24h Challenge: From Rags to Riches

[Kalman]

Hey everyone! ��

This is a challenge I've been mulling over for a long time, and this week I finally decided to put it to the test: How quickly can a max-level character go from literally zero equipment back to "acceptable" gear?

By "acceptable," I mean equipment good enough to confidently take on group content without being a constant liability. For me, this was purely about having fun, taking on a tough challenge, and seeing just how far I could push the limits. I also wanted to see how much the value of class knowledge and deep understanding of the P99 world could outweigh the lack of starting equipment.

The Rules of the Challenge:


Starting from Absolute Scratch: My character started with no gear at all. No starter cloth, no rusty weapon, zero copper.
Starting Point: I began in a city corresponding to my race/class starting options. (For a second run I would also restrict it to the city the char originally started in, just for the added challenge)
The Time Limit: I set a strict limit of 24 hours of pure playtime to re-equip myself. This time includes all travel and logistics.
Movement Restriction: The journey had to be done on foot or via natural transportation: boats and teleports provided by yourself only (during the first session of my run I got ported twice. But starting with session 2 I added getting ported by others to the restrictions, because ports defeat the purpose of this challenge and make clever route planing obsolete.)
Sourcing Gear: Equipment was strictly limited to:

Looting/Farming drops.
Quest Rewards.
Buying basic items from NPCs that they stock by default (e.g., reagents, arrows, basic vendor armor).
Tradeskills (Normal tradeskills are allowed, but Cultural Tradeskills are forbidden, as they defeat the spirit of the challenge)
.
External Help: Buffs from other players were allowed if offered, but I could not actively ask for them.


The outcome was an intense dive into the part where classic EverQuest is at its best: The early levels where every upgrade mattered instead of the slow end game content and the toxic raiding scene!
I've got my screenshots and logs ready to share, and I'll be detailing the exact path I took, the first essential items I secured, and how I navigated the early, powerless hours.

Check out the next post for the story of Session 1 and my first major gear acquisition!

[Kalman]

Session 1: The 12-Hour Looting Spree

The initial premise of starting naked as a Level 60 might sound annoying to some, but frankly, it’s where the fun and the fastest gear jumps happen! With a deep knowledge of P99, the first twelve and a half hours were less a "scramble for survival" and more a highly efficient scavenger hunt leveraging class ability and world mastery.

The Launch: Freeport to Faydwer

I chose Freeport as my starting point. As a Paladin, my first move was to instantly summon a magical Hammer of Striking, solving the critical "Can I hit magical mobs?" problem right out of the gate.

https://i.imgur.com/8SXmGQc.jpeg


The Quest Sprint: I immediately started the initial leg of the Deepwater Harpoon Quest. This is a perfect high-value, low-effort early quest.

https://i.imgur.com/ELbNUPr.jpeg

Initial Capital: I killed a few Decaying Skeletons and a Fire Beetle near the city. I sold the resulting trash for the minimal copper and silver needed to purchase my initial supplies of food and water.
The Ocean Leap: I took the boat to the Ocean of Tears and swiftly finished the quest, securing my first quality weapon, the Deepwater Harpoon (18/40, Magic, +5 STA, +5 WIS). Hoozah!

https://i.imgur.com/aMbgHUF.jpeg


Side Note: A Ranger in OOT asked for a rez. I met her at Sister Island and received 200pp, but I later stashed it at the bank, as outside gifts go against the spirit of the run!



Gear Acquisition: Logistics and Power Upgrades

Missing the return boat from Butcherblock was a minor setback, but I took the opportunity to move forward to Faydwer instead with the next boat.


Logistics Solved: I hopped off the ship in Butcherblock Mountains and easily dispatched a group of Aqua Goblins that where in the way between me and the shore.

https://i.imgur.com/JkpC7w7.jpeg

They dropped my first small bag, a bow, some arrows, and some Bronze Weapons. Selling the bronze quickly allowed me to purchase the rest of my storage needs (Backpacks and Small Boxes), filling my inventory and stashing the remaining plat.
The Hero’s Upgrade: I ran to Steamfont Mountains to hunt the Minotaur Hero. The Deepwater Harpoon made short work of him, and I looted his Shackles.

https://i.imgur.com/tGXdUkP.jpeg

The Wiki Trap: My first real time-loss came from trusting the wiki instead of my amazing memory: I headed to Mistmoore Castle hoping for medium Bronze armor drops. This wiki info proved incorrect — I only found small sizes. I managed to pick up a much-needed Ringmail Tunic, Ringmail Boots, and Black Silk Gloves but wasted crucial time confirming the drop tables.

https://i.imgur.com/JNmJC9I.jpeg

I had no luck with the Avenging Caitiff for a couple rounds and since Xicotl was up at the Spa that camp was too much to take on with my current equipment.

[Kalman]

The other side of the World


For convenience: I ran back to Steamfont to grab a convenient port to SFG to make up the lost time.

https://i.imgur.com/YBlv2tN.jpeg

From there, I headed to Qeynos to turn in the Hero Shackles and received my first piece of quality armor: Hero Bracers 9 AC, +10 Str, +5 SV Disease, +5 SV Poison

https://i.imgur.com/SW5QxiY.jpeg

Qeynos Sewers: During a quick pass through the Qeynos Sewers, I picked up two Alligator Tooth Earrings and a Limestone Ring. I also met a fellow who looked to be on a similar challenge run.

https://i.imgur.com/8poTWx3.jpeg

Gnoll Snacks: While passing through Blackburrow I cleared the elite camps once and found a Studded Leather Collar, Rusty Spiked Shoulderpads and picked up a ground spawn Silver Ring.


Staying cool in Permafrost


Not just good for sewing: During a quick stop at Halas I picked up a Large Sewing Kit to be able to store my Deepwater Harpoon if necessary.
Nice to meet you: On the way to Permafrost, I was keeping my eyes open for the Icebear brothers. I spotted Martar Icebear and looted his Cloak and Kilt — a huge AC and HP boost!

https://i.imgur.com/uF9sZtj.jpeg

Inside Permafrost: This zone is no low-level camp; it's a confusing maze with annyoing green aggro. However, my knowledge of the layout allowed me to navigate deep quickly and efficiently.
I secured Icy Greaves, a Symbol of Loyalty to Vox, a Bronze Breastplate, and Bronze Gauntlets.

https://i.imgur.com/RQI7e1T.jpeg



The Final Push: Blackened Alloy

The latter half of the session was a focused blitz of mid-level zones, quickly replacing the Ringmail and Bronze pieces with better gear.


Lucky Strike: While en route, I stumbled over Korvik the Cursed and looted his Gypsy Medallion (though I opted to keep wearing the Studded Collar).
My main target: Runny Eye, yielded immediate results:

A Blackened Alloy Bastard Sword which replaced the Deepwater Harpoon.
A Blackened Alloy Coif, Girdle, Boots, and Gauntlets — a massive jump in AC and stats that solidified my combat readiness.

https://i.imgur.com/mCRWcs0.jpeg


The final run was to Lower Guk, where I picked up Shin Greaves (just a sidegrade with a better color) and a Light Burlap Sack.
Tragic Strikes: On my way back to the Freeport bank I decided to bravely run directly through the gates past all the guards with my Divine Aura active. However a single Guard waiting at the zoneline got a bash off and I got mobbed by the Freeport Militia. Not changing my bindspot from Kael to the mainland for this run was an oversight, but a free port from a friendly DaP saved the day. After rezzing myself I logged out for the night.


Session 1 Wrap-up (Time Elapsed: 12 Hours 30 Minutes)

In just over twelve hours, I secured a full mix of serviceable armor (Blackened Alloy/Bronze/quest pieces), a quality magical weapon, multiple accessories, and a functional inventory. The knowledge advantage proved supreme, allowing me to bypass weeks of typical low-level grinding.

https://i.imgur.com/vOKU1c5.jpeg

I was now logged out, no longer "naked," but equipped to confidently tackle the next tier of higher-level zones!

