First character thoughts - rogue

[Ceelow]

My main on live way back when was a rogue on Ayonae Ro so after much thought I made another. I enjoy rogues quite a bit but I'm starting to wonder if it is a poor choice. Soloing seems more difficult than I remember with out buffs and since I play a lot early morning not much grouping is happening.. I'm wondering if I should switch to a more solo friendly class? Or ride It out as a rogue. Essentially I would like to join a raiding guild once I'm high enough, but I see tons of unguided rogues with epics and it makes me a little worried

Update: monks name is koops if your looking to group in game :)

[Tecmos Deception]

I'd consider making another character but not necessarily saying "this is my main now." If you hop on your rogue and you get a group or find a necro who wants to kite with you or whatever, cool. If not, sit /lfg as long as you care to then play your other guy!

Actually that IS exactly what I did personally, when I was leveling a rogue like... well it was 1.5 years ago now. Even as a big-time twink, it sucks trying to level such a group-reliant class in the AM hours.

[Nuggie]

You could sit lfg on your rogue and play another game in the background. play on Red99 or whatever.

[xarilzir]

I was pn ayonae ro myself! Greetings

Personally i played a wizzie way back this time i started a ranger then decided to play a druid to get cash etc.

I flitter between both now rogues can solo ish with the backstab trick i believe but its unreliable (again for what ive been told)

I would say try a few classes if you really wanna go rogue go for it. In the main core zones i have always found a group and im european

[Dunes]

Hi Ceelow,

First - welcome to the server! Its always great to meet folks that have rediscovered classic EQ on P99.

Secondly, there are basically 2 lines of thought:
1) Play what you like. If rogue is what you love, and you just don't get the same enjoyment from other classes, you should keep playing your rogue. Eventually gear will fill in those gaps and you can experience the fun of discovering upgrades as you level. The rogue MQ is so readily available and reasonably affordable for those with high level "mains", that your right - there are a lot of epic rogues roaming Norrath. That being said, most people aren't NOT going to invite you to a group or a guild because your not epic, so don't let a possibility/reservation like that keep you from enjoying your character.

2) There is no denying that rogues, like warriors and several other classes, are quite a bit harder to start with on P99. These classes are typically more gear dependent, more group dependent, and with classic mechanics, 1v1 combat is going to beat you up and require a lot of downtime. All this to say that if there is a solo class that you enjoy (necro, mage, enchanter, druid, shaman among others), you could use them to generate the funds to make life easier on your baby rogue.

There are a lot of folks here on the forums that have been through what your going through now, and they can probably provide some valuable insight!

Also, consider connecting with other players on the forums that play at the same time you do.

Best of luck!

[Tenlaar]

I will echo what Tecmos said, don't give up on the rogue, but I would make a secondary character who is better able to solo when you just can't get anything going on the rogue. A mage or necro would let you have a secondary character who not only can solo, but can pop between cash camps as it levels to help gear the rogue out since the casters won't need much gear at all. The bandit/Nybright camps in gfay/lfay, gargoyle island in OOT. If you stick to the right camps you could have a couple thousand plat to spend on your rogue by the time your caster alt is in their 20's.

Now, my suggestion for actually playing the rogue that you want to play, is this - don't always just be looking for actual groups. Try to find people duoing and see if you can join them. Try to find soloing necros (and to a lesser extent SKs.) Necro/rogue fear kiting is very effective, you can BS away and the necro doesn't have to try to out damage their pet for full XP so they can mainly focus on keeping the mob snared/feared to minimize downtime.

[Malik]

Greetings.

My advice is if you want to play rogue then go for it but i would suggest making a char to farm to gear up rogue.

I have similar problems as some above i play strange hours with low population i made a monk and i get groups if i aim for the kurns unrest oasis.

I have a necro for farming purposes

[MasterKiljaedon]

I'm glad people are giving sound advice. Stick to your rogue if that is what you love. You will find a guild that will want both you and your class. Rogues are monsters in vel anyhow and you will be highly sought after if you are a normal player presence.

Now it doesn't hurt to have a decent farming alt as well.

[Estu]

Echoing the above - keep the rogue, maybe have another character for when you can't find a group. Soloing a rogue is indeed not a good idea unless you're very twinked. You shouldn't feel bad if other rogues have epics, though; the vast majority of groups will take a rogue regardless of gear.

