Returning to EQ...Mystic will be my main...but, when to be guilded.

[Euforea]

<p>I thought about where to post this and then based on my EQ1, and WoW raiding exp...I decided to talk to those closest to the issue, my fellow and brother mystics.  No one can truly understand a mystic, but a mystic..especially a raiding mystic.</p><p>I played 5 yrs of EQ1 and raided some in Planes of Power, moved on to EQ2 when it was first released and hated the watering down of my precious druid and raid cleric and ended up playing WoW where my main was a raid Priest.   WoW can be overly juvenile, gross, and lack teamwork and camaraderie.  Anyway, I learned to get along and after 2.5 yrs of raiding, I decided to try EQ2 for a month and was delighted to see my account intact.  I was also delighted to see the maturity of forums.   I didn't realize how much I missed the beauty, intelligence and civil discussion of EQ.  But what sold me most of all were the fantastic changes to strengthen classes, solo play, trade skills, etc.</p><p>I'm back with a vengeance and setting up trade skill characters to support my now main 22 lvl Mystic.  I know at 80 (expansion) I will want to be raiding.  I love the teamwork, camaraderie and challenge to perform.  I can maintain a high attendance raid schedule.  My vision includes building the foundation now to support high level raiding.   I know I need high rank spells, provisions, potions, etc.  I have read, studied and read forums until my eyeballs hurt.  I cannot find info to answer a burning question important for my plan.</p><p>When do I join a guild if my ultimate goal is to be in a raiding guild and raid 3-5 times a week?  In WoW, you just need to be 70, keyed and make the raid schedule.  You are judged "winner" or "loser" by damage and healing meters.  In fairness to WoW, it is a PvP, Battlegrounds, us against them, who's the best game.   I'm not knocking it, just don't enjoy it anymore.</p><p>I usually stick with a guild.  I notice that EQ2 raiding guilds list requirements which are nice for me to work toward now, but I'm not a guild hopper or use a guild to position myself for a raiding guild.  In WoW, members do not work together for "guild status."  WoW does not reward guilds for achieving goals.   It appears EQ2 does.   It appears there are great benefits to being in a guild and I'm sure a lot of fun.</p><p>I could solo to 70+ and then try to join a raiding guild, but I have a feeling that would not be good or maybe it doesn't matter.  I'm great at pick-up grouping so I can see myself soloing and pugging to 70.  What is the smart and right thing to do here if my ultimate goal is my main a serious raider?</p><p>I'd appreciate any guidance you can give.  I play a lot and hoping to be 70 before expansion release.  This is a good time to know what I should do about EQ2 and guilding.   Are there guilds which take in lower levels but are also raiding guilds?  I've looked at some guild sites and I see what they say in "Options" "Guilds," but don't have EQ2 guild street smarts to know how to make a smart decision on "when" to join and what guild structure I should join when I do.  </p>

[Sandain666]

<p>Are you looking for a hardcore raiding guild or something more casual. No hardcore guild will even look at you before you have maxed out your levels. One my server , Splitpaw, there are several guilds that raid 3-5 times a week and also invite characters of all levels so you can level your character right up from 1-70 and then 80 and raid with the same people. Of course these types of guilds don't blow through content the way the Hardcore guilds do. </p><p>You could try to solo from 1-70 and then apply for a hardcore guild but some hardcores require prior EQ2 raiding experience.</p><p>Your best bet I think is to research which guilds are recruiting and see which one best fits your needs. I dont know if you know this but while you are in game if your press the "u" button while unguilded a list of guild that are recruiting members will pop up. Usually there will be short descriptions of what type of playstyle the guild is be it Role Play, hardcore or casual or anything in bewtween</p>

[Finora]

<p>Well, there are guilds that raid that accept people of any level. Most that I 'm aware of are more casual in nature than you seem to be seeking though. Some do rather large things though either themselves, or with a raiding alliance, so that could be something to look into.</p><p>I would highly recommend against soloing to 70. While it is entirely possible, you will have ... well gimped yourself in the group dynamics department. It'll go faster and you'll learn more about how your class will work in a duo or small group or normal group environment. Joining a guild as soon as you find one that will meet your needs will provide you will a more ready source of steady grouping, source of advice etc. Not to mention you'll get used to working with those people over levels and that'll make the tough stuff all that much easier. </p>

[Euforea]

