Seeking starting advice

[Villide]

I'm in the same boat on my Paladin.

I found the gnoll fang quest to be solid up through at least level 10, although it's a bit mindless. It's still good XP, and you can get the fangs much quicker, so you should be able to get through the next few levels fairly quickly.

I cycled through the gnolls out in front of Blackburrow for the most part - and killed the gnoll hunter that would pop occasionally. When you get both portions of the staff he drops, you can take them to Surefall Glade and turn it in to Corun Finisc to get the Jaggedpine Crook. Not sure if that would be a problem for you as an SK or not (faction wise). But you get about 5 to 8 plat for each Crook you make and a bit of experience. And you can sell the Crook itself on a vendor for another plat or so, or give them to the newbie Druids/Rangers.

At level 12, I decided to try to make the run from Qeynos to Freeport. It was pretty straightforward until I got to Highpass Hold. There's a red scowling gnoll guarding the entry, so I guess invis would be necessary to get through to the forest, so I'll have to try to get some assistance. I got there just before the servers went down, and haven't had a chance to log back in since, so I'm still undecided. But it sounds like Freeport is a better spot to be to find groups, quests, etc.

[Aeolwind]

This problem is a bit more pronounced on my SK because I can't out-tank a pet, and EVERYONE has a pet. Which basically makes me an XP drain on the people I group with, so I understand their reluctance.

This shouldn't be the case any longer. Pets are NPC's and as such, nerfed by the same fix I put on mobs.

[messiah_b]

Originally Posted by Aeolwind [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

This shouldn't be the case any longer. Pets are NPC's and as such, nerfed by the same fix I put on mobs.

But they were also buffed the same as PC's as they are taking less damage.

[stormlord]

Originally Posted by Aeolwind [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

This shouldn't be the case any longer. Pets are NPC's and as such, nerfed by the same fix I put on mobs.

How does this make players more competitive? Can you elaborate, please?

Also, are pets supposed to be weaker than players or is there some kind of dynamic going on? How do mages fit in group/solo play?

[messiah_b]

Originally Posted by stormlord [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

How does this make players more competitive? Can you elaborate, please?

Also, are pets supposed to be weaker than players or is there some kind of dynamic going on? How do mages fit in group/solo play?

Well it does in a way since it will be tougher for most pets to hold aggro which is a major component of tanking. In that respect he is somewhat correct as a pet would not be a preferred tank for a group with Melee in it since the pet cannot keep aggro of a melee dps.

For solo play, or play where you have nothing but casters I would say it comes out even as the pets can actually soak up more damage.

[Aeolwind]

Originally Posted by stormlord [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

How does this make players more competitive? Can you elaborate, please?

Also, are pets supposed to be weaker than players or is there some kind of dynamic going on? How do mages fit in group/solo play?

Players, in general, should have more HP and mitigation than pets. AKA if a pet from a 30 mage is tanking as well as a 30 warrior; requiring less heals/attention then it's out of whack.

And now you've piqued my interest if this is actually occuring and casters are just being tight lipped thinking it's intended.

Pets should -never- be a replacement for a player. The mage should be the center point, not the pet. Necro's are a bit different as their pets were considered superior to mage pets.

[messiah_b]

Originally Posted by Aeolwind [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

And now you've piqued my interest if this is actually occuring and casters are just being tight lipped thinking it's intended.

At release I remember magicians not being wanted too much in groups. At 12 here I was soloing Trainer hill with nothing but cloth on. I don't think any other class can do that.

I don't know about later levels but through 17 magicians play like peq or something.

Edit: If you want to run some tests I would be happy to I am free the next 4.

[Tovok]

Originally Posted by Aeolwind [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Players, in general, should have more HP and mitigation than pets. AKA if a pet from a 30 mage is tanking as well as a 30 warrior; requiring less heals/attention then it's out of whack.

And now you've piqued my interest if this is actually occuring and casters are just being tight lipped thinking it's intended.

Pets should -never- be a replacement for a player. The mage should be the center point, not the pet. Necro's are a bit different as their pets were considered superior to mage pets.

I'm surprised to hear you say that. I remembered it being the other way around.

If there's a bug with mage pets, at least at low level, it's that the highest level summon is too high. The old ones could be up to yellow relative to the caster at 4 and 8, but here they can be up to red.

Part of the reason I think people like pets in groups is because of the disposability/replacability, and the fact that PC tanks in general don't have much gear yet to differentiate them.

[Bashez]

Originally Posted by Aeolwind [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Players, in general, should have more HP and mitigation than pets. AKA if a pet from a 30 mage is tanking as well as a 30 warrior; requiring less heals/attention then it's out of whack.

And now you've piqued my interest if this is actually occuring and casters are just being tight lipped thinking it's intended.

Pets should -never- be a replacement for a player. The mage should be the center point, not the pet. Necro's are a bit different as their pets were considered superior to mage pets.

Are you sure about this? I remember in classic I was inferior to pets in just about every conceivable way until getting really good gear. In duels 1v1 earth pets should be beating warriors at level 50. I remember being so mad when I got 50 and I couldn't even kill a pet.

[stormlord]

Originally Posted by Bashez [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Are you sure about this? I remember in classic I was inferior to pets in just about every conceivable way until getting really good gear. In duels 1v1 earth pets should be beating warriors at level 50. I remember being so mad when I got 50 and I couldn't even kill a pet.

You were probably under-equipped.

However, this does seem to have been the majority viewpoint on this server (b4 melee fix). How can anyone not notice that.

But I ask again... even if mage pets are better tanks/dps than an average warrior at the same level, might there be some kind of dynamic that limits their effectiveness (like not holding aggro)?? Could a full group of mages outdo an optimal (diverse) group?