Warhammer Classes

So you plan to play Warhammer Online . . . Now you must decide WHAT to play. Classes in Warhammer Online are unique based on race and realm. First decide on Order or Destruction - good or bad? You will be restricted to one realm per server so you can't make Destruction and Order characters on the same server.

Order consists of three races: Empire Humans, Dwarves and High Elves. Destruction has Chaos Humans, Greenskins (Orcs and goblins) and Dark Elves. The story line pits Empire vs. Chaos, Dwarves vs. Greenskins, and High Elves vs. Dark Elves. The racial struggles quickly dissolve in to one realm against the other, so don't roll a dark elf just because you like to kill high elves, humans and goblins can have a go at them too.

The Classes of Warhammer online are divided in to four basic categories: tank, healer, melee dps and ranged dps. I am assuming you are familiar with MMOs here and know what that stuff is. The empire and dark elf tank and the dwarf and greenskin melee dps classes have been removed for release, but will probably be back at some point down the road.

So we have Warhammer Online classes and races so lets have a break down altogether.

Empire Humans: Warrior priest (healer), witch hunter (melee dps), bright wizard (ranged dps)

Dwarves: Ironbreaker (tank), rune priest (healer), engineer (ranged dps)

High Elves: Swordmaster (tank), archmage (healer), white lion (melee dps), shadow warrior (ranged dps)

Chaos Humans: Chosen (tank, males only), zealot (healer), marauder (melee dps, males only), magus (ranged dps)

Greenskins (no sexual choices here): Black Ors (tank), Shaman (healer), squig herder (ranged dps)

Dark Elves: Disciple of Khaine (healer), Witch Elf (melee dps, females only), Sorcerer (ranged dps)

Some Warhammer classes have some obvious similarities across realm lines. The Empire warrior priest is very similar to the dark elf disciple, bright wizard and the sorcerer, witch hunter and witch elf. I think this feature adds a bit of balance and I'm sure Mythic will tweak the system if it doesn't balance out in the end.

Basically, if you are familiar with MMO's and know your own play style, you should have no problem finding a class you like to play in Warhammer Online. The character creator gives you some descriptions of each class and I would advise you to find one that sounds fun and try it out. Chances are really good you will enjoy it.

James Ostenson is an avid gamer and has played several online fantasy games starting with Ultima Online. Warhammer Online looks to be the next best thing in the MMORPG world. Check out his Squidoo page where he does a review of the Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning preview weekend.

James' blog can be found here at Wordpress.