Looking for a single character class

[Varlak]

Hi guys, I'm starting on p1999 and I can't choose the class to play.

-I don't feel like making a first character in order to farm for another one.

-I can't always wait for 30-60min in order to get in a group so I need something that could solo while trying to get into a group. Don't need to be the best soloer, but need to be good enough to not force me to travel 3 zone if I can't find a group.

-And of all thing, I want to be good in group and maybe even going to raid someday.

I don't mind to play most class that can suit those 3 points beside paladin and bard. I've just played both class for too many years back in the days.

[Ennewi]

Necromancer has my vote. It has the versatility that allows it to fill multiple group roles, from dps (charm undead) to cc and heals. Soloing made easy with its robust spellbook and a stack of bone chips, not that there isn't a plethora of equipment upgrades to obtain eventually. For raids, mana battery is the default fallback option but NEC can take on much more active raid roles as well. Quite a few really good necro players out there and it has one of the best class guides on the wiki.

[kjs86z2]

necro (weakest), enchanter (strongest / hardest / highest skill cap), or shaman (most expensive choice)

[DeathsSilkyMist]

necro (weakest), enchanter (strongest / hardest / highest skill cap), or shaman (most expensive choice)

Agreed. Luckily Shamans aren't as expensive as they used to be. Torpor is about 35k on both servers right now. By killing guards and other money camps like Crysal Cavern Geos while leveling, you should be able to get that 35k by level 60.

As a basic metric, leveling from 1-50 takes about 50 hours with a twinked iksar monk (Fungi, IFS, Seahorse belt) who knows the game well.

An untwinked player new to P99 is probably going to take at least 100 hours to reach 50. Getting from 55-60 is at least 25 hours per level. 51-55 is easier, but I'd expect to spend at least 300 hours total to reach 60.

From levels ~20-56 you can do something like Guards > Crystal Cavern Geos > Guards > WL Goos. You should be getting at least 200pp per hour. So if you are gaining money for 200 out of those 300 hours, you'll have 40k banked.

[Crede]

Hi guys, I'm starting on p1999 and I can't choose the class to play.

-I don't feel like making a first character in order to farm for another one.

-I can't always wait for 30-60min in order to get in a group so I need something that could solo while trying to get into a group. Don't need to be the best soloer, but need to be good enough to not force me to travel 3 zone if I can't find a group.

-And of all thing, I want to be good in group and maybe even going to raid someday.

I don't mind to play most class that can suit those 3 points beside paladin and bard. I've just played both class for too many years back in the days.

Mage. Can solo with ease. Super chill. Probably the best group dps class outside of charmed pets. And when you do raid you can either be a coth bot to relax or quad DA like a boss. And if you do decide to make an alt you have a class that can grind raw pp easily. Necro is also an option as they are better soloers but it’s a more demanding class and not as loved in groups as much as a mage.

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Mage can be a bit harder to find solo camps for, since they don't have CC. Especially since OP is new to P99.

Based on OP's requirement for being able to solo without going across multiple zones, I would suggest a class with CC. It is easier to find random camps to kill when you have access to CC.

[Wilshire]

Hi guys, I'm starting on p1999 and I can't choose the class to play.

-I don't feel like making a first character in order to farm for another one.

-I can't always wait for 30-60min in order to get in a group so I need something that could solo while trying to get into a group. Don't need to be the best soloer, but need to be good enough to not force me to travel 3 zone if I can't find a group.

-And of all thing, I want to be good in group and maybe even going to raid someday.

I don't mind to play most class that can suit those 3 points beside paladin and bard. I've just played both class for too many years back in the days.

Necro will definitely work. However... necro could have a bit of a problem if you want to do grouping. A lot of groups don't want a necro. Frankly, their dps sucks unless you're in a place like Charasis because their dots take too long to work. A good group will be killing mobs too quickly for the dots to get more than a tick or two.

Now, necros are very good in a group as a support role. Basically, you're acting like a mana battery and crowd control, much like a chanter or bard. If you're in an undead-heavy dungeon, a necro might actually be better at this than a chanter because of the strength of their lich (it's better than a mana regen buff cast by a chanter of the same level) and their ability to rapidly recharge a cleric. Against undead, they've also got charms, lulls, roots, and other things to control the situation. And necros usually don't need the healer to do much since leach and lifetap allow them to take care of themselves.

