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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: What prompted your class choice?
by Lexi Sarver 
Oct 30th 2010 at 8:00AM
You're sitting at your character creation screen, starting a brand new game, maybe with no previous gaming experience at all. Or perhaps you're well-versed in the realms of MMOs, and you have a favorite character archetype already. No matter which applies, we all started at that screen, wondering: What class should I pick? What does class choice even mean? What are tanks? How come this class's armor is so hideous? What on earth is a paladin?
For me, I was devouring the manual that came with vanilla WoW as it installed, trying to find a class I'd like. When I stumbled upon druids and the fact that they could turn into bears and kitties (and moonkin, although I didn't know that yet), I was instantly hooked. Later, in the 40-49 bracket of Warsong Gulch, after getting wrecked over and over by warlock DoTs, I thought, "Hey! Warlocks seem OP! I should make one!" And thus, the warlock was born.
A guildmate of mine chose a rogue because she'd watch her husband play and he would always exclaim how annoying they were and how much he hated rogues. His anger amused her, so rogue she went!
What influenced you? Death Grip looked awesome? You wanted to dispel Hunter's Mark because you hated that graphic (my priest!)? You wanted to shoot huge balls of fire at people? Tell us about it!
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 10)
GeekyGR Oct 30th 2010 8:57AM
I originally started playing a Night Elf Hunter because I had just quit an MMO that had a similar pet system for every character, so I thought I would be used to the play style. Turns out I was wrong and I didn't even have the basics of the game down, so I rolled a Paladin because I had read they could fill all main roles. I thought it would be a perfect game learner and it was. I still play the Paladin, but I have rolled other classes for their specific raid buffs and play styles.
jack Oct 30th 2010 8:59AM
I chose the warrior class because its the first thing that popped up.
Gammarey Oct 30th 2010 8:59AM
I became a Hunter first because I like the Idea of being a ''Lone Wolf''. Then while I was doing WG at level 16 I got repeatedly pwned by a Druid in cat form. So I decided to roll a druid, for the sweet-ass transformations.
Clint Oct 30th 2010 9:03AM
First character was a pally in vanilla WoW because the archetype sounded cool. Leveling was painful, but I loved healing. Got him up to L59 before someone recommended that if I like healing, I should try a priest. The person was correct, my main has been my priest since that day, and my pally stayed at L59 for years.
Of course, they've made all four healing classes interesting now, but at the time, a holy priest was the most fun you could have healing.
Kirwyn Oct 30th 2010 2:53PM
I got suckered into playing horde and a series of rogues and a pally. I've since learned the error of my ways and rock a pair of warrior tanks and a pair of feral Druids.
"We hit things and get angry, and we get hit and get angry about that, too."
Achileaus Oct 30th 2010 9:06AM
The moment I cast chain heal for the first time on my shaman, and heard that rolling thunder...I was hooked, I knew that I coud never play another class without shaman as my main. :D And I've never looked back.
Continuous Nov 13th 2010 8:21PM
My class choice was exactly the opposite of yours - after looking through the character selection screen for WAY too long I decided on a warlock because they seemed the most evil and fit my idea of a "horde" better. So off I went noobing it up with my lock all the way up to 56. At 56 I didnt know where to go, back then BGs gave no XP and Outlands was something yet to come, I had finished all of WPL and most of EPL and was desperately lost.
Instead of doing the rational thing and using thotbot.com I spent hours trying to find a way to level, to no avail. At this point, despite my boredom stemming not from the class but from the game I leveled a warrior tank. This tank didnt last far, I got to level 35 or so before I realized melee is not for me. After trying out what I thought were the two archetypes within WoW I quit. I couldnt stand that Ievel 60 was unattainable and nothing seemed fun.
When WotLK came out I re-opened my account and tried again, this time, with a Death Knight. They were perfect. They could take a hit while dealing out immense damage. They had DoTs of sort that were a reminder of my warlock and most of all - they had a pet. I sped through Outlands and was 80 very soon after the server firsts, and I was having the time of my life until 80. When I got their I realized that I found dps boring and decided that, "Since I seem to hate everything I will level a druid. If I hate all their specs then I simply will quit WoW."
I did just that and all the way to 50 or so I didnt like it until I specced into resto. This time I was having real fun - dungeons were challenging, I got to be a tree, I loved the nature aspect of it etc... This time when I got to 80 I went straight into raiding do as much as I could this time though, it didnt tire. Now even a year later I still love my druid more then ever.