[Castle2.0]

Approve.

[loramin]

I tried doing this challenge for every caster in the game. In every case I made a character and ... I was done ;)

In all seriousness though, I think this is a fun challenge ... for melee/hybrid characters. Great idea coming up with it.

[Reiwa]

Pretty cool idea. Should be runs of this category on Twitch.

What to call it?

[CrazyPro]

make a whole guild for this
everyone stashes away their old gear and tries to get phat loot while naked

[Ghost_of_Fippy]

The real challenge:

'Self Found' Warrior to level 60 solo. No purchased gear from other players. Only what you find on your own.

What ever race you want to be.

[Kalman]

Approve.

Thanks mate :cool:

I tried doing this challenge for every caster in the game. In every case I made a character and ... I was done ;)

In all seriousness though, I think this is a fun challenge ... for melee/hybrid characters. Great idea coming up with it.

Yes, I am thinking the same! ;) This challenge is most fun for melees. I would love to see what a Rogue, Ranger or Monk will come up with.
For Int Casters, Druids and Shamans this would just be 24 hours of camping Nameds.
A Cleric on the other hand would also be a fun challenge and I have already started to plan out a route for mine.

You should give the challenge a try if you have an appropriate char. It's only 24 hours after all :)

Pretty cool idea. Should be runs of this category on Twitch.

What to call it?

Spot on. Twitch is exactly why I was looking to do something like this in a game I know very well. I love watching Challenge and Speed runs of Diablo 2 and Dark Souls. Would be nice to watch someone doing this challenge run on Twitch or Youtube.

I would simply call it: 24h naked self-found

make a whole guild for this
everyone stashes away their old gear and tries to get phat loot while naked

It would be amazing doing PoH and PoF with all naked chars :D

This challenge would already be interesting to be done as a Duo or Group.

The real challenge:

'Self Found' Warrior to level 60 solo. No purchased gear from other players. Only what you find on your own.

What ever race you want to be.

What motivated you to make that comment in this thread about the '24h Rags to Riches' challenge?

[Kalman]

Session 2: The Plate Armor Polish

The goal for this session was clear: elevate the tanking core of the character. The mixed Bronze and Blackened Alloy from Session 1 was functional, but getting a proper breastplate was the priority — specifically, the Enameled Black Chestplate (EBCP or EBB, depending on which server you played on live) from Lower Guk.

The Freeport Resupply and The Guk Gambit

Session 2 kicked off with a calculated inventory purchase. I had enough Platinum stashed from Session 1 to spend some. Since I hadn't found anything for the arm slot yet, I purchased Steel Vambraces in Freeport for a baseline AC boost before the long run to Guk.

https://i.imgur.com/wvYzpNw.jpeg

I headed straight back to the murky depths of Lower Guk, determined to secure the EBCP, which had eluded me on my first trip and with a bit of luck maybe also a Thick Banded Belt. My targets therefor were the Ghoul Supplier's and the Ghoul Savant's camps.


The Grind: I carefully split up the Supplier and Savant camps. I managed to check the Evil Eye camp twice, but it was occupied, and I made one quick check on the Minotaur Elder without committing to the placeholder (PH) grind.

The Danger: I had to make sure to keep all mobs rooted, especially when I got hit with Ghoul Root myself. A running mob in Lower Guk that passes around a corner before you can get of your root while you are rooted usually ends deadly. I had Lay on Hands up, but since I was still bound in Kael I wanted to be extra careful.


The dedication paid off. After a long, focused grind and 2 Enameled Black Maces, the Ghoul Savant finally dropped the Enameled Black Chestplate! This was the must-get-item of my planned run, providing a massive boost to survivability.

https://i.imgur.com/JQ72TRf.jpeg

Logistics, Aesthetics, and Targeted Drops

With the primary goal complete, I had to move fast to make up for the time spent in Guk. On the way out, I made a quick stop to kill a couple of shin ghouls and secured a pair of Shin Gauntlets — a small upgrade to my stats but a huge upgrade to my looks.

I then headed to the Freeport Docks and took the boat to Butcherblock. My first stop was Felwithe. I visited the vendors and bought Steel Plate Boots to replace my current gear. This was about more than just AC; it was about achieving a near-uniform look. I was now clad in full, shiny silver plate, with the exception of the black EBCP and the Blackened Alloy Coif. My avatar truly looked "geared" and like a Paladin.

https://i.imgur.com/9U6PT7y.jpeg

With an improved appearance, I then ran straight to Unrest for targeted accessory hunting:


Unrest: My targets were the Bloodstained Mantle and Jagged Bands.

The Undead Knight was up and dropped the Mantle on the first kill. Check!

https://i.imgur.com/fgX2JhE.jpeg

I made my way into the basement, where Garanel Rucksif was up.

https://i.imgur.com/rJE3KWu.jpeg

He dropped a Jagged Band, like expected. Double check! I stayed for one more cycle but a placeholder spawned, so I pressed on.

Dagnor's Cauldron: With time running down, I moved out to the connecting zone to hunt two specific named mobs for better accessories, respectively for one still unfilled slot.

I wanted Jetsam for a better collar. Unfortunately, the rat dropped the less useful powder twice. Hasan must have removed the Collar from the loot table.
I was looking for Squallslither for an eyepatch, but the snake never spawned. I hate snakes!



I ended the session by killing the PH for Garanel Rucksif again and logging out.

Session 2 Wrap-up (Time Elapsed: 7 Hours 30 Minutes)

In just 7 hours and 30 minutes, Session 2 proved to be a mixed bag between incredibly high-value and bad RNG, bringing my total playtime to 20 hours. The character is now genuinely ready for some tougher camps and to parade in EC Tunnels, having made massive strides in core defense and visual upgrades.

https://i.imgur.com/Qhs6UDn.jpeg

The most critical milestone was the acquisition of the Enameled Black Breastplate, which provides a pivotal AC increase, securing the foundation of my tanking capabilities. Furthermore, the purchased Steel Vambraces and Steel Plate Boots filled previously weak slots, providing a significant boost to AC and achieving a near-uniform, "geared" aesthetic. Finally, the lucky drops of the Bloodstained Mantle and the Jagged Band gave the character a boost in AC and save VS Magic.

The time remaining is now a razor-thin 4 hours and 30 minutes. The core armor is done, but the remaining accessory slots (ears, face, neck and one finger) still have major room for improvement, making the final session a pure, high-stakes accessory hunt!

[cd288]

Interesting read thanks for the write up!

I would think time spent perusing the Wiki shouldn't count toward the 24 hours unless you are also actively killing/traveling while doing so.

On the other side of that coin, I wonder how much time you saved with the Surefall Glade port. Maybe an hour?

[Cruger]

I was the ranger asking for a rez in your first session! Sorry to soak up your time lol.

This looks like it turned out really well, it would definitely be fun to watch a video or stream of this kind of thing.

[Kalman]

I was the ranger asking for a rez in your first session! Sorry to soak up your time lol.

This looks like it turned out really well, it would definitely be fun to watch a video or stream of this kind of thing.

No worries. I missed the boat because the trip between Sister Island and Spectre Island + doing the quest takes just a bit too long to catch the returning back.

[Kalman]

Interesting read thanks for the write up!

I would think time spent perusing the Wiki shouldn't count toward the 24 hours unless you are also actively killing/traveling while doing so.

On the other side of that coin, I wonder how much time you saved with the Surefall Glade port. Maybe an hour?

All time the character is logged in counts. Regardless if you are alt tabbed or active.

It takes about 15 minutes from Mistmoore to Butcherblock docks. 0-20 Minutes for the Shuttles to go. About 15 minutes to swim to the pot room. Then you are directly in Halas and save about 15 minutes from not having to run from SFG to Halas.
So I saved 15-35 minutes depending on the shuttle timing.

