A few noob SK questions

[johnstonm]

I recently just started this game and rolled a human SK. I realize an ogre or troll would have been significantly better, but as he is my first character, I wanted it to be relatively easier. I was reading the two SK guides on the P99 wiki, and I was wondering:

1) J.C. Smith's guide -http://wiki.project1999.com/J.C._Smith%27s_Shadowknight_Guide
It states that one should initiate the fight with their pet, cast DoTs on the target, and then let their pet die. I guess that one of the benefits to this is that the pet doesn't detract any of the experience away from you? Is it true that the pets take away experience from the player? If it is true, is it worth the mana/bone chips to summon a new pet every fight?
2) As a human SK, I decided I will run with a shield. I am only level 9 at this point but was able to save up enough to buy a cracked darkwood shield. I should have bought a weapon before the shield, but I couldn't make up my mind on what to get. I've read that the ebonwood cudgel is a good first weapon, but I saw a deadwood stave and thought it would be a nice weapon to have instead. I am looking for a lowbie weapon that is <100pp, but I might spend a bit more on it, if anyone had any suggestions (it doesn't have to be a 1HB). I just wanted a good weapon and shield before i start to fill out the rest of my equipment.

I would appreciate any and all advice, even if it's off-topic advice as this is my first character and it has been a long time since I played vanilla EQ.

[Daywolf]

Deadwood stave doesn't proc until lvl30. It doesn't say in-game, you gotta get the proc data off the equipment list at the wiki. You can get cost data on the items wiki link.

Personally I use a wraith bone hammer, treant staff (proc 18), two hand practice sword (proc 22) a compound darkwood bow and a bark shield on my DE SK. All either under 100pp or not too hard to loot yourself. Well apart from the bow, but I made it so it was at cost (300pp to make).

Not sure about the pet, but yes if it's dead you get full xp, and it really dies easy. I use my bow a lot, get a few hard hits in first from 300 range lol, so it just bypasses any pets.

But yeah, look over the SK equipment list on the wiki, it's all pretty handy and shows stats (whichever you're in need of), proc info, effectiveness and player submitted pricing, locations where it drops, crafting materials etc.

[TeemoOfAstora]

Hi there, and welcome to p99.
1) the pet robs you of xp if it out damages you, but seeing as sk pets are pretty much the worst acting DoT you'll cast this won't be much of a concern. Also, some of your DoTs (disease cloud is the one) will get you aggro like no one's business. So whatever it is you sent your pet on will immediately come to you. Your pet will thus be alive for a good number of fights, and you'll be the one tanking.
Whether or not to cast pets will depend on your situation, and you'll figure things out as you level. You'll want a pet in outdoors areas where you'll be fear kiting or if you're about to fight a SK mob, so it'll eat the harmtouch. He'll provide some damage but won't be able to out damage you.
That being said, in dungeons you might experience pet pathing through walls or aggroing EVERYTHING (it'll be very low level compared to what you're fighting as you continue to level so they'll aggro low level mobs that wouldn't aggro you). Also if you're grouping with a CC class (bard/chanter) and your pet is beating up on things they mezz they will be very upset with you when the thing breaks mezz and starts beating up on them. In a group situation DPS is not a job you'll be doing so the low numbers the pet puts out will likely not be necessary.

2) shield is always great to have, it'll help you with your main job: tanking. your clerics will thank you down the line as shield ac is always going to provide solid damage mitigation. Not to mention your shield bash will be excellent for interrupting casters and also making that great shovel hitting skull noise.
you'll want to work up all your combat skills of course, just in case you get some neat toys to play with (your epic for example is a 2h slasher, but there are reasons i've not seen as many on the server). Plus with double attack a solid 2h weapon will make satisfying crunching noises on your opponents :D
As far as decent starting weapons you might want to look at Sword of Skyfire (http://wiki.project1999.com/Sword_of_Skyfire), Firerune Brand (http://wiki.project1999.com/Firerune_Brand) / Blade of Xalgoz (http://wiki.project1999.com/Blade_of_Xalgoz), Enameled Black Mace (http://wiki.project1999.com/Enameled_Black_Mace), or any cheap decent ratio'd things coming out in large amounts from Velious. Stay safe out there, and good hunting.

[Daywolf]

the pet robs you of xp if it out damages you, but seeing as sk pets are pretty much the worst acting DoT you'll cast this won't be much of a concern. Ah, yeah I should probably full around with it some then, even if it can't get aggro, it just wont hah. Toss a weapon on it and let it chase mobs around, while they completely ignore it :D

[Cillaz]

Your pet won't do enough damage to steal xp on an sk. It's more a Mage/necro problem. Grab one of the weapons listed above. Once you have one of the weapons, look to buy either banded armour or bronze armour so you get some ac.
If you see me in game (name is cillaz) I'll give you some pp for a set of armour

[Danth]

The SK pet is pretty poor until the level 52 and especially the level 58 pets, at which point they become useful sources of damage. That's a long ways off though. In particularly the mid-level pets are wretched, with the 39 pet in particular being so bad that in my opinion it isn't even worth summoning. You shouldn't have to worry about any of them out-damaging you. If you're using the pet, don't kill it pointlessly. Instead it's best used as an effectively mana-free damage supplement.

A Human Shadow Knight can do any job any of the other races can do. My own SK is a Human; I've been 60 for several years. I give up about 200 HP off an Ogre in equivalent gear (higher-end group gear in my case, like Thurgadin armor), but that's not really very much for people who buff to over 5000 hit points. If you progress into North Temple Veeshan-level equipment, everyone caps stamina and the stats become equal. Nobody who invites a tank to their group ever cares what race the tank happens to be, so don't worry about it. The Human leveling a little faster and having easier factions is a nice compensation for the player with limited time.

It's difficult to find 1H weapons with good damage ratios for cheap prices. I consider it easier to start out using a cheap 2H weapon (Nathsar Greatsword with its 17/30 ratio is a common choice) then switch to 1H/Shield once you have more money. The cheapest 1H weapon I truly consider worth using is the Mace of the Shadowed Soul and that still typically costs at least 1000 platinum or more. If you're determined to use 1H exclusively, try to use Velious weapons. Ebonwood cudgel is obsolete; you can look for some Velious weapons (such as a Crystallized Blade, 13/31 ratio) for probably 100P or so. That'd be good enough to take you into the 20's or so anyway.

Danth

[Cochonou]

If you can put your hands on http://wiki.project1999.com/Smoldering_Brand, it's also a nice 1H blunt newbie weapon. 9/22 with a 14DD Procs at level 1 and it isn't really expensive.

[Lorian]

Dont bother with buying the Darkwood shield, the STR bonus you get from it will not be worth anything til a bit later when you easily can loot it yourself (around lv 22) After that you'll be able to afford a decent 2-hander (Argent Defender etc). The permafrost entrance is solable from lv 15 and mobs there ocassionally drops ore worth 50pp, so you should be able to save up 1k plat at least before you hit 20.