COMBAT: 

Combat in Vanguard is much like any other MMORPG. You activate the abilities of your character and wait for refresh timers on the more powerful actions. Each ability often has many effects, such as lowering the mobs AC or slowing them down. Synchronized use of these abilities amongst group members may result in easier battles.

Since the abilities in Vanguard are fairly strong, combat is engaging. One can root, fear, snare, mez, slow, stun, and lots more against ones enemies. Players also have access to chains which often occur infrequently, such as when one crits. These abilities are generally stronger than ones normal powers, and the game makes it easy to tell when one can activate them.

The combat UI is nicely done. One sees not only their primary target, but also any other mobs which have added onto anyone in the group. In addition it displays what debuffs are on each mob, and who each mob has targeted. Vanguard makes use of a defensive target as well. The defensive target is usually a group member. If you cast a heal, Vanguard knows to heal your defensive target and not the mob you are blasting.

Vanguard allows casters to counterspell incoming detrimental effects and nullify them. This is a nice addition to MMOGs.

If a caster gets hit for damage, typically their spell shall take a bit longer to cast instead of getting fully interrupted. Stuns and other effects can stop ones casts though.

ABILITIES: 

Each class gets an assortment of abilities. Each ability is generally fairly useful. As one levels most of the new abilities are just upgraded versions of older abilities. Luckily they do scatter in a few new powers to keep things fresh.

Each race also gets a strong Racial Ability as previously mentioned.

Characters can be quite potent even at low levels.

By Level 10 Bards get:

Level 10 Psionicists have:

By level 8 or so, player should have enough money to buy a Horse. And some speed buffs also partially buff your riding and swimming speeds as well. Very nice.

Vanguard does not limit buffing much, so players often do run-by random buffing of one another. Each buff typically lasts 1 hour, so this results in a friendly atmosphere. Getting some higher level Shaman or Cleric buffs is quite nice. Ones buff bar can often have over 10 buffs in it, even at low levels. Random Buffing of strangers makes for an excellent game community.