[Kalman]

Session 3: The Bone Mask Hail Mary (4 Hours, 30 Minutes)

With the timer ticking down and only 4 hours and 30 minutes remaining, the final session was a pure, high-stakes sprint for accessories. The core defense and offense were secured, but key slots like the face and rings needed significant upgrades to meet the "acceptable group gear" standard.

Crucially, I immediately ruled out long, low-drop-chance camps like the Flowing Black Silk Sash (FBSS). As a Paladin, haste is not essential for group contribution — my primary job is tanking and Flash of Light is all you need for that. This knowledge allowed me to skip a potentially fruitless camp and commit to a much more efficient, dual-pronged strategy in Kunark.

Last-Minute Logistics and Guaranteed Upgrades

The final session began with one last check back at the Unrest basement before the long run to Kunark:


Final Unrest Check: I found Garanel Rucksif up again, and he was kind enough to drop a second Jagged Band. This was a huge win, filling a ring slot with a quality item and removing a major weakness.


https://i.imgur.com/85QYxjB.jpeg

I then embarked on the long journey to Kunark, a massive commitment of the remaining time, but one necessary for the next tier of gear.

https://i.imgur.com/Pb7jy6p.jpeg


Warslik Woods Camp: Once in Kunark, I prioritized a low-risk, high-reward upgrade in Warslik Woods. I checked the Iksar Bandit Lord camp, but he wasn't up and I moved on. I spent the time clearing the large Goblin camp nearly three times to secure a pair of Iksar Scaled Gauntlets. This was an almost guaranteed drop and a massive stats upgrade for the hands, a testament to maximizing efficiency through sheer effort. As a minor bonus, I picked up a trashy Forsaken Pariah Mask while passing through. My slots were all filled for the first time with this pickup.

https://i.imgur.com/NOHgaja.jpeg



The Desperate, Dual-Target Hunt

The final roughly two hours were dedicated to optimizing my time between two adjacent targets in Kunark:

High-Impact Target (Face): Camping Targishin in the Field of Bones for his highly desirable Bone Mask.

https://i.imgur.com/dmPZkAC.jpeg

Score-Buffer (Shield): Alternating the camp with runs into Kurn's Tower for a Shield of Kurn. Although I didn't strictly need a shield, its stats would boost my final point calculation.


This final, desperate alternating push between the two zones was the last challenge.
I pushed hard for Targishin's Bone Mask, but in the end, it was a failed Hail Mary. The drop did not materialize before the clock ran out. I also had no look with the Skeletal Cook. He only spawned once and just dropped a Long Sword. I only secured some regular Targ Shields during the cross-camp which upped my PP count. The hail marry failed and didn't really pay off.

[Kalman]

The Final Tally: 24h Challenge - From Rags to Riches (60 Paladin)

The clock has officially run out. After 24 hours of played time spread across three intensely focused sessions, the challenge to take a Paladin from empty pockets to "acceptable group gear" is complete.

Campaign Summary: Efficiency Triumphant

The run was a masterclass in strategic efficiency, demonstrating the power of targeted farming over low-yield luck.
Final Gear Status: Every armor slot is filled, and the character would be geared for group content like Karnor's castle or Old Sebilis to get better equipment.

https://i.imgur.com/TXSPqkR.jpeg

2x Alligator Tooth Earring
Blackned Alloy Medallion
Forsaken Pariah Mask
Blackened Alloy Coif
2x Jagged Band
Symbol of Loyality to Vox
Steel Vambraces
Iksar Scaled Gloves
Hero Bracers
Bloodstained Mantle
Enemaled Black Brewastplate
Cloak of the Ice Bear
Blackened Alloy Girdle
Icy Greaves (I am waering Shin Greaves on the screennshot for the looks)
Steel Plate Boots
Blackened Alloy Bastard Sword
Light Burlap Sack

Total Stats: 128 AC, +30 HP, +28 Str, +5 Sta, +3 Dex, +5 Wis, -25 Cha, +5 Int, +16 vs Magic, +14 vs Poison, +11 vs Disease, +38 vs Cold, +6 vs Fire

For Scoring I use the following weighting and factors:

Gear:
1 AC = 10 Points (based on Sakuragi's Warrior Guide (https://wiki.project1999.com/Sakuragi%27s_Warrior_Guide#Defense_.28HP_vs_AC.29) )
+1 HP = 2 Points
+1 Mana = 1 Point
Primary Stats stats (Sta) +1 = 2 Points
Secondary Stats (Str, Dex, Agi, Wis) +1 = 1 Point
Main Resists (Magic, COld, Fire) +1 = 2 Points
Secondary Resists (Poison, Disease) +1 = 1 Point

Weapon:
Damage / Delay * 250 = Base Score
Low Agro Proc (DD, DOT) = 100 Points
High Agro Proc (Debuff, Stun) = 200 Points

Final Score: 1691

This challenge was a proof of concept, but Run 1 exposed key inefficiencies, namely the brutal time sink of cross-continent travel and the focus on gear progression.

I'm excited to announce that a Second Run was executed immediately afterward with the same Paladin to prove the theory that strategy outweighs luck.


The Goal of Run 2: Achieve a significantly higher final score and a more robust gear profile by eliminating Run 1's logistical mistakes.
The Key Change: Starting in my original starting city of Felwhite and a different strategy, cutting down on travel time and enabling a faster push for high-value gear.


The result? No plan survives contact with the RNG!

Keep an eye out for the second run in this thread! I'll be posting the full breakdown for Run 2: The Optimized Paladin in the coming days, where we'll compare the two final gear sheets and see exactly how much time can be saved with the right route.

Thanks to everyone who followed this thread! The analysis of Run 2 will be starting soon.

[cd288]

All time the character is logged in counts. Regardless if you are alt tabbed or active.

It takes about 15 minutes from Mistmoore to Butcherblock docks. 0-20 Minutes for the Shuttles to go. About 15 minutes to swim to the pot room. Then you are directly in Halas and save about 15 minutes from not having to run from SFG to Halas.
So I saved 15-35 minutes depending on the shuttle timing.

Ah great point forgot about the firepots

[Xap]

Loved following along with this, what a fun idea. Looking forward to another series, I was wracking my brain thinking of what I would camp in the same situation, good stuff!

[Kalman]

Loved following along with this, what a fun idea. Looking forward to another series, I was wracking my brain thinking of what I would camp in the same situation, good stuff!

Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed it.

Brainstorming what I would and could get first was what made it fun for me and how I came up with the challenge.

[Kalman]

Part 1: The Optimized Paladin - Faydwer Efficiency & The Odus Gamble (Sessions 1 & 2)

Goal: Eliminate Run 1's catastrophic travel mistakes, skip intermediate gear steps.
Time Elapsed: 10 hours 58 minutes

Session 1 (4:49h): Felwithe Blitz & Runny Eye Core

The decision to start in Felwithe was about staying true to my original starting city. But it also came with an advantage: It saved two long boat trips to get the Minotaur Hero Shackles.


