Giving EQ2 another stab and looking for advice [Archive]

View Full Version : Giving EQ2 another stab and looking for advice

jmik

12-20-2007, 11:59 AM

Hey everyone, I’ve been itching to get back into EQ2 after playing around a bit with a buddy a year ago. Now I have a new laptop which will allow me to put in some snuggle time with the wife on the couch or in bed while she watches TV and I play (I have no idea why I just told everyone that…). I’m definitely a casual player, and will be soloing out of necessity a good bit. But I’d like to group and explore the game as much as possible. I seriously doubt I’ll ever be raiding. I don’t have that kind of time. First a few general questions: - I have the EoF disks, so currently I’m missing RoK and the 2 adventure packs. I know how much everyone says the 1-20 game in RoK is great, but I figure I won’t be in those levels long enough to buy the expansion just for that… Is RoK (along with the 2 adventure packs that come with it) really worth getting for me until/unless I get up to the higher levels? - This will be my first real run through the levels. Should I bother with a tradeskill? Or is it usually better to just concentrate of playing the main game your first go around? Now onto the nauseously common class question. Here are my main thoughts: - Bruiser: I have one at 31 already from playing before, but I was kind of getting tired of him. I’ve never really been a tank and am terrible at it. I also like working toward cool equipment and I’m not sure a bruiser’s itemization turns me on that much. Boy, can that toon solo though… - Inquisitor: I have one at 10 already. I know that’s not far, but it’s something. I’m an experienced healer in other MMORPG’s and always tend toward the melee healer role is possible. The gear seems like it could be cool. On the other hand, part of me wants to break out of my routine of always being the healer and try something new. Also, I’m afraid by making a melee healer I’d be 2nd best at several things instead of best at anything. - SK: Very cool gear it looks like, and from what I read a hell of a soloer. Like I said, I’m a bad tank, but it might be fun to try something new. But, tanks usually are expected to lead the group and know where he’s going in a dungeon. As a new player, I’m not sure how well I’ll be able to do that. - Necro: Also great soloer. Never really played a cloth caster and it might be fun. It seems like necros can fulfill just about any need – DPS, tank pet, healing and rezzing in a pinch – but is gearing up a cloth caster as fun as a melee oriented character? Mystic, warlock, illusionist and warden have also peaked my interest lately, but today the above are the favorites. Any advice? Sorry for the long post.

Slacka

12-20-2007, 12:28 PM

Never apologise for a long post! the more info you give, the easier it is for people to help and give advice <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />I would sugest you hold off on RoK for the time being, unless you feel the itch to start a Sarnak. While the start area is great you can run through the whole thing in a couple of days play at the most, meaning you wont really be going there again untill lvl 67/68+Tradeskills, it is entirely up to you. they are by no means essential to a character's progression, in fact across 2 accounts (16 characters at last count) i only have 3 or 4 of them with more than lvl 10 craft, and only one of those is capped. if you enjoy crafting then go for it, there is a great community devoted to craft on EQ2 that can help you out better than i can.From what you said about class choice you sound like you are itching to give a SK a go, so i would bite the bullet and go for it. Shadowknights are not expected to always lead a group round at all, in fact you will more commonly see them acting as a backup tank behind a zerker or guard in groups so unless you specifically feel like tanking you can happily slip into DPS mode.

Elendhelie

12-20-2007, 12:34 PM

SKs are a blast, just be patient because the heal spell doesnt come til 12. The way Im seeing the class, they are more of a DPS, off-tank, not main.Mystics and Bards are my other two favourite classes.Also, I hope you dont want to play in the morning because, since theyve shoved LON on us, theyve been taking the servers down rather randomly... almost every day at 10am est.

Alceste

12-20-2007, 12:37 PM

I am a new player here myself. The gear and achievement xp you get from Kunark (1-22 ish) is huge. I had my conj mentor a friend's alt to go through Kunark quests. My conj is now much more powerful than she was prior to doing that.As a caster, the level of spells makes a huge difference. So I went scribe on my alt and have been happy ever since. I even found a couple of rares from nodes and sold them for a large sum of gold. I would say that a profession is definitely worth it imho. As far as classes go, I am having fun with my characters. Pet classes (conj, necro) seem to be fairly easy to solo. However, there are a bunch of us, so getting groups is a issue. Healers are tougher (I have a mystic) but still can solo effectively. The solo speed of a healer is much less than a pet class.I am having fun with my characters. I hope you also enjoy whatever character you play. Good luck and have fun.

Wrapye

12-20-2007, 01:46 PM

With good gear, I've seen mystics be excellent solo'ers and I've heard that inquisitors can as well. I think both rely on the proper AA build to do it.

