Are Dervish's the closest class to Guardians? - Guild Wars Forums

Tonden Ockay · Feb 25, 2011, 12:36 AM // 00:36

I have never played the Dervish class truth be told I have only been playing GW for about 3 or 4 months now in my free time. So I only have one character a Warrior which I just completed prophecies. I didn't do all the quest I only did the missions.

All that a side my question is did the new Dervish updates make the Dervish class the closest thing in GW1 to the Guardian class in GW2?

I am asking this because I can't wait to play that class in GW2. I thought if it is the closest thing GW1 has to it then I might give it a try. However if not then I will just keep playing my Warrior.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Angel Killuminati · Feb 25, 2011, 12:47 AM // 00:47

Who has played the guardian class in GW2 and how do we know how it plays like?

Bandwagon · Feb 25, 2011, 12:47 AM // 00:47

If you haven't tried the dervish, but you enjoy the "paladin" / "cleric" domain of RPGs, I can tell you now with reasonable assurance, that you will like the dervish.

The Dervish is more offensive in nature, but its' mechanic system is also probably the most fluid I have found across several games featuring similar character classes.

FoxBat · Feb 25, 2011, 12:51 AM // 00:51

Not at all. Actually I'm real impressed with how well done the new Dervish is, and saddened that it's extremely unlikely any of the GW2 classes will have such complexity in their skill combos.

You can think of the Dervish like a paladin/cleric/guardian, but in reality it's very different, because most of its spell effects are "selfish." You need to watch your own enchant stack all the time, not your allies. There are a few powerful ally support options like Dwayna's avatar, but that's not the main thrust of most of the class.

It's hard to say that any GW1 class is "close" to the guardian because none of them are at all. Monks have a ton of healing and their prots are individually targeted, while paragons fire off party-wide buffs mindlessly on recharge. Dervs do have a "sac buffs for effect" vibe but most of those effects are offensive, and the sac isn't much of one with the fast recharges. Also there is nothing quite like the movement-stopping wards, projectile deflection, or forcing opponents to move. You can try to pin the tail on one of these donkeys, but I think it's pointless because any of the options are just too different to feel remotely like the guardian Anet has shown us.

Rites · Feb 25, 2011, 12:52 AM // 00:52

if by guardian class you are referring to paladin or warrior/clerics of old, then yes as stated by 'wagon you will probably enjoy the dervish class

now if you mean as a "tank"... the answer would probably still be yes considering the AL and HP skills dervs have

Tonden Ockay · Feb 25, 2011, 12:57 AM // 00:57

Yes I like Tank / Healing hybrids. Most games I have played these kind of hybrids could tank just as well as a Warrior while not healing as well as a true healer. Is this the case with the Dervish class?

FoxBat · Feb 25, 2011, 12:59 AM // 00:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonden Ockay

Yes I like Tank / Healing hybrids. Most games I have played these kind of hybrids could tank just as well as a Warrior while not healing as well as a true healer. Is this the case with the Dervish class?

If you're happy only ever running Dwayna's and Melandru's Avatar then yes. Imbue health is also an OK skill. You can build a healer/warrior derv if you want, but there are many more options for the class that don't really do anything for allies at all, and just focus on protecting yourself and messing up enemies. In GW respec is effortless so once you grab the skills, you can always swap back and forth whenever you feel like it.

Lishy · Feb 25, 2011, 01:48 AM // 01:48

Yes the Dervish is a scythe wielding paladin using Avatar of Dwayna. But they are mostly just melee AoE damage dealers with a number of attacks which multiply damage the more enemies hit by a scythe.

They are inferior to the single target damage of a warrior, but make up for it in its ability to play a support role and spread damage.

A dervish is the only melee-profession in the game which can easily spam the powerful cracked armor condition on enemies, making it an incredibly useful support unit on the team.

Adding in even more utility to the support role of a dervish is the fact they can spam AoE Blind condition on enemies with ease, using Dusk Cloak and Avatar of Lyssa, or Ebon Dust Aura.

Overall, while a Dervish is not like the Guardian who buffs his team, he is a powerful supporter who is a valuable option to the team in areas where enemies bunch up.

