Thinking of creating a SK.

[Hoo]

Hey all.   Been playing a Dwarf Templar from launch (like it a lot). Almost at lvl 30 and I'm going to create an alt now, so my first choice is a SK (this may become my main if...).  I played a SK in original EQ and got the toon up to 56.  I had a hard time finding groups and really got turned off by it.  Despite the group aspect, I loved playing a SK even though soloing seemed harder than it was for a Pally.  I understand EQII is different so this is why I am asking questions)  I still plan on grouping more than soloing and was wondering how groups welcome SK's.  Are they still fun to play or are there too many issues with them that make them undesirable?  Are they a tough class with a lot of fun tools?  How is the road for a crusader until level 20?  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated or any suggestions for race, betrayal (possibly thinking of continuing with a Dwarf), quests for the SK, etc.  Thanks in advance for your input. <div></div>

[xolthar]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Hooch wrote:<BR>Hey all.<BR><BR> Been playing a Dwarf Templar from launch (like it a lot). Almost at lvl 30 and I'm going to create an alt now, so my first choice is a SK (this may become my main if...).  I played a SK in original EQ and got the toon up to 56.  I had a hard time finding groups and really got turned off by it.  Despite the group aspect, I loved playing a SK even though soloing seemed harder than it was for a Pally.  I understand EQII is different so this is why I am asking questions)  I still plan on grouping more than soloing and was wondering how groups welcome SK's.  Are they still fun to play or are there too many issues with them that make them undesirable?  Are they a tough class with a lot of fun tools?  How is the road for a crusader until level 20?  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated or any suggestions for race, betrayal (possibly thinking of continuing with a Dwarf), quests for the SK, etc.  Thanks in advance for your input.<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc>I play a SK lvl 29 atm and I'm having a blast. My brother who is high level has helped me alot with items and some money to be able to afford to buy spell upgrades and armour.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc>Right now pieces of armour I'm buying are about 37g each so it's pretty expensive, if your templar can make some levels and help your new alt with some coin it will help you alot.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc>I find that on the Freeport side SK's are quite welcome in groups (mostly played Freeport side branching to Fallen Gate, Nek Forest, TS and Ruins of Varsoon), read these forums and work out the best way to maintain aggro. When i join groups alot of the time they say as long as you can keep aggro we should be fine. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc>Generally unless you have some stupid dps that wants to start cranking up the damage too early, you can maintain aggro quite well.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc>I pull with my DD righteous anger, then I start a HO, pop grim coil while mob is still running in before finishing off with Decree of Decay. Next I either self ward or use Heroines Challenge. I'll then use two charges one of which builds up hate, follow up with another offensive move a sword swing or other spell before using my regular taunt or Inflame.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc>I then mostly cycle a regular attack and my best taunt e.g. Decree of Decay or Inflame. If pulling a group mob I will always use Shout (App IV) self ward then use cry of conviction (aoe dd) to grab aggro. If there is a mezzer I have to check no more aoe spells after the initial pull. If there is no mezzer I try and use aoe attacks and wait for Shout (group taunt to recycle)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc>Your equipment and spell upgrades will help alot. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc>It's a very interesting class to play imo.</FONT></DIV>

[xolthar]

<P><FONT color=#ff66cc>I found the road to lvl 20 pretty easy, 22 - 25 was the hardest especially giants in TS, and this was with good armour pristine forged carbonite armor and reasonable jewlery.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#ff66cc>The quest to become a SK is very hard to get to your encounter instance. It's difficult to locate the storage room in the sewers as there are alot of high level aggro mobs in the zone. But once you get in to the instance the encounter is pretty easy.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#ff66cc>My SK is an Ogre, but I could see a dwarf being useful especially not having to duck in places like varsoon when pulling. The one good thing about being a large race is that when you pull out your weapon or horse it scales to your size. Needless to say if you're the groups fighter with a massive war axe, sheild and sometimes get on your unholy steed just to show off. It looks pretty impressive. In any event I think a dwarf would be a good choice for a SK.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#ff66cc>The betrayal could be painful, Im not 100% sure whats involved something like killing 500 gnolls, or orcs among other tasks, but you could find more detailed information on the web e.g. ogaming.com</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#ff66cc>Good luck and at higher levels SK's are more a DPS class, rather than pure tanking which is a role Guardian's excel in. If you like the idea of pure tank then roll a Guardian.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#ff66cc>If you like the idea of being able to tank reasonably well and then when the time calls for you to become DPS then SK will suit you. Note : Up to lvl 30, I have found myself 99% of the time as being in the main tank role, I can only remember a few occassions when I was in a group for DPS.</FONT></P> <P><FONT color=#ff66cc></FONT> </P>

