SK or Rogue?

[Bumrusch]

Hiyas,
I use to play EQ when it came out for many years, and recently discovered P99. I currently have severarl low lvl toons trying to make up my mind what I would like to play. I've narrowed my choices down to Shadowknight or a Rogue. What is the going opinion on which of these two would be able to get groups? I prefer to hunt with people over soloing.

Sincerely
Bum

[Trelaboon]

Rogue will definitely find groups a lot easier, but you're deciding between two very different characters, so the question really is more about what you want to be doing in game.

[Itap]

SK's are a lot more fun imo, and if you want to wait till next patch (hopefully), hybrid penalties will be lifted.

[Kutsumo]

Totally different play styles with these two.

SK are often considered the "best" grouping tank because of their solid snap agro and ability to pull when needed. You may have issues with groups until the XP penalty is lifted, however. SK can solo slowly but steadily with fear kiting. Can be a busy class if you're playing it to full potential with all the utility.

Every group would love to have 1-3 rogues. They're tip top sustained DPS and pretty simple to play. This can also make it boring. I often find myself frustrated with my rogue's lack of ability to solo or duo with a healer (only if it's a shaman tanking for you), but rarely go without a group when I want one.

Either class can get around in dangerous places.

GL with your choice!

[Swish]

SK's are a lot more fun imo, and if you want to wait till next patch (hopefully), hybrid penalties will be lifted.

Tanks can only occupy one slot in a group, rogues are generally a great addition to any open dps slot (usually 3-4 to work with).

Combine that with everyone waiting for the hybrid penalty to be removed before they level their SK/paladin/etc... and you'll struggle for a group as a SK unless you can organize those groups yourself.

For that reason, and if you think you'd enjoy topping DPS charts... go rogue :) <3

[Itap]

Tanks can only occupy one slot in a group, rogues are generally a great addition to any open dps slot (usually 3-4 to work with).

Combine that with everyone waiting for the hybrid penalty to be removed before they level their SK/paladin/etc... and you'll struggle for a group as a SK unless you can organize those groups yourself.

For that reason, and if you think you'd enjoy topping DPS charts... go rogue :) <3

This man speaks the truth, he has (had) a 55+ SK so he knows from personal experience.

But still, SKs can do some cool shit with pulling, especially with the addition of Death Peace. Rogues, while they are the best dps, are a one trick pony

[Faited]

Rogues, while they are the best dps, are a one trick pony

I disagree with this. Too many ppl consider rogues boring or a one trick pony but that's only if they've never played one or don't know how to play one well. CR happens all the time while raiding so Rogues are super useful to get the raid quickly recuperated. Poisons can also play an important part in raids or even while leveling (on live I used to solo cuz i had the right poisons on my blade). Also, Halflings can't be SKs but can be rogues & we all know who the masta race is. :D

To the OP's question: have you considered what you want to be doing once you're 60? Or are you looking strictly at the leveling process? SKs are GREAT at off-tanking adds in super dangerous places where 1 add could mean a wipe, like NToV. They're quite useful in many ways.

Personally, I never understood the hate against hybrids (ok, well, Iksar SKs ya lol). As a main rogue on live & on p99, I can tell you straight up that in xp groups a paladin or SK main tank is FAR superior to a warrior tank. Even moreso, if u consider all the twink rogues running around w/Ragebringer at lvl 10. Yes, they'll be taking a bit of xp away but you'll be killing shiz WAY faster cuz, as a rogue, u can essentially start backstabbing as soon as Disease Cloud or Flash of Light land.

[Jfertal]

If you would like to be a self sufficient tank/puller go SK. Rogues are a great class, offer a lot of versatility, they aren't just a stab and drag type of class. I have a lot of fun with my rogue personally.

When choosing between a Shadow knight and a Rogue, its two different play styles, I chose SK over anything. But it depends on how you would like to play EQ.

EDit: the penalities aren't huge, I always created my own groups, so much easier. I didn't have much of problem reaching 60, when I was LFG I would just solo throughout the lands. Something some classes don't do that well above 50+

[Bumrusch]

I played both back in the day. I like both tanking and beating the crap out of stuff. Was just curious as to thoughts on one's ability to get groups, as I like grouping and didn't want to roll something that would have a hard time. What are thoughts on being a complete beginner here on P99 and not being twinked as a tank?

[Eldon]

we all know who the masta race is. :D
Barbarian /nod

[Issar]

I played both back in the day. I like both tanking and beating the crap out of stuff. Was just curious as to thoughts on one's ability to get groups, as I like grouping and didn't want to roll something that would have a hard time. What are thoughts on being a complete beginner here on P99 and not being twinked as a tank?

