Making a Erudite or Dark Elf SK with 200+ STR

[Fame]

Let's start with some common ground.

We're thinking about gearing up a Shadow Knight. We all have our reasons.

Like many, I've toyed with the idea of playing a SK. Dark and mysterious. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Without too much text, there are some concerns, low str vs low int in race selection, the regen or stun debate, realities of being fat, monk envy and finally climbing Mount Experience. I've battled with each of them. Probably more. Bottom line seems to be, unless you're specifically seeking the roughest path, it's best to just wait until you can afford to twink it.

So let's cover some basics and creation philosophy:

You need plat and or higher lvl characters to farm gear with. It would be possible with just a plat farmer to get any of this stuff.

This SK is not going to be the best sk there ever was.

We're still not sure what race to pick but we know all the arguments and counters. For me, the battle was always fashion vs function. High base stats and regen are hard to ignore. For this reason, this gear set is assuming use of both a fungi tunic and 36% haste cloak. I like to think it opens up the racial choice a little more, line of thought being: regen is meh till 51+ and I'm not certain if this character will go beyond that. I have my eye on lvl 39.

Continuing on that path, gearing. I built this around strength primarily. The thought is that, looking back to the characters that actually made it through this game before there were high lvls and twinking, a lot of the gear was pretty weak. You picked up what you found on random trash mobs for 40 levels heh. Truth be told, you can still get through everquest that way, it just takes a little longer.

Because of this, and also having the fungi and a target level of 39, I opted to choose STR over AC when it came down to it. The reason I went high strength priority is because once long ago I made a twink melee with lots of STR and what I remember most about it was hitting for above damage cap at low levels and scaring the other noobs. It was fun to just feel like a beast. Additionally, I have a few items with very high AC for the level range when you compare it to the gear that they would be using in that first run through banded/bronze ect. I would like to think it balances it out.

Keeping it cool and casual, not seeking to hit lvl 60 next week, or be hailed as the one who after 36 years of elf sim has found the best and only way to play a shadowknight in Norrath really opens a lot of doors.

Let's talk about snowflakes. If you're still reading at this point, you've probably thought about making one too [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

So here we are. Erudite or Dark Elf? At this point, I'm up for either and not making any arguments for or against a specific race. When I first started putting a list together of gear, I had Erudite in mind and my goal was to get as much str as possible before even starting because no one wants to hit like a bitch.

Before we go on, I must warn my fellow snowflakes that looking at base stats on the wiki and looking at total stats when you run the numbers from your gear set can be disheartening. Those big guys just have more meat on em. But fear not, this list was designed to hang in there with the big dogs when it comes to STR. Obv. Ogre and Troll will have more str with this same gear. but I included them to give perspective and because after seeing the numbers I'm really considering switching to Ogre.

Here it is.

Also, some thoughts, guidance and explanation:

The Strength total in the bottom in the (XYZ) is the total strength including siphon str spell because it's the one you can count on having. Sometimes ya just don't get buffs. It is what it is.

Item slots flagged "---PvP" are the quick switches if pvp decides to show up. I tried to sacrifice the least amount of str for items with 10+mr so ya don't get rooted or at least have a high chance to resist. If actually pvping, you'll have a full set of the good stuff on hand I assume and obviously some str will be lost. I'm reppin the lower mr because I have pumice and don't want the opposition to become discouraged. Feel free to modify as needed in regards to +sv. It is very situational.

There is one item, the hero bracer that wont fit on a fat troll or ogre arm, so I altered the stats slightly on that slot with a different item for each race. +7str/int for the troll and +5int/agi on the ogre.

I am neither a wizard nor a savant. I didn't even take algebra 2 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.] But when it comes to numbers and EQ I like em BIG. But there also seems to be some sort of step pattern to them, for instance, (makin shit up for example of concept) you have 70 of a skill, it ranks as "average", at 71, it changes to "good". Now for me, that is often enough to put a point somewhere. Even in character creation. For almost any stat. It's just something I do, in my mind that little extra could be the RNG difference, ya never know. So feel free to adjust there if ya really want to.

The simple goal was to get STR to above 200 self buffed, not 200 even, above 200 for the Erudite and Dark Elf races. Even if it was only 201 str lol

Oh and also, the names are not on these items, I know em all by stat #s and I'm just posting the list I made, I don't feel like wiki linking them in. This has already been waaaay more than I intended to write. If you want to find them, go to the wiki class equipment page and sort by stat, you'll see the ones I put on the list. Remember they are all really accessible items, not very hard to get. If you're on blue, probably even easier.

