New to EQ2... having a hard time..

[Dur]

Hello " />My name is Saiah and I am a High Elf Illusionist.This is no rant or a crying post.. just a request for some advice and help.  I am very new to the game.. I am actually from EQ1.. I played an Enchanter to 70 and was very successful in groups and in raids. Please note: I LOVE grouping with people..  Soloing is not bad, but I want to group with people and hang out and meet people.  Soloing doesnt get that usually.I have some questions and concerns I hope someone can explain to me.1: I picked an Illusionist. I dont seem to be soloing well Is this a good class for groups?  When Can i start grouping with people? when will i be asked to go places for some fun?  2: What about PVP? Are illusionists feared in pvp?  Because frankly, any PVP ive been in so far is me getting 2 hitted and I cant even see anything happening because i die so quickly... and they were level 13.. and im 16.  Somethings wrong there?....3: So any gear im getting is from Qeynos quests and the like.. best stuff im getting is stuff with maybe 1 or 2 int on it.  I am told to go to TD for some gear but as soon as i step outside of the city, i get very lost.  I dont know where I am going at all.  this is not the EQ1 world really.. lol 4: what AA's should i be shooting for?  I havent spent any points yet and I currently have 5 saved up.  I really dont know what stat does what.. I know i need INT mainly.. but I dont want to make a bad build..  I really dont know the effectiveness of any of the AA's in battle yet...5: so im told my spells need to be upgraded?  I tried going to a broker which i was told to do after much irritation of that level 13 resisting ALL my spells.. seriously.....  at the broker.. i notice the absolutely OUTRAGEOUS prices of any of the spells i use.  /yell "HOW IS ANYONE NEW SUPPOSED TO MAKE IT IN THIS GAME?!" /endyell.Sorry, i just get irritated sometimes lol...  Wandering in town i see all these people who are all sparkly and pretty..  I dont see how they made it...Any advice would be helpful.  Thank you again " />See you in game!~Saiah-16 Illusionist

[StormCinder]

Durel wrote:

Hello ">My name is Saiah and I am a High Elf Illusionist.This is no rant or a crying post.. just a request for some advice and help.  I am very new to the game.. I am actually from EQ1.. I played an Enchanter to 70 and was very successful in groups and in raids. Please note: I LOVE grouping with people..  Soloing is not bad, but I want to group with people and hang out and meet people.  Soloing doesnt get that usually.I have some questions and concerns I hope someone can explain to me.1: I picked an Illusionist. I dont seem to be soloing well Is this a good class for groups?  When Can i start grouping with people? when will i be asked to go places for some fun?  2: What about PVP? Are illusionists feared in pvp?  Because frankly, any PVP ive been in so far is me getting 2 hitted and I cant even see anything happening because i die so quickly... and they were level 13.. and im 16.  Somethings wrong there?....3: So any gear im getting is from Qeynos quests and the like.. best stuff im getting is stuff with maybe 1 or 2 int on it.  I am told to go to TD for some gear but as soon as i step outside of the city, i get very lost.  I dont know where I am going at all.  this is not the EQ1 world really.. lol

There is a map add-on that will help out getting around here.4: what AA's should i be shooting for?  I havent spent any points yet and I currently have 5 saved up.  I really dont know what stat does what.. I know i need INT mainly.. but I dont want to make a bad build..  I really dont know the effectiveness of any of the AA's in battle yet...5: so im told my spells need to be upgraded?  I tried going to a broker which i was told to do after much irritation of that level 13 resisting ALL my spells.. seriously.....  at the broker.. i notice the absolutely OUTRAGEOUS prices of any of the spells i use.  /yell "HOW IS ANYONE NEW SUPPOSED TO MAKE IT IN THIS GAME?!" /endyell.

You need to make some money.  There are lots of threads in the forums about how to do it.  Basically, you need to collect/harvest as you run around and sell the stuff you harvest/collect on the broker.  You should have plenty of money to purchase your spells.  At lvl16 you should have about 1 plat in the bank.Sorry, i just get irritated sometimes lol...  Wandering in town i see all these people who are all sparkly and pretty..  I dont see how they made it...Any advice would be helpful.  Thank you again ">See you in game!~Saiah-16 Illusionist

[Dreadpatch]

Most people on the game at this point have been around awhile and have some money saved up. They twink their low level toons, which is why you are probably getting smoked so fast. Try to hook up with a guild, they will help you with information and some low level gear hopefully to get you started. Illusionist is a great group toon, but is also faily weak at lower levels. All in all, kind of a tough toon to learn the game on. But harvest all the shiney's and nodes you can get your hands on for extra money. Get a sales crate and put on the broker slot. You will need to get housing first, which can be find in your starting city when you get there.

