DPS classes

[geko12344]

Hey there. A few days ago I started playing on this vanilla server. It's also the fist time I've played vanilla. I wanted to make a character with a DPS role and I want to get into raids later on. So I made myself a dwarven warrior, however when I asked around in general chat, people said that warrior isnt a good DPS class at all and that I wouldnt get any raid spots. They said the only good classes are Rogue, Hunter and Mage. I found this a bit weird. Surely the other classes such as paladin, druid and warrior will be able to do DPS, why give them a talent tree for it otherwise?! Is it true what the people in general chat said, and is warrior really that bad in raids?

[Moozer]

With BiS, Warriors are good for Fury in Raids but that would take some work to get. The other issue is, Warriors are the most popular class on the server, of which most of them will definitely be endgame DPS. Just the flat out amount of competition for that one raid spot will be great.

Rogues were reportedly the least played last i checked. They might be a better option, bringing some of the better damage in raids and having a definite need in BWL, so if you gear well and bring the damage you'd be more likely to get a spot.

[Bleakwing]

From what I've read/seen Rogues are top DPS until later raids when Warriors take over. Hunters aren't that competitive in raids. Paladins and Druids usually heal in raids (depending on the guild).

[troutblock]

Warrior is a great dps class. One thing to bear in mind though is that you may be expected to tank a bit. Certainly in 5 mans this will be the case as most warrior tanks will not want you in their group as dps (as you are competition for their loot).

[bdan]

"Surely the other classes such as paladin, druid and warrior will be able to do DPS, why give them a talent tree for it otherwise?! "

So they can level slightly easier. These specs are fine for 5 mans and pvp and you can find a few guilds to invite you to raids but the "serious guilds" wont take you. Except of course for dps warriors. Dps warriors are good with gear, especially in later content.

Rogues can make bandages, doesn't mean u invite them to heal your raid. Just because a class has a talent spec doesn't mean its "intended" to do that role in a raid.

[Azzy]

That I remember, it took all the way until Naxx for fury to take over as better DPS than rogues(and then I think there were ideal weapons needed-someone might be able to refresh me here), but I could be misremembering. It was a long time ago. (Though the flip-side to that was Naxx required a lot of geared tanks...so warriors often tanked anyway, and 4H needed 8 straight up.) I only raided a little in Naxx(as a mage in those days), but I remember our DPS classes were mostly rogues, mages, hunters, and warlocks.

Warriors are still pretty good DPS pre-Naxx but I think it's a case of Warriors ALSO being the games best tanks(and really, some of the only viable ones in most of raids in those days-you can get away with a druid for a few things but warriors are optimal), and since raids need several tanks...yeah. I agree that you'll be able to DPS but to maximize your chances of getting into a raid group you should probably be willing to tank sometimes.

(I wouldn't worry about the huge population as I suspect some of them are going to drop off or swap classes before the end.)

[BoxerBriefly]

I agree with most of what's been said here. If you want to play something other than mage, warlock, rogue, or hunter, as DPS, just be sure the guild your in, or interested in, wants that specific spec, for that specific role.

[Theloras]

"Surely the other classes such as paladin, druid and warrior will be able to do DPS, why give them a talent tree for it otherwise?! "

So they can level slightly easier. These specs are fine for 5 mans and pvp and you can find a few guilds to invite you to raids but the "serious guilds" wont take you. Except of course for dps warriors. Dps warriors are good with gear, especially in later content.

Rogues can make bandages, doesn't mean u invite them to heal your raid. Just because a class has a talent spec doesn't mean its "intended" to do that role in a raid.

liez, Rogues and Warriors make lovely healers

[Garfunkel]

Better let statistics speak for themselves. Here's a collection of random raid stats from the PvP server:

Molten Core:
http://realmplayers.com/RaidStats/RaidO ... Raid=19011
Bosses: Rogue, warrior, rogue Trash: Rogue, rogue, warrior

http://realmplayers.com/RaidStats/RaidO ... Raid=18990
Bosses: Warrior, rogue, rogue Trash: Mage, mage, warlock

http://realmplayers.com/RaidStats/RaidO ... Raid=18968
Bosses: Warrior, rogue, rogue Trash: Warrior, rogue, mage

Blackwing Lair:
http://realmplayers.com/RaidStats/RaidO ... Raid=18972
Bosses: Rogue, warrior, rogue Trash: Mage, rogue, mage

http://realmplayers.com/RaidStats/RaidO ... Raid=18932
Bosses: Rogue, rogue, rogue Trash: Warlock, mage, hunter

http://realmplayers.com/RaidStats/RaidO ... Raid=18892
Bosses: Warrior, rogue, mage Trash: Mage, mage warrior

And then for average performance of players in Molten Core, only bosses:
http://realmplayers.com/RaidStats/Ranki ... &realm=NRB
Top 50 has 1 hunter, 2 mages, 17 warriors and 30 rogues. Note how a warrior is on spot 2.

Average performance of players in Blackwing Lair, only bosses:
http://realmplayers.com/RaidStats/Ranki ... &realm=NRB
Top 50 has 5 mages, 15 warriors and 30 rogues. Note how a warrior is on spot 3.

Finally, average performance of players against all raid bosses currently on PvP server:
http://realmplayers.com/RaidStats/Ranki ... &realm=NRB
Top 50 has 1 hunter, 2 mages, 17 warriors and 30 rogues.

So there you go. Warriors are certainly just as valid a DPS class as the "pure" dps classes.

[Melgarh]

It is possible to play the "unintended" vanilla spec, as some say, but be prepared to put several times more effort into making it work as you are essentially trying to swim against a waterfall.

Myself I plan on going up to the comfortable spot as resto druid and then switching as moonkin. Back in Vanilla, I've been in progression guild as Classleader of druids and healing leader and with racked up DKP's as well as skill to show, I've been able to pull Moonkin DPS off in MC. Sure, they don't have 10k shadowbolt crits but they work and your caster party members will hug you like their childhood plush toy!

Its a lot of work and you've to show you can pull your weight and have brains but its not impossible for the "weird" spec to thrive even in unfavourable Vanilla WoW. Plus its fun to see all those mages cry when you grab Staff of Dominance as space chicken!