New alt - Advice for what to play

[Yttrium]

I am looking to start an alt. My shaman is slowly grinding away at treants and I often find that camp taken.

Looking to play a dps, probably won't make it very high level, but I want group friendly as possible. I can pull together maybe 500-1000pp to twink but that is about it. Leaning towards a wizard but I am nervous because it looks like they aren't popular for groups. Would I be better off with a mage or a necro?

[Foxplay]

If you want dps for groups Id go...

Rogue - dirt cheap class, they can move around relatively freely and get to groups easily. Groups always want more rogues

Monk - Can also be done super cheap (don't let the heavy amount of monk twinks on p99 fool you) added benefit of being a puller and can solo a lot better than a rogue

Mage - Will get groups way more often than a wizard... people are hesitant to group with wizards because they run out of gas... p99 is somewhat different in classic in that groups and players focus on constantly pulling mobs not just camping 1 specific room or a few spawns and waiting for respawns... thus running out of gas is a huge weakness for wizards in group situations. Mage does not have this weakness as long as they press pet attack they always do good dps

Necro - to the same extent as Mage but your pet is slightly weaker and your dots are not as relevant as the mage burst nukes in group situations. Can still be super valuable to groups but some groups may prefer upfront dps before considering a Necro. That being said Necromancers are significantly better at soloing than the rest of the classes you mentioned

[Swish2]

Definitely rogue. I never played one before P99 but got a rogue to 60 and it was a fun journey. The epic isn't too hard either <3

[Zutizutzut]

Wizards seem a hard sell in groups many times, but a good wizard...oh who am I kidding...wizards suck!! :p Now accepting hate mail.

Assuming you are ok with non-stop chain pulling, a monk is pretty nice for grouping. Monks also duo/trio well which is often better xp's. A well-geared monk can also tank pretty well while still pumping out good DPS and soloing is another option.

For group friendly DPS, it is hard to beat a rogue. I've leveled a few rogues on p99 and still find them fun to play, but keep in mind that rogues lack versatility. Yes, they can and do pull, but bards, monks, monks, and rangers are generally preferred. They are kings of CR's, but let's face it...groups don't generally get built around CR capability. What they do exceedingly well is crap out DPS and mana ain't a limiting factor for them.

If you want versatility, I'd say go necro since they can heal, give mana, CC, and eventually DMF which is useful in some areas.

I feel some people underestimate mage overall contribution (pets do a lot of damage, damage shield, + nukes), but I found getting groups on my mage is fairly easy.

And let us not forget the most powerful DPS which would be of course an enchanter. Their contribution to group DPS from brain buffs and haste makes them worth adding, but with a hasted pet their overall contribution to DPS is pretty insane. You will die more than a rogue though.

[Cyph]

Eh, I always accept people in groups regardless of class. Play what class you like :)

[Foxplay]

Eh, I always accept people in groups regardless of class. Play what class you like :)

Doesn't change the fact that if multiple people are lfg at the same time the rogues and melee classes will get group offers pretty much all the time prior to a wizard

I'd rather have a ALS gnome warrior with rusty swords who put his starting points into Cha as extra dps in a group than a wizard

[bricke75]

Ranger!!

[Yttrium]

Thanks for the tips, leaning towards mage.

[Jan Jensen]

Mage is a great, cheap choice. Very fun. Invest in a couple root nets (https://wiki.project1999.com/Wooly_Spider_Silk_Net) when you can.

[Cyph]

Doesn't change the fact that if multiple people are lfg at the same time the rogues and melee classes will get group offers pretty much all the time prior to a wizard

I'd rather have a ALS gnome warrior with rusty swords who put his starting points into Cha as extra dps in a group than a wizard

Truth and ouch regarding the gnome ;)

[Expediency]

Roll a melee. Its a good change of pace. After sitting around medding on a caster, its nice to stab things, pull, or tank without having to sit or buff people. People tend to group melee characters <50 even hybrids because they do sustained dps. Spend 50% of your twink budget (or more) on a weapon.

Bad news about melee: If you afk even 20 seconds everyone knows.

[clevergirl]

For cheap you can get two weapons for your rogue and a suit of banded, have fun, stack AGI and Dex, STR doesn't make a big difference at low lvls vs lower lvl mobs anyway and rogues get a nice bonus there.

Max out bind wound skill and fishing for something different :D

Go wood elf for forage and pretend to be a ranger :D

Low lvl proccing weapons are fun as heck on a rogue :D

Don't even min max, just get a whip and look sexy.

[Phenyo]

stack AGI and Dex
:confused::confused::confused:

[clevergirl]

https://i.imgur.com/xAzcoQq.png



Low lvl proccing weapons are fun as heck on a rogue :D


Don't even min max, just get a whip and look sexy.

