so i rolled a Iksar SK

[tingling]

how much am i going to hate my life? lol

Also does anyone have any SK pro tips as i have never played one before...

can they solo or am i in it for the long haul?

[Galaa]

they can solo, just not as good as caster classes or bards.

My tip for you would be to group as much as possible. This way, ur XP penalty would be shared among your group members, so it wont hurt you that much :D

[falkun]

Tanks are a shortage while leveling up, but some morons will hate you for your exp penalty. Screw them, make friends, tank well, and you'll get group offers. The crummiest part about iksar in Kunark is their very limited armor choices. Get some banded and just start tanking, the rest will fall in line.

[Cone]

cerimonial iksar chestplate

[tingling]

thanks guys! its a pain in the but to start up on this server lol.. i didn't even start from scratch on live

[DeathByCactus]

cerimonial iksar chestplate

At a 17-20k going rate, I don't think that is a feasible option for him.

[Swish]

Iksar SK armor choices aren't great sadly, I've heard they don't tank as well as their tail-less counterparts at later levels.

Good advice above, given the tank shortage people who want to make an enemy of you because of the exp penalty are retarded and will have to make do with no tank at all a lot of the time ;) - from an ex-Troll SK :D

[tingling]

would you recommend i re-roll? to troll?

[Swish]

Troll would give you better tanky stats, and better armor options... but if there's one quote that resonates on these forums its "play what you enjoy" - I like lizards, just a shame that 9/10 of them are monks/necros here :D

EDIT: Ogre is similar, with a slight reduction in their racial penalty, if you go there, be sure to put 5 points in AGI on creation :)

[tingling]

i hate the troll starting area... lol the ikky one is much better :( but i will do it i guess.. thx

[Swish]

If you can swing it, run yourself to Neriak, get a bind and get cracking in Nektulos, its not as bad as some people say :)

If not, 1-3 in Innothule and then you can head to Guk's entrance.

[DeathByCactus]

I ran from Oggok (shm) to Neriak and got a bind. I did this at lvl 1 with a Sow. I now run back and forth without Sow at lvl 6 to play in Uguk. The run is relatively short and you can easily pick up a Sow in Oasis. Typically there is someone of bind level in either Nek or Neriak. Just call in shout.

On the otherhand, I brought my Ikky to Neriak too, got lucky and found someone who ported me as opposed to running it like I had to do with my main in '00.

[tingling]

well i will give it a shot.. hopefully i survive the run and get a bind

[DeathByCactus]

well i will give it a shot.. hopefully i survive the run and get a bind

If you are running your lizard, bind at the outskirts of FP. You can find someone in EC tunnel who will be impressed with your run from Cab and bind you relatively easily.

Save up for the red wine quest (Neriak), that way you can bank/sell in Neriak.

[tingling]

i just want to get to lvl 9 so i can get some spells.

[Galaa]

thanks guys! its a pain in the but to start up on this server lol.. i didn't even start from scratch on live

pretty tough to start from scratch and play a tank class.

I just started recently as well, with no help. Few days ago I was so poor I cant even buy any of my lv 19 spell LOL.

Had to farm money in order to buy them.

[Messianic]

Iksar have very awesome starting quests and better ways to make $$ as a newbie. You can really never leave Kunark and do very well for yourself.

[Gamkek]

Iksar have very awesome starting quests and better ways to make $$ as a newbie. You can really never leave Kunark and do very well for yourself.

If you can find a group. There aren't many people lvl 15- 30 leveling up in Kunark anymore, at least not when I was on. Maybe it was different back when Kunark first launched on p99. Now you pretty much have to go to Oasis, Unrest or some other distant place to get through the teens. You'd think there would be more grouping going on in Kurns, but I guess there just aren't enough Iksar. There's usually a low teens group at entrance picking off skellies and maybe a level 15-16 soloer, but that's about it.

I actually (partly) shelved my Iksar SK and switched to a High Elf Pally for this reason.

[tingling]

well you know what i think i am going to stick with the iksar race... hopefully the armor situation wont be too bad and onec i get to lvl 10 to 15 it might be a bit easier to travel...

[Slave]

I like lizards, just a shame that 9/10 of them are monks/necros here :D


For extremely good reason. Iksar are undeniably the best monks and necros in the game, and fall very short in every other class.

[Galaa]

maybe try doing a naked run to Karnor's castle and camp there for Jarsath Scale armors? Since its no drop, there might be many people letting you loot it.

[Within99]

Be a MAN, keep your Iksar SK, Mines almost 22 and I wouldnt trade him for a 40 anything.

Its tough but you get a certain pride knowing it's hard.

[tingling]

yeah i am gonna keep him he looks slick :)

[Hitchens]

I'd group with an Iksar SK no problem.