The problem is that most people playing necros don't know how to use them properly in a group. They try to dps, and necros suck at dps in a group unless you're killing the mobs slowly enough for their dots to tick. This has caused a lot of groups to just avoid necros in favor of other classes.

A shadow knight might actually work for you. They can solo pretty well for a melee class (they can fear kite just like a necro), and they have enough dps to bring mobs down quickly. They can't solo as well as some other classes in a dungeon, though.

Chanter and shaman are two other possible choices for you. A druid might also work, but they're not as great as chanter or shaman in group play.

The only real problem with chanter or shaman is that they're so common that most groups have tons to choose from. This isn't like 1999 on live when nobody played a chanter. Plus, gear for these classes is a bit pricy because of their commonality.

[Varlak]

Now, necros are very good in a group as a support role. Basically, you're acting like a mana battery and crowd control, much like a chanter or bard.

The only class I've played more then chanter or bard is a necro. I think that I've started 3 or 4 from scratch back in the days or Verant and SoE.

And yeah, I do remember how my role was mostly giving mana or even patch healing in some group on him. Luclin fight where longer and made Necro a bit better DPS-wise. PoP is when I became a real damage dealing class.

Shaman and SK where on my list. Druid, is probably the only caster I,ve never even hitted 30. It might be my memory that is crap. But I just always felt that having a druid in your group was more detrimental then helping.

But if shaman are so common they aren't needed in groups or raid. I might go SK.

[OriginalContentGuy]

I feel like the correct answer is don't roll anything.

The next most correct answer is play what you will have fun (role)playing.

My mind went to Cleric for a primary class, and then to Dark Elf for the snare necklace.

[bcbrown]

But if shaman are so common they aren't needed in groups or raid. I might go SK.

Shaman definitely aren't too common in my experience. I know our (smaller) guild needs more.

Play what interests you, but Shaman and Necro were what came to mind. I've rarely seen groups reject someone for being the wrong class.

[Naethyn]

Shaman is the best starting class.

[Keebz]

Shaman is low key a bad starting class.

[spoil]

Pick whatever class you think is going to be the most fun and whatever character model you think looks the best. It's an extremely long road to 60.

[Crede]

The only class I've played more then chanter or bard is a necro. I think that I've started 3 or 4 from scratch back in the days or Verant and SoE.

And yeah, I do remember how my role was mostly giving mana or even patch healing in some group on him. Luclin fight where longer and made Necro a bit better DPS-wise. PoP is when I became a real damage dealing class.

Shaman and SK where on my list. Druid, is probably the only caster I,ve never even hitted 30. It might be my memory that is crap. But I just always felt that having a druid in your group was more detrimental then helping.

But if shaman are so common they aren't needed in groups or raid. I might go SK.

Sk is a solid choice. Can fd if fast afks needed. Can fear kite for extremely efficient killing and can get around pretty easy having both types of invis as well. I’d recommend troll for solo. Regen / stats are great and having slam makes fear kiting a lot more tolerable with a nice 2h wep. Final 2 pets are really nice as well.

[Goregasmic]

But if shaman are so common they aren't needed in groups or raid. I might go SK.

There's a ton of them at the high end and I'm not sure most raids will need 8 shamans so you might be asked to switch but for leveling I haven't seen that many LFG. Heals + haste/slows are always in demand. Worst case scenario you can always duo/trio with melees for probably better exp.

[Skarne]

bard all the way baby. tis most fun imo and the most modern-gamer friendly.

[loramin]

Surprised no one has suggested Druid.

[kjs86z2]

Surprised no one has suggested Druid.

because druid, although fun to charm animals, is just a potg/port bot class

[tycohunden]

Just do warrior, get a bow and 2hander and joust your way to 60. Saw some streamer who did it solo self found and he seemed to do it no problem. Atleast warriors are played actively late game.

[WarpathEQ]

Just do warrior, get a bow and 2hander and joust your way to 60. Saw some streamer who did it solo self found and he seemed to do it no problem. Atleast warriors are played actively late game.

