Class population & grouping questions

Summary/TLDR - I like a lot of classes in DAoC, mostly hybrids and stealthers. I don't want to commit to a class then find out it's way overpopulated or not needed.

Classes I like: * love, - I could be talked into

Paladin
Scout*
Friar
Minstrel
Infiltrator -

Skald*
Thane*
Shaman -
Shadowblade (2H)
Hunter -

Valewalker*
Warden*
Ranger
Champion
Nightshade -

I like pve & rvr. So what are some things I should consider - is it hard enough to get a group as a stealther that I should avoid rolling 1 first? Are there major problems with any of these classes on this server? Are certain classes overly populated, but don't really have a solid role end game? Do necromancers ruin albion pve? 2H Shadowblade still more of a cute funsies idea and not actually viable?

I'm going to do my grocery shopping while I think on this. If the answer is "really it doesn't matter" just let me know.

Sun 17 Feb 2019 12:19 AM by Tillbeast

For solo you cannot beat a minstrel, (plus its great in groups) it is really strong however as a mid there does seem to be an aweful lot of them. I like both skalds and thanes but again they are very popular. All 3 assassins are in a very good place in stealth war and make excellent solo choices. However again all 3 are popular. Archers on the other hand got the wrong end of the stick with regards the stealth war and I would only recommend playing an archer if you really love the class. Cannot comment on most other classes but end of day play what you enjoy.

Sun 17 Feb 2019 1:31 AM by SaintRon

Thanks Tillbeast, I appreciate the insight on archers.

Sun 17 Feb 2019 3:30 AM by GrekkenOfTheRegime

Hey there SaintRon, I am just starting out on Phoenix as well so I cant speak to the current state of the server, but I have been a long time player of DAOC and might have a few insights for you.

1) 2H Shadowblade is absolutely viable and very good. Being the only assassin that has access to 2H weapons means they have some of the best and highest damage stealth openers in the game and both Alb and Hib assassins have long complained about it. After your stealth opener with the 2H most SB's will then switch to Dual Wield to apply their other poisons. Unfortunately Left Axe (duel wield skill for Midgard) was nerfed and is weaker than both other realms (though it's not 'bad' by any means). So you trade having higher opening dmg for lower dmg once you're out of stealth and in combat.

As Tillbeast said, the assassins of each realm are in a pretty good spot and each have a strength and weakness.

2) Archers are very fun if played in a duo/trio with other archers (or include an assassin for counter-stealth) because the 2-3 of you can stealth around the battlefield and (if you are coordinated on voice chat) then you can all target and fire at the exact same time on an unsuspecting enemy and drop pretty much any class instantly. Watch out for assassins trying to uncover you once they know you're out there. This works especially well on Alb if you have a stealther group with a minstrel. But I honestly like the Midgard Hunter the best. They have the lowest range of the 3 archers and they get a lot of flak for it but I really like the fact they have an escape with a self speed buff, and can instantly summon their pet wolf. Catches a lot of assassins who are trying to kill you off guard when you can insta-spawn that wolf on them and then speed buff out of there. Wolf is also great at interrupting casters.

3) Skalds/Thanes/ other hybrid classes... Skalds are great of course for run speed buff, but otherwise fall into Hybrid territory like the Thane where they both can do some cool stuff, but everything they can do can be done better by a dedicated class (except Skald speed). A Thane is like a warrior and a caster, except they cant tank as good as a warrior and they cant cast spells as good as a runemaster. You gain the ability to do both at the cost of not being the best at either. Skald falls in the same boat but has a little more utility with the different songs and group buffs they can provide.

4) Yes Necromancers break PvP and is why they have been nerfed and revamped SOOOOOO many times by Mythic. Going back to patch 1.65 on Phoenix, I'm sure they are going to be OP again unless Phoenix has done some special balancing for them. But I haven't gotten into PvP yet on Phoenix to be able to speak from experience on this point.

Anyway, I gotta log for now but I'll circle back around and try to answer a few of your other questions when I get the chance.