Kich867
05-01-2020, 02:38 PM
Some members of my stream suggested I make a guild out of this concept. It would be a place for people to hang out, chat, discuss what they're trying to do, and get recommendations on leveling strategies and locations.
If you'd be interested in something like that after reading, create a fresh character and either PM me your name or join our discord: https://discord.gg/CQ8bysF , and post your character name there so I can make the petition / get to inviting you once it gets made.
I was originally inspired to do this after spending some time in Auld Lang Syne years ago--it was really refreshing experience. I found myself enjoying the little things much more in EQ this way and end up having a lot of fun.
So what is Solo Self-Found (SSF)?
SSF is playing EQ without grouping or trading. You can only wear what you find, craft, or quest for. The point is to play within the means of your character.
Why?
It's a fun challenge to give yourself, its a different way to play the game, prompts doing some fun research and making considerations like "Where the hell do I get a magical weapon?" when you can't just buy one or group up and camp something.
What are the rules?
There are no hard and fast rules, but in general I recommend playing only within the means of your own character. As a warrior, I can't bind and I think binding is critical to the game, so I allow that. I can't resurrect myself, but I can farm the experience back, so I likely won't accept rezzes.
These are the rules that I'm following on my dwarf warrior:
Groups: No
Ports: No
Trading: No
Binds: Yes
Buffs: Yes, within reason
I feel that having a random passerby tossing you some buffs is a natural part of the game and in the long term of playing solo those buffs won't impact your progression that much. That being said, I remove thorns effects as I feel those DO impact your progression significantly. If I feel that someone is intentionally trying to power-level me, I ask them politely to stop and explain what I'm trying to do.
If we could make a guild, it might make that part a bit easier since the characters intent would be right there in the guild name.
Things to consider for playing SSF:
Race:
Some races have access to better early quests than others, I chose Dwarf Warrior because I could farm rep with the Gemcutters to quest for a Bull Smasher (6/20 1hb) which will take me a long ways. However, stats matter a lot too. Despite the Bull Smasher, playing an Ogre may have just been better because of their enormous strength and stamina.
Class:
How easy for your class is it to solo? What are they best at soloing? How much of a challenge do you want? Some classes will be significantly easier to play this way, but I'm sure there is still some challenges you would run into trying to obtain various items that you would like, so don't shy away from classes you enjoy playing just because "they're easy to solo with". Just do what's fun.
Initial Stats:
Remember, you're not grouping, dumping points into Stamina as a tank-class might not be the best call. Maybe putting them into strength as a warrior, or wisdom as a paladin for more mana will make soloing easier. Your initial stat distribution will directly impact your progression. I put my initial points in stamina and I've often thought I should've put them in strength as I think the extra damage at my level would outpace being able to take ~1-2 more hits.
Tradeskills:
Some tradeskills are really helpful, like blacksmithing, but this can be expensive. Thats sort of OK though, because what else are you dumping your plat into? Poisons for rogues aren't amazing in groups, but maybe they're worth it on your solo journey?
Starting Town:
Depending on how much of a challenge you want, some cities have better quests than others. Kaladim's bone chip and aviak talon quests are huge XP to cruise through the early levels. Crushbone belts get you decently far as well (its hard to solo much past the entrance though). Qeynos, similarly, has really good starting quests early on and gnoll fangs are great for a really, really long time. So if you have options for your race/class, consider where it makes the most sense for you to go!
If you'd be interested in something like that after reading, create a fresh character and either PM me your name or join our discord: https://discord.gg/CQ8bysF , and post your character name there so I can make the petition / get to inviting you once it gets made.
I was originally inspired to do this after spending some time in Auld Lang Syne years ago--it was really refreshing experience. I found myself enjoying the little things much more in EQ this way and end up having a lot of fun.
So what is Solo Self-Found (SSF)?
SSF is playing EQ without grouping or trading. You can only wear what you find, craft, or quest for. The point is to play within the means of your character.
Why?
It's a fun challenge to give yourself, its a different way to play the game, prompts doing some fun research and making considerations like "Where the hell do I get a magical weapon?" when you can't just buy one or group up and camp something.
What are the rules?
There are no hard and fast rules, but in general I recommend playing only within the means of your own character. As a warrior, I can't bind and I think binding is critical to the game, so I allow that. I can't resurrect myself, but I can farm the experience back, so I likely won't accept rezzes.
These are the rules that I'm following on my dwarf warrior:
Groups: No
Ports: No
Trading: No
Binds: Yes
Buffs: Yes, within reason
I feel that having a random passerby tossing you some buffs is a natural part of the game and in the long term of playing solo those buffs won't impact your progression that much. That being said, I remove thorns effects as I feel those DO impact your progression significantly. If I feel that someone is intentionally trying to power-level me, I ask them politely to stop and explain what I'm trying to do.
If we could make a guild, it might make that part a bit easier since the characters intent would be right there in the guild name.
Things to consider for playing SSF:
Race:
Some races have access to better early quests than others, I chose Dwarf Warrior because I could farm rep with the Gemcutters to quest for a Bull Smasher (6/20 1hb) which will take me a long ways. However, stats matter a lot too. Despite the Bull Smasher, playing an Ogre may have just been better because of their enormous strength and stamina.
Class:
How easy for your class is it to solo? What are they best at soloing? How much of a challenge do you want? Some classes will be significantly easier to play this way, but I'm sure there is still some challenges you would run into trying to obtain various items that you would like, so don't shy away from classes you enjoy playing just because "they're easy to solo with". Just do what's fun.
Initial Stats:
Remember, you're not grouping, dumping points into Stamina as a tank-class might not be the best call. Maybe putting them into strength as a warrior, or wisdom as a paladin for more mana will make soloing easier. Your initial stat distribution will directly impact your progression. I put my initial points in stamina and I've often thought I should've put them in strength as I think the extra damage at my level would outpace being able to take ~1-2 more hits.
Tradeskills:
Some tradeskills are really helpful, like blacksmithing, but this can be expensive. Thats sort of OK though, because what else are you dumping your plat into? Poisons for rogues aren't amazing in groups, but maybe they're worth it on your solo journey?
Starting Town:
Depending on how much of a challenge you want, some cities have better quests than others. Kaladim's bone chip and aviak talon quests are huge XP to cruise through the early levels. Crushbone belts get you decently far as well (its hard to solo much past the entrance though). Qeynos, similarly, has really good starting quests early on and gnoll fangs are great for a really, really long time. So if you have options for your race/class, consider where it makes the most sense for you to go!