Armor at Level 20

[Collaud]

<DIV>I've done a search but couldn't find much info on what armor a paladin should be using at level 20.  I know armor quests exist, but I'm a soloing paladin (due to short play sessions, odd hours, etc.) so I'm obviously unable to complete those right now.  Besides, several of the pieces can't be worn for a few levels.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I priced some pristine vanguard pieces on the broker after hitting level 20 yesterday.  Is this what I should be shooting for?  It's currently orange and doesn't max out until level 30.  It's a little pricey at 1gp+ per piece, but it looks like good stuff.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Tur]

<DIV><A href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/view_profile?user.id=27195" target=_blank><SPAN>Collaudus</SPAN></A> , I'm in the same boat with you. I plan to pick up the quest pieces that I can wear at L20 (gaunts and bracers I think) and try to fill in with some vanguard pieces that will raise my AC the most (chest, legs). But you're right, it's spendy stuff and I currently have about 1gp.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Do you know the /loc of the armor class quest giver?</DIV>

[Collaud]

<DIV>Glad I'm not alone <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The armor quest giver is named Ian.  He's in Qeynos Harbor.</DIV>

[JarredDarque]

<DIV>there is also a helm quest in baubleshire bank.    Um  for the first 2 AQs,  you can solo  one is in Ant and the other in BB I believe.  both are easily soloable.   I dont know how hard the helm quest is though.   for the Aqs though,  you may want to take a healer with just to help out, I found it extremely useful.</DIV>

[Kriterian]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> JarredDarque wrote:<BR> <DIV>there is also a helm quest in baubleshire bank.    Um  for the first 2 AQs,  you can solo  one is in Ant and the other in BB I believe.  both are easily soloable.   I dont know how hard the helm quest is though.   for the Aqs though,  you may want to take a healer with just to help out, I found it extremely useful.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>You have to fight a named gnoll for the first one, which you definitely can't solo. The things you have to fight in Blackburrow are the Bloodfang Broodtenderse which are yellow and double up arrow with guards, and those definitely can't be done solo.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>While there are some solo portions to each of the armor quest (Caltorsis knights, giant kodiaks etc) you still need a group at some point for each one. It's usually not hard to get a pick up group of other folks that are also working on the quest, it took me maybe 2 or 3 hours each day for two days to finish all 6 quests.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I just don't see the point in wasting a gold piece on each item when you can get them for free by grouping for a couple hours. Not to mention the experience was dynamite in most cases, and you'll be high enough to wear everything by the time you're done usually.</DIV>

[Collaud]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> JarredDarque wrote:<BR> <DIV>there is also a helm quest in baubleshire bank.    Um  for the first 2 AQs,  you can solo  one is in Ant and the other in BB I believe.  both are easily soloable.   I dont know how hard the helm quest is though.   for the Aqs though,  you may want to take a healer with just to help out, I found it extremely useful.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>The first quest involves killing 20 Caltorsis knights and several sabertooth tormentors.  The knights are easily soloable at 20, but I assumed from the spoiler info that the tormentors can't be soloed.</FONT></DIV>

[FluffyDoomBun]

<blockquote>The knights are easily soloable at 20, but I assumed from the spoiler info that the tormentors can't be soloed.</FONT></DIV><hr></blockquote>You would be correct in assuming that. Tormentors spwan with Elders and Pack Lords (or something like that) and to get them to spawn you have to clear the existing gnolls from around the tents. The Tormentors/Elders/Lords are all either level 19 or 20ish mobs and some are ^^. They come in groups of 3 iirc. Which means unless you find a way to solo 3 level 20ish mobs at level 20 you are going to need a group.

