50 Paladin - Back from A long long Break....what now? [Archive]

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G-boy

09-23-2007, 05:05 AM

Hello. I just came back from a long long break and I have no Idea where to start.Level 50 and its seems worse than starting from scratch. Will need advice on whatspell, ca to use, techniques equipment, hunt zones etc. thanks in advance.

Excalibre33

09-23-2007, 01:47 PM

Well, right off the bat, you'll be spending most of your time in expansion zones moving forward. If you do the major quest lines and HQs in each expansion, you will find your way around them quite nicely. Travel in the expansions is the most confusing part of returning to this game.<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Desert_of_Flames" target="_blank">Desert of Flames</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/The_Peacock_Club_Timeline" target="_blank">The Peacock Club Timeline</a> (DoF is accessed from the flying carpet on QH dock... then on Sinking Sands dock, right-click the flying carpet to select Maj'Dul to go into the major city of this expansion... as you click flying carpets around sinking sands points of interest you will unlock more options on the flying carpet on the dock... the same goes for The Pillars of Flame... think of SS and PoF as Ant and TS... they are both huge zones that link to smaller zones... Going from SS to PoF you'll want to use the zone point that is third from the bottom of the map to get into the NPC PoF camp)<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Kingdom_of_Sky" target="_blank">Kingdom of Sky</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Claymore_Timeline" target="_blank">Claymore Timeline</a> (KoS is accessed from repaired ulteran spires in most old zones... travel in this expansion is confusing to say the least...the spire in Ant gets you to Tenebrous Tangle. The one in EL takes you to Bonemire. The one in Nek takes you to Barren Sky ...those are pretty much all I use and a sorcerer can port you to a spire if you don't feel like hoofing it... then you have to find the right cloud station to move between each island of the three major KoS zones.)<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Echoes_of_Faydwer" target="_blank">Echoes of Faydwer</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Swords_of_Destiny_Timeline" target="_blank">Swords of Destiny Timeline</a> (EoF is accessed by taking the flying carpet on QH dock to DoF... then on Sinking Sands dock, right-click the flying carpet to select Butcherblock Mountains... or you can wait for a boat at then end of the Thundering Steppes or Nektulos Forest docks to get to the same place. From BB you'll want to get keyed for the griffon towers so you can move to LFey and GFey easily... the major city of EoF is <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Kelethin" target="_blank">Kelethin</a> in GFey... you'll also want to go to the druid circle in each EoF zone and harvest the stuff in it so Druids can port you directly back to the circle! There's one more secret way of getting to EoF, that's by visiting someone's house who has a clickable house plant but there is a high level requirement on those and they are not cheap as the carpenter recipe and components come from EH, an EoF raid zone)Some other stuff that will be helpful to do while learning the expansions...<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Desert_of_Flames" target="_blank">Desert of Flames</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Sinking_Sands_Timeline#Carpet_Quest_.28Heroic.29" target="_blank">Carpet Quests</a> for free mount<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Kingdom_of_Sky" target="_blank">Kingdom of Sky</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Blood_of_the_Brood" target="_blank">Class Hat</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Echoes_of_Faydwer" target="_blank">Echoes of Faydwer</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Diety" target="_blank">Deity Quest</a> (many Paladins choose <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Mithaniel_Marr" target="_blank">Mithaniel Marr</a>) & collect the Legendary Crusader Class Armor Set (<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Kyle_Bayle%27s_Dogma_%28Armor_Set%29" target="_blank">Kyle Bayle's</a>)Oh one more thing. There are griffon towers in Nek and TS now... go get keyed as you never know when these will come in handy especially when making a quick run to spires. You can hit spacebar to jump off of at any time while passenger traveling but, keep in mind that fall damage still applies when hopping off griffons, carpets, clouds, etc...If you plan to ignore content and grind to the endgame, harvest rares and get an armorer to make your rare crafted vanguard gear with a towershield in each tier and grind xp in the following zones: 50s <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=364" target="_blank">Lesser Faydark</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=363" target="_blank">Klak'Anon</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=254" target="_blank">The Sinking Sands</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=255" target="_blank">The Pillars of Flame</a> 60s <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Sanctum_of_the_Scaleborn" target="_blank">Sanctum of the Scaleborn</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=369" target="_blank">Mistmoore Catacombs</a>To get familiar with travel, go find these subzones and instances...