Necromancer: Race choice?

[claypigeons]

I finally got P99 working, and I'm ready to dive back in to old school everquest.

I have (at least) one question first:

I've narrowed my class down to necromancer, due to play time constraints and irregular play schedule. A strong solo class is a must.

I'm still undecided for race, though.

Dark elf, or iksar? Something else, like gnome? Is the iksar exp penalty as brutal as it looks on paper? Does regeneration offset it enough to make it worthwhile? Ultravision from dark elves is snazzy, almost bodacious, and I like Neriak.

Talk me into picking a race! Halp!

[Bubbles]

Gnome gives you quite a few more options to use merchants and bank, and in general require far less faction work to be liked. Solid starting INT, and great newbie area (steamfont) too. very underrated choice.

Iksar regen is amazing. Gamebreaking at higher levels. Great starting Area (FOB), great tween area (LOIO/WW). Newbie currency is bone chips, and no one can amass more faster than a lizard grinding in FOB and Kurns Tower. Once you hit 60 you are done, so the slight XP penalty is an easy trade for a much more lucrative level 60 toon. :)

Dark Elf... If its what you want to be, thats fine. ;)

[Izmael]

Iksar for min/maxing
Gnome for looking through the walls - this is invaluable at higher levels in places like HS
Dark Elf for fashion quest
Human for classicness

[claypigeons]

Does the same apply to troll/iksar shamans? Is regeneration that good? Does troll win for JBB?

[b_rob242]

Go Iksar! If you're worried about banking and such, do the red wine quest in neriak and kill a bunch of halflings over a Nek forest. You will con amiable to guards inside and outside the city. And be able to bank just don't go near warrior guild in 3rd gate and you'll be fine.

[articnv]

I played de necro on live and a iksar necro on here hands down iksar. You have kurns wich is one the best exp modifiers in the game and honestly u dont have to leave kunark til 26 and grind on treants for cash :). The only faction work i done so far int he game was Thrug and CoV and the sr luclan tag for guard faction in nfp. Once u have Call of boens u cna bank in paniel u can wall bank in HHK or NFP and if u manged to get a pre nerf CoS u can fd bank pretty much any wear :)

[EQBallzz]

I love the idea of gnome and DE necros..but I think the regen thing makes Iksar the best choice. You really don't even need to worry about faction. I started banking in NFP on my Iksar necro as soon as I could FD and invis myself. You can invis to the wall just inside bank door and just move camera to 3rd person to use banker while staying out of LOS from bankers and guards outside. If you want to be extra safe you could FD first since some people train guards in and flop.

The faction thing with Iksar can be quite liberating as an Iksar. You don't have to worry about faction since everyone hates you! lol. There are also easy options to work on faction if you want to. Tagging a Lucan kill one time will take you from scowling to non KOS with NFP guards. Have helped kill him 3 times on monk Iksar and I'm ally in NFP. Beware that bankers and bards in NFP are on two other factions, however.

[Capybara]

I finally got P99 working, and I'm ready to dive back in to old school everquest.

I have (at least) one question first:

I've narrowed my class down to necromancer, due to play time constraints and irregular play schedule. A strong solo class is a must.

I'm still undecided for race, though.

Dark elf, or iksar? Something else, like gnome? Is the iksar exp penalty as brutal as it looks on paper? Does regeneration offset it enough to make it worthwhile? Ultravision from dark elves is snazzy, almost bodacious, and I like Neriak.

Talk me into picking a race! Halp!

Iksar, it's fun as hell and you get FD to deal with NPC aggro. The exp penalty is 20%, but it's not really that bad (I got my monk from level 1 to level 20 in about 4 days).

I think having a higher regeneration, and improved night vision is a fair trade-off for the lower intelligence.

[Erica]

Does the same apply to troll/iksar shamans? Is regeneration that good? Does troll win for JBB?

If torpor wasn't in the game, there might be an argument for Troll/Iksar shamans. But once you hit 60, hp regen doesn't matter all that much. The stun immunity from the front however, will help you a lot. You can even JBB spam through a mob bashing, where a troll will not.

