Returning to the game - Sarnak Shadowknight doable?

[MKL]

Hello Shadowknight community!  First I would like to give a little history lesson about my EQ2 experience which might help establish my point of view.  I played EQ2 at release for about 2 months before having to cancel my account against my desire to continue playing (rl stuff).  After the game had been out a year and a half I had the opportunity to resubscribe to the game and wanted to but my friends decided to drag me with them into another game.  Earlier this year I decided to resub and was torn away from the game yet AGAIN due to RL.  Okay History lesson done.I'm finally back in the game for the right reasons and I have decided to make my fresh start with the release of Kunark.  The past week I have spent my time playing around with classes to decide which best fits my playstyle and desires.  I am shocked at how the game and the classes have all changed since back before DoF was released.  I have a level 32 Brigand and a level 30 Conjuror and honestly neither are extremely appealing to me.  The Brigand does great damage but I can't 'get into it' and the Conjuror is nice but I am again not satisfied.  Of all the classes out there the one that appeals to me most is definitely the Shadowknight.  From reading about 3-4 pages back on this board I have come to the conclusion that Shadowknights match my play style.- I want to solo well when I choose to solo.- I want to group and get groups when possible.  I love grouping.Well here is the only problem I am facing.  From reading here and listening to what others have to say in-game I am doubting my choice for one reason:  raiding.  I hear that Shadowknights are simply not wanted for raids.  Guardians and zerkers tank and other classes out dps SK's.  Since the SK has no defined role and brings little to the raid they are not needed.  That's a problem for me because I really want to see the content.  I don't want to miss out.  Assuming I can make it to the max level I don't really care much about the "best gear" but I do care about being able to participate.Should I look for another class to fall in love with?  Are SK's a lost cause on PvE servers? (Antonia Bayle is where I've played my entire EQ2 career)  If so then I welcome suggestions on a possible direction to start looking.Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my post and for any advice any of you can give me.

[Arielle Nightshade]

<p>Given your history, and from what you say your play style is, I'd say go for it, as far as SK is concerned.  You can easily play it to level 30 or so without much time investment.  Although the class hasn't quite hit it's stride at the earlier levels, that's still plenty of time to see if you like it enough to continue.  If the class appeals to you, do it.  Have fun.</p><p>Although you say you want to see the content, realistically at this point you probably aren't going to be able to see it all.  Tier 5 Raids, for example (some very fun ones) just aren't being done anymore.   With the push to Tier 8, and level 80,  you might even miss out on some of the things that are being raided now - because they just won't be done very often.     Based on how you say you like to play, I'm not sure you'll want to play that hard enough to catch up to 70 in the next few weeks.</p><p>You also don't sound like a number crunching end-game min/maxing raider.  Those are the people that have the conversations you've been overhearing on AB.  Some of those conversations are personal comments about some of the more ..um...loud ? crusaders (pallies and sks) on the server, and less a true reflection of the actual class.  </p><p>I love my SK, at 47 I'm having fun playing him, but he's not probably going to be a raider.  Not so much because the class isn't wanted, but I can only raid so many characters, and the healers are usually the ones that are requested over an SK or even a Swash.    If the RP of the class appeals to you, especially with the new race coming in for the expansion, I say go for it.  </p><p>Even if the class isn't wanted as much on raids (and I'm not sure that's entirely accurate - any more than you don't need more than 2 tanks on most), anything is possible between now and 80.   </p>

[Beldin_]

<p>For raiding you will have problems with EVERY tank class because even if you roll a guardian .. most raidforces already have their guardian.</p><p>With the Brigand you will have much better chances .. best chances however have Bards or Coercers/Illus if raiding is your main concern.</p><p>However .. for soloing/grouping SK is one of the most fun classes in opinion <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Dead Knight]

Roll the class you love to play and raid with it. It won't be as easy as say a Dirge, Illusionist, Coercer or Troubadour to get into a raid guild, but prove your worth and you can get into any guild. It's better to roll a class you enjoy playing and feel a sense of accomplishment when you do get into that guild than roll a class that's boring as hell just to be able to raid. After all the purpose of a game is to have fun, but you need to remember that while you're having fun.. in a raid there are 23 other people to think about, so you can't just slack and be a total [Removed for Content] and waste other people's time.

