Hunting Guide Help Request: Velious Hunting Spots

[loramin]

For a long time the Per-Level Hunting Guide (http://wiki.project1999.com/Per-Level_Hunting_Guide) was a (mostly) comprehensive list of Project 1999 hunting spots, but unfortunately it hasn't been updated much since Velious came out.

That's why I need your help: if you have a favorite Velious hunting spot (or several), could you please reply with just a few details?

Level Range: What levels will find blue-con mobs at this hunting spot?
Zone/Area (Area Optional): Where is the spot (ideally both the zone and where it is in that zone)?
Monsters: What are the monster(s) to hunt?
Notes (Optional): Any further details such as which classes the spot is particularly good for, what factions are impacted, any good drops or related quests, etc.

Thanks!

[skarlorn]

Good thinking, Velious zones are a big mystery to me

[branamil]

Velious is shit for xp. It's only good to farm for loot after you're max level.

[aaezil]

^ guys either new or tryin to hide the good camps lmfao

[Maner]

Velious is shit for xp. It's only good to farm for loot after you're max level.

This is why, velious monsters usually hit harder and have more hp than monsters the same level in kunark and classic. Very few zones have a ZEM that is even close to comparing with the normal leveling spots. Even on live, the only zone that was really used for leveling was probably velkators.

However that said, Crystal Caverns is probably the only zone i would even suggest you try to level in, in velious. The spiders, and geos are very good exp and can even generate some good coin.

[Asheya]

Currently killing 'a snow cougar' in Iceclad Ocean, fear kiting them as a Ranger, xp is pretty good over all, think it's only base xp but there is plenty of mobs spread out non-kos but social. The mobs on the wiki are listed 27-31 which seems to be correct based on my track, started killing them at 30 after EF mammoths. You can bind on the dock as melee and there are vendors here. Also Cougar Claw Earrings drop here as a rare drop, got a couple here, they're not lore which is nice. Definitely not the optimal leveling zone for this level bracket compared to say MM or Unrest basement but as a solo spot it's good for rangers/druids and always afk'ing as there is 0 dangers.

[loramin]

Velious is shit for xp. It's only good to farm for loot after you're max level.

As a general rule I agree, Velious is less about leveling and far more about loot. But even so I do remember leveling in Velious on live, so I know it has at least some good places.

For instance, a Druid has lots of animals to charm in a zone like Eastern Wastes, a necro (or cleric?) might level in Tower of Frozen Shadow, and any class might want to level up on Frost Giants to get Dwarf/Dragon faction.

All I'm hoping to get out of this thread is as many of these viable places as possible, ideally with details (eg. I know ToFS is good for necros, but I don't know what dungeon levels are for what player levels). I'm not going to recommend that anyone should level in NToV ;)

[loramin]

Crystal Caverns is ...


Currently killing 'a snow cougar' in Iceclad Ocean, fear kiting them as a Ranger, ...

Awesome, thanks both for the recommendations, and extra thanks to Asheya for including lots of detail! I have added the cougars to the guide (https://wiki.project1999.com/Per-Level_Hunting_Guide#Hunting_Spots_25-29).

Maner, would level range would you recommend for CC?

[Maner]

As a general rule I agree, Velious is less about leveling and far more about loot. But even so I do remember leveling in Velious on live, so I know it has at least some good places.

For instance, a Druid has lots of animals to charm in a zone like Eastern Wastes, a necro (or cleric?) might level in Tower of Frozen Shadow, and any class might want to level up on Frost Giants to get Dwarf/Dragon faction.

All I'm hoping to get out of this thread is as many of these viable places as possible, ideally with details (eg. I know ToFS is good for necros, but I don't know what dungeon levels are for what player levels). I'm not going to recommend that anyone should level in NToV ;)

Problem with TOFS is the named pretty much. Everything on the first level can be light blue or green but the named mob you need to kill to get a key will be red con.

[loramin]

Problem with TOFS is the named pretty much. Everything on the first level can be light blue or green but the named mob you need to kill to get a key will be red con.

