New to EQ2

[Korriban]

Hi guys, I have recently started playing EverQuest2 and I have made a paladin, and I'm finding it fun so far (Level 11) and I have a few questions, any help would be gratefully accepted <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Firstly, what stats should I be looking at improving on my equipment? I come from WoW and I played EverQuest 1 so long ago,  I am not used to the stats here <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Secondly, is it worth starting a tradeskill? it seems a lot more complex than WoW's system, or even EverQuest 1s, and if so, is there a guide anywhere someone could point me to? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Thirdly, and lastly, i found the combat arts vendor, but he didn't have the apprentice 2 versions of kick and taunt, is there any other vendors which sell the upgrades to the skills we need?Many thanks for any help!

[RiotActer]

<div></div><div>First off, trade skill is more compex here.  Honelsty, dont' start <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  I have a level 60 Alchy (which makes fighter spells and potions) but It's more of a :</div><div> </div><div>Reach max level and tradeskill kind of thing <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Even though my alch hit 60 before my main!</div><div> </div><div>Best thing:  Pallys are about hate transfer.  We rule at tanking in groups.  Highest AGGRO getter gets our amends line of spells.  It wasn't always the case, so some peeps are warry about us.  But thats way in the past of LU13 (see a lot of that reference on the boards).  LU13 changed the game 10 fold.</div><div> </div><div>Gear is important.  If you tank, you should get the best stuff for you level.  Highest mitigation.  I haven't started a new pally, so I'm not really sure what it's like, just speaking on higher level stuff.</div><div> </div><div>We used to be really good at DPS, no more.  We are tanks all the way.  Decent DPS in group encounters, but nothing like what we used to be.  Best bet is to find a warlock friend at lower levels and keep your skill at adept 1 / adept 3.</div><div> </div><div>If you play on Najena, look me up (Raymond / Redwaldd)  I always craft spell for new pallies.... cause ya know, we rule and alll <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></div><div> </div>

[RyFord00]

<div></div><div></div><p>As far as whats stats to concentrate on is up to you.  Here's a breakdown of what the five stats do for paladins.</p><p>STR- Increases auto attack damage (attack rating) and increases power</p><p>STA-  Increases hitpoints</p><p>AGI-  Increases avoidence %</p><p>WIS-  Increases all arcane resistances and increases power</p><p>INT-  Increases damage spells and combat arts</p><p>Message Edited by RyFord00 on <span class="date_text">02-05-2006</span><span class="time_text">11:22 PM</span></p>

[Perfectio]

<div></div><div></div><a href="../view_profile?user.id=58708" target="top"></a>I would like to comment on what Ryford00 wrote:STR: Inscreases auto attack and increase power yes, but it also increases your dmg on combat arts.INT: Only increases your spells damage.There is one spell tho which is called destroy will (lvl 53) the damage on that is increased both from int and str.Besides that your both totally right. Pallies are tanks now.<div></div><p>Message Edited by Perfection^ on <span class="date_text">02-05-2006</span><span class="time_text">11:52 PM</span></p>

[EvilIguana9]

Your number one most important thing to increase is your mitigation.  Mitigation is king.  Now personally, I went mostly str statwise with my paladin because I solo and tank groups.  Not that I have forsaken the other stats, but I decided that str was the most advantageous for my playstyle.  If I were deadset on being a full time group/raid tank I'd focus mostly on sta and likely wis too.  I'm happy with my choice.  I have a large power pool and do better damage than had I chosen sta, and I have yet to run into an encounter where my hps were insufficient.  I keep my mitigation as high as possible and get adept III or Master heals and wards and that keeps me alive better than most people. <div></div>

[jb-]

<blockquote><hr>Korriban wrote:Hi guys, I have recently started playing EverQuest2 and I have made a paladin, and I'm finding it fun so far (Level 11) and I have a few questions, any help would be gratefully accepted <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Firstly, what stats should I be looking at improving on my equipment? I come from WoW and I played EverQuest 1 so long ago,  I am not used to the stats here <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Secondly, is it worth starting a tradeskill? it seems a lot more complex than WoW's system, or even EverQuest 1s, and if so, is there a guide anywhere someone could point me to? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Thirdly, and lastly, i found the combat arts vendor, but he didn't have the apprentice 2 versions of kick and taunt, is there any other vendors which sell the upgrades to the skills we need?Many thanks for any help!<hr></blockquote>Welcome! I'd suggest trying to find PLATE only gear for maximum mitigation, with as much STA and/or STR as possible. Having higher hitpoints from getting stamina gear is the most important thing to have. Then about 75 percent (or more...not sure of the exact number) of our damage is from Melee and Combat Arts, which are both improved from Strength.<p>Message Edited by jb- on <span class="date_text">02-06-2006</span><span class="time_text">08:23 AM</span></p>

[Kinesthesia]