Initial Moves: Skipped over trash mobs for coin. Ran straight to Steamfont, killed Minotaur Slavers to get a Mino Axe, some Steamfont Spring Water, and to spawn the Minotaur Hero.

https://i.imgur.com/SvlKTru.jpeg

Stocking up on supplies: I made a short stop at the Woodelf Outpost in Lesser Faydwark to stock up on food and water.
Accessory Win: Moved on to Mistmoore Castle. RNG was kind: the Avenging Caitiff was up! Secured the Crested Spaulders (AC 11, Stam +6) on the first check. A perfect early accessory.

https://i.imgur.com/2ekRDZn.jpeg

Core Gear Grind: Took the boat to Freeport and immediately ran to Runny Eye. The goal was the Blackened Alloy set. The Longsword and Bastard Sword finally dropped, and the increased killing speed allowed me to quickly secure more armor pieces.
The Cut: I already had gotten a Blackened Alloy Girdle but decided to do one more round hoping to get a Grotesque Mask. Lord Picklaw spawned but only dropped his Coif. Since I had all the important parts I decided to push on instead of spending more time on a low-chance to get the mask. Time saved here was crucial.

https://i.imgur.com/LBR1h1l.jpeg

The Side Quest: In the Gorge of King Xorbb, I killed the Evil Eyes at the monument hoping for a Polished Bone Hoop, but instead grabbed an Onyx Ring.

https://i.imgur.com/w80zFuD.jpeg

Marathon runner: I only inserted this bullet point to have a reason to post this amazing screenshot:

https://i.imgur.com/z0LDkSH.jpeg

Accessory hunt: I entered Qeynos via the sewers to look for the Undead Knight and Injured Rats to fill out my Ear and Finger slots. The Knight was up, but no Rats. However I ran into a fellow forum poster who still seems to be on his 1-60 SSF Warrior challenge.

https://i.imgur.com/p5qN8Ka.jpeg

Guaranteed gains: Finished the session with the easiest high-value quest: Minotaur Shackles in Qeynos for the Hero Bracer (AC 9, STR +10). A huge anchor for my strength stat.

https://i.imgur.com/qzglwpk.jpeg




This was an amazing and efficient initial start to the run. Nothing could go wrong from there on! Right? Right?!?

https://i.imgur.com/DvOToAx.jpeg



Session 2 (6:09h): The Odus Gamble

This session was defined by a major gamble and a major time sink.


The Gamble: Took the boat to Odus to farm Stonebrunt Mountains for Etched Iron Armor. I had never been to the zone.

https://i.imgur.com/h7D4Bmf.jpeg

Over a dedicated 3.5 hours of killing the Kobolds, the effort paid off somewhat: Vambraces, Gloves, 2x Bracers (only used one), and the Collar. While this provided a massive boost to my AC I had really hopped for Boots, Greaves and Helm since I had other potential options for the other slots.

https://i.imgur.com/a7oStlQ.jpeg

I also picked up a pair of Blue Bamboo Splint leggings, which filled the slot for the time being, and two Forlorn Totem of Rolfron Zek.

Final Prep: Ran back through Qeynos to the Sewers to secure a second accessory: the Alligator Tooth Earring.
The Time Sink: Ran north to Everfrost looking for the Icebear Twins. I spent 1 hour 15 minutes clearing placeholders with absolutely no sign of either Icebear brother. This was the biggest, most damaging time loss of the entire run, directly conflicting with my goal of eliminating inefficiencies.

[Kalman]

Part 2: The Optimized Paladin - Dungeon Fun (Sessions 3 & 4)

Goal: Secure guaranteed high-value items and use the left time on long camps.
Time Elapsed: 13 hours 1 minute, 23 hours 59 minutes total

Session 3 (3:03h): Setbacks & The Great Shield

This session started with a crushing disappointment but ended with a key Paladin tanking item.


Karg's Cruel Joke: When I logged in I found Karg Ice Bear up! He wasn't wielding his fabled two-hander, so I was celebrating finaly getting his Cloak of the Ice Bear. To my surprise and also annoyance, he dropped the Gigantic Zweihander on his corpse anyway, confirming that the visual was misleading. Cloak attempt failed.

https://i.imgur.com/hEkqxq8.jpeg

Guaranteed Tank Item: Learned from the failure and pivoted to a guaranteed win. Ran south through the Karanas to Rathe Mountains and paid the iron price for Marr's Promise (AC 14, HP +25).

https://i.imgur.com/36hdHpK.jpeg
That's what Tabien the Goodly deserves for following the wrong gods!

Dreaded Guk: Took a shot at the Ghoul Savant in Lower Guk for the Enameled Black Chestplate (EBCP), but after a few rounds, I couldn't stand the camp anymore and loged for the session. Camping an EBCP might be too much RNG to justify the time in a 24-hour challenge. I did snag a Sewn Evil Eye Sack during the camp however. A crucial quality-of-life win.

https://i.imgur.com/wDz6cGE.jpeg



Session 4 (9:58h): The Final Push

The longest and most intense session, defined by bravery and force of will.


EBCP Loss Confirmed: After a few more PH kills, I fully abandoned the EBCP camp. Time for the deep dive.
The Travel Window: Took the Barrel Barge (Oasis > Timorous Deep > Overthere) to get to Kunark. This was a long window but necessary.
Kunark Accessory Push (Droga): In the Temple of Droga, I found my first high-value Kunark items: 2x Rings of the Rockchanters (4 AC, +3 WIS, +3 Stam) from Goblin Rockchanters. Crucial stat boosts for Paladin spell and tanking utility. A bit less points wise than Jagged Bands, but a much faster camp and time saved not having to run to Unrest.
IIRC I only had to kill 2 Goblin Rockchanters to get both rings. Great efficiency!

https://i.imgur.com/QByR2OR.jpeg
I also killed Stonechanters which can drop a Ring that gives +3 Str instead of Sta.

Kunark Accessory Push (Warsliks Woods): Executed a perfect two-pronged farming strategy on the Iksar Bandit camp at Y-Roads and three smaller Goblin Camps north of it. After one or two rounds Grachnist the Destroyer spawned and dropped the jackpot: Iksar Scaled Gauntlets AND the Shrunken Goblin Skull Earring. What an amazing find for a 24h Challange!

https://i.imgur.com/b9if6Z6.jpeg

Cutting a Loss (Targishin again): Ran to Field of Bones. Targishin was no where to be found. Potentionaly killed by another player. Rather than stay and search for him or wait for a respawn, I immediately rerouted — no time wasted on dead camps.
The Shortcut: After a quick banking run to Firiona Vie I took the boat to Timorous Deep and swam to the Pot Room, where I took the Pot to Greater Faydark.

https://i.imgur.com/Ni3Unse.jpeg

The Trust in Steel: I quickly bought a Steel Visor in Kelethin and Steel Plate Boots in Felwhite.

https://i.imgur.com/iTAbGan.jpeg

Final Faydwer Assault (Mistmoore): After securing those minor upgrades from the vendors, I returned to Mistmoore with roughly 5 hours left. The final rush:

I moved into the Castle through the back door and found the Avenging Caitiff up again. He dropped his Crested Helm which is a nice item but wasn't an upgrade to my Coif.
I started to camp the Spa and cleared the Fountains once. Since a level 40 Paladin showed up in the Gardens I gave up on the Damphyre camp and focused on the Spa and the Throneroom.
After several rounds neither Lasna nor the Princess had spawned. I had only about one and a half hour left and it started to look grim.
Since the other Paladin had left and time was running out I gave up on the two ladies and switched to the more promising Dhampyre camp.
While staying at the Fountains I noticed the casting messages of Lasna in the chat window. I quickly made my way up the castle to kill her.

https://i.imgur.com/IRydEUv.jpeg

To my surprise she dropped her rare Platinum Skull Ring. While I was looking for her Diamondine Earrings her Ring was still a good upgrade.

I returned to the Fountains to kill the Dhampyre PHs. The clock was ticking and I calculated that Dhampyre would be up 2 mins for a last time before my 24h ran up.
He spawned and dropped the highly desired Hooded Black Cloak!

https://i.imgur.com/pYmTqfj.jpeg


The Finish (23:09): I ran back to Kelethin for the final tally. I used my spare Platinum to purchase a Steel Breastplate, 5 minutes after my time was oficially up for the aesthetic and to give me 1 more AC over the Blackened Alloy Coat. I decided to let this count despite being 5 minutes over!

[Kalman]

Part 3: The Final Score, Analysis, and Conclusion

Time Elapsed: 23 hours and 59 minutes of traveling and farming, or 24 hours and 5 minutes including the final shopping trip.
Goal: Exceed the utility and quality of Run 1's gear (1691 Points).

