Never played DAoC - Quick rundown of the classes?

Hello all!

I've never played DAoC, but I have always been interested in PVP oriented MMOs. I started off with like GW1/Archeage/Runescape, but I guess DAoC/Warhammer were in their prime just before I got into MMO gaming.

I've tried to look up guides about the classes, but I was wondering if anyone could refer me to a good source to read up on the classes? Preferably, just a couple of sentences per class, and just point out what their roles are (i.e Buff/Tank, or Stealth/DPS) something like that. I found some wiki pages, but none of them have all the classes listed out on a page to help me compare, as opposed to separate wiki entries. Or the ones that have all of the classes listed out, are just the lore entries about the class.

I would greatly appreciate any help.

Thu 10 Jan 2019 7:59 PM by Rakul

This should help you get started:
http://camelot.allakhazam.com/db/class.html

Thu 10 Jan 2019 8:04 PM by uanaka

Rakul wrote: ↑
Thu 10 Jan 2019 7:59 PM
This should help you get started:
http://camelot.allakhazam.com/db/class.html

Thanks so much, this was one of those wiki pages I was referring to. I was hoping more for like a table of class names and their archetypes as opposed to having to open up like 40 different tabs.

Thu 10 Jan 2019 8:20 PM by Mura

That's kind of hard to do as some classes fill multiple roles and don't mirror exactly across realms, and a table would just be confusing.

What roles are you looking at and we can direct you from there?

Each realm will have heavy tanks, light tanks, an assassin, an archer, a spec buffer, a base buffer, a main healer and off healer, a speedster, a crowd controller, direct damage caster, bolt caster, damage over time casters a disease caster, nearsighter, bubbler, and pet classes.

Different realms combine these roles differently like mid has the healer as main crowd control, main heals and base buffs, but to bring the same skills hib would need a bard for main cc and base buffs and a druid for the spec heals.

Thu 10 Jan 2019 8:25 PM by uanaka

Mura wrote: ↑
Thu 10 Jan 2019 8:20 PM
That's kind of hard to do as some classes fill multiple roles and don't mirror exactly across realms, and a table would just be confusing.

What roles are you looking at and we can direct you from there?

Each realm will have heavy tanks, light tanks, an assassin, an archer, a spec buffer, a base buffer, a main healer and off healer, a speedster, a crowd controller, direct damage caster, bolt caster, damage over time casters a disease caster, nearsighter, bubbler, and pet classes.

Different realms combine these roles differently like mid has the healer as main crowd control, main heals and base buffs, but to bring the same skills hib would need a bard for main cc and base buffs and a druid for the spec heals.

I see thanks so much. So it appears that there aren't perfect "mirror" classes in each realm.

I'm primarily interested in a few roles:

Support-oriented tanks with self-sustain
Buffing/Debuffing Support Classes (doesn't necessarily have to be a healer, just a class that can augment allies/enemies)
Crowd Control + Heavy Damage Burst + Mobile (asking for a lot in this one, i dont expect there to be a class like this)
Healer with very strong single target burst heals, but still decent aoe heals as necessary.
Brawling/Fighting classes (just in general, can be tank/support/healer/dps)
DOT classes that also has potential for big burst (burst from a skill, not from combined DOT damage)

Thu 10 Jan 2019 8:47 PM by Hector

uanaka wrote: ↑
Thu 10 Jan 2019 8:25 PM
Mura wrote: ↑
Thu 10 Jan 2019 8:20 PM
That's kind of hard to do as some classes fill multiple roles and don't mirror exactly across realms, and a table would just be confusing.

What roles are you looking at and we can direct you from there?

Each realm will have heavy tanks, light tanks, an assassin, an archer, a spec buffer, a base buffer, a main healer and off healer, a speedster, a crowd controller, direct damage caster, bolt caster, damage over time casters a disease caster, nearsighter, bubbler, and pet classes.

Different realms combine these roles differently like mid has the healer as main crowd control, main heals and base buffs, but to bring the same skills hib would need a bard for main cc and base buffs and a druid for the spec heals.

