Dark Elf Shadowknight help

[Mankong]

Hey, was gonna roll a Shadowknight and it was a coin toss between Delf and Human... Until I realized that Delves get more early on (like a decent starter shield??) and can get a bind anywhere ring. So that decided me. :p

Now, I was wondering; where am I allowed to go, how do I gain rep with, say, Qeynos, Freeport, and Butcherblock. Any low level shadowknight gear I should know about? ETC

[Coridan]

East and West Freeport are mostly ok? I usually use the sewers just to be safe (plus it's probably the reason I'm in Freeport anyway). North is a no-no. Freeport Militia start dubious though so it's ok.

Highpass was the big surprise for me, they start off scowling ready to attack. Considering Highpass is the Mos Eisley of Norrath I expected them to be dubious or at worst threateningly. Heretics (evil Erudites) start off Threateningly too which was odd, so keep that in mind when Paineel releases.

Grobb is ok, they're apprehensive. Qeynos you'll have to use the sewers but can probably train with the Bloodsabers? No real reason to go out that way except for Permafrost which no one is hunting in anyway.

[Graventhel]

...and can get a bind anywhere ring.


We get a what now?

[Mankong]

We get a what now?

Thex Mallet quest can give you a ring that lets you bind anywhere as a Dark Elf SK/Necromancer. I think the ring was removed later on in Classic.

[Graventhel]

Thex Mallet quest can give you a ring that lets you bind anywhere as a Dark Elf SK/Necromancer. I think the ring was removed later on in Classic.

Do we know if it is on Green/Teal, and if so when it gets removed? The wiki says it no longer gets rewarded on Blue.

[Mankong]

Do we know if it is on Green/Teal, and if so when it gets removed? The wiki says it no longer gets rewarded on Blue.

Apparently it still is, but idk until I get to the level haha.

[Lone Gnome]

Ogre or troll sk

[Swish]

https://wiki.project1999.com/Thex_Mallet_Quest

If it's in on green definitely do it and save it for a special occasion.

[Graventhel]

https://wiki.project1999.com/Thex_Mallet_Quest

If it's in on green definitely do it and save it for a special occasion.


The special occasion would be the pot room in Kunark.

[Swish]

The special occasion would be the pot room in Kunark.

When Kunark first releases, you CAN bind at firepots for a short while.

[Gatorsmash]

Hey, was gonna roll a Shadowknight and it was a coin toss between Delf and Human... Until I realized that Delves get more early on (like a decent starter shield??) and can get a bind anywhere ring. So that decided me. :p

Now, I was wondering; where am I allowed to go, how do I gain rep with, say, Qeynos, Freeport, and Butcherblock. Any low level shadowknight gear I should know about? ETC

Go big race or you are going to regret it.

By the time you get FD and invis you wont care where you are KOS because you will still be able to bank and sell and no gear in game including Kunark will make up losing the ability to slam/bash with a two-hander which means losing any ability to generate dps solo and getting your face melted off by casters if do try going 2h as a small race.

[Graventhel]

Go big race or you are going to regret it.

By the time you get FD and invis you wont care where you are KOS because you will still be able to bank and sell and no gear in game including Kunark will make up losing the ability to slam/bash with a two-hander which means losing any ability to generate dps solo and getting your face melted off by casters if do try going 2h as a small race.

Believe it or not there are literally dozens of us who do not care about min/maxing in this re-release of a 20 year old elf simulator.

[Danth]

Slam is not a lot of damage and (eventually) the epic allows you to 2H bash if it really matters that much. In Kunark if you don't have the epic there's a fair chance you're using a 1H/Shield anyway (mace of shadowed soul, noctivagant blade, ebon mace, etc) Fighting a caster? Snare--fear--problem solved. Never regretted being a non-large-race SK even once in many years of playing the thing.

Danth

[Mankong]

Go big race or you are going to regret it.

By the time you get FD and invis you wont care where you are KOS because you will still be able to bank and sell and no gear in game including Kunark will make up losing the ability to slam/bash with a two-hander which means losing any ability to generate dps solo and getting your face melted off by casters if do try going 2h as a small race.

I don’t like ogres or troll appearances. Maybe a shaman will be one.

[Gatorsmash]

Believe it or not there are literally dozens of us who do not care about min/maxing in this re-release of a 20 year old elf simulator.

Lol wut? It has zero to do with min/maxing and everything to do with just enjoying your playing time.