Final Score Calculation

The final result confirms the strategic route planing was a resounding success. I secured numerous key accessories that provide much higher stats than the gear of Run 1.

https://i.imgur.com/JGRWddI.jpeg

Alligator Tooth Earring
Shrunken Goblin Skull Earring
Etched Iron Collar
Steel Mask
Blackened Alloy Coif
Ring of the Rockchanters
Platinum Skull Ring
Etched Iron Bracer
Etched Iron Vambraces
Iksar Scaled Gloves
Hero Bracers
Crested Spaulders
Steel Breastplate
Hooded Black Cloak
Blackened Alloy Girdle
Shin Greaves
Steel Plate Boots
Blackened Alloy Longsowrd
Marr's Promise
Bag of Sewn Evil Eye
Kobold Shaman's Pouch

Scoring Formulas:
Gear:
1 AC = 10 Points
+1 HP = 2 Points
+1 Mana = 1 Point
Primary Stats (Sta) +1 = 2 Points
Secondary Stats (Str, Dex, Agi, Wis) +1 = 1 Point
Main Resists (Magic, Cold, Fire) +1 = 2 Points
Secondary Resists (Poison, Disease) +1 = 1 Point

Weapon:
Damage / Delay * 250 = Base Score
Low Agro Proc (DD, DOT) = 100 Points
High Agro Proc (Debuff, Stun) = 200 Points

Utility:
Weight Reduction Bags: not quantifiable
Minor buff Clicky with unlimited charges: 50 Points
Major buff Clicky with unlimited charges: 100 Points

Total Stats: 141 AC, +115 HP, +20 Mana, +24 Str, +14 Sta, +3 Dex, +3 Wis, -5 Cha, +10 vs Magic, +14 vs Poison, +16 vs Disease, +6 vs Cold, +6 vs Fire, Grim Aura Clicky

Final Score: 1928

Final Analysis: Strategy vs. Luck

The final score of 1928 Points is a massive victory, not just for the points total, but for the higher AC and +HP of the final Paladin gear set. This represents a substantial 237-point improvement (14%) over the first run and validates the strategic shift to an efficient route.


The True Value: While the scores show a significant improvement the AC and HP gains make the final loadout group-ready to tank and survive unexpected damage, which was the ultimate goal of the challenge.
Accessory Domination: The final rush secured a truly elite accessory foundation, far exceeding Run 1:

Marr's Promise: Excellent AC/HP boost from a quick Old World target.
Shrunken Goblin Skull Earring: A classic item that anchors both offense and avoiding dispells.
Platinum Skull Ring: A huge, well-balanced accessory providing crucial HP and MANA.
Hooded Black Cloak: Excellent AC/HP/Str boost.

Tank Foundation Locked Down: The early acquisition of the powerful Blackened Alloy Bastard Sword and the Hero Bracer provided an offensive core that allowed for quick killing and a higher loot carrying capacity.
Efficiency Proved: The decision to cut losses on low-RNG items (like the EBCP and Grotesque Mask) and pivot to guaranteed quests (Hero Bracer) or high-reward targets (Cloaked Dhampyre) was the key to this score jump.


The challenge confirms that a 24-hour limit is enough time to get a suitable set of gear solo as a naked 60 Paladin.

***

Now that the Paladin "retired" from the challenge for the moment, I am looking forward to see others attempt the challenge. Especially with an entirely different class.

[kjs86z2]

very well done, appreciate a good sperg writeup

[sammoHung]

Question: Have you tested this gear in group content? For a level 60, the AC / HP alone makes it seem like you'd need a lot of heals.

EDIT: not to disparage your work, this was a great read and very interesting.

[cd288]

Meh IMO at level 60 if you're doing level appropriate group content, the mobs are going to be hitting hard and fast enough that I don't think it would make an absolutely massive difference. Plus it's a mix of CH & celestial healing anyway, plus close to max level buffs. You'd be fine

[Kalman]

Question: Have you tested this gear in group content? For a level 60, the AC / HP alone makes it seem like you'd need a lot of heals.

EDIT: not to disparage your work, this was a great read and very interesting.

Thank you very much for your response and the interesting thought experiment.

No, I switched back to my real gear after run number two instead of taking the challenge further.

But I am sure that I would be able to tank any group content in KC easily with that gear and with a good group even in Old Sebilis.
The reason for this is that level matters more than gear.

I usually start to go to KC at level 52. At level 52 I had 1648 HP naked and now at level 60 I have 2059 HP naked.

With the twink gear I had on my Paladin at level 52 I had circa 2000 HP unbuffed.
With the gear from run 2 I had 2231 HP unbuffed at level 60.
So my HP at level 60 with mediocre gear is higher than it was at 52 with level appropriate gear.
My gear back then had about 159 AC. The set from run 2 has 141 AC.

Furthermore the higher level you are vs a mob, the more it misses you. So at 60 I would get hit less often than I did at 52.

That is why I have no doubt that the gear from run 2 would let me tank easily in a group in KC. Giving me the opportunity to get a set of Jarsath Scale armor, Deepwater Boots and a Baton of Faith.

Meh IMO at level 60 if you're doing level appropriate group content, the mobs are going to be hitting hard and fast enough that I don't think it would make an absolutely massive difference. Plus it's a mix of CH & celestial healing anyway, plus close to max level buffs. You'd be fine

I think so as well. Especially since the premise was getting the gear to do KC and Old Sebilis. Those zones don't require raid gear with a level 60 toon.

[Kalman]

Question: Have you tested this gear in group content? For a level 60, the AC / HP alone makes it seem like you'd need a lot of heals.

EDIT: not to disparage your work, this was a great read and very interesting.

Here is me soloing a Drolvarg Sentry in Karnor's Castle with the gear set from run 2. Only self buffs and no outside help.
https://i.imgur.com/gp5Hmqy.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/unP3ovw.jpeg
It wasn't hard or close. I had 2 blues left after the fight and full HP.

[sammoHung]

Here is me soloing a Drolvarg Sentry in Karnor's Castle with the gear set from run 2. Only self buffs and no outside help.
https://i.imgur.com/gp5Hmqy.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/unP3ovw.jpeg
It wasn't hard or close. I had 2 blues left after the fight and full HP.

Now thats the data I was looking for - asked and answered! Excellent write up!

[Rygar]

Rags to Riches is just a sweet guild name, could be the whole theme to do raid mobs or raids in rags. Try and tear thru PoH/PoF/PoG, velious city zones, HoT/WToV, etc. I'm guessing the coldain armor sets from dwarves help the plate classes.

Just declare a start date, everyone stores their main gear and kick ass in 24hrs with whatever you find. Even start with nothing but summoned weapons.

[bcbrown]

Very cool idea and I love the writeup! I'm inspired to do this challenge on my ranger. There's a couple things that should make it an extremely efficient class for this challenge. Travel efficiency: With Sow/Wolf Form and Levitate, travel time is greatly reduced, making it more feasible to check out an extra zone or two. Dungeon Sniping: Superior Camouflage and Harmony make it easy to get around dungeons, and Tracking lets you quickly see what nameds are up. DPS advantage: good offensive spells and dual wielding allow for high damage output making relatively tougher camps more possible without needing intermediate armor pieces first.

Scoring changes: For offhand weapon, I think the mainhand points formula should be used, multiplied by the DW probability at 60, or 75% for rangers. Haste items aren't mentioned; I propose they be used to modify the weapon delay in scoring: Damage / (Delay / (1 + haste)) * 250 = Base Score. For archery, I think we just use the same formula for mainhand weapons. Could also reduce it by half to account for the fact that if the goal is to gear for grouping, you don't use archery in groups very much.

[CrazyPro]

Here is me soloing a Drolvarg Sentry in Karnor's Castle with the gear set from run 2. Only self buffs and no outside help.
https://i.imgur.com/gp5Hmqy.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/unP3ovw.jpeg
It wasn't hard or close. I had 2 blues left after the fight and full HP.

that would be a green con at 60

[CrazyPro]

Rags to Riches is just a sweet guild name, could be the whole theme to do raid mobs or raids in rags. Try and tear thru PoH/PoF/PoG, velious city zones, HoT/WToV, etc. I'm guessing the coldain armor sets from dwarves help the plate classes.

