Mid-level Grouping

[Cunyar]

This may need to go in the rants/flames section, but we'll leave that up to the mods.

I played EQ from 1999-2004, in which I cleared VP, ToV, SS, awakened the Sleeper, VT, Planes, etc. Now, I'm a level 30 rogue that has little to no chance to get a group, since there are level 21 rogues running around with their epic.

So, for those of you that have some sort of empathy, where exactly should I go, since Mistmoore isn't cutting it?

[Hogfather]

I'm level 40 at the moment and haven't seen this rogue epic discrimination people talk about, every group just grabs whatever is available at the time as far as I've seen.

[Swish]

I didn't get my rogue epic til 52 (last winter sometime) and quested it myself and had some help from my guild for the final fight (and the Steamfont part). I'd argue then though that there were less MQers than there are now.

You don't need it til the later levels...I had a few comments in CoM about not having it, and nobody really complained in KC, but when you get to Sebilis people will start to get shitty about it because the min max crowd all seem to hate leveling by then and a slow camp clear rate irritates them.

Til then, if you've got 5k or so... grab a Rapier of Oriin, and a 0.5 ratio off hander (Jade Mace, Blood Point, etc) and your dps won't be bad at all.

How far along are you with your epic? Have you done the Neriak/Kaladim letter stealing parts yet? Skillup your pickpocketing for those to minimize frustration, and screenshot/post here the MQers who give no shits about jumping in ahead of you when the mobs repop ;)

[Estu]

The reason you can't get a group isn't because you don't have your epic, it's because Mistmoore is overcrowded and constantly full during prime time. Either play more during off hours when there's more room in Mistmoore, or head to another zone of a similar level like Solusek A or Unrest basement. You'll probably need to be proactive about finding people to go there with you to form a group, rather than heading over and expecting there to be a group already there.

[Atmas]

I kind of doubt that you aren't getting groups because of not having an epic. I have a rogue who is currently 43. I have played it on and off for several months maybe a year. In all the times I have ooced lfg as a rogue only about 3 times has someone ever asked if I had an epic. Even though I have had it since lvl 7 I always ask, "Does it matter?" Only once did someone ever care. A rogue is good dps even without an epic.

If a group needs dps and doesn't pick up a rogue they are stupid.

[Glenzig]

If people are keeping you out of groups at level 30 because you don't have your epic, you didn't want to group with them anyway. I have grouped with a lot of level 25-30 rogues in MM over the last week I've had my warrior parked there. Some have their epics, but most don't. They always give me a hard time on aggro either way. I'll take a rogue in my group any day.

[skipdog]

You really gotta shake off the illusion of 'I don't have an epic so nobody will invite me to a group'. Maybe it happened once or twice to you, but it is certainly not the norm and it certainly shouldn't be preventing you from getting groups on a regular basis.

[Velerin]

The low to mid level range here is kinda funny. A lot of high levels will come by and buff the bejeezus out of everyone or pull giant trains and give your group a random plvl. Although on one hand its awfully nice of them to go out of the way to help but on the other hand it kinda waters down the experience of low level grouping.
People carry forth that same attitude when they just want to grab super melee twinks so they can sit back and ride to free exp.
Slow down and enjoy the game like it was meant to be. Low level grouping can be fun and challenging.

[forensic]

Heard the other day in Kurns, as some 60 was pulling the entire zone to PL his friends:

"High levels are so bored of the game that they come PL people in low level zones to make the game boring for everyone else too."

Don't think that high levels helping you are doing you a favour... they are not... they are trying to ruin the game for you and make it boring and no fun.

There is nothing exciting or interesting or fun about having someone else do all the work for you.

[Estu]

Heard the other day in Kurns, as some 60 was pulling the entire zone to PL his friends:

"High levels are so bored of the game that they come PL people in low level zones to make the game boring for everyone else too."

Don't think that high levels helping you are doing you a favour... they are not... they are trying to ruin the game for you and make it boring and no fun.

There is nothing exciting or interesting or fun about having someone else do all the work for you.

You're right, people who help lowbies level faster are doing it with malicious intent and no one ever enjoys the experience of a higher level person helping them EXP!

[Nerfbat]

I almost don't like when the epic rogues join or the fungi monks/warriors. I feel that they tend to drop group without warning (if they get bat-phoned for a raid or have a group on their main). Not that I would turn them down in a group - I just know the lower geared rogues will stay a bit longer ;)

Just my experiences so far in Oasis, MM, and loio.

[iruinedyourday]

This may need to go in the rants/flames section, but we'll leave that up to the mods.

I played EQ from 1999-2004, in which I cleared VP, ToV, SS, awakened the Sleeper, VT, Planes, etc. Now, I'm a level 30 rogue that has little to no chance to get a group, since there are level 21 rogues running around with their epic.

So, for those of you that have some sort of empathy, where exactly should I go, since Mistmoore isn't cutting it?

You know, I have a friend who feels the same way. And every time he mentions it I'm like, wut?

In my time grouping, I have never once given a crap about a rogue with or without epic... nor has anyone I have ever grouped with.

Like, eq is just whatever.. you log on, you group you dont care whos doing more work than who so long as they arnt afk sucking xp.. and you log off...

I mean no disrespect saying this but I think you feeling your own sense of inadequacy in the situation (not doing the DPS you could be doing if you had an epic) and think that everyone is thinking the same thing.

I can assure you, they are not.

Nobody cares.

Have fun!!! use a fine steel dagger for all anyone cares. Ok maybe at least use something that can damage magical skin :)

seriously don't trip, nobody cares and if they do they are an a-hole and you don't want to be long term EQ friends with them anyway.

My first toon was full cloth to 46 and I rekt cus my heart was made of solid golden efreeti.

Thats all you need, a golden efreeti heart.

