Returning after a 4-year – Looking for a fresh start (DPS/Utility advice)

[Lupin12]

Hiho,

It’s been about 4 years since I last touched Return of Reckoning, but I’m officially making my comeback now. Honestly, the modern MMORPG market has become incredibly stale and boring, and absolutely nothing out there scratches that genuine PvP/RvR itch like this game does.

I’m looking for a fresh start, but my playtime is somewhat limited now—usually around 3 hours a day. My absolute main priority is just having pure fun and enjoying the progression. Since I only have a few hours a day, I wanted to ask how the current gearing progression looks? Is it doable to get competitive gear nowadays mostly through scenarios and casual RvR?

Before diving in, I did some reading on the forums and narrowed my interest down to four specific classes that look really fun to me:
Engineer
White Lion
Squig Herder (specifically ranged)
Witch Elf.
I don't mind a class with a higher skill ceiling or unique mechanics, as long as the gameplay feels rewarding once you get the hang of it.

I already know that I want to stay away from tanks and healers, as those playstyles have never really clicked with me. I’m looking for a DPS class that can hold its own across different types of content. I enjoy everything from large-scale warbands (unorganized) to small group skirmishes, but it’s a huge plus if the class can actually survive and perform well in a 1v1 scenario. It doesn’t need to be a perfect all-rounder that excels at everything; I’m totally fine with a class that has varied strengths depending on the situation.

I'm also not hunting for the absolute 'flavor of the month' or a broken/overpowered class (though if one of these happens to be very strong right now, I won't mind!). I’ll most likely be playing solo at the start, but I’d love to join a community later on. Are there many casual-friendly guilds active during European evenings?

With that in mind, I’d love to get your thoughts on a few questions:

How is the current meta looking for the classes I mentioned?
Which faction (Order or Destruction) is currently lower in population and genuinely needs more active players?
Specifically for the DPS role, which side is currently in greater need of more DDs right now?

Thanks in advance for any tips.

[Bankei]

Don't worry about population control, your single character will not make a difference. Play whatever is more appealing to you. Join a guild that plays in your timezone

Engineer has a very high skill ceiling and the difference between a good engineer and a mid one is massive
White Lion has a spec for everything but it's melee so having a healer or guard is ideal
Squig Herder is a really interesting class with good solo/small man/SC spec with ranged and a good melee spec for warbands
Witch Elf is also high skill ceiling, it's the stealth class if you're into that type of gameplay

There's a ranged patch incoming if you're worried about that kind of thing.

I suggest that you follow the rule of cool, whatever you find more appealing, go for that. And like I said, join a guild that plays in your timezone and you'll have a much better RoR experience

[Lupin12]

Hi there,

It’s really cool to get a reply so quickly. My best buddy just told me, “Go for it—RoR is currently the best option for PvP players like me.” And here I am.

I still have one class at RR 80—my DPS shaman—but I don’t want to play that one. Then there are a few others at various RR ranks. But the classes I’ve always really liked are Engi, White Lion, and—on Destro—Witch Elf and Rangen Squig.

I’d love to play them all at once, but my wife, job, dog, and my hobby of playing PvP games don’t really allow for that. That’s why I’d be really happy to get some good advice from you guys on which class I should use for my comeback. As I mentioned before, the class should also be fun—which is, of course, a personal preference. But hey, I like all four, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on why you enjoy playing one class over another. That’s much more important to me than playing a “meta” class.

[Martok]

White Lion...Witch Elf...

White Lion is a good utility class, and if you play in AOE Loner Spec EVERYONE will love you for it.

However, if your goal here is truly just to have some fun, play a Witch Elf.

How is the current meta looking for the classes I mentioned?

The current Meta is Blob Blob Blob Blob Blob and then Blob some more. In that context, play whatever class you want. It won't matter.

Which faction (Order or Destruction) is currently lower in population and genuinely needs more active players?

With all the cross-realming this isn't really an issue anymore either. Typically one side or the other dominates on numbers based on who decided which side to play that day. Or night.

Specifically for the DPS role, which side is currently in greater need of more DDs right now?

See above. Both factions are heavy with DPS, therefore my best advice is just play what you enjoy.

[Cruor34]

As for your gearing question, I highly recommend you do PvE and save your PvP coins for the best stuff. I came back to the game like 3 weeks ago after a 10 year break and I did my first Lost Vale yesterday. I didn't know my ass from my elbow my first few days back. The PvE gear is really good, and a Crypts is like 30 mins, if that. Bastion Stair is like 70 mins with a normal group. You run 4 times you 100% get all your gear.

[Lupin12]

Thanks for the awesome feedback, guys! Really appreciate the detailed breakdown and the tip about PvE gearing through Crypts and Bastion Stair—definitely going to save my PvP emblems for later if PvE gear is that fast to get.

I get the 'rule of cool', but since I’m strictly limited to 3 hours a day, I really need to narrow it down to just one class to make any progress. You mentioned that Engi and Witch Elf have massive skill ceilings, and White Lion needs a pocket healer. What about the Ranged Squig Herder?

Since time is short, what are the small, fine differences between these classes when it comes to efficiency? Which of them is the least frustrating and most rewarding? If you could only give me ONE specific recommendation for my situation, which class should I log into tonight? Just give me a name!"

