Influx of surging, humongous crowds of Rt/A or A/Rt?

[Ashberry]

I would think as soon as Factions is released, as others have stated, there's going to be a huuuge number of assassins and ritualists appearing, and for a brief time a shortage of every other class.

Mr Panda has a point, monks for hire. After the recent behavior of many monks with that strike I can see this happening (its happened before on a lesser scale) But I'm torn as to whether it would be a bad thing. They are just players like everyone else, and would be giving up playing new characters to monk for other people. And I must admit, the catalyst for creating my monk was the idea that I'd easily get everywhere I need to in the new area with a monk.. and maybe make a bit of cash on the side if I've spent up already ;)

But I digress. I don't think it will be as bad as it might seem. Some would say there are too many warriors. But I've rarely had problems finding other classes, there's always enough of the other classes hanging about to make up a team. Also we shouldn't forget that Factions isn't JUST assassins and ritualist. Anyone who only buys Factions will be able to create any of the original classes too. Though granted with a cut down number of skills available to them until they buy the original game. But that will simply mean a possible increase in the current classes too. Then those who simply don't want to buy factions. Or those who try out the assassin and ritualist and hate them.

I think after the first couple or so weeks things will settle down and seem perfectly natural. Ok a minority will complain, just as they continue to do so about the AOE nerfs. But on the whole I don't think its going to be a problem. And with all the new armors for our current classes, and new weapons, and new skills, there's going to be something for everyone, regardless of the class you play.

[spne]

Im going for a W/Rt or an A/R. Or even both.

[Gordon Michael]

The first thing I'm going to do when I get factions is make a Rt/A who will probably play as a pure Ritualist and only have Assassin for unlocking purposes and then play through the part of the game where henches can still fill in any holes in the party. Once I start having trouble because of all the Rt/A and A/Rt characters I'll bring in one of my chapter one characters and start unlocking chapter two skills. I might even beat the game with a chapter 1 character first so I can get the ritualist greens and collector items myself instead of having to pay through the nose for them. Once I've completed the PvE campaign with my Rt/A (who's changing secondaries to something more compatible as soon as I'm done unlocking) and all my chapter 1 characters I'm making a Mesmer (probably Me/E) and, slots permitting, a Ranger (probably R/W for shouts and stances).

When the Diablo expansion came out it was about 90% assassins and druids.
And who would make a ritualist/assassin? That's like a elementalist/warrior, you can't use the melee skills because you don't have the armor to tank.
If you want to really help the groups you're in do well, make a character that can do what the assassin and ritualist can't.

An E/W (or Me/W, Mo/W, N/W or Rt/W for that matter) can still use Tactics for stances to mitigate extreme squishiness and shouts for party support, and Sprint's a great emergency skill.

[Ju Smurph]

Don't forget we are getting more 'controllable henchies'. Henchies = no more pug woes.

[Smooth]

Remember all classes are recieving new skills not just the two new classes.