Ah, that seems to rule out the higher levels then (unless any of their key-holders are easier). Even so the first level should be blue (and presumably good hunting for a necro) at some level, right? Any idea what that level might be?

[Asheya]

Only thing I would change for Iceclad is the level range, I'm still getting 2% per mob at 33, probably good til 35.

[loramin]

Fixed, thanks!

[Maner]

Ah, that seems to rule out the higher levels then (unless any of their key-holders are easier). Even so the first level should be blue (and presumably good hunting for a necro) at some level, right? Any idea what that level might be?

the trash mobs on floor 1 are lvl 24-28 pretty much but the key mob is lvl 34. The 2nd floor is pretty much the same lvl 24-29 trash with a key mob that is lvl 34, and they cast a ton on the 2nd floor making it kind of a pain.

[Comptonlive]

Exp was slower than other spots per mob but due to iceclad being totally underhunted I got a few levels between 33 and 37 on my Druid just root rotting giants near the bridge. Mostly did it to gain faction but zero competition for mobs was a huge plus.

[Maschenny]

The Coldain Expedition Guards in GD are good for pet classes in their late 50's. Can be tough if you're undergeared.

[Sorn]

30-36
Iceclad Ocean
solo/duo
Area around ToFS, snow cougars and shadow guardians. Charm and fear-kiting works best. Beware of Garou, a level 40 shaman, and Midnight. Both are nameds with lots of extra HP and their drops are for the same quest (The Mighty Garou rewards Garou Bone Club).

35-40
Iceclad Ocean
solo
Dire wolves on largest isle
Charm and fear-kiting nets you very fast exp even as the dire wolves green out. Good for druids. Enchanters can charm everything that roams.

40-45
Eastern Wastes
solo/duo
West of #9 on the map, where the walruses roam
Charm and fear-kite walruses. Good for druids. Enchanters also do well. Extra fun if you get a rogue to come with you for DPS.

40-45
Eastern Wastes
duo
All roamers. Snow griffins are tough casters. Avoid the elder snow griffins. You can solo if you've got CC, but easier to have two pairs of eyes watching out for things. Work your way up from cougars/dervishes to tundra kodiaks/wolves to mammoths/rhinos/giants to griffins/manticores. On the north side you'll find walrusmen, who are numerous and ugly. The various Coldain will assist on giants. Rhinos and griffins are the fastest mobs here.

35-45
Eastern Wastes
group
Grouping at either orc fort or giant fort. Bring CC and watch out for roamers.

30-45
Crystal Caverns
duo/trio/group
Start at the top and work your way down. Some good drops in this zone the further in you get. If you have sneak or a faction spell/song, you can bank and vendor at the city at the bottom. Eventually killing the orcs here will raise faction with dorfs.

45-50
Wakening Lands
solo/duo
Panthers/haze panthers, can quad or solo. Can also beat up the tigerdinos near Skyshrine. Have see invis to see the haze panthers and use invis liberally to avoid mercenaries and holgresh (often casters).

45-50+
Wakening Lands
solo/duo
Unicorns in unicorn valley. Don't pull Lady Gelestial, as she's higher level and named. Killing black unicorns will raise faction with white unicorns (and Gelestial). Killing white ones will raise faction with black unicorns (Lithiniath). You can't win, kill them all and pickle their flesh. Be warned that the black ones are higher level and they're SKs who cast fear. Avoid the corrupted unicorn in this area.

45-52+
Wakening Lands
duo/group
Giants outside Kael - these are commonly murdered for faction. The nameds drop various quest pieces.

46-52
Cobalt Scar
solo/duo
Wyverns (quad) and cobalt drakes (root-rot). A favorite of druids, bards, and some wizards. It's often packed. The cobalt drakes cast an AE dispell that hits for 600dmg every 24 seconds. Two nameds will pop in place of these: Yvolcarn (wyvern) and Azureake (drake). Avoid if you can. You can keep killing past 52 but the exp quickly goes kaput and there's a lot of competition.

55+
Kael Drakkel
solo/duo
Charm-kiting dire wolves. You need Call of Karana and you can only charm the wolves that hit for a max of 252. VERY dangerous. You had better be good or you will die. Harder than bear pits in some ways. The dire wolves can and have been used to solo Vindi part of the way.