DwarvesR

12-21-2007, 10:00 AM

<cite>jmiket wrote:</cite><blockquote>- I have the EoF disks, so currently I’m missing RoK and the 2 adventure packs. I know how much everyone says the 1-20 game in RoK is great, but I figure I won’t be in those levels long enough to buy the expansion just for that… Is RoK (along with the 2 adventure packs that come with it) really worth getting for me until/unless I get up to the higher levels?Completely up to you. If you're gonna eventually get it anyway, it might not be a bad idea to go sooner rather than later, if only for access to Gorowyn, but. . doesn't really matter, I wouldn't think.- This will be my first real run through the levels. Should I bother with a tradeskill? Or is it usually better to just concentrate of playing the main game your first go around?I have 12 toons. When the cap was 70 I had 2 at cap tradeskill, more for the ability to make my own stuff than to try to make and money with it. Since RoK's come out, 1 of them is 71 TS'er now, and I don't think I've logged the other in at all yet.Now onto the nauseously common class question. Here are my main thoughts:- Bruiser: I have one at 31 already from playing before, but I was kind of getting tired of him. I’ve never really been a tank and am terrible at it. I also like working toward cool equipment and I’m not sure a bruiser’s itemization turns me on that much. Boy, can that toon solo though…- Inquisitor: I have one at 10 already. I know that’s not far, but it’s something. I’m an experienced healer in other MMORPG’s and always tend toward the melee healer role is possible. The gear seems like it could be cool. On the other hand, part of me wants to break out of my routine of always being the healer and try something new. Also, I’m afraid by making a melee healer I’d be 2nd best at several things instead of best at anything.- SK: Very cool gear it looks like, and from what I read a hell of a soloer. Like I said, I’m a bad tank, but it might be fun to try something new. But, tanks usually are expected to lead the group and know where he’s going in a dungeon. As a new player, I’m not sure how well I’ll be able to do that.- Necro: Also great soloer. Never really played a cloth caster and it might be fun. It seems like necros can fulfill just about any need – DPS, tank pet, healing and rezzing in a pinch – but is gearing up a cloth caster as fun as a melee oriented character?Mystic, warlock, illusionist and warden have also peaked my interest lately, but today the above are the favorites.Any advice?For classes, really all I can advise is to experiment arounbd and play what feels fun. If you do want to go "melee healer" then the inquisitor, mystic, and warden can all 3 spec for that with their aa's. The Quizzie and Mystic need 21 aa's on their EoF tree and a further 17 on their KoS tree to really "shine" but can still do pretty well with just the EoF tree. Wardens are lucky in that once they get 21 points on the EoF tree they're already at "shine" status. Still aa's come pretty quickly at the low levels anymore, so it's not too big a deal either way. I have a melee inquisitor at 70 and love her to death, a melee warden at 52 who's awesome, and a melee mystic at 25 who just barely complted his 21 in the EoF tree and is now working toward the melee crits in KoS. All are quite capable, but I will definitely say that it's the warden that felt the most powerful the earliest.My main right now is my warlock. I will admit to being a little more excited about spell upgrades than gear, but it's still nice to get these new items with +4 spell crit and +75 spell damage and tons of INT and power, so. . . ymmv on how exciting the gear is. I like it fine, but. . that's just me.Whatever you choose, good luck, and I hope you have fun in Norrath with us!</blockquote>

jmik

12-21-2007, 11:17 AM

Thanks everyone for the advice. I played a little last night and started up a troll SK in Neriak. He's only 8 now, but fun so far. I figure once the Christmas season is over and I can play more I'll work my SK up till vitality is drained, then either work on a tradeskill or alternate with another class (maybe a melee warden... the above poster made them sound fun, and it's always nice to have SoW and ports)Anyway, I'm having a great time so far.Thanks again

Melesandrei

12-21-2007, 05:27 PM

Welcome to the OP!I too am coming back to EQ2 after a several month break and am so glad I did.I love the new starting zone and the server I chose, Unrest. The players there are very friendly and helpful.I may be a little masochistic, but I chose coercer for my baby Sarnak. I was lucky enough last night to have help from a Pally played by someone who had experience with coercers. There is really great loot to be had at the new starting zone and the scenery is beautiful and the mobs pretty cool looking. I find that I have a lot of work to do before I even scratch the surface of this most complicated of classes but I know it will be worth it at later levels when I can charm any number of creatures to do my bidding!!!Good luck and have fun with your SK!

Dannan

12-23-2007, 04:27 AM

Get the KoS expansion.. it not only will fill in those 2 adventure packs but the TD starting area is soo good with the equipment that you wont need to upgrade the gear until you are 30+For classes experement around but you can't go wrong with either the sk or the necro.

Deyaneyra

12-23-2007, 12:03 PM

First: Welcome to EQ2 <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />Wanted to add something about your "bad tank" post: Bad tanks are not the ones who can't lead a group through dungeons, bad tanks are some who just don't know anything about their job. Everyone, if tank or not, will find him/her in new zones. Just let your group know that you never been there and don't know about mobs, there can be someone else who can give you some hints and lead the group around.SK is a real great class, if you like go for it! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />