Velious for Beginners.

[Matthalas Winterheart]

Sad to say, I have 0 experience with Velious. Would like to get a thread going with information pertaining to our new land here.

Hoping to keep this thread informative for those that may be in a similiar position. Currently looking to get out there with my now 56 Cleric. I have read some guides on the net but not sure how much of that information will pertain to P99.

Any Advice, information would be greatly appreciated.

[Oleris]

velks/cc/sirens grotto are the ideal places to level up at. Kael Drakkel is the place to get better armor than fear/hate.

[Freakish]

What do you want to do? What information are you looking for?

There's new zones to level in, hundreds of new quests, tradeskills with very nice rewards. There's warring factions. Halls of testing with quest armor drops which require tradeable gems that are dropped in group settings. Certain Kunark items become obsolete. Some kunark camps are still worth doing. Some Kunark spells are even more valuable because they won't drop in Velious. Velious spells drop almost everywhere. There's dragons everyone can kill, there's raid content there's even a hidden zone deep in the Temple of Veeshan.

[Pint]

I wish I was you

[TarukShmaruk]

People do sirens for leveling?

[surron]

sirens are hella good exp especially since SG has a nice ZEM

[Oleris]

Outdoors

Cobalt Scar- I used to kill the otters for gem drops and easy xp. Quaddable by a wizard (for me back in 2001). otters and walrus buddies on different factions. Know this for a couple quests like lodizal shield and sea meat quests.

Eastern Wastes-entry zone into velious. Lower levels can level up a bit here. I don't remember doing much in here

The Great Divide- Named after Kerafym who caused a "great divide" in the middle of the continent which is also a barrier to the dwarves and giants. Tons of giants roam, and dwarves near their home.

Iceclad Ocean- never been here

Siren's Grotto- Hard as hell zone with great rewards. One must master this zone to get into West Wastes safely. Tons of enduring breath drops + gems for kael/thurg/tov armor quests.

Wakening Land-holgresh elder beads drop here. Some geonids for gem drops as well.

Western Wastes- think of dreadlands on steroids with dragons roaming around. Do not enter this zone unless you can pay attention and are prepared to die. Roaming ice burrowers that rival the HP's of trak/vp dragons. Roaming dragons that a small force can take down for a decent necklace. This is definitely a fun zone, but have gate ready and come with a group.

Cities

Icewell Keep- Raid zone for the king of the dwarves, Dain Frostreaver.

Kael Drakkal- Raid zone + xp zone. "The arena" is the place you want to be in order to grind out faction and get armor drops.

Skyshrine- Never went here.

Thurgadin- the only safe hub when you start velious for all races. Kill dwarves and you're only home is gone until you kill enough to gain favor with the giants or dragons.

Dungeons

Crystal Caverns- solid leveling 30-45

Dragon Necropolis- I only killed the phase spiders to try and get the carapace.

Sleeper's Tomb- the new VP. Key required that drops off a select couple of dragons. No huge quest required, just getting the necklace drop.

Temple of Veeshan- hardest of the three faction raid zones. West wing is the easiest, north wing is hardest.

Tower of Frozen Shadow- Solid leveling zone, never went too high up.

Velketor's Labyrinth- Make sure you have lev and get ready for trains! Solid ZEM, great drops, great xp, very dangerous! This is the new "hot" place that will replace seb for leveling 55-60. Another hotspot for gem drops for armor quests.

Plane of Growth- the new fear/hate.

Plane of mischief- the card system is confusing even with a full guide. Some decent turn in quests here. Ideal spot for a high 50's group if someone can COTH you to the entrance..... which is in the north wing of tov.



faction
killing giants- easiest to max faction at. tons of low level giants in great divide, entrance to kael can be solid xp. High levels will spend time in the arena.

killing dwarves- I only killed dwarves when killing Dain, no idea how hard it is to max faction

killing dragons- If you are a top guild and spend a while raiding in ToV it shouldn't be too hard to max, but the rewards pale in comparison to what gear you should have.

far right you can see what is required. http://wiki.project1999.com/Category:Armor_Sets

[Sorn]

I just did some wandering on Beta and here's what I've found so far:

KOS greenies will attack you even if they're level 30 and you're level 60, because everything on Velious has anger management issues apparently. There are LOTS of wanderers in the spots I went, too.

