Classes, why and why not to play each one.

[Veyron]

I'd like to see opinions on this, if you've got experience from any of the CB events, or C-Aion, feel free to post your thoughts on why someone should or shouldn't play the class that you have! Trying to compile some info to help a friend choose which class to do (or do first, lol). Try to include..

1. How does the class fare in group PvP, group PvE, 1v1 PvP, and solo PvE.

2. How much fun have you had, what level are you, etc.

3. How useful do you feel in certian situations mentioned above.

4. Do you think you need exceptional gear for X situation and Y situation (say, a Templar wanting HP/Magic Resist/Shield+ for tanking bigger bosses while having Crit/Atk for PvP) for your class? Or do you need top end gear to perform very well in specific area's?

Like I said, trying to get a good bit of info on each of the classes together, I can't stand trying to point someone to AS for info anymore, it makes my brain hurt just browsing it most of the time lol. Thx in advance <3

[Vail]

I'm an assassin lv31 now: for awhile it was pretty rough in PvP cause well, let's face it, alot of times I was getting killed by people higher level then me (often with run speed so nothing I can do) however I've had a few fairly even fights with people I'm sure were around or close to my level, and I almost always came out on top.

PvE solo : shit... it's so easy on assassin now... with signet explosion and the signet air burst move, my 1 time dodge skill(followed with counter slash), ambush. Most mobs get 1-2 swings at me before they're dead, and I can fight mobs 3 levels higher then me with only some risk (4 lv higher is pushing it though)

PvE group: I bring the damage but that's pretty much it, I ain't got no crowd control besides attempting to tank mobs myself (vs elites that's usually suicial for me)

group PvP, well that's usually just rifting or abyss ganking, when 3-12 people are jumping 1-2 people at most, until some lv 45-50s come and kill you all. so I don't have alot to comment on group PvP. Closest I have is where me and a ranger were heading out to kill balaur for exp and we saw two asmos (ranger and templar) they were probably 1-2 levels lower then us, but could have been the same level for all I know (my gear is fairly good half blue half greens, LOTS of crit) so we entered hide mode and snuck up on them, my ranger friend took on their ranger and I went into keeping the templar busy. The Asmo Ranger got dropped pretty fast, then we just double teamed the templar. But really I would have killed him on my own effort, but I wanted to make sure he didn't attack my ranger friend so I was sure to use the stun mves I had to keep him stilll until the asmo ranger was dead.

Assassin is fun, but there is SO many in the legion I'm in atm on CAion (and we make up the highest levels in the legion) also assassin leaves me wanting abit more, the damage dealing is awesome, the signet stuns and aerial bind doesn't work well on elites (in my experience) and I have no crowd control or really anything to do other then deal damage. (I want an alt character as a cleric, but because of assassin's short comings I'm looking into maybe playing sorcerer or ranger)

special comment: while I've never played Spiritmaster or Chanter I'll say this much... so often I've joined elite grinding partys with a chanter or spiritmaster present and so often the party (leader or the whole party) wishing we had a cleric or sorcerer instead. (usually for crowd control and/or being able to take on an area's boss elite without having out leveling it) like me and acouple others farmed up fire temple keys last night, but we didn't go in cause all we could get for healing was chanters, and everyone (the chanters included) were saying we NEED cleric or we're boned.

4. for your question on situational gear: most of the abyss gear is well stat'd enough to cover both PvP and PvE, I think the PvE boss mobs aren't hard enough to fully warrent completely special gear for most classes. A Templar having a full on tanking set is perfectly reasonable though. My assassin performs well cause of how high my crit is atm. Which is only possible because I was able to get crit12 stones on alot of gear before 1.2: so no way I'll be that strong come NA release. I have 322 crit right now (422 with one of my abilities for 60sec, 120cool-down) I don't feel like I need much beyond putting on crit at this point, I don't think a defense build would benefit an assassin at this level all that much, but I could be wrong.

[fishstix]

Can't really do a full review since I didn't really experience much from the job and I ended up quitting it lol, but templar was my highest job at 27. I didn't do much pvp, but it'd look fun. Templar in groups usually fall into the "leader" role which I like, leading/guiding people, controlling the tempo. It's decently fun soloing, but I enjoyed gladiator better.

I had bad experiences with grinding elites in a group. idk what the problem was, either party setup, party members sucking, my gear wasn't up to par/setup for tanking, or possibly I just sucked at tanking lol. It's hard to get out of the ffxi mindset of the tank style. I mean I'm a good tank in that I can keep hate off of everyone, I excel when there's multiple mobs, but I feel way too squishy (maybe I need to put the shield up more).

