AA's, what are they?

[Rhadovan]

<p>I am fairly new. I have played this game off an on for... a couple years. But never really in depth. Looking to really play until end game now.</p><p>Anyway, I see all this talk about AA's. What are they? Should I be doing something with them now?</p><p>Probably the most newbish question asked on these forums in the last couple days eh?</p><p>Also, looking at a few classes, Dirge, Coercer, Assassin, and Sorcerer. I am leaning toward the melee guys, but what is more desirable/fun to play for most folks?</p><p>No doubt been asked a million times, I am at work and haven't had the chance to search/sift through the info.</p><p>Thanks all for your help!</p>

[Dareena]

<p>AA = Alternate Advancement</p><p>AA can be gathered by completing level 10+ quests, killing level 10+ named mobs, walking through Discovery locations at level 10+, and the 1st time you loot a specific body drop item which grants AA.</p><p>Also added in the more recent months, the AA menu also has a 0-100% slider.  By default, it's set at 0% (pre-80th).  This means that 0% of your adventuring xp (from mob kills, quest rewards, etc) is turned into AA.  At this setting, you'll still recieve AA in the normal fashion.  However with the slider, you can automatically convert some of the potential character experience that you would recieve and instead you'll recieve AA xp.</p>

[Rhadovan]

<p>Thank you for the response! =)</p><p>So, what is the best strategy for gaining AA's? Should I stop xp at lvl 10 and just get AA's until I can't get anymore? Should I set the slider to 50%? Should I just level to cap and then deal with AA's then?</p><p>And one last question? What is the cap on AA's? Can my character get all the AA's for that class?</p>

[Dareena]

<p>Classes:</p><p>Well that's a very loaded and subjective question.  One person's "fun" is another person's "painful to play".  But I can answer your questions in generalizations.</p><p>Right now, people ALWAYS want more Enchanters (Coercer & Illusionist) and Bards (Dirge & Troubador).  In terms of what the players value each class, a Dirge is generally considered to be more valuable than a Troubador.  Though the enchanters are a mixed bag and people seem to value them about equally in terms of general respect.  (Though at the high end, a lot of nameds are now immune to various control effects.)  These classes are desired in groups / raids since they offer mana pool regeneration abilities and powerful group buffs.  (Disclaimer:  A lot of people don't consider it to be fun to solo up with a bard.  Having to snare kite mobs starting around 65+ gets really old for them.  If they liked snare kiting, then they'd have played a Ranger.)  Also keep in mind that the next expansion is making some of these buffs to be Raid Wide, which may affect their desireability.  But then again, maybe not.</p><p>In terms of scout dps classes, there are x3 general categories.  Predators are 1st (Assassin & Ranger), Rogues are 2nd (Brigand & Swashbuckler), and Bards are 3rd (Dirge & Troubador).  Bards are considered to be a support classes, though a very skilled bard with enough gear can be superior to lesser characters in the other scout categories.</p><p>In terms of mage dps classes, there are again x3 categories.  Sorcerors are 1st (Wizard & Warlock), Enchanters are 2nd (Coercer & Illusionist), and Summoners are 3rd (Conjuror & Necromancer).  Right now, Summoners have the short end of the stick.  Though they may steal some of the Rogues debuffing powers in the next expansion, which could potentially change things.</p><p>You mentioned that you want to play a melee based character.  That would be a scout if you wanted a dps class.  Therefore the next question is whether you want to hit the hardest, be in the upper middle of the road with great debuffing / survivability, or a support class who can dps.  Rogues are big into stuns and debuffs.  Predators are straight forward aggression.  Bards...  Well it seems that they're an acquired taste.  Also realize that as a potential Dirge, it will be your job to combat rez people (instead of having the healers do it).</p><p>My main is a Brigand and I love it.  After researching for some time, I finally found an alt which feels similar to my main.  This would be my Inquisitor.  It seems that I have a minimum requirement for how well I can debuff and dps my opponents.  Without meeting that mark, I quickly lose interest in the class.  The moral of this story is that you need to figure out what makes you tick and play a class that flows well with the philosophy.</p><p>FYI.  In a dedicated afternoon leveling in Timorous Deep, you can go from 1-20.  Though the classes really only start to take their full shape at 50+, you should start to get a general feeling about how a class plays by the 20's.  If you can't enjoy a character by your early 20's, then don't try to force yourself to level any further.  Make a new character and try again.</p>

[Saihung23]

