Iksar Shadowknight or Half-Elf Paladin - First Toon Since Velious

[SegFault]

Hello, everyone! I heard about this project earlier today and I must say that it's absolutely wonderful. I've yet to create a character yet as I'm a bit busy, but I was wondering if I could get some people's input on which character class to play. As you may have surmised from the title, I'm waffling between a Half Elf Paladin (Tunare of course) and an Iksar Shadowknight. Earlier, I was thinking about playing a Cleric of some kind, but I've mostly lost interest in that.

If you could give me some pros and cons that reflect the current state of the server regarding these two classes, I'd greatly appreciate it.


Of note, I see that people give handouts somewhat frequently on these boards. I'd like to play without handouts, as I find it more enjoyable. I do remember that Tanks used to (and most likely still do) rely quite heavily on equipment, but I'm sure I'll be able to scrape by.

Thank you again, and special thanks to the devs for creating this.

[Lorian]

I dont have any experience playing a lizard, but it should be pretty easy to earn money all on your own to get decent gear, or quest for it if you want to. The stuff you can quest for at low level is pretty rubbish, especially the weapons. You can get a 50/13 2HB hammer if you kill Trumpy Irontoe in Qeynos and hands his head into the dorfs in kaladim. Some decent armor though, but if you save up til like 90pp (which you will have done by lv 10) then you can buy a full set of banded crafted by another player.


The SK can solo much easier than the Pally if you cant find a group with snare, fear and a pet. It can be difficult to find a group at times. I agree half elves look really cool (just created a half elf warrior for the looks only), but their melee stats are pretty mediocre if not twinked. You will likely eat many more deaths than the icky would have,

[Deckk]

Well,

It should be noted that both Iksar and Shadowknight have big XP penalties. Combined, it's something like 168% penalty (that's off the top of my head, correct me if wrong.

The Paladin would only have the hybrid penalty, which is eventually lifted in Velious.

[Morlaeth]

Well,

It should be noted that both Iksar and Shadowknight have big XP penalties. Combined, it's something like 168% penalty (that's off the top of my head, correct me if wrong.

The Paladin would only have the hybrid penalty, which is eventually lifted in Velious.

Yep, -68% for Iksar SK. Same with Troll SK.

They require 68% more experience than a player with no bonus or penalty of the same level. For example, they require 68% more experience to get from 51 to 52 than a Human Cleric.

[Deckk]

Yep, -68% for Iksar SK. Same with Troll SK.

They require 68% more experience than a player with no bonus or penalty of the same level. For example, they require 68% more experience to get from 51 to 52 than a Human Cleric.

I'm not mathematician, so this is likely wrong, but at 68% more xp necessary per level, you actually wind up needing about 40.8 more levels than anyone else to get to 60. Now, I didn't use the actual exp needed from level to level to figure that out. But that's craziness.

I have great respect for anyone who has done it without PL or twinking.

[littlebobby3]

I'm not mathematician, so this is likely wrong, but at 68% more xp necessary per level, you actually wind up needing about 40.8 more levels than anyone else to get to 60. Now, I didn't use the actual exp needed from level to level to figure that out. But that's craziness.

I have great respect for anyone who has done it without PL or twinking.

http://wiki.project1999.com/Shadow_Knight

scroll down to Racial Experience Statistics. you will find the exp penalty for a Shadow Knight. if i wanted to do math then i would figure out how many total extra levels you need to get to 60, but its fair to say that YES you do probably need 40 more lvls in exp to get to 60 than a race/class with a 0% exp pen.

this being said ... you will most likely see very few Iksar Shadow Knights running around but they do exist at lvl 60.

Welcome to Classic.

[Deckk]

http://wiki.project1999.com/Shadow_Knight

scroll down to Racial Experience Statistics. you will find the exp penalty for a Shadow Knight. if i wanted to do math then i would figure out how many total extra levels you need to get to 60, but its fair to say that YES you do probably need 40 more lvls in exp to get to 60 than a race/class with a 0% exp pen.


That's what I did. I didn't do it based on total experience per level, or how much experience increases to obtain the next level. IE I didn't figure out how much xp is necessary to attain 61, 62, 63, 64, etc.

