1. Any class can do that
2. Needs to be a class with an execute. Templar or sorc .
3. No classes really do that. Your best bet is body block/ blocking tanking. Dk with talons is fun
4. No classes do that, try utilizing debuffs. Maybe magden

You can play a templar like a paladin. I played WoW since 05’ and am having a blast.

I don't recommend magplar if you like playing solo a lot, you will have a lot harder time.

Pvp in this game is a lot more solo oriented, battlegrounds are solo queue for example, this is not wow arena.

Magsorc is safe choice for being good offensive support in group play (negate, I think it's closest thing to purge in ESO) and also good playing solo or small scale so you can support and hold your own very well.

Magsorcs has a lot of offensive utility (best ranged execute, unblockable stun, negate and list can go on).

Magplar, magden will play more like traditional healer in group setting.

Jellybean wrote: »

I'm looking for a class for small scale PVP (battlegrounds, small group cyrodiil) that is most similar to my main class in WoW. I used to main a Discipline Priest and loved the class in PVP for the following reasons, and I'm looking for an ESO class that is most similar (the list is ranked in order of importance):

1. Supporting my team (in non-healing ways). This includes debuffing/controlling the enemy so my team have an easier time getting a kill, or dispelling my team to keep them mobile and doing what they need to do
2. Quickly toggle between defensive and offensive mode. This includes supporting my team, but as soon as they see an opening for a kill I can instantly go offensive and contribute damage to secure the kill
3. The ability to shield my team through damage rather than healing damage that theyve already taken. Although good healing/offhealing is also nice
4. Purging/dispelling useful buffs from the enemy player

So in general I'm more of a support player, but not in the traditional healer sense. I dont want to stand there and spam heals. To me, support is about helping your team effectively secure kills through buffing/debuffing/purging/CC and being able to fluidly move between offensive and defensive at an instant to guarantee kills (so #1 and #2)

I'm currently considering Templar, Warden and Necro, but open to other class suggestions too. I'm not concerned about meta, or what classes are currently over/underperforming. I'm more interested in finding a class with a toolkit that allows me to play like above

Which ESO class sounds most similar to the way I like to play Discipline Priest?

Hi Jellybean, welcome to ESO. I came over from WoW a few years ago, so perhaps can offer some perspective.

All 3 of the classes you list have excellent support abilities, potential for good damage, etc.

Personally I think that magicka warden fits what you describe best if you want more support/debuffing, but Templar fits it best if you want to be able to be very potent offensively/take advantage of a kill window... But, I will go through strengths of each. You may also want to consider Magicka Sorcerer (mentioned at the end).

Buffs and Debuffs: All three offer potent buffs and debuffs and support options. For instance, Templars have the best/cheapest dispel (but it requires your allies to interact with it), a single target knockback/stun (useful in small group play, less useful in big groups), passive spell damage increase to the group (does not stack if other templars are applying it), extremely good resource return to the group through a Synergy, and an Ultimate ability that allows allies to Synergize it to stun and do massive damage to enemies. Wardens can access Major Defile (think mortal strike in WoW) through an AoE ground effect, reduce their enemies spell resistance by a considerable amount (debuff is called Major Breach), and grant their allies more max health when healing them (but this does not stack if multiple wardens are around - buff called Minor Toughness), very strong roots, and an Ultimate ability that grants the strongest defensive buff in the game to themselves and their allies, while snaring enemies and doing damage to them around them (great for swapping to push on offense). Necromancers can apply Major Vulnerability through the use of an ultimate, making their enemies take massive additional damage, and can spec into an AoE Stun/Fear that is very useful for area denial. They can also have a great group dispel, and can be built tankier than other classes.

Offensive power: Templars are (this patch - they are getting a nerf next patch, so this could change) the strongest of the three in offensive power, but because they do not have strong heal over time effects, it can be difficult for a templar forced on the defensive to swap quickly back to offensive. However, of those 3 you list they are the only one with an execute, and it is quite a potent ability, and fits well with your idea of taking an opening to finish an opponent. Wardens and Necromancers both are (imo) tankier when built for some offensive ability too, and can swap to damage dealing easier due to HoTs, but whether they are as effective or not at it depends on build. Magicka Necromancer is the weakest of the three in offensive power I think, unless they are going for "bombing" enemy groups.

Shielding Allies vs Healing them: Generally speaking there are no great pre-emptive shields for group members the way Disc Priests play in wow. Restoration Staff - a great tool for many healers - has an extremely strong shield (Base ability is called Steadfast Ward), but it is based on missing health. Everyone has access to an Ultimate ability in the Alliance War Support Line that grants a massive shield to the group. So in terms of shielding, there is no direct comparison between disc priest in wow and an ESO class. Note that sorcerer has very strong self shields, and all characters wearing light armor have access to a shield ability, and other shields exist in various skill lines, but they are generally self-only.