Rogues get a small bonus for AGI above other classes, and I think it supercedes the soft cap, like a shield. Kinda like a monkly dodge or Iksar AC bonus. It's probably not implemented on p99 and even if it was properly implemented probably not a big deal, but it's cool and fun. Not worth it from a min-max standpoint.

However, I had a 214 AGI rogue on live. I could tank pretty gud in classic lol.

Focus was on AGI and mostly not any AC on the gear actually.. Stuff like:

Serpentine Bracer
Item 521.png
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: WRIST
AC: 1
DEX: +3 AGI: +9
WT: 0.8 Size: SMALL
Class: ALL
Race: ALL except IKS

:cool:

In fact, 1 day I'll probably farm a few K and make a twink rogue just to tool around on again for gigglez. :p ;)

I know wars get gooood gainz from AC, ... now I wonder how fun this would be to try out on a woodywar.

[Swish2]

Low lvl proccing weapons are fun as heck on a rogue :D


Especially if you want to make your tank or cleric cry lol

[Ketu Garyx]

I'd rather have a ALS gnome warrior with rusty swords who put his starting points into Cha as extra dps in a group than a wizard

Thats cool but Kushida <Auld Lang Syne> has serious gnome power, tanks Vindi, HoT, etc and wrecks face in a nice DPS race. :D

I can't speak to his Charisma, but we like him.

[Daloon]

Id suggest getting a level 50+ char before making your first alt.

[clevergirl]

Thats cool but Kushida <Auld Lang Syne> has serious gnome power, tanks Vindi, HoT, etc and wrecks face in a nice DPS race. :D

I can't speak to his Charisma, but we like him.

This makes me want to join ALS

Cha is good for pullers.

[knottyb0y]

Would I be better off with a mage or a necro?

Necro is a GREAT class, but your mileage may vary. We aren't crazy gear dependent which is great at lower levels. Heck all my gear rotted at 30 and I was able to rebuild an inventory and still level over next few levels.

What I like about playing a necro is that you are so versatile in solo, duo and groups. This, however, means that there are a lot of necros who don't really flex the class's "muscles".

Necro's have a lot more in common with an enchanter than I thought when I started my character. In my groups I find myself doing CC, DPS, or even pulling(rarely). You will spend a lot of time fear kiting until 34 when root changes the game for you. Screaming Terror is an amazing spell, and I didn't realize that until my late 40s.

One nice thing about a necro is the knowledge that you can solo for exp at any level.

Mages, I don't know all their strategies but they are straight forward. They are DPS machines in a good group. Comparatively a necro has to be much more knowledgeable about their class features to truly shine in group situations. Mages like necros are not heavily gear dependent (that's not to say extra mana and hp does not help). So I imagine they have the same ability to get to their 40s with minimal gear and no real problems.

I think mages on face value are more prized by groups. I would like to think though that a good necro really shines in a group situation because we have so many abilities that we can use when the shit hits the fan.

Good luck on your choice!

[Ketu Garyx]

This makes me want to join ALS

Cha is good for pullers.

We are always recruiting new and interesting people. Roll an alt up and hit the link in my signature.

[Gozuk]

What if I'm new but not necessarily an interesting person?

[Ketu Garyx]

Being in ALS makes you more interesting!

[wagorf]

every necro and their mom say they are so versatile and useful in all situations and fit any group/situation/zones, i also say the same with my lvl 59 necro

but when you are on a diff class and your group is LF more. you hear necros LFG and you have second thoughts, you hear rog/shm/chanter/necro all LFG and u instantly omit necro

don't lie

[knottyb0y]

every necro and their mom say they are so versatile and useful in all situations and fit any group/situation/zones, i also say the same with my lvl 59 necro

but when you are on a diff class and your group is LF more. you hear necros LFG and you have second thoughts, you hear rog/shm/chanter/necro all LFG and u instantly omit necro

don't lie

This is very true. We are super versatile and a well played necro can really fill in the gaps and make a good group into a GREAT group. However we do not fill in the "primary" role in a group so other classes go over us.

Example:
Necros can DPS, but aren't the best DPS in a lot of group situations
Necros can CC (with root and screaming terror Necro's are surprisingly good at CC) but we aren't as good as a chanter or bard
Necros can pull, but most groups would rather have a monk, or other non caster class do so
Necros can heal, but not the most efficient class and best with a slower involved.

Necros don't slow, Necros don't tank, and our group worthy buffs are limited.


BUT.

As I said a necro is like the mortar to fill in the cracks of a good group. When a necro is in a group you keep everything moving. Doing decent dps, distributing mana, backup CC, backup heals, helping tag and split pulls. Essentially in many full group situations we are the premium oil that keeps the engine running as smoothly and efficiently as possible. We make the group better, and when the Shit hits the fan few classes can survive and get a group back up like us.