If I were to take it into endgame, I'd definitely try to have different armor sets. One thing I really like about templar is the high level mecha armor :D I think though, I'm going to choose either gladiator or sorcerer as my first main char over templar, something that's not as important to the survival of an exp party.

[Krenna]

I hit Templar 30 in the final CB, and I was loving every minute of it. PvP wise, were a wall, and can do a decent amount of damage with our combos, but its pretty rough taking out magic classes solo. Stunning Strike is a must basically, that ability is pure win. PvE wise, Templar is pretty strong. I was able to solo guys 3~4 levels above me pretty easily, coming out barely at half life. Juggling Shouting, Shield Bashes, and Stunning Strike makes a very nice lock down on enemies.

[Alderaan]

I have the exact opposite impression of Templar so far. I know it's a completely different ball game at 50. Right now at around 30, i'm either asleep, entangled, rooted, or feared. This is of course is 1 on 1, as it seems i'm always fighting rangers and sorcerers. Don't get me wrong, i love templar and will be playing it day one, but at level 30 we're free AP to any ranged damage that knows what they're doing. I'm never in melee range to do any damage except for when Stunning Strike lands.

Group play is completely different. Rifting with large groups is so much fun. We had a Stunning Strike rotation going where one templar would hit Charge > run towards group > Stunning Strike > then another templar further back Stunning Strikes and pulls them all the way into our own group and destroy them. That was pretty much the most fun i've had, as we get ignored until we start beating on clerics.

That's all PVP of course. In PVE, we're fantastic. People are always looking for a templar for missions, quests, elites.

[Krenna]

Yea sorcerers are nasty on Templar at 30. Carry around a bunch of the cheap ass abnormal condition removing potions though, and they aren't bad. Took out a ton because they root you, take a few steps back and think their dandy. Pop the potion, do a quick skill, bash them and rail them before they know whats happening lol

[MisterBob]

I'm an assassin lv31 now: for awhile it was pretty rough in PvP cause well, let's face it, alot of times I was getting killed by people higher level then me (often with run speed so nothing I can do) however I've had a few fairly even fights with people I'm sure were around or close to my level, and I almost always came out on top.

PvE solo : shit... it's so easy on assassin now... with signet explosion and the signet air burst move, my 1 time dodge skill(followed with counter slash), ambush. Most mobs get 1-2 swings at me before they're dead, and I can fight mobs 3 levels higher then me with only some risk (4 lv higher is pushing it though)

PvE group: I bring the damage but that's pretty much it, I ain't got no crowd control besides attempting to tank mobs myself (vs elites that's usually suicial for me)

group PvP, well that's usually just rifting or abyss ganking, when 3-12 people are jumping 1-2 people at most, until some lv 45-50s come and kill you all. so I don't have alot to comment on group PvP. Closest I have is where me and a ranger were heading out to kill balaur for exp and we saw two asmos (ranger and templar) they were probably 1-2 levels lower then us, but could have been the same level for all I know (my gear is fairly good half blue half greens, LOTS of crit) so we entered hide mode and snuck up on them, my ranger friend took on their ranger and I went into keeping the templar busy. The Asmo Ranger got dropped pretty fast, then we just double teamed the templar. But really I would have killed him on my own effort, but I wanted to make sure he didn't attack my ranger friend so I was sure to use the stun mves I had to keep him stilll until the asmo ranger was dead.

Assassin is fun, but there is SO many in the legion I'm in atm on CAion (and we make up the highest levels in the legion) also assassin leaves me wanting abit more, the damage dealing is awesome, the signet stuns and aerial bind doesn't work well on elites (in my experience) and I have no crowd control or really anything to do other then deal damage. (I want an alt character as a cleric, but because of assassin's short comings I'm looking into maybe playing sorcerer or ranger)

special comment: while I've never played Spiritmaster or Chanter I'll say this much... so often I've joined elite grinding partys with a chanter or spiritmaster present and so often the party (leader or the whole party) wishing we had a cleric or sorcerer instead. (usually for crowd control and/or being able to take on an area's boss elite without having out leveling it) like me and acouple others farmed up fire temple keys last night, but we didn't go in cause all we could get for healing was chanters, and everyone (the chanters included) were saying we NEED cleric or we're boned.

4. for your question on situational gear: most of the abyss gear is well stat'd enough to cover both PvP and PvE, I think the PvE boss mobs aren't hard enough to fully warrent completely special gear for most classes. A Templar having a full on tanking set is perfectly reasonable though. My assassin performs well cause of how high my crit is atm. Which is only possible because I was able to get crit12 stones on alot of gear before 1.2: so no way I'll be that strong come NA release. I have 322 crit right now (422 with one of my abilities for 60sec, 120cool-down) I don't feel like I need much beyond putting on crit at this point, I don't think a defense build would benefit an assassin at this level all that much, but I could be wrong.