50+
Kael Drakkel
group/raid (duo if you're OP and charming dire wolves)
Arena - armor drops. Make sure you have an average level of about 55. Same for plate cycle and chain cycle. Don't charm dire wolves unless you know what you're doing (and you're level 60).

58+
Siren's Grotto
solo/duo
Charm-kiting using the manatee and walrus servants. Egress/succor to the other side from CS and work your way in. You can only do the enthralled stuff, swordfish, and possibly coldspine seahorses. Good chance of drops. Druids and enchanters can do this.

58+
Siren's Grotto
group
Bring either a cleric or a torpor shaman for heals, enchanter/bard (enc preferred) for CC, monk for pulls, and tank. If you are missing one of those, don't do it.

55+
Western Wastes
solo
Charm-kiting the animals. They share spawns with the dragons. It's best to have good CoV faction (and avoid Escorpa). Beware of Ice Burrowers.

60
Western Wastes
solo if you're nuts
Ice burrowers are level 61 and they have an AE that hits for a lot and also dispells. Bring jboots and be a druid if you want to solo these.

46-50
Plane of Mischief
solo
Quad/charm-kite the forest area. PoM is hideous experience and the respawn time is 72 minutes, but you can do it. Rangers, druids, wizards, enchanters, shamans, possibly mages. Might want to be able to bind there to do this. Chance of squires.

50-60
Plane of Mischief
solo/duo
Charm-kite rat maze. Chance of both squires and knights. You will get lost at some point. Closest entrance is between McStinkles and McSprayel, by the door they 'guard'.

55-60
Plane of Mischief
group (with harmony)
Hedge Maze. You need harmony if you don't want to be dogpiled by a bunch of plants named moldy sausage and the like. Also, if you find the sphinx at the center, don't tell it 'No' or it will kill you. The hedge wizards are the hardest ones. Not certain on cards.

55-60
Plane of Mischief
duo/trio/group
The audience at the puppet show + Chuckles the Great. Chance of squires and knights and maybe better, but don't count on seeing anything for months. They single aggro and summon, so be sure to have a pet/charm class with you.

[Troxx]

If the only metric you care about is xp per hour, velious is not competitive in general. There are a few good spots at lower levels like iceclad and crystal caverns.

Velious offers other things, however. Loot is a plus and there are some great loot camps for people 50-60. I actually found Kael Arena to be surprisingly good xp at 60 duo (sham/monk) and trio. With a balanced group from mid 50s up this makes for decent xp with the primary perk of Loot. Landing slows is challenging mid to upper 50s. Having rash helps but it's a pain if your slower is in the mid-low 50s. Cleric complete heal, having a stout tank help immensely. A lower level shaman is better off just patch healing.

[loramin]

Wow, awesome, thanks for the responses all. And an extra special thanks to Sorn for that incredible list. Seeing that made my morning: if this forum had anything like "Reddit gold" I'd give you gold twice for that post!

I'll work on adding everyone's responses to the guide throughout the day today (in between that "work" stuff).

[Philaw]

Wow, awesome, thanks for the responses all. And an extra special thanks to Sorn for that incredible list. Seeing that made my morning: if this forum had anything like "Reddit gold" I'd give you gold twice for that post!

I'll work on adding everyone's responses to the guide throughout the day today (in between that "work" stuff).

Thanks so much for your hard work on this!

[ketzerei84]

Geonid tunnel in crystal caverns from 30(grouped) to 50(can solo from high 30s depending on class).

Rygorr in same zone(right by the entry and fight your way down) from 20(grouped) to 35ish(can solo from mid-high 20s depending on class)

[loramin]

Well that took a lot longer than I expected, but I have finally entered everyone's suggestions in to the guide. Many thanks to everyone who contributed: the guide has a MUCH healthier selection of Velious spots now.

If anyone has any more ideas please feel free to post them here.

[Jimjam]

Thank you!

[EliteJackson]

Really appreciate these guides. Super useful to getting back into the game. Also, I am glad someone spelled out why nobody really levels in Velious zones for dummies like me.