[Skywarrior]

I take it you are playing on a PvP server.  My advice is to roll your character on one of the PvE servers and play there until you are comfortable with the game itself and know your way around better.  Then delve into the PvP world, where rookies are basically eaten alive, if that is still your preference.  At least that way you are concentrating on learning one game at a time and the PvP aspects of EQ2 is basically a separate game with its own rulesets even.

Illusionists solo very well in PvE and are quite valuable in the upper tiers of the game in group and raid.  You will likely find you are not much in demand at the lower levels, however, since crowd control is not considered essential, or even an asset, until much later in the game and even then only in specific circumstances.

Gaining coin is a question of focus and knowledge of what is valuable and why.  For instance, I imagine you sold all of the Treasured drops you've been getting since level 1 to a vendor instead of on the broker.  So, you have been getting silver instead of gold for them.  Low level Treasured drops sell for gold mostly to Transmuters, who are mostly higher level players with deep pockets.  So that crappy Treasured drop you gave to the vendor at level 2 for less than 1 silver could have sold on the broker for 2-4 gold.

Additionally, harvest is your friend right now.  Harvest everything you see, often.  If you never intend to craft then put everything you harvest on the broker.  Others will buy it and you will gain more coin.  Rares you can either sell or keep for yourself to turn into Adept III spell upgrades. 

I hope you find your stride, whatever you decide to do.  Don't let the fact that you are new to the game frustrate you too much.  You will get past that stage soon enough.  Welcome to EQ2.

[Banditman]

I cannot speak to how it works for PvP, but my PvE L80 Illusionist is one of the best solo'ers in the game.  Hands down.Once you get your pet, life gets better.  Really.  The key to an Illusionist is learning to kill quickly.

[Liral]

Durel wrote:

Hello ">My name is Saiah and I am a High Elf Illusionist.This is no rant or a crying post.. just a request for some advice and help.  I am very new to the game.. I am actually from EQ1.. I played an Enchanter to 70 and was very successful in groups and in raids. Please note: I LOVE grouping with people..  Soloing is not bad, but I want to group with people and hang out and meet people.  Soloing doesnt get that usually.I have some questions and concerns I hope someone can explain to me.1: I picked an Illusionist. I dont seem to be soloing well Is this a good class for groups?  When Can i start grouping with people? when will i be asked to go places for some fun? 

Illusionist is a great solo toon but will take a bit to grow into. It' a decent class for groups moreso at higher levels though.2: What about PVP? Are illusionists feared in pvp?  Because frankly, any PVP ive been in so far is me getting 2 hitted and I cant even see anything happening because i die so quickly... and they were level 13.. and im 16.  Somethings wrong there?....3: So any gear im getting is from Qeynos quests and the like.. best stuff im getting is stuff with maybe 1 or 2 int on it.  I am told to go to TD for some gear but as soon as i step outside of the city, i get very lost.  I dont know where I am going at all.  this is not the EQ1 world really.. lol

That map utility thatw as linked before will help quie a bit.4: what AA's should i be shooting for?  I havent spent any points yet and I currently have 5 saved up.  I really dont know what stat does what.. I know i need INT mainly.. but I dont want to make a bad build..  I really dont know the effectiveness of any of the AA's in battle yet...

 

I suggest you check the class forums as they have many AA threads5: so im told my spells need to be upgraded?  I tried going to a broker which i was told to do after much irritation of that level 13 resisting ALL my spells.. seriously.....  at the broker.. i notice the absolutely OUTRAGEOUS prices of any of the spells i use.  /yell "HOW IS ANYONE NEW SUPPOSED TO MAKE IT IN THIS GAME?!" /endyell.

Making money is actually quite easy once you know waht you are doing. The suggestions, Selling treasured items, spells for other classes and other quest material on the broker will get you cash. Also pick up and and all shinys and harvest, harvest, harvest and sell that stuff on the broker too.

Sorry, i just get irritated sometimes lol...  Wandering in town i see all these people who are all sparkly and pretty..  I dont see how they made it...

I also HIGHLY recommend you check out these threads in the Newbie Forum.

Thread about Class Choice

http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=374275

Things I Wish I Knew Earlier (invaluable thread)

http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=349208

FAQ's for Newbies

http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=346645

Any advice would be helpful.  Thank you again ">See you in game!~Saiah-16 Illusionist

[Daghammerskold]

It's been a while since I played on a PvP server but I am sure it is still similar.That level 13 toon that beat you at level 16, well I bet your level 16 character is days old and their 13 is weeks old.PvPers level lock. They turn off xp and level as slow as they can so they can get the most spell and equipment upgrades possible.

[Attolia]

Exactly how high were you trying to upgrade your spells?  Apprentice IV?  Adept I?  Master I?  At your level (and for a while higher too), you don't need any higher than Apprentice IV.  On my server, there's a big price difference between app IV and adepts/masters...if it's the same way on yours, app IVs shouldn't be that expensive.  Yeah, higher tiered spells are nice to have (especially the pet, if you plan on soloing), but you can do fine without them.  And besides, at the lower levels you'll outgrow spells so fast that there's no point in buying expensive ones.

