Fulll Group looking for advice

[Verityn]

I just started playing p99 after a little break from eq. I stopped playing right when Kunark came out, but I had easily over a 100 days played on classic content. So after some eq romatizing to my friends I now have a full group to be newbs with once a week. Now I'm brainstorming about how to approach this from what race/classes to where to hunt. I've read pretty much everything about our options, but most of the opions in these forums and guides are meant for solo or small groups.

We would like to focus on dungeons mostly and not so much on kiting or other gimmicks even though we'll have a bard. Since 4 of the 6 people have only played other mmos I think we should start together from level 1 or close. We're pretty much set on starting in Qeynos since I remember the area well and some of us can be barbs or eruds and not just humans if we started in Freeport. I know we could probably pick any race and find a tp, but I just want to avoid the hassle and I want to get things going soon. I'm curious to hear any suggestions though.

As for classes here's what I've come up with so far and I think the first 3 are set in stone now, the bard is definitely staying.
Human Paladin (me, might as well pick this for a tank)
Human Bard (the other experienced player)
Human Cleric (my girlfriend the heal bot)
Human Magician
Human Rogue or barb rogue
Human Druid or barb shaman
I think it might not matter too much with other 3 classes if we have a pally, cleric and bard.

So yeah I'm basically looking to hear pretty much any serious opinion on organizing a full permagroup.

[Wotsirb401]

I would say if you want to stick with this dynamic, go with barb shaman, barb rogue on the last 2. you can all solo until respective level of 8 or so then group up in Blackburrow and easily get to 16+, from there you could all head to unrest and even stay there until your 30's if you are in the basement. From there you could travel to lower guk until your 40's, head to City of Mist and get into your 50's, then you have KC, Seb, Howling Stone and Chardok

[xexbis0]

You'll want someone that can port. You'll want someone to be an enchanter because they are godly. Grab a rogue (lockpicking is convenient) or monk for other melee DPS.

I would say fill the rest out with Druid/Enchanter/Rogue personally.

[Wotsirb401]

Yeah add a human monk rather than mag

[Gadwen]

Freeport is really your best bet for a starting area, the only race that will have trouble reaching it are barbs/erudites. but it gives you more options for races and some of the better options tbh. Easy to get to for DEs, gnomes, high elves, wood elves, dwarves...not too difficult for careful ogres and trolls either. A careful iksar can also make it to OT easily and probably bum a port or get on the boat to oasis. It's also the central hub of activity on the server with EC right there for you.

[Estu]

First, don't let your starting location determine what you roll. It's super-easy to find ports as a newbie - just do a "/who all dru (or wiz) 39 60" and ask nicely. The only exception is that iksars are kind of a pain to deal with because of faction and Cabilis being far away from port locations. A half-hour spent getting a character from Faydwer to Qeynos (or whatever) is nothing compared to that character's lifetime.

In terms of where to hunt, stay in dungeons your entire career, since you can handle them as a full group and you will get an experience bonus (ZEM). Since you're starting in Qeynos, you can go to Blackburrow from level 4 or so onward, and get a ton of gnoll teeth, which you can hand in in Qeynos. Once Blackburrow gets too low for you (probably around level 15), head to Unrest or Upper Guk, then Mistmoore or Solusek A, then Solusek B or City of Mist, then Karnor's Castle. Obviously there are other options but these are the popular dungeons for a reason.

[SamwiseRed]

war
cleric
chanter
rogue/mage
rogue
druid

keep hybrids out, why? because if your friends arent as dedicated as you they are out of here. i personally dont mind hybrids in groups but the xp penalty might scare away casuals.

edit: you guys are going to need a druid, as full group you arent going to be able to find ports for everyone because you wont all fit. chanter will cover slows/haste so drop sham for druid. druid will also increase dps with damage shield and has group sow/chloro which is pretty damn nice for full groups.

[boudicca]

Think about what you'd like to have available later, as others have mentioned.

You'll probably want a porter: wiz or druid.
Giving the group more mana: bard, necro or enchanter
Haste: bard, shaman or enchanter
Backup healing: shaman or druid

You also may want to consider tracking (ranger), summoning players and food/armor(mage), fd (monk, necro), dps (wiz, rogue, monk), crowd control (enchanter, anyone who can root or offtank), summoning corpses (necro).

Most important though, make sure that whatever you have people play, it's something that they'll enjoy. You don't want someone to play a role that they'll hate, being that it takes so long to level.

[Estu]

Originally Posted by boudicca [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

dps (wiz)

NOPE

[skacat]

SK would be a better tank. it'll be hard to keep aggro off the rogue and the caster as a pally. and also the cleric once they're healing the caster.

Mage is fine for the caster, but an enchanter would probably be better for CC, which is essential in dungeons. The dru/shm can root, but that's pretty weak CC compared to a mez. Since you have a bard, getting a lot of melee is not a bad idea (haste), but that'll make it even harder for the pally to hold aggro.

I think the shm is a lot stronger for a group than a druid, unless you really want ports. I think you could probably live without them. since it sounds like you'll be playing this group pretty casually once a week.

I'd start everyone in the same city as you suggested to make it easier to get started. Freeport would be better because that'll give you a lot more dungeons close by (befallen, guk, najena), as well as other higher levels around to give the newbs a glance at the lootz. if you'd rather start in qey id think about how to move your party out east eventually, could be a fun run once you're sick of BB.

faydwer is usually more crowded (CB and unrest) and I think you'll be fine in Antonica for awhile.

anyways sounds like fun, good luck to ya.