Dungeons and Dragons PC Game: DDO

Classes in DDO

In Dungeons and Dragons Online the most basic decision that you have to make is what class you will be throughout the course of the game. Your class will dictate how you play, how you fight, what skills will be most effective for your character, as well as what your role in dungeons will be.

There are nine classes for you to choose from, each with its own special abilities and skills that you can use to make your character the most effective. To decide which class will be the best fit for you, it is important to understand the role of each class.

Barbarian

The classic go-for-broke fighter, the Barbarian relies on brute force and strength of will to overcome his enemies. A barbarian will have the ability to deal massive amounts of damage and still remain on the spry side. This allows them to be either a valuable tank or a capable DPS. However, barbarians take a penalty to their armor class because they lack professional armor in most situations. Barbarians have bonuses to constitution, strength and dexterity.

Bard

Though a bard character is not necessarily a fighting master, the bard brings many other skills to the table. A poet, storyteller and minor magician, the bard is a jack of all trades. However, as the stereotype goes, this also means that he is a master of none. He can perform decently in all fields, but can never excel in any field. He is not the most valuable solo player, but he is great to have around in a pinch. The bard will seldom be the MVP, but will always be useful. The bard has bonuses in charisma and dexterity.

Cleric

The cleric is the classic healer of DDO. Clerics are decent fighters, but their primary skills are represented in their ability to heal. Not only do they heal, but clerics are able to enhance the party’s strength through a series of buffs and enchantments provided by their chosen deities. Clerics receive bonuses in wisdom and charisma.

Favored Soul

The favored soul is very similar to the cleric in that he has healing abilities. However, unlike the cleric, the favored soul can cast many spells before having to rest. However, he will not have the variety of spells that the cleric has to choose from. In addition, the favored soul is a more skilled fighter than the cleric. Favored souls have bonuses in strength and wisdom.

Fighter

Similar to the barbarian, the fighter is the go-for-broke warrior whose major task is to defeat his enemies with metal and brawn. The key difference between the fighter and the barbarian is that the fighter has the ability to wear more powerful and modern armor. Clad in thick protective plates, the fighter is an excellent tank, and relies on his training and tools to protect him instead of the raw fury.

Monk

A curious character in DDO, the monk uses no weapons, no armor and does not go into a fight unless he has a good reason to do so. The monk is a religious character intent on discipline, martial awareness and dexterity. The monk does sacrifices armor class, however. However, with certain abilities, this can be counteracted. The monk has bonuses in wisdom and dexterity.

Paladin

Similar to the cleric, the Paladin is something of a mixture between the fighter and the healer. The paladin is a knight of order, chivalry and honor who fights to protect others above all else. This means that the paladin will be effective as a tank but will also be able to mend wounds during a fight. The paladin receives bonuses in strength, charisma and wisdom.

Ranger

The woodsman, the ranger is the outdoor titan who thrives when on his own. The ranger also is skilled as an archer and beast tamer. The ranger has the benefit of having an animal familiar with him at all times, allowing him to attack on two fronts. The ranger receives bonuses in constitution and wisdom.

Rogue

The rogue is a powerful offensive fighter. His criminal training makes it easy for him to picks locks. The rogue can become invisible by hiding in shadow and coat his weapons with toxins. Rogues can also master simple weapons such as daggers and crossbows. Though they are not the most versatile of characters in the game, they have a high degree of utility in dungeons. The rogue gets bonuses in dexterity and constitution.

Sorcerer

The sorcerer is a person who was born with the ability to cast spells. He has a small arsenal to work from, but can cast spells much more frequently than the wizard (detailed below). This makes him a powerful magical fighter. The small amount of spells that the sorcerer has at his disposal makes his spell selection more valuable. In addition to his ability to cast large amounts of spells, the Sorcerer also has the ability to understand unidentified items easier and work magical devices without effort. The sorcerer receives a bonus in intelligence.

Wizard

The wizard is a spell caster who has been trained to cast magical effects. The primary difference between the wizard and the sorcerer is that the wizard is not born with the ability to use magic. Instead, he must study and read about magical theory and tinker with various magical components to produce an effect. Wizards have to carry material components in order to make their spells work, making them more dependent on their inventory. However, wizards can have access to a wider variaty of spells at any one time. The wizard receives a bonus in intelligence.

The Best Classes

So what are the best classes in the game? The best classes are those that do not sacrifice expertise for versatility. This makes the best classes in the game the following:

• Paladin - A great fighter with powerful skills in healing as well.
• Favored Soul - Similar to the paladin except for the amount of spells he can cast.
• Wizard - Though he has to rest more frequently, the wizard can also choose from a much wider variety.
• Rogue - The rogue is essential for any party because he can pick locks and move silently—skills that no other player can use.

References

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All images courtesy of the official Dungeons and Dragons Online website.