<p>Thank you....very helpful.   It is good to know that there are EQ2 raiding guilds which will take leveling players who have the potential to raid with them.  I'm "hard-core" in that I am a reliable raider.  I'm soft raider in that I don't mind if it takes us awhile to progress.  I sort of think one sticks with a guild through thick and thin.</p><p>Thanks for the "u" command.  I'm going to start looking for a raiding guild where I can level and grow into it the EQ2 way.</p><p><img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  It's nice to be back.</p><p>Ganni Spiritseeker, 22 Mystic (Main-group/raid)</p><p>Euforea Cloudmaker, 20 Fury (solo)</p>

[Finora]

<p>Check the server forums as well. The guild tool...works weird and doesn't list everyone (or it didn't last time I messed with it).</p><p>There are recruitment threads there.</p>

[Vonotar]

Most serious raiding guilds won't take low level players, they don't have the time to 'babysit' you (in their eyes, not mine) and won't be interested in the prospect of a mystic available in x number of weeks/months.Join a regular guild, if you want a more helpful approach I would recommend joining a small guild.  Even if you eventually remove your main and join a raiding guild, most will be more than happy that you contributed during your time with them, especially if you have lower alt characters that you leave in your starter guild.

[Euforea]

<p>Thanks Vonotar...that's the rub.  In my head I have vast EQ1 and WoW raiding experience as a healer and yet EQ2 I'm seen as a noob which is totally understandable.  The truth is I have a lot to learn.  </p><p>Out of our strengths come our weaknesses.  I am pretty independent and can develop a raid character by soloing and pick-up /lfg'ing.  I'm not always patient with the pace of small guilds and find myself out-distancing them and not as casual as they need me to be.  I'm afraid high-end, high pressure, hyper-speed dungeon fights are addictive and have ruined me for many things.  In short...I'm now noob/veteran which means I need a gaming shrink.</p><p>I'm going to keep eyes and ears open and /lfg alot while soloing.  I'll be checking "u" daily and server forums as suggested.  Hopefully, it will all fall into place.  </p>

[Beezerfel]

<p>On our server (Najena) we recently tried merging our guild with another guild that we had an alliance with.  Our guild was large, nearly level 60 and had a wide range of classes, levels, and craftsmen.  The other guild was a bit smaller, but had more level 70 toons and were really focused on raiding.</p><p>While both our guilds wanted to eventually raid, we just didn't have enough high level people to pull it off.  Unfortunately EQ2 doesn't currently have a smooth way to merge guilds and since neither guild wanted to abandon all their past efforts we decided to move our highest level toon to the "raid" guild and all other toons to the "leveling, questing, more casual" guild.  So far it seems to be working pretty well and everyone is geared toward helping the lower levels gear up, level, and in general learn the game.  </p><p>Of course, we are by no means anywhere near "hardcore", at least not yet. <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /></p>

[knightofround]

Yeah, raiding alliances seem to be much more common in EQ2 than in EQ1. Because basically all raids are 24-man, most solid raiding guilds do not want more than 30 people. Starting a new raiding guild is difficult because you've got to pick up the first 15 or so until the rest snowballs; so what EQ2 has kinda fallen into is many family guilds uniting to tackle raid content.Although honestly, there are simply not that many guilds that are interested in XPing up the lower levels. There's plenty of casual guilds out there, but they're usually driven by a core of 2 or 3 people who are active, and then the rest are pretty much silent. You will not *need* a guild until you are 70 and ready to raid. My advice is to XP up to 70 unguilded, so you can get a feel of the people, and the guilds on the server. And then pick whatever you think is the best bet. Most of the people that you will group with will be alts of raiders anyway.

[Euforea]

<p>I agree, Beezerfel, that sometimes two distinct guild setups...raiding and casual, work well.  I know in WoW the top raiding guild on the server had one guild name for their raiders and then a guild name, "Slackers" for their alts and wanna be raiders.  I loved that name Slackers.   They had a "chat channel" set up so both "guilds" could chat since both "guilds" were run by the same officers.</p><p>Knightofround...you made my day.   I needed to hear from an EQ2 veteran that it was possible to "solo" (and /lfg) to 70 and still get in a raiding guild.  My challenge (as warned above) will be to gear up as I level so I can meet the recruiting guilds requirements.   I came to the conclusion yesterday that I was going to do this.  I just didn't know if it would hurt me down the road not beening in a guild until 70.   I've printed out Crushbone Keep layout/quests and studying the lfg mod setup.  </p><p>I'm glad I did this post...I am now really jazzed about going to 70 with my mystic and looking forward to expansion.  I'm going to pass this thread on to my long-time EQ1, WoW and now EQ2 friend.   He still has his foot in the door with WoW raiding 3 times a week with his warlock, but is leveling a necro now in EQ2.  Your responses may just win him back to EQ2 as his main game.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />   Thanks again.</p>

[Sandain666]

The problem with trying to solo and/or casual group to 70 and then try to get into a raiding guild is that you will never learn the tactics and coordination needed for high end raiding.  Above everything else all hardcore raid guilds want people who know their class. Check out the high end raiding guilds on any server, for the most part they don't have gear requirements. Gear will come naturally as you raid. I am not saying it will be impossible to solo/small group to 70 and still get into a raiding guild but if there is one open spot in the raiding guild and 2 mystics apply, one with raiding experience and one without who do you think will be chosen for recruitment if the guild is highly competitive?

