So I need a little advice on a group make-up. So here is what I have figured out so far:
Tank Merc/Healer Merc
Shaman/Bard (Switchable)/???
Not a whole lot :P I need 1 more spot filled (DPS) and need a few Ideas.
I know that Shamans can boost Melee DPS quite a bit and help survivability with their slows. Im not sure how bards do higher level but they are great utility class from what Ive read. So I was wondering what DPS class that I could add, and if I should switch out the bard for something else or not? It seems that if I kept the bard/shaman combo a Melee DPS would probably suit better than Caster, but if the bard is taken out that could possibly switch. My intention is to have a solid group that can take down named creatures without major issues and good at AA farming.
Ive tried to read up on this as much as possible and am still undecided because Ive only ever played 2 characters past 75 (Cleric & Ranger) so I don't know many classes in depth.
Thanks for the advice.
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If you're going to keep both the Shaman and Bard, if you want a good easy dps boost I would say add a caster. The main issue I see with melee dps is that it requires a lot of constant positioning and button mashing to be most effective. A caster can assist and cast from a little safe distance away, and they are not so button intensive.
If you want pure dps, I would say Wizard. Hands down these guys can burn the fastest and hardest when it's needed. You can set them in a corner, assist and blast the crap outta stuff (only after the mob is 60-70% hp though, lol). And you can get ported, which can be a big bonus too. The wizzy group TL could come in handy for you, when things get rough.
But, I would consider the Mage a good choice, because of the pet, which can greatly increase the survivability of a merc tank (with stuns) and even be your backup tank. Not to mention the dps of a Mage is not wimpy in any means. So it seems you would have greater flexibility and survivablity with a Mage over a Wizard, without taking a big hit in your dps.
If you want pure dps, I would say Wizard. Hands down these guys can burn the fastest and hardest when it's needed. You can set them in a corner, assist and blast the crap outta stuff (only after the mob is 60-70% hp though, lol). And you can get ported, which can be a big bonus too. The wizzy group TL could come in handy for you, when things get rough.
But, I would consider the Mage a good choice, because of the pet, which can greatly increase the survivability of a merc tank (with stuns) and even be your backup tank. Not to mention the dps of a Mage is not wimpy in any means. So it seems you would have greater flexibility and survivablity with a Mage over a Wizard, without taking a big hit in your dps.
Personally, I wouldn't box a bard unless it was the character of primary focus. I would go with Mage though. There's a lot to be said for a character that can call the entire group to a camp spot to reduce setup time. The pet gives you another form of crowd control (as well as DPS and, in the case of the air pet, mitigation) and mage nukes can be rather robust. Plus, you can sell packages of pet toys and make a little scratch on the side.
GreenShag wrote:
If you want pure dps, I would say Wizard. Hands down these guys can burn the fastest and hardest when it's needed. You can set them in a corner, assist and blast the crap outta stuff (only after the mob is 60-70% hp though, lol).
Um, huh? This hasn't been my experience. My firing squad lineup (85 SK, 85 SHM, 4 Wizards (85, 82, 81, 77)) has never had the wizards open fire at anything lower than 95% health. In fact, since I started using ISBoxer with key broadcasting, when I hit 1 on the SK (Charge for Power), the wizards all hit 1 too, which happens to be the biggest nuke the character has (Ethereal Combustion on the 85, Ethereal Incineration on the 82 & 81, Ethereal Conflagration on the 77). The mob doesn't leave the SK, crit or no crit. I guess I just don't get the "hold off until the mob's practically in flee mode, then cast" line of thinking. In my view, Wizards should be riding the razor's edge of aggro from the very start of an engagement. Otherwise, you're better off with a DPS class that can (rogue, berserker, Mage, Necro, even druid). A wizard can bring a lot to a trio setup like that but the mage has a few advantages that, in my mind, give the class a slight edge.
35 posts
Ok here is my advise :-)
I boxed Monk and Shammy with Tank merc and Healer merc.
I still love the easy pulling with monk and FD-option.
The good part of monk is not only getting singles. Its very fast
pulling because you can do a kind of mez and just pull the mob you need.
I.e. 1 Named and 2 Mobs around just mez em. The Named mostly will not
be affected and come alone.
The good part about Shammy is (sure) slow and the Tiger-Line Spells. These add
nice dps because each hit does up to 1200 dmg.
So a Monk with 2 fast weapons + Tank Merc + Shammy pet are really nice dps.
The Shammy can heal very nice, special with Canny he will be never oom.
With VOA i reactivated my old 3. Account and just tried my Cleric with Rogue Merc.
Fighting normal stuff i have him in group, but dont need to do anything. But when it
comes to Named with big AEs the cleric is deffinitly a BIG help. Special with rezzing
in the fight and recasting the "Mitigate Melee dmg" Spell line. The Healer merc will never
redo these in the fight, and they help a lot. Another benefit is to have a (Backup-)Rezer
when you might need him. So i can try some risky stuff without a complete wipe
(and maybe long time to get back)
Overall i am VERY satisfied with this combination.
