Professions by play style

[Lannden]

It should be no surprise to anyone that every profession can fill all of the role, just in their own unique way. Each profession has a very different identity and play style all its own and everyone should find one that suits there play style. The problem is that many of them are very different from what we have seen in other MMO's and some players may have a very hard time choosing one based on his or her personal play style. I know I am.

I usually play a very tanky character with light support. I like a character than can get in the thick of things take a few hits and hit back but also fall back and give support when needed I just don't want support to be my top priority. I also love the imagery of the Knight, but that's minor of course. Just from what I have played in the BWE I still don't know if Warrior or Guardian is more suited for me and I have gotten to 20+ with both!

I have seen many lists of what a class does and what the profession's are, but i have never seen one about how a class does it or what it feels like when playing it. I would like to start one by having people who have gotten a lot time on certain professions to give your overview of it based solely on play style. Compare it to other games, multi or single-player, if you have to, or use real world analogs, what ever you need to do to get the point across.

[Fencers]

Hm. Strange, I don't think any class plays all that different from other variants in MMOs. Even from Arena.net's past games.

Guardian is probably the most atypical in that Gs are able to create, well... space. Not exactly geometry, but I have not seen that since UO. Every other class plays as expected from previous archetypes, IMO. I played all classes save Necro and yea... playstyles are not very dramatic.

[Loaf Lord]

I haven't had this hard of a time choosing my class ever. In a standard mmo it's far more easy to decide. My favorite type of class is a melee/magic hybrid that has a lot of self reliance and has good burst, which made choosing ret pally incredibly easy. But in GW2 everyone can be self reliant and can burst etc etc. For GW2 it's just getting down into the nitty gritty aspects of the class because almost everyone can do everything. I'm also one of the those weirdos who has to like the lore behind the class or else I can't get into it, giving me more to thinkg about.

---------- Post added 2012-06-22 at 04:31 AM ----------

Honestly if you want a tanky kind of profession with support I'd go guardian. They have a far more defensive nature than warriors.

[Height]

I prefer mesmer because I like to be glitter fabulous taco rainbow pony salad and extreme sausages. I thought it would be important for you all to know that.

[Deleted]

Hm. Strange, I don't think any class plays all that different from other variants in MMOs. Even from Arena.net's past games.

Guardian is probably the most atypical in that Gs are able to create, well... space. Not exactly geometry, but I have not seen that since UO. Every other class plays as expected from previous archetypes, IMO. I played all classes save Necro and yea... playstyles are not very dramatic.

Even something that is only slightly different can have a huge impact on a particular player's preferred niche. It's a large part as to why class changes and balancing is so negatively received and full of controversy - someone, somewhere is usually screwed over because of it. Though a lot of it just boils down to an allergy to change and typical scare-mongering.

I'm a little unsure as to what I'll be playing myself. I'll no doubt have plenty of alts, though deciding which class will be my main is pretty tough. I like the look of the warrior, guardian and ranger in particular. Overall, I've always favoured ranged combat - so at least I won't be screwed over too badly in this game!

[Deleted]

I prefer mesmer because I like to be glitter fabulous taco rainbow pony salad and extreme sausages. I thought it would be important for you all to know that.

Haha, I like that!

I love caster professions. So it had to be either ele, mesmer or necro. Since lately I am a lot into demons and creepy things in games, it had to be necromancer. Plus I love the mechanic of conditions, I like pets, I love the feel of death shroud and necromancers have very good survivability, that was also really important to me.

[Sentinel]

I tried to assume a more defense-like role in an Ascalonian Catacombs run by using Sword/Shield on my Warrior, but the shield is generally useless. You get a very very small defensive bonus with a shield alone, but the main thing is that both abilities (one being offensive, the other being defensive) are on quite the long cooldown. If you know you specifically are about to be hit by something massive, a nicely-timed Block will toss away all of that damage instead of having to dodge away.

At the same time though, why wouldn't you just use a Greatsword/Ranged or a Sword/Axe in your offhand? I know I had fun using FOR GREAT JUSTICE to help my teammates, which made me feel more useful than just some guy doing ~20% of all damage to the enemies (everyone gets Fury and Might around you -- even those not in your party, making it great for WvW pushes)

[Deleted]

@Lannden, I would say you need to test them on in-game to get the feel. I have been on all pre-purchase betas and have played around 85hours, I still don't know what I want to play as "main".