[Euforea]

<p>You make a very good point, Sandain666.  I'm hoping my Plains of Power raiding in EQ1 and my 70 lvl high end raiding in WoW will help me qualify.  I did raid as a pure healer...Cleric in EQ1 and Holy Priest in WoW so raiding as a shaman in EQ2 would be somewhat different.  I have no doubt if I leveled a Templar I could raid blind folded with no EQ2 raid experience.</p><p>After researching guild websites, I found what I thought would be the "ideal" guild to group, lower level raid and high end raid.  They have a system where you go up in ranks as you meet certain requirements of the guild.   At 70, they have two ranks of raider.."veteran" and "elite."   They only allow two "elite" spots for each class and only run one 70-level raid group two nites a week.  The catch is that elites can kick anyone from the raid and always have a spot even if they show up 30 seconds before a raid.   They have an elite on 3-months leave and as soon as they return...the veteran gets kicked to the bench...indefinitely! Not so ideal for a "wanna raid often" raider.  They advertise as a "casual raiding guild!"  lol.</p><p>So far, all I've found are either casual, family guilds which advertise they "may" raid someday or the 70 lvl only raiding guilds who require tons of experience.  One Ace I have up my sleeve is that I can maintain almost a 100% attendance 5 nites a week raid schedule as I always have.   Also, being a masochist, I will knock myself to perform each and every pull.   If they raid alot and are having attendance problems, I might be able to slip in.   </p><p>/shrug.  I'm a shaman, right?   I think I'll build a fire, consult the spirits, roll some bones and throw myself at the mercy of my server's raiding gods.  It may be that it is end-game at 70 for my shaman and I may have to go back to WoW where it is so much easier to get into high-end raiding.  Or...I could put my inner principles of honesty aside and join a guild to lower level raid knowing I'll be jumping ship as soon as I hit 70 just to get experience to qualify for EQ2 raiding.   Whatever happens, I really appreciate all your inputs...it has prepared me for what to expect.  If I can't qualify for a raiding guild at 70 because I didn't level in a guild, then I know it was my doing and not the game. </p>

[Rayche]

Guild Alliance raiding and Open raids will begin to present themselves to you as soon as you hit level 60.When you hit level 50 you might see some people advertising in the 50-59 channels for "Courts" raids. That's a great place to start.Once you have access to the 60-69 channel you will see raids being advertised in those channels. Just join them and get your feet wet.Another piece of advice if you plan to "Prep" yourself for becoming a Raiding Mystic as you level up is to work on the Progressive quests through each zone as you level up. This will give you a LOT of AA points. (You don't want to hit level 70 with only 50 out of 100 AA's)If you are level 23 now? Hit Butcherblock and do the Butcherblock Timeline.Heck, just check eq2i.wikia.com for Solo quest timelines. It'll give you a LOT to go by.<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Solo_Timelines" target="_blank">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Solo_Timelines</a>CRITICAL (In my Opinion) Quests to do to prepare yourself are these:- Words of Pure Magic (Required for Speak as a Dragon.. starts in your 30's) <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Words_of_Pure_Magic" target="_blank">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Words_of_Pure_Magic</a> - To Speak as a Dragon (Required for Deathtoll access)<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/To_Speak_as_a_Dragon" target="_blank">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/To_Speak_as_a_Dragon</a>- Deathtoll Access (Amazing wrist/neck item with Flowing Thought reward, also Kingdom of Sky End Raid Zone)<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Deathtoll_Access" target="_blank">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Deathtoll_Access</a>- Claymore Timeline (Start this in your 50's).. it's almost like an Epic, but it ends in some awesome shoulders for raiding.<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Claymore_Timeline" target="_blank">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Claymore_Timeline</a>- A Mark of Awakening (Mid-60's... very nice Flowing Thought item)<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/A_Mark_of_Awakening" target="_blank">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/A_Mark_of_Awakening</a>Other noteworthy Heritage quests:- Flowing Black Silk Sash (30's)<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/The_Teachings_of_Yoru" target="_blank">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/The_Teachings_of_Yoru</a>- Manastone<a href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Stiletto%27s_Orders_Intercepted" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Stiletto%...ers_Intercepted</a>Best of Luck!Welcome back <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />" /> (I did the same thing as you, and I've been back for about 6 months and I couldn't be happier)