In case you wanna try the caster-line my advise would be :
1. Mage (CoH helps not to move em all.....)
DS, MOD-Rods and the pet ....but you will need LOTS of AAs to let the pet improve the dps and stun
2. Wizard (Evac helps a lot and you can travel very fast with Port / Evac )
Wiz DDs are not much more as Mages but they are resisted rare and have Instant DDs
Only 400 AAs will help a lot when you focus on DDs
3. Bard for Pulling or maybe Necro....I am not very good in playing 3 at one time so i would take the
bard only for the pull and after a safe pull switch over to the Burners.
Mercs: Tank , 1 Healer, 1 Rogue (2 Healers possible too but rarely needed)
Just my 2 Cents
Edited, Apr 10th 2012 8:05am by Parakenings
I boxed Monk and Shammy with Tank merc and Healer merc.
I still love the easy pulling with monk and FD-option.
The good part of monk is not only getting singles. Its very fast
pulling because you can do a kind of mez and just pull the mob you need.
I.e. 1 Named and 2 Mobs around just mez em. The Named mostly will not
be affected and come alone.
The good part about Shammy is (sure) slow and the Tiger-Line Spells. These add
nice dps because each hit does up to 1200 dmg.
So a Monk with 2 fast weapons + Tank Merc + Shammy pet are really nice dps.
The Shammy can heal very nice, special with Canny he will be never oom.
With VOA i reactivated my old 3. Account and just tried my Cleric with Rogue Merc.
Fighting normal stuff i have him in group, but dont need to do anything. But when it
comes to Named with big AEs the cleric is deffinitly a BIG help. Special with rezzing
in the fight and recasting the "Mitigate Melee dmg" Spell line. The Healer merc will never
redo these in the fight, and they help a lot. Another benefit is to have a (Backup-)Rezer
when you might need him. So i can try some risky stuff without a complete wipe
(and maybe long time to get back)
Overall i am VERY satisfied with this combination.
In case you wanna try the caster-line my advise would be :
1. Mage (CoH helps not to move em all.....)
DS, MOD-Rods and the pet ....but you will need LOTS of AAs to let the pet improve the dps and stun
2. Wizard (Evac helps a lot and you can travel very fast with Port / Evac )
Wiz DDs are not much more as Mages but they are resisted rare and have Instant DDs
Only 400 AAs will help a lot when you focus on DDs
3. Bard for Pulling or maybe Necro....I am not very good in playing 3 at one time so i would take the
bard only for the pull and after a safe pull switch over to the Burners.
Mercs: Tank , 1 Healer, 1 Rogue (2 Healers possible too but rarely needed)
Just my 2 Cents
Edited, Apr 10th 2012 8:05am by Parakenings
Some of the combinations I've used (by and large, I don't use mercs):
85 SK/SHM/BER - ridiculous DPS, top tier pulling and tanking, and lots of adps going around in case I add others
71 PAL/SHM/WIZ - the wizard is the damage of the group and the Paladin ensures she can open up from the moment the first stun lands
76 WAR/BRD/73 ROG w/healer merc - the bard makes the rogue into a damage goddess and even the warrior sees her dps surge
I would say stay away from the classes you can replicate with mercs, if you're open to using mercs. So no Warrior, no Cleric, no Wizard, and no Rogue. I wouldn't even consider Bard because you would only be getting a quarter of the class's full capability by boxing it. I'd go SK/PAL for the tank, SHM for the priest (I don't make 'healers' and DO NOT make a Druman (i.e. a WIS focused Shaman)), and RNG/BER/MAG for the DPS (depending on how much versatility you need). If you go Paladin for the tank, a Ranger fits for DPS best (Snare). If you're using a tank merc, you can go full-on damage and utility with the characters you're playing. SHM/MAG/MAG would be ridiculous (especially once the Mages get Pet Affinity). I've done that in Icefall (71 SHM, 71 MAG, 75 MAG with two healer mercs) and it's crazy!
14 posts
Honestly, I am suprised no one has mentioned a pet group. Probably one of the easiest box setups if you are planning on boxing. I actually duo Mage/Necro and my wife plays a Beastlord.... Pretty much send pets and watch them wreck everything. If things get a bit scary, pull out a healer merc and you are pretty set.
My suggestion for a trio, would be:
Mage: This class is a must for a pet group, because their pets tanking ability is rivaled by no one.
Necro/Ench: Great pullers, and also great on CC. Necro versatility IMO wins the chanters spot though
Bst/Shammy/Ench: Slow helps wonders in this group, and support heals from shammy are helpful and help reduce the need for a merc, but any of these 3 classes work really well.
We have done this a few times, but mostly for the humor. Rolled 1 tank merc + 1 healer merc + 1 rogue. Pretty funny seeing the masses running at mobs and kill them, and you have a VERY small chance of dying. You have to mess up pretty bad to wipe this group. Most cases though, pets
My suggestion for a trio, would be:
Mage: This class is a must for a pet group, because their pets tanking ability is rivaled by no one.
Necro/Ench: Great pullers, and also great on CC. Necro versatility IMO wins the chanters spot though
Bst/Shammy/Ench: Slow helps wonders in this group, and support heals from shammy are helpful and help reduce the need for a merc, but any of these 3 classes work really well.
We have done this a few times, but mostly for the humor. Rolled 1 tank merc + 1 healer merc + 1 rogue. Pretty funny seeing the masses running at mobs and kill them, and you have a VERY small chance of dying. You have to mess up pretty bad to wipe this group. Most cases though, pets
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