Will a non Iksar necro work and still be good? Sure. But when you are constantly losing hp due to lich, what is the absolute best thing to have? More HP regen. Min/Maxing to me is more like losing 10 INT to play a race you like more. Extra hp regen is amazing for you.

Play what you'd prefer, but I'd highly recommend Iksar unless you really really really hate them :) You'll usually look like a skeleton anyway!

[trav71]

I went Erudite and blew all my bonechips leveling him up a bit. I wish I hadnt and could restart as a gnome. I am only lvl 8, but that is a lot of time (for me) and I am playing with a friend... so it would put too much of a gap between us to restart.

I would definitely go gnome if I were able to do it again.

Iksar would be swank, but the 32% xp penalty along with the pet taking half xp when soloing would be too slow for me to be able to deal with.

[Danth]

If torpor wasn't in the game, there might be an argument for Troll/Iksar shamans. But once you hit 60, hp regen doesn't matter all that much.

Not every Shaman makes level 60, and not all those who reach 60 acquire Torpor. As such, racial regeneration is very much a concern for many Shaman players. For Necromancers, if you don't much care about your race, pick Iksar. I feel Iksar/Necromancer is the most advantaged race/class choice in the game. The only reason to choose a non-Iksar Necromancer is if someone specifically wants to pick an alternate race. The other races can and do work, but Iksar is clearly better than any other option for that class by a significant margin.

Ultravision is largely irrelevant because a) Necromancers get spells with which to see in the dark anyway, and b) The Titanium client used by Project1999 has brighter than classic nights. True darkness occurs only inside a relative handful of indoor dungeons. The Iksar racial experience penalty is a straight 20%, which will to some degree be mitigated by the superior regeneration rates. Class penalties are a thing of the past and have been for some time so some folks seem to be operating under bad assumptions.

Danth

[trav71]

The Iksar racial experience penalty is a straight 20%, which will to some degree be mitigated by the superior regeneration rates. Class penalties are a thing of the past and have been for some time so some folks seem to be operating under bad assumptions.

Danth

Well shit.. teaches me to believe everythign I read on the wiki!

[EQBallzz]

Well shit.. teaches me to believe everythign I read on the wiki!

Also, if you are duoing like you said..the pet doesn't steal any XP at all. It's only if you are soloing and don't do more than 50% of the dmg that the pet steals any XP.

[Truheart]

Human, of course!

[fiveeauxfour]

if you plan on being able to land a VP staff then I would suggest playing whatever race you like the best.

[b_rob242]

Trav71 - I love my IKS but stay a ERU. That makes you a little different than most necros, plus your Lore story is pretty BA. Keep leveling and have fun. I see a lot of folks worry about end game, but I guess I'm different. I really enjoy the middle. Going places and seeing things, not just the end. Take your time and enjoy the ride. JMO

I guess that's the same with Shaman as well. Enjoy the ride. Sometimes, it just feels nice tossing buffs on people when I play my shaman. Offering binds in WFP may be one of the more rewarding "tasks" I do when I'm there. Seeing some Iksar (or Erudite) you know had a long ride to get there in need of a bind before the guards kill them and being able to offer said service can be rewarding and not just financially.

[thebutthat]

Iksar is always the popular choice for necros because of the regen. But if you've gone without it, you really won't care. Necro's are always leeching life anyway. There's nothing an Iksar necro can do that any other race can't, it just requires an extra cast is all.

[b_rob242]

Iksar is always the popular choice for necros because of the regen. But if you've gone without it, you really won't care. Necro's are always leeching life anyway. There's nothing an Iksar necro can do that any other race can't, it just requires an extra cast is all.

True! I played a DEF NEC. I would have never noticed. I switched after 16 levels on him bc I took the "Iksar are better" bait. I regret having to start over and waste the time. Hence, the advice. Stick with ERU! If you see Ssessth in-game. HMU for some bone chips or plat. I'm nowhere near rich, but I may have a little bit more plat than a level eight (untwinked) toon has on him.

