Starting out leveling

[Lefidous]

Just started out last night and started killing stuff around orc hill. Wondering, how long do you think it should take to get 1-5 solo or grouped? Is it more effective to group and level or just grind blues?

I played for about 3-4 hours and im only 1/2 way into lvl 3. I feel like I am going slower than I should.

Also how hard a penalty is hybrid cut? I am a wood elf druid but if I group with a hybrid/large race how much does it cut from group XP?

Thanks much guys, sorry for being a noobie =P

[loramin]

At the low levels everyone is usually just running around killing mobs themselves so group vs. solo makes no real difference unless you're on Red (which gives you a large bonus just for being in a group).

Later on soloing might be faster for you as a druid because of charm killing and quad kiting. But even if soloing is better XP it shouldn't be that much better than grouping, and grouping can be safer, let you go in to dungeons with better loot, etc.

As for hybrids they share their penalty, which for a hybrid is 40% + their racial penalty. So for a Troll/Iksar (20% penalty) that adds up to a 60% penalty, which get shared with the group. If you have no penalty yourself then for your group to level you collectively need to earn:

* 100% for you
* 100% for your buddy
* 60% for your buddy's class/race penalty
-----------
260% of what it takes one person to level

Split between the two of you it means that each of you needs 130% what a no penalty player needs to level. That's a bargain for your hybrid friend who normally needs 160%, and it sucks for you, but it does mean that as long as you level together you won't get ahead of him in level.

[Monty405]

Originally Posted by loramin [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

At the low levels everyone is usually just running around killing mobs themselves so group vs. solo makes no real difference unless you're on Red (which gives you a large bonus just for being in a group).

Later on soloing might be faster for you as a druid because of charm killing and quad kiting. But even if soloing is better XP it shouldn't be that much better than grouping, and grouping can be safer, let you go in to dungeons with better loot, etc.

As for hybrids they share their penalty, which for a hybrid is 40% + their racial penalty. So for a Troll/Iksar (20% penalty) that adds up to a 60% penalty, which get shared with the group. If you have no penalty yourself then for your group to level you collectively need to earn:

* 100% for you
* 100% for your buddy
* 60% for your buddy's class/race penalty
-----------
260% of what it takes one person to level

Split between the two of you it means that each of you needs 130% what a no penalty player needs to level. That's a bargain for your hybrid friend who normally needs 160%, and it sucks for you, but it does mean that as long as you level together you won't get ahead of him in level.

So being a rogue I effectively give my group a very minor bonus?

[sox7d]

Originally Posted by Lefidous [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Just started out last night and started killing stuff around orc hill. Wondering, how long do you think it should take to get 1-5 solo or grouped? Is it more effective to group and level or just grind blues?

I played for about 3-4 hours and im only 1/2 way into lvl 3. I feel like I am going slower than I should.

Also how hard a penalty is hybrid cut? I am a wood elf druid but if I group with a hybrid/large race how much does it cut from group XP?

Thanks much guys, sorry for being a noobie =P

Level 1-3 in EQ SUCKS. It's like they didn't want people to play their game.

Keep killing blues, keep an eye out for "higher blues" (pixies, spiders, pawns...). You can get an orc hill group at 3 if you organize it or ask nicely, but generally people expect you to be 4.

As for the hybrid penalty, see sig. People blow it way out of proportion.

[Lefidous]

Thanks for info guys. So in terms or raw time, if I wanted to get to say, level 15, with moderately efficient leveling (I played EQ from PoP release to GoD death so I am not a total EQ noob) how many hours should I expect to invest?

Also I was considering doing the test of vanear and paw of opalla quests. Are they an effective use of time or should I just get higher level and wait for better gear at 50+?

[loramin]

Originally Posted by Monty405 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

So being a rogue I effectively give my group a very minor bonus?

Yes, though it depends on your race: if you are a Barbarian rogue you still give a penalty, but if you're a Halfling rogue you give two very minor (9% from Rogue and 5% from Halfling) to your group's XP [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

But as sox7d pointed out it's important to understand that just adds/removes to/from your requirements. So if you play a Halfling Rogue (+14%) in a group with six people who all have no penalty/bonus, each member of the group is going to see only a 2.3% (14%/6) increase in their XP gain.

[sox7d]

Originally Posted by Lefidous [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Thanks for info guys. So in terms or raw time, if I wanted to get to say, level 15, with moderately efficient leveling (I played EQ from PoP release to GoD death so I am not a total EQ noob) how many hours should I expect to invest?

Also I was considering doing the test of vanear and paw of opalla quests. Are they an effective use of time or should I just get higher level and wait for better gear at 50+?

Conventional wisdom is that it's the most efficient to grind out exp while time spent dedicated to gear/money is not even an afterthought, then farm once you're 60 for the best use of your time.

But I think you'll have a much better time on the server if you complete some quests for yourself and have fun earning things you'll be using up-towards 60 anyway.

[Teneran]

personally, i have enjoyed doing some tradeskills and questing for items as i level but really it's a matter of what you find fun.

For example, i was able to complete the incandescent armor quests on my own and with some help (thanks Synap, Sinai and Kuder!) and get XP in the process, two for one if you will. Check the wiki for quests for your class and see what makes sense.

The first several levels are just a grind in my experience though. it starts getting more fun as you get a bit higher and group in dungeons.