We do not add a whole lot of unique ability to most full groups. So we are rarely high on the "need this in our group" list.

Add to this a lot of Necros solo from 1-50+ and then when finally in a group situation have no idea how to play their class any other way and make a bad name for us all (but I'm not bitter).

As a necromancer you have to learn that basically you have multiple "play styles". In one group you might be charming undead and nuking. In another you might be applying fast dots and backup healing. Your toolbox is vast and requires a lot of situational awareness to really take advantage of what you can do.

[Topgunben]

This is very true. We are super versatile and a well played necro can really fill in the gaps and make a good group into a GREAT group. However we do not fill in the "primary" role in a group so other classes go over us.

Example:
Necros can DPS, but aren't the best DPS in a lot of group situations
Necros can CC (with root and screaming terror Necro's are surprisingly good at CC) but we aren't as good as a chanter or bard
Necros can pull, but most groups would rather have a monk, or other non caster class do so
Necros can heal, but not the most efficient class and best with a slower involved.

Necros don't slow, Necros don't tank, and our group worthy buffs are limited.


BUT.

As I said a necro is like the mortar to fill in the cracks of a good group. When a necro is in a group you keep everything moving. Doing decent dps, distributing mana, backup CC, backup heals, helping tag and split pulls. Essentially in many full group situations we are the premium oil that keeps the engine running as smoothly and efficiently as possible. We make the group better, and when the Shit hits the fan few classes can survive and get a group back up like us.

We do not add a whole lot of unique ability to most full groups. So we are rarely high on the "need this in our group" list.

Add to this a lot of Necros solo from 1-50+ and then when finally in a group situation have no idea how to play their class any other way and make a bad name for us all (but I'm not bitter).

As a necromancer you have to learn that basically you have multiple "play styles". In one group you might be charming undead and nuking. In another you might be applying fast dots and backup healing. Your toolbox is vast and requires a lot of situational awareness to really take advantage of what you can do.


I agree with most of what you are saying except for a couple things.

Some classes require a large amount of skill to play, some do not. Warriors for example require an IQ of 40 (somewhat below chimpanzee). A necro on the other hand, just like a Bard needs to be constantly doing something at the right time to be a true Bad A. If the necro is doing everything right, there are few classes I would rather have. Unfortunately there are a lot of necros that send pet in half way through fight, use max duration dots at the wrong time, FD instead of CC, and they never heal.

The other thing I never did in groups is Twitch, at least not in a normal chain pulling scenario. It is so horribly mana inefficient I could never do it and feel good about myself. If the cleric was OOM I just shadow compact and lifetap like there's no tomorrow. Seriously the group is better off if a necro root rots the mob until the cleric or healer has saved up mana for heals.

[Faiding]

Keep in mind that when wizards are bashed on the forums, it's because of the following assumptions:

That there is no Bard/Enchanter in the group
The Wizard is mindlessly spamming their latest nuke (or doesn't manage mana)
The group has no access to high level buffs (which is quite rare considering most groups are alts)

Wizards can be very frustrating without mana regen and before Harvest, but are very competitive if played well and have C/C2/Bard regen. I never encountered a group that went out of their way to decline a wizard when I leveled one. People aren't as elitist/unreasonable in game as they are on the forums.

So the old adage of "play what you like" still rings true.

[clevergirl]

Being in ALS makes you more interesting!

I msgd ur discord server ;)

[clevergirl]

hmmm nvm! I'm not giong to restrict myself to cha classic cha gear only.

[Vizax_Xaziv]

Have you considered a BARD ALT? Not only are they one of the best grouping classes, they can also solo extremely well while waiting around LFG; and with a high level of versatility. Swarming, fear-kiting, dot-kiting, charm kiting.

[Vizax_Xaziv]

Keep in mind that when wizards are bashed on the forums, it's because of the following assumptions:

That there is no Bard/Enchanter in the group
The Wizard is mindlessly spamming their latest nuke (or doesn't manage mana)
The group has no access to high level buffs (which is quite rare considering most groups are alts)

Wizards can be very frustrating without mana regen and before Harvest, but are very competitive if played well and have C/C2/Bard regen. I never encountered a group that went out of their way to decline a wizard when I leveled one. People aren't as elitist/unreasonable in game as they are on the forums.

So the old adage of "play what you like" still rings true.

I have a high-40s Wizard and this has been MY experience with the class:

The MAIN problem with GROUPING as a Wizard is actually getting invited to groups. You'll have to be very proactive when LFG - sending lots of tells and/or going zone-to-zone advertising.

The only time I've EVER received a random tell asking me to come join a group has been from people on my friend's list whom I've grouped with several times before.