[Rysky]

Shhhhit I'd say go iksar, why? Because I can hold down an extra mob or two in an experience grind where as you other races have to med due to that extra cast. Let me just say, iksar regen gained me few extra go arounds on specter island in the oasis. I was able to sufficiently pull all but one of the eight spawns, due to me saving that 15% mana from that uneeded lifetap. Vampiric curse is all I ever need to stay positive with my call of bones active. I'm just a 43 iksar necro, what do I know.

[thebutthat]

Shhhhit I'd say go iksar, why? Because I can hold down an extra mob or two in an experience grind where as you other races have to med due to that extra cast. Let me just say, iksar regen gained me few extra go arounds on specter island in the oasis. I was able to sufficiently pull all but one of the eight spawns, due to me saving that 15% mana from that uneeded lifetap. Vampiric curse is all I ever need to stay positive with my call of bones active. I'm just a 43 iksar necro, what do I know.

At a cost of negative 20% xp. The iksar regen really doesn't start to come into huge play until end game, with the later forms of lich and the iksar regen gets the bonus. Mana becomes damn near irrelevant for all the races for necro in any places your going to solo. Because you're just charming. When boiled down, if you use your tools correctly, all the races will get the job done, without ever running out of mana or hp. Your biggest problem will be screwing up pulls in Howling Stones and catching a bunch of Harmtouchs.

Mana battery for raids is where the regen comes into play. You'll get a few extra twitches per pull because of it.

[Gain]

Iksar is the way to go. At lvl 51 I can cast call of bones and go afk and not lose hir points while sitting. The added regen is a very beneficial advantage over the other necro races.

[Topgunben]

Shhhhit I'd say go iksar, why? Because I can hold down an extra mob or two in an experience grind where as you other races have to med due to that extra cast. Let me just say, iksar regen gained me few extra go arounds on specter island in the oasis. I was able to sufficiently pull all but one of the eight spawns, due to me saving that 15% mana from that uneeded lifetap. Vampiric curse is all I ever need to stay positive with my call of bones active. I'm just a 43 iksar necro, what do I know.

agree with this, plus i find that as an iksar, i probably die a lot less than other races. Thats just my naive opinion though.

[Ofaelol]

Not every Shaman makes level 60, and not all those who reach 60 acquire Torpor. As such, racial regeneration is very much a concern for many Shaman players.

Danth

For anyone considering rolling Shaman, I regret Ogre for this very reason. I probably won't get 60 and definitely won't get Torpor, so Troll would have been a better choice because of the regen. I'm 21 now and considering re-rolling.

[Troxx]

Iksar race confers an undeniable advantage for the necro class.

Play what you want and what will make you happy, just know that your job as a necro will be a lot easier as a lizard. The biggest drawback relates to merchant options, but with your first skeleton illusion lich this becomes a lot less of a problem.

[Troxx]

For anyone considering rolling Shaman, I regret Ogre for this very reason. I probably won't get 60 and definitely won't get Torpor, so Troll would have been a better choice because of the regen. I'm 21 now and considering re-rolling.

Frontal stun immunity has it's uses, but it's not nearly the huge benefit many insist that it is - and that's considering the moments in time where it might make a difference. For every point in time that you're not actively getting beat on, it gives you nothing. Racial regen is there always ... buffing, medding, running from point A to B and still being able to Canni harder, playing the group game - you name it. Torpor goes a long way towards making regen less relevant, but as has been stated - not all shamans even make it to 60 and the process of acquiring the spell itself is a headache. Once any shaman of any race HAS torpor - the game gets trivial to the point that the FSI/Regen/whatever debate is pointless.

One of THE best solo-artist shamans on this server was a barbarian - which has neither racial benefit. It just demonstrates how powerful torpor is and how important skill can be in those extremes of trophy killing where theoretically FSI is supposed to pay off the most.

