A level 35, starry eyed brig

[jmik]

<p>Hey everyone,</p><p>I've played EQ2 on and off for a couple years, but have never gotten too far. I recently started again though and I'm loving my newly dinged 35 brigand. I have a few questions for the more experienced backstabbers on the board...</p><p>1. Right now I'm hovering at right around 1 plat. Most of my gear is pretty outdated right now and I'm trying to figure out the best way to get some semi-long lasting upgrades. Right now it'd take all my money to get 1 mastercraft piece, so that doesn't seem worth it. Should I just not worry much about gear right now and just upgrade as things fall into my lap? Should I be making a whole lot more money to mastercraft out? If so, how?</p><p>2. I just made the run to Steam, and got several white and yellow quests there. I'm anxious to check out new areas of the game, and Steam is one of them for me (like I said, never gotten too far in this game before). I also really like Zek, where I've spent some time lately. Is there anywhere else I should be checking out in the mid to late 30's? The only zones I've disliked so far is Nek Forest, and Stormhold (sp?). I got so lost in that place trying to find the guy to kill for the Dwarven Work Boots HQ. Never did figure it out...</p><p>3. I did the Lightstone HQ a while back, but haven't done any others. Which would be beneificial to pursue? I'm mainly a  solo player due to erratic playing times, but I can get a group together for an HQ if need be.</p><p>4. Speaking of grouping, there doesn't seem to be a lot going on right now. I'm on Crushbone. Should I bother trying to get some dungeon runs together or just wait until later. If so, when is grouping more prevalent?</p><p>5. I really don't use poisons. At this level should I spend the money? Same deal with adornments. Not worth doing till later?</p><p>Thanks guys, and if there are any other newbie tips you think I'd benefit from I'd really appreciate it.</p>

[Teaen Arcarius]

<p>Since a change to xp for levels 20 to 70 back in October, leveling is now insanely fast.  So, if you have money laying around to blow on MC gear, then go for it.  However, if you don't, then don't worry about it.  If you bought level 32 MC gear today, odds are that in a week or less you'll be getting better gear from mob drops and quest rewards.</p><p>My 72 brigand started as an alt, but now is my main.  I pretty much solo'ed entirely from 1 to 65 with very little grouping.  Also, even though he was an alt, I didn't see any need to buy gear for him since he found his own easily enough doing solo quests and solo mob drops.  Just now after hitting level 70, I'm starting to buy gear off the broker.  For soloing, I started in Timorous Deep then went to Butcherblock -> Zek -> Steamfont -> Everfrost -> a little Sinking Sands -> Tenebrous Tangle -> Barren Sky -> Bonemire -> Loping Plains -> Kylong Plains.  If you run the whole quest lines, the rewards are often some pretty good gear including some legendary pieces.  For solo quest spoilers/reference, check out <a href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Solo_Timelines">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Solo_Timelines</a>.</p><p>As for tactics, first off always use MC poisons, especially caustic poison.  Those I did buy off the broker every step of the way.  They are really cheap at low/mid levels.  Yet another reason that I didn't worry much about gear was that I never got hit that much.  Brigands have good debuffs, stuns, and burst dps.  The basic tactic is debuff the mob, stun it, get behind it and unload.  It will likely be dead before you cycle thru all of your combat arts.  If you go the AGI AA line, you get Walk the Plank which turns the mob for you and makes it a little easier, but it's not required.</p><p>Until high level, I'd say as a general rule that the only things that you want to spend money on are poisons, weapons, and combat arts.   Basically, the things that let you kill quicker.</p><p>If you want to group, it can be hit or miss with pickup groups.  I usually put up my LFG flag, put out a brigand LFG shout in the appropriate channel, then go do solo questing.  Sometimes I get a group, and sometimes not.  If you want quick advancement, it's just as fast either way.  In fact, solo questing may even be faster in a lot of cases.  /shrug   The best thing is find some good players your level range and that play on your schedule and have a sort of "static" group with them.  I lucked into finding just that in my 60s and now mix it up quite a bit with grouping and solo.</p>

[Doowy]

<p>as already stated DEF use poisons, you'll see a big difference in your damage. when I was leveling my brig I really only worried about getting decent weapons and spells as I could afford them. </p>

[Shrin]

<p>I guess my question is do you harvest and are you with a guild? If the answer is yes to both then your guild should be able to make you a full set upon request.</p>