Except the second they deploy the next patch that strat is dead.

[Vivitron]

But if shaman are so common they aren't needed in groups or raid. I might go SK.

For raiding I'd take the shaman over the sk.

I know my viewpoint is skewed by highly geared monks, but I think monk would be a good choice for an all around single character.

If you like charming, enchanters are excellent for both groups and solo here.

[loramin]

because druid, although fun to charm animals, is just a potg/port bot class

At 60 maybe, but from 1 to 59 they are by far the most diverse class in classic EQ.

[tycohunden]

Except the second they deploy the next patch that strat is dead.

Please explain Sir. Will bow quest end? Because I've been abusing it with root sword and bow when pulls go bad.

[Naethyn]

Don’t bank on warrior usefulness. I saw a cleric tank Vulak no problem.

[Swish]

Please explain Sir. Will bow quest end? Because I've been abusing it with root sword and bow when pulls go bad.

This is the thread I think: https://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=414463

[Goregasmic]

Please explain Sir. Will bow quest end? Because I've been abusing it with root sword and bow when pulls go bad.

Bow damage won't have a bonus from main hand anymore, no damage bonus at all in fact unless trueshot is activated and that bonus will be based on bow delay now. That and archery damage will now be based on dex instead of str.

[Varlak]

Thanks for all the advices.

I'm now thorn betwen the shm and the SK. Druid was a contender but as I remember. They are just meh in group.

Maybe I was wrong but my memories, but I've always felt the EXP was slow when I had one in my group.

Chanter, bard, necro are all good class. But I've mained all 3 in raids on live and I would like something new.

[Swish]

Thanks for all the advices.

I'm now thorn betwen the shm and the SK. Druid was a contender but as I remember. They are just meh in group.

Maybe I was wrong but my memories, but I've always felt the EXP was slow when I had one in my group.

Chanter, bard, necro are all good class. But I've mained all 3 in raids on live and I would like something new.

A good druid can be beneficial. Keep thorns up on the tank every few minutes, keep regen up on anyone who gets hit, HP/buff the group if there's nobody else to do it, nuke with any remaining sustainable mana. It's not top tier but it's good in the right hands. Ask around for clarity if you need to :)

Shamans do it better, SKs are lots of fun particularly if you like pulling/tanking.

[sammoHung]

Thanks for all the advices.

I'm now thorn betwen the shm and the SK. Druid was a contender but as I remember. They are just meh in group.

Maybe I was wrong but my memories, but I've always felt the EXP was slow when I had one in my group.

Chanter, bard, necro are all good class. But I've mained all 3 in raids on live and I would like something new.

I recommend Shaman. They are extremely versatile Solo, Group and Raid. I levelled a troll shaman to 60 here, and it might have been the fastest toon I've ever levelled.

A shaman is a good duo partner for an Enchanter, Necro, Magician, Monk, Bard, Rogue, Warrior, Shadowknight, Paladin or Ranger.

Shaman is a blast solo because they have the infinite mana glitch (cannibalize). They have a solid solo technique, and of all the solo artist classes: Shaman experience the least amount of deaths (by far.) As a matter of fact: I can't remember the last time I died on my Shaman that wasn't on a raid. (Even before Torpor: slowing / rooting / regen spells and bind wound are lifesavers).

The entire time levelling my shaman, I employed the same technique. I used Drowsy ( I used drowsy until Turgur's upgrade) and tank the mob while meleeing. Occasional DoT or Nuke to finish off long fights. Bandage between fights. Cannibalize + Bandage starting at level 24. Pet starting at level 34. And that's it until 52-53 or so. Grab a Poison Wind Censer (~400-500p in EC tunnel), Silver Chitin Handwraps (~600p), some 5ac 55hp or 6ac 65hp rings (400p for a pair or 800p for a pair) and a set of banded and its off to the races. For under 1.5k plat, a Shaman can afford enough gear to last until raid level.