I see thanks so much. So it appears that there aren't perfect "mirror" classes in each realm.

I'm primarily interested in a few roles:

Support-oriented tanks with self-sustain
Buffing/Debuffing Support Classes (doesn't necessarily have to be a healer, just a class that can augment allies/enemies)
Crowd Control + Heavy Damage Burst + Mobile (asking for a lot in this one, i dont expect there to be a class like this)
Healer with very strong single target burst heals, but still decent aoe heals as necessary.
Brawling/Fighting classes (just in general, can be tank/support/healer/dps)
DOT classes that also has potential for big burst (burst from a skill, not from combined DOT damage)

Support oriented tanks with self-sustain: Paladin (alb), Friar (alb) and Warden (hib). Although warden and friar are not a tank but a melee that can heal
Buffing/Debuffing support: all casters in this game meet this criteria although only healers can buff others.
CC + Heavy Dmg Burst: Sorcerer (alb) can do all. Spiritmaster (mid) and Eldritch (hib) can also do similar things
Healers: all 3 "primary" healers (ie Druid (hib), Healer (mid), and Cleric (alb)) all get strongest single and group heals
Brawling classes: all realms have both a heavy and light tank class. Check out Hero (hib), I find new players enjoy that class since it can turn into a moose and heal itself every so often.
DOT classes in daoc arent used as much in RvR because DOTs unpredictably break CC (mezz) spells, so they are typically avoided in that spec line

Thu 10 Jan 2019 9:09 PM by Patron

Hey Threadcreator!
You just should simply look to the Charplaner on https://playphoenix.online/charplan
Here you find the Classes and the possibilities they have.
Sadly not structurated for realms but you can see where the class to the realm is here http://play.nixian.eu/index.php?page=charbuilder

I can feel with you, because ive never played live and started DAoC 2008 on Uthgard 1 after playing Ultima Online since 99 and i had a long way down to check the classes and get the game.
But it almost mostly was entertaining and fun.
The storys and drama´s which i was involved is an amazing story and i got addicted to DAoC in a good way.

As first Char i want to hardly suggest you 1 of the 3 mainhealclasses in game: Druid in Hibernia, Healer in Midgard and Cleric in Albion.
You doing buffing and healing and you can learn the other classes in your realm first and second the enemy classes.

Support-oriented tanks with self-sustain
Buffing/Debuffing Support Classes (doesn't necessarily have to be a healer, just a class that can augment allies/enemies)
Crowd Control + Heavy Damage Burst + Mobile (asking for a lot in this one, i dont expect there to be a class like this)
Healer with very strong single target burst heals, but still decent aoe heals as necessary.
Brawling/Fighting classes (just in general, can be tank/support/healer/dps)
DOT classes that also has potential for big burst (burst from a skill, not from combined DOT damage)

1. Warden in Hibernia,

2. buffing debuffing support: Healer in Midgard because you can controll the enemy with mezz to let them sleep for some seconds and are a buff and healclass.

3. CC and DPS and Mobile? Skald in Midgard because you have fastest speed, chainarmor, good melleedps and you can stun and mezz the enemy.
Skald is a formidable soloclass and a must for every Midgardgroup in RVR

4. 3 Healclasses see above

5. Brawling fighting classes:
Hibernia: Hero is heavytank and Blademaster is lighttanks, Champion and Valewalker are hybridtank
Midgard: Warrior is heavytank and Berserker is lighttanks, Savage is even a stoicismtank and had some specialmovbes which cost life. Thane is hybridtank
Albion: Armsmen is heavytank with platearmor, Mercenary is lighttank. Reaver is formidable melleedps and friar is kind of monkclass with decent survivorability and buff, paladin is platearmor with buff but very low dmg but you are in my mind the best tank in game when it comes to survivability

Dotclass with high burst dmg: Mentalist on Hibernia, because on manaspec Aedot and doubledot n singletarget + manareg and heal over time and on lightspec you have single and aoe DD and the hardest single castdps on hib and with and enchanter which debuffing heatresistance on the target you doing the best singledps in hibernia and maybe in realm.
And a lightmentalist is even ok in heal and you have a demezz which you need.