If you want to find groups in general, it really helps to be proactive and know what to look for. For instance, you can look for standard dungeon groups (do a /who all crushbone or /who all unrest or whatever zone you're interested in and send tells, or go to the zone, walk around, see where people are grouping and ask if they want more), and/or form your own using /who all lfg or /who all cleric 5 15 (or whatever level range and class). You shouldn't be afraid to travel; lots of druids and wizards are happy to port a newbie for free if you ask nicely and explain that you can't pay them because you just started out.

Also seek out duos. As mentioned above, necros make great duos with rogues. Another good class is a druid, since they can snare the monster and hold aggro with flame lick while you backstab away and/or their charmed pet does damage. Rangers can do the same while using a bow. Shadowknights also work, just like necros.

[Ceelow]

Going to stick it out with my rogue, his name is Nign !

[Xelris]

It's rough without twinking, but very doable.

Echoing what others have said before me on having a viable solo class. Druids are great cash generators via ports and PL, for example.

[Swish]

It's rough without twinking, but very doable.

Echoing what others have said before me on having a viable solo class. Druids are great cash generators via ports and PL, for example.

Made it to 52 without my epic. Only now do I get sneered at for not having it ;)

[baalzy]

I think I've got a goblin backstabber (6/18 rogue piercer) that you can have if someone hasn't randomly given you something better.

I'd echo the having a second character sentiment, although I'd change it up slightly

Level a solo capable character (necro, mage, enchanter are great choices) . However, instead of sitting LFG until you're sick of doing nothing, log in and do some searches. If you're not able to get a group or if the current groups available tell you they're full then ask to be put on a list and give em your other characters name.

Log in to your solo character and solo it up, periodically /who all <leveling zone for your range> and send tells (need a lvl X rogue?) or send similarly leveled necros/druids tells asking to duo. Once you get a bite, switch characters.

Lets you farm money cause the solo'er won't really need gear to get upgrades (if you're diligent you can buy 30+ str worth of rogue usable gear for under 1k plat then save up another 1k or so for a Bone razor or trakasaure tooth) and always have something to do while online and get to play the class you love.

[Ceelow]

That's true, I had a necro on live that I liked, maybe a shaman this time to change it up !

[Auvdar]

I forget what gear I had, wasn't super expensive or anything, but I was able to proc fear/snare and BS kill things pretty easily. Don't think it kicked in until late 20's, but once I got that it worked well.

But, your big exp will always be with other people. Rog/Necro combo is amazing.

[Xelris]

Made it to 52 without my epic. Only now do I get sneered at for not having it ;)

I really, really despise that this happens (clarification: the sneering, not the not having epic).

Yes, some people main rogues as first characters and don't have 50k to fling at farmers. Imagine that!

[Ceelow]

What do you guys think in terms of soloing with a monk ?i really would like to continue to play my melee class and I Really don't want to have to level 2 classes to play 1 :/

[Daldaen]

So you want to solo, on classes with no healing spells, without having gear?

Monk would be your best bet for that... but it would still take awhile and lots of waiting on mend

However if you include hybrids in 'melee'... Paladin would be your best bet for a soloer (behind bard but that isn't really melee). Rangers are decent too with fear kiting animals.

[Tenlaar]

If you don't want to play a second class then you can simply spend the time when you can't get an xp group with your rogue farming the things you can to make money. Spiderling silks, HQ bear skins, bone chips, etc. I don't think that switching to a class that can't carry much loot without taking penalties is going to help your situation out.

By the time you are level 27 (I think that's when it procs) you can try using a Serrated Bone Dirk and instill doubt to solo fear kite. Where there's a will, there's a way.

[Sidelle]

My main on live way back when was a rogue on Ayonae Ro so after much thought I made another. I enjoy rogues quite a bit but I'm starting to wonder if it is a poor choice. Soloing seems more difficult than I remember with out buffs and since I play a lot early morning not much grouping is happening.. I'm wondering if I should switch to a more solo friendly class? Or ride It out as a rogue. Essentially I would like to join a raiding guild once I'm high enough, but I see tons of unguided rogues with epics and it makes me a little worried
My rogue is my main and I leveled her up the old-fashioned way, untwinked and quested for epic (not hard at all if you have friends or guild help). I was always a person who liked grouping, so it never bothered me that I couldn't solo. It wasn't that hard finding groups but when I did have downtime I just went and played druid alt.

