Returning player after 20 years needs guidance

[Fanra]

Not trying to nitpick, because I love your site, but at some point, the two I bolded changed...

I've made a note there that the list is not 100 percent correct. I appreciate all corrections.

However, as far as excluded AAs from Auto-Grant, I don't worry too much about getting it exact. If Darkpaw wants to release an updated list of what should be excluded, then I will put that in. Otherwise, it doesn't matter too much. People can buy any missing and if some are granted that you don't expect/like, then you can go adjust as needed.

The excluded list is just what they announced years ago and is supposed to just exclude ones that you might not want, like the tradeskill ones which can mess up your trophy leveling big time.

Thank you.

 

[Iven]

My choice would be to start on a new server you want to be on and box a class that can slow like SHM or BST. Then you can use a Tank merc and your box can use a CLR merc. Then all you have to do is tab over to slow and you can play without kiting. This might not be best for you.

Beastlord is a good compromise because it can tank and slow. Tank mercs are pushovers at the higher levels. But the beastlord also is a compromise between tanking, DPS and healing and not the only class that can slow. Its slow is just more comfortable for boxing, stronger and longer lasting than a melee proc weapon. It is a workhorse that fits to almost any other class because of its versatility and combined power. All in all a very powerfull class without being excellent in a single category but coming very close for DPS and tanking in group content.

A big issue of a WIZ/BST and WIZ/SHM duo can be single pulling which is one of the reasons why I would prefer a paladin over a beastlord if it is just about duo and not trio boxing. Pet classes do also require more attention, especially the beastlord as a melee class, which is not ideal to start with boxing.

 

[Vumad]

Beastlord is a good compromise because it can tank and slow. Tank mercs are pushovers at the higher levels. But the beastlord also is a compromise between tanking, DPS and healing and not the only class that can slow. Its slow is just more comfortable for boxing, stronger and longer lasting than a melee proc weapon. It is a workhorse that fits to almost any other class because of its versatility and combined power. All in all a very powerfull class without being excellent in a single category but coming very close for DPS and tanking in group content.

A big issue of a WIZ/BST and WIZ/SHM duo can be single pulling which is one of the reasons why I would prefer a paladin over a beastlord if it is just about duo and not trio boxing. Pet classes do also require more attention, especially the beastlord as a melee class, which is not ideal to start with boxing.

I agree on the performance of a tank/clr merc pair, however, I think it is important to recognize that the basis of the suggestion was so that the box didn't have to be played. It was just to get the second merc. It would only slow, pet and then back to playing the wizard as if not boxing. MAG works for this to use CLR/CLR instead of WAR/CLR better than a BST.

If Pulling matters, ENC is the obvious choice for pairing with the Wizard. The Paci will take care of things sufficiently that the WIZ could pull, then the ENC can C and Auras and would only need to be played to slow harder content and Paci for splitting. It is easy to hotkey an assist off the WIZ and a paci cast making it almost feel like the Wiz is playing solo.

Again its important to recognize the suggestion is based on trying to make boxing not feel like boxing and mostly just getting the extra merc because Wiz can not tank or heal and kiting is not the most enjoyable way to play EQ.

Personally I can't see myself playing a WIZ and have no place for a WIZ except to replace a DRU for ports when heal/cures are covered and you want more DPS. I box SHD, ENC, MAG, DRU and would swap the DRU with a WIZ but only if I swapped ENC with SHM or SHD with PAL. I don't like being 100% merc dependent for heals.

 

[Cimbaeth]

I am slightly annoyed by all the anti wizard rhetoric in this thread, wizards are awesome!~ That being said, wizards have sucked for a long time, and only in the most recent expansions were given a bit of a dps boost. Which of course, doesn't compare to whatever the heck they did to monks to make monks the OP class of Laurions Inn expansion. I am or was a master at kiting, and quad kiting, until VOA expansion when there was only one or two zones that didn't have everything summoning. Then I made a box bard. I did that for a few years until I added a box mage. That's been my 3 box combo for 10+ years now, and I can get anywhere in the game faster than just about anyone between wizard ports, bard speed + double invis, and mage group coth. ^ in the above post, they suggest an enchanter, but imho, for pulling, mezzing, dps, extra heals, and generally every weird thing bards can do- a bard is better, and in group settings, my bard can usually put out just as much dps as my wizard between dots and melee. Wizards greatest abilities come to the fore when a named pops and you want to smack it down in the smallest amount of time possible. Or doing the shadowhaven doors mission in 50 seconds, with most of those seconds just pulling with the bard and siccing the mage pet.

But- back to the original posters asks- making a wizard alt and running the tutorial is one way, another way is starting the Hero's Journey quests/ tasks on his original toon.

I also am a fan of personas, now being a fully raid geared 125 wizard, bard, and soon- warrior, with 6 other classes ranging from 1-110. I love popping from one class to another on the same toon.

He can also send me cross server tells to ask any questions. There used to be a serverwide wizard chat- graffes, but after a few years of me being the only one in it, I quit it too.

All the above being said- I box when I want to pursue my own thing. When new expansions are released is the best time for actual grouping with real other players.

Edit: Also druids are evil. I once made a petition and asked if the GM could delete all druids. Much to my surprise, a GM actually talked to me in game and said no they weren't allowed to delete all druids.

 

[Shahx]

Update: I made a 100 heroic mage. watched a s**t ton of youtube videos to catch up on setting up hotkeys/UI, then modified one that I liked to my style. Amazing how 10 hours can go by so quickly jeez.

Although I miss my Wiz days of mass AOE up to 30 mobs at a go, kiting and quad kiting, at these higher levels, wizzies no longer are soloable. So sad tho. My mage can solo yellow mobs with my new setup and cleric merc. simply amazing.

So very thankful for all of you who helped me fumble back into the game after almost 22 years layoff.

One question: i'll be going overseas for 2 weeks and will not have a desktop. Is it possible to login to EQ on ipad, just to refresh the overseer quests?

thanks yall