Pairing Up from the very beginning for shared gaming fun

Okay, I am a dweeb. For the first time ever my hubby and I will get to start up GW2 together from the first moment. We are going to go Norn (he love "barbarian" types). He is really liking what he is reading about warrior. I am thinking that if I go Guardian we will make an awesome "Duo" for our adventuring together? I haven't tried Guardian out but it seems to be the "support" class from what I am reading? Since there isn't a real "healer" class (like traditional cleric and such) ... right? Or have I missed something?

I want my class to complement his and make it so we are very survivable when we are out there together. Warrior-Guardian duo would work well for us or would we be in each others way? I am trying to read up on stuff but so much of what is out there is a bit confusing to a total newbie to things Guild Wars 2. Most stuff is written under the assumption you already know tons about class mechanics and such. lol.

By making that post I am hoping for folks to jump in here if they have a better idea of a pairing with a Warrior that will keep us both in the "survivable" range of exploring together. Thanks =)

» Edited on: 2012-08-13 23:03:07

Really I think whatever you like to play is best. Guardian and warrior use many of the same weapons and the same armor, so for maximization of the stuff that drops for you, I'd think one of you plays light or medium wearer. A nice part of the system is you really don't need a healer or tank, per se. Just play what you like.

I agree with Mulch - play what you'll have fun playing. Doesn't matter too much if they might make a better duo if you don't enjoy playing the profession. And Mulch is also right about the armor maximizing if one of you were a different armor type - but - you could also go an entire day of questing and killing and get nothing for either of you - that's the good thing about our family - trade with us - use the vast resources we provide. So as Mulch stated.... Play what you like and have fun with it - otherwise it's not worth it - believe me - I've been there and done that - and I won't do it again. (that was in another guild in another game - long before Gaiscioch became my home :) )

Thanks for the input. I have been scouring about and found some information that enlightened me about there not really being the rolls of other mmorpgs in that "support" can be any class depending on what you have done. So yeah, maybe I won't be a guardian. At least figuring this out will help me while away the hours until August 25! Gone are the days of some classes just not being viable on their own and having to have something like say a healer with them (Think Warrior class in the good old days of Everquest before you could buy a potion for every situation and had to have a druid or cleric or paladin with you to get much success).

» Edited on: 2012-08-14 02:21:52

» Edited on: 2012-08-14 02:32:28

Ahh the days of hireing a druid or wizard to port you around everquest. Or spending an hour hoofing it from Halas to Freeport. Play what you would enjoy.

Guardian and warrior make a good duo . It wasn`t that bad running from halas to freeport , if you had a sow you could run from south qyenos to freeport in 20 ish min provided you didn`t get killed going thru high hold pass , and you got to kithcor forest while it was still dayligt lol . Ahhh Kithcor only zone where people would wait at the zone line asking if it was safe to cross yet hhe

» Edited on: 2012-08-14 07:03:35

» Edited on: 2012-08-14 07:04:30

HA! Remember that in EQ. Making it through Kithcor at night made people impressed and proved you were downright looney all at once. ;) Spent many a day with groups in High Hold pass playing healer in the corner down in that basement area. Not anymore! Welcome to the new age where the trinity has broken and it's all good. Definitely play what you like. I already like things in this game that I would try but never got to full levels in any other MMO.

If you're looking for a support class to play with a warrior, you could do a number of classes. Depends on how much damage you need to be able to take. Elementalist: Can be a really good support and/or high aoe dps, but has low hp/armor. Takes a certain amount of twichy reflexes to be really good at. Guardian: Good support, but limited long range attack options, low/medium hp, but high armor Ranger: Good single target dps, good support suite with spirits, medium hp/medium armor Warrior (Shocker!): A heal shout spec'd warrior can actually be a good support for another warrior that's more dps spec'd. High hp/High armor, but if spec'd for support won't have the dps the dmg spec'd warrior has. Mesmer: Great support, average dps, low hp/low armor, but has a lot of options to distract your opponents so you and your duo avoid damage altogether. A very unique class. Honestly what I find myself doing is choosing based on looks when it comes down to it. Are you going to play a human female yourself? If so, you may want to get an ele or a mesmer since they look the best. Norn female? Warrior, Guardians or Ranger look fantastic.

» Edited on: 2012-08-14 07:57:59

Engineer has some very good support, too. I unabashedly admit that I looked at armor sets graphics for race/sex/armor-type to decide.

Ha EQ!! Where the trinity was tank + heal + slow/CC You didn't even count dps =D

Mulch is correct - the Engineer has some great support abilities when they can get the kits and healing turret. I just find the engineer to be a little slower to develope since it is really all the kits they get that make them so versatile. I played a Shaman in EQ just so I could always hav SOW :) My favorite times were duoing with a Monk because we complimented each other so well. So finding a good duo partner can be orgasmic when it's at its best - so I truly hope you find the right combination.

My highest was a shaman, too. For a while I had the best slow debuff in my guild, and got lotsa group/raid invites cuz of that. In the beta weekends for GW2, playing with my son really haven't found a pair that doesn't work. The last couple betas we were trying to get cooperative combos. I think every profession has finishers, and almost every profession has aoe combo fields.

EQ was my first MMO and I loved my Barbarian Shaman - she looked so good holding her spear and wearing a horned helmut. Now that I have such fond memories flowing back through my neurons - guess I'll be making Norns.

I will admit, I'm biased... but I think an Engi or Staff Mesmer would make good support. I didn't have the skill points to try it out, but based on the basic elixirs, I imagine the elixer gun kit for the engi is like a bread and butter aoe buff kit. The grenade kit works both as aoe dps, and decent debuffs (freeze grenades ftw!). Add in dual pistols for static shot, and the slow aoe goop, as well as the healing, rifle, and rocket turrets. I see it being a good support buff/dps class. I also love it for soloing. I haven't played staff mesmer since BWE2 since they did a char wipe but here is what I remember that made it seem good for group support. Its spam skill, bounces between nearby enemies and allies and provides boons and conditions depending on what they are. Its also got an aoe field that applies boons and conditions inside of it. Plus, if you can find a way to get 3 phantasms out at once, its a very nice dps class, except phantasms/clones go away if combat breaks ever

I played a support necro during the first two beta weekends (staff + Wells). It wasn't great for solo but for group stuff, yum. Healing, buffing friends, debuffing enemies, clearing conditions. Playstyle was super different from an EQ shammy, but the role in the group felt similar. I think it's fantastic that we can spend a few silver to retrait and play a completely different role when we want to - on pretty much any class. :)