Quote Originally Posted by Thorondor View Post
How did this thread get on the topic of healers...?

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Again, not to take anything away from LM's, I would just consider them more of a debuffer than a healer, and essential for restoring power to other players. LM's are the antithesis of a captain, which is why they make such a powerful duo.

/endhijack
More than once, a different class helped saved the fellowship, and it's not minstrel or captain or LM. It is the Guardian. For this to be effective, the guardian need to be 2 or 3 levels higher than the rest of the group, with good armor. Those who are not used to the capability of a tank easily overlooked this, even after grouping with them a few times.

Guardians draw attention away from other players. There are 2 advantages for this move. 1) other classes, especially hunters, minstrels, lore-masters, need time to use their skills. They are more effective without being attacked upon.
2) mobs no longer attack the other players, thereby ensuring their survival. This is the part that is often overlooked. There was once I played as a guardian, joining a group who was looking for a minstrel. By the end of the quest, nobody died, quest done successfully. It was level 44, and the quest was in Fornost. The level advantage was not much superior. Of course the rest of the group was competent. My point is that guardians have a little "side-effect" of saving lives... if not direct healing.