Re-Returning Player -- Class + Merc Question

[Takamori]

<p>Hi EQ2 Community!</p><p>I am a re-re-returning player, and just bought the AOD expansion to check out Beastlords and Mercs.  First, I have to say OMG Beastlords seem very powerful, at least from level 1-48.  Just hit 48 and I demolish things, and with a SK merc its non-stop decimation. </p><p>That's great and all, but I just don't really get the class--the reactionary stuff is cool but it seems like a game of wack-a-mole, just hit any button that is active and you'll win.  This probably changes when you get to end game and such, but it just doesn't feel like I am involved in the character.  So, that leads me to my question.  I would like to play a character that pairs well with a merc and together are able to tackle dungeons while they are still blue-green, but is still desirable to groups of players.</p><p>It's not that I don't like grouping, because I LOVE grouping, but so far haven't been able to fund anyone who wants to group for any of the dungeons (at least in the 1-50 range).  I don't mind mentoring down if I have to, but I really would rather do dungeons at level and without mentors.  Running through with a high level mentor just isn't fun because they decimate things so fast there is no challenge or feel of actually doing the dungeon.  Overland quests are so ridiculously easy and boring, especially since I have done the 1-50 stuff many times now.  So I really want to spend a lot of time leveling and getting AAs by crawling through dungeons--everything from Fallen Gate to Kaladim and back.</p><p>TLDR:  Need a class merc pairing suggestion for primarily leveling in heroic dungeons until such a point that I can reliably find groups to continue leveling in heroic dungeons.</p><p>Thanks!</p>

[Finora]

<p>Just going to point out that running around with the SK merc is pretty much the same as running around with a higher level SK mentored down. That merc will really tear things up I'd say she is one of the most powerful non-elite mercs out there. If you are looking for challenge, your pair choice probably wasn't for the best.</p><p>Also, if you want challenge (especially if you are dragging a merc around), you will want to try dungeons when they are at the very least blue/white/yellow. The more white & yellow the better. Many of the dungeons in the 1-50 range were not THAT hard to do with 3-4 people back when 50 was the cap & gear was much much worse. Overland if you are running with a merc, everything is going to be trivial if you aren't  trying to do orange & red quests.</p><p>Sadly low level grouping is poor, so many just blast through those levels so they can get to cap & complain about having nothing to do or broken raids/itemization =)</p><p>To answer your actual question, pretty much any merc/class paring will have it's uses. Obvious ones for dungeon delving would be a tank/healer combo. You can either be the healer or the tank. A healer/scout combo also works well, I've only done that one playing the scout with a healer merc, but should work out alright the other way around as well. A player sorcerer works well with either a tank merc or a healer merc (templar or inquisitor works best currently imo as they seem to cure most reliably). If you have a tank class who can heal themselves just picking up a dps merc of any variety would probably work out and could be pretty interesting.</p>

[Kapath]

<p>I'm on freeport server if you want some really fast xp let me know can run you through cazic thule a few times on my zerk <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </p>

[Katz]

<p>What puzzles me is what this OP and many others post plus what many in game say....they want to group but can't find groups.   What is it about games (and this isn't the only one I've heard this in) that causes this or encourages this?   There are so many people that want to group and somehow they all end up not grouping?   </p><p>There has got to be a reason or reasons why people aren't grouping when they want to group.   </p>

[Revman]

<p><cite>Katz wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>There has got to be a reason or reasons why people aren't grouping when they want to group.   </p></blockquote><p>Everyone wants to group but<strong> no one</strong> ever wants to start a group.</p>

[alaplayer]

<p><cite>Revman wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Katz wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>There has got to be a reason or reasons why people aren't grouping when they want to group.   </p></blockquote><p>Everyone wants to group but<strong> no one</strong> ever wants to start a group.</p></blockquote><p>No one is willing to give up a signifigant portion of the experience, IOW be punished for grouping. This has been iterated time and time again, it really serves no useful purpose, if anything it acts as a detriment.</p><p>Skyshrine is pretty alive with PUGs there are at least 2 people that do PURs on the weekends. The difference? Everyone is at cap and no penalty.</p>

[Finora]

<p><cite>alaplayer wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Revman wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Katz wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>There has got to be a reason or reasons why people aren't grouping when they want to group.   </p></blockquote><p><strong><span style="color: #00ccff;">Everyone wants to group but no one ever wants to start a group.</span></strong></p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #00ccff;"><strong>No one is willing to give up a signifigant portion of the experience</strong>,</span> IOW be punished for grouping. This has been iterated time and time again, it really serves no useful purpose, if anything it acts as a detriment.</p><p>Skyshrine is pretty alive with PUGs there are at least 2 people that do PURs on the weekends. The difference? Everyone is at cap and no penalty.</p></blockquote><p>Pretty much sums it up there.</p><p>The first people will just have to sort out for themselves =).</p><p>The second, however, is something that has haunted this game for years.</p><p>I've said it for years, other people have said it for years. It really is well past time the group xp penalty was removed & changed to a group xp bonus. </p>

[Regolas]

I don't think it's an xp penalty thing. At least not for people on their main character. Alts/twinks that are just powerleveling through don't want to share their xp, but for anyone who doesn't have a mentored toon to help them, the xp gained in kill speed far outweighs the xp penalty. I have been leveling up my beserker recently (currently 65), and have been 2 boxing my brothers warden (mentored from lvl 77). In heroic dungeons, it is better xp, because I kill faster, using 1-2 mercs plus my 2 toons, than trying to do the zones solo or 2 boxed. I think it's more fun too. I would quite happily take others along instead of mercs. But I don't advertise I'm looking for more. Mainly because I can stop and log off or go afk and not worry about another person. Its server and time zone specific, as some servers will have more people at certain levels than others. But if you take the time to do a /who all in your level range and send them a tell asking if they want to group, gou may be able to get a group started. Many people don't like forming or leading groups. If you don't mind it, make the effort and you might be suprised.