[Vear99]

I feel like somehow everyone agreed that grouping necromancers were underrated to the point that they became overrated. It's weird because all of the individual spells are great, but somehow the total is much less than the sum of its parts:

Charm is of course amazing, and you can do so in a surprising number of zones (I always wanted to charm the Emperor PH, but never got around to it). But there is a HUGE difference between recharming with Screaming Terror (2.6s) vs Color Flux (1s), and there is no bedlam line. You simply can't handle a quadding, hasted pet without consistent help the way an enchanter can.
FD is amazing, and in combination with mez and snare and DA you can do a lot. But FD breaks charm, so you can't split anything while also having a charmed pet. And even if you are rolling with the skeleton, you can't summon the probe.
The only really good necro dots are Ignite Blood and Splurt, which are both efficient and lures, but they both need nearly two minutes, so unless you are root rotting on the side DSM style (which I actually tried to do a bit here and there) they are fairly useless in groups, and you end up using the miserable Ignite Bones.
Necro heals aren't that efficient unless you can dispel the recourse, and after some patches I found it difficult to do so. Pact of Shadow is nice because the recast is only 12s, so you can stack two, but then you can't use shadowbond, and even 125/tick isn't all that great. And the last thing you want is to get down to 70% hp with lich, nuke yourself for 500hp with shadowbond, and then get a charm break.
93% rez is much less interesting in an era where everyone has loads of pocket rogues and clerics
When I was playing in Kunark, summoned pets were all Luclin level, while melee were in cobalt and shiverback. Now the summoned pets have been reverted to their original Kunark stats while melee are running around in primals and full NTOV. So it's been a bit of a riches to rags transition.

Of course Necros can still be fun to play. Anyway, it sounds like you have spent a lot of time playing high energy CC classes that can carry a group. Shaman and SK will both feel a little different in that they will shine more in duos and trios. Although SKs have good snap aggro, they do not have any decent CC spells (unless you want to snare and fear and pray), so they can't really carry a group the way a good Paladin can, and there simply won't be enough time for them to FD split unless they are in a duo or trio. Shaman aren't great in full groups because everything dies much too quickly for slow to be effective until the very end of the game. Even in the low 50s you can go to KC LCY and slaughter everything in under 20s and there is just no point to casting Turgur's. Shaman are excellent on raids, just expect loads of STA/FOCUS PLZ tells and even more torpor/canni clicks in order to get the mana required. Then some fool wipes the raid and you get more buff tells!

My personal suggestion is Monk: it is a high energy class that can carry a group, but one that plays in a very different way, and it might be interesting for you, even if you know EQ well, because you have to learn all of the zones and spawn patterns to play it well. If you try to play other classes like an Enchanter/Bard, you'll probably just feel gimped.

[Keebz]

SKs can certainly carry a group more than a Monk. Until raids they are basically the same class except one has a spell book and ogre stats.

[Keebz]

My 2c is if you can deal with being a buff bot in many raids / group settings then Shaman is the pick. It is going to be the more powerful class in the end.

If you want a preview of the lvl 60 shaman life, here you go https://www.cs.mun.ca/~dchurchill/eq/shaman/

[Vear99]

My mind went to Cleric for a primary class, and then to Dark Elf for the snare necklace.

I haven't played in a year or so, but I am going to be very curious how bad the incoming channeling nerf is. It seems like Clerics (and Paladins) might be the big winners if Enchanters start to need more help recharming and casters have to be more cautious with their threat. Clerics actually have a fantastic toolkit of stuns, roots, and blurs that mostly go unused.

[DeathsSilkyMist]

My 2c is if you can deal with being a buff bot in many raids / group settings then Shaman is the pick. It is going to be the more powerful class in the end.

If you want a preview of the lvl 60 shaman life, here you go https://www.cs.mun.ca/~dchurchill/eq/shaman/

You aren't really going to be a buff bot in most groups as a Torpor Shaman. I don't remember ever doing that. Groups at 60 are often 2-4 players with pocket characters. In raids you are a buff bot. But you still have other duties like Malo + Slow, which is an active and necessary part of raids.

https://youtu.be/oPxeOVuX0G8?si=DjYQVXLnhtPV2WR8 - This is a better representation of a level 60 Shaman doing a long fight.

[Snaggles]

Mages are very easy to figure out, ok at soloing, solid in groups, great for raiding. The epic isn’t even a classic defining item since the Water staff and pet does great dps and nobody needs a pet for raiding (CoTH and divine aura clickies).