I ain't gonna lie, there were times I wished I could afford better gear. I'm always broke. :D But overall, I really enjoyed my more classic experience.

Just play whatever is most fun for you. Making good friends along the way helps a lot, especially when looking into guilds later. Good luck to you.

[SyanideGas]

All of what everyone suggested is a smart idea. Making a farm class is definitely a smart move, I started out with just my rogue and didn't even think about making a farm class. I leveled to 53 on my Rogue before epics and it was a challenge for sure but I had fun with it.

[Swish]

My rogue is my main and I leveled her up the old-fashioned way, untwinked and quested for epic (not hard at all if you have friends or guild help).

That's how it should be done! pras!

[Ceelow]

So yea, 3 toons and a half a bottle of wine later in settled on playing an iksar monk, here's why.

1. Starting area, lots of groups, lots of mobs and many friendly high level passerbys buffing
2. Iksar regen is amazing it makes a big difference.
3. Having abilities I can actually use while soloing is more enjoyable.

A friendly player gave my rogue a jagged chokidai spine wondering if I can trade it for a decent monk weapon??

Classes tried: rogue, necro, monk

[webrunner5]

Try to get in the Guild Knights That Say Ni. They now I think are the largest Guild on Blue P1999. They always have groups going at most all levels 24/7. Great guild also.

[Ceelow]

Will be soloing in FoB on my monk Koops if anyone wants to join this morn :)

[Seltius]

Monk is definitely a fun class and later on once you have mend and bandages soloing is possible and actually exciting. Be prepared to die a lot at first. I would definitely start a second class just as something when you need a break or if you ever get frustrated. Since you picked a racially exp challenged character maybe do a Halfling druid as a counterpoint. These are just suggestions. I leveled a human monk both on live and here and monk really is imo an amazing class.

2 things save all bone chips people will pay upwards of 10pp a stack for them when they are trying to improve Cabilis faction and there is always someone in FoB doing that. The second is don't sell spiderling or spider silks use them to work on tailoring. You can make your own armor at lower levels and also make bandages, backpacks and other things with the skill. With the release of Velious there will be Wu's armor which you can wear and some pieces are pretty amazing.

Monks are also great because you have several weapon options including fists. But keep in mind your weight restriction. Ill try and swing by there I think I have a pair of magic gloves you can have if you haven't gotten any already they are heavy but the stats will offset the wt.

If you ever have any questions don't hesitate to ask most monks on the server are pretty great to talk to.

[Ceelow]

Yea I'm having fun,, got 4 stacks of spidering silk already !

[DrKvothe]

Was actually going to suggest a monk after reading the first page. For a couple hundred plat, which is extremely easy to farm in FoB from bone chips and spiderling silk, you can get a 23/28 2h weapon. Once you've got this and 2x 5/55 rings and break through the damage caps (lvl 20 before you'll do full dmg with this), with mend + bind wound + fear + FD, you're going to have a ton more solo potential, more top-notch duo combinations (imo), and you'll outdps a similarly poor rogue. You can play the role of puller, dps, or even tank (especially if you've got a root class).

[Daldaen]

1. many friendly high level passerbys buffing

Is that really the case? I can't say I've ever seen a high level buffer run through FoB (or any of the 4 starting iksar zones for that matter) other than myself. After leveling up 2 iksars through them...

[Tecmos Deception]

I've probably passed through FoB with Tecmos 12-15 times in the last year and buffed noobs while I was there trying to buy or turn in bone chips, etc. Doesn't sound like a lot I know, but it IS a long-ass ways out there for someone not bound at pots!

[Ceelow]

Yea I have a ton if silk to sell, been some people here piling me though which is nice, would love to get that quivering staff so it's not a pain to level 2hb later

[Ceelow]

Just want to thank everyone who helped me today - Shlicks for the items and monk wisdom, Zlaog for the shaman PL in FOB, Bracket for both starting me up with amazing weapons and gear - and also a PL on his Druid, and others who helped me along the way! Level 10 monk ;)