[GorgukGrimmfist]

Durel wrote:

Hello " />My name is Saiah and I am a High Elf Illusionist.This is no rant or a crying post.. just a request for some advice and help.  I am very new to the game.. I am actually from EQ1.. I played an Enchanter to 70 and was very successful in groups and in raids. Please note: I LOVE grouping with people..  Soloing is not bad, but I want to group with people and hang out and meet people.  Soloing doesnt get that usually.I have some questions and concerns I hope someone can explain to me.1: I picked an Illusionist. I dont seem to be soloing well Is this a good class for groups?  When Can i start grouping with people? when will i be asked to go places for some fun?    Illusionists and coercers are required for some of the endgame instances and most raids.  In groups sometimes the killing is happening so fast that your mezzes are not usefull.   In those cases you will be a nuker and have some utility to offer.  I have a low level coercer (evil version of illy) and they are IMO the hardest of all the classes to play solo, but they can be very powerful.2: What about PVP? Are illusionists feared in pvp?  Because frankly, any PVP ive been in so far is me getting 2 hitted and I cant even see anything happening because i die so quickly... and they were level 13.. and im 16.  Somethings wrong there?....  I don't know too much about PvP, but I do know that most players level lock.  So expect any player you encounter to have the absolute best of equipment, spell upgrades, and skill points allowed for their level.3: So any gear im getting is from Qeynos quests and the like.. best stuff im getting is stuff with maybe 1 or 2 int on it.  I am told to go to TD for some gear but as soon as i step outside of the city, i get very lost.  I dont know where I am going at all.  this is not the EQ1 world really.. lol   To get to TD from Qeynos can be hard at low level.  You can take a boat from TS docks to butcherblock docks and then a griffon to TD.  Or, if you have the cash,  you can purchase a ticket from the Qeynos docks to the TS docks directly for 10 sp.4: what AA's should i be shooting for?  I havent spent any points yet and I currently have 5 saved up.  I really dont know what stat does what.. I know i need INT mainly.. but I dont want to make a bad build..  I really dont know the effectiveness of any of the AA's in battle yet...  No idea what AA's illy's get, can't help you there. 5: so im told my spells need to be upgraded?  I tried going to a broker which i was told to do after much irritation of that level 13 resisting ALL my spells.. seriously.....  at the broker.. i notice the absolutely OUTRAGEOUS prices of any of the spells i use.  /yell "HOW IS ANYONE NEW SUPPOSED TO MAKE IT IN THIS GAME?!" /endyell.  Chin up, it is hard getting a start.  Sell EVERYTHING you find on the broker.  Once you sell a couple things at outrageous prices you can afford to pay the prices yourself.  There are two reasons spells are expensive atm. 1.  Alot of new toons are being rolled with the new starting area and race.  All these people are financing their alt with their main.  2.  With the addition of the tradeskill transmuting, alot of lower level stuff is being bought and transmuted.Sorry, i just get irritated sometimes lol...  Wandering in town i see all these people who are all sparkly and pretty..  I dont see how they made it...Any advice would be helpful.  Thank you again " />See you in game!~Saiah-16 Illusionist

[Baccalarium]

At your level you can pick any of the scholar line of crafters and with a short amount of harvesting for the needed rare harvests you'll be able to make your own adept3 spells which only one step below the master spells.Like others said selling the adept books you don't need on the broker should fairly quickly  net some income you can use to buy adepts for the spells you don't want to craft the rare spells for.   You'll still need some income to buy the "advanced"  scholar recipe books for the spells you want to craft at the adept 3 level.With a bit more income later you can drop the crafting and buy or look for crafters willing to make the adept 3's you need.  You're experience crafting will help you to understand what the crafter is asking for to make the spells, or where to look for the information to determine what is needed.

[Kellin]

I can't speak with authority, but in my less-than-up-to-date PvP experience, a Q going to TD to quest and level sounds like an interesting way to die a lot.Anyway.  Don't expect it to be like an EQ1 enchanter.  There are actually very few similarities in gameplay, even though you have some similar spells.  Expect to die a lot.  I mean, a lot.  Get guilded as soon as you can; failing that, find a partner or two to play with.  Cloth casters are extremely vulnerable in PvP, and that robe you're wearing is like a big neon target.  Get a tunic as soon as you can.  Casters are great in PvP groups, but your control spells will not last long enough to make things easy at all.It's not easy, but it can be rewarding.  Have fun!

[metacell]

Also, Illusionists (like Coercers) are among the hardest classes to play. If you want an easy-to-play magic user with good solo ability, try a Conjuror.