Level 29 Wiz, 227 Int, seeking gear advice

[Taagamb]

Hey all,

As the title reads, I'm a level 29 Wizard with 227 int, and I'm really not sure where to go from here gear-wise. This is my main character. Before you ask, I sold a crap ton of bags in the tunnel to buy this gear:

Loam Encrusted Cap (http://wiki.project1999.com/Loam_Encrusted_Cap)
Sheer Bone Mask (http://wiki.project1999.com/Sheer_Bone_Mask)
Ivandyr's Hoop (http://wiki.project1999.com/Ivandyr%27s_Hoop)
Batskull Earring (http://wiki.project1999.com/Batskull_Earring)
Tolapumaj's Robe (http://wiki.project1999.com/Tolapumj%27s_Robe)
The Skull of Torture (http://wiki.project1999.com/The_Skull_of_Torture)
Gatorscale Sleeves (http://wiki.project1999.com/Gatorscale_Sleeves)
Cloak of the Ice Bear (http://wiki.project1999.com/Cloak_of_the_Ice_Bear)
Braided Cinch Cord (http://wiki.project1999.com/Braided_Cinch_Cord)
Embroidered Black Cape (http://wiki.project1999.com/Embroidered_Black_Cape)
Golden Chitin Bracer (http://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Chitin_Bracer)
Golden Bracer (http://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Bracer)
Feathered Leggings (http://wiki.project1999.com/Feathered_Leggings)
Impskin Gloves (http://wiki.project1999.com/Impskin_Gloves)
Golden Efreeti Boots (http://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Efreeti_Boots)
Moonstone Ring x2 (http://wiki.project1999.com/Moonstone_Ring)
Dagger of Frost (http://wiki.project1999.com/Dagger_of_Frost)
Stein of Moggok (http://wiki.project1999.com/Stein_of_Moggok)
Sarnak Ceremonial Dagger (http://wiki.project1999.com/Sarnak_Ceremonial_Dagger)

The only thing I can really see here is replacing the Feathered Leggings with Loam Encrusted Pantaloons, but I've been away from the game for about two years.

Can anyone offer me any advice please? It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Taagamb (Phawiz)

[Tuljin]

Your gear is actually quite good and really your only upgrades are pretty expensive or planar.

I would ditch the Moonstone Rings for a pair of 55 HP rings. You want to get a pair of Jacinth rings as well as a pair of Diamond rings eventually.

I would go Silversilk Leggings over Feathered - they are pure HP and very cheap. Loam Pants would be an upgrade, but they're pricey and not thaat much of an upgrade for the money. Loam Gloves are definitely an upgrade, but also not cheap. Impskin Gloves are very decent, and they still fetch a decent penny in EC.

See if you can get a Supple Scale Armband rot from KC and swap that with your Golden Chitin Bracer.

Black Sapphire necklace would be a good replacement for the Skull, though the skull really isn't bad.

Many of your pieces have nice +HP (Gatorscale Sleeves, Embroidered Cape, Cloak of the Ice Bear, Skull) which is great. You are over the 200 softcap so you can sacrifice INT for some other stats (pure mana, pure HP, saves)

I would say just get the HP rings, Silversilk Leggings, and then worry about getting some levels!

[Taagamb]

Thank you very much for the quick and detailed reply, and the compliments! I'll definitely be picking up some of those pieces as soon as I can.

Excuse my ignorance, but what is KC?

[Manticmuse]

since you will start quadding soon, if you haven't already? not sure if 34 is the magic number...you might want some +mana gear over the soft capped int. my druid had a tough time finishing quads with cheap gear on red for lack of mana. just a thought.

[Malone88]

If you want even MORE INT you can do these quests:

Acumen Mask
Staff of the Wheel
Mystic Cloak (if evil, will need help)

[Nagash]

Maybe you could consider a Solist's Icy Wand so you have a clicky to finish mobs. I mention it because I know it exists but I couldn't comment on the actual usefulness of this item, bet it's good considering its going rate (3-4k pp).