[MKL]

Thank you for the replies all!  I think I will give Shadowknight a try.  The idea of using a big two handed weapon and being a SK appeals to me (Sword and shield style too).  Arielle one comment you made brings questions to my mind.  Are you saying that when I start a character and level him up by the time he is high enough to raid then those raids might not be done anymore?  If so will I be able to join the newest raids without having done any previous raid content?  Is trying to see the raid content a lost cause or will I eventually be able to see it if I persevere?Thanks again for the replies all.

[Arielle Nightshade]

<p>Although raids are a progression (in most cases), when you get to raiding level and want to - there will most likely be non-raid obtainable gear that will at least make you viable to go on them.  At least that's what we've seen from the game so far.   The reason 'stuff' is so important is that it offers upgraded stats and makes you a bit tougher.  (there's nothing more annoying to a healer than being faced with having to either blow power on someone inadequately geared for the content...or let them die) (for example)</p><p>I'm making that statement from experience so far.   If you had a level 50ish character and wanted to go do Meeting of the Minds (a T5 raid instance in Feerott) for example, you will have to PuG one or get very lucky.  It's not a raid instance that's on anyone's calendar to be done.  If you see the other T5 instances, and even some T6 raids you are lucky.    Everyone is focusing on T7 content now in order to gear up for the next 10 levels and to see the raid content at the upcoming new endgame.</p><p>What I meant by my comment was:  you'll be missing out on some content because raiders like to get to the biggest raiding content and that's what's on their calendars.   Also in my experience:  If you know your class well and make an effort to be as well geared as possible for your level, most people will do all they can to help you become raid ready when that time comes.   This means you can maximize your class (whatever it is) and have made an effort to do the more difficult quests to get the nicer items that put you in the ballpark for raiding as far as stats and ability go.</p><p>I know if someone shows up asking for my help, but clearly shows evidence of having gone out and tried really hard to get the best stuff possible (even if it's not incredibly uber, but shows they tried...) - I'm happy to help.  </p><p>GL with your SK! </p>

[Dead Knight]

The reason that raiders don't like old content, i.e KoS is because once you've mastered the strats and done it for over a year, it becomes second nature and is no longer a challenge. It gets to the point where you only really do those raids when the GB is low on cash.

[MKL]

I guess I can be okay with not doing the content already in the game as long as when I get to the end I can experience whatever might be the "it" thing.  It's most important to me that I enjoy the content of the game.  I'm one of those players less wrapped around how good my gear is and more concerned with how much fun I can have in the game and for how long.  If getting to the end of the game is all about going and raiding I want to be able to do that.I think I will look for a guild with goals matching mine and explain what my situation is.  Maybe I will find a guild that will let me build an SK and raid.  I hope. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />" />  Thanks again.

[Aull]

