A Player and the forums made me do it…

Tips for Leveling the Two Classes
I finally stopped messing around crafting, exploring and taking pictures long enough to hit level 17/17 on my Battle Monk (Priest/Warrior) in Runes of Magic.  My method of only leveling via one character is still proving successful.  However, it’s based on doing quests and not farming/grinding mobs.  If the quests thin out in the upper levels this strategy won’t work.  For now, it's proving to be golden.

The way I’ve kept both classes equal in level without ever having to “level” the other is by performing all the quests using my main (Priest).  At any given time only the primary in the class combo is getting the XP.  So as Priest/Warrior, it’s the Priest getting the XP. As Warrior/Priest it’s the Warrior getting the XP.  Since a majority of the quests are kill quests, the Priest is leveling via the kill XP.  Her rested XP bonus stays high and is aided by rested XP furniture items in my house, which is where I make sure to leave her when I’m logging off. 

When it’s time to do some leveling I ride around and grab all available quests in the zone.  I do them as the Priest/Warrior, she gets the kill XP and first pick at the dropped loot.  When all the quest objectives have been satisfied, I go back to my house and change my class combo to Warrior/Priest.  I return to the appropriate NPCs, turning in all the quests as the W/P and so the Warrior gets her XP. 

Completing a round of 10 to 15 quests takes a couple of hours - give or take.  It could be done much faster but I have to smell the roses along the way so it takes me twice as long as the average player.  The Priest will gain 1 to 1.5 levels from the kill XP.  The Warrior will gain 1.5 to 2+ levels from the quest turn-ins.  I’ll typically choose rewards gear suited for the Warrior in case I actually want/need to play that combination.  At this point, I have no plans on playing a warrior because I have no intention of tanking.

New Gear and Why I'm Poor Again
On the way to 17/17, I got my first Elite Skill at 15/15 which is Battle Monk stance.  This stance grants me +physical attack, +defense and –healing.  It’s the cornerstone skill for a Battle Monk build.  I was also able to equip a very nice crafted robe that was just handed to me one day by a player.  I was complaining in chat that I'd just equipped a robe that had no bottom.  My leggings had no fabric in the crouch.  So I was now standing there with my undies showing and wondering WTF?  I searched the AH for a longer robe or different leggings but there was nothing for my level. Someone whispered me that they could make me a cloak so that at least my butt wasn't hanging out from behind.  When they arrived to meet me they gave me the cloak which I was able to equip right then and the Ventis robe for later.  I went into my house and stored the robe in the trunk where I keep gear upgrades.

I could tell from the stats that it would be a great robe for me.  It lacked the STR needed for my build but had other valuable stats.  A few days later, I stumbled on a post in the Priest forums stating that the Ventis set was amazing for Priests and one of the top two sets in the game for levels 15 to 30.  Wow, I was surprised to read that a set found in the lower tiers could be useful for that long.  Now that I understood the value, I was more appreciative and shocked at having received the robe as a gift from a stranger.

Three of the four set pieces were available for sale on the Auction House.  The robe wasn’t there at all – which impressed upon me how lucky I was to have it.  I purchased the boots and leggings to get the 3PC bonus so I’m broke again.  I lusted over the helm but for 300,000 gold (yes, you’re reading that right) it would never ever be mine.  It was also the ONLY helm available for my level so I’m missing armor in an available slot. I’ve yet to see helms of any kind drop.  I’m starting to wonder if they are only player crafted.

Ventis Armor Set

Click image to see larger version

Runes - Learn it. Love it. Better Live it.
Many of the customization options, abilities and uber assets are related to runes.  Go figure. I know that with the runes dropping everywhere, all the features, functions and stats seem overwhelming at first.  However, it's to your benefit to take the time to learn the uses.  Just do it a feature at at time.  I finally took the time to understand Transmuting.

Basically, Transmuting allows you to combine lesser runes into more powerful runes, combine different types of runes (stats) into something new/custom (think Warhammer's attempt at Alchemy) and combine these two into something else.  For your uncommon gear you can simply slot the lesser runes that drop.  For your better gear - something you'll keep for several levels, it may be worth the time to farm up runes for transmuting.

Since the forum post discussing the Ventis set said that I could wear it into my 30s, I need to make sure that I keep it slotted with the best runes as I level.  I can do that via transmuting.  The prices on the AH for these is outrageous so I won't be buying them.  I'll have to start saving more of the ones I have instead of selling them.  The Ventis set is cloth with stats geared toward mana users – casters in particular.  As a Battle Monk, I require more strength. Pumping all available slots with STR is how I can enhance the set for my class build. Unfortunately, my first foray into Transmuting I put a great STR combination rune on the wrong weapon.  I had my Warrior items on at the time.  *Cries big splashy tears*  At least I understand at a high level how it all works now.  I'm saving up all runes.  I don't sell the magic based ones anymore now that I realize they can be combined with other stats more valuable to create multi-stat runes.

P.S. I was on the auction house late last night, well technically in the wee hours of today.  Must be a new crafter or the person was desperate for cash but they listed the Ventis Helm for 5k Gold while the other 300K ones were still listed.  You know I snatched that helm up immediately!!!  I'm not a fan of the model.  It's a Wonder Woman head brace thingy with wings on the side but I can deal with ti. :-)

Comments

[Sente]

Great to hear that you picked up the Ventis crown :) On my server the prices are more in 50k-70k range, which means I might have a look at buying that one.

It is indeed only a crafted set of clothes, I belive the recipes are dropped/rewarded for some high 20s instance if I recall correctly.

My rogue has the complete Silverspring armor set now, which has some nice +dex, +crit etc with all pieces.

Your leveling approach is a bit similar to mine - I also alternate between the classes, doing 1-2 levels on ech before switching. While I do save some quests for the "other" class I am not so strict that only do kill with one and only quests with the other.

I still do not see any rest xp, so I guess I am not fulfilling whatever minimum criteria there may be there.

[Alysianah aka Saylah]

@Sente - you don't see any bonus XP gain from furniture on the ExtendedXP progress bar? I'm not sure if it's from logging out in your house or spending in-game time in your house. I think it's just having the character there even while logged off because I always have 25% to 50% bonus on my bar and I don't spend that much in-game time in my house. I'm going to search the forum.

[Alysianah aka Saylah]

Information is very sketchy and thin on content. It seems that it's gained by being in your house while logged into the game. That doesn't seem right though. I log off in my house and always have XP bonus gain (study).

[Sente]

I have tried both staying in the house as well as logging off in the house, no xp or tp bonus and certainly not showing up in ExtendedXP.

I suspect that one probably have to have a certain amount of bonus items in the house to trigger at all. I think right now I have maybe 35 for xp, 45 for tp and 50 each for cooking and alchemy.

[Alysianah aka Saylah]

That's odd and I don't think it's intentional for there to be a minimum. The only thread I saw where this was discussed and a GM was responding, there were people that weren't getting anything either. While others were confused about training versus study. You should try reporting it as bugged.