Just declare a start date, everyone stores their main gear and kick ass in 24hrs with whatever you find. Even start with nothing but summoned weapons.

All of the PoG bosses other than takish (which drops nothing) and tunare are always left up

would be fun trying to break in to PoG and killing that guy with the 10 minute silence with only gear we can quickly scrounge up

[Kalman]

that would be a green con at 60

Sentrys still give Exp at 60. I even got a skill-up for my 2HS to 214 which surprised me :) The additional ATK would have been useful during the challenge.

I did kill several mobs for testing.
https://i.imgur.com/Psgx335.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/Jy9T7T7.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/6NK2g8d.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/ER9JN6b.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/l8XF4Gi.jpeg
https://i.imgur.com/swURA9h.jpeg

Guardians are tougher, leaving me oom after each fight, but they are also soloable self buffed.

I face tanked all three mobs to simulate a grouping scenario. Which isn't the appropriate tactic for a solo Paladin.

While soloing Exp mobs was never the goal for this challenge, it absolutely would be viable with the self found gear. It would even be a possible to solo camp the Skeletal Warlord for Deepwater Boots.

[Kalman]

Rags to Riches is just a sweet guild name, could be the whole theme to do raid mobs or raids in rags. Try and tear thru PoH/PoF/PoG, velious city zones, HoT/WToV, etc. I'm guessing the coldain armor sets from dwarves help the plate classes.

Just declare a start date, everyone stores their main gear and kick ass in 24hrs with whatever you find. Even start with nothing but summoned weapons.
All of the PoG bosses other than takish (which drops nothing) and tunare are always left up

would be fun trying to break in to PoG and killing that guy with the 10 minute silence with only gear we can quickly scrounge up

But all the members of this team have to gear up during the same playing time. It wouldn't be as funny if there weren't classic bottlenecks to get everyone specific items :)

Very cool idea and I love the writeup! I'm inspired to do this challenge on my ranger. There's a couple things that should make it an extremely efficient class for this challenge. Travel efficiency: With Sow/Wolf Form and Levitate, travel time is greatly reduced, making it more feasible to check out an extra zone or two. Dungeon Sniping: Superior Camouflage and Harmony make it easy to get around dungeons, and Tracking lets you quickly see what nameds are up. DPS advantage: good offensive spells and dual wielding allow for high damage output making relatively tougher camps more possible without needing intermediate armor pieces first.

Scoring changes: For offhand weapon, I think the mainhand points formula should be used, multiplied by the DW probability at 60, or 75% for rangers. Haste items aren't mentioned; I propose they be used to modify the weapon delay in scoring: Damage / (Delay / (1 + haste)) * 250 = Base Score. For archery, I think we just use the same formula for mainhand weapons. Could also reduce it by half to account for the fact that if the goal is to gear for grouping, you don't use archery in groups very much.

Different classes should have different scoring metrics. I think I would simply do the same formula for off-hand and half the points because of no damage bonus, not always firing off and halfed proc rate.
Using haste to up the score of the weapon is a great idea. If I had gone for an haste item I planned to just give 5-10 points per haste %. Making it depended on the weapons instead sounds more accurate.

If you do it, I hope you show us the results :)
Ranger sounds like the perfect class for this challenge with lots of possibilities. Of all the melee classes they probably have the highest ceiling.

[bcbrown]

I've begun the challenge. The first step was getting prepared. I didn't have the bank space to bag everything so I decided to leave a corpse at the WC druid rings before starting outside Kelethin, back where I started as a Wood Elf Ranger. After shouting for a dueling partner in WC, a friendly poorter cleverly disguised as a tree answered the call. A fitting start to the challenge: this ranger offered himself to the trees, asking Tunare herself for her blessing in return for his sacrifice.

After re-awakening in Freeport where I was bound, I ran back to the rings and asked the same poorter for assistance in traveling to Faydwer. After a quick run north from Steamfont, I medded up and then started the timer.

Unfair advantage: I started with 10 plat on me and a stack of flasks of water. I'll tighten this up if I repeat the challenge, but I was eager to get started, didn't want to stop off at the bank to deposit the money, and didn't want to start off thirsty. I hope to rely on foraging for food the rest of the way through.

Challenges with timing: I was beginning at prime hours, and someone was already slaughtering the newbie areas around Kelethin. I killed enough bats to get a handful of bat wings for Levitate, already planning a run to the Firepots for some quick travel. I would have liked to kill a couple more things to get enough money for a bag or two, but I didn't want to steamroll a bunch of lowbies, and since I had the 10 plat on me, skipped that. I did find an Orc Pawn with a Worn Great Staff, and a couple punches later I had my first weapon.

The Problem with Faydwer: I forgot that I can't use Flame Lick until I get a fire beetle eye, which will be unavailable until I get to Antonica. No matter, snare pulls just as well and my punches were sufficient to get the job done.

The First Zone: I ran north to Crushbone, with a couple targets in mind:
* Emperor Crush has a Dwarven Ringmail Tunic that just might be the best I can find on this challenge
* Orc Trainer has a Shiny Brass Shield that, while certainly not in my long-term plans, just may help me get the first few pieces of gear
* Orc Warlord has a Bracer of Battle that could help me get started in boosting my stats a bit
* Lord Darish can wield a Dwarven Axe or Dwarven Two-Handed Axe, suitable weapons until I get something better

My plan was simple. See what's up, kill any placeholders, wait 9 minutes for respawns, then move on if nothing popped. Unfortunately, being prime time, there was someone camping Trainer Hill and someone else getting powerleveled at the Wall. So I swiftly moved in to the Throne Room, and found Lord Darish up. A couple swings of my staff, and I found myself in possession of a Dwarven Two-Handed Axe. Hitting for up to 70 with it, I was ready for my next fight. The Emperor wasn't up, so I swiftly dispatched the scheming Ambassador Dvinn in hopes of a Dragoon Dirk, but for nought.

At that point I had to log off to go port a guildie and make a sale in the tunnel, which tied in to my other strategy: Use short sessions when possible to avoid having to wait around on the clock for repops.

Time elapsed: a mere 12 minutes
Gear acquired: Dwarven Two-Handed Axe

Twenty minutes later, after completing the sale, I found the Emperor Himself up, and he dropped the Dwarven Ringmail Tunic. First armor acquired! On the way out I came across an Orc Warlord and soon found myself in possession of the Bracers of Battle. Calling that a successful foray, I made my way back to Kelethin, sold the worn great staff, and bought a backpack. I had to dip into about 4 gold from my 10pp starting fund, but at least now I had a little storage space. I then swiftly made my way south to Steamfont and ventured into the minotaur caves. I slaughtered as many vicious slavers as I could find, but wary of getting lost inside that fearful labyrinth, I retreated to the entrance and logged off to make dinner.

Time elapsed: 12 more minutes
Gear acquired: Dwarven Ringmail Tunic, Bracers of Battle

A couple hours later, I logged in to find I was in luck: The Minotaur Hero was up! I quickly learned that he slaps pretty hard when you've got no gear, and had to kite him around for a minute while I buffed up. That turned the tide, but he brought me to like 40% hp/mana. A good lesson that I'll have to be a little more strategic about my fights until I manage to get some more gear. I ventured back into the caves in search of a pair of Minotaur Axes, and after killing a half-dozen slavers, found one in the steely grip of the Minotaur Lord himself. Now well buffed, I made short work of him. I decided not to wait around for a second one and made my way through the Lesser Faydark towards Mistmoore. A quick pause to relieve the Nybright Sisters of their bronze weaponry, and I was there. Unfortunately the entrance, the graveyard, and the castle entrance were all camped, and none of the nameds I had my eye on were up. I decided to call it there in order to write up my progress so far.

