Advice for Shaman Epic.

[BahamutDF]

Hey guys. I'm pretty new here, I finally decided to join the server and honestly, it's the best gaming decision I've made in a long time.

I'm a long time vet, having played from 2000-2004 on live then again on Fippy for a year in 2011-2012. Both times around, EQ was the best gaming experience of my life. Easily.

The only epic I've ever completed in the classic era was the Warrior epic, oddly enough. It's only because back then I was a no-lifer and in a 2nd tier raiding guild. As their second most senior tank, as you can imagine the epic was pushed heavily and really all I had to do was show up for raids. I shudder to think what that epic is like doing without the above circumstances.

This time around, my circumstances are very different. I don't have nearly the time to commit to this game as I once did, hence my decision to roll a Shaman. I want a class I can play alone and equally well with other people.

I don't know much about the Shaman epic quest, other than it's supposed to be fairly simple. The questions I have are:

- When is the right time, during the leveling process, to begin working on the initial steps of the epic?
- Is it NECESSARY to do the initial steps? I've heard a lot about skipping, but it seems like doing that requires a faction grind. The question here is, is it worth it to skip parts and just raise faction,or is that really just trading one evil for another? Which would you guys recommend? (I've read the other topics, what I'm really asking is which route is, well, easier/better - faction or just doing it)
- Given this is my main, what is the overall easiest way to go about obtaining it, and what can I expect to be the most difficult parts? Will I need a competent guild to complete it or can I get by with groups of friends?

Thanks a lot for your time guys, really appreciate it.