Does class mirror character
A couple of things happened recently which made me wonder whether the class we choose is an extension of our own real life character or if that has nothing to do with it and we just play the one that’s most fun. The first thing that made me consider this was while I was leading a warband assaulting a keep in Warhammer. I started to get some private /tells from one warband member offering suggestions. These weren’t bad suggestions and, because we’d been fighting for a couple of hours already and I had to log soon, I suggested I make him the new warband leader. He said no thanks, he was a manager at work and the last thing he wanted to do was manage people here, he just wants to play. Though, by offering unsolicited suggestions, was he managing anyway?
The other thing was while I was playing Vanguard with Kyrana. We’d hit level 14 and decided to try our hand at grouping, since it’d been a long time since I’d played a tank and my Vanguard character is a Paladin, and Kyrana wanted to try healing a group on her Cleric. So we put out the looking for more call and headed into our first dungeon together. And while we finished a bunch of quests and got a level, I didn’t really enjoy it that much. But I’ve always enjoyed the dungeons on my Cleric, who is now level 43.
So what didn’t I like about it? I just didn’t like being the one who goes first. I prefer to give directions from the back, to be able to see what mobs the tank’s pulled, take in the whole scene and decide a course of action, be it merely healing the tank in Vanguard or throwing a root down on a mob, or in Warhammer, choosing a target to take down first.
I hadn’t always played healers though. My very first MMO class was a tank. My first real “main” was a ranged DPS class. The first time I tried a healer class I didn’t actually like it, and I went back to my main. But eventually I made a different healer class and loved it, and healers have been my main ever since. I’ve had other classes throughout MMOS, but there’s always a healer as my main.
I know I like healers because I can get groups more easily, or so it would seem. And I like the satisfaction of keeping a group standing, especially when things turn nasty and we somehow survive. But is that it? Is it because it’s “fun” for me or was my personality type always going to settle on a healer? Do I not play tanks because I’m not a gung-ho, busting heads and taking names kind of guy?
Comments
Comment from caliga
Time: January 8, 2009, 7:00 pm
It’s a shame because it’s a far better game now than even a year ago let alone launch. But with all the Game Updates it would take a very long time to patch unfortunately.
Comment from Kyrana
Time: January 9, 2009, 4:17 pm
I’m pretty sure I’m a melee dps kind of girl. I’ve played just about every class, and although I -can- play them, nothing gives me more of a thrill than seeing big orange damage numbers go up over a target’s head. It inspires me enough that I actually start doing research on how to do it better. LOL.
I don’t mind tanking, but I’m a bit the same way as Cal about it. I don’t like being the first one in. Healing can definately be a lot of fun, but there’s no doubt it stresses me out at times because of the pressure of keeping everyone alive. Mages bore me because it always seems repetitive–mash a button over and over and watch things blow up–although I’ve got a sorc up to 15 now, and have enjoyed playing her on occasion.
I think we gravitate toward classes that bring us the most personal satisfaction, whether it’s doing support, leading the charge or just mindless bashing and damage. 
Comment from Melf_Himself
Time: January 9, 2009, 6:09 pm
It’s possible that you’re a healer in real life? Hmmm :p
Personally I don’t necessarily play the class that’s the most ‘fun’, but rather, meets a certain set of ‘pwnage’ criteria. i.e. I may be making a class that’s going to get me the most wins in PvP, or allow me to solo some harder PvE areas, etc. The actual flavor of the class takes a back seat in my powergamey mind to how well it’s going to let me accomplish a particular goal. Relating this to you, if your goal is to group up and get through a lot of hard content, a healer seems like a natural choice since they’re always in demand as you said.
Comment from caliga
Time: January 9, 2009, 7:38 pm
No I’m not a healer in real life. That would explain it if I was. And much like you, my first real MMO main was an Albion Scout and it was all about the pwnage in RvR. I even leveled him up to 20 without spending any points so I get the “free” core ability increases. Imagine playing a toon for 20 lvls without spending any points on new spells. When I first start playing EQ2, I had a ranger on the PvP server which I turned XP off, so he was level 16 for a long time so I could max all his stats/spells.
But I find I prefer being the group friendly support class vs the min/max soloist. Why? I don’t know, I just do.
caliga
Comment from Ainilome
Time: January 8, 2009, 6:55 pm
If I had anything other than the pre-launch disks and a rather slow unreliable internet connection, I’d join the two of you in Vanguard. My cleric was 22 I think, but I had several alts probably around 14. And I think I still have 20 some odd days left on a free month SoE gave me. But good lord, I remember what just watching at launch was like. I can’t imagine the size of the patch file now