Snow bunnies are adorable and only level 1 or 2, but they scamper around between tundra kodiaks so good luck getting their meat. The kodiaks look kinda like wombats, while I'm at it.

Only the Coldain won't try to kill you when you first set foot onto the continent. The other two factions, giants and dragons, are threatening at the start. If you're in wolf form, the Coldain will try to kill you because strange wolves are bad.

The wolves are on different factions in some places (most?), but it's easy to tell them apart. The shardwurms are on no one's faction.

There are orcs. The orcs are supposedly allies with the giants, but as usual in EQ, there's nothing you can do to raise faction with the orcs. That's okay, they're ugly anyway.

The ice is really slick in some places. Enjoy the impromptu ice-skating sessions!

Sunsets are fucking beautiful in Eastern Wastes.

Frost Giant Toes drop way less often than Kromrif Heads. SO, you want that burlap prayer shawl, do you? Well, start camping.

[Tiltjag]

Are the mobs for the CS key threatening to start as well? I don't remember if I had to do any faction work before that quest

[Matthalas Winterheart]

Outdoors

Cobalt Scar- I used to kill the otters for gem drops and easy xp. Quaddable by a wizard (for me back in 2001). otters and walrus buddies on different factions. Know this for a couple quests like lodizal shield and sea meat quests.

Eastern Wastes-entry zone into velious. Lower levels can level up a bit here. I don't remember doing much in here

The Great Divide- Named after Kerafym who caused a "great divide" in the middle of the continent which is also a barrier to the dwarves and giants. Tons of giants roam, and dwarves near their home.

Iceclad Ocean- never been here

Siren's Grotto- Hard as hell zone with great rewards. One must master this zone to get into West Wastes safely. Tons of enduring breath drops + gems for kael/thurg/tov armor quests.

Wakening Land-holgresh elder beads drop here. Some geonids for gem drops as well.

Western Wastes- think of dreadlands on steroids with dragons roaming around. Do not enter this zone unless you can pay attention and are prepared to die. Roaming ice burrowers that rival the HP's of trak/vp dragons. Roaming dragons that a small force can take down for a decent necklace. This is definitely a fun zone, but have gate ready and come with a group.

Cities

Icewell Keep- Raid zone for the king of the dwarves, Dain Frostreaver.

Kael Drakkal- Raid zone + xp zone. "The arena" is the place you want to be in order to grind out faction and get armor drops.

Skyshrine- Never went here.

Thurgadin- the only safe hub when you start velious for all races. Kill dwarves and you're only home is gone until you kill enough to gain favor with the giants or dragons.

Dungeons

Crystal Caverns- solid leveling 30-45

Dragon Necropolis- I only killed the phase spiders to try and get the carapace.

Sleeper's Tomb- the new VP. Key required that drops off a select couple of dragons. No huge quest required, just getting the necklace drop.

Temple of Veeshan- hardest of the three faction raid zones. West wing is the easiest, north wing is hardest.

Tower of Frozen Shadow- Solid leveling zone, never went too high up.

Velketor's Labyrinth- Make sure you have lev and get ready for trains! Solid ZEM, great drops, great xp, very dangerous! This is the new "hot" place that will replace seb for leveling 55-60. Another hotspot for gem drops for armor quests.

Plane of Growth- the new fear/hate.

Plane of mischief- the card system is confusing even with a full guide. Some decent turn in quests here. Ideal spot for a high 50's group if someone can COTH you to the entrance..... which is in the north wing of tov.



faction
killing giants- easiest to max faction at. tons of low level giants in great divide, entrance to kael can be solid xp. High levels will spend time in the arena.

killing dwarves- I only killed dwarves when killing Dain, no idea how hard it is to max faction

killing dragons- If you are a top guild and spend a while raiding in ToV it shouldn't be too hard to max, but the rewards pale in comparison to what gear you should have.

far right you can see what is required. http://wiki.project1999.com/Category:Armor_Sets


Awesome write up, thank you.