<a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Desert_of_Flames" target="_blank">Desert of Flames</a> -><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=254" target="_blank">The Sinking Sands</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=272" target="_blank">The Hidden Cache</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=260" target="_blank">The Living Tombs</a>-><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=276" target="_blank">The Silent City</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=259" target="_blank">The Clefts of Rujark</a>-><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=274" target="_blank">Scornfeather Roost</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Desert_of_Flames" target="_blank">Desert of Flames</a> -><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=255" target="_blank">The Pillars of Flame</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=301" target="_blank">The Ancient's Table</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=281" target="_blank">Cazel's Mesa</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=269" target="_blank">The Shimmering Citadel</a>-><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=270" target="_blank">The Poet's Palace</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Kingdom_of_Sky" target="_blank">Kingdom of Sky</a> -> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=322" target="_blank">The Barren Sky</a>: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=327" target="_blank">Palace of the Awakened</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=331" target="_blank">The Nest of the Great Egg</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=333" target="_blank">The Vaults of El'Arad</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Kingdom_of_Sky" target="_blank">Kingdom of Sky</a> -> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=321" target="_blank">The Bonemire</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=329" target="_blank">The Halls of Fate</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=332" target="_blank">The Den of the Devourer</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Kingdom_of_Sky" target="_blank">Kingdom of Sky</a> -> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=320" target="_blank">Tenebrous Tangle</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Sanctum_of_the_Scaleborn" target="_blank">Sanctum of the Scaleborn</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Echoes_of_Faydwer" target="_blank">Echoes of Faydwer</a> -> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=362" target="_blank">Steamfont Mountains</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=363" target="_blank">Klak'Anon</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Echoes_of_Faydwer" target="_blank">Echoes of Faydwer</a> -> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=367" target="_blank">Loping Plains</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=369" target="_blank">Mistmoore Catacombs</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=368" target="_blank">Crypt of Valdoon</a>, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=359" target="_blank">Castle Mistmoore</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Echoes_of_Faydwer" target="_blank">Echoes of Faydwer</a> -> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=355" target="_blank">Greater Faydark</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=376" target="_blank">The Acadechism</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Echoes_of_Faydwer" target="_blank">Echoes of Faydwer</a> -> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=357" target="_blank">Butcherblock Mountains</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=382" target="_blank">The Estate of Unrest</a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Echoes_of_Faydwer" target="_blank">Echoes of Faydwer</a> -> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=364" target="_blank">Lesser Faydark</a> : <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/zone.html?eq2zone=374" target="_blank">The Obelisk of Blight</a>There are a ton of new things like Mentoring, Appearance Armor, AAs, Combat and Crafting Complete Rewrite, etc... You'll inevitably be up here asking about AAs... everyone does... at least 50% of the Paladin threads have something to do with AAs. The best advice I can give is use <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Paladin" target="_blank">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Paladin - </a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/" target="_blank">http://eq2.allakhazam.com/</a> - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.eq2flames.com/paladins" target="_blank">http://www.eq2flames.com/paladins</a> as your sites of reference. Our forums here at SoE rarely give you what you are looking for.

