What classes see the biggest improvement with small investment?

[ultimatequix]

This isn't quite the question of "What class is least gear dependent?". Instead, I'm interested in what classes see the most improvement with only a small gear investment.

I'm still fairly new so I can't properly twink an alt, but have a steady enough income from porting to spend maybe 2,000pp on an alt.

Curious what everyone's thoughts are.

[NextToTheGodsP99]

Slap 5k in gear on an enchanter and Norrath is your oyster. I realize the question wasn’t which class is the least gear dependent but the answer sorta is the same anyway, the enchanter does need a base amount of gear to “unlock” a lot of what makes the class great.

[Swish]

Hard to argue against a necro in my opinion. You don't have any CHA check on undead charming and can level easily in rags... some +HP/INT/mana gear should set you well on the way to decimation <3

[ultimatequix]

Slap 5k in gear on an enchanter and Norrath is your oyster. I realize the question wasn’t which class is the least gear dependent but the answer sorta is the same anyway, the enchanter does need a base amount of gear to “unlock” a lot of what makes the class great.

I figured there would be some overlap between the two questions anyways, but wasn't sure if any classes stood out more than others. Thanks for your input!

[Jimjam]

You can get silver chitin hand wraps and a wu’s quivering staff for 2k. Fill out with looted cloth then mesh armour and pick up some cheap magic shoes then hp rings as you level up.

If you have a character that can port you could probably do some of the sol ro quests on that toon to get some nice caster twink items.

[Baler]

Classes that require little to no gear have the largest gains from adding gear to them.
Such as Mage/Necro, they can already do content naked. Any additions give them that much more pooled resource to work with.

Classes that benefit the least are highly gear dependent classes.
Warrior/Monk (just as examples), due to them always being in a gear progression. 5k today is not equal to 5k tomorrow on these classes. It's more like 5k today, 15k tomorrow.

My honest opinion on what to do with that 2k plat,.. Bonechips to 10, crushbone belts/greater lightstones to 15-16. Use the rest of the plat on the best weapon you can get. (presuming it's a melee alt) Otherwise save the plat for spells.
Levels are more important that gear below level 60.

[ldgo86]

You can get silver chitin hand wraps and a wu’s quivering staff for 2k. Fill out with looted cloth then mesh armour and pick up some cheap magic shoes then hp rings as you level up.

If you have a character that can port you could probably do some of the sol ro quests on that toon to get some nice caster twink items.

[jolanar]

I'd say monk for sure for the aforementioned reasons. Their entire class design practically IS getting the best return on the least investment.

[kaizersoze]

define small. for like 5k you can make a balling highelf cler. cultural gear and +mana gear, you'll have a nice big pool if you get the right items

[DeathsSilkyMist]

You might want to try out a few classes, since you are fairly new, to see what you like. With 2kpp you can basically buy a twink kit, that can be used across any character, and will get you to 1-15 or so easy.

https://wiki.project1999.com/Silver_Chitin_Hand_Wraps - 800pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Smoldering_Brand 150pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Fire_Wedding_Ring 240pp for 2x
https://wiki.project1999.com/Orc_Fang_Earring 300pp for 2x
https://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Jaded_Bracelet 90pp for 2x
https://wiki.project1999.com/Cloak_of_the_Ice_Bear 50pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Azure_Sleeves 40pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Chipped_Velium_Amulet 100pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Straw_Spun_Belt 20pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Feathered_Leggings 30pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Iksar_Hide_Cap 200pp

This comes out to ~2000-2100pp depending on prices you get.

Here is what you get:

9/22 weapon with a 14 DD proc
22% Haste
+215 HP
+30 MP
+13 STR
+7 STA
+7 INT
+ 7 WIS
72 AC
3 MR
3 FR
23 CR
3 DR
3 PR
20.2 WT

If you fill the rest of your slots with cloth armor, you will get + 8AC, bringing you to a total of 80ac. That is only 11ac short of a full set of banded armor. You're getting a bit more HP than 215 due to the 7 STA, depending on class. Also, with only weighing 20.2, and with +13 STR, any race, even low str races, are not too weighed down, since you are only really carrying 7 from your own STR.

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Almost forgot, add 100pp to that list for a 10 Dose SoW Pot. Use it in emergencies to run away when you start getting higher in level, where mobs hit harder, and xp loss occurs.