[pyroglyph]

<P>What on earth are you buying at 29 that's costing 37g apiece???</P> <P>Pristine forged feyiron is more than enough to get someone from 30 to 40, and averages 1-2g apiece on most servers.</P> <P>If you're buying imbued items, you're wasting your money. They're toys for the most part at those levels and only really worth using if you can make them yourself.</P>

[xolthar]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> pyroglyphix wrote:<BR> <P>What on earth are you buying at 29 that's costing 37g apiece???</P> <P>Pristine forged feyiron is more than enough to get someone from 30 to 40, and averages 1-2g apiece on most servers.</P> <P>If you're buying imbued items, you're wasting your money. They're toys for the most part at those levels and only really worth using if you can make them yourself.</P><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc>Im buying Pristine Forged Feysteel Vanguard <slot> items. The breastplate and leggings are imbued to proc. As I said I did have help from my brother who is a high level player and crafter.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#ff66cc>I do have the feyiron boots and none of my jewlery is more that 2g a piece, I was searching and picked up many nice items for less than 90 silver. None of my jewlery cost more than 3g so I was very lucky with that. Same for my weapon and shield. But the feysteel breastpalate and leggings are real nice. I picked them up for 35g each already imbued :smileyvery-happy:</FONT></DIV>

[Braell]

<P>I always try get one taunt in before the mob gets to group - usualy pulling with a range spell and fireing taunt as soon as it's in range, you can usualy get it to land before somone casts a nuke on it, mainly once mobs start useing mes/stuns etc it becomes a pain, i was messed what felt like close to 30 seconds, i think i got three hits in before the creature died and since i didnt get a chance to taunt it before it zapped me, it spent the fight hitting a friend.</P> <P>Agro can be more tricky, sometimes it's better just to realise some mobs/encounters/situations are buggy - ie Owlbears, or Beaves who seem to get flagged with a permenant fear effect when they are the last creature alive in the encounter, i have had plenty of times when agro has been flakey and another tank has said "i can hold agro" so you chuckle and let them tank and laugh to yourself when the same stupid bugs hit them, situations that are out of your control are a royal pain as others in the group who play tanks or have tank alts or are in fact tanks wonder what the hell you are doing.</P> <P>And while i can hold agro most of the time - some group make ups are a [expletive ninja'd by Faarbot] to us, and waiting for agro generation is sometimes an unnaceptable thing just so one person can keep their pride. Rogues always have high power when they finish a fight - from what i have heard it sounds related to long recast on skills, other fighters who are in a dps roll however will chug out attacks as soon as they can and usualy not stop until it dies, when you start conserving mana that will be an issue as they will take agro in those situations unless they hold back.. and if they take around 20% of their hp at the end due to that agro it isnt really a big deal, just meaks you end up killing faster is all and get more exp heh.</P> <P>And one thing to keep in mind when starting the teens and twentys is, if you are haveing problems with agro try swapping weapons out, Paladins used to be the bane of my existence to some chars due to pitifull dps when useing a sword/shield, they just couldnt keep agro on anything above green, some class's will give you a run for your money while useing a shield, it will fluctuate though as you get new skills and play styles change, just trudge on and you'l forget about it in no time heh.</P> <P> </P> <DIV>Braellar</DIV>