Kojima · Feb 25, 2011, 02:24 AM // 02:24

I don't think anyone will know exactly what the Guardian is gonna be like until GW2 is out and we get to play with the skills of this class. According to what I remember reading, Guardian are flankers in the game and can play both frontline and midline. But again, with so many great players in this game, only when we actually get to play the game will it show how many different ways a Guardian can be used.

Dervish is not like anything I have played before and yes, after the update the class is so much more fun to play with. Maybe you should go out and make one and see for yourself?

Mora · Feb 25, 2011, 02:50 AM // 02:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kojima

I don't think anyone will know exactly what the Guardian is gonna be like until GW2 is out and we get to play with the skills of this class...

I'm sure people will know on March 11 during PAX, when the new demo is released and the Guardian is a playable profession during it.

Steps_Descending · Feb 25, 2011, 03:15 AM // 03:15

From what we have seen : I can say that monk or rit would be the closest to guardian.

Both played as protectors that is. Ele also add wards and rit add some offense. Still, I think monk would be the target for primary class.

Derv are, I think, too much offensive and too much SELF-defensive for guardian-like gameplay. but that's just based on whta I saw in the guardian video

DolyakJockey · Feb 25, 2011, 03:24 AM // 03:24

When i read about Guardian and how they will use skills to provide party wide defensive buffs i instantly thought of paragons.Since they can also use maces (albeit two handed) clerics from DnD came to mind but they also wore heavier armor (Guardian classes armor kinda looks like GW war's templar imo). My thinkings probably skewed but it sounds more like a paragon type to me, but i guess we will all have to wait to find out.

Slotter · Feb 25, 2011, 03:43 AM // 03:43

??????a good way to describe the guardian might be to call it a warrior steak with a side of monk potato and a small helping of ritualist carrots all covered in paragon gravy.???

http://www.killtenrats.com/2011/01/2...an-profession/

Shayne Hawke · Feb 25, 2011, 04:34 AM // 04:34

Of the Guardian skills previewed on the official site:

Shield of Absorption: I don't see any skill looking remotely like this from the dervish, and only being very, very slightly similar in outcome to Aegis (PvE) or Defensive Anthem.

Faithful Strike: The dervish may have skills available to them that heal when they do damage, but I don't think they will give a heal to nearby allies at the same time.

Zealot's Defense: I don't see anything in GW like this.

Wall of Deflection: Closest to this may be Flashing Blades, but that's a stretch in and of itself.

Hammer of Wisdom: Nope, nothing like this either.

As far as skills are concerned, the guardian is not necessarily anything like... anything of GW. The only thing that may give it a remote similarity to the dervish now is with its Virtues. At the cost of stripping themselves of their Virtue buffs, the guardian can give his nearby allies a powerful boost, similar to how dervishes are now more focused on building up enchantments that give a self-boost and stripping them later for a bigger effect. However, that alone does not seem sufficient enough to say that there is great relation between the two professions.

gremlin · Feb 25, 2011, 05:50 AM // 05:50

I do like the look of the new guardian and its getting hard to decide what to run when I get my hands on it.

Sylvari Ranger - Human Necro - Norne Guardian decisions decisions and I want to run an Asura and a Charr too just hope I get enough character slots.

As for GW2 characters not being as complex as GW1 I think from what we know so far they will be as complex or more than GW1.

Maybe fewer overall, skills but the number of skills you can take on a mission is greater and since skills are imbued in Weapons Shields Staffs Foci etc and you can swap them in and out during play the variety will be huge.

hardened hump · Feb 25, 2011, 08:17 AM // 08:17

closest thing to guardian I would think is a melee paragon

Warbog The Slayer · Feb 25, 2011, 09:53 AM // 09:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardened hump

closest thing to guardian I would think is a melee paragon

i think its more like a hybrid between derv and paragon

Xsiriss · Feb 25, 2011, 11:42 AM // 11:42

No. Dervish enchanments are solely for their own benefit (despite a few spells like mystic healing). They're not 'paladins' or 'tanks', they're warriors with enchanments.

Kojima · Feb 25, 2011, 12:16 PM // 12:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mora

I'm sure people will know on March 11 during PAX, when the new demo is released and the Guardian is a playable profession during it.

Yes, maybe for the Americans. But many of us arent from around there. And such things do not happen to us till the game starts

Verene · Feb 25, 2011, 05:30 PM // 17:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xsiriss

No. Dervish enchanments are solely for their own benefit (despite a few spells like mystic healing). They're not 'paladins' or 'tanks', they're warriors with enchanments.