[DeathsSilkyMist]

https://wiki.project1999.com/Woven_Tunic
https://wiki.project1999.com/Frozen_Mantle
https://wiki.project1999.com/Kobold-Hide_Boots
https://wiki.project1999.com/Carved_Ivory_Mask

If you add those in for an extra 80-100pp, you will have all slots filled, and will get +19AC instead of +8, basically taking your AC to banded armor.

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Sorry for the multi-posts. Wish we could just edit old posts. Consolidating the list. All items are All/All and cheap. This will fill every slot, and give you all the necessities regardless of race/class. The idea behind this list is to have a set of items any race/class can use. This way, you can try out various classes and races with one set of gear. This gear can easily take you from level 1 to level 10 to 15. Only exception is the weapon for a rogue. You will need a cheap pierce specifically, since backstab requires it.

https://wiki.project1999.com/Silver_Chitin_Hand_Wraps - 800pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Smoldering_Brand 150pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Fire_Wedding_Ring 240pp for 2x
https://wiki.project1999.com/Orc_Fang_Earring 300pp for 2x
https://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Jaded_Bracelet 90pp for 2x
https://wiki.project1999.com/Cloak_of_the_Ice_Bear 50pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Azure_Sleeves 40pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Chipped_Velium_Amulet 100pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Straw_Spun_Belt 20pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Feathered_Leggings 30pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Iksar_Hide_Cap 200pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Woven_Tunic 10pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Frozen_Mantle 25pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Kobold-Hide_Boots 20pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Carved_Ivory_Mask 20pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Glowing_Torch 50pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Preserved_Split_Paw_Eye 5pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/10_Dose_Blood_of_the_Wolf 100pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Glowing_Stone_Band 40pp

Price: 2300 - 2400pp

Emergency SoW
Serpent Sight Ring Swap (If you need to see farther than your light radius)
Strong Light Source
9/22 weapon with a 14 DD proc
22% Haste
+235 HP
+40 MP
+13 STR
+7 STA
+7 INT
+7 WIS
+7 AGI
+5 CHA
89 AC (96 AC with Glowing Torch)
3 MR
3 FR
23 CR
3 DR
5 PR
26.7 WT (13.7 WT if including the +13 str from items)

[Snaggles]

In terms of melees, Monk and Paladin.

monk - jade mace/lam to 20, sell.. Then Wu's 2hb, SCHW, hp rings and wu's fighting armor.

Pally - jade mace/lam to 20, sell. Then baton of faith (or similar .75+ ratio weapon), hp rings, SCHW, Deepwater helm, banded or whatever.

The pally will have a much slower ramp than the monk. Using the courage-line of buffs instead of healing is more efficient until around Greater Healing. Divine Inspiration is an amazing hp regen/mana drain spell which will get you to 45 where DW helm clicks are crazy good.

As for other classes...necro, ench, druid, shaman. Sham being on the more expensive end with a slower ramp but even a scrubby 2k gear one at lvl 34 is a powerhouse.

[Tilien]

Most int casters can be fun with or without gear, putting in 2k to most of them doesn't increase their "fun" factor by much, except maybe some cha and tanky gear on a chanter. Same goes with wis casters, except clerics aren't fun to solo with period.

The biggest "fun" factor would be putting that money on a monk. Most melees won't be fun to solo with without a fungi, but monk CAN be. Between mend and FD, you can split kills, easily rest places, and heal yourself. Throw a haste item, some cheap weapons, and some wu's armor you can be golden. Upgrade to black panther or thurg armor and you can solo until you're in your 40's, plus you can do enough cash camps to farm the money for those items while you level.

[Snaggles]

The biggest "fun" factor would be putting that money on a monk. Most melees won't be fun to solo with without a fungi, but monk CAN be. Between mend and FD, you can split kills, easily rest places, and heal yourself. Throw a haste item, some cheap weapons, and some wu's armor you can be golden. Upgrade to black panther or thurg armor and you can solo until you're in your 40's, plus you can do enough cash camps to farm the money for those items while you level.

^ Yep. Part of the reason I mentioned the pally. People almost assume everyone has a fungi and leveling up one who doesn't and can't recover hps easily is not fun.

