1-50 solo Ranger or Monk

[kuuky]

So I am slowly getting the chanter up there but I want to punch some face occasionally. Which is more fun to solo from say 1-50. I have fungi and COCW in bank.

[putrid_plum]

I would say the monk since you can go most places, flip flop into dungeons, camp whatever you want, in relative safety but I don't get why everyone wants to solo so badly on P99. ;)

[kuuky]

Thank you for the advice.
As to why I solo, well the biggest reason is that I have a wife and daughter and I have to afk (sometimes long time) suddenly. I don't want to be a burden to any group (unless i know i'll be on undisturbed like late night ) with that. I dislike when others do that and leech xp. Also I like to hog the xp. Cuz Hey I earned it.

[putrid_plum]

Ah good reason then!!!

[Zentile]

The deciding factor for me three years ago was that monks have a pause button. It’s perfect for those with young families or other RL commitments.

Zen

[Nagoya]

rangers have hide&sneak tho, this is pretty much a pause button :)
i like rangers better than monks, lot of utility and nice spells...
most effects can be reproduced on clickies with a monk i guess, but i don't have access to this kind of loot nor money ^^;
on a mid-low budget twinking, i'd vote for rangers!

[kuuky]

Very good points Nagoya and Harmony as well to help with outdoors(where ill mostly be) splitting.

[Wfrench1234]

Thank you for the advice.
As to why I solo, well the biggest reason is that I have a wife and daughter and I have to afk (sometimes long time) suddenly. I don't want to be a burden to any group (unless i know i'll be on undisturbed like late night ) with that. I dislike when others do that and leech xp. Also I like to hog the xp. Cuz Hey I earned it.

That’s why I play monk. I have a 36 week preg. Wife and a 3 yr old I never know when duty is going to call. Just flop and come back later. Once you hit 50 make sure you have an OT hammer and a WC cap.

[skarlorn]

Do you care more about having some spell utility, or being better at punching? Monk can handle anything a Ranger can and more. Fd is superior for afks at the drop of the hat. Ranger gets aot worse after 50 when mobs start summoning

[Spyder73]

Monks are super fun. With a Fungi and Haste I think Monk is pretty much the no brain answer here. Buy a Stalve of Shielding for off hand and punch things with main hand and you pretty much don't need any other gear for your monk until you can maybe get some No Drop stuff. Just loot some Mesh armor from the frogs in Upper Guk and replace it as you find upgrades on your adventures.

Monk Epic is much easier than Ranger Epic if you ever feel like going down that road

[kuuky]

Based on what you last 3 posters said it seems like Monk is the way to go. Gauranteed AFK safety, ease of use and high groupability if I want. Monk it is. Thank you all for the advice. Now Human or Iksar? JK ikky all the way.

[Spyder73]

Human monk is considerably better looking than Ikky monk IMO. Fashionquest is important

[Troxx]

Ranger:

-a lot of utility
-requires mana thus med time
-tracking, self buffs, sow
-lower dps and good dps options more expensive
-more effort and skill required to compete with total monk package
-squishy tank but can tank nonetheless with strong aggro


Monk

-FD is godly
-higher dps with cheaper high dps options
-straightforward play aside from splitting at high levels
-less skill/effort needed outside of pulling tough content
-limited other utility, no innate sow (jboots vs sow pots required)
-mend and higher cap bandage skill
-instant afk with FD
-weight limitations is annoying
-very strong defensively tanking (solo/partner/group) but limitations based on weapon choices etc as it relates to aggro

Monk is simply a really strong and player friendly class in classic EQ. Ranger is loads of fun but for your case monk seems the ideal fit.

At the extreme end of bleeding edge content ranger dps catches up somewhat (better rarely with the perfect setup on a true shot raid burn.

[Snaggles]

Definitely monk in terms of ease. I'm a recluse with a ranger I soloed to 54. Fear kiting to mid 40's and bow-rotting past that. It was pretty painful past 45. I never had a fungi so melee solo (efficiency wise) was just not an option. I would expect even a budget monk would breeze past a ranger. With a Fungi and a decent staff in the mid 50's SolB is going to be cake. A ranger it's gonna be hit or miss.

The nice thing with a monk is being able to FD whenever you need and just regen over time. Nothing sees through it.

There are definitely angles to each class and why I feel they are both great. If "fun" means less frustrating failed solo attempts go monk. If "fun" means casting spells, making arrows and all that I'd go ranger.

[Jimjam]

The nice thing with a monk is being able to FD whenever you need and just regen over time. Nothing sees through it.I'm not sure how true this is. I'm fairly certain being caught up in a passing AoE can break FD. As such, in places where mobs like to cast AoE spells (SolA!) it can be worth being that little bit extra sneaky in where you flop your AFK.

[Snaggles]

I'm not sure how true this is. I'm fairly certain being caught up in a passing AoE can break FD. As such, in places where mobs like to cast AoE spells (SolA!) it can be worth being that little bit extra sneaky in where you flop your AFK.

That's a good point. Then again, it would break invis/hide as well.

FD is a fairly good afk method. Not as good as zoning into a "safe zone" but still better than most.