[Euforea]

<p>Thanks Rayche.  I'm now 28 and in Butcher Block.  I appreciate not only your "links" for questing for AA building, but your giving me a vision into the opportunity to get raid experience via public "looking for more" on "level chat channel."  Where some players avoid "pick up groups/raids" like they are the plague, I love them.   This would give me some raid exp.  I was wondering how I would get that without being in a guild.  </p><p>In EQ1, when it was getting harder for guilds to get the numbers together for Plane of Power raids, for key progression, I used to hang out and watch for the few "public raid leaders" to announce themselves on the public raid channel.  There were many of us and we were their slaves racing to whichever zone they chose.  I remember one time sweating it in a dangerous area while two titan raid leaders battled it out with a gm as to who got there first.  We didn't have "instancing" so only one group got the zone and once the bosses were brought down, it was days before they respawned.   Ah...the good old days.  I mourned when my favorite public raid leader took a leave of absence from gaming to go to law school.  How rude!  lol. </p><p>I have a complete set of player-made 30-lvl armour waiting for her in bank and all spells are kept at Appr IV with a few key ones Adept I.  After 7 yrs of playing cloth-wearing healers always battling to try not to die with one blast, never go oom, and keep the MT healthy, it is nice to wear chain, have SoW + AAs for super speed and find mana not a problem...yet.    I'm a provisioner so I'm up to +45 mana regen drink atm.   I'm leveling an alchemist for additional mana pots.  I'm thinking at 30 to try to solo Crushbone Keep.  Since I sometimes don't have any sense, I tend to be tenacious and persevere beyond reason.  I'll probably be visiting the mender alot.   If there is a group in there short one...I'll get friendly and will ask to join.</p><p>Thank you for taking the time to link this valuable solo and questing info.  I printed everything out and will follow.  I have 94,000+ status points, not that they do me a lot of good outside a guild, but I have worried a little about AAs.  I'm doing all collections, city writs, quests, but I know raiding guilds require 70+ AAs.  </p><p>I've fantasized alot about playing my mystic in a raid.  I suppose it's keep debuffs up on mob and ward up on assigned tank, but I also thought it would be wonderful if we are in a "red alert" situation, pulling off some great triage healing for which I seem to have natural talent.  </p>

[Rayche]

Being a Mystic in a raid is awesome fun.Once you go down the Echoes of Faydwer AA tree and put points into converting your Nukes and DoTs to Combat arts they become a viable way to toss in damage in between wards/heals. (They have a .5 second casting time once converted...) You can actually find yourself making the DPS parse AND the Heal parse at the same time. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />I don't use heals nearly as much as I use wards on raids. They're just too small a benefit for the casting time.Things like Bolster, Torpor (Regen) and your massive Wards will be your bread and butter.One thing I love about EQ2 (Did 6 years of raiding in EQ1 as well with a Cleric/Necro/Mage) is that many fights you will find that your Arcane/Poison cures are more important than your heals, so it's not the same old button mashing grind over and over.Debuffs play an important role as well, the only thing that bothers me about them is how MANY you have to stack before you get a decent return. (There are 5 or 6 debuffs you can toss.. 4 relating to DPS and ATK Speed debuffs)... there's rumor that they are consolidating some spells soon however, to cut down on the number of hotkey banks we have to use. (I currently have 5 or 6 up at a time... so 60-70 buttons is a little bit overkill!)

[Euforea]

<p>Thx, Rayche, for insight into high-end raiding as a mystic.  I printed out this thread for future reference.  I'm accumulating quite an EQ2 reference library. lol.   Parsing dps & healing!?!   Hum-m-m...again so appealing to a masochist raider like myself who will try to attain the reputation of..."Super Shaman!"   <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /></p>

[Sandain666]

<p>Another item that is overlooked but worth your time </p><p> <a href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Mystical_Orb_of_the_Healer" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Mystical_...b_of_the_Healer</a></p><p>It does a small amount of free healing that adds up to quite a bit over a raid. This little gem is often underestimated. And as others have said get the manastone and never leave home without it. This is the one item I have never taken out of my inventory. The manastone is useful in all aspects of the game.</p>

[Sandain666]

<p>An often overlooked attribute of our direct heals is that they add a bit of HP to whomever they are cast upon. You can use this to your advatage right before the tank pulls. at level 70 I think the big Heal adds 275 HP ( don't quote me I am writing this from work) for a few secs. This plus Bolster can be a great combo against initial burst damage.</p><p>Another nice trick with Bolster is to drop it on a necro right before they get ready to Lifeburn. This can add up to a great amount of damage. If there are no necros around dropping a Bolster on a scout type can increase their DPS.</p>

