MMORPG Guide 02 – Races, Classes, & Character Role Details
Part 2 - The Devil’s in the Details?
Welcome back to Pseudo Rant and part two of the MMORPG guide! In part 2 we are going to get into the specifics of MMORPGs and what they are all about. We will cover various topics in detail to give you a better understanding of different aspects in games.
Even if you are an experienced player you may want to read through the following sections because it may give you some insight into a race or class that you have never played before.
While it may be fun to always play a warrior or rogue, you may want to try being a priest or the mage sometime to get the whole experience MMORPGs offer.
Good or Evil, light or dark, black or white? How can you choose if you are uninformed? Let’s take a closer look to help you get the most out of your charcter. After all, the Devil is in the details and we all like to dabble on the dark side every now and again.
Races and Classes
There are two main decisions all players must make when creating a character in almost all MMORPGs. What “Race” will my character be and what “Class“?
Unlike real life, Race will usually determine much more than just the color of your skin. While looks are always important there are some times more factors involved than meets the eye.
Choosing a character that looks the way you want is important because “you” are the one that is going to have to look at that character for hours on end. In this regard I have always found myself creating female characters, because I do not grow tired of looking at them as quickly as I do with male characters. This is just one consideration when creating your character.
The next important consideration is does your character get bonuses or stat boosts based off the race you pick?
All MMORPGs are designed differently so this may or may not be the case.
In games where this is a factor, this may be stated on the character creation screen. It could be as simple as a wording like “Orcs tend to be the strongest of all the races”. Or something as blatant as bonuses or base stats displayed on the screen. Do not always assume that a game will tell you though. Sometimes you may need to check on the game’s website or forums to get all the character details.
A little pre-planning and research into what type of character you are going to create never hurts if you think you will be devoting a large amount of time to a game.
Also keep in mind that you are not locked into one character. Most MMORPGs will allow you to create at least 3 or 4 characters and some will allow you to create between 5 and 10. If you create a character and find out about an advantage that a specific class or race has, decide if it is worth creating a new character to explore this advantage. In some cases you may only lose a few hours of game play which you can look at as the learning curve aspect of the game.
As you can see there are a lot of considerations. There are many more than we have covered here but we are focusing on the top considerations to keep this guide at a resonable length.
Common MMORPG Races
Now let’s take a look at some of the common races found in MMORPGs.
Below is a list of common races that are found in most Fantasy MMORPGs. As I mentioned in Part 1 of the MMORPG guide, a lot of the Fantasy universe is based off mythology so you will see reoccurring themes throughout these games.
Take a look at some of the common races found in these games:
Orc
Troll
Dwarf
Gnome
Elf
Light Elf
Dark Elf
Human
Humanoid
I will keep this list short because this can range quite a bit from game to game, but you will probably see several of these races come up in different games in the world of MMORPGs.
Below is a list of generalized descriptions pertaining to each race. Keep in mind these are common traits that may or may not be related to the race in the game you are playing. This is generic RPG knowledge that seems to come up in a lot of MMORPG games.
Orcs - Commonly known for their strength and endurance. Orcs tend to make good fighters because of their higher strength stats, which lead to an above average attack power. Their high endurance stats lend them selves into creating a formidable opponent on the battle field. Some adaptations of Orcs, provide the race with a Berserk or Rage trait that is good for short bursts of increased power. Orcs are also known for having lower intelligence levels than other races which means they are not usually ideal for magic classes.
Trolls - Also well known for strength and endurance. Trolls are traditionally weaker than Orcs while having better endurance traits. Trolls are usually a close second to Orcs on the battlefield yet their more evenly distributed character stats enable trolls to fulfill more versatile roles in most games. Because of this aspect it is harder to point out a “Con” of this race. It will usually be dependant on the game they are found in.
Dwarves - Dwarves are well known for their strength and their ability to craft and excel at trade skills. Depending on the game, Dwarves can also make formidable tanks due to higher endurance. Dwarves are traditionally thought of as the money makers in games because of their abilities to forage and make the most of their trade skills. Dwarves stat points are usually evenly distributed with a favor towards strength and endurance. Traditionally dwarves are not good magic classes.