<p>This is just my opinion of my sk who is now lvl 48, so I can't really give you a positive answer on the endgame content. I also have a 70 bruiser and 70 berserker who I raid with once a week. I will start with solo content. Once you start your sk it will be slow, but just bare through it until you get your ward that deals damage and heals you everytime you take damage. This to me is the sk's best spell/combat art they have other than harm touch line. Once you get that you will be on your way to a very fun time. Once you get your aa's up (I used the inteligence line 4,4,8, and 4, then I have 2 and 3 in reaving line on the sk tree to help the ward do better heals) once I have done that my solo game is awesome.</p><p>I group as much as possible, and it is great and I personally feel the sk is just a great everyday norrath content tank. An sk's damage is primarily done with spells and combat arts and not auto attack. So bare that in mind when you play and as long as you have the power pool available you can do some fantastic damage. Once the sk is out of power the dps will suffer greatly. All/most of the sk's damage is done via disease damage and very now and then you will encounter mobs that are highly resistant to disease and will have a harder time bringing them down. However for the most part the sk just flat tears through the mobs.</p><p>Just some advice is to keep your infernal pact/ward at the adpet III or masters if possible and you will be set. Sk's are just a flat out blast to play and to me are possibly better soloers than the brawlers to a degree. Just a tip when grouping is tell your group (if you are the tank) to give you 5 secs before they attack and the aggro should be all yours my friend. Before you target the mob pop up your blessing/ward (sorry can't remember the name of it), target the mob, then pull it and your blessing will be damaging and healing you while you tear it down. All in all it is just a great class to play, and you can solo very well.</p>

[nodaisho]

Some guilds will do raids for the lower-level characters, just a couple weeks ago mine did the spirits of the lost raid for the high 40s, low 50s people in our guild. If you get in a good guild and ask about doing some lower-level raids, you would have a good chance of getting one going, as quite a few people have alts, since everyone has done pretty much everything.

[Nocifer Deathblade]

<p>Sarnak SK is definitely DOABLE!  Heck, there are plenty of Sarnak SK NPCS in EQ1 ROK..</p><p>Right now, Sarnak SK > any other race SK. Remember that since EQ2's launch.. We kept telling new players that races are only flavor.. Faes broke that mold and they got useful traits so Sarnaks followed the similar concept. Sarnaks are great for SK cuz of two useful innate traits they got: Innate melee crit % AND making their spells harder to resists.. BINGO! SK got CAs/Spells so that fits Sarnaks well..</p><p>I am still waiting for stupid racial trait revamps on existing old races. Faes and Sarnaks right now got their useful traits while old races are still flavors..</p>

[CHIMPNOODLE.]

<p>Don't worry about raiding, you'll get your share if you put in the efforts.</p><p>A dev actually explicitly said that Sarnaks had some traits/abilities that should work well as SK.</p>

[morningmists]

<p>they are definately revamping other races</p><p>and it is not going to take as long as some people seem to think</p>

[MKL]

Awesome replies guys.  Thanks for being so helpful.  The SK community rocks. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Seolta]

<p>I'd suggest checking out the racial trait revamps before deciding on race.</p><p>Also, I can't believe i'm saying it, but Arasai are kinda the bomb if you can get past the whole metro/emo stigma...I have had some experience with one lately and the glide feature thing alone is a huge benefit for travel in zones with elevation changes.</p>

[Aull]

<p>Me again. Just seen the guardians and zerkers tank and other classes out dps sk's. In the lower lvls the sk should win out against all the plate fighters vs single and definately mulit encounters. Take into consideration gear spells/combat arts are the same. Once and if the warriors have the aa points to go with a stamina line aa they will receive a 60% chance to double attack they will out melee or their auto attack will be better than the sk's, but remember that every 15mins harm touch line for the sk does considerable damage so all in all it will be very hard to distinguish who really has the edge dps wise. Please take note: sk's and all plate fighters are tanks first and not dps toons like mages, summoners, scouts and to a degree brawlers. Now if we are talking a group set up that benefits each class such as haste/dps mods, lessening the reuse timers on spells, and gear being fabled or legendary guardians can do some great dps and zerkers are a step up from them but not far.</p><p>A month ago I was on a raid with my lvl 70 zerk, he isn't fabled on his weapons yet, but I was in a group with a troubador, illisionist, fury, pally, and me. The pally was outparsing me by 200-250 dps each fight. I found out later that the group was actually beneficial to a crusader and not a warrior. So the group you have will be a huge factor in dps. I was with some guildies the other day one being a lvl 70 sk and on one of the mobs his harm touch critical was like 11,300!! Now that my friend is awesome I don't care what any body says. Just remember that with your sk if your gear and spells are better than the average player you will possibly be #1 of the tanks on must every day norrath mobs solo or grouped. Once the zerkers get to lvl 55 and get open wounds and destruction and they have decent equipment and know how to play the zerk class they will be dpsing very respectfully.</p><p>Mages, summoners, scouts, and the brawlers will out dps all plate fighters, so don't get the impression that if your sk parses higher than a warlock means you can out dps them hehe. If that so happens they either don't know how to play their class, was afk, or was going link dead. All in all the standard that has been said is that guardians and paladins are the defensive plate tanks and the sk's and zerkers are the offensive ones. However in the end game with great gear guardians and paladins are doing a great job dps wise too.</p><p>One other tip, if you are not tanking and say a paladins is, cast your inferal pact/blessing on the tank, the healers in the group will love you for it and so will the tank. Sk's are just flat awesome, and I personally feel this class is the only one that I have played that I can say sony made right, as a class and the aa's that are given to them are great and they live up to their name as ShadowKnights. Just remember to learn this class and play your heart out and others will be seeing your enthusiasm and will want to be a part of it......ROCK ON.</p>

