A fresh, casual enjoying the ride start

[Rinarch]

So I'm coming back for a third time, but gonna try something different.

My history on this server has been as follows.

Made a shaman because they I remembered them being super OP in EQ
Think he made it to level 20ish, could never get a group that lasted longer then 20 minutes with him soloing was boring with him

So I made a necro, had fun with him LOVED him in groups but alas there seems to be a huge stigma on this server about necro's LFG so I was forced to basically solo for the most part, got bored on that around 35-36ish Still have this character geared on the server - he wasn't twinked but I did manage to play the market a bit in EC for a few days and get him a good set up gear.

Twinked the hell out of an SK since I was a Raiding SK on live when I played EQ, that got boring super fast

This time around I was looking towards making a wizard its a class I really want to give an honest go at in EQ since I always felt EQ did wizards right. The only problem is I really don't like soloing, partly because you have to massively twink to do it at low levels and I really want to just play the game with this character. I had so much fun gearing up the necro and learning the play style but being shunned from groups really sucked especially when it was so bad that other players would just flat out refuse solely based on my class, are things going to be the same for a wizard?

I know low level are gonna suck anyway and if no one is on when I play then sure I'm forced to solo but is the grouping stigma for wizards the same as for necros?

I just don't want to level up another guy to 30ish and be doomed to a life of soloing. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

well the cilent is downloading so I'm gonna get my knowledge on before I step foot back into Norrath.

Just looking for general opinions:

1. Is playing a wizard as an untwinked character going to be hindering?
2. Will finding groups be much of a hassle as an untwinked wizard?
3. Any other helpful information about the class would be much appreciated!

[Tankdan]

A Wizard is arguably one of the least desired classes people want to group with. They are very much solo oriented because of this.

[Phinius]

I've read a good bit of negativity regarding wizards on p99, and in 13 short levels, I can kind of see why already. However, Wizard was one of the few classes I haven't really played in a meaningful way, and decided to give it a shot regardless.

Again, keep in mind this review is from a mere level 13, but I am untwinked and thus far have had little issue getting into or forming groups in various zones. With that said, I can already tell any group would have likely performed more optimally with basically any melee class with better than a rusty weapon, especially when pulls come quickly. However, I have found that I can play a key role, and at least at this level, save lives, and kill otherwise unkillable mobs for our group.

For example, at level 8, legos in crushbone were pretty scary for our groups. Our tanks took shit tons of damage, our healers output was incredibly low, and it was basically a race to get the lego down before someone died. That's where I came in. These legos were of course red to us, and melee had a sketchy time even landing hits, meanwhile, I was able to land most of my 45 damage nukes, putting serious dents in their health. Doubt we could have killed them otherwise, at least not without a casualty or two.

Of course, that doesn't even take in to account my root CC that saves lives, or my eventual evacs that save corpse runs. My point here is that you can find ways to add value to your group aside from sustained dps (although it is important to manage your mana and do your best in this department). In my limited experience, a wizard is what you make it, and thus far I'm having fun playing a different role than I usually do.

[HeallunRumblebelly]

Wizards aren't bad for groups, just not good :P Especially at low levels when you have twinks chaining reds, your spells still get resisted like crazy. That said, you essentially get a free ride 56 to 60 (pras chardok) but that 49-56 in TD has broken lesser men.

[Tasslehofp99]

Just make friends with a bard to get through the low levels. I'm sure a bard + wizard could work out a way to blow tons of mobs up together.

I seem to remember these 2 wizards a while back actually PBAE kiting like a bard just using SoW pots and low hp agro, lol.

[Aeaolena]

Wizards may tend to level solo, but think about the end game:

Velious is coming.

Who is going to be one of the prettiest girls at the raiding ball?

The guys with the dragon bane spell.



There aren't currently tons of Wizards on p1999. Just food for thought.

[Sadre Spinegnawer]

If you want to change things up an not have to solo, why make a wizard? Most of what you said seems to be about soloing being boring.

First of all groups are never easy in eq. You have to hunt and poke around, and be patient, and if a group breaks up, well, you have to wait around and try to start or find another one. Soloing = log on and play till you want to stop. Grouping = logging on and often having to wait, or be disappointed when group breaks up after 15 minutes, etc.

Grouping means being online and being able to stay online. And, learning how to cope with bad groups. They exist. If the chief problem with soloing is boredom, the chief problem with grouping is frustration.

But having said that, if you want a char that you can always group with, role a cleric. Always much loved. And you are guaranteed to see all the cool dungeons.

Or, an enchanter.

[Rinarch]

Thank you for all the responses and opinions offered, they were all considered and taken into account [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Just to comment on the cleric thing, when I first started on this server I made a dorf cleric and got him to 20. I found that groups that didn't know me seemed to rather have a druid/shaman with them at that level because of the other beneficial buffs they offer, group that I had grouped with before always invited me back.

The Necro was the same except it was much harder to always have a spot since a necro in an xp group isn't part of the trinity, also it did shy people away from joining the group which did limit the people that invited me back to groups. The phrase "I would love to invite you but the XXX and XXX (whom never grouped with me before) think a necro is a waste of spot and will just slow xp gain sorry" I have a feeling the wizard is going to produce the same sort of reaction.

That combine with the simply fact that item flooded economies especially in this era of EQ highly tips the scales in favor of melee DPS I rolled a monk to set up my UI, get my bearings again and sort of just get back in the groove of it, haven't kill a single monster yet with him.

I think what I found so boring about soloing was the much slower speed compared to a great group burning through mobs, but the first two times around I was so focused on trying to rush to the end game that's really all I cared about and it burned me out.

This time around I'm going in with the knowledge that I wont have hours on end a day to play so racing to the max level would just be silly since I can't offer the dedication or time to make it viable.

Also I find I like more interactive classes, when I'm playing EQ I wanna be playing EQ not have EQ on my screen while I'm mutitasking 10 other things. A wizard is probably the farther away from that style of playing especially if I start quading. So a melee makes more sense.

SO out of melee DPSer I had a choice of warrior(to gear dependent for a fresh start), Monk and Rogue

Went with the Monk because they seem to be a little more interactive then Rogues and able to make their was a bit easier without gear. Plus knowing my playtime and length of playtime per session I'm gonna have to solo a few times when I log in ad I don't see an untwinked rogue soloing much past 30

Anyway I'm Drykin I'll be around field of bone probably collect some curscale armor and basic gear feel free to say whats up!

[Salamarr]

Originally Posted by Tasslehofp99 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Just make friends

Try networking a bit on the forums as well as in game to find static groups and when you come across some nice players, treat them like family and enjoy the ride.

[Itching]

What Salamarr said will take you a very very long way on this server.