Great Posts so far. Keep em coming!

[gummab]

Velketor's Labyrinth- Make sure you have lev and get ready for trains! Solid ZEM, great drops, great xp, very dangerous! This is the new "hot" place that will replace seb for leveling 55-60. Another hotspot for gem drops for armor quests.


If only life was so simple,wonder how many die to ice skating.

[Sorn]

Are the mobs for the CS key threatening to start as well? I don't remember if I had to do any faction work before that quest

Right now I think Ziglark is factionless/on Beta Neutral and invulnerable to attack, but I do not know what they're planning to do after going live. The issue seems to be making sure a small set of players does not lock down CS for an eternity right after release.

[Scoojitsu]

Ziglark ... invulnerable to attack

This would be a wonderful solution.
Would have to do the same to Wenglawks tho.

[Pint]

sirens are hella good exp especially since SG has a nice ZEM

This isn't an exp zone, exp gain was pretty poor on beta and aside from maybe the ww zone line there arnt any good places for sub 60s to set up

[Cecily]

SG is more or less the HS of Velious.
DN is Seb.
Velks is KC.

[Kevynne]

SG is more or less the HS of Velious.
DN is Seb.
Velks is KC.

i remember SG being the new seb and DN being the new HS

[Sadre Spinegnawer]

seb is the new seb
hs is the new hs
anything that is the new kc, my god not another one, but yeah velks i guess. velks is a vertical kc

velious not much of an exp expansion, fact. it's all about the armor/gem farming.

[Jzendo]

Otter base camp in Cobalt Scar- home of the most wonderful midi music in the game. They drop crustacean shell armor- boosts str and Sta but decreases dex. Great mid level tank armor. The Scar is a Druid and wizard paradise! Quad kiting wyverns (the unnamed ones are Not on dragon faction)

Crystal Caverns- favorite zone. Starts as series of windy tunnels full of Orc miners. Once you get to the tunnels at the bottom of the mine shaft you find a forgotten dwarf town cut off from the outside world. Keep exploring to find tunnels with geonids, terrors, and crystal spiders

[Ele]

People thinking there will be quading in cobalt are going to be sad.

Groups were AOEing the zone down for gem drops during earlier sessions of beta.

[cornisthebest]

People thinking there will be quading in cobalt are going to be sad.

Groups were AOEing the zone down for gem drops during earlier sessions of beta.

that is a very depressing thing to read

[Daldaen]

I can't wait to see the Velketor AE groups forming at entrance. Tag a spider in top and jump down, proceed to AE train $$$.

Or the 5 Torpor shamans camping alice & wonderland for Thrones.

[Pscottdai]

yeah, Vel' is going to be nothing like what people remember from live

[Swish]

yeah, Vel' is going to be nothing like what people remember from live

[Kender]

Are the mobs for the CS key threatening to start as well? I don't remember if I had to do any faction work before that quest

yes CoV is kos to all at the start

bards and enchanters can get non kos with faction song/spell

[Kender]

you wont be able to ae velks. there will be too many people in there trying to claim their little corner as a camp

[Kender]

Only the Coldain won't try to kill you when you first set foot onto the continent. The other two factions, giants and dragons, are threatening at the start. If you're in wolf form, the Coldain will try to kill you because strange wolves are bad.


rallos ogres will be non kos giants and kos to dwarves. not sure about other races with rallos diety

[Swish]

I hope the GMs are well prepared and have fresh keyboards, they're going to be doing a lot of typing :(

[Kevris]

SG is more or less the HS of Velious.
DN is Seb.
Velks is KC.

This is a perfect analogy, but Velks was shittier than KC. It is a great place if you can go there alone or if the entire zone is full of people who know how to play, but the icy bits/invis mobs and other little traps mean idiots are going to be CONSTANTLY fucking it up for everybody.