[Axxon]

<DIV> <DIV>For those who need the NPC or are unfamiliar with the quest:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The NPC is Ian Cathlan, located outside a rectangular building in Queynos Harbor.  Its near the ramp that takes you from the Greystone Yard side to the Mariner's Bell side.  You can waypoint his last name by asking the guards, but not his first because it is only 3 letters long.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Parts 1 and 2 involve blightfang broodtenders (bottom of Blackburrow), Cathorsis nights (northern part of Antonica, near the building) giant kodiaks (east of Cathorsis and north of Windstalker village) and sabretooth tormenters.  Tormenters spawn after you kill the runecaster groups around the entrance to BB.  The named gnoll wanders outside BB as well.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Part III involves Stormhold - that's the part I am on now.  Parts I and II get you gloves and bracers.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Part I gets you:  <A href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/en/item.vm?itemId=3663" target=_blank>http://eq2players.station.sony.com/en/item.vm?itemId=3663</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Part II gets you:  <A href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/en/item.vm?itemId=3794" target=_blank>http://eq2players.station.sony.com/en/item.vm?itemId=3794</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>There are 6 parts in all.  At the end, you wind up with gauntlets, bracers, boots, greaves, spaulders and chest.  You can almost always find people camping these areas and, unless they are full, they will usually invite you to join.  Everyone knows what a pain these can be.  For example, it took me about an hour and a half to solo 2/3 of the bears, and about 5 minutes to get the rest with a full group which incuded a scout.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>EDIT:  If anyone knows how to fix that link in the signature, please let me know :oP</DIV></DIV><p>Message Edited by Drakkonius on <span class=date_text>12-09-2004</span> <span class=time_text>07:46 AM</span>

[JarredDarque]

<DIV>I had forgotten the tormentor,  but no  they where never ^^  or at least non of the 10 times I have fought them.    But they arent lvl 20 either,  lvl 18 or 19  they conened blue at lvl 20.  It took two of us.  Ha a healer behind me,  as for the named in BB  the captain,  at lvl 2o he is soloable.    You see,  first  you but a set of vanguard.   then you wear the one AQ piece you have.  Then you buy an ashwood or ancient kite shield,  and the best loot drop accesrorys that money can buy.  Chances are you are using the one hander flail or hamer at this point?  solo away.  Dont thik something cant be soloed until you yourself are properly equipped and ready for the fight.  Including food/wter   most adepts or higher.</DIV>

[Oxboy5]

<DIV>"I just don't see the point in wasting a gold piece on each item when you can get them for free by grouping for a couple hours. Not to mention the experience was dynamite in most cases, and you'll be high enough to wear everything by the time you're done usually."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-- In response, it is my understanding that you can't wear some of the later quest pieces like the legs and chestpiece until you are level 23 -25.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>BTW, you can get Vanguard, Steel and Carbonite pieces from Qeynos Harbor vendors for about 35sp or so a piece.  I bought the chest and legs until I can wear the quest pieces.  I agree that it's better to just go quest out the gloves, bracers and other earlier stuff.</DIV>

[Kriterian]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Oxboy555 wrote:<BR> <DIV>"I just don't see the point in wasting a gold piece on each item when you can get them for free by grouping for a couple hours. Not to mention the experience was dynamite in most cases, and you'll be high enough to wear everything by the time you're done usually."</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-- In response, it is my understanding that you can't wear some of the later quest pieces like the legs and chestpiece until you are level 23 -25.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>BTW, you can get Vanguard, Steel and Carbonite pieces from Qeynos Harbor vendors for about 35sp or so a piece.  I bought the chest and legs until I can wear the quest pieces.  I agree that it's better to just go quest out the gloves, bracers and other earlier stuff.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Correct, you can wear the shoulders at level 22, the leggings at level 23 and the breastplate at 24. The point I was trying to make was that I started the armor quests as soon as I hit level 20 and in the process of doing them, I was able to get level 23.7. And I'm a person that only places for a few hours when I get home at night although when I got in the awesome Stormhold group I stayed up until 6am simply because we had finished the quest and were just running around slaughtering names and exploring.</P> <P>The centaur hunters for Armor quest 4, 5 or 6 in Thundering Steppes were really, really nice experience. We had a few level 19's or 20's in the group that leveled once or twice while we were there. I was level 22 at the time and getting about 2-3% per spawn of the centaur group.</P> <P>Basically I was just trying to let the guy know he can still be a casual player, for a few hours and still get the armor quests done. Alot of folks join groups just to finish the quests without a long term commitment, although it's polite if you stay until everyone gets theirs done too. You just have to be organized and know what you're looking for and the most effecient way to get from mob to mob.<BR></P>