Gnomes - While similar to Dwarves in their crafting and trade skill abilites, Gnomes tend to have higher intelligence than Dwarves which lends itself to the possibility of magic classes. Gnomes are to Dwarves, as Trolls are to Orcs. They allow for a more versatile race that can usually branch out into multiple class types because of evenly distributed stat points. Gnomes are not usually known for strength attributes in most games.
Elves - Elf races are usually considered the magic users of most Fantasy MMORPGs due to their high levels of intelligence. Because of this trait it is not uncommon to see elf mages and healers. [As with all of these descriptions they are highly dependant on the game you find the race in.] While Elves do have strength in some MMORPGs it is usually balanced by having lower endurance than other races which makes them act as damage dealers more than tanks.
Light Elf - Light Elves are a variation of the standard Elf race that will usually have an increased ability to use magic, especially Healing magic and spells. [Light Magic / White Magic] Light Elves tend to be the weakest physically of the Elf race, while their light magic tends to be the most powerful in games. Because of their very low survival rate Light Elves tend to work best in groups providing support magic or healing, and dealing ranged damage to monsters through the use of spells or bows.
Dark Elf - Another variation of the Elf race is the Dark Elf. Dark Elves tend to be magic users also, although they usually specialize in black magic for the purpose to dealing damage to their enemies. Dark Elves do not usually have healing abilities, and may have an entirely different set of magic available to them because of this. In some Fantasy MMORPGs dark elves are well known for their high damage output making them ideal rogue or assassin classes As with all Elves, Dark Elves do not have very high endurance traits. This makes their survivability lower than other tank or rogue races.
Human [Humanoid] - The last common race found in almost all Fantasy genres is the human or humanoid race. When I say “humanoid” I am referring to any other named race that shares the appearance of standard humans and whose stats are well rounded like a humans stats.
Humans tend to be the most well rounded race in almost any game you play. Because of this trait they usually have the highest potential toward different classes in a game. Like the saying goes “Jack of all Trades, Master of none”. This applies to humans in the sense that while they are usually the most versatile race, they normally cannot excel in specific fields as well as other races.
For example, in Linage II humans could become rogues, archers, warriors, gladiators, mages, etc. Compared to Dark Elves humans could never deal quite as much damage as a Rogue or Archer. Compared to Light Elves they could never attain the same mastery of magic. Compared to Orcs they could never match the endurance of an Orc fighter.
This idea carries over into numerous games with Human classes. They are usually the most well rounded which makes them easy to play and good for getting your feet wet in MMORPGs. But because they are such a generalized class do not expect them to excel in any specific area.
Humans are usually given good racial bonuses to make up for fact that they can feel “generic” at times, when compared to other races in games.
For more detailed information on races check the following links which provide a very large, and indepth overview on “Races”:
Races - A Long List - Part 1
http://www.listology.com/content_show.cfm/content_id.23046/World-Building
Races - A Long List - Part 2
http://www.listology.com/content_show.cfm/content_id.23047/World-Building
As with all the examples listed above, race is always specific to the game you are playing. Always research a race before choosing it to ensure you have all the information that is available to you.
Some people reading this may think my examples are based off World or Warcraft of Lineage II. This is not the case. These are generalizations I have come to find in numerous MMORPG and single player RPGs. The traits I have used in my examples tend to be those that are the most universally applied throughout the genre.
[If you have anything you would like to see added or amended please let me know and I will review it to be added to the guide.]
Common RPG Classes
Now lets discuss the most important factor in character creation [IMO]. The character “Class“.
The reason I say this is the most important is because the class you pick will determine the game play you experience throughout the course of the game. While some may know what to expect, for those who do not this can be a daunting decision.
Because of this we are going to cover some of the basics about Classes and explain class generalizations in detail like I did for the various races.
As always, don’t forget that you are not locked into a decision. Remember that most games will allow you to create several characters so if you do not like the way a certain class plays, make a new one. Don’t feel like you need to delete your first character because you can always come back to this one in the future.
Classes in MMORPGs are ”skill sets” in the respect that they will dictate the abilities of your character. This can range from how you fight, and how you function in a party or guild, to how you are able to support other characters in the game.