What's really going to suck is that it's going to be incredibly difficult to get past Skyshrine for a long time. I expect 300 people standing around Ziglark with javelins ready to go for about the first 6 months after Velious releases. Which means unless you're ready to deal with that, you're going to be stuck in the "worst" of the high-level dungeons. May as well stay in Kunark to level to 60, really.

[Kevris]

yes CoV is kos to all at the start

bards and enchanters can get non kos with faction song/spell

I'm pretty sure Veeshan-following Humans are dubious.

[Daldaen]

This is a perfect analogy, but Velks was shittier than KC. It is a great place if you can go there alone or if the entire zone is full of people who know how to play, but the icy bits/invis mobs and other little traps mean idiots are going to be CONSTANTLY fucking it up for everybody.

What's really going to suck is that it's going to be incredibly difficult to get past Skyshrine for a long time. I expect 300 people standing around Ziglark with javelins ready to go for about the first 6 months after Velious releases. Which means unless you're ready to deal with that, you're going to be stuck in the "worst" of the high-level dungeons. May as well stay in Kunark to level to 60, really.

Ziglark will be set Invulnerable and Indifferent to all players for the first month of Velious. Meaning anyone can get a key.

[Juevento]

Ziglark will be set Invulnerable and Indifferent to all players for the first month of Velious. Meaning anyone can get a key.

Pras non-classic QoL solutions!

[Joyelle]

Well if it was classic mechanics we all know what would happen. Remember what happened with the manastone camp?

[falkun]

What's really going to suck is that it's going to be incredibly difficult to get past Skyshrine for a long time. I expect 300 people standing around Ziglark with javelins ready to go for about the first 6 months after Velious releases. Which means unless you're ready to deal with that, you're going to be stuck in the "worst" of the high-level dungeons. May as well stay in Kunark to level to 60, really.
If ziglark is going to launch this way then please add something to the giant in KD that is the other half of the quest. Doing the turn in with the giant and then keeping him killed will be just as effective a block to other guilds. Thanks for your consideration.This is the way it is currently implemented.

Skyshrine keys will not be on lock-down month 1. Anyone can get the key if they can avoid the mobs surrounding these two quest mobs.

Quest: http://wiki.project1999.com/Key_to_Cobalt_Scar

[Daldaen]

Pras non-classic QoL solutions!

Well... The classic situation, as described by Nilbog, they cannot resolve in their system the way they set dates. Classicly the first month the key didn't matter. And they don't have a way to set key on/off flagging in their timeline of updates, thus this fix.

[Kevris]

Skyshrine keys will not be on lock-down month 1. Anyone can get the key if they can avoid the mobs surrounding these two quest mobs.

Quest: http://wiki.project1999.com/Key_to_Cobalt_Scar

Edit: Just saw all of the stuff they've said about Ziggy.

I am shocked; they're going to implement a non-classic solution to deal with the problem. That's pretty cool.

[kaev]

People thinking there will be quading in cobalt are going to be sad.

Groups were AOEing the zone down for gem drops during earlier sessions of beta.
that is a very depressing thing to read

This is often a very depressing community to be a part of.

[ryachart]

Edit: Just saw all of the stuff they've said about Ziggy.

I am shocked; they're going to implement a non-classic solution to deal with the problem. That's pretty cool.

The server itself is inherently non-classic because people have so much experience/information about how the game works and how the world behaves. Also because they aggressive prevent multi-boxing (that's not classic!)

Fixing QoL things to make a better-than-classic experience is a slippery slope for them, but the guys who run this server have shown so far that they have good ideas and good intentions for their non-classic changes.

[TarukShmaruk]

^

A really cool non-classic change would be velious release day hybrid XP penalty removal!

[ryachart]

^

A really cool non-classic change would be velious release day hybrid XP penalty removal!

I actually think this is pretty much the antithesis of a good change from classic haha.

The intent of this change would be to short-cut a grind that was originally part of the classic experience.

Some good reasons to change from classic:
- Exploits/Bugs/Broken Mechanics
- Community Needs
- Technical Limitations/Differences

Some bad reasons:
- Short cuts
- Specific likes/dislikes from certain parties

Just my 2cp