[Collaud]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Kriterian wrote:<BR><BR> <P>Correct, you can wear the shoulders at level 22, the leggings at level 23 and the breastplate at 24. The point I was trying to make was that I started the armor quests as soon as I hit level 20 and in the process of doing them, I was able to get level 23.7. And I'm a person that only places for a few hours when I get home at night although when I got in the awesome Stormhold group I stayed up until 6am simply because we had finished the quest and were just running around slaughtering names and exploring.</P> <P>The centaur hunters for Armor quest 4, 5 or 6 in Thundering Steppes were really, really nice experience. We had a few level 19's or 20's in the group that leveled once or twice while we were there. I was level 22 at the time and getting about 2-3% per spawn of the centaur group.</P> <P>Basically I was just trying to let the guy know he can still be a casual player, for a few hours and still get the armor quests done. Alot of folks join groups just to finish the quests without a long term commitment, although it's polite if you stay until everyone gets theirs done too. You just have to be organized and know what you're looking for and the most effecient way to get from mob to mob.<BR></P> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Your idea of casual gaming is very different from mine, Kriterian.  Playing "for a few hours when I get home at night" is not casual gaming to me... neither is staying up until 6am in a Stormhold group, even if that doesn't happen very often.  </P> <P>My job and real life responsibilities don't allow those kinds of commitments to a video game... ever.  My "casual" gaming consists of playing for 45 min while I eat lunch (I live 5 min from work) and another 45 min before my wife gets home from work.  Then I <STRONG>might </STRONG>get to play intermittenly at night while my wife watches TV (my computer desk is in our den along with the TV, couches, etc.), but that only happens a few nights per week.  It's very rare when I can devote all of my attention to the game for more than 45 min at a time.  And that's why I asked about buyable armor.  Joining groups is extremely hard for me since most expect you to be there for at least 1-2 hours.  </P> <P>Btw, I used to have a similar view of casual gaming as you.  I was a hardcore EQ player for years before I got married, bought a house, got promoted at work, etc.  I'd come home from work at 6 pm and play until midnight or later almost every night.  Weekends were all about 8+ hour raids.  I had friends I considered to be casual gamers because they <STRONG>only </STRONG>played for 3 hours per night.  That seems pretty hardcore to me now.</P> <P>Anyway, since my original post, I've picked up pristine forged carbinite vanguard BP, legs, and helm.  I'm currently looking for shoulders, but haven't found anyone making them on Crushbone.  I don't look at it as wasting gold either.  I look at it as equipping my character with great gear (for a casual gamer) and supporting my local crafters.</P>

[Kriterian]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Your idea of casual gaming is very different from mine, Kriterian.  Playing "for a few hours when I get home at night" is not casual gaming to me... neither is staying up until 6am in a Stormhold group, even if that doesn't happen very often.   <P>Anyway, since my original post, I've picked up pristine forged carbinite vanguard BP, legs, and helm.  I'm currently looking for shoulders, but haven't found anyone making them on Crushbone.  I don't look at it as wasting gold either.  I look at it as equipping my character with great gear (for a casual gamer) and supporting my local crafters.</P> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>Very true, I guess I have to rethink my ideas of casual gaming, hehe. I, too, used to be a long raid person in EQ1 but with my job now I only get a few hours a night.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The pristine forged carbonite vanguard armor is definitely the best choice for the money. I have the helmet myself since the armor quests didn't include one in the set. I saw some very nice black something other armor in Nektolus last night but I don't think it can be got solo either. Hopefully the developers will include some nice solo content when the update finally appears but I doubt it will ever really match the loot gained from grouping sadly.</DIV>