Most likely you're going to end up rolling both if you're really torn between the two roles. Some days you'll get groups with ease on your rogue, and others your SK will be bombarded with group requests. That's just the way the server is. I played a pally for a while on P99 and maybe 1 day in a month would I have trouble finding a group. Contrary to the common belief on the forums, leveling groups don't always discriminate on hybrid penalties and they also support unorthodox groups. Only idiots refuse good players in groups, regardless of class. In the end, you'll probably develop a group of friends with whichever toon and end up leveling that one as your main.

With regards to not being geared, people are going to hand you stuff eventually. Ignoring the few doom&gloomers on the forums, people on the server are generally super nice. There is a serious surplus of good gear that gets handed out or sells for cheap. Relatively, both classes are not overly gear dependent. As an SK, get your ac/hp rings and any sta/hp items you can after that, and your spells will do your work in groups. As a rogue, get the heaviest hitting dagger you can find and some ac/hp rings and you're set. You won't be gearless for long, trust me.

[Bumrusch]

Issar, you are a genius. I typically focus a toon when once I make up my mind on what to play. I actually like your idea. I'm not a power player like I once was so that would break up the monotonous of grinding one guy!

[Bumrusch]

Ok,
Troll Sk has been made, I'm currently level 2...pimping with a few pieces of cloth and a tarnished 2-handed sword! Name is Fatbob, holler if you see me!

[Issar]

Excellent name choice sir.

[am0n]

Re: Experience Penalty. If you are just starting, pretty much no one cares about the exp penalty at low levels. And unless you plan on 10+ hours a day, you probably won't make it to the levels where people may care about hybrid penalty until it is removed.

[webrunner5]

Ok,
Troll Sk has been made, I'm currently level 2...pimping with a few pieces of cloth and a tarnished 2-handed sword! Name is Fatbob, holler if you see me!

Just think, in about a month you will be level 10. :( 68% XP penalty is loads of fun. :eek:

[Issar]

Just think, in about a month you will be level 10. :( 68% XP penalty is loads of fun. :eek:

I think your leveling patterns are different than mine :D. I was able to obtain my level 9 spells over the course of 2 days, while also working my fletching and running into town to sell every time my bags filled up. This was my first toon which was an Erudite Pally, so only a hybrid penalty and no Racial penalty. My pally was not twinked in any way in that time frame either. The hybrid penalty is also going away, and will likely be lifted by the time that it really matters for Fatbob.

P99 is really about the journey. Especially with your first toon, it is about building up your character. At times it's frustrating, but most of the time it's pure fun. That's what classic EverQuest is. If you're looking to blast to max level, then you're probably playing the wrong game. There's no reason to simply rush to the end game. Raid content isn't generally challenging in terms of skill, and the top guilds require quite a time commitment and flexibility with your hours. If you are looking to simply max out in order to start raiding, again I really think you're playing the wrong game. Raiding in EQ isn't quite the same as more recent MMO's with better developed raid encounters. In comparisons to modern MMO's, raiding in EQ is less about the challenge and more about just obtaining the phat loots. Enjoy the journey.

A tip for Fatbob, keep the wiki open and look up items that you loot. In particular, keep all of the bonechips and High Quality Bear (or cat) Skins, as they sell for well in EC. Bonechips should sell for 8-10pp per 20 stack and HQ Bear Skins for 25-30. Cat skins are a little less, around 15ish. By the time I got to 15, I had a my hp/ac rings, full banded and some better armor in a few slots, and a Nathsar Greatsword. The rings cost me around 500pp, as per average. The sword cost me 100pp, which was essentially selling a couple of hides and some bonechips. The sword is great up to level 20, and will easily last you until level 30 or so. If I can catch you while you're in game, I'm sure I have a few items to spare for the SK.

[Spyder73]

Protip: roll Monk

[Issar]

Fatbob still live?

[webrunner5]

Fatbob still live?

Hmm, long time no see. :D

[JurisDictum]

Rogues cannot solo for the most part. You can inefficiently solo as a twinked rogue at lower levels, but pretty soon you'll need someone to tank or fear for you. The other downside is some people find them boring, because you spend most your playtime backstabbing and pressing your feint macro.

Other than that, they are a great class that is overall the best dps in game, not overwhelmingly expensive to gear, and has an easy time walking through dangerous zones.

Shadowknights are arguably the best group tank in the game (although I think the perfect group uses Paladin), and are solo-capable. However, they are expensive, slow to level, and probably the worst raid class in classic EQ. They occupy a werid space where they take a great deal of platinum to twink, but really aren't a good endgame class*. But if you really like tanking groups, it might be the class for you.

*Geared Shadowknights are really good at PvP, so on red they are a good endgame class. But there are always too damn many of them, and it tends to annoy the very raid guilds you want to join for high end gear.