No, Dervishes are the GW version of Paladins. A Paladin is simply a holy warrior with abilities blessed by the gods that is capable of dealing holy damage and are very, very useful against undead; very few versions of Paladins have any real party support abilities.

Anyway, the Guardian reminds me the most of a mix between a Paragon and a Smiting/Protection Monk.

Feb 25, 2011, 12:36 AM // 00:36	#1
Tonden Ockay Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Oct 2010 Profession: W/	Are Dervish's the closest class to Guardians? I have never played the Dervish class truth be told I have only been playing GW for about 3 or 4 months now in my free time. So I only have one character a Warrior which I just completed prophecies. I didn't do all the quest I only did the missions. All that a side my question is did the new Dervish updates make the Dervish class the closest thing in GW1 to the Guardian class in GW2? I am asking this because I can't wait to play that class in GW2. I thought if it is the closest thing GW1 has to it then I might give it a try. However if not then I will just keep playing my Warrior. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Feb 25, 2011, 12:51 AM // 00:51	#4
FoxBat Furnace Stoker Join Date: Apr 2006 Guild: Amazon Basin [AB] Profession: Mo/Me	Not at all. Actually I'm real impressed with how well done the new Dervish is, and saddened that it's extremely unlikely any of the GW2 classes will have such complexity in their skill combos. You can think of the Dervish like a paladin/cleric/guardian, but in reality it's very different, because most of its spell effects are "selfish." You need to watch your own enchant stack all the time, not your allies. There are a few powerful ally support options like Dwayna's avatar, but that's not the main thrust of most of the class. It's hard to say that any GW1 class is "close" to the guardian because none of them are at all. Monks have a ton of healing and their prots are individually targeted, while paragons fire off party-wide buffs mindlessly on recharge. Dervs do have a "sac buffs for effect" vibe but most of those effects are offensive, and the sac isn't much of one with the fast recharges. Also there is nothing quite like the movement-stopping wards, projectile deflection, or forcing opponents to move. You can try to pin the tail on one of these donkeys, but I think it's pointless because any of the options are just too different to feel remotely like the guardian Anet has shown us. Last edited by FoxBat; Feb 25, 2011 at 12:57 AM // 00:57..

Feb 25, 2011, 12:47 AM // 00:47	#2
Angel Killuminati Krytan Explorer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: UK	Who has played the guardian class in GW2 and how do we know how it plays like?

Feb 25, 2011, 12:47 AM // 00:47	#3
Bandwagon Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jan 2010 Profession: D/	If you haven't tried the dervish, but you enjoy the "paladin" / "cleric" domain of RPGs, I can tell you now with reasonable assurance, that you will like the dervish. The Dervish is more offensive in nature, but its' mechanic system is also probably the most fluid I have found across several games featuring similar character classes.

Feb 25, 2011, 12:52 AM // 00:52	#5
Rites Krytan Explorer Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Deep in the belly of Texas Profession: R/	if by guardian class you are referring to paladin or warrior/clerics of old, then yes as stated by 'wagon you will probably enjoy the dervish class now if you mean as a "tank"... the answer would probably still be yes considering the AL and HP skills dervs have

Feb 25, 2011, 12:57 AM // 00:57	#6
Tonden Ockay Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Oct 2010 Profession: W/	Yes I like Tank / Healing hybrids. Most games I have played these kind of hybrids could tank just as well as a Warrior while not healing as well as a true healer. Is this the case with the Dervish class?

Feb 25, 2011, 01:48 AM // 01:48	#8
Lishy Forge Runner Join Date: Jan 2008	Yes the Dervish is a scythe wielding paladin using Avatar of Dwayna. But they are mostly just melee AoE damage dealers with a number of attacks which multiply damage the more enemies hit by a scythe. They are inferior to the single target damage of a warrior, but make up for it in its ability to play a support role and spread damage. A dervish is the only melee-profession in the game which can easily spam the powerful cracked armor condition on enemies, making it an incredibly useful support unit on the team. Adding in even more utility to the support role of a dervish is the fact they can spam AoE Blind condition on enemies with ease, using Dusk Cloak and Avatar of Lyssa, or Ebon Dust Aura. Overall, while a Dervish is not like the Guardian who buffs his team, he is a powerful supporter who is a valuable option to the team in areas where enemies bunch up.