[Martok]

...I really need to narrow it down to just one class to make any progress.

Leveling in this game isn't what it used to be. Meaning the overall process is much easier now than in years past. In that spirit:

1. Use Tier One to help choose that particular class you want to play. My point is if you spend a couple of days play time on a White Lion or Squiggy and it doesn't click, you haven't lost much. Roll up another class and go again.
2. With that as a bench mark my suggestion is, for that 'one class' to play is: For Order: The White Lion. The class is versatile enough to be successful alone, in small groups (which is the best play anyway), and in warbands. It has good burst damage, a pull (which actually works now), and decent escape tools if it comes that.
3. For Destruction: The Witch Elf. You want to have fun playing this game? Play a Witch Elf. The Witch Elf Mafia is always recruiting, and they can cause more anguish in three hours than most people do all week.
4. One other class I would suggest giving a look is the Shadow Warrior. The most fun I ever had leveling a class through the lower tiers was on my Shadow Warrior. Once I got into Tier BillyJoeBadAssWereAllInSovGearFarmingLowbies I kinda let it go, but still.
5. Play Scenarios, play scenarios, play scenarios. Combine playing Scenarios with your PVE activities and you will both level fast and learn the class.

If you could only give me ONE specific recommendation for my situation, which class should I log into tonight? Just give me a name!

Within that confine, Witch Elf. That is a sincere answer.

[Lupin12]

Thx! That actually helped me narrow it down to a duel between the White Lion and the Witch Elf.

I dug up an old White Lion alt that's sitting at RR35, and man, that playstyle is an absolute blast. My only concern is that it feels like there are so many WLs running around everywhere right now. On the flip side, I started a Witch Elf yesterday to test the waters and got her to CR18, but right now, her gameplay feels kind of slow compared to the WL.

Shadow Warrior wasn't really on my radar because I always found the Ranged Squig Herder more appealing, but good to know!

Aside from the obvious playstyle differences, what’s the big structural difference between WL and WE nowadays? Also, checking the forums, it seems like every second thread is crying for a Witch Elf nerf. Why is the WE so hated right now? Is it even worth investing time into a class that the community constantly complains about? I don't see that kind of community hate for the WL, Squig, or SW.

Maybe I just need to push through the lower tiers and find out myself, but I'd love to hear your take on the WE nerf-train vs the WL popularity before I commit

[Martok]

Why is the WE so hated right now?

The short, accurate answer to that is: Because someone died to a Witch Elf and subsequently complained to management.

The more involved answer is: Because Witch Elves currently enjoy good utility in builds. Parry Build, Regen Build, Jump-Around Build (that one really makes people mad), Damage and Armor Pen Build. And they enjoy more than reasonable survivability.

And because, as everyone knows, if you die to a particular class it is always because that class is over-performing and needs a nerf.

Now the actual truth is: Witch Elves are effective in play. And as is always the case, a percentage of the player-base doesn't like that.

Is it even worth investing time into a class that the community constantly complains about?

Yes. To give them more to complain about.

Maybe I just need to push through the lower tiers and find out myself, but I'd love to hear your take on the WE nerf-train vs the WL popularity before I commit

I am short on time at this moment. I will return later to offer a few thoughts on the WE v. WL issue. Until then:

There is one aspect of the Witch Elf class I have noticed over the years, in that regardless of what aspect of the class was 'nerfed', Witch Elf players always found a way around said nerf. The class has always been viable, flexible, and in many regards immune to the desires of its detractors. Now please note, I am making no claim to be the expert on Witch Elf play nor any claim to be the best at it. There are other Witch Elf players who can better make that claim. My claim is, I have fun playing the class. And the Witch Elf Mafia rules.

This is a game, and regardless of how serious anyone wants to try and make RoR it is still just a game. And games are meant to be fun. I mean damn.

[Lupin12]

Haha, 'To give them more to complain about' is honestly the best argument I’ve ever heard. Love that mindset!

I'm actually doing some more testing right now to find my main. My WL at RR35 feels incredibly smooth, the gameplay flow is just awesome. But playing the WE at CR18—and honestly, even watching a friend play her high-level WE—the class feels kinda clunky or 'choppy' to me because of the global cooldown (GCD), which, in my subjective opinion, you can really see and feel in class. It constantly feels like the flow gets interrupted, which I don't experience on the WL or even the Squig Herder. Is that just a low-tier issue or is that choppy GCD-feeling just how the WE operates even at endgame?

To make things worse, I just tested a Witch Hunter on a whim today too... man, that Sovereign armor looks absolutely sick, so that's another contender now.

Since my time is limited, I really don't want to grind a class all the way to 80 just to find out how it actually feels in the endgame loop. I need that veteran reality check from you guys. Out of my current favorites—WL, WE, WH, and Squig—how do they actually compare when it comes to group play? I assume everyone just screams for tanks and healers anyway, but out of these four DPS options, is there one that people actually like to see in their warbands or SC groups? Or are they all mostly just 'tolerated' as solo specs?

@Martok, thank you so much for your tips, and I'm really looking forward to the message you mentioned. Maybe someone else will chime in and share their opinion, too?