Don't know much about

[Gregorius]

The release of the PvP Honor system recently cemented my beliefs that:
I don't really think it's fun to a)raid TM, or fight over Nesingwary's b)murder opponents who have just come off of being beaten within an inch of their life
At the current rate I'm not likely to ever reach 60 on a PvP server, owing to the number of involuntary distractions
This game isn't much fun if you can't play with people you know on at least some level (I started on Kel'T because one of my friends was on it)

So I've decided I want to "move" to Terenas, and by that I mean starting a new character. I started a Warrior, but that's an experience I've spent some time on already. Using the same logic, I probably (no guarantees) wouldn't start a Druid or Priest, and would be slightly unlikely to start a Warlock (I've spent the most time playing Locks but they're also my favorite, especially when I don't have no shot :P at fighting a gank). Since horde doesn't have Paladins, that basically leaves me with four options: Hunter, Shaman, Mage, Rogue.

I know a pretty limited amount about these classes (I only know what I've observed from fighting them, and watching my brother play a rogue). So before I choose I'd like to know some things about these classes.

First off, Shaman and Druid are typically described as Hybrid classes. What's different about playing a Shaman than a Druid (aside from the obvious like Mail and Shields, but no Shapeshift forms)? I'm talking mostly about fighting style and not specific perks.

Mages: how do they compare to Rogues? I'm particularly wondering about how resistances/immunities factor into late game soloing and group play (is it as "you almost have to have two trees to be able to kill everything" as D2 sorceresses), and how the damage compares. Which of the aforemention classes is usually the favorite for instances? Which one is best for group PvP (i.e. Battlegrounds, not mindless Southshore zergs)?

Lastly, I find rogues to be a bit...confusing. I'm lost in all the attack skills and stuff. How do Shamans and Hunters (classes that seem to have a lot of aspects as well) compare to Rogues, and Warlocs and Druids (which I understand much better than Rogues)? My plan right now is to choose one of the races beginning in Durotar so are Troll or Orc racial traits better than Tauren or Undead (which both seem really good in comparison) for any of these classes? I try not to play by the Traits book (especially since Troll Females have the best one of all, cool hair!) but I just have to ask.

Whew! Sorry about all those questions, but I would like to know some things before I start up. Thanks.

[Watto44]

Heya. I can't really answer all your questions, but I'll have a shot at a couple.

The primary difference between the druid and the shaman playstyle is that, to my mind - as I said in another post somewhere - is that the shaman is more "fluid". When you are meleeing, it isn't doesn't feel like spells are "shut out" of the repetoir. Spells, totems and melee mingle together a give the feel of one class, not three mini-classes rolled into one.

Another difference between the two is that, plain and simple, druids are better healers than shaman. While a shaman can heal a group through instances, the druid has a far better skill set for it. (A meaningful HoT - Rejuvination vs. Healing Stream - and a better, with Barkskin, group heal.) My guess is that druids are also more capable tanks, again because of the skill set. However, chances are that you won't be tanking much as a druid, which brings me to my final point.

On Terenas shaman (shamen??) are a dime-a-dozen. Throw a leather ball in Org and it'll probably be caught by a shammy. Healers (and Mages for that matter) are a valuable commodity Horde-side, and if you want to instance, you'll never struggle finding a party with a druid.

Sorry I couldn't answer any of your other questions, but my experience with mages and rogues is really limited.

PS. Hope you like Terenas. It's a good server (once you get out of the starting zones anyway).

[Sir_Die_alot]

On Terenas shaman (shamen??) are a dime-a-dozen. Throw a leather ball in Org and it'll probably be caught by a shammy. Healers (and Mages for that matter) are a valuable commodity Horde-side, and if you want to instance, you'll never struggle finding a party with a druid.[right][snapback]75846[/snapback][/right]

Lower levels yes this is true but higher levels with my druid I'm always looking for a shaman to get added to a group which doesn't happen nearly as much as i would like. Well played higher level shamans aren't as common as well played higher level druids are.

