From Runes of Magic Wiki - The Runes of Magic

Introduction to PvP gameplay

PvP is short for Player versus Player.

PvP promises a high adrenaline environment where you engage in battles not only between you and the monsters the world provides, but also against your fellow teammates. It's best to not do PvP if you are new to the game.

Introduction to PvE gameplay

PvE is short for Player Versus Environment.

On a PvE realm you dont need to fear other players around you. In fact, it encourages a co-operative team effort to solve some artificial intelligense puzzles beyond your wildest imagination.

Team Play

Every member of a instance or raid group has their own highly specific job. To choose the correct character for you, you need to consider some of your attributes and strengths, and weigh them against your weaknesses. Although you should always aim to be all that you can be for your group, remember that a character you enjoy playing will always be easier than one you do not.

Most groups consists of 1 tank, 1 healer and 4 dps.

Tanking

A tank is usually the leader of the group, and one of the most expirienced players.. He is normally for organizing the party and controlling their actions so they stay safe. A good tank will have already run whatever instance you are doing, so he knows the tricks and pitfalls of that dungeon, and he will also make use of addons that show him the agro ranges of his enemies. The tank's job (with the help of the healer) is to protect the weaker armored team members by drawing all of their attacks to him, using a mechanic called threat. Threat is determined by which player is closest to the NPC, whichever player generates the most threat will be attacked. Tanks wear heavy armor, usually with many HP runes, and wield a 1-Handed weapon and shield. Their skills normally include skills that increase their armor, HP, and parry rate; skills that stun, hold, or control enemies; and also some attack skills. Currently Knights make the best tanks, due to their ability to wear plate and holy seal skills, though Warriors can also tank using abilities that can force enemies to attack them and stun enemies.

Healing

Healers are one of the most important parts of a party. As their name suggests, they heal and buff the party members , particularly the tank. Healers, like tanks, need large amounts of expirience to play, as they must keep an eye on basically all the party members at once, and will also be responsible for ressurecting any fallen party members. Healers have low HP and armor, so they stay on the backline. Healers use skills that heal and improve the power of their party members. Priests are the best healers currently.

Melee DPS

The melee DPS focuses on damage, damage, damage. They deal some of the highest damage in the game, through powerful attack combos, and also can place various nagging effects on their foes. However, their position at the frontline and their comparativly low armor and HP means that if the tank loses agro or an AoE is used by a foe, the DPSer will be placed in danger. DPSers use skills that play off one another and deal effects. Rogues are the best DPSers if you don't mind lower armor and HP. while 2-Handed Warriors pack weaker damage with heavier armor.

Ranged DPS

The Ranged DPS does about the same thing as the Melee, but from long range. Their skills are about the same as the meless DPS skills in that they deal high damage and normally are in combos. Ranged DPSers are less vunerable then melee DPSers, since they are farther away from the battle. Mages and Scouts make the best ranged DPSers.

What about Wardens and Druids?

Wardens are Runes of Magic's pet class. They fight melee and you have to be an elf to play one. What the Warden's role will be is currently unknown. Druids are basically Elf Priests (as Elves cannot play Priests). They can heal, res, and buff like a Priest, and also can control their enemies for a short time.