Pick Ogre if you like it - FSI and the extra stats will be your benefit.

Pick Barbarian if you like it - being less hated and leveling faster will be your benefit.

Pick Iksar if you like it - racial regen is your huge perk and the starting area is nice.

Pick Troll if you like it - racial regen is your huge perk, great balance in starting stats, large size for bash and ability to wear Jaundiced armor (perks over iksar) will be your extra niceties.

Min/max ideal? I'd vote Troll.
-Large size for slam (iksar has not)
-Can wear jaundiced (iksar has not)
-Racial regen is clutch (ogre and barb have not)
-Excellent (imo arguably the best) balance of the important starting stats
-Only thing you miss out on are the looks and FSI - and the racial penalty disadvantages that are trivial compared to ogre and really only meaningful in relation to the worst race choice (barbarian).

TLDR version: regen makes a shaman's life a lot more easy than any other racial trait you could pick. If you're only looking for the benefit, it's therefore not in your best interest to pick Ogre.

[Ofaelol]

Troll master race!

[Munkh]

I seem to be the exception to the choice. My preference is Erudite all the way for a Necromancer.

[GinnasP99]

Iksars can't wear this. I think the choice is clear

http://i.imgur.com/fCwvtzj.jpg

[meadtj]

Frontal stun immunity has it's uses, but it's not nearly the huge benefit many insist that it is - and that's considering the moments in time where it might make a difference. For every point in time that you're not actively getting beat on, it gives you nothing. Racial regen is there always ... buffing, medding, running from point A to B and still being able to Canni harder, playing the group game - you name it. Torpor goes a long way towards making regen less relevant, but as has been stated - not all shamans even make it to 60 and the process of acquiring the spell itself is a headache. Once any shaman of any race HAS torpor - the game gets trivial to the point that the FSI/Regen/whatever debate is pointless.

One of THE best solo-artist shamans on this server was a barbarian - which has neither racial benefit. It just demonstrates how powerful torpor is and how important skill can be in those extremes of trophy killing where theoretically FSI is supposed to pay off the most.

Pick Ogre if you like it - FSI and the extra stats will be your benefit.

Pick Barbarian if you like it - being less hated and leveling faster will be your benefit.

Pick Iksar if you like it - racial regen is your huge perk and the starting area is nice.

Pick Troll if you like it - racial regen is your huge perk, great balance in starting stats, large size for bash and ability to wear Jaundiced armor (perks over iksar) will be your extra niceties.

Min/max ideal? I'd vote Troll.
-Large size for slam (iksar has not)
-Can wear jaundiced (iksar has not)
-Racial regen is clutch (ogre and barb have not)
-Excellent (imo arguably the best) balance of the important starting stats
-Only thing you miss out on are the looks and FSI - and the racial penalty disadvantages that are trivial compared to ogre and really only meaningful in relation to the worst race choice (barbarian).

TLDR version: regen makes a shaman's life a lot more easy than any other racial trait you could pick. If you're only looking for the benefit, it's therefore not in your best interest to pick Ogre.

You fail to mention one thing iksars have and thats something around a 20% armor bonus. Unless the server starts doing some custom patches they will always be superior

[Maliant]

I think someone said Iksar for min/max, can't beat the regen for a necromancer as life = mana. Though Dark Elves to me always seemed to be the optimal lore choice as far as being the classic Necromancer race and looking bad-ass.

[PoptartOnRye]

True! I played a DEF NEC. I would have never noticed. I switched after 16 levels on him bc I took the "Iksar are better" bait. I regret having to start over and waste the time. Hence, the advice. Stick with ERU! If you see Ssessth in-game. HMU for some bone chips or plat. I'm nowhere near rich, but I may have a little bit more plat than a level eight (untwinked) toon has on him.