*edit* Also if you're not twinked and I am twinked I'm all, aw look this person is playing eq and just like they're eyes are wide and huge IRL cus they just started on the server, woo!!! they are the best!!! :)

[Swish]

Slow down and enjoy the game like it was meant to be. Low level grouping can be fun and challenging.

pras, much truth to this ^^

[iruinedyourday]

You're right, people who help lowbies level faster are doing it with malicious intent and no one ever enjoys the experience of a higher level person helping them EXP!

Yes my little pretties, deal only 1 damage to the orcs and reap that golden bar.. reap I SAY!

http://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/df9.jpg

[toolshed]

The amount of twinks on this server is ruining low level grouping; the server needs to release Velious to even this out (and the removal of the class XP system). Funny how P99 is the epitome of why the devs removed class hybrid penalties?? hrmmm

People would rather spend 300k on a stupid twink than help with some guildies over on the beta server and get Velious out. It's stupid but it's true right now. And this discrimination will not go away until the new expansion.

I am leveling a necro atm and have met several necros that rerolled from a rogue because they couldn't find a group since they didn't have an epic. The min/max shit that goes on with this server is my least favorite part, and 99% of these elitists are twinks that are really just bored lvl 60s. If you meet someone new to the server, they are likely not to care.

Hence why my best experiences on this server have been with people that are on new chars. Give me someone in raw silk over a twink any day of the week -- the person in silk is likely to play their character with as much skill as possible to maximize their input to the group, while a twink just goes afk and overagros because 'dat leet deeps dude!'

[skipdog]

The amount of twinks on this server is ruining low level grouping; the server needs to release Velious to even this out (and the removal of the class XP system). Funny how P99 is the epitome of why the devs removed class hybrid penalties?? hrmmm

People would rather spend 300k on a stupid twink than help with some guildies over on the beta server and get Velious out. It's stupid but it's true right now. And this discrimination will not go away until the new expansion.

I am leveling a necro atm and have met several necros that rerolled from a rogue because they couldn't find a group since they didn't have an epic. The min/max shit that goes on with this server is my least favorite part, and 99% of these elitists are twinks that are really just bored lvl 60s. If you meet someone new to the server, they are likely not to care.

Hence why my best experiences on this server have been with people that are on new chars. Give me someone in raw silk over a twink any day of the week -- the person in silk is likely to play their character with as much skill as possible to maximize their input to the group, while a twink just goes afk and overagros because 'dat leet deeps dude!'

rofl, what a bunch of over-generalized horseshit !

[Daldaen]

It's the way EQ is. Certain items and spells are ENORMOUS power gains, and make you a whole new tier of awesome. Without them, you are operating at a fraction of the power of someone with it.

Rogue Epic - 40% haste and 15dmg/25delay primary is a huge DPS increase over anything else available and removes the need for haste.
Cleric CH - Cleric at 39 rocks any 50-60 priest in healing**
**Shaman Torpor - Lol except this guy.
Donal's BP - Opens up the possibility to kill things with smaller crews than you could without this because mana becomes a non issue.

Those are 4 of the most extreme examples. But it's something I like about EQ. 'Rare' items and spells provide meaningful and noticeable gains in the potential of your character.

If people wish to discriminate if you lack that, I suppose that is their perogative. I can't say I've ever seen it with the rogue epic. But certain things like a non-Donal's cleric or non-Torpor shaman I have seen because certain camps or small groups cannot function without those items/spells.

I don't really blame someone for grabbing a 30 rogue with Ragebringer over the 30 rogue with a Pugius. But when they outright reject you and wait for an epic rogue or if they kick you when an epic rogue arrives, that's pretty retarded.

[toolshed]

rofl, what a bunch of over-generalized horseshit !

Hence why my best experiences on this server have been with people that are on new chars.

[Swish]

rofl, what a bunch of over-generalized horseshit !

some truth to it I think - self entitlement/camp lawyering are getting worse.

[ripwind]

So, what I've divined from this conversation is that I shouldn't swing by Orc 1 and DS/Regen folks. Also, I'm a scumbag for having a level 40 epic rogue. I have not once ever had anyone ask me, when playing my rogue, if I had an epic before joining a group. I have, however, had plenty of people rib me over having one once I've joined.

Probably also a scumbag for other reasons.

[Swish]

So, what I've divined from this conversation is that I shouldn't swing by Orc 1 and DS/Regen folks. Also, I'm a scumbag for having a level 40 epic rogue. I have not once ever had anyone ask me, when playing my rogue, if I had an epic before joining a group. I have, however, had plenty of people rib me over having one once I've joined.

Probably also a scumbag for other reasons.

You also haven't had a level 52 rogue without an epic though, where the real hate starts and people suddenly have to go when you arrive because "kid woke up", "wife came home", "house fell down", "cat died" ;)

People who don't want help shouldn't be at orc 1 anyway, it's probably the camp with the most outside help on the box.

[Champion_Standing]

By the time you hit lvl 50 on P99 you are jaded min maxing basement dweller, happens to the best of us.

[bulbousaur]

I have a 49 rogue without epic and have never been refused a group.

[Grimfan]

There was an awesome dude who streams a newbie night (http://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163831) and was in Kurns the other night pulling a bunch of skeletons and letting newbs wack on them once and then DS killing them since he has a 46 point DS as a bard. My entire group was grateful and we really had a good time when he came to us and announced that we are heroes and needed to save him. None of us complained that he was ruining the game for us, and we were all generally happy. He also did it the right amount of times which was twice.

If he had been doing it all night then maybe we would have had some issues and others would have been angry about it. This is the kind of shit though that makes EQ awesome, not the shit that makes it boring. If you're bored because a level 60 came along and buffed/helped you/gave you a handy then you're playing the game way wrong.