If You Were a Casual Gamer...

[Gurnsey]

...I'm a pretty casual gamer...[right][snapback]75409[/snapback][/right]

Hmmm.

Your argument for the choice of classes for the casual gamer seems to take the stance that a casual gamer is not quick at picking stuff up or managing several things at once.

I'd define a good class for a casual gamer (and maybe your view is different since you probably know the casual gamer in question) as:

1) Soloable. My definition of a casual gamer would be one that would want to play for a bit occasionally. Having to group might scare off the casual gamer, who might not want to commit the time (or face the possibility of dealing with idiotic party members) forming, playing with, and waiting for a group. A class should allow for someone to log on and fell like they've made some progress, even if only a short time is available.

Winners: Druid - the complications that are introduced are at level 10 and 20, with minimal skills at the start and more learned along the way. Plenty of time for a casual gamer to get into the swing of things! Travel form at 30 is later than Shaman's at 20 (but can be done at a run and non-interruptable), and Hunter's (but faster, and no Daze), helps save the massive cash needed for a mount. Variety of playstyles mean that levelling up one character can provide experiences for a spellcaster/healer, a tank, and a dps/stealth machine.

Hunter - as someone else said - Aimed-concussive-sting-arcane-pingpingping. Pet documentation is low, but is not THAT bad. A little help on how to feed and train and turn on Growl would be enough to make the pet useful right off the bat, nothing else to it.

Paladin - I've heard. Never played one myself. Heals, armor, melee power.

2) Groupable. Even the casual gamer has a few hours to spend every once in a while. No class really doesn't find groups well (at least at the lower levels) that I can think of, so this is not really an issue. Learning how to play your class in a group is a different matter.

Priests - easy to tell what your role is, but hard to initially play this role well. Early aggro management of warriors and others make the priest's job tough at lower levels, and very reliant on the group. This could be frustrating if the group is bad, but hey, we've never heard of that!

Warrior - group role is again easy, but as mentioned, the warrior is often relied on to lead the group.

Druid - Malleability means that you can take whatever role is needed or you are comfortable with in the group - tank, dps, or spellcaster/healer.

Other classes - no ideas right now. :P

3) Sustainable on less-than-optimal equipment. A casual gamer will probably not want to spend hours on a raid or farming equipment.

Warriors - heavily dependant on armor and weapon. Ouch.

Rogues - to a degeree. Good daggers are often quite a bit more expensive than comparable other weapons in my experience.

Druid - animal 'weapon' upgrades with level and time spent in normal form tends to be spellcasting and not smacking: no need to get an expensive weapon upgrade all the time! Has an armor spell, as well as bear form to increase armor: no need to upgrade armor at every opportunity!

In summary, I think a Druid is an excellent choice for a casual gamer! A Skinning/Leatherworking druid is even better! Leatherworking produces quite decent armor for a Druid and can make money with a little work.

Just my opinion.