Need assistance choosing class

[uby]

Hi.

I'm actually not a new player. I've played on and off for about 12 months. I have not leveled past 40, though I have played all classes to at least the mid-30's. I have not enjoyed any of the classes. I very much want to play this game (a huge fan of the Tolkien universe and a RPer), but I need a class I can stick with in the long run. I need your help in determining what class I might enjoy at higher levels, despite not enjoying any thusfar. Here are the reasons why I've disliked each class (up-front, I'm not a huge fan of tanking or healing - and tend to prefer to buff/debuff/dps/crowd control):

Minstrel: I don't enjoy playing as a healer. I want my eyes focused on the content, not on health/status bars. Though the minstrel serves other functions (buffs and intertwined damage) its primary attention is devoted to green bars. I don't see this ever changing.
Rune-keeper: I cannot role play such a character with integrity. Does not belong in the game as part of the Tolkien world in the Third Age.
Lore-master: I feel this also class also breaks lore. Animals should not willingly fight at your side (only the Maia and Beornlings were ever shown to have such a relationship with animals), and command over nature is not attainable for men or elves excepting perhaps the Eldar, whom we really shouldn't role play.
Burglar: Although I liked the idea of playing a debuffing/crowd control character, the burglar seems instead to have been given the role of situational DPS with access to a couple debuffs and crowd control buttons. Their gimmicks, stealth and FM on demand, are not terribly useful in groups. This is the class I've enjoyed the most, but that isn't saying much. I still have little interest playing this class.
Captain: The combat style bores me to tears. Having to wait and auto attack while skill cooldowns refresh is terrible for me. I'm also not a fan of the "on-death" gated skills, as I'm usually solo fighting 1v1 and don't get an opportunity to put them to use (also mostly useless on bosses).
Guardian: As with the captain, the combat style bores me to tears. Also, not a huge fan of tanking.
Champion/Hunter: Both seem to be pretty simple-minded. At least the hunter has traps, but neither of these classes seems to have much to offer me aside DPS.
Warden: Very interesting gambit system, but ultimately I hate hitting the same skills ad infinitum. Their contributions to groups also seems lacking: exceptionally poor DPS and I don't really like to tank.

So, of all the classes, the ones I'm fairly certain not to ever enjoy playing and RP'ing are minstrel, runekeeper, loremaster, and guardian. That leaves burglar/captain/champion/hunter/warden.

The burglar class is a mess. The captain is boring. The champion and hunter are simple. The warden lacks group utility.

Of course, these are only my impressions thru 40 levels. But, after 12 months of waivering back and forth and not finding any class I simply want to log into and play, I'm getting desperate.

All suggestions/comments are very welcomed!

[Reillan]

FM on demand is actually *only* useful in groups and it's *really really* useful in groups. And groups are starting to understand how useful their other skills are. What I'd suggest is playing up the burg, as it definitely seems closest to your interests and style, and letting the end-game change your mind about how the burg is expected to work.

[Zatoichi8]

Folks may not like this comment but this might not be the game for you.

I'll add that I really enjoy my LM. I think you would to but that's just my opinion.

Peace.

[Sonnet]

"I'm not a huge fan of tanking or healing - and tend to prefer to buff/debuff/dps/crowd control."

Based on that statement I encourage you to take a second look at the Lore Master.

First, roll an elf. Elves in Middle Earth, being the firstborn and long of life, were able to spend centuries learning about the world around them, becoming true masters of lore. In The Hobbit a thrush attempts to speak with Bilbo and Balin, but they do not know its language. Balin did, however, know the Ravens living nearby and so the thrush went and told a raven, who came and informed Balin that Smaug was dead. An elven Lore-master with centuries of study might very well have learned the language of various beasts, especially that of the eagles, as they had been allies of the elves dwelling in the hidden city of Gondolin.

An elven loremaster will give you the play-style you prefer and choosing the Master of Beasts line will fit the lore of Tolkien's world. Plus, it is definitely not a boring class - there is always something to do as a LM.

Hope that helps.

May you find the joy in playing the game that you once felt while reading the stories.