Classes are usually broken into two general categories. Damage classes, and support classes. I will list common classes below that are found in most MMORPGs along with a brief description of each. I will also mention if that class is considered a [Support] or [Damage] class. This can give you a better idea of a classes play style if you are unfamiliar with a particular class. It can also help you decide if you would enjoy playing a particular class or not.
There are several common types of classes found in most MMORPGs. I have listed these classes below:
Warrior / Gladiator / Fighter
Rogue / Assassin / Thief
Archer / Marksman
Priest / Cleric
Mage / Warlock
Druid / Shaman
Hunter / Tamer
Paladin
Read the following sections for more information on each of these classes and what makes them unique.
Warrior / Gladiator / Fighter - This class usually focuses heavily on melee combat. They are usually well versed in the use of different types of weapons including Swords, Clubs, Axes, Hammers, Spears, and Maces just to name a few.
This class usually starts with higher Strength and Endurance attributes than most other classes. Traditionally these types of classes become “Tanks” which are members of a dungeon party that hold the focus of a monster [aggro] while the rest of the party works on defeating the beast.
Sometimes refereed to as “Meat Shields“, their ability to take a beating and dish one out sets them apart from other classes. Warriors would fall into the [Damage] dealing category but they could almost be put into their own category as “Tank” because of their role in a party.
Warriors and their variants are usually best suited in heavy armors like steal, mithril, brigandine, and other high defense armors made of metal.
Usually crucial to the success [or lack there of] in a Dungeon party, this class carries the responsibility for protecting the clothies [magic users or anyone with low defense or cloth armor] from certain doom during long drawn out battles.
A Tank is very similar to the Quarterback of a football team. They will dictate the pace of the party, and must know when people need to rest to regain health and mana. A tank is usually responsible for working closely with the guild leader to plan combat strategies for various battles the guild will undertake.
Rogue / Assassin / Thief - This class utilizes stealth and sneak attacks to subdue an opponent before giving them a chance to fight back. More commonly referred to as a Rogue, this classes main function is damage output. This puts the Rogue in the role of [Damage] dealer in most parties.
While a Rogue’s weapon of choice is daggers, they are well versed in all weapons ranging from Swords, Axes, Crossbows, Bows, Two-Handed Swords, throwing knives, etc.
Rogues can usually be found wearing leather or heavy leather types of armor. This provides less defense but allows for more maneuverability to dodge and evade attacks.
While the Rogue class outputs high damage their endurance and survivability is usually much lower than that of a tank. The two main reasons being they usually have much lower HP and Defense than a true tank, because they rely on dodging most attacks. They also have a knack for pulling aggro [a monsters attention] off of the tank due to their high damage output and crit’ rate.
[Crit. short for "Critical" refers to powerful attacks that occur at random during normal attacks.]
While everyone wants to be the character that deals the most damage, a “good” Rogue is hard to come by because it requires using restraint in parties to make sure their ability to pull aggro does not disrupt the group mechanic.
Some MMORPGs also give Rogues the ability to “stealth” or turn invisible. This is a very powerful ability as it allows the character to attack without being seen, flee from battle, stalk a character or ambush, and can also be used for numerous other tactics. It is hard to appreciate how useful this skill is until you have had a chance to try it out. Because of the Stealth skill, many people are attracted to the idea of being a Rogue.
Archer / Marksman - The Archer class utilizes attack speed, range, and power to create a character with powerful [Damage] dealing abilities. Coupled with a higher dodge rate than most classes, the Archer can be a formidable opponent from a distance.
The Archer class is similar to a rogue in the fact they usually have a higher damage output than tanks, but lower survivability as they trade off endurance for dexterity. Unlike a Rogue, an Archer will prefer to use ranged attacks whenever possible avoiding close range combat to make the most of their bow skills.
Archer’s primary weapons usually consist of either a Bow or Crossbow. Because of this, the class tends to have much less variety in Weapons. In some games archers are able to carry a close range weapon. This will usually consist of a dagger or sword, with the dagger being the preference because of the Archer’s close relation to Rogues.
As with Rogues, Archers tend to prefer lighter armor as it allows for them to run when kiting enemies. [Kiting is the act of luring a target] It also contributes to their higher dodge rates. Most commonly you will find them in light armors such as leather.
The archers function within a party is to deal damage, pure and simple. Learning how to play this class is very important as they also have the potential to pull aggro off the tank because of their high damage output and crit rate.
