ogre, troll, or iksar?

[Zubek]

I have a friend thats never played EQ before but he has always wanted to. We've been talking about all of the classes and he seems most interested in a shadowknight. I am going to play a shaman with him, it seems like a very good combo from what i've read and it will allow us to start as the same race which will help since he will need some instructions to start playing and I can help.

The only question then becomes what race would be good. I know regen is helpful for the shaman but Ogre just seems better for the shadowknight. I guess my biggest question would be is the regen from troll/iksar worth more then frontal stun immunity and better starting stats?

I'm just going to get him a full set of banded and a cheap 2 hander, and banded for my shaman with an inexpensive weapon. Want to make sure he sticks with it.

[Brut]

Ogre; the regen isn't such a big whoop past your teens anymore.
Not sure if the stun immunity spellcasting advantage still works quite right though; single green cons are known to have a near 50/50 chance to stop you from casting with their basic melee.

[Swish]

Ogres have the smallest racial penalty of the 3 choices if that's a factor (10% compared with 20% on trolls and lizards).

If he picks a troll SK he'll be entering a world of hurt, aka a 67% exp penalty (40% hybrid and 20% racial combined)...but this isn't WoW, people came here for a challenge, right? :D

Sounds like a great pairing if you have troll/ogre one way or the other, don't forget to roleplay! :)

[Klyre]

You could always have one play Ogre and the other Troll as their cities are close enough for getting together,

Ogre SK Stun immunity for tanking.
Troll Shaman for regen Mana Dance.

[Estu]

Ogres have the smallest racial penalty of the 3 choices if that's a factor (10% compared with 20% on trolls and lizards).

15%, actually:

What are the experience penalties/bonuses?
By Race:
Troll -20%
Iksar -20%
Ogre -15%
Barbarian -5%
Halfling +5%

[Zubek]

I didn't think about going troll shaman and ogre SK. I think I like this idea.

[Swish]

No idea where I got 10% from, oops.

[Comapavik]

I'd go Iksar. Balanced stats, regen, and good quests for iksars to get gear if you're not twinking. Plus you won't have to worry about ruining your Outpost faction if you want to hunt in Kunark dungeons.

[Rasah]

Iksar can't use JBB.

[Klyre]

Not trying to scare you off of Inky but this is in here. http://www.project1999.org/forums/showthread.php?t=42511


The search for the Iky Bp is getting annoying lol. Only getting greedy people wanting over 30k+ for them.. That is not going to happen, it isn't that amazing. But as I wait for a few more items I will keep auctioning and will prob settle on the Tree Weave lol. I'm pretty sure I'm going to reroll a Troll Shaman when I start lvling, only lvl 9 now so no biggie.

[Comapavik]

So it will be slower for him to solo the shaman 45+. On the bright side, he can use the ~20k he would have spent on a JBB for other stuff.

[quellren]

Also keep in mind that IKS SK requires more....eh, creativity.... gearing up. You'll get the last laugh in Velious, but it's gonna be frustrating until then passing the roll on all that Planar and Incarnadine gear because you can't wear it.

I'm not saying IKS SK isn't a viable tank, you just have to be focused on the long haul and realize the uphill battle you're in for.

My advice: a pair of ogres.

[Slave]

In my mind there is no question:

Ogre Shadowknight
Troll Shaman

This is a monstrous combination. Between you, you are missing only one thing: teleports. Who cares? You will tear it UP. That is nearly my dream combination. Trust me, do it.

[naekko]

If you make anything but an ogre shaman you're making a mistake. Stun immunity is so vital, especially if you plan on soloing juggs / named mobs in Velious, etc. with your shaman. P99 isn't like live mobs stun constantly. The regen is trivial, especially after torpor.

[purist]

If you make anything but an ogre shaman you're making a mistake.

[Zubek]

Well my buddy bailed on me so my dream of an awesome duo is gone for now. Thanks for all the advice everyone I'll remember it if I get another chance. Until then I'll be on my half elf pally looking for groups :)

[runlvlzero]

I have a friend thats never played EQ before but he has always wanted to. We've been talking about all of the classes and he seems most interested in a shadowknight. I am going to play a shaman with him, it seems like a very good combo from what i've read and it will allow us to start as the same race which will help since he will need some instructions to start playing and I can help.

The only question then becomes what race would be good. I know regen is helpful for the shaman but Ogre just seems better for the shadowknight. I guess my biggest question would be is the regen from troll/iksar worth more then frontal stun immunity and better starting stats?

I'm just going to get him a full set of banded and a cheap 2 hander, and banded for my shaman with an inexpensive weapon. Want to make sure he sticks with it.

I think probably the xp penalty would be the least noticeable on your first play through. You don't have to worry about it if your always grouping though you will stay close enough in levels that it will never be a problem. I think you might be 50 and him 46 by the end... But I would say ogre for stats and 2h bash. Although a dark elf with the right hot keys can bash almost as effectively if their comfortable with the interface. In kunark there's a shield and mace that I think even the big races use all the time anyway so by then it surely doesn't matter.

[Slave]

Troll shamans of Innoruuk get Disciple Symbol with Darkness.

Shaman with Snare > frontal melee stun immunity.

even Shaman with Undead and Animal Fear (CT troll shaman) > frontal melee stun immunity.

[Estu]

I think probably the xp penalty would be the least noticeable on your first play through. You don't have to worry about it if your always grouping though you will stay close enough in levels that it will never be a problem. I think you might be 50 and him 46 by the end... But I would say ogre for stats and 2h bash. Although a dark elf with the right hot keys can bash almost as effectively if their comfortable with the interface. In kunark there's a shield and mace that I think even the big races use all the time anyway so by then it surely doesn't matter.

If two people are always grouped together from level 2 onwards, they will reach 50 (or 60) at the same time since the EXP penalties are shared (in fact, this is probably the reason they're shared).

[karsten]

In my mind there is no question:

Ogre Shadowknight
Troll Shaman

This is a monstrous combination. Between you, you are missing only one thing: teleports. Who cares? You will tear it UP. That is nearly my dream combination. Trust me, do it.

quoting this for the luls

[Arkanjil]

The snare neck on this server isn't that great with mob run speeds how they are

[purist]

Shaman with Snare > frontal melee stun immunity.

even Shaman with Undead and Animal Fear (CT troll shaman) > frontal melee stun immunity

great troll i rage'd

[Haul]

Ogre or Troll

[Anger]

aka a 67% exp penalty (40% hybrid and 20% racial combined)

Where are you getting the extra 7%?

[Estu]

Where are you getting the extra 7%?

The penalties are multiplicative. Since a troll takes 1.2x the normal amount of EXP to level and a shadowknight takes 1.4x the EXP, a troll SK takes 1.2*1.4 = 1.68x the normal amount.