Hint-A-Week: Class Roles in a Group.

There are the broad categories of classes:

1. Tanks: These guys are designed to take the brunt of the attack. They have high morale, wear heavy armour, and use skills to make them more threatening. They usually stare the enemy right in the face (or ankle, as the case may be).

Integral to tanking is the idea of off-tanking. Off-tanks usually grab the focus of additional MoBs, or take over for the main tank when it becomes necessary.

2. Damage: These guys are designed to inflict as much damage as possible (DPS = Damage per second). They have a solid morale, generally wear medium armour, and use skills that burn an enemy down. Most DPS classes work from a ranged position, but can steal the focus of the MoB from the tank.

3. Support: These guys provide support to the others. They have lower morale, wear light or medium armour, and use specialized skills. The classic support class is the healer. Most work from a tactical position.

The following is a run-down of the expected class role:

Burglars
Expected Role: DPS
Additional Roles: Can provide crowd-control and trigger fellowship maneuvers.

Captains
Expected Role: Support (Healing and Buffing).
Additional Roles: DPS (AoE (group) Damage)

Champions
Expect Role: Off-Tank.
Additional Roles: DPS.

Guardians
Expected Role: Tank or Off-Tanks.
Additional Roles: N/A.

Hunters
Expected Role: DPS.
Additional Roles: Some Support (Poison Removal). Can tank in a pinch (especially in 3- or 4-person instances).

Lore-Masters
Expected Role: Support (Heal Power, Debuff Enemies, Cure Wounds/Diseases).
Additional Roles: DPS.

Minstrels
Expected Role: Support (Heal Morale).
Additional Roles: DPS.

Rune-Keepers
Expected Role: DPS or Support (Heal Morale).
Additional Roles: N/A.

Wardens
Expected Role: Tank or Off Tank.
Additional Role: N/A.

As you can see, some classes are strictly defined: Guardians, Hunters, and Minstrels rarely step outside their expected roles. Other classes can change as needed: Rune-keepers and Lore-Masters can sometimes play one role, and sometimes play another.

Those classes that have dual roles also have Class Trait lines to support each role. These classes must learn to ask questions and be willing to retrait as necessary to meet the needs of the instance.

One of the hardest things I've had to come to terms with on my main, a Lore-Master, is that in a group, I am meant for support. I'm so used to doing damage that it's almost second-nature, and I feel guilty when I'm not directly helping make the enemy's green bar go down. I've been in the process of retraining myself for group content, and I'm slowly getting better at managing my own power, as well as that of the raid members. I ran the spider-wing of Helegrod this past weekend as the only Lore-Master. It took me awhile to get into the swing of things, but there were few issues with power. It took us three tries to down Zaudru, but we did it.

Hint-a-Week: Completing Class "Fellowship" Deeds

Many classes (especially support classes) have deeds that require using a skill on others. The design of the game, however, pretty much prevents you from completing these deeds, because you will not be grouping too often until you start working on quests and instances in Angmar, Moria, and Mirkwood.

However, there are several easy ways to complete these fellowship deeds.

Captains and Lore-Master have a built-in fellowship: the pet. Use the skills on the pet as much as possible.

All classes earn a Skirmish Soldier, at level 20, and group skills can be used on the soldier.

The soldier can be called whenever you enter homestead provisions (the "center" of your housing neighborhood). Therefore, you can travel here, call your solder, and use the skills.

Also, you can also fire up a skirmish, call your soldier, and use the skills. This method doesn't require any travel, saving travel rations or coin. You don't actually have to complete the skirmish.

Finally, if you have a friend or two, group up somewhere and help each other out.