Summer is over...time to try P99?

[Wenuven]

Hi folks,

I'm an EQ vet, most recently I played a lot on EQ Mac. Unfortunately the server culture has gotten a bit toxic lately so I've been thinking about trying out P99. I'm curious, how things are going over here?

From what I can tell from the boards, it seems like the server is extremely healthy an active! Can anyone get me up to speed with the current state of things? How is the low level population? Any tips for a new player? How about end/game raiding? Are there any things related to the server history, current climate, future outlook, etc. that I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance for your responses! Looking forward to getting to know some of you!

Edit: should clarify that I intend to play on BLUE.

[Ajkuhuun]

Just started recently myself about I guess a month ago now, and the community in game has been very welcoming. Very much circa 99 in terms of community feel if you know what I mean. We've not suffered for groups in the slightest, and there seems to be heaps of folks playing at all levels.

So enjoy and welcome! I hope to see you in game.

[Estolcles]

At most there's about 1200 people online at peak hours, and as low as 200-300 during offpeak. Better access to epics, lots of grouping available for all levels (depending upon where you go). Mutltiple raiding and casual guilds you can join.

All in all, it's definitely worth at least trying out.

[Relbaic]

Agree with the guy above me. Started around the middle of the July and haven't had a bad experience yet. People forming teams to go do rezzes to people that were dying from the DDoS attacks, no problem getting ports, buffs in EC tunnel. The whole community seems pretty awesome so far, only level 31 though so can't really give much insight as to what the higher levels hold, but I definitely love being back and playing again!

Some low level zones are empty, but more often than not the zones you'll be in you'll be able to find a group in. The only totally empty zone I've gone in to so far has been CT.

[Laugher]

We have working boats :D

[gotrocks]

Another seattle guy! there's quite a few of us around here. Server is very 1999, except everyone knows what the best everything/everywhere is. Not quite as much exploration as you might remember, because everything is quantified and calculated, but dont let that stop you from playing. Sense of community is still there.

Tips for a noob? play an iksar so that the harbingers of thule dont have to skin your pink/blue/green hide and string you up in the woods of warsliks, you filthy soft skin.

[Wenuven]

Wow! Definitely sounds promising, and quite a bit different front the experience on EQ Mac.

Curious, is mutliboxing as prevalent (necessary) as it is on EQ Mac? Or do most people focus on only one character?

Also, are there any classes I should avoid due to being overpopulated? I wasn't to play a Druid since that's what I played back in 99, but I have a feeling they are probably very overrun on a Kunark era server.

[gotrocks]

Oh, so good of you to bring this up.

multiboxing is illegal on this server. bannable offense, no leeway.

RMT is illlegal. instaban if caught (and most DO get caught)

Account trading (even for plat) is now illegal. ban.

Enjoy :D

[Estolcles]

Multi-boxing IS VERBOTEN. Your IP will be BANNED if caught. (and 99.999% of boxers are caught)

[Wenuven]

That is actually a HUGE relief. I'm super excited!!! Boxing, RMT, etc are some of the worst aspects of EQ Mac. Glad I won't run into those here.

[Ephi]

Seattle players protected by fellow Seattleite Ephi.

Not really, but enjoy the server!

[fastboy21]

seattle...a fabled land where pot is legal now.

[Wenuven]

Indeed. 'tis a wondrous place. Surprised to run into so many Seattleites already.

Thanks everyone for your replies. Hoping to get up and running by tomorrow. Will post my game name if anyone wants to join up!

Right now I'm deciding between... Druid, Bard, Mage, Monk or Wizard. Anyone have any opinions based on server population/other server factors?

[gotrocks]

Can't go wrong with an iksar, so roll a monk.

Even on blue theres a special rule that says iksars get to skin soft skins and string them up in the treessss in warsliksss. Look it up.

[Wenuven]

I sense a touch of bias. :)

[Verenity]

Indeed. 'tis a wondrous place. Surprised to run into so many Seattleites already.

Thanks everyone for your replies. Hoping to get up and running by tomorrow. Will post my game name if anyone wants to join up!

Right now I'm deciding between... Druid, Bard, Mage, Monk or Wizard. Anyone have any opinions based on server population/other server factors?

You will have a far, far easier time in this game if your first character is a caster and not a melee. But, with how generous this community is, that really should should not be too big of a barrier to you. Play whatever class you think you'd enjoy the most. It's a long ride to 60; if you're going to put days of your life into a class, you need to enjoy it. Any class can be wanted in some context or another.

[billw134]

I have heard it said that it is easiest starting out with an int caster where you can farm gear and make plat, and then twink out a more gear dependent alt.

Of your options, my opinion would be to roll a mage, and then twink a monk!

Druids: a lot of them but fewer max lvl. If you grew accustomed to their convenience you might miss self sow port.

[Wenuven]

I have heard it said that it is easiest starting out with an int caster where you can farm gear and make plat, and then twink out a more gear dependent alt.
That's essentially my plan! I've played EQ long enough to know that playing an undergeared melee is a long, painful road. :)

Curious what makes an int caster more apt for play farming than say, a druid? I'm not really sure where the primary plat sources are on this server.

I remember back in the day, being able to port/track was a huge advantage to farming random gear to sell for plat. But I do really like the idea of a mage for using a pet to mow through things. I've only ever played a mage in more recent EQ eras and enjoyed it very much, but curious how they fare in a world without Plane of Knowledge, Healer mercs, etc.

