New to P99 - Class Questions

[awolfdrawsnear]

I played a Gnome Necromancer into the mid 50s back in the day (started a few months after Kunark was released and quit a few months before Luclin) and gave zero poops about faction, murdering whatever I could and insta-clicking my poof circlet whenever I wanted. I just joined the P99 Blue server a few days ago for some free nostalgia gaming and I'm hooked again. Anyway, I have a couple of questions regarding which race/class I'm going to be spending my free time playing...

1 - Barbarian / Shaman
This is what I want to play (I think). I rolled one and was given an almost complete set of banded armor, as well as a 9/35 Cold Iron Morning Star, when I was around 5th level. This gear really helped me get through to level 12 solo, at which point things started getting really difficult. I caught a ride from a Druid to the Commonlands and gave South Ro a shot, and it didn't work out well, so hopped on the boat and ended up grouping in Unrest (after failing miserably to solo yard beetles). My question is this: Are Shamans very gear dependent if they want to solo? I don't expect to be a top-tier soloer like a Bard or Necromancer, but I want to be able to take single blue cons without being destroyed half the time. Am I just playing the class badly? Ideally I want to play a class that can solo decently but is still wanted in groups, so I can experience the most content and variety of play. If soloing blues is going to continue be super tough without gear I can't loot or afford...

2 - ? / Bard
This seems super fun, and I've heard a few things about how quickly they can skip through the grindy (not fun) part of the game. The big downside here is that it seems like a huge population of the server is doing exactly this, and most people think it's annoying. Besides being generally bothersome to others, I think this style of play might feel a little "cheesy" to me. Do people hate swarm kiting Bards? Does it get boring? I guess I could try it and find out, or...

3 - ? / Necromancer
Yeah I know, my entire EQ live experience was playing a Necromancer, but hey I liked it. I know this class can do just fine without fancy equipment. The big downside for me is that I miss out on the non-evil experience of Norrath just like I did years ago. If 1 doesn't work out and 2 sucks, I'll go this route and I'll pick a race that isn't Gnome. Not sure which yet.

Help me out with some advice here. If there's something I can do to make this Barbarian Shaman thing soloable, let me know.

[Landael]

Shaman will are THE best soloers and one of the most coveted Group members throughout the entire game, and since you get a chance to see the game from a goodies perspective I say keep going with your barb. Can use JB bracer and that fun stuff later on too, also POLAR bear form is hella cool compared to the others imo.

Bards are what you make them. The things you read are only about swarmers, and in particular bad swarmers who die and train alot.

It's like the news, people dont give 2 shits about the positive stuff so nobody ever writes about it.

[gildor]

barb sham will be fun, you will hear about stun immunity and regen other races get..and yes it makes a difference, but you will basically be doing shaman on "hard mode" which is cool...enjoy the grind man, don't let the "get to 60 asap" crowd sway you at all..

[fugazi]

Shamans are pretty weak sauce until 29-34 and from there on they start spiraling out of control. So if the 15 to 29 bit feels like you aren't contributing much in a group, know that it will get better. If you don't feel that way, know that it will get better anyways xD

And props on going barb. They look awesome.

[Issar]

Welcome to the server!
The guys above me all gave rock solid advice. So nothing to add there. Just wanted to say, welcome.

[Computer Man]

Put "soloing Lodi" on your career aspiration list ^

[Truheart]

Root/Rot til 50%, then slow and tank til dead.
Once you get first pet at 34, game changes significantly!
I have shaman and necro, both are fun but its hard to get groups on necro.
My shaman can get a group or solo.

[Xzavie]

Search the Commons Tunnel Forum. See how much it will cost for 'loot rights' to perma camped quest items (epic etc). This could influence you if you want to get to the 'end game'.

[awolfdrawsnear]

Thanks for the advice guys. I decided to stick with the Barbarian Shaman. I realize I could have regeneration or stunning immunity, but like I said, I wanted to see the non-evil side of Norrath for the first time. Plus Barbarians just look so awesome in armor. I struggled my way to level 15 and I'm gonna try doing the bandit sisters in Lesser Faydark (as soon as people stop poopsocking the camp) to level and buy some decent gear.

[Ravager]

Start saving for Torpor.