Time elapsed: 19 minutes
Gear Acquired: Minotaur Hero Shackles, Minotaur Axe, bronze weapons to vendor

[Kalman]

I've begun the challenge.

Awesome! You don't know how much that excites me. Especially with you being a Ranger.
I can't wait to see which route you have planned and then after your run is over to discuss strategies.


The first step was getting prepared. I didn't have the bank space to bag everything so I decided to leave a corpse at the WC druid rings before starting outside Kelethin, back where I started as a Wood Elf Ranger. After shouting for a dueling partner in WC, a friendly poorter cleverly disguised as a tree answered the call. A fitting start to the challenge: this ranger offered himself to the trees, asking Tunare herself for her blessing in return for his sacrifice.

Genius play! How did I not think about this? Juggling items to mules was the biggest hindrance for my first run. Corpsing the gear is way faster and also will allow camping lore items without having to transfer them.

Also great RPing there. I love it! ;)



I did find an Orc Pawn with a Worn Great Staff, and a couple punches later I had my first weapon.

I bet your heart was racing, hoping it was a cracked staff :D


At that point I had to log off to go port a guildie and make a sale in the tunnel, which tied in to my other strategy: Use short sessions when possible to avoid having to wait around on the clock for repops.


I did that once too on my first run on purpose, when I was in Mistmoore to get an additional chance on the avenging Caitiff. But I decided to not use that tactic further purposfully, because it felt too much like an exploit (with the drawback to loose the camp :D)


A couple hours later, I logged in to find I was in luck: The Minotaur Hero was up! I quickly learned that he slaps pretty hard when you've got no gear, and had to kite him around for a minute while I buffed up. That turned the tide, but he brought me to like 40% hp/mana. A good lesson that I'll have to be a little more strategic about my fights until I manage to get some more gear.

I would have never thought that a naked 60 Paladin has an edge over a naked 60 Ranger tanking the Mino Hero :D
This is hilarious and in the true spirit of classic EverQuest :p


I decided to call it there in order to write up my progress so far.

I can't wait to hear where it will be going from here.

[bcbrown]

Genius play! How did I not think about this? Juggling items to mules was the biggest hindrance for my first run. Corpsing the gear is way faster and also will allow camping lore items without having to transfer them.

Also great RPing there. I love it! ;)

The druid and I were cracking up. I wished I'd taken a screenshot. I explained the challenge to him, so hopefully he shows up and chimes in with his perspective and reaction. Shout out to Poorts!


I did that once too on my first run on purpose, when I was in Mistmoore to get an additional chance on the avenging Caitiff. But I decided to not use that tactic further purposfully, because it felt too much like an exploit (with the drawback to loose the camp :D)


Yeah, I considered that too. I'm not going to push it too hard. But I figure if I do something like end a play session by traveling to a new zone and doing a single round of PH kills, that's not too bad. I also honestly have no clue how much time 24 hours is going to end up giving me, so it's a little hard to decide how much to budget in different zones. And I naturally prefer somewhat-shorter sessions of an hour or two to marathon sessions. I think the rule I'll try to follow is that if I only plan to stay for two rounds of pops, it's fine to end a session after entering a zone and checking if any targets are up.


I would have never thought that a naked 60 Paladin has an edge over a naked 60 Ranger tanking the Mino Hero :D
This is hilarious and in the true spirit of classic EverQuest :p

I'm only level 57, for what that's worth. And I went into the fight completely unbuffed, just assuming it'd be as easy as the slavers. I can self-buff 25 atk, 275 hp, 63 ac, +20 damage shield, plus Chloroplast; and 2x Call of Flame plus 1x Drones of Doom takes the Hero to half health. If I started the fight with full buffs and deployed offensive spells more aggressively I think it's a different story; maybe I'll go back and check after the challenge, or maybe I'll save that for the next attempt.

A Tour of Mistmoore: After posting my writeup I later went back for an hour in Mistmoore. I've spent very little time inside the castle itself, so this was mostly time spent scouting around. Butler Syncall was up, so I swiftly and forcibly extracted his fang; he was an easier fight than the Flouting Gargoyle in the room with him. I killed the Maid Issis placeholder, then went to learn where the spa and the Cloaked Dhampyre camp are. Then I puttered around the zone, killing semi-randomly, hoping to find out what might drop ringmail. Someone in zone said it drops at Graveyard, but I wasn't able to get anything. I did manage to get a Fine Steel Rapier to go with my Minotaur Axe, but I think the Dwarven Two-Handed Axe is still better DPS. I also got a Crested Mistmoore Shield I'll probably never use, but discovered it vendors for 40+ plat! Lotta money when you're starting out with nothing, but I hung onto it for now.

Resupply: After filling up my one backpack I ran back to Kelethin to vendor and buy some backpacks. I accidentally wandered into the bard hall instead of the bag vendor, but happened to find 8 more bat wings in stock, so I've got enough levitation for a while. I sold the weapons I'd picked up and filled my inventory with backpacks. I made my way back to Mistmoore, took another look on Track for any nameds, then called it a night.

Tooth Collection: This afternoon I logged back in, hoping to finally get something good out of Mistmoore. Maid Issis was up, so I made a beeline for her and performed another impromptu dentistry operation - both the butler and the maid dropped their fangs on the first kill, which was extremely lucky. However now I'll have a dilemma if I see the Avenging Caitiff up: kill for a Crested drop, or turn in the fangs for an Electrum-Bladed Wakizashi. It probably wasn't an efficient choice to spend time on this but when I see an obscure potentially-good weapon I just can't help myself. Sadly I didn't get to make a decision - I didn't see the Caitiff up up.

Dicy fights: As I made my way back to the entrance I found a Will Sapper, who I was hoping might have a pair of Black Silk Gloves. When a Glyphed Forbidder joined the fight things got dicy until I switched targets to the Forbidder, who was healing the Will Sapper. I went outside CE to rest up, then picked a fight with the Cloaked Dhampyre PH. Another mob joined in and the fight got pretty rough again. I wonder if I was 60 if I'd have a little less social aggro?

A Small Consolation: After resting up again I went to the Caitiff spawn and got my first drop of the day: the placeholder Deathly Usher had the Black Silk Gloves. No caitiff though. After slaughtering the graveyard in a fruitless hunt for ringmail armor, I saw the Cloaked Dhampyre had spawned. Unfortunately by the time I buffed and medded up he wasn't on track any more. I sent a tell to someone else in zone to see if they'd gotten him, and he had only dropped the blood so at least it wasn't as bitter a disappointment as it could have been.

Moving On: At this point I was starting to think I needed some more armor to make these fights a bit easier and made my way to Kelethin for a full set of leather armor. Instead of returning to Mistmoore I headed towards Unrest, with a quick detour in Dagnor's to relieve Barnacle Bones of his Barnacle-Covered Pauldrons; another win for the ability to opportunistically pick up nameds on track. In Unrest I can use Wolf Form to make everything non-KOS which is extremely convenient. The only named up was Garanif, who dropped his work boots. And that's where I ended that session.

Time elapsed: 59 minutes last night, 1:33 today.
Gear acquired: Black Silk Gloves, Barnacle-covered Pauldrons, Dwarven Work Boots, full set of leather armor

Total time elapsed so far: 3 hours, 15 minutes. A disappointing foray into Mistmoore but now I have a better sense of the zone, the camps, and how to approach it. When I'm done in Unrest I'll have to decide if I go back for another couple rounds, or press onwards and leave that for the denouement of this adventure.

After a little more reflection I think almost the entire Mistmoore adventure was a mistake. I'd never been to several of these camps, and now I've gained valuable information. 45 minutes or so for a couple Caitiff spawns while slaughtering the graveyard for fine steel and ringmail will be my plan for the next attempt, and then I'll save the rest for towards the end when I know exactly what upgrades I still need, and have a higher baseline of gear to attempt it. I decided my next session would be dedicated to traveling all the way across the world.

