New Player - Class Questions

[Morrolan]

Hi everyone - just joined the server and I'm trying to decide on a class. I was wondering two things:

1. Are there any classes which are especially sought after, or are currently underplayed?
2. Are there any classes which are "easier" to start with than others? Not easy as in gameplay/strategy, but easy because of things like alignment / cost for spells / cost for equipment etc.

Thanks, really excited to get started!

[Caridry]

Agnostic is pretty safe all around, it can sometimes be a poor choice if you are a min/maxer. I have found through creating many alts, and quitting numerous times to deal with real life matters, that coming back and playing any class is never difficult. Listen to people that say, play what you want, as its all about the journey bud. Great friends to be made here.

[Tierael]

Cleric seemed like a solid choice for me when I started. Was needed everywhere I went, and more. :) If you're worried about spells, don't be. Enough generous players on this server to help you out (I'll be one of them, /tell me if you need spell money).

Monks always good and simple too, gear for them is everywhere, highly desired in most groups.

Rangers, Shadow Knights, and Paladins are underplayed, but for reason.

[Yumyums Inmahtumtums]

This is a common question and it really depends on what your style is and what you want to get out of the game.

The bottom line is you have to play what you like. If you don't it will always seems like it drags on for you. With that being said you have to remember that you will struggle more with gear dependant classes so try and weigh that into your equasion.

If I were to start over again with no cash I would do a pure +int caster (enc, nec, mag, wiz) due to their low gear reliance. Here is the list of classis with pros and cons.
- Enchanter: gear costs very little, cheap and extremely powerful class. Class is back loaded so you will not start to pull away as an exceptional class for at least the first 20-30 levels.- Necro: they are the bar for soloing. Also cheap to gear without much in terms of gear requirements to begin with.
- Magician: very strong DPS class with little reliance on gear.
- Shaman: very strong class to play in both solo scenarios and in groups. Although can get by without great gear, good gear is extremely expensive (spells too) at later levels.
- Bard: one of the least gear dependant melee. Great to start as a first character as they really develop all your skills (or none if you just aoe).
- Cleric: not gear dependant per se but the more the better. Solid class as a first character due to ease of grouping.
- Druid: extremely easy starting class due to low gear reliance. Excellent power leveller and of course ports for later as a source of good income.
- Wizard: probably the most gear reliant of the casters due to most wizards using the quad kite method. They can also port later and are good starting chars for that.
- Monk: another low gear reliance melee. Their gear is cheap and plentiful. Good if you want to melee.
- Shadowknight: knight classes are hard to level due to xp penalty in this era. Gear can be bought cheaply but they are dependant.
- Paladin: cheaper to gear than Shadow knights but still expensive.
- Ranger: relatively cheap to gear a ranger. Can be fairly tough to get groups with though.
- Warrior: Hard mode. Very dependant on gear, gear can be expensive. Can't really solo well but ultimately a fun class to play.
- Rogue: gear dependant but only weapons really. If you have a good wep you can have shit gear.

Sorry for the wall of text - hope it helps.

[Morrolan]

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm gonna start with a Wizard so I can blow stuff up and teleport around, but I'm sure I'll roll a few others once I see some other classes in action in groups.

[Aerar]

Hi everyone - just joined the server and I'm trying to decide on a class. I was wondering two things:

1. Are there any classes which are especially sought after, or are currently underplayed?
2. Are there any classes which are "easier" to start with than others? Not easy as in gameplay/strategy, but easy because of things like alignment / cost for spells / cost for equipment etc.

Thanks, really excited to get started!

1. If they are sought after they are not underplayed thats just how it goes. I suppose the easiest way to answer sought after is Tank, Cleric, Chanter

2. Necro, Mage, Bard - Bard is the most gear dependent of the 3 but none really require it and all solo like a beast. Bard has a 40% xp penalty but it is negated by the swarm kiting ability.

[Spacebar]

It seems that you decided on a wizard. I would just like to add, they are one of the least played classes for a reason. Basically, only play a wizard if you REALLY like the class. They are good for raiding in the high end, and I assume will be useful in that respect (and porting) for Velious. However, leveling up you will likely be doing a lot of soloing.

However, I think it is a good idea to make a caster first, and maybe wizard is a good choice (not sure if they make the same cash as druids for porting or not).

As most people have said (and this could be a most played/least played, or high desirability/low desirability, it's basically the same):

Most played: Monk, Shaman. They are the most played classes for a reason. They can both solo efficiently and get in groups easily. Also, both are desired in raids. Only reason not to make one as a first character is money (monks can't carry much and need some $$ invested to start, mostly for bags).

Middle area: this is a big area that includes Enchanters, Druids, Warriors, Mages, Bards, Clerics, Shadowknights (?), Rogues. All solid classes, some are better in the lower end but lose some of their benefits later (mages, druids). Some are just a little rough to get used to for some people (bards, maybe chanter). Others are just a pain in the ass to lvl after 50 (SK). And others can't really solo too well (Clerics, Warriors, Rogues).

