Learn2play: a guide to class roles
by Jennie Lees 
May 2nd 2006 at 1:01PM
While trying to explain the difference
between MT, OT, DPS and healer to a new player, I found this well-written guide to party roles in WoW. If you're unsure
quite what the difference between a main and offtank is, or which classes are considered "DPS", it's a great
read.As a druid, I love the fact that my class appears under all headings, but as a recent instance run taught me, it's best to ensure you know which you are before you begin. Hybrid classes can cause no end of arguments when they fail to remain hybrid, too, so don't be afraid to switch roles if necessary -- a healing class that refuses to heal when the only other healer is out of mana is a great party annoyance.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Krutch May 2nd 2006 3:08PM
You gonna post the link to the guide?
Brian May 2nd 2006 3:16PM
its called "read" at the bottom of the article
IMandIR May 2nd 2006 3:23PM
I donno what this person is thinking a fury spec warrior that is well equipped does more dmg than anyone else and my lvl 60 hunter out DPSs any mage or rogue you throw into BWL or MC
Marsh May 2nd 2006 3:46PM
Yeah, it seems like a big omission leaving hunters out of DPS classes... My hunter can do comparable damage to what mages can do, barring areas with lots of AoE bait creatures. Plus hunter threat management lets them do huge hits without pulling aggro off the tank, when used properly.
Dimitrios May 2nd 2006 4:41PM
For those that claim to out DPS a rogue, are you outfitted in your tier 2 epics and the rogue you are comparing yourself to might have a couple of the shawdowforge peices that are found for sale in the AH.
Keep in mind that these guides paint classes with broad strokes. You can always find an exception to these guides.
Zach May 2nd 2006 4:43PM
Agreed that hunters should be included in the DPS part of the article.
Xinhaijian May 2nd 2006 7:51PM
I resent the fact that in that guide the rogue is considered the 2nd best DPS class in the game. I would really be surprised if a rogue and a mage (both with comparable gear) went head to head in a DPS battle and the rogue won. I've been on countless raids and instance runs, and I have never seen a mage at the top of a damage meter at the end. In fact, I don't think I have seen a mage in the top three of a damage meter. The fact is that the rogue simply puts out way more damage than a mage, and can avoid damage better if played correctly.
Xinhaijian May 2nd 2006 7:54PM
In my previous post, I meant I would have been surprised if the mage won.
IMandIR May 3rd 2006 2:18AM
The rogues have tier 1 and tier2 while I am in tier 1 with some other epics and blues and I still out DPS them. People really do look over the hunter as being DPS
jason May 3rd 2006 8:35AM
Well, the mage has no way to drop agro. A rogue does. So while a rogue can go all out, backstabbing or what have you, and then throw a feign or pop vanish if it gets ugly, all a mage can do is hit frost nova or hope the tank can grab agro. Keep that in mind when you see your "zomg uber!" damage on the charts before you go talk about mages/locks not doing enough damage.
Ashley May 3rd 2006 1:07PM
Priest should be adding to the DPS classes.
Shadow form, d'oh.
barb dybwad May 4th 2006 11:21PM
Whether a rogue or a mage will "win" the ever-popular DamageMeters contest is often largely situational. Of course it will be somewhat dependant on gear, as noted above, but it also has to do with the mechanics of the fights you're doing -- some fights are going to favor AoE damage and/or ranged damage over melee dps. When my guild raids the rogues and the mages & hunters tend to take turns at the top of the charts, depending on which fights and which bosses we're doing that day and what the mechanics of those fights call for. And yes, hunters will be dishing out some serious dps and tend to climb to the top of the charts during ranged-intensive fights (e.g. for Bloodlord Mandokir in ZG we have zero melee in except the MT while ranged dps unloads. Hunters pwn.)