Breakfast Topic: Class vs. content
by Allison Robert 
Sep 10th 2008 at 8:00AM
It's no secret that classes and specs are not the same when it comes to the likelihood of getting Gladiator or raiding all the way to Kil'Jaeden. You may love your Hunter, but arena's not that kind to them at present. Your Warlock might be endless fun to play, but the guilds on your realm are probably swimming in them. And if you've ever cruised past the recruitment forums, you've probably noticed that they all seem to want the same thing: healers (and lots of 'em). If you were the sort of person who sat down, looked at the content in the game that you wanted to see more than anything else, and picked your class and spec solely with that goal in mind, your path forward would be fairly clear...but you might also become one of those people who logs off their primary toon as fast as they can after raid, or after their 10 games for the week, and goes to play the alt they'd secretly love to be playing as a main.
Ideally we get the perfect intersection of a class we love to play that's able to accomplish its goals in content we want to experience, but it doesn't always happen -- and if you have to choose, the decision is a pretty personal one. So I ask you: class or content?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Breakfast Topics, PvP, Raiding, Classes, Alts, Arena
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Fckn.srs.bsns Sep 10th 2008 8:11AM
Class and Spec:
PALADIN RETRIBUTION
Nay sayers can go away.
Feanora Sep 10th 2008 8:12AM
I used to play a Blood Elf Healadin... since I figured they'd be needed urgently for Salv buffbotting etc. Given this was early TBC, I got pigeonholed into Holy spec.
It took me until killing Kalecgos and having 4/8 Tier 6 before I finally quit out of sheer disgust at the class and lack of healing proficiency in Sunwell. *sigh*
Lesley Sep 10th 2008 8:17AM
Whichever you pick, find a like-minded guild and STAY with them. If you work constantly together with a group of people, no matter WHAT you all play, you will work smoothly enough that you can tackle anything.
Randuinmaral Sep 10th 2008 11:02AM
Absolutely true.
Happily rading and BGing moonkin, me.
Vigo Sep 10th 2008 8:18AM
First started out playing a rogue. The guild I was in at
that time was short on healers, so I decided to give
it a go. To my very great surprise I love to play the
holy priest. I find i'm a group player, so this "supporting
class" really suits me.
My rogue I play now and again just for a bit of fun or
pvp. But my priest is now really my main character,
no sacrifices needed at all - though I first thought
I needed to sacrifice a bit of fun playing him.
I even look forward to levelling him as soon as
WotLK hits and hope for even more progress in end
game content.
Regards,
Vigo
Fletch Sep 10th 2008 8:19AM
Both. Most of all you should play a class that you actually enjoy playing, but a lot of players simply dismiss a class because they think they won't enjoy playing it. When I started a priest, I went shadow simply because I didn't think I would enjoy healing. However, when I got to seventy I was getting a bit frustrated by the difficulty in finding instance groups, so I changed to Holy and tried healing out. Contrary to all expectations I found that I quite enjoyed the challenge of it. So I would say don't prejudge any class or style of play. Try it out, you might enjoy it.
Mark Gibbons Sep 10th 2008 8:21AM
I've been playing WoW for about six months' time now, and as a new player I heard very early on that "the game begins at 70". But recently I've tended to ascribe a fair amount of wisdom to another comment I read: "The game begins when you're having fun." :)
oldwisemonk Sep 10th 2008 12:05PM
I love this comment. As a casual gamer, the game certainly does not begin at 70. It just changes. For someone like me, it means it's probably time to start playing an alt so I don't get bored with my 70's.
Calybos Sep 10th 2008 5:38PM
Absolutely. Play the classes you enjoy, and if one of them is more in-demand for endgame content, so be it.
You can't miss if you explore all the options.
Solitare-sp Sep 10th 2008 8:28AM
It is of course possible to have both...which is probably the number one reason to lvl up an alt. My main is a priest as a) I love healing and b) It's a usful class. So i'm lucky certainly that to me my class is both fun and wanted in groups.