Boethius_Permafrost

09-23-2007, 02:24 PM

That's actually quite an overwhelming bit of info, Oisin. And his problem is being overwhelmed.I'd recommend exploring all the expansions with the goal of just finding your way around, and getting some quests and/or group xp out of the way. The achievement points will take care of themselves.A few intermediary goals, at level 52 you will want to equip yourself with mastercrafted gear, which means you will be harvesting a lot of rocks. Sometime around the lower 60's, you should get your xp in groups working on the claymore quest line. As you approach 70, you should probably be in EoF instances for your class set armor.Instead of being overwhelmed, you should enjoy this unique experience of visiting all the expansions for the first time, at your own pace.

G-boy

09-23-2007, 03:21 PM

thanks for the info guys. those are very helpful to get me at least going in the right direction. one thing though, which of the spells and combat arts should i put in my quick bars? what general sequence do i use them for solo, group and raid? I know people do use various things depending on their play style, situation, etc but a starting point would help a lot and then work myself to what works best for me. I tried fighting last night using the ones i had in my quickbar and i got owned. i remember i could take multiple green wolves in everfrost back then. I would also like which spells/combat arts will i need to keep on increasing the lvls to adept/master since some would be a waste of plat if i try to raise all of them.thanks again

sliderhouserules

09-23-2007, 09:04 PM

That's some really good info Oisin. The best thing I could offer would be to echo that stuff, and say for each tier, get involved in a quest line and just work on it lots. Those quest lines take you around to the different places and will get you familiar with all the zones.For your spells/CAs, I would suggest emptying *all* your hotbars. Have three (or four) blank ones out and ready to be filled. Open your Knowledge book, sort by level, and go to the last page. Then one by one read the full description, figure out in your head what it does, and put it on a hotbar. Group buffs together, AE spells together, single target damage stuff together, heals/wards together. Or something similar. Figure out something that's going to work for you. Spells/CAs repeat every 14 levels or so, so as you're working backwards through your book at some point you'll encounter the replacements for stuff you've already seen. Use the higher level ones, unless you have Masters for the lower ones or something. You can buy Adept 1 versions of your stuff for a few gold each, so once you have your bars filled again, check the broker for upgrades.Your 50s & 60s spells/CAs won't be granted to you automatically (no App1 version), so you'll have to look a list up online or whatever to find out what you need to try to find/buy.

Wallzak

09-24-2007, 03:56 PM

The thing I would recommend... is quest your brains out.AA's are powerful boosts for your character and the best way to get aa's is by questing. Being you are 40 levels behind being able to get aa you have some catch up.You maybe be tempted to power level... but I can count many many lvl 70 toons who are out trying to mentor to do old quest lines to finish off the last 30 aa's.

Excalibre33

09-24-2007, 03:58 PM

<cite>*edit became 3 posts... wierd*</cite>

Excalibre33

09-24-2007, 03:58 PM

<cite>*edit became 3 posts... wierd*</cite>

Excalibre33

09-24-2007, 03:58 PM

<cite>Enrico@Permafrost wrote:</cite><blockquote>That's actually quite an overwhelming bit of info, Oisin. And his problem is being overwhelmed.</blockquote>It's not too bad if you exclude the "Go find these subzones and instances..." section. /shrugI figured one post would be way easier than days of forum trolling trying to figure out what was where. /wink Heck it took me forever to bother with all the stupid travel quirks of each expansion and really turns me off from exploring them right away... I generally just learn the zone path to the instances and ignore the content until I have a few days to waste learning the new travel system and backdoors.*warming up a rant...*I really hate having to learn new mechanics for getting places every time new content is available. I wish SoE would just settle on a zoneline/bell/griffon system that worked the same in each, letting the art department sub in relative creatures/objects appropiete for the theme, like flying carpets for griffons but.... make the mechanics the same for keying and selecting where to go on griffons, carpets, stables, etc... Heck with griffons alone there are a few different ways of learning to ride them depending on what zone you are in... some are freebies... some need you to run around to each tower before you get keyed... some need you to hunt for eggs... I like how they did the keying of stables in the EoF zones the best personally. (I forgot to mention this derivative of griffon-like travel in zones beyond BB) You visit the stable and then it is keyed... it's similar to carpets in DoF... this method gives you a dynamic destination listing based on where you've been... I think I'd prefer if it just auto updated when you hit the discovery point so, I wouldn't have to get frustrated when I forget to key before leaving an area. I also hate that the dock carpet in SS automatically takes you to Maj'Dul instead of simply presenting you a list of options like bells, griffons, horses, etc... so you have to remember to rightclick on that carpet... remembering to harvest every time you enter a drood circle... talking to spire guys and waiting five minutes for your ride with a temp item in your inventory... all these things are annoying... not game enhancing.Travel really is a complete mess in EQ2 and is a major deterant to playing if you ask me. They don't have to make it easier or faster. They just need it to be mechanically consistant accross all zones. *ok... rant done*Oh as for spells and CAs... sliderhouserules is right on with this... just scrap your hotbars and start out from scratch reading descriptions... that's what I did when I came back to EQ2. It really helps you learn the combat system if you just read each of the things in your knowlege book.... but... that too will be changing soon and all things on your hotbar will be upgraded every 10 levels to align the "tiering" system when RoK is released. So it will be easier to figure out when you are getting an upgrade to a spell/CA. Right now there is about 14 levels worth of junk on your hotbar with a few things that you scribe just once that autolevel with you instead of haveing an upgrade line (like rescue). I heard that the one time scribes from adventure pack CAs and DoF ancient spells will start getting "line" upgrades with the change as well.