Necros are stronger for solo, not quite as good for groups unless charming or pulling, not as effective for raids (outside pet walk training in NTOV and VP).

Enchanters are complicated (compared to necro and mage) but arguably the best solo class if you are ok with higher risk. Raids they buff, tash, and mana drain stuff.

I enjoy the Druid but don’t raid or group with it.
I’m glad I have the shaman but don’t really enjoy the play style (despite being great at most things).

Personally for me, the ranger is the most fun class and ticks most those boxes. You can snare and fear animals as early as level 22. With arrows you can solo stuff that you cant melee down. It’s not an easy path but it’s a solid one. I’d see if someone can hook you up with a Silver Swiftblade and start adventuring :) .

Edit: Just read the last few pages. If deliberating over a sham or SK the sham is much stronger and less gear dependent. If you save your plat by 45 you can buy a Jaundiced Bone Bracer which will carry you a long way. The SK is arguably a more fun class (IMHO) and if geared to the teeth just do everyone well… but I’ve always enjoyed melees more than casters.

[spoil]

I haven't played in a year or so, but I am going to be very curious how bad the incoming channeling nerf is. It seems like Clerics (and Paladins) might be the big winners if Enchanters start to need more help recharming and casters have to be more cautious with their threat. Clerics actually have a fantastic toolkit of stuns, roots, and blurs that mostly go unused.

I think a lot of enchanters are going to be put out of business. I'm an enchanter main, so I just naturally play cleric that way. I'm not used to just sitting semi-afk and having no situational awareness. Should be interesting when the patch drops, I just hope it's not an over-correction based on flimsy evidence.

[sammoHung]

I think a lot of enchanters are going to be put out of business. I'm an enchanter main, so I just naturally play cleric that way. I'm not used to just sitting semi-afk and having no situational awareness. Should be interesting when the patch drops, I just hope it's not an over-correction based on flimsy evidence.

That's exactly my concern. I think that Shaman, Enchanters, Necros are going to be knocked off their top-tier list. (Necros an exception due to fear-kiting, but charming Necros are going to get royally screwed)

The evidence is dubious at best. There's no way knights would be able to cast through hits if the proposed changes took effect.

[DeathsSilkyMist]

That's exactly my concern. I think that Shaman, Enchanters, Necros are going to be knocked off their top-tier list. (Necros an exception due to fear-kiting, but charming Necros are going to get royally screwed)

The evidence is dubious at best. There's no way knights would be able to cast through hits if the proposed changes took effect.

I am not too worried about Shamans at least. When you slow the mob, they hit you far less often. So you can just cast between swings. Taking a quick look at my logs, a 75% slowed Ionat swings every ~7 seconds or so. So you can cast most spells including DoTs, canni, and Torpor between swings.

Shaman pets can also tank some mobs like cliff golems: https://youtu.be/umuVBewCNgY?si=mB0FVr33priFiG4g

Enchanters can slow as well, so they may be able to adjust just fine.

[Danth]

I am not too worried about Shamans at least. When you slow the mob, they hit you far less often. So you can just cast between swings. Taking a quick look at my logs, a 75% slowed Ionat swings every ~7 seconds or so. So you can cast most spells including DoTs, canni, and Torpor between swings.

Shaman pets can also tank some mobs like cliff golems: https://youtu.be/umuVBewCNgY?si=mB0FVr33priFiG4g

Enchanters can slow as well, so they may be able to adjust just fine.

Shamans were solo'ing stuff like west wastes dragons in-era for just that reason. They're single pulls that could be preslowed before entering melee, but those are also a somewhat unique case. This is a sort of logic check for changes because if shamans suddenly can't beat those dragons on P99, you immediately know something's wrong. Some other camps shamans do on P99 where they might have to brute force root split full rooms would be much more troublesome.

Enchanters' problem was that a) they couldn't split because lulls didn't work (separate issue from channeling), charm durations weren't great, and when their charm pet broke the hasted dual-wielding pet would often wreck them before they could get a spell off. Enchanters weren't on anyone's list of solo gods the way they are on P99...the P99 version of the class may as well be some enchanter player's "what if" fantasy made real.