My guild leader has also lvled up a priest to help with raiding although his main is a mage, becuase it helps the guild if we're short. He now tends to raid more with that char that his main.....
But i'm preparing for WOLTK by lvling up a rogue and a pally, so I have different playstyles. Of course once the expansion comes my focus will on getting my priest to lvl 80 and ready for raiding, but i'll hopefully be flexible with my alts to provide whatever is needed, although the chances of my rogue going raiding is small (although I want her for PvPing when I can't get in a pre-made).
The important thing is theres no point in lvling up a hunter, then moaning you can't do anything or get into raiding because theres 10-20 other people in the guild wanting those 5-6 DPS places in a 10-man raid. Thats always going to be happening. Think flexible.
Meatshiéld Sep 10th 2008 8:26AM
Prot is my job
Fury is my hobby
Enhancement is my passion
BenMS Sep 10th 2008 8:55AM
This I understand. I have a resto Shaman, with whom I have Brain-healed my way to victory over KT, Vashj and most of BT and MH.
But I love Enhancement. It's my dirty little secret. I've read the entire EJ Enhance Shaman thread - all 300+ pages of it(now redundant). I spend my badges on Melee DPS gear - I have both Vanir's fists, the 2.5 offhand for decent Windfury hits. I have the Rogue Quel'Danas pants, because they are (were) better than the Mail ones.
My Guildies have gone past me before without recognising me in my Enhance gear - I turn my helmet on when I've respecced, and watch the big numbers fly. My guild knows it will always be able to rely on me for the Chain Heal goodness. But I do love Enhance.
krat2 Sep 10th 2008 4:26PM
Enhancement is my passion...
I could not agree more!
(Here's hoping we do not have to wear dresses in Wrath.)
Omestes Sep 10th 2008 4:44PM
Here here!
I love my enhshammie... I also loved my feral druid. That is the problem with hybrids though, yes you can do everything, but everyone only wants you to be a priest.
So I rerolled a lock, and give away healthstones and say "heal thyself".
Blair Sep 10th 2008 8:28AM
Same for me as for Vigo. I originally leveled a rogue, but started on a belf tankadin when TBC came out (guild was short on tanks). Now, I am one of 4 main tanks in my guild (we've cleared the 4 animal bosses in ZA and are now 2 bosses down in SSC) and I love tanking. Now I'm leveling a Tauren shammy and an orc hunter (doing the recruit a friend thing with my fiance) so who knows what my main will be in WoLTK!
Axolotl Sep 10th 2008 8:33AM
I had just started playing WOW when the expansion (BC) hit, and at that same time, i went from carebear to PVP.
At that time, i started a Belf Paladin, figuring that they were needed for the Horde somehow, had the most fun with it until i hit level 44, at which point some of the quests started requiring someone who can actually do DPS.
My paladin is not my favorite character, my lowbie Warlock is.
Milktub Sep 10th 2008 8:39AM
I'm guilty of both.
First toon was a Rogue. I liked it. I was good at it. But just as my guild was poking into Kara, our tanks started disappearing. One decided he preferred Arms pvp. Another quit entirely. Another hopped to a different server. So I picked up the warrior I'd left languishing and leveled him in a hurry.
And now I'm addicted to the class. No matter what happens to the class in terms of mechanics changes, I'll still be playing a warrior meatshield.
Xero Sep 10th 2008 8:48AM
Resto Shaman... I get both with endgame content and a class I love to play
Agamembar Sep 10th 2008 8:52AM
I like my warlock allot, he is my only 70, I started a few alts but I just like the warlock class too much, although I'm never the most needed in raids (or at all in some cases) the content leveling him up was enjoyable, the dreadsteed quest particulary.
I just recently started a warrior to try out this tanking business and plan on starting a priest to see what healings like.
Alas I feel that being demony will always be my favorite role needed or not.
roguedubb Sep 10th 2008 8:59AM
It's all about the class.
Raiding is for raiders.