The Shadowknight sword + board dps is so low that by lvl 25 if cant interrupt those casters and mob healing with slam AND produce at least a little dps with a 2 hander, solo'ing becomes a real chore and limits where you can even go solo while you wait for a group invite if that's what you choose

Edit- And that's a big part of what makes shadow Knight so enjoyable is you can main tank in a group or you can solo relatively effectively but enjoyably.

[Kendir]

As a dark elf you have access to 3 free bags. One from necro guild, rogue guild, and warrior guild. All can be obtained at level one.

The rogue guild bag can eventually turn into the shield you mentioned. Also in the warrior guild you can get a quest for the Footmans Voulge, its a 2h slashing weapon.

A merchant down the hall from the bank in neriak sells invis potions for 10p buy some if you plan to travel somewhere hostile before 30.

Collect the pelts in nektulos forest and make yourself some tattered/patchwork so you raise your ac up as high as you can for free, atleast until you can grab some rawhide pieces from the undead at the obelisk near EC. Save every single bone chip you collect during your time in Nektulos and you shouldn't have to buy any for a looong time, especially if you move to befallen to go after the thex mallet for the ring/reaper.
Theres a level 10 paladin in Lavastorm you can kill for a quest to get a cloak that has a couple charges of invis vs undead.

Get banded as soon as you can afford it, prioritize the chestpiece. Buy a magic 1h weapon as soon as you can as well. The easiest to get on your own is probably the spear from the skeletal spearman, soloable in midteens, or buy a combine weapon from a gypsy merchant, iirc a decent one is 50ish plat.



You can go anywhere you like within Neriak. In Freeport you're pretty safe in the sewers, but you're also safe from most (not all) npcs above ground too in East/West Freeport. North Freeport is basically off limits to you until 30. Oggok/Grobb are safe.

Highpass you can start working on getting dubious with by killing the gnolls (magic 1h ax and sweet shield drop here) or orcs (wr bag, invulnernabilty idol, and 2h slashing drop here). Qeynos you're kos on the surface and you are kos to atleast one npc in the sewers, only one I remember seeing and he murdered me. But you can still bank by using the same trick you use in freeport.

When you decide to go traveling to Faydwer you can get to the FP boat just fine, go through the sewers and then swim to the docks, watch out for a couple of npcs you will swim past. Once you get to BB just jump and swim to shore outside of the harbor. If you really want to fix your faction with the dwarves (idk that it can be done) I would start by killing the goblins in butcherblock or maybe you can figure out a way to turn in cb belts (no faction hit for neriak btw).

[korzax]

Thanks. Never knew about half this stuff.

[Mankong]

Good advice placed here.

Wow, thank you! Such good advice :D

[Danth]

Buy "small" banded (or bronze) on a Dark Elf. Same armor rating as as the "medium" stuff but it weighs less. That can be important on Dark Elf characters who typically don't have the greatest carry capacity. Try to carry lighter weight bags (such as 1-weight large bags vs 3-weight backpacks) for the same reason. Running around encumbered is no fun!

If you're solo it's preferable to fight things that flee at low health. The flee period reduces the amount of fearing you have to do and also gives a window where you can freely lifetap health back up if desired. Next on the preference list is undead because spook the dead is so cheap. Least desirable are non-undead that won't flee.

In groups don't be a "one button wonder." There are a lot of mediocre Shadow Knights who spam disease cloud and do little else. In ordinary situations that'll often be enough, but you can set yourself apart by using your other spells appropriately when needed. Snare-Fear is one of the most effective means of stopping casters (especially healers) in the game, for example.

Make liberal use of the pet at low levels, especially during the teens. During the teens melee output is very limited due to lacking skills and low caps of the skills you have. A pet armed with a rusty 2H will often do more damage than a player armed with a level-appropriate weapon. It's great for helping get through those dreary late-teens levels. The pet falls off in effectiveness rapidly after level 20.

Danth

[Mankong]

More good advice

Danth

Thank you again, I wouldn't have thought about that. :D

[Danth]

Tip of the day: Don't have a magic weapon? Pet doesn't have one? Can't hit those pesky wisps? Make a level 1 Magician, kill a decaying skeleton or two until you obtain a couple gold, buy the summon dagger spell, and drop-transfer yourself some summoned daggers when you log on. Both the Shadow Knight and the pet can use them.

[Graventhel]

...solo'ing becomes a real chore and limits where you can even go solo while you wait for a group invite if that's what you choose

Edit- And that's a big part of what makes shadow Knight so enjoyable is you can main tank in a group or you can solo relatively effectively but enjoyably.

lol wut, as you say? You can effectively fear kite from level 22 on so how does interupting factor in?

[Aaramis]

lol wut, as you say? You can effectively fear kite from level 22 on so how does interupting factor in?