I hope i could help you and whish you a good time in this awesome game

Thu 10 Jan 2019 11:37 PM by uanaka

@Hector and @Patron thank you so much for your input! Much to think about, i'll look up some gameplay videos of those classes. Now i have something to hone in on a bit better.

Fri 11 Jan 2019 6:29 PM by HelloPancake

Buffing/Debuffing Support Classes (doesn't necessarily have to be a healer, just a class that can augment allies/enemies)
Shaman/Healer in mid-- lots of buffs, CC and debuffs from those two.
Animist-- Shroom pets you summon that debuff enemies and buff allies, CC and damage-- can also burst-- lots of potential there but not mobile at all. Tough to master!
Honorable mention to Sorcerer-- helpful to group, lots of debuff potential too.
Honorable mention to bard/minstrel-- lots of helpful support and CC +very mobile(not so much debuffs)

Crowd Control + Heavy Damage Burst + Mobile (asking for a lot in this one, i dont expect there to be a class like this)
as others have said... Skald-- Crowd Control, Mobile--- Can be bursty with the right target-- twohanded damage+damage shouts can cripple weaker classes
Honorable mention to Sorcerer-- who has tons of CC, a good damage spell-- and a speed song (not as fast as bard/skald-- so they can catch you)

Healer with very strong single target burst heals, but still decent aoe heals as necessary.
Druid/Healer/Cleric--- Healer if you also enjoy tons of CC.

Brawling/Fighting classes (just in general, can be tank/support/healer/dps)
Mercenaries, Blademasters, Berserkers are dual wielding DPS terrors
Savages are similar to the above, but with more burst and survival ability-- but less sustain.
Armsmen, Heroes and Warriors are heavy tanks with the option to use twohanded weapons for heavy slow strikes.
Thane is a cross between a warrior (shield or twohanded) and a nuking caster.
Reaver is a tanky debuffing fighting class with high burst positionals.
Champion is tanky with a shield, or bursty with his two handed weapon a bunch of debuffs and damage shouts.
Valewalker starts in cloth but can buff himself to be incredibly both tanky and slippery, includes a lifetap nuke and hard hitting two handed burst positionals/situationals.
Friar is a slippery healing class that can help support a group but also hold his own with a staff, using situational and positional styles to do decent damage.
Paladin is a tanky support class, you can use a shield of go twohanded-- lots of group friendly buffs that also make you decent solo, recently had its damaged buffed.

DOT classes that also has potential for big burst (burst from a skill, not from combined DOT damage)
Assassins utilize DoT poisons that tend to kill people off after a big opening backstab chain, you can even boost the poison in endgame to do more DoT damage to make this outcome more likely-- other classes have burst and dot, but not in the same skill line generally, so you won't be using both without sacrificing the damage from both lines.

Sun 13 Jan 2019 4:22 PM by uanaka

HelloPancake wrote: ↑
Fri 11 Jan 2019 6:29 PM
Buffing/Debuffing Support Classes (doesn't necessarily have to be a healer, just a class that can augment allies/enemies)
Shaman/Healer in mid-- lots of buffs, CC and debuffs from those two.
Animist-- Shroom pets you summon that debuff enemies and buff allies, CC and damage-- can also burst-- lots of potential there but not mobile at all. Tough to master!
Honorable mention to Sorcerer-- helpful to group, lots of debuff potential too.
Honorable mention to bard/minstrel-- lots of helpful support and CC +very mobile(not so much debuffs)

Crowd Control + Heavy Damage Burst + Mobile (asking for a lot in this one, i dont expect there to be a class like this)
as others have said... Skald-- Crowd Control, Mobile--- Can be bursty with the right target-- twohanded damage+damage shouts can cripple weaker classes
Honorable mention to Sorcerer-- who has tons of CC, a good damage spell-- and a speed song (not as fast as bard/skald-- so they can catch you)

Healer with very strong single target burst heals, but still decent aoe heals as necessary.
Druid/Healer/Cleric--- Healer if you also enjoy tons of CC.