I explored the Tower of Frozen Shadow as a level 54 Necro, just because I never saw it on live, and can share a bit on it's current state. A super cool zone to explore, but I don't think it's a good zone for xp:

The undead mobs flee, at least for the first four levels.
Lots of the undead mobs that flee are casters
Zoning out requires knowing the layout
Fleeing through the wrong portal creates mind-bending trains of undead caster mobs that likewise will flee
Same applies to taking a pet through a portal
Later portals drop you into enemies
Getting portal keys can take hours for the unlucky

Just my 2 cp. Thanks to the creator and contributors.

[greenspectre]

On live I remember charm/DoT kiting giants in GD for faction/coin and it being pretty darn good experience. Probably did it from 35'ish to 40, whenever Hill Giants in RM were taken.

Also, I remember the mines in Thurgadin being a solid spot to solo 30-35 if you didn't want to deal with crowds and didn't want long corpse runs. Nothing of note loot-wise, but the area was fairly hassle-free.

[zaneosak]

Could you actually get decent XP ENC/CLR duo-ing in Kael? Or are mobs just too high hp to do so? What if fully hasted and given 2 high proc weapons or something? I am sure dangerous but maybe worth it ?

[Grizzler]

Quick off-topic question:

Even though Velious isn't as great xp-per-hour as compared with other spots, with the population of P99 the way it is, would it be worth it to still head out there?

Mainly asking since on most of my characters, I either get a group quick or end up sitting around LFG constantly. Are people really adverse to going to Velious for XP that much that you wouldn't find folks at these places LFG?

TL;DR: With the most well known areas camped regularly on P99, do more folks head out to these places LFG or not so much?

[Tecmos Deception]

With the most well known areas camped regularly on P99, do more folks head out to these places LFG or not so much?

No, not really. You usually need to take your own group if you want to go off the beaten path.

[Grizzler]

No, not really. You usually need to take your own group if you want to go off the beaten path.

Yea, this is what I figured. I wish there was a standard spot for folks to go to to make pug groups, kinda like EC is for trading. Makes it harder to put groups together to go else where. Anyway, thanks for the info.

May now return to your regularly scheduled program..

[Samoht]

50+
Kael Drakkel
group/raid (duo if you're OP and charming dire wolves)
Arena - armor drops. Make sure you have an average level of about 55. Same for plate cycle and chain cycle.

I am interested to know what chain cycle this might refer to...

[Zemus]

Dragon necropolis "church" is a good place for level 58+ adventurers. You really need slows (shaman or enchanter) and can charm the lower level rats no problem. Chance of exquisite weapons and BP gems.

http://imgur.com/a/x6gnG

[Zemus]

I'm also surprised that 4 and 6 suit in Wakening lands isn't on the guide as it's a popular solo xp spot for necros, quading wizards, shamans and whatnot.

The genonids/goo's in the wakening lands geo caves also seem like a nice little honeypot.

[Triiz]

I did a few levels on my bard on WL geo's and they were good because of charm and keeping both mobs constantly dotted. I would wonder why I rarely ever seen anyone else there.

Then I tried geo's on 2 other classes and it was really slow. They have a ridiculous amount of HP for their level, 8k+ HP on some of them, wide level range (44-49 that I've seen), and a lot of them are shaman's. They're doable, but slow for most classes compared to other options imo

WL Suits on the other hand are good for any solo class. About half the HP of geo's, smaller level range, always spawn as warriors, and all blue till like 59. Also, a really safe area if you're on the hill between the 2 camps and not kos to the stifayne's. Definitely worth adding to the guide I think.

[Jimjam]

I found velks zone in and lower frenzy to be good xp on a 59 ranger. Found a few pairs of SCHW, crystal chitin armor and some melee bracer gems so the loot is good too. The frenzied broodling was soloable with self buffs and potg. I'm not sure if it would have been so easy without as I had to take a couple of root/med breaks.

Crystal Caverns was good xp too. I made a level an hour from 36 through 40 in the basement (but I did have an out of group 45 druid and monk PLing me so I was getting about 3 times the xp I would have in group).