Feb 25, 2011, 02:24 AM // 02:24	#9
Kojima Krytan Explorer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Home Guild: En Caligne Veritas [DARK] Profession: R/Rt	I don't think anyone will know exactly what the Guardian is gonna be like until GW2 is out and we get to play with the skills of this class. According to what I remember reading, Guardian are flankers in the game and can play both frontline and midline. But again, with so many great players in this game, only when we actually get to play the game will it show how many different ways a Guardian can be used. Dervish is not like anything I have played before and yes, after the update the class is so much more fun to play with. Maybe you should go out and make one and see for yourself?

Feb 25, 2011, 03:15 AM // 03:15	#11
Steps_Descending Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: IN my pocket plane. Obviously! Guild: Little Tom's Pocket Plane [THom] Profession: Me/Mo	From what we have seen : I can say that monk or rit would be the closest to guardian. Both played as protectors that is. Ele also add wards and rit add some offense. Still, I think monk would be the target for primary class. Derv are, I think, too much offensive and too much SELF-defensive for guardian-like gameplay. but that's just based on whta I saw in the guardian video

Feb 25, 2011, 03:24 AM // 03:24	#12
DolyakJockey Academy Page Join Date: Dec 2010 Profession: W/	When i read about Guardian and how they will use skills to provide party wide defensive buffs i instantly thought of paragons.Since they can also use maces (albeit two handed) clerics from DnD came to mind but they also wore heavier armor (Guardian classes armor kinda looks like GW war's templar imo). My thinkings probably skewed but it sounds more like a paragon type to me, but i guess we will all have to wait to find out.

Feb 25, 2011, 03:43 AM // 03:43	#13
Slotter Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Georgia Profession: Mo/	??????a good way to describe the guardian might be to call it a warrior steak with a side of monk potato and a small helping of ritualist carrots all covered in paragon gravy.??? http://www.killtenrats.com/2011/01/2...an-profession/

Feb 25, 2011, 04:34 AM // 04:34	#14
Shayne Hawke Departed from Tyria Join Date: May 2007 Guild: Clan Dethryche [dth] Profession: R/	Of the Guardian skills previewed on the official site: Shield of Absorption: I don't see any skill looking remotely like this from the dervish, and only being very, very slightly similar in outcome to Aegis (PvE) or Defensive Anthem. Faithful Strike: The dervish may have skills available to them that heal when they do damage, but I don't think they will give a heal to nearby allies at the same time. Zealot's Defense: I don't see anything in GW like this. Wall of Deflection: Closest to this may be Flashing Blades, but that's a stretch in and of itself. Hammer of Wisdom: Nope, nothing like this either. As far as skills are concerned, the guardian is not necessarily anything like... anything of GW. The only thing that may give it a remote similarity to the dervish now is with its Virtues. At the cost of stripping themselves of their Virtue buffs, the guardian can give his nearby allies a powerful boost, similar to how dervishes are now more focused on building up enchantments that give a self-boost and stripping them later for a bigger effect. However, that alone does not seem sufficient enough to say that there is great relation between the two professions.

Feb 25, 2011, 05:50 AM // 05:50	#15
gremlin Furnace Stoker Join Date: Oct 2006 Guild: GWAR Profession: Me/Mo	I do like the look of the new guardian and its getting hard to decide what to run when I get my hands on it. Sylvari Ranger - Human Necro - Norne Guardian decisions decisions and I want to run an Asura and a Charr too just hope I get enough character slots. As for GW2 characters not being as complex as GW1 I think from what we know so far they will be as complex or more than GW1. Maybe fewer overall, skills but the number of skills you can take on a mission is greater and since skills are imbued in Weapons Shields Staffs Foci etc and you can swap them in and out during play the variety will be huge.

Feb 25, 2011, 08:17 AM // 08:17	#16
hardened hump Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jun 2008 Profession: Rt/	closest thing to guardian I would think is a melee paragon

Feb 25, 2011, 11:42 AM // 11:42	#18
Xsiriss Jungle Guide Join Date: May 2008	No. Dervish enchanments are solely for their own benefit (despite a few spells like mystic healing). They're not 'paladins' or 'tanks', they're warriors with enchanments.