[ultimatequix]

You might want to try out a few classes, since you are fairly new, to see what you like. With 2kpp you can basically buy a twink kit, that can be used across any character, and will get you to 1-15 or so easy.

https://wiki.project1999.com/Silver_Chitin_Hand_Wraps - 800pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Smoldering_Brand 150pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Fire_Wedding_Ring 240pp for 2x
https://wiki.project1999.com/Orc_Fang_Earring 300pp for 2x
https://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Jaded_Bracelet 90pp for 2x
https://wiki.project1999.com/Cloak_of_the_Ice_Bear 50pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Azure_Sleeves 40pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Chipped_Velium_Amulet 100pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Straw_Spun_Belt 20pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Feathered_Leggings 30pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Iksar_Hide_Cap 200pp

This comes out to ~2000-2100pp depending on prices you get.

Here is what you get:

9/22 weapon with a 14 DD proc
22% Haste
+215 HP
+30 MP
+13 STR
+7 STA
+7 INT
+ 7 WIS
72 AC
3 MR
3 FR
23 CR
3 DR
3 PR
20.2 WT

If you fill the rest of your slots with cloth armor, you will get + 8AC, bringing you to a total of 80ac. That is only 11ac short of a full set of banded armor. You're getting a bit more HP than 215 due to the 7 STA, depending on class. Also, with only weighing 20.2, and with +13 STR, any race, even low str races, are not too weighed down, since you are only really carrying 7 from your own STR.

All of your posts are fantastic and very helpful. I'll start looking into building a set like this. Are any of these items more uncommon/rare to find in EC that I might have better luck sourcing myself?

[Skarne]

You might want to try out a few classes, since you are fairly new, to see what you like. With 2kpp you can basically buy a twink kit, that can be used across any character, and will get you to 1-15 or so easy.

https://wiki.project1999.com/Silver_Chitin_Hand_Wraps - 800pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Smoldering_Brand 150pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Fire_Wedding_Ring 240pp for 2x
https://wiki.project1999.com/Orc_Fang_Earring 300pp for 2x
https://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Jaded_Bracelet 90pp for 2x
https://wiki.project1999.com/Cloak_of_the_Ice_Bear 50pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Azure_Sleeves 40pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Chipped_Velium_Amulet 100pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Straw_Spun_Belt 20pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Feathered_Leggings 30pp
https://wiki.project1999.com/Iksar_Hide_Cap 200pp

This comes out to ~2000-2100pp depending on prices you get.

Here is what you get:

9/22 weapon with a 14 DD proc
22% Haste
+215 HP
+30 MP
+13 STR
+7 STA
+7 INT
+ 7 WIS
72 AC
3 MR
3 FR
23 CR
3 DR
3 PR
20.2 WT

If you fill the rest of your slots with cloth armor, you will get + 8AC, bringing you to a total of 80ac. That is only 11ac short of a full set of banded armor. You're getting a bit more HP than 215 due to the 7 STA, depending on class. Also, with only weighing 20.2, and with +13 STR, any race, even low str races, are not too weighed down, since you are only really carrying 7 from your own STR.

Nice post! Making me wanna start a noob!

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Nice post! Making me wanna start a noob!
Thanks:)

All of your posts are fantastic and very helpful. I'll start looking into building a set like this. Are any of these items more uncommon/rare to find in EC that I might have better luck sourcing myself?

Good question. I can give you a basic EC rarity from my tunnel experience:

https://wiki.project1999.com./Silver_Chitin_Hand_Wraps - Very common. That is why the price is so low
https://wiki.project1999.com/Smoldering_Brand - Very Common
https://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Fire_Wedding_Ring - Might be a little tougher to find right away, you may need to find a jeweler. Arleigh might sell these when she does her big jewelry sales, but I don't remember if she sells this specific piece or not.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Orc_Fang_Earring - Common
https://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Jaded_Bracelet - Same as the Golden Fire Wedding Ring
https://wiki.project1999.com/Cloak_of_the_Ice_Bear - Common
https://wiki.project1999.com/Azure_Sleeves - Common
https://wiki.project1999.com/Chipped_Velium_Amulet - Common
https://wiki.project1999.com/Straw_Spun_Belt - Common
https://wiki.project1999.com/Feathered_Leggings - Common
https://wiki.project1999.com/Iksar_Hide_Cap - common
https://wiki.project1999.com/Woven_Tunic - Don't think people sell this, but if you go to upper guk, you can find them easily on a low char. Or make a Troll and see if you can buy one in the Troll city.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Frozen_Mantle - Never seen this sold, but there are plenty of EC entries, so you might find it. Otherwise you will need a 40+ char to farm it probably.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Kobold-Hide_Boots - Common
https://wiki.project1999.com/Carved_Ivory_Mask - Can't remember, but probably common since people like Lower Guk
https://wiki.project1999.com/Glowing_Torch - Don't remember seeing this sold
https://wiki.project1999.com/Preserved_Split_Paw_Eye - Don't remember seeing this sold
https://wiki.project1999.com/10_Dose_Blood_of_the_Wolf - Should be common, or you will need to find an alchemist. Luckily there are plenty, since a lot of people have shamans.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Glowing_Stone_Band - Haven't seen it sold, I killed the goblin in Sol A myself.

And here is farming. I haven't really farmed these items myself, except for the chipped amulet and the glowing stone band, so these are guesses based on my experience with the zones and areas where these items are found:

https://wiki.project1999.com./Silver_Chitin_Hand_Wraps - Need a higher level toon, 50+, who can do well in Velks, either solo or group. Since these are so common, buying is probably best bet.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Smoldering_Brand - 45+ probably to farm. I don't go down into the hole much, but these probably rot a lot too, so you might be able to just pick one up if you can get down to the group.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Fire_Wedding_Ring - Player made
https://wiki.project1999.com/Orc_Fang_Earring - 40+ to farm probably. Never seen one drop off an orc, so not sure how rare it is.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Golden_Jaded_Bracelet - Player made
https://wiki.project1999.com/Cloak_of_the_Ice_Bear - 40+, just need to be sure you don't mind ruining Barbarian faction.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Azure_Sleeves - 40+
https://wiki.project1999.com/Chipped_Velium_Amulet - 45+ probably to be safe.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Straw_Spun_Belt - 40+, maybe lower if you kill some of the easier giants. Not sure on drop rate.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Feathered_Leggings - Could be easy to get yourself. Not by farming quillmane but by waiting for other people to kill him. Pretty sure these legs rot alot.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Iksar_Hide_Cap - Need a toon who can kill in Chardok, so 50+ easy. Much better to buy.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Woven_Tunic - Easy to farm off low frogloks in upper guk. Or can try to buy it at Troll merchants.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Frozen_Mantle - 40+ probably.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Kobold-Hide_Boots - 30-40, depending on char.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Carved_Ivory_Mask - 40+ probably.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Glowing_Torch - 15+ probably. Looks like Mob is only level 12-14.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Preserved_Split_Paw_Eye - 20-30. Could probably get a rot too.
https://wiki.project1999.com/10_Dose_Blood_of_the_Wolf - Player crafted
https://wiki.project1999.com/Glowing_Stone_Band - 40+ probably. This area is full of casters.

Looking through All/All items, I think these legs are better than the pegi legs though: https://wiki.project1999.com/Hand_Woven_Leggings much more AC, and 10FR, which is nice. Cheap too. Otherwise, level 30-35 probably.

I've never built a rogue, but from the rogue equipment list, it seems like https://wiki.project1999.com/Crystal_Grinder is a good, cheap starter weapon. 1/3 ratio isn't great, but most rogue weapons that have a higher ratio are a couple hundred pp it looks like. But if you like the rogue, spending on weapons is worth it, since that is the main thing they do: stab stuff. Farming it would probably require 45+. Crystal caverns isn't too difficult, so maybe a bit lower.

https://wiki.project1999.com/Crystalline_Spider_Fang looks much nicer, and not too expensive, like 100pp. Also from Velks, so probably common since people always fight there. Farming would be 50+.

https://wiki.project1999.com/Crystalline_Silk_Shirt Would be a bit of an upgrade to the All/All chest if you can find someone to make it for you. Shouldn't be too hard, since a lot of people need to up their tailoring to do the shawl quests.

[kjs86z]

Slap 5k in gear on an enchanter and Norrath is your oyster.

[Premaximum]

Bards and Enchanters.

Bards can go to 60 with just 150p worth of instruments. Enchanters just need some charisma gear and a goblin ring to do some of the hardest camps in the game.