A Lucky Start: Logged in to unrest, almost all relevant nameds were up. Garanif dropped a ring, knight a bloodstained tunic, bartender the apron. I knew from the Captain's Inn how much time I had, and it would be close. Just as I arrived at the BB docks the boat appeared on the horizon. I hoped to see Capt Surestout up so I could relieve him of his bracer. Sure enough, as I passed the island I saw him on track. I jumped off the boat and immediately cast Greater Wolf Form to go with my existing Levitate. I quickly tracked down the captain and it took no time at all to loot the Bracers of Erollisi. Soon five points stronger, I set my sights on outracing the boat to the last dock, #2 on the map. May Tunare wing my feet and bear me swiftly along to my destination! I counted down the distance with /loc, carefully aiming SW, passing just south of #4 on the map before straightening out due west. I saw the boat docking and managed to levitate up into it before it disembarked. The OOT gambit was a success, and I didn't have to wait for the next boat.

A Tough Decision: As I hadn't had time to vendor in BB before I caught the boat, I stopped off in a tavern to sell some weapons and replenish provisions. And of all the grubby taverns I might have stopped in, this one sold something wondrous. Another traveler passing through had left their Ykeshan War Club with the barkeep, who only wanted 100pp for it. I quickly considered my options. It's not so much more powerful than what I currently had, but it would be a clear upgrade. I didn't quite have the plat for it until I recalled a Crested Mistmoore Shield I had picked up on my first foray there. Was this a sign from Tunare? Was She gently guiding my path, and what had seemed like a failed experiment to spend so much time in Mistmoore had actually been part of a larger plan just now becoming clear? I resolved I could use it for the duration of the adventure but not count it for points.

Journey into Sand and Across the World: I knew what I had to do. I sold the shield and acquired a mighty war club. Now it was time to test my mettle against a couple sand giants in Oasis. How good was my gear at this point really? The first one was cut down quickly; the second was a little tougher but sooned joined his brother. I killed a couple asps and picked up some poison sacs and then made my way to the Barrel Barge which was just about to leave as I arrived. As soon as we zoned into TD I left the barge and ran due south to the end of the zone. Once inside the Firepots I was quickly teleported to Erudin. After a quick stop at the bank I ran south to the entrance to the Warrens and called it a night.

Time Elapsed: 1:27
Gear Acquired: Jagged Band, Thick Leather Apron, Bloodstained Tunic, Bracers of Erollisi
Total Time Elapsed: 4:43

The price of insufficient research: When researching my plans before next logging in, I realized a fatal flaw in my plans. I had hoped to travel to Stonebrunt and hunt heretics for the Swiftclaw Sash. Meanwhile I'd be foraging for a Kejekan Palm Fruit and then completing the quest Yuio's Illness to leave with a Wakizashi of the Frozen Skies. But with a 1 hour respawn timer on the heretic invaders that would be an unwise investment of time. So I pivoted, returning to Erudin and taking a boat to Qeynos

The completion of a long-planned quest: as we arrived in South Qeynos I immediately made my way to the warriors guild and got my very own shiny Hero Bracers. Now my wrist slots were finished! I then left the city and began the long run across WK. I had heard tell of a Ghoul Messenger in these parts, but found no sight nor sound nor any sign whatsoever of such a foul creature. I stopped by the Ogre Altar to consider whether any of them might have something shiny I could use. However, I found them mostly Warmly and Kindly to me, and wasn't willing to lose that faction for such a small chance of a small upgrade. I resolved to let them be and absentmindedly sat down to swap spells. I'm not sure who took offense at that, perhaps Chief Goonda's pet disliked how many head pats and ear scritches this other strange wolf was getting from the Ogre Guards. Anyway, somehow first one attacked me, and then they all set upon me and I had to flee to NK with my tail between my legs.

More Karana adventures A quick sweep of NK showed no sign of GrimFeather so I headed to South Karana and headed to the centaur village, slaughtering them mercilessly. Some time later I walked away with a Runed Oak Bow but no Thunderhoof Quiver. No matter; bow acquired. Back in NK GrimFeather was up; I knew this might be a tough fight so started off with an Immolate and a fear kite, then face-tanked the rest of the way to the pre-ordained conclusion. Back in WK the Ghoul Messenger gave up a strategic map of Kithicor, and Brenzl McMannus was willing to let me stock up on arrows as soon as I sneaked behind him. I needed to give a guildie a port and a bind, so I left things off there.

Time Elapsed: 1:37
Gear Acquired: Hero Bracers, Runed Oak Bow
Total Time Elapsed: 6:20

[bcbrown]

I spent an 1:20 in RunnyEye and came away with a haul: Blackened Alloy Longsword, Blackened Alloy Bastard Sword, Blackened Alloy Coif, Grotesque Alloy Mask, Blackened Alloy Armplates, Onyx Ring. Then I ran to N Ro and took the boat to Iceclad and ran to the EW orc fort where I got a four Orc Fang Earrings and no Rygorr Chain drops after 2:30. I decided to give up that hope and traveled to Warsliks Woods. 2:30 more in travel time and camping time and I had a pair of Iksar Scaled Gloves and ran back to OT. I have to travel for the next few days and my corpse was in danger of rotting so I decided to pause it there. I got a port back to WC, corpsed my progress, and looted my original corpse.


Summary:
Through Faydwer to The Warrens: 4:43
Gear Acquired: Dwarven Two-Handed Axe, Dwarven Ringmail Tunic, Bracers of Battle, Minotaur Hero Shackles, Minotaur Axe, Black Silk Gloves, Barnacle-covered Pauldrons, Dwarven Work Boots, full set of leather armor, Jagged Band, Thick Leather Apron, Bloodstained Tunic, Bracers of Erollisi
Qeynos to RunnyEye: 2:30
Gear Acquired: Hero Bracers, Runed Oak Bow, Blackened Alloy Longsword, Blackened Alloy Bastard Sword, Blackened Alloy Coif, Grotesque Alloy Mask, Blackened Alloy, Ringmail Pants, Armplates, Onyx Ring
RunnyEye to Eastern Wastes: 2:30
Gear Acquired: Short Sword of Morin, 2 Orc Fang Earrings
Eastern Wastes to Warsliks Woods to the Overthere: 2:30
Gear Acquired: Iksar Scaled Gloves

Total Time: Just over 12 hours

Total Gear:

ears: Orc Fang Earring x2
head: Blackened Alloy Coif
face: Grotesque Alloy Mask
neck: Blackened Alloy Collar
chest: dwarven ringmail tunic or bloodstained tunic
arms: Blackened Alloy Armplates
back: Leather Cloak
waist: thick leather apron
shoulders: Barnacle-covered Pauldron
wrists 1: Hero Bracers
wrists 2: Bracers of Erollisi
legs: Ringmail Pants
hands: Iksar Scaled Gloves
ring 1: Jagged Band
ring 2: Onyx Ring
feet: dwarven work boots

2hs: Blackened Alloy Bastard Sword
1hs: Blackened Alloy Longsword, Short Sword of Morin
ranged: Runed Oak Bow

AC: 103, Str 36, Dex 12, Agi 2, HP 45, SvM: 19, SvC 19, SvF 14, SvP 11 SvD 11

If I come back to finish the time, I'd go to Faydwer for:
Bloodstained Mantle or Crested Spaulders
Hooded Black Cloak
Jagged Band

Then Antonica for Ivy Etched Sleeves and Mithril Breastplate, then finish out my time looking for a Swiftclaw Sash and a Wakizashi of the Frozen Skies. I bet I'd be left with about 6 hours in Stonebrunt.

This has been a really fun challenge! Travel time is really not bad at all with the ranger buffs. I got really lucky with a lot of drops, but also wasted a lot of time in Mistmoore and the Eastern Wastes. I've got a lot of ideas on how to be more efficient and more ambitious on the next attempt.