[Fawqueue]

Seattle is alright, second best city in the state! Spokane of course being numero uno.

And you will enjoy it here. While I don't play as much as I did years ago, even when the population was around 150 at peak times it was still a blast. So now that it's regularly over 1k it's even better.

[citizen1080]

If your only reason to roll a caster is to make money to twink a melee...I would go druid. Get your ports, bind at KC and just run ports all day long. That will be your best bet for money imo.

[Yinikren]

Int casters just solo more efficiently than druids, so they have a higher pp per hour income. Druids can port, sure, but with the average donation being 10-25pp (more in dire need) that is an awful lot of zoning to make money. A mage, enc, or necro can solo a lot more effectively and bring in the money/fine steel/whatever you want to sell.

[citizen1080]

Seattle is alright, second best city in the state! Spokane of course being numero uno.

And you will enjoy it here. While I don't play as much as I did years ago, even when the population was around 150 at peak times it was still a blast. So now that it's regularly over 1k it's even better.

<---Lives in Coeur D' Alene

[NegaStoat]

If your only reason to roll a caster is to make money to twink a melee...I would go druid. Get your ports, bind at KC and just run ports all day long. That will be your best bet for money imo.

Pretty much this.

Since you asked about Mages in particular though, they're still plenty powerful. The pet focus items are working properly (at level 4 even), and sword of runes is correctly doing damage to all targets (this wasn't fixed until later). They're very welcome as dps in groups, go figure.

I think you should probably mull over the bigger picture when it comes to character choice by factoring in Velious. P 1999 is supposedly going to get Velious launched in 4-5 months, give or take a few. Certain classes will really take off then (hybrid penalty of -40% is nuked), and others will retain their shortcomings (necromancers still won't have DoT's stacking on a target).

Pick carefully.

[citizen1080]

Is the xp pen removed right at launch? I thought it came with the epic revamp a few months in.

[Ajkuhuun]

Washitonian here as well, hailing from the dirty little town of Wapato :P

[Wenuven]

\(necromancers still won't have DoT's stacking on a target).

Ooh I'm glad you mentioned this. So DoT stacking is not in game? Or is it just a bug with necros? I honestly cannot remember when that mechanic was added in classic. But it definitely affects my opinion of druids.

I guess the main reason I want to roll a druid is both for convenience and for nostalgia (since thats was my first experience in EQ). Those things aside, I'd probably want to go with a Monk. But the idea of leveling a melee without gear does not thrill me.

[Sidelle]

Washitonian here as well, hailing from the dirty little town of Wapato :P

Lol I think I smelled Wapato on my way to Yakima once. Aren't there lots of cattle there? Or am I thinking of Sunnyside? It's been so long I forgot.

Originally from Tri-Cities here but now living in Pennsylvania. I still have a habit of referring to Washington as "home" though. :)

[NegaStoat]

Ooh I'm glad you mentioned this. So DoT stacking is not in game? Or is it just a bug with necros?

Not a bug. The ability for DoT's to stack on a target from multiple casters wasn't introduced until Luclin. Which means P1999 will never have it for Necros, Shaman, or yeah, Druids.

I guess i shouldn't say Never, but the general understanding is that Velious is all the server will see for expansions to keep it a Classic feel. That said, druids are hurt the least out of the DoT users so don't let it really affect your decision a ton.

[Wenuven]

True true. So what about different level dots from the same caster on the same target? Can I stack my level xx DoT with my level yy DoT?

In any case, I ended up making a druid for nostalgia purposes. :D Name is Wenuven, if anyone wants to group up in game!

[fastboy21]

Seattle is alright, second best city in the state! Spokane of course being numero uno.

And you will enjoy it here. While I don't play as much as I did years ago, even when the population was around 150 at peak times it was still a blast. So now that it's regularly over 1k it's even better.

Oh yea...I hear all my friends and co-workers going on and on about how they can't wait to spend their next two-week vacation in beautiful....Spokane. :p

[webrunner5]

Is the xp pen removed right at launch? I thought it came with the epic revamp a few months in.

Bob, I think it was like 4 months into Velious?

[Fawqueue]

Oh yea...I hear all my friends and co-workers going on and on about how they can't wait to spend their next two-week vacation in beautiful....Spokane. :p

Hopefully they don't want to spend them in Seattle either. Two-week vacation? Give me some place with great weather and a relaxing culture.

Although if nothing else we could all agree that Seattle or Spokane...Washington is the place to be amiright?

Oh and Wenuven welcome to the server.

[Ephi]

Avoid MacroQuest and ShowEQ too. Those are two very fast ways of losing all your hard work.

[Wenuven]

Hopefully they don't want to spend them in Seattle either. Two-week vacation? Give me some place with great weather and a relaxing culture.

If Seattle keeps having summers like we did this year, I cant think of a place I'd rather be. It was wonderful!

Avoid MacroQuest and ShowEQ too. Those are two very fast ways of losing all your hard work.

Duly noted! I read over the rules and am very pleased with the policies you have here. I think they are key to a successful EQ environment. So happy that there are some competent and hard-working GMs here!

[gotrocks]

If Seattle keeps having summers like we did this year, I cant think of a place I'd rather be. It was wonderful!

Very much this. Can't beat a good washington summer.