I'm fear kiting at 12...

[Graventhel]

I'm fear kiting at 12...


Impressive, considering SK's don't get any type of fear until level 15. Anyway I said effectively, as Clinging Darkness is a poor snare with a very short duration.

[Gatorsmash]

lol wut, as you say? You can effectively fear kite from level 22 on so how does interupting factor in?

Please read it again.

I said "limits where you can even go solo". So named camps in dungeon like settings (kunard) and dungeons where you can not fear-kite , if you get locked into even a 1 vs 1 against a caster/healer mob post lvl 30+ you're fucked. You will not be able to out dps those mobs with current sword and board gear, effectively locking you in a fight where you lose either way without the ability to slam with a two-hander.

And for these clowns signing their posts filled with disingenuous information from 10 years on a beta server, go make a sk now. Even at low levels pre 10 on green, slam with a two-hander changes fights with even con mobs from easy to maybe lose.

[azeth]

I'm fear kiting at 12...

With your lvl 15 fear spell or naw?

[Aaramis]

Phone fail. Yes, 15. Viable from then on.

[Graventhel]

Please read it again.

I did. Soloing does not become "a real chore" due to a lack of slam, nor does a few named camps significantly limit where you can solo. You made an over-the-top claim and are now trying to backtrack.

The ironic part is that your completely gloss over the real game-changing reason for going for a large race (ogre), which is of course the front stun immunity.

[Swish]

I did. Soloing does not become "a real chore" due to a lack of slam, nor does a few named camps significantly limit where you can solo. You made an over-the-top claim and are now trying to backtrack.

The ironic part is that your completely gloss over the real game-changing reason for going for a large race (ogre), which is of course the front stun immunity.

How's frontal stun immunity game-changing for a SK? A raid tanking warrior maybe, but a SK?

Oh no, you might have to recast an aggro spell :rolleyes:

[Graventhel]

How's frontal stun immunity game-changing for a SK? A raid tanking warrior maybe, but a SK?

Oh no, you might have to recast an aggro spell :rolleyes:

His argument was based around soloing in places you cannot fear.

[Swish]

I don't think it matters, FSI isn't a game changer for a SK whether they're soloing/grouping or standing in the tunnel.

End game you'll be a slightly better tank due to starting stats, that's about it (and you can still get there in Velious gear either way). A DE or erudite SK is roughly on par with most paladins in terms of health.

[Graventhel]

I don't think it matters, FSI isn't a game changer for a SK whether they're soloing/grouping or standing in the tunnel.

End game you'll be a slightly better tank due to starting stats, that's about it (and you can still get there in Velious gear either way). A DE or erudite SK is roughly on par with most paladins in terms of health.

Read his arguments. He is debating the value of slam as far down as level 10. FSI is far more useful and I have died more than once due to some bad stuns while leveling. I am a DE SK.

[Swish]

Read his arguments. He is debating the value of slam as far down as level 10. FSI is far more useful and I have died more than once due to some bad stuns while leveling. I am a DE SK.

My SK is DE also, I've never had that fine line where I've thought "oh, if only I had FSI.. I'd have survived that encounter"

If you're going to the wire on a solo engage on a mob you know is going to take you to 20% health or lower, you probably don't want to engage it, or at least FD before 10% if it's looking dicey.

[Mankong]

I’m liking my Delf so far. Shield of the Ebon is now a back item lmao. I like the look of them too, definitely a lot better than the weird legs of the Ogre.

[Vizax_Xaziv]

Buy "small" banded (or bronze) on a Dark Elf. Same armor rating as as the "medium" stuff but it weighs less. That can be important on Dark Elf characters who typically don't have the greatest carry capacity. Try to carry lighter weight bags (such as 1-weight large bags vs 3-weight backpacks) for the same reason. Running around encumbered is no fun!

If you're solo it's preferable to fight things that flee at low health. The flee period reduces the amount of fearing you have to do and also gives a window where you can freely lifetap health back up if desired. Next on the preference list is undead because spook the dead is so cheap. Least desirable are non-undead that won't flee.

In groups don't be a "one button wonder." There are a lot of mediocre Shadow Knights who spam disease cloud and do little else. In ordinary situations that'll often be enough, but you can set yourself apart by using your other spells appropriately when needed. Snare-Fear is one of the most effective means of stopping casters (especially healers) in the game, for example.

Make liberal use of the pet at low levels, especially during the teens. During the teens melee output is very limited due to lacking skills and low caps of the skills you have. A pet armed with a rusty 2H will often do more damage than a player armed with a level-appropriate weapon. It's great for helping get through those dreary late-teens levels. The pet falls off in effectiveness rapidly after level 20.