Excalibre33

09-24-2007, 05:06 PM

Oh make sure to sort by "Catagory" in your knowlege book too, once your done sorting by level. This will catch those lines that don't have upgrades, like rescue and the adventure pack stuff, if you look for the icons that stand out and might be missing from your new hotbars....and the second page of the "Abilities" tab in your Knowledge book might be hiding some neat traits and AA castables.

G-boy

09-24-2007, 05:44 PM

Hi. thanks for the advice. I actually cleaned my hotbar and put new ones in. I had to add/take out stuff that are on the same timer etc. It did help and I can actually kill stuff again. I have to go back and do it again cuz some of my older spells does more dmg/effects than my newer ones because they are all apprentice I and my older ones have adept 1 and up. I got lots of hallmarks and other quests that are on the last steps so i didnt want to delete those even if they were grey. It took too much time to sort where/what etc those quests are so i settled for starting ones in the EOF. should i drop those old grey quests or try to get those done? I'm into questing more than grinding so i should be good on AAs. anyone got a list of abilities though that are not worth upgrading? I am flat broke so i need to spend what i earn wisely.as for gear in imbued ebon and ebon vanguard armor and using a EBBC and a ebon longsword and a shield off a quest in ZEk. the round one <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />I have a weakend ghoulbane too...should i even work to get my GB? Basically most of my gear was the "best" non-raid gear at the time before the first expansion, fbss, jboots, etc. should i go for crafted stuff or should i quest for the rewards?again thanks for the advice. I should be back in the groove in a week <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Boethius_Permafrost

09-24-2007, 05:53 PM

You will want level 52 mastercrafted (cobalt & vanadium) gear, which you can get by harvesting in sinking sands or lesser faydark while you do other things for xp at the same time.I kept my post simple to hit the most important things, and got ignored. /waaaa <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Excalibre33

09-24-2007, 05:59 PM

DON'T delete your gray quests... Especially the uber ones! Just mentor someone in the appropriate level range so they become green for the turn in at least. It can be a little daunting to find someone to let you mentor them but it's worth while to complete those big quests.

G-boy

09-24-2007, 06:16 PM

It did not get ignored ernico. I actually did what you suggested. I just wasn't sure what the master crafted stuff are now. I know now so i should start the hunt for those stuff. what about a weapons, shield and the other stuff?

Excalibre33

09-24-2007, 06:31 PM

Shields are made by armorers so, ask your armorer for pristine imbued vanguard and a towershield. You'll need to have 8 ore clusters ready if you want a full suit and shield. (cobalt=lvl52 & xegonite=lvl62) I'm not sure who uses kite shields as in all my armoring experience not a single person has ever ordered one or even purchased one off of the broker.Weapons are made by weaponsmiths and require an ore as well but, I grabbed the HQ septer in DoF. Then it was easy enough to quest for decent weapons and even shields in KoS and I had a ton of legendary weapons drop from nearly every zone & instance. The result... I never bothered getting a mastercrafted weapons post mid50s.The other stuff... well imbued rings are nice from crafters... the rest I normally fill in from lewts, quests, and the broker.

G-boy

09-24-2007, 06:37 PM

Is haste still a big thing. I have 2 haste rings and the fbss. Should i just replace the rings and belt with higher stats or hold on the the haste items?

Excalibre33

09-24-2007, 06:39 PM

Equipment haste doesn't stack anymore... /pout... if you look at your haste modifier you'll see that only the highest item applies. Haste from buffs will however stack on equipment haste.

G-boy

09-24-2007, 06:53 PM

bummer. so is it better to keep 1 haste item and the other stats or just get stats all the way?

Excalibre33

09-24-2007, 07:17 PM

Haste is still good but easy to cap with the right buffs... I like haste but that's because I never know what I'm going to get in pickup teams since I rarely get to be picky while grouping. I keep one 20+ haste item around just incase I get a chance to swap it in but, don't equip it over nice stat items unless I'm in utility mode or just hungry for a little extra DPS if my team has heals to spare.I got the "Gauntlets of Glorious Speed" as my haste item... they have like 22 haste and OK stats and can be snagged off the broker for a plat or so nowadays. (Thank goodness for overarmor... these things are UG...LY!) I wore them for a long time as my main gloves until I got an upgrade a few weeks ago.

Boethius_Permafrost

09-25-2007, 10:55 PM

To be honest, I think the 52 cobalt/vanadium stuff is good, but I skipped xegonite entirely.Weapons same. Cobalt at 52, bixie at 58, and then there are some legendary drops around 65.