While waiting beta, you can watch stuff like this (he does not yet have all professions, he is on this forum)

[Deleted]

I prefer mesmer because I like to be glitter fabulous taco rainbow pony salad and extreme sausages. I thought it would be important for you all to know that.

What is this, I don't even...

@OP: I'd probably say Guardian for you. Some Guardians I faced took a looooooong time to kill last BWE, even 1v2.

[apepi]

I am going to say guardian also. But taking a look at Engineer would not hurt either.

[Arkenaw]

If you like to provide defensive support: Guardian

If you like to provide offensive support: Warrior

[Lannden]

Even something that is only slightly different can have a huge impact on a particular player's preferred niche. It's a large part as to why class changes and balancing is so negatively received and full of controversy - someone, somewhere is usually screwed over because of it. Though a lot of it just boils down to an allergy to change and typical scare-mongering.

This is kind of what I'm getting at. The only class that fits other games perfectly in play style is Thief, but that is mainly because the rogue archetype is pretty easy to get down. Warrior in GW2 feels somewhat similar to other warriors but it is not exactly like other warriors play styles. Elementalist feels almost nothing like a Mages, Necro is unlike any Necromancer I have seen.

[psychedelica]

been struggling myself. i tried the warrior proffesion and it was a blast however the theif looks intresting, same as Engineer.

but i have a name alreddy for my must have name on warrior.

[cospaok]

Try the defensive warrior. Works well in sPvP and better in PvE. The guy that made it has a video guide for it.

http://www.gw2builds.org/view/576004..._healing_build

[travisneids]

Mesmer is a ton of fun to play! PvP = Staff/Sword w/ Pistol - Game Over. PvE = Staff/Greatsword - Game Over.

If you haven't already check out the Mesmer. Can't get enough of that class!

[Cempa]

I am in the same boat, hours of beta and none closer to picking a main.

I play Ranged with control and like to kite.

Warrior: Rifle / 1h+shield
Thief: Pistol / Pistol

I really dislike Steal mechanic for P/P and hate the low initiative regeneration so next Beta will spend lots of time playing Warrior Rifle!

[Dempsey]

Hm. Strange, I don't think any class plays all that different from other variants in MMOs. Even from Arena.net's past games.

Guardian is probably the most atypical in that Gs are able to create, well... space. Not exactly geometry, but I have not seen that since UO. Every other class plays as expected from previous archetypes, IMO. I played all classes save Necro and yea... playstyles are not very dramatic.

really? most other games don't offer casters to use daggers and axes or rangers to use greatswords i feel that an individual can change the dynamic of their class but revert but to a norm sometimes simply by weapon swaping.

[Durzlla]

Hm. Strange, I don't think any class plays all that different from other variants in MMOs. Even from Arena.net's past games.

Guardian is probably the most atypical in that Gs are able to create, well... space. Not exactly geometry, but I have not seen that since UO. Every other class plays as expected from previous archetypes, IMO. I played all classes save Necro and yea... playstyles are not very dramatic.

I'm gonna have to disagree with thi at least with the ranger, mes, and elem aspect, but then again i haven't played as many games as you so idk if it HAS been done before..

most pet classes you either get the choice of you sitting back and not being able to do ANY damage because it all comes from your pet, or you do all the damage and leave your pet in the dust, in GW2 REGARDLESS of how i specced it felt as though me and my pet were fighting more as one and less as one carrying the other. And for elem, you used ALL elements really really well regardless of your build, where in most it's like "Lawlz we call you master of magic but you gotta pick one element and live by it trolololo!!" and i think mesmer goes without saying.... i haven't seen a mesmer, or mesmer esc prof in ANY game i've played (other then GW) PERIOD.

---------- Post added 2012-06-24 at 11:22 AM ----------

It should be no surprise to anyone that every profession can fill all of the role, just in their own unique way. Each profession has a very different identity and play style all its own and everyone should find one that suits there play style. The problem is that many of them are very different from what we have seen in other MMO's and some players may have a very hard time choosing one based on his or her personal play style. I know I am.

