To all the people starting from scratch..

[Stonze]

Started a new duo with my brother in Grobb. Shaman and Shadowknight is a fun duo.

Level 1: Started with nothing but a guild tunic.
Level 3: Stickz was handed a Glowing Wooden Crook outside of Guk
Level 10: Completed Grobb Cleaver and a number of other Grobb/Neriak Quests.
Level 14: Skill Blacksmithing to 125. Produce two full sets of banded and some parts for friends.
Level 20s: Loot many sought after items in Upper Guk. Runed Bone Fork, Chitin Shell Armor, always in double to make sure that Stickz is decked out too.
Level 20s: Make some regular grouping friends and encourage them to explore zones that aren't often explored. Runnyeye Citadel. Splitpaw.
Level 30s: Sell items and buy a good two hander. Money is flowing.
Level 40: Dinged level 40 last night.

[maskedmelon]

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

I'm pretty sure this post was in response to this thread...

http://www.project1999.com/forums/sh...=185423&page=7

which some have interpreted as the OP for that thread perhaps coming across a bit entitled....



So this response is in agreement...



I emphasizes the important part there... for context. This response wasn't about judgeing use of said donations, it was about the expectation that you had to have them.



Context... kinda important.

So you blasted someone who's in agreement with the OP... whom you are also in agreement with.

... /sigh

Agreements... the worst kind of arguments to have.

Krey

+1

It is good to see reason alive and we'll in others ^^

[Itap]

Only on the internet can someone argue with another person when both are in agreement of said topic.

[Spyren]

Level 1: Died in East Freeport and spent about 5 solid minutes searching for my corpse in West Freeport (where I was bound). Asked around and had a high level bard help run me to the other starting Freeport area.

Level 2: Received a Cracked Staff off of a decaying skeleton and was stoked! 5 damage, 32 delay!!

Level 3: Got a port to butcher block and escorted to Kelethin by Kagel, an awesome druid who buffed, Sowed, and bound me to the newbie lift so I could join up with my wife who made a wood elf druid.

Level 4: We were waiting on our IP exemption so I would play about 2 hours and then log out and she would play for about 2 hours and then switch back so we would stay around the same level.

Everyone we have ran into has been super helpful and awesome. This is the Everquest I remember!

[Catashe]

Lvl 1: Made troll shaman and got guild shirt
Lvl 1: Ran all the way to Neriak cause I don't particularly care for the swamp.
Lvl 2: Met a very nice Iskar Shaman who was looking for someone to run to 3rd gate and buy him a couple jade coffins and paid me like 3 or 4 times what they were worth and let me keep the change so I guess this negates the purpose of this post =)

[Waedawen]

"Scratch" is a lot easier than what it was -- when there is millions upon millions of items and platinum on the server.

Scratch back in Late '09 and Early '10 was like "Lvl 6. Somehow, some way, make a group composition that can start to kill dervs without dying to the wizard nuke."

[DrKvothe]

There seems to be two ideas circling each other in this thread: 1) nothing wrong with self-found gear, you don't need a fucking fungi to have fun, guy, and 2) it's pretty easy to get to the point where you can find/buy your own gear. These ideas aren't contradictory, but they're not the same either. I usually twink over a decent weapon and 5/55 rings to my new characters. Don't get me wrong, I know it's not necessary but I like feeling like a god from 1-10 with a 0.5 or better ratio weapon. I've never done the whole epics/fungi alt thing, but 1k gear can make a huge difference.

That said, some beginner tips: Certain starting locations leave you very vulnerable to early game poverty. I'm not talking about not being able to buy 5/55 rings, I'm talking about not being able to buy bags or early spells. Halflings in particular have it rough.

In general, being evil is considerably more profitable than being good. When faction isn't a problem, your leveling options open up to additional cash camps. Good races can do these camps too, but they need to plan their banking/travel long-term and do a cost/benefit assessment that includes faction hits. Examples include druids, guards, treants, sisters in OoT, etc. You're going to have a much harder time raising cash to pimp out your char in your 30s as a dwarf paladin than you would as a troll SK. Also, evil races tend to have profitable starting areas (minus nektulos, hate that place). Add in that ogres and trolls get ridiculous stats compared to other races, and that iksars and trolls get racial regen bonus (super OP), you're well off choosing an evil race. Exceptions include bards and enchanters, cuz faction spells/songs + illusion spells/masks = OP.

Once you hit lvl 12ish, regardless of your gear, there's no reason for you to be poor anymore if you don't want to be. Erud's crossing if you're not too evil to make the trip a pain in the butt or even just NK, EC, or WC have wisps which drop lightstones (vendor ~1pp) and greater lightstones (quest for ~10pp item). If you're really feeling broke, this is a good way to pad your wallet. On my red druid, I had to make a stop in NK every 5 levels (red lvls so fast omg!).

It doesn't take long before you can find a group that will get you a set of chain/plate armor. Ringmail, blackened iron (black banded look, runnyeye ftw!), bronze, etc. It won't have stats beyond AC, but the truth is that the marginal value of stats like str, dex, etc. in this game are nil until higher levels and higher stat values. 5 str just isn't going to do much for you beyond raising your weight cap.

There is not a class in this game that is too expensive to play from scratch, and dont let anyone tell you otherwise.

[wormed]

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

"Scratch" is a lot easier than what it was -- when there is millions upon millions of items and platinum on the server.

Scratch back in Late '09 and Early '10 was like "Lvl 6. Somehow, some way, make a group composition that can start to kill dervs without dying to the wizard nuke."

Haha, definitely. I mean, I have a 30/40 weapon right now to level with. I can't even remember what I had on my Paladin back in 99. I do remember, however, that Bone Bladed Claymore's were awesome at that time. 17/45? Yes please.

[curtischoy]

Human Monk. Started in Qeynos because I had never started a character there before.

Levels 1-3: Newb area in Qeynos
Levels 3-8: Moved to BB/gfay to do bone chips and cb quests. Got a splintered club off a skelly iirc
Levels 8-14: Blackburrow for gnoll fangs and random VT to sell. Got that neck that has +3 str. Got enough cash to buy wu's trance stick.
Levels 14-19: Sisters in Lfay. Made good cash here and bought another trance stick plus 2 5/55 rings.

and then I don't remember. Mostly a mix of old world dungeons.

[Riotgirl]

Started 2 weeks ago after a 13 year hiatus a couple of months before PoP launched. Plan is to stick to Antonica and Odus (Kunark post 50 and/or Iksar alt) and only purchase player crafted equipment.

1-4: Nektulos Forest. V. good for me in terms of a couple of Cracked Staves, Cloth Armour and Bone Chips from Decaying Skeletons, and vendoring nearly everything else to purchase 1st and 4th level spells, 8 large backpacks, and a small sewing kit.

4-8: Innothule Swamp killing Frogloks for a change of scenery, as well as learning mob spawn spots to go after specific mobs e.g. Froglok Foragers for Woven (3 pieces so far - will go back to farm the other pieces at 12th re Bind Affinity. Plus, payback to Oban). Dinged 8th level, packed up my bags to return to Neriak for a couple of 8th level spells, and bought 8th level animation in HHK.

Current plan: heading to Qeynos to perform Tattered Dress quest for a couple of +3 Int earrings. Will also kill a Koalindl fish for the Stein of Moggok Quest (as well as giving Rodcet Nife the finger as a DE Innoruuk worshipper).

I have 3 plat left in the bank, and want to group in Befallen to get back into grouping again, interspersed with Derv and Orc camps in WC. I will also take the opportunity to work on tailoring in EC and WC.

Really looking forward to running across the Karanas again.