[mwatt]

Making a tank as a first char - an Iksar SK at that - is a hard road. If this one char is all you intend to play and you really want to play it, then go for it. On the other hand, if you intend to play multiples, then I'd start with Necro or a Druid probably, and use them to farm items and cash to supply your tank.

Treeweave is the best, cheap chest option for an Iksar SK btw. I have a level 41 Iksar SK. The leveling is really slowing down now.

[tingling]

Making a tank as a first char - an Iksar SK at that - is a hard road. If this one char is all you intend to play and you really want to play it, then go for it. On the other hand, if you intend to play multiples, then I'd start with Necro or a Druid probably, and use them to farm items and cash to supply your tank.

Treeweave is the best, cheap chest option for an Iksar SK btw. I have a level 41 Iksar SK. The leveling is really slowing down now.

i dont mind if it moves slow as long as it moves... the only treeweave i found when i googled it was the BP is that the only item?

[mwatt]

The Treeweave is not part of a set. Only the BP as you have found. You are going to have to mix and stuff to make up the rest of your gear. One suggestion however is that some of the sebilite scale armor is a good fit for an Iksar SK. I'd also advise a MoSS and shield for early levels and for pure tanking, but a Granite Face Grinder for soloing/fear kiting. Something cheaper that would also fly for the early levels is a Poison Wind Censor.

[deadreaver777]

Don't MoSS's go for like 5k? This guy just started, I doubt he's going to come across that sort of money anytime soon.

[Justinuti]

Damn, I just ported out of kunark last night. If i wouldnt have, I have at least 4 or 5 lowbie kunark drops thatll suit you well. My chars' name is Xolden, hit me up

[mwatt]

Don't MoSS's go for like 5k? This guy just started, I doubt he's going to come across that sort of money anytime soon.

Yeah the MoSS - anything including a Tree Weave (~700p) will be too much really. I'm just trying to tive him the names of a few pieces that are realistic to shoot for as he begins to get some levels and gain cash. MoSS price is probably going to drop a bit, due to so many Shaman epics, but still I'd be surprised to ever see it drop below 3K, I admit. I bet it is closer to 4K than 5K even now, though I have not looked recently. I did try to keep the cost of my recommendations somewhat in check - i.e. suggesting a MoSS instead of the more desirable but approximately equivalent Noc blade from KC.

[Ephirith]

I think how well you tolerate an Iksar SK is going to depend on your state of mind. If you're constantly focusing on grinding out levels, trying to get as high as possible as quickly as possible, you're probably going to be miserable. This is going to be amplified by a lack of quality gear and SK's being fairly gear dependent. You're also KOS to the rest of the world and lack a support structure of friends to port you around, group with you, and help you bind and bank.

But if you focus on the journey, on the present, then it will be more than tolerable. I make sure to change leveling spots often and try to visit as many places as possible to keep things fresh. I alternate between grouping and soloing. I just suck up as much of Norrath as I can without rushing or feeling like I need to race to 60, because your exp will never race.

Hell, I've even done some RP for the first time in an MMO and it's been a hell of a good time.

I think the most helpful tip I can give you if you decide to pursue this... try your hardest to make good friends with a shaman or druid :)

[tingling]

Had a good time lastnight playing i am almost lvl 7 woot lol...

I am in no rush to get to lvl 60 some of the best times i had in EQ were the leveling, deing and doing corpse runs!

[username1337]

I recommend Ogre - higher STR/STA and slightly more INT. You also can't be stunned from front so easier to cast. Less penalty as well.

IMO the regen isn't really worth going troll.

[Wudan]

stick to your Ikky SK! I played one on live back when Kunark was launched and I had a blast. Moss+fbss+Ceremonial Ikky BP+Sarnak battle shield is what you should be looking for. once you get higher. I recommend camping Kurns from 10-20 and look for Solists Icy Wand. That would get you in business. I play Iksar shammy, will buff you if I see you around. GL!

[tingling]

stick to your Ikky SK! I played one on live back when Kunark was launched and I had a blast. Moss+fbss+Ceremonial Ikky BP+Sarnak battle shield is what you should be looking for. once you get higher. I recommend camping Kurns from 10-20 and look for Solists Icy Wand. That would get you in business. I play Iksar shammy, will buff you if I see you around. GL!

damn i am just gonna stick with it screw it!so many mixed msgs about the race its hard to decide if i should re roll or not..

its going to be a long while before i am able to get any of that stuff i think lol but i will work at it i have never played an SK so i am not sure how well they solo so farming money could be hard for a while until i get some gear or the hang of it...

if anyone has any advice i would appreciate it.. i have a whole assload of spider silk ATM about 10 stacks!