Because of the fact that archers are considered high output damage dealers, with the ability to attack from afar, the class is very appealing to those who enjoy sneak attacks, kiting enemies, and the ability to ambush an opponent. All these traits lead to what make the Archer a unique class.
Priest / Cleric - This class is well known as a “Healing” class which provides a [Support] role in most dungeons, parties, and raids. This is because the primary function of this class is to help protect other players. There is a common misconception among players that this class is nothing more than the “healing bitch” of MMORPGs.
While it is true that the primary function of the class is to heal, cure, buff and support others, these skills lend themselves into making the Priest/Cleric one of the most over-powered classes in lots of games. The reason I say this is because it is hard to give a class enough magic to support a dungeon party, and assume that class will not use those same skills to benefit themselves when soloing.
[I will go into more detail on this subject in my "MMORPG - Two Boxing" guide which will cover the use of "Buff Bots" in games]
This can be seen in the Clerics/Priest ability to grind almost non-stop without the need for rest. Healing classes are usually given a certain degree of defense in most games which gives them more survivability than Rogue and Archer classes. This is because healing classes tend to pull the most aggro in parties by healing the group.
Priests/Clerics are also able to heal and buff them selves which increases their characters attributes. If a priest is good at managing their resources [mana] they can seemly grind indefinitely without the need for rest. This advantage allows them to level much faster than other characters that rely on having to recoup health and mana.
The weapon of choice for Priests and Clerics are Maces, Staves, Wands, Hammers, and Sheilds. The shields supplement defense for the class as they are usually found wearing cloth armors, which is a common trait among magic users.
As mentioned before, this classes main function is a support role in parties which is seen through their healing, curing and buffing abilities. While solo the class can operate efficiently because of the support magic they can provide to them selves. The main drawback of this class is their ability to draw aggro in parties without actually dealing damage.
Mage / Warlock - This class is commonly known for their devastating magical attack abilities. Sometimes referred to a “Glass Canons” Mages and Warlocks tend to be similar to Rogues in the fact that they can output high damage but also have low survivability.
Depending on the game they are found in, Mages and Warlocks can be very similar or very different. They are similar in the fact that they use powerful magical attacks to subdue enemies. Though they are very different in some respects, because of the magic and defense provided to each of them.
Mages tend to be physically weaker which is balanced by providing them with the ability to “nuke” an enemy to defeat them before they can reach the mage. The mages main defense is created through magical shields and armor. Mages do not hold up well in melee combat
Warlocks tend to have higher survivability than mages but this is usually balanced by a smaller mana pool than mages. Warlocks usually have the ability to summon pets also, to assist them in battle. This ability allows the Warlock to worry less about the smaller mana pool. While Warlocks also rely on nukes and high damage spells, they can usually hold up better than a mage in melee combat through physical or pet defense.
The primary role of this class is a nuker or [Damage] dealer in parties. They assist the group in defeating mobs by dealing brutal magic damage and curses.
The weapons of choice for Mages and Warlocks are traditionally Staves and Wands, but can sometimes include daggers and swords. This class will also usually be found wearing cloth armors since they rely heavily on magic. [Cloth armors are usually associated with classes that rely on intelligence stats for magic.]
[These classes are hard to define because they are usually implemented differently depending on the game you are playing. Because of this it is hard to give an accurate description of this class.]
Druid / Shaman - This class is similar to the Cleric/Priest class in the fact that they are well known for their abilities as a support class. This can include healing, removing curses, and providing buffs.
This class has seen many different implementations in MMORPGs, ranging from powerful fighters to classes that have the ability to shape-shift into animals. More commonly they are known for their buffs which provide significant stats boosts in most games the class is found in.
Druids and Shaman will usually use blunt weapons available to them including Maces, Clubs, Staves, Axes, and Hammers. Because they are more of a melee combat and magic class it is not uncommon to find them wearing leather or cloth armor, as this provides a good balance between intelligence and defense.
While it’s common for these classes to have buffs, they will usually also have variants of healing spells which can be just as powerful as Priests and Clerics if they are implemented correctly by the player.