Brawling/Fighting classes (just in general, can be tank/support/healer/dps)
Mercenaries, Blademasters, Berserkers are dual wielding DPS terrors
Savages are similar to the above, but with more burst and survival ability-- but less sustain.
Armsmen, Heroes and Warriors are heavy tanks with the option to use twohanded weapons for heavy slow strikes.
Thane is a cross between a warrior (shield or twohanded) and a nuking caster.
Reaver is a tanky debuffing fighting class with high burst positionals.
Champion is tanky with a shield, or bursty with his two handed weapon a bunch of debuffs and damage shouts.
Valewalker starts in cloth but can buff himself to be incredibly both tanky and slippery, includes a lifetap nuke and hard hitting two handed burst positionals/situationals.
Friar is a slippery healing class that can help support a group but also hold his own with a staff, using situational and positional styles to do decent damage.
Paladin is a tanky support class, you can use a shield of go twohanded-- lots of group friendly buffs that also make you decent solo, recently had its damaged buffed.

DOT classes that also has potential for big burst (burst from a skill, not from combined DOT damage)
Assassins utilize DoT poisons that tend to kill people off after a big opening backstab chain, you can even boost the poison in endgame to do more DoT damage to make this outcome more likely-- other classes have burst and dot, but not in the same skill line generally, so you won't be using both without sacrificing the damage from both lines.

Thank you so much, I'm leaning towards like a bard/minstrel/animist.

Animist sounds really interesting, but is there a similar class that is a bit more mobile? Even if the class is just off heals and support, but still decently capable of solo leveling.

Also, how do Warden compare to Bard? Since they both seem to fulfill a off-heal role?

Mon 14 Jan 2019 5:55 PM by Abner

There are a lot of different "roles" to play and sometimes the archetypes don't line up perfectly. The easy ones:

Archer: Ranger, Hunter, Scout.
Rangers dual-wield, hunters have 2h spear and pet, scouts have shield.

Assassin: Nightshade, Shadowblade, Infiltrator
Minor differences: Inf get more spec points, SB get 2h weapons, NS get a few nice RAs

Light Tank: Blademaster, Berserker, Mercenary (maybe Savage too?)
Minor differences. Berserker get gerbil mode for crits, BM get triple-wield, merc have dirty tricks

Heavy Tank: Hero, Warrior, Armsman
Minor differences.

Hybrid Tank: Champ/VW, Thane, Paladin/Friar/Reaver
Paladins are primary endurance for their realm.

The spellcasters /support are kinda harder to categorize, because the specs change and are sorta mish-mash rearranged by realm.

Primary Healer: Druid, Healer, Cleric
Primary Buffer: Druid, Shaman, Cleric
Primary Mezz: Bard, Healer, Sorceror
Endurance Regen: Bard, Shaman, Paladin
Secondary Healer: Bard/Warden, Shaman, Friar
Speed: Bard, Skald, Minstrel
PBAE: Enchanter, Spiritmaster, Wizard
Bolt: Eldritch, Runemaster, Wizard
Focus Shield: Enchanter, Spiritmaster, Cabalist
Bladeturn: Warden, Runemaster, Theurgist
Pet Spam: Animist, Theurgist, BD (sorta)

etc.

uanaka wrote: ↑
Sun 13 Jan 2019 4:22 PM
Also, how do Warden compare to Bard? Since they both seem to fulfill a off-heal role?

Both have secondary heals and base buffs. Bards have faster speed, endurance/mana regeneration, and AE mezz. Wardens have bladeturn, parry, and thornweed field, a pretty slick realm ability.

Tue 15 Jan 2019 9:46 AM by Arikus

That's a good list, but adding the Eldritch also to the PBAE
PBAE: Enchanter/Eldritch, Spiritmaster, Wizard
Animist has also PBAE spec, but not as strong as the others.