If your sig is up to date, then your necro is 44 and doesn't have the 49 Lich spell yet. That spell draws a lot more health than Call of Bones. Also, Iksar regeneration takes off like a rocket post 50, where as before its only of marginal benefit. The difference in regeneration from level 49 to 51 is 6 hp/tick. That's more than adding a Zlandicar's Heart to a non-Iksar race (an item that costs ~150k). Then, at 60 you're looking at an extra 6 on top of that.

I'm not trying to disagree with your point of playing what you want though, that is the most important thing.

On the shaman regeneration front, sure leveling up an untwinked character the Iksar/Troll races have a definite benefit, but if you have the money, a Barbarian/Ogre with Fungi Tunic & staff will have over 90% of the regeneration Troll/Iksar would have with the same gear up until level 50. From then on it tapers off to at worst 78% from levels 55-59. With that level of gear, I really think the Ogre's FSI shines. But again, thats assuming you have lots of money, which not everyone does. I'm just trying to make the argument that FSI is the min/max racial-trait over regeneration, and to think otherwise is to again throw subjective preference into the mix in the same way of picking a not-Iksar necromancer race (which is fine, people should play what they get the most enjoyment from).

[b_rob242]

Poptart, nice info! And yes, sig is current, so 49+ info is something to look forward to! I'm happy with my Iksar. As you can also see by my sig, I've taken a true liking to them. Guess I was just trying to comfort the OP about re-rolling. If he's gonna do it the time is now, while he's not put too much time in.

OP: not sure anyone said it yet, but getting an Iksar to level 8 would not take too long. Bone chip quest, scorpion pincher quest, curscale armor quests all happen in FoB. Good experience for each as well as normal leveling. Lots of friendly passersby in that area to buff and such with Kaesora and EJ so close.

[PoptartOnRye]

For every point in time that you're not actively getting beat on, [frontal stun immunity] gives you nothing. Racial regen is there always ... buffing, medding, running from point A to B...

I just thought up another point to my argument, the statement above is not completely solid. Troll/Iksar regeneration is not always there, to a degree at least. Any time your character is not sitting, I.E. tanking, casting, running, the regen is penalized by about 30%. 10 standing vs 16 sitting from 55-59. The percentages in my previous post, 90% and 78% for fungi twinked characters, used the sitting numbers. With characters standing, racial regeneration looks even worse. From 55-59 Ogres/Barbs with fungi tunic and staff/spell regrowth have 82% of the regeneration while standing that a Troll/Iksar with the same gear would have. For levels before 50 you're talking about only 1 hp/tick difference for a standing character, which is a drop in the bucket when you've got +30 hp/tick from gear. I just don't see the argument for Troll/Iksar as the min max pick when their racial benefit can mostly be overcome by equipment.

[Ya momma]

Iksar or bust. Regen + Lich is a no brainer. Any other race is purely for roleplay.

[Dreenk317]

OP was asking about best race for necro, and iksar wins the min/max argument, hands down. Shaman wise, the regen doesn't mean shit IF you are 60 and have torpor. So go ogre for stun immunity if it is going to be a endgame for you. If you won't ever hit 60 I'd go troll or iksar for passive regen.

[Kotopes]

Just don't forget 51-60 probably takes even longer than 1-50, so it's 51+ when iksar regen really kicks in and makes it VERY noticeable against other races.

[Pandy]

Go Iksar! If you're worried about banking and such, do the red wine quest in neriak and kill a bunch of halflings over a Nek forest. You will con amiable to guards inside and outside the city. And be able to bank just don't go near warrior guild in 3rd gate and you'll be fine.

How many red wine bottles I need to give them to get goovy with em? And what level are the halflings?

[PoptartOnRye]

How many red wine bottles I need to give them to get goovy with em? And what level are the halflings?

If I recall, 60-80 turn ins should get you out of KOS, maybe even better. Call of Bones/Lich on top of that will certainly fix things. Just be sure to turn in 1 wine at a time, you'll only get 1 faction hit even if you hand in 4 single wines.

[jackd104]

Be a dark elf female because they are the sexiest.

[B4EQWASCOOL]

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[B4EQWASCOOL]

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