A lot of people say that each character(class, race, profession, etc.) has a equipment build and magic set and talents that best suit them and their needs. Is this really true?


I don't think so. Because, really, it all comes down to player-preference. Would you rather have equipment with 15-20 damage, or 12-15 damage with +3 Spirit? 7 Armor or 6 Armor and +2 Intellect? Magic that does high damage, or slows/hinder the enemy? Raises allies stats, or heal their HP/Mana? What do you guys think?

I haven't played WoW, but I have played other MMOs and can speak from experience from them.

When it comes down to building the strongest character for your class, you want stats that will emphasize your character's strengths. You don't want a sorcerer sporting gear that increases healing for example, or a tank building crit chance over health. These stats don't add anything to the class, and they are wasted points that could be better used elsewhere.

So with that said, there are obvious builds for each class, with some slight variations when you're at maximum build. A sorcerer should build damage, that much is true. A healer should get healing items, that's true as well. So you want the equipment that best maximizes their potential. Now, should a mage have to choose between 5 more points in spell damage or 5 more points in spell speed, well then, I say that can depend on personal preference. But beyond the little things like that, there really is no reason to get gear that does not suit your class.

As an aside, you should not be using gear that "balances out" your character as well. A healer should not be wearing gear that spends points in defense just to be tankier if they could otherwise wear gear that increases heals because they should not be getting hit by attacks anyways. Tanks shouldn't waste points in DPS because that's not their job, and they risk dying or losing aggro.

Someone70 : That's all true, but I'm mostly talking about in WoW, because that's the only MMORPG I currently play and the way class rolls work in WoW are a little bit different. Each class can actually fill an umber of rolls. Paladin is a perfect example. Paladins can be tanks, healers, OR damage dealers. When you get to level 10, you get to choose from three Specilizations, each allowing you new spells as you level, and each have a very different play style. I'm going to talk about the Mage for a minute. I'm a level 21 Mage, and Mage has three specs; Arcane, Fire, and Frost. Arcane is high damage, high versatility, and more wears down the opponent rather than destroy them right off the bat. Flame is high damage, counting on you doing more damage quicker so that you can't get hit. Frost, the one I chose, is ranged, SLOWS down your opponent, making them move slower, freezes the opponent, and in later levels increases crit chance. It also allows you to summon a minion to help you fight. I chose Frost because, I knew that Mage had low armor, low weapons, and pretty low HP. I wanted to be able to stand farther back and get imediate (dunno duncare) damage before they can even get close to me, and the if I get into trouble, be able to slow/freeze my enemies and be able to get away. The minion helps, too, because he can hold off the enemy while I get away. But I do see what you're talking about, but in WoW (Where my experience lyes (: ) there are a few ways to be a tank, or a damage dealer, or even a healer. And, at that point, it relies on what your group needs and what you can apply best.