Low end: Wizards, Pallies, Rangers. I think wizards aren't played as much for the reasons i already mentioned. Paladin, hell I don't know, xp penalty and why play a pally when you can do more dps with an SK? Rangers have always kind of been the laughing stock on classic EQ. I personally think rangers (and Paladin) are pretty damn awesome, but yeah, the xp penalty really kills them right now.

One additional thing to consider is that likely in a few months this xp penalty will be off and people be rolling rangers/sk/pallies a lot more.

I'd suggest either sticking with your wizard for port money, or making a druid for some extra cash and then roll what you want once the xp penalty is off. Just remember, a wizard will likely be a little slower at leveling and possibly more boring.

tl;dr sorry

[Estu]

Wizards are boring as all hell and not very useful in standard EXP groups. Wouldn't recommend them unless you're sure you want to play them.

[Shinko]

ogre war

[Morrolan]

Hmm I was under the impression I'd be grouping a lot, not soloing. If that's the case I might shelf the wiz for a bit and try and enchanter or necro. Wiki says necros are not very sought after in groups or raids, is this true?
Pally and SK both seem like fun too - how much am I going to hate the xp penalty if I go that route?

[Clark]

Enchanter is pretty complicated to play well, but very powerful once learned.

Some other suggestions would be Shaman/Magician/Bard for the option of solo or grouping. Not many Necromancers endgame, and they farm well. However they aren't really sought after for groups.

[Mandalore93]

If you're looking for easy to solo that comes with good group utility gotta go with either the Enchanter or the Bard. Enchanter is back loaded and really shines 40+ where as bards are the fastest levelers in the game and require a lot of attention and a decent amount of knowledge about the zone/enemy.

Druids are GREAT first time chars though because of their overall utility and ease of soloing. Plus they get ports. Their power drops off at 50+ though.

[Spacebar]

I agree that an Enchanter, Necro, or Druid is a pretty good choice.

But as mentioned, Chanters take a bit to shine, but are always welcome to groups and raids and about the best farming classes. If you really want to push the game to its limit, that is the class. A lot of risk with charm, but enchanters can do things most classes wouldn't even attempt. Charisma gear is pretty cheap, also. But it might be slow going at least until you get Breeze (lvl 16) or Clarity (lvl 29).

Necros are always a good choice. Really awesome soloers and 2nd best, or tied with chanters for farming named mobs. They do well in groups if played right since they can heal, mana feed, dps and cc. Raiding on them can be a little boring i'd imagine, since you are basically the clerics' bitches (twitch me slave!). But all in all a great class to start with that doesn't need much money to start for gear or anything.

Druids, as mentioned, are another good choice. Grouping and soloing up to 50 won't be bad. Plus, you'll make some money porting and you can charm if there are animals. They are great duo partners. Only problem is that their healing isn't so good 50+ and groups tend to have a pecking order that goes Cleric>Shaman>>>>>>>>>>>Druid>bandage yourself>>>Paladin/Necro for heals.

[Skittlez]

Pally and SK both seem like fun too - how much am I going to hate the xp penalty if I go that route?

In all honesty.. You will barely notice the penalty until you hit high 40's and 50+. Even then, those levels take a while to get through regardless of penalty or not, so there is that.



Go paladin, they are the shit. I suggest you check out this link..
http://www.project1999.org/forums/showthread.php?t=108428&highlight=Paladin

Paladin is fracking awesome. Best group tank period. You will always have a group or someone to group with being able to absorb blows and heal your self.

[Skittlez]

Oh, and don't let any ass hole tell you it will be hard to make money or gear your paladin. All it takes is a group to gear. A bunch of players, more than likely my self included, help out melee get geared if they need help. Hanging out in EC will get you some good starter gear.

Tbh, all you need is a set of bronze and your set till level 30. Someone will give you that for free more than likely, along with a decent starter weapon. There are also plenty of camps where you can get items that sell for decent money. The Nybright Sister's in Lesser Faydark at level 12 or the Minotaur Slaver camp in Steamfont at level 10-11 start dropping weapons/gems that are worth some plat. You can stay at either till level 17-19.

[Morrolan]

That Pally thread was pretty convincing. I'm gonna give it a shot. As for people helping out with a weapon or bronze armor, that would be awesome. I'm currently getting my ass kicked a bit with my rusty sword.

[Skittlez]

That Pally thread was pretty convincing. I'm gonna give it a shot. As for people helping out with a weapon or bronze armor, that would be awesome. I'm currently getting my ass kicked a bit with my rusty sword.

Shoot one of my characters a tell and I will help you out with some gear. When do you play?

[Morrolan]

I'll be on pretty much all weekend. My pally's name is Karamon.

[Skittlez]

I'll be on pretty much all weekend. My pally's name is Karamon.

Word. About to go out with ma old lady then I will be on. Probably a few hours. We hungies.