[Yumyums Inmahtumtums]

since you will start quadding soon, if you haven't already? not sure if 34 is the magic number...you might want some +mana gear over the soft capped int. my druid had a tough time finishing quads with cheap gear on red for lack of mana. just a thought.

Basically this. Replace +int with +mana until int has a bigger effect.

If you quad, and you probably will, you'll want as deep of a mana pool as possible. That includes trading out +hp for +mana as well.

[Tuljin]

KC is Karnors Castle - its a very popular low-mid 50s Kunark zone in the Dreadlands. The drolvarg guards outside the zonein will mulch you so make sure you have an escort.

Mystic Cloak is a quest worth doing as well as Staff of the Wheel. Really Tishans Kilt is a great quest too - highest +HP pants a Wizard can get.

You will need a deep mana pool for quadding, but I like the HP rings over the Moonstones. When you are learning how to quad you WILL get hit, and those 110HP are huge. You can make up the mana elsewhere. If you get good and feel like you don't need the HP go ahead and put the moonstones on - but even still you will catch some rounds from time to time no matter what.

Solists Icy Wand is awesome but its a little too late for it to be your main damage dealer. It is awesome to finish off mobs without overnuking, however. Its a bit pricey so its all up to your budget really.

Everybody who has never played a Wizard says "oh, just quad" but really its incredibly boring and a serious drag. Its a lot of fun to play the level 30s and 40s dungeons, which you will definitely need HP for. Its also very important to learn how to survive in and contribute to a group as well as learn the general EQ 101 of mob behavior as you're leveling. You'll want to have some gear for quadding and some dungeon gear for when you get sick of it.

[Taagamb]

Your gear is actually quite good and really your only upgrades are pretty expensive or planar.

I would ditch the Moonstone Rings for a pair of 55 HP rings. You want to get a pair of Jacinth rings as well as a pair of Diamond rings eventually.

I would go Silversilk Leggings over Feathered - they are pure HP and very cheap. Loam Pants would be an upgrade, but they're pricey and not thaat much of an upgrade for the money. Loam Gloves are definitely an upgrade, but also not cheap. Impskin Gloves are very decent, and they still fetch a decent penny in EC.

See if you can get a Supple Scale Armband rot from KC and swap that with your Golden Chitin Bracer.

Black Sapphire necklace would be a good replacement for the Skull, though the skull really isn't bad.

Many of your pieces have nice +HP (Gatorscale Sleeves, Embroidered Cape, Cloak of the Ice Bear, Skull) which is great. You are over the 200 softcap so you can sacrifice INT for some other stats (pure mana, pure HP, saves)

I would say just get the HP rings, Silversilk Leggings, and then worry about getting some levels!

Ok, I've picked up the necklace, silversilk leggings, and 2x 5AC/55HP rings. Looks like I've got NODROP, Quest, or pretty pricey min/max (which I'm all about) gear left to go. I am done crafting bags for plat, so I think it's time I go get some levels :cool:

Thanks for the advice everyone! See ya'll on Blue..

-Phawiz

[Rararboker]

You have that gear at 29? Upgrading will provide such meaningless increases in stats that you'll never notice it. If you haven't, buy jboots and do the quest for the staff of temperate flux. Both of those will do more for your wizard than any piece of gear.


Mijoph, 60 wiz

[Tuljin]

Flux Staff is essential, but that really goes without saying

The Jboots MQ has gotten quite expensive but its a key item. You can pop into SRo spires easily and check the Ancient Cyclops spawn, though lately its permacamped. SoW potions are an excellent alternative - all things considered they are a cheap alternative to buying the boots MQ.

[Rararboker]

Nothing goes without saying for a new wizard asking for gear advice, ya know? He didn't mention it so I assumed that meant he had never heard of it. Much like myself when I was around that level. Wouldn't have even known if Qaos didn't explain it to me when I was asking for wizard advice.

Sro is great. I've gotten the AC so many times there just by stopping in around 8-9pm game time.