Danth

P99 players should generally defer to Danth in all matters of Knightly concern.

[Mankong]

P99 players should generally defer to Danth in all matters of Knightly concern.

He really is helpful! :p

[RealSmug]

Who needs to interrupt npc heals and nukes anyways

Make a dark elf and loot a guise

[Graventhel]

My SK is DE also, I've never had that fine line where I've thought "oh, if only I had FSI.. I'd have survived that encounter"

If you're going to the wire on a solo engage on a mob you know is going to take you to 20% health or lower, you probably don't want to engage it, or at least FD before 10% if it's looking dicey.

I mained an Eru SK on live, but not until the very end of Velious into Luclin. It was, of course, twinked to high heaven so I didn't have any issues leveling.

Playing an SK from scratch at the launch of a fresh server, there have been many a time I wish I had FSI, especially since I am not yet 30 with FD, but not enough to actually roll an Ogre.

[Mankong]

I mained an Eru SK on live, but not until the very end of Velious into Luclin. It was, of course, twinked to high heaven so I didn't have any issues leveling.

Playing an SK from scratch at the launch of a fresh server, there have been many a time I wish I had FSI, especially since I am not yet 30 with FD, but not enough to actually roll an Ogre.

Fashion SK. I prolly woulda picked an erudite over Delf if not for paineel not out yet.

[Gatorsmash]

His argument was based around soloing in places you cannot fear.

Because it wasn't trying to have an argument. I was just stating that overlooking the importance of slam-bash while welding your highest dps weapon is a mistake a lot of people make. Not the min-max bullshit posts I see every day on here.

Sony added the ability for small races to bash with the SK Epic for a reason...because they understood the importance. Barbarians pay 5% xp for the life of the character for it ffs lol.

And for the supposedly people who "know" aka danthy to post it's not important shows how bad these boards have become. It's an ability you use in EVERY fight from 1-50. From stopping runners, stopping casters, stopping gaters, with changes to FSI on green its almost more important due to how much you use it. And you cant do it as a small race with a two-hander, which are the dps weapons of the class.

Edit- and let me just add what a fucking clown show these boards have become. The whole idea is give valid information to new SK players.

[Mankong]

Quote.

While o respect your reasoning, I can’t get past the models of the larger races (other than barbarian; I’d rock a Barb SK if I could) And I quite like my Delf look.

[cd288]

East and West Freeport are mostly ok? I usually use the sewers just to be safe (plus it's probably the reason I'm in Freeport anyway). North is a no-no. Freeport Militia start dubious though so it's ok.

Highpass was the big surprise for me, they start off scowling ready to attack. Considering Highpass is the Mos Eisley of Norrath I expected them to be dubious or at worst threateningly. Heretics (evil Erudites) start off Threateningly too which was odd, so keep that in mind when Paineel releases.

Grobb is ok, they're apprehensive. Qeynos you'll have to use the sewers but can probably train with the Bloodsabers? No real reason to go out that way except for Permafrost which no one is hunting in anyway.

No reason to go out that way? BB and Karana bandits are a great option to combine EXP and money with factioning if OP’s hope is to build some better faction

[Danth]

And for the supposedly people who "know" aka danthy to post it's not important shows how bad these boards have become. It's an ability you use in EVERY fight from 1-50. From stopping runners, stopping casters, stopping gaters, with changes to FSI on green its almost more important due to how much you use it. And you cant do it as a small race with a two-hander, which are the dps weapons of the class.

Edit- and let me just add what a fucking clown show these boards have become. The whole idea is give valid information to new SK players.

I've spent ten years on P99 and additional years in the original game playing Human hybrid tanks--Paladins and Shadow Knights both. Indeed I don't believe Bash/Slam is all that critical. Nice? Sure. I'll use it if I have it. Critical? Nope. It's at its best at low level and gradually weakens in potency as the player levels. I'm very much speaking from extensive experience.

Are there a relative handful of low/mid level camps a Shadow Knight can handle if he has slam that'd be hopeless for him without? Maybe. I wouldn't suggest picking a race over such trivial concerns, but a few such areas could well exist. What areas do you have in mind? Discussion can educate those new players a lot better than name calling.

Danth

[Donkey Hotay]

The only time Slam has been a benefit to me is if I'm duoing with someone else who also has an interrupt because when soloing the mob simply chaincasts anyways. Also, getting dropped into Crouch speed by every damned overhead object while running away is gonna kill you as often as missing your hypothetical Slam.