I did two Magelos with very casual gear. I expect the total of this to be less than 100k. The mask of the shadows on the dark elf is redundant UV but I wanted it to be consistent. It’s not a bad set for any SK shopping in the tunnel.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Magelo_Blue:TestKnight2
https://wiki.project1999.com/Magelo_Blue:TestKnight
There are intensive benefits to each race; with varying degrees of importance depending on how you PERSONALLY weigh these:
* Levelling speed (0-20% xp penalty)
* Mana pool (at least an extra drain soul for smalls)
* HP pool (per the above gearset only will cap with riotous health)
* Strength or attack cap (with this mediocre tank gear none will cap with Focus of Spirit but some FAR under cap)
* Intrinsic shrink (or it’s needed)
* Regen or no regen(+8hp standing)
* 2H slam/bash (fatties only, or w/Epic)
* Blood Ember Clicks (all but Iksar)
* Greenmist and Stone of Morid (Iksar only)
* Ashenbone Shield (small races only)
* Frostreaver (Human,Ogre, Troll, Iksar only)
* Faction differences
* Iksar 2hs swing animation is weird
* Frontal Bash Immunity (reduces chance of a slight stun/interupt, Ogres only)
* Iksar AC Bonus (I understand this is maybe 20 displayed difference with the same gear, TBD)
I strongly believe knights tanking stuff is a thing at 60. I do all the time without BiS and with enough healing and the proper gear many raid named targets can be. More casual stuff (non raid named) is frequently and preferably knight tanked. After the 2h change knights do solid raid dps with the right buffs and weapons so again play what you want and if you have a more ideal class for the encounter play that instead. Common sense really.
With quality raid gear (aka not the Magelo links) capping stamina and strength is very possible for smalls. 2h bash is not a notable DPS increase on a lvl 70 target (it’s as stupid as 8hp regen). If anything more frail sk’s and pallies have a leg up with a larger manapool. If they can tap they can live longer through AoE’s without needing heals.
Casual players are going to struggle in some ways and breeze in others. They will fit better in some easy zones with really high ZEM’s (Sol A, HK). They will likely level faster even without some of the perks of the “monster races” because you have to kill at least 20% faster with an Iksar or Troll to match a non-XP penalize. Often when it really matters in the high 50’s you are killing about or two npcs every 6-12 minutes which you can easily recover mana and health wise by sitting and waiting. Casual raiders who obsess with capping stats will struggle…you can get a small to 205 stamina but often your Str will lag behind in the mid 100’s (asking a sham for Furious Strength is a pain for everyone so you likely will just be doing less dps most the time).
The true best perk is what you look like. If you like it, you will likely enjoy it more with quality gear. If you hate it at level 55 shroud of undeath will let you be a skeleton. Losing 2h bash but giving some faction perks and fix the 2hs Iksar swing animation. That said, if you are picking a race for “superiority” over just fun or personal aesthetics you are have caught a terminal case of edgelord’itus. Consider not playing a knight because every time a warrior is picked to tank the big shiny mob or a real dps smokes you, you will probably fall into a dark sad place.