I usually play a very tanky character with light support. I like a character than can get in the thick of things take a few hits and hit back but also fall back and give support when needed I just don't want support to be my top priority. I also love the imagery of the Knight, but that's minor of course. Just from what I have played in the BWE I still don't know if Warrior or Guardian is more suited for me and I have gotten to 20+ with both!

I have seen many lists of what a class does and what the profession's are, but i have never seen one about how a class does it or what it feels like when playing it. I would like to start one by having people who have gotten a lot time on certain professions to give your overview of it based solely on play style. Compare it to other games, multi or single-player, if you have to, or use real world analogs, what ever you need to do to get the point across.

If you want to wade through the battle and just beat the shit outta things, taking little damage, and offer some minor support i'm gonna say Warrior. Just take a few banners, some defensive CD's and a shield (for obvious reasons) and if you REALLY want the basic "tank, and control" aspect from other games use a hammer to really get the butthurt flowing (so many controls and shut downs it's ridiculous lol).

That being said, you can NOT tank the same as in other games no matter how defensive you go, but if you got to +20 i'm pretty sure you've learned that xD

[Fencers]

really? most other games don't offer casters to use daggers and axes or rangers to use greatswords i feel that an individual can change the dynamic of their class but revert but to a norm sometimes simply by weapon swaping.

Casters don't really stab things with daggers as a Rogue-ish class in GW2. It's still magic attacks. Dagger/sword wielding casters are actually quite common too. Rangers have been sowrd wielding since like.. well, Lord of the Rings.

Picking up a Ranger in GW2 feels overall as you would expect from past iterations of the Ranger archetype. The micro that dictates the specifics of longbows is irrelevant.

[Meledelion]

I'll give you my insights (mainly from sPvP experience) the classes I played most were ranger>warrior>guardian>thief>ele
Clear choices:
Warrior and Guardian, yet the Thumper Engineer and melee Ranger can tank pretty well aswell (think evasion tank for ranger)
There are 2mechanics of tanking in all games 1. making the damage you get as little as possible for instance bring it down from 10dmg to 2dmg or
2. making it so you don't get hit (evasion tanking) depending on what route you go you need Vitality (Healthpool), Toughness (armor) or Endurance (dodge)

Warrior:
The most defensive you can get is mace/shield, as another weaponset I'd go with Hammer (kd can be seen as tanking aswell) or if you want a way to kill stuff Greatsword.
Weapons on their own won't do you much good though, you need to put your traits and gear in sync aswell, this means that if you decide to go mace/shield + gSword you won't do as much damage as someone who focuses on gSword +mace/shield where the shieldset is a last resort thing.
Example builds (by no means optimised)
http://www.gw2builds.org/create/bwe_....4.11.7.3.4.11 VS http://www.gw2builds.org/create/bwe_...1.5.10.2.5.1.6

A guardian Works in a very similar way, but has the addition that he also "tanks" by not taking damage, although not using endurance. This tank style is versatile in that you can kite for a long time. Another benefit of the guardian is that he can actually heal pretty good aswell, as someone stated, warrior is more of an offensive support toon, whilst guardian is a tad more defensive (through healing/negating extra damage) the basics are much the same as you can see from this link.
http://www.gw2builds.org/create/bwe_...1.3.5.3.5.2.11
(I actually prefered scepter/shield +mace/focus on my guardian)

Now the most fun toon to tank with imo: the evasion tank (rangers/thieves work for sure but I mainly played ranger so I'll give examples of that)
The ranger works pure on mobility, you can "flash" behind enemies to avoid damage, you can block atacks and you can dodge a lot (seriously it's a lot of fun) you rely on cripple to get away mostly and managing cd's is key. The build I liked to use to 1v1 people was:
http://www.gw2builds.org/create/bwe_...11.10.1.9.11.4
A great way of avoiding damage is using the sword/dagger set and timing correctly, you can mitigate most damage from using your skills at a nice combo, for instance a good combo is 1.1.2.5.4.2.3.1.1 you can also dodge and use lightning reflexes to help out once you've dodge a little too much. If things get really tricky you have signet of stone.