So thats my class selection for you,
Continuous
Eberron Oct 30th 2010 9:07AM
Two 'original' toons. One was a human priest that I managed to get to Westfall in. Leveled Holy to get there, cuz everyone said healers are in demand.
Yeah.
Next was a rogue, cuz getting through packs of mobs on my priest was a pain.
Then I switched servers to be where my friends were. I said I'd leveled a rogue and then a very pretty blonde girl with a fantastic pair of breasts leaned over my shoulder to show me how her druid was a lot like a rogue but could heal n tank as well.
By the time I stopped thinking about the fantastic breasts I was level 15. /shrug
Oni Stardust Oct 30th 2010 3:01PM
http://www.misfile.com/images/store/storepower1.jpg
Eberron Oct 30th 2010 6:08PM
Pretty much. I have my depth but I never even claimed I'm not throughly ruled by my breast-love.
Avan Oct 30th 2010 9:09AM
I invited a few friends to play WoW with me. Being the only veteran player with any MMO experience, I rolled a priest because they're *the* healers of WoW and I didn't want them to die frequently. All of them have since rolled new characters, while I've stuck with my priest. Why?
Beacause you are a puppet. Now walk off of LM to your death.
(Someone please get the reference.)
Bart Oct 30th 2010 9:12AM
Death knight is my main at this time, I enjoy how with Runes and Runic Power we have an almost infinite resource whereas with most classes if you run out of mana and have no Potions left, you're f***ed.
Animaneth Oct 30th 2010 9:12AM
Mage here, before wow, I played Lineage 2 (chronicles 1, 2 and 3) and for most of those chronicles, dps casters (specially human and dark elf) had the most fun in pvp, I was a warsmith dwarf back in those days, so when I jumped on wow, I said "no longer will I go melee, time to try something new" I wanted to be dps that for sure, so my options were warlock or mage (shadow priest and boomkin were things I discovered after) and I didn't want to manage a pet full time, so Mage it was. And I only regreted my decision when I started to play my firsts bgs when there were no separate twink vs twink bgs, when you would not get xp from it :P
Kalpup Oct 30th 2010 4:56PM
Paladin. Friend who helped me get into the game told me they where a healer who did not die. I liked the idea and thus was made ..... still die too much, but I have had PLENTY of moments to astound my guild-mates and friends on how I just will not go down without a hard fight.
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] Oct 30th 2010 9:18AM
A huge part of it was the amazing Grand Marshall's armor for warriors from the old pvp system, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't mostly because I liked the idea of a class that got angry and hit things until they died.
Kallona Oct 30th 2010 9:19AM
I needed an easy class because i have bad vision so i rolled a Hunter, over time i loved it, setting traps for fleeing mobs and getting to choose my pet, ive tried all others and they just dont have the same feeling as hunter does.
Jack Miles Oct 30th 2010 9:21AM
I wanted a class with a pet and, since my cousin played a hunter, I figured he could help me with it. He didn't, but 4 years later I still think of them as my main. I just wish I had realised at the time that Dwarves are cool. Stupid nelfs.
Eric Oct 30th 2010 9:23AM
A group of friends and I were picking up WoW (I was their RA at the time) and I wanted to get in the fray and kill things. No crazy twisting nether, gyrating hips fireball nonsense, just give me a weapon and let me get all stabby. Thus, my rogue was born. Of course, they all rolled humans and I rolled Nelf, which led to the epic run across the world, and subsequent nightmares of crocodiles in the Wetlands. Still my main so to speak, though he recently died and was raised as an undead...
Ive tried every class. Still can't do the twisting nether gyrating hips Mage dance, but maybe post 4.0.1, it'll be a little less... painful. Baby brown bears ripping your face off indeed. Still, I remember the original cinematic. Maybe one day I'll stand atop a mountain throwing fire and ice at demons before Deathwing shows me how fire's REALLY supposed to work. :-)
kerwinna Oct 30th 2010 9:23AM
Hunter, I like animals. My best friend is my Golden Retriever, waiting for that model to be added.
Arbolamante Oct 30th 2010 9:28AM
I rolled a druid because I liked the idea of versatility and figured it was good to be able to heal myself. I then proceeded to level a resto druid in vanilla. And yet I still play this game.