Necromancers had a good non-charm pet, fearkiting, and feigndeath as an escape option. They were fine and will remain so.

Note that just because changes are proposed, doesn't mean they're necessarily imminent. I knew iksar shadowknights who created on P99 in the early teens figuring on getting greenmist, who leveled up, played their entire character lifespan, and quit P99 before chardok 2.0 was ever patched in. A player just starting today could future-proof himself by not making an enchanter....or simply by not putting money into nodrop gear for it so he could liquidate if necessary later on. Indeed, if someone wants to have fun with P99's OP-era enchanter, you could argue that it might be now or never.

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Shamans were solo'ing stuff like west wastes dragons in-era for just that reason. They're single pulls that could be preslowed before entering melee, but those are also a somewhat unique case. This is a sort of logic check for changes because if shamans suddenly can't beat those dragons on P99, you immediately know something's wrong. Some other camps shamans do on P99 where they might have to brute force root split full rooms would be much more troublesome.


Indeed. Some places where you must pull multiple mobs could be troublesome. Sending your pet into a room pre-torpored can work at various camps, and that can give you enough time to root everything before the pet dies. The shaman pet is going to do more work if the worst case channeling changes go into effect.

[Defo]

Shamans were solo'ing stuff like west wastes dragons in-era for just that reason. They're single pulls that could be preslowed before entering melee, but those are also a somewhat unique case. This is a sort of logic check for changes because if shamans suddenly can't beat those dragons on P99, you immediately know something's wrong. Some other camps shamans do on P99 where they might have to brute force root split full rooms would be much more troublesome.

Enchanters' problem was that a) they couldn't split because lulls didn't work (separate issue from channeling), charm durations weren't great, and when their charm pet broke the hasted dual-wielding pet would often wreck them before they could get a spell off. Enchanters weren't on anyone's list of solo gods the way they are on P99...the P99 version of the class may as well be some enchanter player's "what if" fantasy made real.

Necromancers had a good non-charm pet, fearkiting, and feigndeath as an escape option. They were fine and will remain so.

Note that just because changes are proposed, doesn't mean they're necessarily imminent. I knew iksar shadowknights who created on P99 in the early teens figuring on getting greenmist, who leveled up, played their entire character lifespan, and quit P99 before chardok 2.0 was ever patched in. A player just starting today could future-proof himself by not making an enchanter....or simply by not putting money into nodrop gear for it so he could liquidate if necessary later on. Indeed, if someone wants to have fun with P99's OP-era enchanter, you could argue that it might be now or never.

Oh no, heh. I just returned after a hiatus and rolled an enchanter! :eek:

[Snaggles]

…
The evidence is dubious at best. There's no way knights would be able to cast through hits if the proposed changes took effect.

FoL and the stat taps which are the aggro spells are sub-2 second casts. It might take some timing, but in theory it might have little impact on what they can do. It might add some peril to rogues and other top dps though as an interrupted spell might lose the #1 hate position if it happens at the beginning of the fight.

[Snaggles]

Oh no, heh. I just returned after a hiatus and rolled an enchanter! :eek:

Like Crede said, changes are likely not imminent (it is p99).

Get your leveling on when you can. Very worst case, an ench soloing with an animation is still better than most classes with all their tricks. Hell…they even get fear. Solo in a wide open space and watch em run.

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Like Crede said, changes are likely not imminent (it is p99).

Get your leveling on when you can. Very worst case, an ench soloing with an animation is still better than most classes with all their tricks. Hell…they even get fear. Solo in a wide open space and watch em run.

Agreed. Enchanters will be still be great soloers even if the worst case channeling changes go into effect. Strategies will probably change, and maybe some mobs would become unkillable. But their toolkit is still really good.

[WarpathEQ]

Like Crede said, changes are likely not imminent (it is p99).

Get your leveling on when you can. Very worst case, an ench soloing with an animation is still better than most classes with all their tricks. Hell…they even get fear. Solo in a wide open space and watch em run.

Changes are definitely imminent. Nilbog has already written the new channeling code and is actively testing it. He has not officially patched it in yet pending some additional testing but its clearly the main thing he is working on right now based on his forum activity.