If you are looking for a class that groups are really in need of it's priests (as usual), but on Terenas shamans as well. Without looking at census data I can tell you Terenas has a larger than average tauren population, and a very significant chunk of those are druids. Very few priests make it much beond 35, and I could probably name all the active ones level 50+. This means druids are usually the primary group healers, but due to how druid rebirth works a shaman is needed to fill the gap to ressurect people.

Make yourself a holy priest and you will have to fight off group invites with a stick, but barring that I suggest a shaman (or druid if you want to spend your time looking for shamans :D ). If you decide a shaman isn't for you, rogues with improved sap are usually welcomed. Hunters are, and always have been, a filler class.

[Rinnhart]

It's shamans. :shuriken:

[The Gnu]

Mages: how do they compare to Rogues?  I'm particularly wondering about how resistances/immunities factor into late game soloing and group play (is it as "you almost have to have two trees to be able to kill everything" as D2 sorceresses), and how the damage compares.  Which of the aforemention classes is usually the favorite for instances?  Which one is best for group PvP (i.e. Battlegrounds, not mindless Southshore zergs)?

Immunities isn't that much of an issue for mages in the late game. This is mainly because we're talking about talents, not the actual skills. Even as a Fire/Arcane-specialised mage, I can throw up a decent damage blizzard in Moulten Core, and there's nothing wrong with the slowing effect of my frostbolts, they're just *less* effective. The layout of the arcane tree with the damage skills on top (Arcane Explosion and Arcane Missiles) makes it easier to create very focused builds. If you just spend 10 points in Arcane, you can place the other 41 in another tree, making it highly specialised, without really crippling the build against certain opponents.

As for resistances, I havn't had any major problems with it so far. You still damage high level bosses like Azuregos and Lord Kazzak with more than 50% of your spellcastings, which is often enough, since you have to control your DPS against them anyway. ;)

As for PvP, they have very different roles. Since my experience with the Battlegrounds is very limited (none, in fact :D ) I can only talk about the mindless zergs, or perhaps slightly more organized versions of mass PvP.
Rogues are the special ops units of PvP. They strike against characters that have moved too far from the flock or made a too agressive advance with devastating damage, and then disappear without a trace. (or just run like hell out of the action! :P )
As a mage, I can easily say that 75-80% of my deaths on the battlefield has been caused by talented rogues.

Mages on the other hand, most often act as the artillery of PvP. With the support of hunters, druids and paladins, they can quickly destroy characters rendered immobile. With mana shield and fire ward active, (to fend of long range hunters and mages) surviving on the front line isn't an impossible task. Just make sure you have someone to cleanse you from the evil DoT's. ;)
With blink to free you from snares, and the new insignia you cure you from fear, polymorph and slowing effects, mages are really hard to catch. Blink and polymorph are also awesome advancing skills, catching up to enemies on the run and polymorphing them long enough for the rest of your party to catch up.

Once again, this is based on Hillsbrad skirmishes. I have no idea what the gameplay will be like in the Battlegrounds. ;)

[Gregorius]

Well, as somebody here already knows, I've chosen a Priest. I figure there's something to be had in having groups all over the place. But since some time this summer I'm liable to get a new account (I've been working off my older brother's account up until now) I'm not sure what's going to happen then. Until then I'll do everything I can to enjoy my Troll Priest and the awesome hairstyle!

[Mavfin]

Well, as somebody here already knows, I've chosen a Priest.  I figure there's something to be had in having groups all over the place.  But since some time this summer I'm liable to get a new account (I've been working off my older brother's account up until now) I'm not sure what's going to happen then.  Until then I'll do everything I can to enjoy my Troll Priest and the awesome hairstyle!
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Yeah, I like the punk rock troll girls, too. But the orc girls have the best jokes.

[KiloVictor]

Yeah, I like the punk rock troll girls, too.  But the orc girls have the best jokes.
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Undead girls.

Best. Knees. Evah.

Kv

[Quark]

Undead girls.

Best. Knees. Evah.

Kv
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And with that response, I'm so tempted to post the famous Fark picture criticizing knees ... too bad I don't have it.