is underperforming . Low survivability or low dps and it takes forever to kill a mob . What about SC or RvR . Now with 16-40 levels grouped you might feel like weak tank , shitty dps or ... You have picked healer and you are still useful and wanted . You are undergeared , underleveled boosted glass vase but you still can calmly heal from afar . You can resurrect strong warband members so even when you are weak you are still very helpful . There is something called keeps in T2-4 . It’s battle for castle . One side is attacking and one is defending . You are meele dps or tank with low level boosted to cap . What can you do ? You will get melted if you try to hold the enemy waves when gate is broken . You have nothing to do at all when gate is still holding enemy fire . You can just run back an forth deal bad dps and run back for heals . Range dps ? You will get focused just once and then you run like rabbit . But if you are healer you still help your teammates by shielding or resurrecting or healing them . You are not taking stronger players resurrect spot when you die as weak tank / dps, you are creating one more resurrect spot regardless of power and that’s really important .
This is my advice for new players who can’t decide which class should they choose . This is all knowledge I’ve got about game through levels I’ve been through . I had many characters but none hit the cap so I can’t give advice about endgame but my advice is that you should create healer as your first character so you will never feel useless because that was my problem when I entered T2-4 . And I bet that Iam not the only one who felt like that when he came outside safe T1. I played only meeles outside T1 . Chosen who is tank and Witch Elf who is stealth meele dps. I feel useless . There’s no need for me to be in the party . I can’t kill because Iam weak , I can’t guard or defend because Iam weak . I realized that only role which is never useless is healer . That’s I think the way for new player . That’s my advice for you new guys . Sorry for long post , meh English and feel free to correct any mistakes I made . Good luck on battlefield.

[Cylwen]

Generally, the best advice is to pick the class that appeals to you most, they way they look or the mindset you have about gaming.

My advice on top of this: generate two more characters once your first character hits 16. Level both of those to 16 also, you'll learn from your mistakes that you made the first time. Try something different such as crafting, PQs, level boss raids and grouping up with different types of groups. Each time try and learn more about the game in general. Then alternate between the three characters, and level all of them up to 20, start to learn their roles in roaming warbands and siege attack and defence. Ask questions and watch other players. Listen to the complaints you hear on chat about classes not doing their job (decide if you agree or not). Then pick your favourite and level to 30, get to really know and enjoy your class. Then, level the other two toons to 30 as well. The slow XP gain to 40 will be more interesting if you can alternate between toons, and having them at similar level means that you can benefit from your knowledge between each class. At this point, you might generate another toon for a specific crafting purpose. By the time you get one character to 40 you might decide that is the one you want to focus on for the future, or you want to try another instead. Variety is important for enjoyment.

To temper this advice, don't have too many alts because your friends will lose track, and the social aspect of the game is important. Also be flexible so that you can sometimes play a class that suits your friends, but don't always be tied to what they want. Switch around so that you can have the fun you want. That's why its good to have three toons at a similar level so that you can effectively switch without disrupting your social connections too much. Working with others should be part of the fun as well.

[adamthelc]

I dont think people should stress their first character. I am not going to pick apart any advice, because if someone doesn't know any better something in their might be able to help them.

Regardless of what someone chooses out of the gates the first thing they should try to do is learn the game and not worry about winning or losing too much. You might get lucky and pick something you really like and stick with it. But there is nothing wrong with finding out something else fits you better once you see how the game works.

[riddleout]

Yeah... if you're hitting t2-4 and saying "this class is under performing" well no **** Sherlock you are under geared, under leveled, and not at least rr 40 utilizing the renown point system in the slightest.

Best advice **** around in t1 in both SC and ORVR. Play all of the classes you are interested in to get an idea of your favorite play style.

Basic Play Styles

Spoiler:

Tank: Taking an absolute **** beating while smacking other players with a wet noodle.

Melee Dps: Give a **** beating especially to squishy targets but when focused gg.

Range Dps: safely give a **** beating at 100ft. Pick off low health targets and apply strong dps while being very easily killed if MDPS gets close.

Healer: Heal everything and everyone. Pretty much all you are doing is clicking on Warband name plates that are within range. Healers also have great survivability if you know what you are doing. Unless a tank punts you into the enemy zerg. Then you are **** unless you're a shaman with the detaunt & run away tactics.

DPS Healer: Everyone on your PUG team will hate you because many players refuse to stack defensive stats and demand all the healing their squishy bodies can get. but hey screw them, not your fault they don't know how to detaunt or not dive face first into enemy swords and axes. you are playing your role and that is **** awesome. Also you can heal yourself allowing for your teams healers to focus on others.

Once you decide your favorite play style pick the class you think fits that role the absolute best. Then grind your sweet ass off until you're level 40, get full ruin gear and then go hit sc's and the rvr lakes to grind that precious RR and medals for even better gear.

Most organized Warbands want a minimum of RR 40 for any pickup group member to ensure that you have minimum RR talent points to be effective. This also ensures that you've played enough to have the knowledge of how to play your class in a useful manner.

TLDR: Stick with a single class that fits the play-style that you enjoy. Takes a long time to level and gear a character to be "good"