[Euforea]

<p>Thx Sandain666 for link to "Mystical Orb of the Healer."  The stats alone are to die for.  I first thought it may be hard to get, but then I saw last line at bottom, "Obtain: Reward from collection Orbs: Mystical Orbs."   Bingo!  I am so into this shaman that at 29 now I have 123,000 status points and marching on with AAs...all from collections, writs, solo quests, etc.   If it is a "collection quest" reward, it will be in my future as soon as I can get quest.</p><p>I'm 29 now and I do need to force myself to group...maybe at 30, Crushbone Keep.  I'm getting a little new-game stage fright. Do I check "secondary healer" in the /lfg window?  I've always played main healer characters over the years and had full confidence I was designed and equipped to handle all the group healing.  From research it appears we are meant to be "secondary healers" and yet I know from gaming experience...reality and group expectations may be something different.</p><p>So...question:  Given spells at least App IV/Adept I and lvl 30 stat gear (in bank)...can we do the job as "main group healer?"  If I get put on the spot and find myself in that position, I want to know it has been done successfully by others.  If it is risky since I am trying to build confidence as well as grp exp, then I want to be sure not to get pulled into it since at present I am a EQ2 noob and don't know any better. </p>

[Finora]

<cite>Euforea wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I'm 29 now and I do need to force myself to group...maybe at 30, Crushbone Keep.  I'm getting a little new-game stage fright. Do I check "secondary healer" in the /lfg window?  I've always played main healer characters over the years and had full confidence I was designed and equipped to handle all the group healing.  <span style="color: #cc3333;">From research it appears we are meant to be "secondary healers"</span> and yet I know from gaming experience...reality and group expectations may be something different.</p><p>So...question:  Given spells at least App IV/Adept I and lvl 30 stat gear (in bank)...can we do the job as "main group healer?"  If I get put on the spot and find myself in that position, I want to know it has been done successfully by others.  If it is risky since I am trying to build confidence as well as grp exp, then I want to be sure not to get pulled into it since at present I am a EQ2 noob and don't know any better. </p></blockquote><p>If the red highlighted stuff is what your research says, then your research is misinforming you. Mystics are quite capable of being main healers and single healers for groups. Been there done that on many many many occassions.</p>

[Sandain666]

<cite>Euforea wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Thx Sandain666 for link to "Mystical Orb of the Healer."  The stats alone are to die for.  I first thought it may be hard to get, but then I saw last line at bottom, "Obtain: Reward from collection Orbs: Mystical Orbs."   Bingo!  I am so into this shaman that at 29 now I have 123,000 status points and marching on with AAs...all from collections, writs, solo quests, etc.   If it is a "collection quest" reward, it will be in my future as soon as I can get quest.</p><p>I'm 29 now and I do need to force myself to group...maybe at 30, Crushbone Keep.  I'm getting a little new-game stage fright. Do I check "secondary healer" in the /lfg window?  I've always played main healer characters over the years and had full confidence I was designed and equipped to handle all the group healing.  From research it appears we are meant to be "secondary healers" and yet I know from gaming experience...reality and group expectations may be something different.</p><p>So...question:  Given spells at least App IV/Adept I and lvl 30 stat gear (in bank)...can we do the job as "main group healer?"  If I get put on the spot and find myself in that position, I want to know it has been done successfully by others.  If it is risky since I am trying to build confidence as well as grp exp, then I want to be sure not to get pulled into it since at present I am a EQ2 noob and don't know any better. </p></blockquote>Mystics are excellent main healers at any level.  As long as you have a good tank and people in group who know how to control aggro you should be able to keep any group alive.  If you are not sure of yourself yet it never hurts to have another healer in group. Furies work well as it seems most of them consider themselves mages with a couple of heals spells.  Most groups will ask if you feel comfortable single healing in a particualr zone or instance and make up the remainder of the group accordingly. Furies do decent damage and can throw in a few heals on a bad pull or when something unexpected happens. I don't know Mystic who considers themself a secondary healer.

[Euforea]

<p>You've all been most helpful and now it is just doing it.    I've always liked being main healer and pretty good at managing aggro and mana once I learn the ropes.  After hearing from you veteran mystics, I know the mystic is designed to handle the job.   Time to group heal for Crushbone Keep quests.  I'll pack a healthy supply of power pots until I settle down into a nice casting/mana usage rhythm.</p><p>Thanks.  <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /></p>