Iksar bad for a new player?

[Sangcreux]

I currently have a high-elf mage at level 7. I really want to try an Iksar Shaman, but I hear they arent allowed in most cities. Would this lessen my experience as a new player? Not being able to enter those cities?

[Kender]

iksars dont need to venture too far from their home city

[pharmakos]

in some ways it would lessen your experience, but in other ways it would deepen it. depends on what you're looking for out of the game. :)

lots of people have never even played an iksar, so it will be a different experience than many.

[Zulzephur - Tarew Marr]

You can always work on faction if you want to enter the cities; banking with them is even harder though, but you could get an illusion with decent enough faction to bank. I usually wait 'til I'm a higher level though to work on factions.

Adventuring out, and leveling in other areas isn't an issue; all you need is a Bind really, or wait until you get that spell (14), which is what I usually do, then I hit up places like Crushbone, Unrest, etc (or whatever zones you have interest in).

Iksars are a great choice as Shamans (regen), so that is also something to factor in as well.

[CosmicOwl]

you end up with extra time to learn everything ~

[pharmakos]

does shaman bear form work like druid wolf form for faction? now that velious is out iksar shamans might have an innate way to bank in other cities.

also, keep in mind that being an iksar doesn't matter in velious -- almost everyone starts out on the same foot faction wise in velious

[Zulzephur - Tarew Marr]

does shaman bear form work like druid wolf form for faction? now that velious is out iksar shamans might have an innate way to bank in other cities.

also, keep in mind that being an iksar doesn't matter in velious -- almost everyone starts out on the same foot faction wise in velious

From what I recall, no, being in Bear Form as a Shaman does not change faction stance in regards to NPCs. It's been a good 10 years since I last played a Shaman, but I'm almost positive there is no change. I even recall having to ask druids for Wolf Form to bank in Kelethin due to that issue.

[justin2090]

Iksars are great. FoB>Kurn's is probably the fastest legit way to lvl 1-20. One of the guards in FoB also has a bonechip quest which gives decent xp 1-10.

[JurisDictum]

Occasionally being Iksar is quite annoying. It is hard to bank without going to Cabilis. In addition, there are often certain spell that there are no easy way to get without someone's help. Sometimes this even impacts your epic quest. While Velious has improved their gear situation a lot, it still is frustrating to not be able to use items like golden efreeti boots.
Other than these annoyances, its a pretty cool race that is basically the strongest in the game when fully geared. There are plenty of kunark alternatives for leveling around Cabilis. For example, a duo with an enchanter or even a necro in the giant camp is great exp from 22 till about 30.

[Deckk]

One question I always have... After about level 8 in FoB, where the heck do iksars group. Let's say from 8-12 before Kurns? You never see groups with people higher than 8 in FoB.

[pharmakos]

you can do kurn's at 8 in a group. its rough but its doable.

[Deckk]

you can do kurn's at 8 in a group. its rough but its doable.

Eh. Just seems like there's a huge gap between 8-10/11. Do people go to LOIO?

[Zulzephur - Tarew Marr]

The problem with Iksars and the whole lvl 8 until Kurn grouping is; things in FoB start going green at 9, 10, and 11 in the pits. We just ended a group at lvls 10 and 11 in FoB in the pits.

We would have been fine, but others didn't want to kill the burynais outside that started conning Yellow. I was pulling, and I had to be real picky on what I pulled. They were either Green or Red; very few evens/blues @ 10 and 11 without hunting the pandas. That's the issue I think.

If you don't care about faction with them, getting to 12 in a group to setup for Kurns isn't bad.

[Sangcreux]

Thanks for the replies so far everyone! What about grouping? Is it harder for Iksars to group?

[curtischoy]

It should not be harder for iksars to group. Maybe a bit of a pain if you want to go to high keep and camp goblins? I've never been there as an evil race.

You get invis at 29 which greatly helps you. With just invis you can bank easily at the bank in north freeport. This is my main bank on just about every character I play.

Being evil (especially iksar) is a hindrance for sure. It makes the game more challenging and makes it more fun and frustrating at the same time.

[JickFromTholuxe]

I have an Iksar shaman that I leveled mostly on Antonica.

I don't mind excluding myself from good cities and having to revisit Cabilis every now and then via the Oasis -> TD firepots shortcut. You can always gate right back to where you were after you resupply. With Velious out, we now have Thurgadin for banking, vendors, alchemy, etc. That evens things out quite a bit if you want to actually spend a lot of time out there. In your 40s and 50s you'll have to focus on your epic a lot in Kunark. Being able to use Cabilis is actually quite convenient then.

I will say that not getting invisibility until level 29 is brutal as an Iksar. I had many failed attempts at getting to HHK without it. If you have the plat, invis potions are about 10pp / charge from a vendor. Usually if you need something from a city very, very badly you can find someone who would be willing to go grab it for you at least.

If you're totally new to EQ, I would say that getting to see the world as a good race is pretty important for the immersion. To me, it's weird to think of someone who has a high level character but knows nothing about Freeport, Rivervale, Kelethin, Felwithe, Halas, Kaladim, Qeynos, etc. But if you have an alt that you play often maybe you can get that exposure on that toon instead.

[Ranndom]

Thanks for the replies so far everyone! What about grouping? Is it harder for Iksars to group?

IMO iksars are the easiest race to find a group with pre 20 just because the area they have available is so confined. Plus, FoB and Kurns are hotspots for any one

[Kender]

faction reset basically when you get big enough for velious

[Froakula]

Iksar is master race /thread

[jarshale]

If you do roll up a iks sham Ill make you a set of banded on the house.

[webrunner5]

Don't even think about doing it. It is hard enough in this game to be a Human in West Freeport as a new person, let alone roll one of the most hated races in the game. You WILL be sorry to have done it. :(

[Kesselring]

You can go towards the back where the badgers are and have an easy warrior/shaman duo back there but kurns is a dungeon and you get extra XP, even with a full group the XP multiplier is much worth it even if one guy doesnt pull his weight.