Newish Player - Class Questions

[xxPinner]

My Information:

I want to go elf, have yet to figure out a class that suits me well. Thought about rogue, but I solo more than group and I have a feeling it's going to be a problem down the road.

I don't expect to be able to do everything on my own, don't get me wrong, but when I only have a limited amount of time it would be nice if I wasn't ultra-gimped.

Also, I am not ruling out the pay-to-play class options either. Monk sounds incredibly interesting to me, as well as the Favored Soul.

Questions:

1) How important is race?

2) What is the best solo-class, in your opinion?

3) Will I miss out on lots of hidden things by not going with a rogue?

4) What is the most played class, in your opinion?

I may come up with more later... I'm overwhelmed by all the class options. :P

[mediocresurgeon]

1) How important is race?

Race is a critical part of your overall character build. However, race is more important for their racial enhancements than they are for your starting stats, so I suggest looking up the racial enhancements in the compendium if you are looking to min/max your build. Warforged is the only race that is extremely different than the other races, since it affects what kind of equipment you can use and how certain spells affect you.

2) What is the best solo-class, in your opinion?

Melee greatsword-specialized Warforged Favored Soul, or Warforged Sorcerer. Niether of these are easy to play as a new player, though between the two the WF FvS is easier. "Class" rarely defines party role in DDO, though... especially once you consider multiclassing, feat choices, starting stats, and prestige enhancements. Also, while you can technically solo your way to level cap in DDO there is very little incentive to do so. Many of the dungeons are extremely complex and require multiple players for completion, and if you don't group with other players you won't learn new and better tactics.

3) Will I miss out on lots of hidden things by not going with a rogue?

Not really.

4) What is the most played class, in your opinion?

It used to be Ranger (and overwhelmingly so). However, this was before any other melee classes had prestige enhancements. Nowadays it's pretty balanced between paladins, fighters, and barbarians. Healers (clerics and favored souls) are still the party role that takes the longest to fill when you're forming a raid, so if you make a melee FvS expect that people will almost always want you to heal, rather than melee, in endgame raids.

[Khanyth]

My Information:

Questions:

1) How important is race?

Tremendously uber important.

My Information:2) What is the best solo-class, in your opinion?

WF caster who can heal themselves with reconstruct scrolls

My Information:3) Will I miss out on lots of hidden things by not going with a rogue?

No. At least, not imho.

My Information:4) What is the most played class, in your opinion?

Melee types, because they are the easiest to play. But if you want to be wanted, cleric or FVS.

[xxPinner]

Thank you for answering my questions.

Is it possible to respec after a while? I want to make sure I don't dig myself too deep of a hole... :P

[petegunn]

Welcome and + reppers for using the forums, get in your mind first what race and class you want to play. Then research the builds on our forums to see what will work or not.
Back in the day when people needed to unlock 32 point builds they'd play a cleric. (Always needed in parties) you would get to 450 fav quick (drow), then it was a switch to drow sorc to take you the rest of the way to 1750 for the big fat 32 pointers.

Of course times have changed but good luck whatever you chose (keep reading the forums and make connections with the good people on your server and also the posters here)

[Angelus_dead]

1) How important is race?

People are saying it's highly important, but that's inaccurate. The truth is that race is much much less important than class. Nearly any character build except a mage could have its race magically randomized and still work about as well as before.