<p><cite>Rhadovan wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Thank you for the response! =)</p><p>So, what is the best strategy for gaining AA's? Should I stop xp at lvl 10 and just get AA's until I can't get anymore? Should I set the slider to 50%? Should I just level to cap and then deal with AA's then?</p><p>And one last question? What is the cap on AA's? Can my character get all the AA's for that class?</p></blockquote><p>The great thing about the sLider...there is no "best" way really..it makes it really all about you...you eww eww ewwww...sorry.</p><p>Is this your first char.?</p><p>Are you relatively new to EQ2?</p><p>Then ask yourself what you think will be the most enjoyable ride to 80. </p><p>A mad dash to level 79 or 80 ignoring aa's and then chronomancing or mentoring down to max your aa's?</p><p>Or a sunday drive to 80...slowing down to take in the various views in each tier...hitting level 79 or 80 with lots of aa's and being able to then concentrate on another alt to 79 or 80...</p><p> Then it is a matter of adjusting your seXy sLider bar to the % that most agrees with how you wish to get to 80. </p><p>:)</p><p>Its all about you. You eww ewwww eww.  When you're learning the facts of life! Learning the facts of life!</p><p>Sorry...Its almost as if my Phillies hat channels old TV shows like a set of rabbit ears.</p>

[Dareena]

<p><cite>Rhadovan wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>So, what is the best strategy for gaining AA's? Should I stop xp at lvl 10 and just get AA's until I can't get anymore? Should I set the slider to 50%? Should I just level to cap and then deal with AA's then?</p><p>And one last question? What is the cap on AA's? Can my character get all the AA's for that class?</p></blockquote><p>Again with the loaded questions.  Hmm...  I personally set the slider at 0%.  However there are times, especially while leveling in Timorous Deep, that your character levels will increase faster than your skill increases can keep up.  Once they start to become noticeable, I set my slider at 100% AA and just grind on mobs for skill ups.  Then after my skills are maxed out again, I reset the slider to 0% and continue on.</p><p>Some people swear by a 30% slider since they feel that you level too quickly after SOE changed the 20-60 adventuring xp curve.  I personally disagree with this opinion and don't want to force myself to stop and smell the roses.</p><p>Pre-70th, you used to be able to spend a max of 100 AA.  But since the current TSO expansion added another AA window, I think that you can spend more in there if you have them.  While a friend of mine is trying to stall enough via the slider so that they'll have around 170 AA by 80th level, I've just cared about my character level vs AA level margin.  By the time that you hit 70th, you should have around a margin of +30 AA.  (AKA around 100 AA.)  Keeping a margin of 10-20 AA (once you hit mid levels) should be more than sufficient for your needs.</p><p>The current AA cap is 200 AA.  Though the SF expansion will be increasing that.  I think that it's by another +50 AA.  This would make the cap around 250 AA in a month or so.</p>

[Rhadovan]

<p>Yeah... I'm full of loaded questions. I like to know what I am getting into and plan ahead.</p><p>I will soak in what you all have said and will most likely post with another question or 100.</p><p>I plan on levelling slowly... as I play other games. But when I am logged on, I would like to get down to business.</p><p>I do have another character that is level 19, but it has been 2 years since I have touched him. So much has changed, I figure I may as well just start fresh.</p><p>Thanks again all for the responses!</p>

[Rhadovan]

<p>I think I am going to stay basic and just stick to Assassin. Seems fun enough to me.</p><p>I am on your server Dareena, perhaps we'll meet!</p>

[MurFalad]

<p><cite>Rhadovan wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I do have another character that is level 19, but it has been 2 years since I have touched him. So much has changed, I figure I may as well just start fresh.</p></blockquote><p>One thing to add (not sure if you already knew) but there will be a lot of veteran awards you will be able to /claim from that account, you should be qualified for the 3 year ones (as the first 4-5 expansions all awarded 3 months extra account age before they stopped this with RoK).</p><p>As for that I would definitely agree with Roboto on the use of the AA slider, I did enjoy getting into the storylines and quests of the expansions / zones as I levelled up so the slider was great for slowing things down to finish up.  You'll level slower, but since you will have earnt more AA no time is wasted for sure and while Chronomage (self mentoring) is good its always better to experience a zone while levelling since sometimes the gear is of use (although if you transmute then the gear is always useful...).</p>

[Grumble69]

<p>AAs are basically extra skills & abilities that you earn.  Their value to a character varies from--"doesn't do much at all" to "must have".  You have some flexibility in deciding which skills to choose and which ones to focus on first.  There are a lot of threads on AA builds for the class you choose.</p><p>But the bottom line is that every class needs lots of AAs to be effective.  Personally I would leave your slider alone and just play.  But be sure to do lots & lots of quests.</p>