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High STR items usable by Erudite or Darkelf SK
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Earring Left: +4str +2int
Earring Right: +4str +2int ---PVP 10mr
Necklace: +8str +8int
Face: +8str
Helm: +6str +6sta +3mr
Ring Left: 65hp ---PVP 14mr
Ring Right: +5str +5dex ----PVP 14mr
Wrist Left: +10str --NO for fattys 7str 7int or 5int 5agi
Wrist Right: +5str +5dex +5agi +5sta
Arms: +7str +5mr
Shoulder: +3str +10mr
Chest: +2str +2int -10dex -10agi
Gloves: +15str
Cloak: +9dex +9agi +50m
Belt: +15str
Pants: +7str +5mr
Boots: +7str +20hp
Range: +7str +10sta

Shield: +5str +5int +5sta 50hp 50m +10mr
1 hand: No stats Ebon Mace 19/24
2 hand: +2int +2agi

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Totals for entire set
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PvP = -9str -2int -5 dex +38mr

Raw Stats w/shield: 118str 19int 9dex 4agi 26sta 33mr
Raw Stats w/shield PvP: 109str 17int 4dex 4agi 26sta 71mr

Raw w/2hander: 113str 16int 9dex 6agi 21sta 23mr
Raw w/2hander PvP: 104str 14int 4dex 6agi 21sta 61mr


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Totals by race and creation point distribution
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DE STATS
88str 109int 77dex 90agi 70sta @18str 2dex (STR)=+10 Siphon

Raw Stats w/shield: 206(216)str 128int 86dex 94agi 96sta 33mr
Raw Stats w/shield PvP: 197(207)str 126int 81dex 94agi 96sta 71mr

Raw w/2hander: 201(211)str 125int 86dex 96agi 91sta 23mr
Raw w/2hander PvP: 192(202)str 123int 81dex 96agi 91sta 61mr


ERU STATS
88str 117int 71dex 71agi 75sta @18str 1dex 1agi +5mr (STR)=+10 Siphon

Raw Stats w/shield: 206(216)str 128int 86dex 94agi 96sta 38mr
Raw Stats w/shield PvP: 197(207)str 126int 81dex 94agi 96sta 76mr

Raw Stats w/2hander: 201(211)str 133int 80dex 77agi 96sta 28mr
Raw Stats w/2hander PvP: 192(202)str 131int 75dex 77agi 96sta 66mr


TRL STATS
121str 62int 92dex 83agi 114sta @17dex 3str Regen -20fr (STR)=+10 Siphon

Raw Stats w/shield: 236(246)str 88int 101dex 87agi 140sta 33mr
Raw Stats w/shield PvP: 227(237)str 86int 96dex 87agi 140sta 71mr

Raw Stats w/2hander: 231(241)str 85int 101dex 89agi 135sta 23mr
Raw Stats w/2hander PvP: 222(232)str 83int 96dex 89agi 135sta 61mr


OGR STATS
142str 70int 87dex 71agi 127sta stun immune @17dex 1agi 2str (STR)=+10 Siphon

Raw Stats w/shield: 250(260)str 94int 96dex 80agi 153sta 33mr
Raw Stats w/shield PvP: 241(251)str 92int 91dex 80agi 153sta 71mr

Raw Stats w/2hander: 245(255)str 91int 96dex 82agi 148sta 23mr
Raw Stats w/2hander PvP: 236(246)str 89int 91dex 82agi 148sta 61mr

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There it is, could many of the stats be higher? Yes, but this is a good place to start or even something to look at when deciding what race of SK to play. I'm not very knowledgeable about EQ but I hope this helps someone. Writing it down made deciding much easier for me.

I should note, that on the 2hand slot, you can do much better for stats. I calculated mine with the weapon I plan to carry till epic:http://wiki.project1999.com/Soul_Binder Fashionquest. I'm thinking its unique look would go best with a velious custom plate helm on a Darkelf Male [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Getting that thing actually lead to me doing all of this haha. Hope ya enjoyed the read or found use for the list.

Good luck out there, keep an eye out for my SK, you'll know me when you see me.

If ya see anything glaringly wrong let me know, or if ya have any alternative suggestions feel free to post em.