I did use the xp penalty of 68%, though :)

[Roguejm11]

Although I am a high level SK, my suggestion would be a Paladin.

The server needs more Paladins, and if you know its a class you would enjoy, we would like you for it. lol

[littlebobby3]

That's what I did. I didn't do it based on total experience per level, or how much experience increases to obtain the next level. IE I didn't figure out how much xp is necessary to attain 61, 62, 63, 64, etc.

I did use the xp penalty of 68%, though :)

ok thats what i thought ... but for the sake of just wanting to know lol lvl 1-60 are on P99 so those for a iksar SK are at 168%. if i honestly knew the exact amount of exp per lvl i could figure it out but i dont know lol.

all i know is any race thats an SK has a high exp penalty ... for example ... your lvl 20 and your friend is lvl 20 ... he is a cleric human and your a ikky SK ... you both dinged lvl 20 at the same time (yeah yeah just go with it)... from what i understand, when he is at 100% exp (ding 21) your at 32% into lvl 20 (32+68=100 lol) so therefor a 68% exp pen.

yeah it sucks but that is Everquest classic ... halfing rogues get a bonus to exp rather than a penalty so lol.

[Swish]

Paladins come into their own for Velious, I'd argue SKs are easily the better choice at the moment though.

If you do go paladin, go Tunare and Half elf/high elf for http://wiki.project1999.com/Natures_Defender

[Deckk]

Although I am a high level SK, my suggestion would be a Paladin.

The server needs more Paladins, and if you know its a class you would enjoy, we would like you for it. lol

My first character on P99 was a Dwarf Paladin. I got him to level 2 and saw my experience bar basically stop due to the 40% xp penalty. Holy cow. I have tremendous respect for all of you palys/sks out there. I may ultimately try a Paladin, but only if I twink him to the gills. hahaha!

ok thats what i thought ... but for the sake of just wanting to know lol lvl 1-60 are on P99 so those for a iksar SK are at 168%. if i honestly knew the exact amount of exp per lvl i could figure it out but i dont know lol.

all i know is any race thats an SK has a high exp penalty ... for example ... your lvl 20 and your friend is lvl 20 ... he is a cleric human and your a ikky SK ... you both dinged lvl 20 at the same time (yeah yeah just go with it)... from what i understand, when he is at 100% exp (ding 21) your at 32% into lvl 20 (32+68=100 lol) so therefor a 68% exp pen.

yeah it sucks but that is Everquest classic ... halfing rogues get a bonus to exp rather than a penalty so lol.

Yup. Crazy to think of all that experience it takes. I'd argue SKs/Palys/Rangers are the worst classes to level first until the hybrid penalty is lifted. They take forever. You'd have much better luck leveling something else first and then outfitting a SK/Paly/Ranger. That makes experience gain so much easier due to being able to destroy higher level mobs.

But in the end, if people are prepared for that penalty and still want to play the class, go for it! :)

[Swish]

The problem with leveling one after the penalty is removed is an obvious one though - you won't get a group because there'll be another 10 in the zone advertising ;)

My SK (dark elf, 40%, no racial penalty) is working through 54 at the moment and you just have to accept that its painfully slow. I pretend every 1% I make on the XP bar is a normal level's 2%... so whatever I make in a session, I double it. Probably wrong, but it keeps me from hanging myself :D

Also look forward to dealing with people who say "oh I made 1.5 yellows (30%)" in this session when you've made like 7% or something :p

[webrunner5]

Paladins make great pullers in Velious. They will be need even more with the Rez they get, spot heals, etc.. Good class to have in a group, even good with CC.

I know I hate on them, but their DPS is just terrible. But they do have some killer agro and make good tanks. You can do worse. :p Not much, but. :D

[Samoht]

for example ... your lvl 20 and your friend is lvl 20 ... he is a cleric human and your a ikky SK ... you both dinged lvl 20 at the same time (yeah yeah just go with it)... from what i understand, when he is at 100% exp (ding 21) your at 32% into lvl 20 (32+68=100 lol) so therefor a 68% exp pen.

You would be at 60% exp. The penalty does not reduce your exp gained (1 - .68), it actually increases the amount of experience required per level (1.68 for one level), so if they gain 1 level, and you're working on 1.68 level, it would be 1/1.68 or 60%.