[Faywind]

Hmmm...all that gear on a lvl 29 and didn't know what KC was?? <confused>

[shamanredux]

^ Agreed ^

You're at the point where you will receive very diminished returns on trying to buy upgrades. Items that are "tradable BiS" are worth like 10x as much as items that are only 10% worse, but completely serviceable. (Did that make any sense? hah) It's the same reason why you never buy the newest/most expensive computer parts when you can get ones that are one step down at a significant discount.

I think you're much better off saving up plat to buy JBoots and spells. Or maybe start snatching up cool lowbie items for your next character. :D A big mana pool is important for quadding, but nothing will change the way you play your wizard like JBoots will. It's one of the few items that affect a caster like a fungi does for a melee. (i.e. it does something completely NEW instead of just increasing a number on your character sheet by a bit)

[Tuljin]

The tradeable BiS items definitely aren't worth the money for the gains and really the planar drops are free and excellent - especially Carmine Sleeves, Al Kabor Cap, Carmine Legs, and Cryosilk Sash. Need levels for that though :-)

With a 29 Wiz as a main there's no way you can make the 7k required for Jboots MQ in a reasonable amount of time. Your level 29 ports are virtually useless to sell for plat, and at 34 your closest portal to EC is Nek (which really isn't awful but not that great) You get Common and Nro portals at 39. With SoW potions you spend a fraction of the money and move your XP bar every time you take a sip to quad. The time it would take to make enough money off ports in your 30s to buy Jboots is better spent actually getting XP.

Having said that, Jboots are essential and your best bet is to pop into Sro when it turns nighttime and see if you get lucky. That's how I got my jboots. Also, the trickle of plat you will get from ports will be plenty to fund your SoW potions.

It is not worth it to sit around and port to save for jboots instead of sipping SoW pots and moving the bar. You will eventually get an AC spawn, and you don't have any gear to buy. Levels are far more important than anything, and you want to be moving the bar as much as possible.

[Taagamb]

Hmmm...all that gear on a lvl 29 and didn't know what KC was?? <confused>

I've always played min/max nukers in MMOs, with the exception of my first EQ character which was an Iksar Necro that I got to about level 22.

When I rolled this wizard I knew I would have a lot of time to play because I could play at work at the time. I pulled up the wiki for this game and made a gear wish list. The I sold enough bags to buy it.

It's really pretty straightforward. EQ attracts players who see a goal very far away on the horizon and are willing to spend a lot of time getting there. I did, but you can't get to 60 in the tunnel.

I did hit 40 last night though.

EDIT: I only need 25 more spells, 20 of which are 50+. I've bought everything I can in Firiona Vie. I planned well :)

I think the Golden Black Sapphire earring is an upgrade over Batskull. Thoughts?

[shamanredux]

Sure, it's an upgrade. That said, the difference is negligible compared to the difference something like JBoots, OT Hammer, etc will make on your gameplay. Don't listen to the guy that says you will just "stumble upon" an ancient cyclops... The one is SRO is super rare, and the one in OOT is basically perma-camped. SoW pots are nice, but they aren't JBoots. SoW pots don't function as a clicky to reset GCD or a junk buff AND if your SoW gets dispelled you could die. (Unlike with JBoots.)

Gear for casters just isn't nearly as important as it is for melee. You need a decent mana pool to be able to finish a quad, but that's it. Your max mana pool means almost nothing in a group. Even for melee, gear isn't as big of a deal as "effects" are. A BiS tradable (minus fungi) monk twink would level worse than one with a mid-range weapon, FBSS, and a fungi. This is because the fungi is so much more than stats. Casters can't wear it, but they get certain items that are similar in how they impact your character. (Mage focus items, JBoots, Manastone, etc)

I guess what I'm getting at is that you should stop worrying about tiny 1% upgrades and focus on stuff that actually matters. Save your plat! I didn't mean any of this to come off harsh btw, and I'm very sorry if it did. I love discussing strats with people and putting in my two cents. :)