[Farrakhan]

I suggest thinking about faction very early to make life easier. IMHO, you should live in Crushbone from lvl 9-15. Killing the orcs non-stop will eventually allow you to bank and bind in Kaladim (be sure to do the CB belt quest..but be careful as there is a pally near the turn-in NPC that will kill you, regardless of your faction). Now, my Iksar can walk around tree city (elves won't sell to me though), and bank and sell in Kaladim (amiable to dorfs atm). Now, quite easy to bank and sell stuff when grinding in unrest and other zones. Also, Kaladim is easy to port to and near a boat launch.

[Slave]

if anyone has any advice i would appreciate it.. i have a whole assload of spider silk ATM about 10 stacks!

The real money silk is Spiderling.

[tingling]

The real money silk is Spiderling.

damn lol i knew it seemed to easy =/

just had two frustrating deaths back to back and it set me back about 30 min but i am almost back where i was before i died

[tingling]

I suggest thinking about faction very early to make life easier. IMHO, you should live in Crushbone from lvl 9-15. Killing the orcs non-stop will eventually allow you to bank and bind in Kaladim (be sure to do the CB belt quest..but be careful as there is a pally near the turn-in NPC that will kill you, regardless of your faction). Now, my Iksar can walk around tree city (elves won't sell to me though), and bank and sell in Kaladim (amiable to dorfs atm). Now, quite easy to bank and sell stuff when grinding in unrest and other zones. Also, Kaladim is easy to port to and near a boat launch.

thanks for the advice... i want to get to lvl 9 and get some spells before i go anywhere

[godbox]

Making a tank as a first char - an Iksar SK at that - is a hard road. If this one char is all you intend to play and you really want to play it, then go for it. On the other hand, if you intend to play multiples, then I'd start with Necro or a Druid probably, and use them to farm items and cash to supply your tank.

Treeweave is the best, cheap chest option for an Iksar SK btw. I have a level 41 Iksar SK. The leveling is really slowing down now.

i just rerolled off my troll sk at lvl 40. what this guy here said post 40 ur grind slows down dramatically (or I have noticed) and my SK was pretty twinked.
edit: i am aware 40 is hell lvl i meant slows down due to reasons i listed below

a) mob health goes up dramatically so fear kite takes alot more mana (specs in oasis are dark blue and using undead fear for 1/4 mana ill go thru about 50%) where as earlier lvls 22-39 i could maybe go 5-6 mobs in a row without a med
b) the 68% is hard the whole way but there isnt a level I found at least where you gain some new skill that increases ur killing speed (solo) to take the bite away even a little. If I made another SK i would go human or DE honestly youll still be a beast endgame (i mean really though how likely are you gonna do end game)

iksar and troll look sickest for sure and regen is nice but i dont think its worth the exp if you are at all a casual gamer without twink gear.

[tingling]

ding level 9! (almost lvl 10!)

I hit level 9 yesterday woot :) got my spells and i have to say its so much better leveling has gotten much faster. I went from an hour a yellow solo to a yellow in about 35 min which is a big improvment :)

I dont mind the grind so much to be honest i am not really rushing for end game or anything i am just playing to have fun...

i do however want to get my dreadscale armor quests done but i guess i am gonna be stuck waiting till i get to 30 or so and get gather shadows...

also does anyone have an recomendations on cheap but decent 2 handers? I am using gloomwater harpoon currently but thats a 1 hand piercing...

[Malrubius]

i just rerolled off my troll sk at lvl 40. what this guy here said post 40 ur grind slows down dramatically (or I have noticed) and my SK was pretty twinked.
edit: i am aware 40 is hell lvl i meant slows down due to reasons i listed below

a) mob health goes up dramatically so fear kite takes alot more mana (specs in oasis are dark blue and using undead fear for 1/4 mana ill go thru about 50%) where as earlier lvls 22-39 i could maybe go 5-6 mobs in a row without a med
b) the 68% is hard the whole way but there isnt a level I found at least where you gain some new skill that increases ur killing speed (solo) to take the bite away even a little. If I made another SK i would go human or DE honestly youll still be a beast endgame (i mean really though how likely are you gonna do end game)

iksar and troll look sickest for sure and regen is nice but i dont think its worth the exp if you are at all a casual gamer without twink gear.

Keep in mind too that a big part of the xp penalty (the hybrid class penalty) will go away in Velious. So you'll only have your race penalty and things should speed up a bit.

[Dezik]

Keep in mind too that a big part of the xp penalty (the hybrid class penalty) will go away in Velious. So you'll only have your race penalty and things should speed up a bit.

Speaking of which, is there any ETA on Velious release yet or is it just TBD? I am also an SK and if Velious is coming out soon I may not grind quite as much knowing my exp rate will be going up relatively soon heh.