Getting ready to do some leveling in EQ2 reminds of my days back in Asheron’s Call 2, where pen, paper and 3-ring binder by my side was the order of the day. Leveling solo in AC2 was a reasonable affair but you still had to be prepared. I spent time looking through the EQ2 forums for a good spec and locations that might be more solo-friendly than not. To my delight and surprise, there were a few posts about leveling and soloing specs for an Illusionist.
I found the spec conversations a bit confusing at first. The old time players use a lot of vernacular that newer players aren’t familiar with. For example, they kept talking about the KOS line of spells or EOF line. Only someone who’d been playing before those expansions would have any idea which lines came with which expansions. Then there were the posts about the AGI, INT, WIS, etc lines when the lines in the spec tree aren’t actually named in that fashion. Added to that many used notations like 5-6-3-4 STR to indicate their specs. Whew, certainly not as straight forward as spec conversations in World of Warcraft. After spending time reviewing the AA trees for Enchanter/Illusionist, I figured out that each of the lines buffed or altered a particular stat which is why they are referred to as AGI for instance. Based on my research, I’m going to focus on AGI + WIS in the Enchanter Tree and Time Compression line in the Illusionist Tree until I get into the 60s.
I found a nice AA Calculator link on the forum and used it to build out this spec. I only have 12 AA points. I respec’d from the uneducated choices I’d made the last time around to follow one that's tuned for solo PVE. I had just enough time to find the NPC to get the free 1st time respec and then use my 12 AA before I had to log. That's absolutely, all I've had time to do in game so far this week.
The next thing I wanted to do is to simplify finding quest related areas. The directions in most of the quests I’ve encountered in EQ2 can be very unclear and down-right confusing. I’m going to go back to my AC2 days of keeping printed maps handy for the zones with quests for my level. Reducing the amount of time it takes to find quest objectives and associated NPCs will really make questing less annoying. I also found a post which listed all of the solo-able dungeons. I’m going to check those out, especially the ones with scripted events. I REALLY enjoyed the Destiny Quests in Age of Conan because of the solo dungeons. I’ve done many dungeons solo using the “by hook or by crook” method. I considered myself the Queen of solo Vault runs in AC2 – it was my thang, my favorite mini game. Having dungeons tuned for solo play is why I ADORED the DQs in AOC.
Spell upgrades and gear are big factors in the EQ2 PVE game. Unlike other games I’ve played, I need to upgrade the spells I’m given at each level with crafted scrolls. The scrolls increase the level of spell or skill that was granted. The upgrades go from Apprentice I to Master II. At a minimum, you want to have Adept upgrades. Unfortunately, those upgrades run from 5G to 50+Plat. I don’t know the exact equivalent but 1Plat feels like the equivalent of 100G in WOW before Daily Quest gold was available. You can imagine that being in the mid twenties as a main character it’s near to impossible to have the funds needed to upgrade all of your spells with the best scrolls. My strategy thus far has been to get everything to Adept I and my bread-n-butter skills to Adept III. I’ve NEVER EVER had a Master level spell in EQ2. It’s just too cost prohibitive as you’re leveling to spend that kind of cash for something that gets upgraded every few levels. The cost of spell upgrades is why I’m rolling a crafting only alt as a Sage.
Every five levels I evaluate my gear for upgrades. Anything that hasn’t been replaced by the low percentage of quest I complete or found as loot gets purchased from the Auction House. This isn’t nearly as expensive as trying to keep my spells competitive, so I don’t sweat the cost. Good gear and efficient spells are an extremely important part of leveling, especially if you solo. You want to be as effective and efficient as possible. In addition to managing all of this, I’m trying to save up enough to purchase a mount. I have enough already for the T2. Before I un-subscribed last year, I liquidated items and sent all the funds to my highest level character and deleted the rest. I had a high 20s Summoner, Druid and Hunter. There is something about the 20s that always wore me out and I found myself bailing on the game. Plus every time I started over, I was faced with re-doing the zones. After I while I was sick of it. Hopefully, my Illusionist will stay the course and hit level 30! I’m going to do a mix of EOF and purchase ROK to add options for variety.
Anywho – I’m saving up for the T3 mount instead of taking the T2. I think the extra 8% speed will come in handy since I’m leveling in zones that are not native to my race. I’m a Fae living in Qeynos Harbor. I’ll explain why some other time. Having created a plan to be more careful about overcoming my previous obstacles toward successful solo leveling, I think I’ll do fine and have more fun this time around.
Preparation is a great idea. You mentioned printed maps, but there are downloadable in-game maps at maps.eq2interface.com that have most quest item locations identified on you ingame map.
Posted by: Heattanu | July 19, 2008 at 10:32 AM
If you mean the eq2mapupdater, I find that difficult to use. There are dozens of dots all over the map and the only way I know of telling what they are is by hovering over every single one. Is there something else or another way do to it? I have it installed but don't find it much use.