Purging: There is no removing of an enemies buffs in the game, but Sorcerer (which can also be a strong support option - and possibly stronger at healing then switching to an offensive role out of those you name, actually) can apply a large AoE silence on the ground that can also negate active negative effects. Every class can wear a set that will remove damaging effects on the ground (Earthgore). In terms of friendly debuff removal, Templar has the easiest access to the cheapest group dispel. Necro and Warden have easy access to a self dispel, and any class can access and expensive-but-good group dispel.

Templar is definitely the closest thematically to a WOW priest. Warden is more thematically similar to a restoration druid. Necromancer... has no direct comparison, haha.

As an additional note, magicka sorcerer is very potent at moving from defensive to offensive due to delayed burst damage, very strong self-shielding and an incredibly strong group heal through the Twilight Patriarch pet. They also have a ranged execute. But as groups get bigger, I think the other 3 classes you mention become better and better support options.

If you are playing ESO on PC/NA and would like any help getting started, including free low level crafting gear (it costs me virtually nothing to make it), hit me up @mav1234 in game (this offer goes for anyone else new to PC/NA and wanting some help getting started )

Jellybean wrote: »

Am I playing sorc wrong? Or is the timing of the magsorc burst window generally out of your control? In terms of picking a class, I think I would like to eliminate as much random proc type effects as possible.

You aren't playing sorc wrong, but curse, along with the delayed execute, makes the sorc burst combo more than just frags-dependent, especially in a group.

Jellybean wrote: »

I guess another way of saying that is I dont really enjoy "spammy" classes where you only utilize a small subset of your toolkit. For example, Ive been trying out some templar and I get the feeling that >50% of your casts will be puncturing sweeps (although I might be playing it wrong). So I like having diversity in the skills I have to use (offensively and defensively), and having to choose the correct skill for a situation, rather than always just defaulting the same skill for all/most situations

I would say that compared to e.g. WoW, every ESO class feels a b it more spammy, because you generally have fewer different offensive abilities to pick from due to limited bar space. That said, some classes are surely more spammy than others, and Templar is one that does feel quite spammy, precisely because their spammable is so strong. But everyone uses their spammable for pressure.

RE: most diverse buffs/debuffs, that is probably the Warden, but a lot of classes have access to different buffs and one thing you might want to consider is heading over to eso-skillbook and reading about each classes abilities, assuming you now have a general idea of how the game plays at a basic level That'll help you figure out all of what is available.

I know this is arguable but from personal experience playing 14 years of WoW pvp myself, I have to warn you if you are used to the WoW pvp then chances are you will get loads of frustration at ESO's pvp, it's mostly trash (come at me now ESO fanboys that never played any other well coded/designed MMO in your lives). I'll leave you to find out about it through your on experience. I hope I'm wrong and good luck!

exeeter702 wrote: »

Aeternum113 wrote: »

I know this is arguable but from personal experience playing 14 years of WoW pvp myself, I have to warn you if you are used to the WoW pvp then chances are you will get loads of frustration at ESO's pvp, it's mostly trash (come at me now ESO fanboys that never played any other well coded/designed MMO in your lives). I'll leave you to find out about it through your on experience. I hope I'm wrong and good luck!

You know, confrontation aside, many people automatically assume positions like the one you take here are fundamentally wrong. Often you see people say things like eso combat is superior as a rule because its "action based" and requires more response times and physical skill or similar other foolish opinions. They consider any game where targeting is determined by manual selection via tab and where passive application of basic white attacks is built in, as a training wheels type of combat system and much less involved.

The reality is that couldnt be farther from the truth. When you have 3 times the amount of actions available to you, CD use considerations among many other things, there is a very real mental thought process where moment to moment decision making carries much more weight.

Now this is all setting aside performance and balance issues which is a whole other discussion.

Eso has qualities in its combat system but most that place it above any other mmo that has also done pvp well sighting thr aforementioned reasons, 9 times out of 10 dont actually have experience playing those mmos st the end game in pvp.

Yeah, as I said it's arguable and much down to personal opinion and I didn't really want to go down to any specifics on why I find WoW pvp to be superior even if it's tab target (not that I consider ESO to be true action combat like say TERA or BDO for example). It would need a very long post to go into details but much of it would come down to really poor server performance and non existent class balance and poor itemization design or philosophy with proc sets and the noCP current one shot meta with (again down to personal preference) the horrible TTK. Then again WoW pvp is far from perfect these days due to adding mechanics on the itemisation that shifted the game towards a gear > skill design philosophy too, that said ESO is just in my opinion a much poorer experience from a pvp standpoint, seriously the list of flaws would be extensive and as you say if people think this game with it's "action combat" takes more skill... Anyway I'm not here to bash on this game's flaws but really just an heads up to the OP on how shocking and frustrating his experience might turn out to be. I think ESO can be a better experience for players that don't have the higher standards that come with having played other more polished MMO's.