Fwiw, and I am only repeating what I've read in the sticky thread, our damage increases are evenly split between Strength and Intelligence.  I added them up, and again, I'm merely going by what I read. 7 lines effected by strength, 7 lines effected by intelligence, 2 lines effected by both.Personally, my priorities are Shield Factor, Mitigation, Stamina, Wisdom, Intelligence, Strength then Agility.  However, the thing I focus on most is total stat bonus when it comes to choosing gear.  I have given up a small amount of something I consider more important to gain a higher total number of stats.  Granted, my priorities are based entirely on tanking.  I don't solo ever.Now that I've gained most of the "tank" gear that I wanted, I have started to gather a 2nd line of gear which focuses on Intelligence and Strength to throw on for the rare occasion when I offtank.<div></div>

[Pilo]

<blockquote><hr>Kinesthesia wrote:Personally, my priorities are Shield Factor, Mitigation, Stamina, Wisdom, Intelligence, Strength then Agility. <div></div><hr></blockquote>I'm curious (because I really don't know enough about the mechanics of the game) why you neglect Agility so. Is the bonus from it that small? I too only tank and never solo--and I'm trying to maximize my stats at this time as I pull into harder and harder levels.

[Kinesthesia]

First let me say that I would not say that I neglect agility, at least not like some tanks do.  I will take 5 agility points over 1 stamina point.  My priority list is in small degrees. I don't abandon any skill.I am actually all aobut avoidance, but shield factor has a much larger effect than agility.Here is a quick bit of data I jotted down while switching out two agi dolls with two stamina dolls. Just for your own reference.+22 agi 44.8 avoidance 4110 hp+26 sta 43.9 avoidance 4227 hp22 agility nets less than one percent of avoidance26 stamina nets 117 hp (4.5hp / stamina point)Self buffed ungrouped in defensive stance: Str 185 Agi 103 Stamina 226 Int 126 Wis 247Offensive Str 271 Agi 103 Stamina 226 Int 212 Wisdom 151<div></div>

[Mortallic]

<div></div>Yeah, Agi is almost useless, don't waste your time with it.

[Edyil]

<div></div><p>Here is THE most important thing to know.</p><p>The game is broken into tiers.  You enter a new tier every 10 levels.  To be effective, you need to upgrade your gear every tier.  If you are lvl 30 and fighting mobs lvl 30, you should be in all lvl 30+ gear.  If you do this every tier, your gaming experience will be much more enjoyable and relaxing. </p><p>One note to add to the above - You don't need to deck yourself in rare crafted gear until Tier 6 (T6) and eventually again at T7.  That cuts back drastically on the cost of upgrading every 10 levels.</p><p>Here is an example of how the system works:  If you are wearing a lvl 30 breastplate that gives 290 mitigation at level 40 and you find a lvl 40 breastplate that gives the same 290 mitigation - They are NOT the same.  If you put on the level 30 armor, press "P" and put your mouse cursor over your Mitigation value, it will say something like "You Mitigate 50% damage".  But if you put on the lvl 40 armor with the exact same mitigation it will say something like "You Mitigate 60% damage".  In most cases, the tier of the armor is more important than the stats. - Don't shoot the messenger.  I don't agree with the system either.  But, none-the-less, this is the way it is.  So keep up your gear level with the Tier in which you currently reside.</p>

[Kinesthesia]

<div><span><blockquote><hr>Edyil wrote:<div></div><p>Here is THE most important thing to know.</p><p>The game is broken into tiers.  You enter a new tier every 10 levels.  To be effective, you need to upgrade your gear every tier.  If you are lvl 30 and fighting mobs lvl 30, you should be in all lvl 30+ gear.  If you do this every tier, your gaming experience will be much more enjoyable and relaxing. </p><p>One note to add to the above - You don't need to deck yourself in rare crafted gear until Tier 6 (T6) and eventually again at T7.  That cuts back drastically on the cost of upgrading every 10 levels.</p><p>Here is an example of how the system works:  If you are wearing a lvl 30 breastplate that gives 290 mitigation at level 40 and you find a lvl 40 breastplate that gives the same 290 mitigation - They are NOT the same.  If you put on the level 30 armor, press "P" and put your mouse cursor over your Mitigation value, it will say something like "You Mitigate 50% damage".  But if you put on the lvl 40 armor with the exact same mitigation it will say something like "You Mitigate 60% damage".  In most cases, the tier of the armor is more important than the stats. - Don't shoot the messenger.  I don't agree with the system either.  But, none-the-less, this is the way it is.  So keep up your gear level with the Tier in which you currently reside.</p><hr></blockquote>Excellent point.  This is something I often forget since I'm just dying to get into new armor at the next tier.  So much so that usually I have a armor and weapons standing by when I ding.</span></div>

[Deeply]

<div>If you dont take Trade skilling up with any kind dedication cool but make sure you do get your artisan level at least to tenth as you will need that for some of the Heritage quests later.</div><div>IE: Polished Granit Tomahawk & Manastone  which I can recall.</div><div> </div><div>Doesnt matter what lvl it is but always make sure you have some food and drink,</div><div>Even if at lvl 60 your still using lvl 10 stuff , it all helps towards hp / pwer Regen.</div><div> </div><div>Oh and another point , keep your harvesting skills maxed for each tier you do .</div><div>If your ever broke , go harvesting and sell the Foods and rares ( which you dont need ) .</div><div>This is a very good way to make money to keep you in Armour and sharp pointy blades.</div><div> </div>