Posted by: Saylah | July 19, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Nope. I hover over dots till I find what I want, but then I can click on the dot and I will get a glowing path when I am close and I can see what direction to go by pointing my arrow towards the dot. Not perfect, but it gives more info than a paper map or maybe supplements it.
Posted by: Heattanu | July 19, 2008 at 08:07 PM
Another great help with quests if you haven't found it already is eq2.wikia.com
Posted by: Heattanu | July 19, 2008 at 08:09 PM
I understand the 5-6 STR line. This is in regards to AA's being spent. And it is across the board if I am not mistaken.
The linked calculator you looked at is wrong. Look at these
http://www.eq2ref.com/aa/
These show the AGI, STR, WIS lines which were added a few GU back.
Use this to see how the 5-6-3-4 STR works
http://www.eq2ref.com/aa/index.php?class=Crusader
Find the line going down called Avenger Strength
so, what we do is add 5 to the first circle, 6 to the second, etc...
Got that?
KOS or EOF is Kingdom of Sky and Echoes of Faydwer, meaning items added for those expansions.
But, yea, you see the issue. I finally gave up. EQ2's information overload is a little too much for me. This is like Math Class or Algebra, not a game.
So many formulas, so many places that are hard to find (because yes...the map sucks)...ARGH
It is a good game...but is a TMI dreamers paradise.
I want simplicity again. Reason I went back to GW. And then will play WAR as well...until the match kicks in there as well.
Cheers
Posted by: Openedge1 | July 21, 2008 at 10:09 AM
@Open - Ah yes, the calculator you pointed me to is much better as it has all of the details and I would have seen the AGI, STR, stuff in the descriptions. Yes it does require an overwhelming about of information to be effective in EQ2. You can't just jump in like you can in WOW and say, "Oh this is what this game is about. Cool, let's roll!" I do feel like I'm preparing for an exam now that you mention it. LOL
But it's okay. I want something with a bit of depth - like an EVE Online, that I can nibble at over time which is why I think this will fit for my long term game. If WAR is in between this and WOW that might be it. If WAR is more like WOW's simplicity then that will be my casual jump and and roll game. I'm playing WAR regardless. :-)
Posted by: Saylah | July 21, 2008 at 04:56 PM
First, don't buy RoK if your just going to work on your illus, RoK came with a new race and area to level up 1 through about 20 and then you won't be able to play any RoK zones until your high 60's or low 70's. If solo dungeons are your thing definitely try the splitpaw saga and some of the bloodlines. Each have quests that provide a solo instanced zone for you to enjoy all to yourself and a little quested story to go along with it.
Posted by: Adairean | July 23, 2008 at 05:44 PM
@Adairean thank you for that tip!! I had assumed it was like EOF with a completely new set of leveling zones. I was told about Splitpaw when I played before so I'll be sure to check it out this time.
Posted by: Saylah | July 23, 2008 at 06:42 PM
Regarding the AA tree I put all my points in the AGI line (you need to think of AGI in terms of your "personae" or spell damage and not the agility (parry) as in other MMOs) - this difference was difficult for me to understand at first since I would always compare the stats with other games). My Illusionist is currently level 43.
I first started an Illusionist back in 2005 when the "personae" or twin was not yet introduced. You could "tame" an animal who would fight for you for a brief period of time, before turning aggressive (you then had to kill it, just as the one you can control as a Necro for 20 minutes).
In those days, the illusionist class was not solo-friendly at all, and therefore I left her in a closet and started a Necro instead (now level 80).
After they changed the illusionist class and added the personae it became one of the most solo-friendly classes in EQ2 (it basically turned from a pure crowd-control raid class into a crowd-control solo class).
Imagine, you can mezz a whole group, chain your target and send your personae to fight for you as you dot your ennemy and watch it dying from distance afar. This is just pure luxury!
Regarding questing and levelling, I went to the Echoes of Faydwer area which was a nice change from Antonica or Thundering Steppes. You have butcherblock mountain and Greater Faydark (lovely place). Also as mentioned by Adairean the Bloodline chronicles are a great way to solo around 30-40 (it's challenging, don't assume it will be a piece of cake, but this package has some nice specific rewards). In addition, if you buy the Rise of Kunark expansion you will get all previous expansions including the Bloodline chronicles/Splitpaw Saga/isle of Mara content for free.
In case you quest in Butcherblock, don't forget to do the following heritage quest line (level 35 heroic for the hardest part) http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/War_and_Wardrobe It gives a nice and beautiful robe for casters as a reward.
The EQ2 wikia has been my main website as it has so many great topics such as the deities or the solo timelines which would show you where to go depending on your level http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Solo_Timelines
EQ2 is definitely my all-time favorite game, because of its wide choice of races, classes, character customization, instances, quests and content, crafting, housing, collections (glowies or shinies) and if you've got a solid rig it's just splendid. I never got bored, ever!
Posted by: Syah | July 24, 2008 at 11:54 AM