[Dead Knight]

A crappy spike damage spell up every 15 minutes is no way to judge DPS. DPS is just that, Damage Per Second, not Damage Every 15 Minutes.

[MKL]

Now that the racial abilities are known, do you think Sarnaks will make decent SK's?

[Aeauvi]

I would also like to know the same thing, about which racial traits are more geared towards an SK?  I'm starting an SK after a LONGGG break from EQ2, and figured I'd wait for the expansion.  Now that it's here, with the racial trait revamp, anyone have any ideas on the best?

[TheSpin]

<cite>Aeauvian wrote:</cite><blockquote>I would also like to know the same thing, about which racial traits are more geared towards an SK?  I'm starting an SK after a LONGGG break from EQ2, and figured I'd wait for the expansion.  Now that it's here, with the racial trait revamp, anyone have any ideas on the best?</blockquote>Ogres, dwarves, Iksar...all the classes that you would think would make a good SK will make a good SK.  I personally am making a new Erudite SK because the racials look fun and it would be a unique choice.

[Nocifer Deathblade]

<p>It was nice surprise to see all racial traits being added.</p><p>As human Sk, it is pretty decent one..   I got nice +7 to Disruption, slash, crush, pierce, ministration, ordination, and few others that is exactly the same as battle leadership that I have that gives +34. So with human leadership combo, it gives nice +41 to all of those crap full time.. I was able to hit lvl 74 nameds (non herocis) pretty easy as lvl 70 solo with good hit rate so are spells. It is nice to fight in defensive stance and still seeing green color of those skills. </p><p>Other skills are pretty cool.  +5 to ALL TS skills passive skill.  Diplomacy is new (limited duration), it reduces aggro radius of any non-epic mobs. I dunno how useful it is especially that SK has FD to bypass  or sneak thru.. It might be useful in special situations like nest run for helm quest but no big deal.  Other one is bayle's strike +600ish slash damage every  1 min. Seems weak but nice to have that than nothing.. My favorite is +7 to all offensive skills.. A good fit for leading human SK with battle leadership in difficult encounters..</p><p>When I was doing SOF for first time without battle leadership and fear immunity, we can't even take on epics at all. Failed every time and I get feared all the time that sucked bad.. When I respec'ed to leadership line, all the sudden, our dps output was increased in a major way and I cannot be feared and we pwned all epics in SOF.  That is when I got HOOKED on battle leadersihp. I was devoted to Cavalier line as you all know it but had to give it up temporary to do the job in SOF. However, thank to ROK with 20 extra AA, I will be able to regain my cavalier line once again while enjoying battle leadership. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> With human +7 skill, things would get little easier in difficult high level zones for the group.</p>