Recruiting a Chanter to main heal is just silly.

[Vail]

Recruiting a Chanter to main heal is just silly.

I didn't build the partys, so it's not me trying to force them to be main healer. Just pointing out that it's often a hurdle that'll hit chanters. Chanters defiantly struggle to fill the healing role in Aion, but I've yet to see gladiators have too much trouble filling a tank role if the PT is setup right. Hate bouncing doesn't seem like much of an issue, (atleast for me on assassin)

[Lebzile]

On my Chanter most I'd do is backup heal, it's like DNC from FFXI, a buffer that melees and backup heals when needed. Chanter is a rather fantastic DPS when slotted right.

[SilverBreeze]

It's because Gladiators get a skill that gives them additional threat just for hitting something, so when they have to tank they don't really have to do anything different than beating on the mob as usual :D

[Vail]

It's because Gladiators get a skill that gives them additional threat just for hitting something, so when they have to tank they don't really have to do anything different than beating on the mob as usual :D

Gladiator's problem with tanking seems to be player based: not class based. Seemly alot of glads don't seem interested in tanking only being a DD. The reason I don't roll a glad is because I'm not that much into tanking. If only the people rolling glads were interested in both tanking and DDing at the same.

Chanter as a healer though is a matter of limited mechanics. Sure a chanter can heal say a duo taking on monsters a few levels higher at high speeds. but healing a party vs elites is simply not viable.

[Veyron]

I'm rolling Glad, I tanked a good bit of elites in OB and didn't mind at all. The best party setup I had actually destroyed the Krall area's was Glad Glad Glad Chanter Cleric Sorc (Tp burn much LOL), nothing could stop us except 5+ link that someone did because of rubberbanding before Kraka lol <_<

[Tomino]

I was very curious about Chanter, could anyone give me an insight of said class?
Buffers end to be either crucial or plain useless, not to mention hybrid class (damage/heals) tend to follow the same pattern, so I wonder...

[Priran]

They're nowhere near as essential as BRD in FFXI (and that's a good thing imo), but a party with a chanter > a similar party without a chanter.

[Krenna]

I played Chanter up to 17, can't say for anything higher then that. But on the levels I played, it was a very strong solo class, and I was able to main heal a party on elites fine. Never ran out of MP, but I just played WHM because I am a lazy bastard and didn't bother whacking the enemies.

[Koul]

I'm definately going either Cleric or Ranger.

most likely Cleric first though... love me some healing~

[Syntex]

Played Ranger up to 25 and all I can say is its awesome...

Yes it does blow chunks until 20 but after that it got better and now with my 2nd chain at 25 and a little more utility with 2 stigma slots, the class flows a lot better now.

I just like the stealth aspect of the game and I always wanted to play a ranger that could stealth and now here is my chance :D

Downfalls? Squishy in melee range, kiting isn't for everyone...

Pros? Fun to play, has stealth, stealth, got me some CC and more stealth, and,... stealth :D

Oops I mean HIDE not stealth but you get the idea...

[LurkaKitty]

Anyone can post some info about SM and Sorc?

How does it play in groups, in both PvP and PvE, is mainly what i`m looking for. (Groups and Duos)

I played a summoner and nuker in L2 and both were pretty much solo till lv85, though at lv 80 you could make some pretty great nuker parties if everyone had the right spells and gear. (Took way too long to get to lv 80 though) Nuker was pretty much invaluable in PVP, while summoner was only good at 1v1. I`m a bit weary of the whole white mage/cardinal thing, and want to play a mage class with a more damage dealing.

[Priran]

Secondhand info, but apparently SM is a completely different class in PvE and PvP. It's a PvE powerhouse until 40, after which its normal spirits don't get any stronger while mobs do. Also, the Magma/Tempest spirits cost DP to summon and last like 5 minutes. Until about 40, SM can take multiple mobs at once or solo elites.

In PvP, it's very good until 30, after which its main job is basically to troll the other team with Fear while your team rolls them.

[Coren]

Secondhand info, but apparently SM is a completely different class in PvE and PvP. It's a PvE powerhouse until 40, after which its normal spirits don't get any stronger while mobs do. Also, the Magma/Tempest spirits cost DP to summon and last like 5 minutes. Until about 40, SM can take multiple mobs at once or solo elites.

In PvP, it's very good until 30, after which its main job is basically to troll the other team with Fear while your team rolls them.

Hopefully they fix this. On one hand, I want to play a job I like, but on the other, I don't want to get to 50 and find out my job choice blows yet again. I've had enough loltarudrg...