The main role of this class in dungeon parties, is traditionally a [Support] role to help buff, heal, and decurse the party. In the latest generation of MMORPGs these characters have also gained formidable combat abilities allowing them to output a high amount of [Damage]. Because of this they could be considered a class that has multiple roles in a dungeon party.
Hunter / Tamer - This class is usually known for it’s proficiency with pets. Hunters and Tamers are traditionally a class that has the ability to tame mobs for the purpose of fighting along side the character.
A Tamer is usually a more specific variation of a Hunter whose strongest abilities are procuring pets. Usually this is for the purpose of selling pets to other plays, or power leveling pets for friends. The tamers ability could almost be considered a trade skill as it is usually used to make money for the tamer.
In games where other classes can tame their own pets, there is usually a chance for failure where the tamer would have a much higher chance of success at taming the mob.
Hunters and Tamers usually use similar weapons that vary from Bows, Crossbows, Axes, Spears, Staves, Swords, Daggers, Clubs, Mace, etc. Because the class can be implemented in so many different ways they usually have a pretty wide range of weapons available to them.
In addition to the large range of weapons, hunters can usually take their pick of cloth, leather and heavy armors. You will usually find hunters wearing the heaviest armors available to them for the increase it provides in defense.
Hunters and Tamers are usually given special animal, outdoor, and trapping skills that allow them to act as a utility based class. Because of these types of skills the hunter can be a tricky opponent to fight on the battlefield.
This class’s role in a party is usually [Damage] dealing, and because of their ability to use Bows the Hunter has the potential to deal high damage from a distance, similar to Mages, Warlocks and Archers. The utility skills that this class brings to the table can also be used in numerous creative ways during dungeon parties or PVP. [Player versus player combat]
Paladin - Paladins are very similar to true “tanks” or “warriors” in the fact that they are designed to withstand a beating.
The key difference with Paladins is that they usually have the ability to use “holy” powers or white magic. These powers can include the ability to use buffs, healing spells, and counters to black magic.
Paladins are well versed at using multiple weapon types similar to warriors. This can include maces, hammers, clubs, swords, knives, staves, etc.
Because the paladin is usually considered a tanking class they are commonly found in heavy armors that provide high defense. Most armors worn by a warrior can be worn by a Paladin.
The paladin’s skills can vary depending on the game you find them in so it is hard to define class specific skills. The paladin’s role in a party can vary from game to game, but it is most commonly the “tank”. Secondary roles can include healing, buffing, de-cursing, and providing other types of [Support] skills to the party.
The Paladin class is usually a well rounded class with a high survival rate which makes them a good starting class for those who are new to MMORPGs. Those who are experienced may also enjoy the class because of the mixed role they play between a Warrior and a Priest.
For more detailed information on classes check the following links which provide a very large, and indepth overview on “Classes”:
Classes - A Long List - Part 1
http://www.listology.com/content_show.cfm/content_id.23049/World-Building
Classes - A Long List - Part 2
http://www.listology.com/content_show.cfm/content_id.23050/World-Building
Race and Class Overview
Ok, I didn’t really get to cover as much as I wanted to in this guide because I didn’t realize how much important information there was regarding races and classes in MMORPGs.
As I mentioned several times during the course of this guide, the information I have provided here is a generalized overview.
Races and Classes are really what makes MMORPGs so great! Think about how boring chess would be [more so] if you could only play as one piece, like the “pawn”.
Having different Races and Classes compliment each other because of the many different ways they can be used to accomplish goals and interact with other players. It is the same concept found in basic games like rock, paper, scissors. Use properties that compliment or contradict one another to create different outcomes. This keeps the game interesting and adds replay value.
I hope you all enjoyed Part 2 of the MMORPG guide. I also hope that experienced players and begginers to MMORPGs can find something beneficial in these guides, that they may not have been aware of.
Remember when you play MMORPGs do not get stuck in one way of thinking, and feel free to experiment with new things to see if you like them. The same players that have been warriors for years may find a magic user to be a welcomed change if they feel the grind becoming tedious or boring.
With that being said I’m going to wrap this rant up, and hope you’ll all look forward to Part 3 of the MMORPG guide, where I will cover statistics and traits in detail and discuss how they apply to each race and class. After all statistics are the bread and butter of MMORPGs which evolved from dice games that were played with pencil and paper.
Thanks for sitting through another rant!
