Yesterday, I logged in the wizard long enough to die twice, and then I got a notion to try something else. I made a second copy of my EQ directory and proceeded to play 2 characters at once.
The buddy key I had was for the original ("Classic") EverQuest only, so I had to go with original class/race combinations and a "classic" hometown. I made 2 erudite mages on Xegony. Since they've eliminated "spell levels" and spread the spells out, magicians get their first pet at level 2 instead of 4, which is pretty much right at the start, counting the tutorial. I held out for the level 3 fire pet, and proceeded to stomp butt all over the tutorial. I'd finished all the quests in the spider caves, including killing the Queen, by level 5, with just my duo.
Playing a magician feels like cheating.
My server report from Xegony, from the newbie point of view: during the slow hours, during the day (Eastern time), there was hardly anyone on. The maximum number of people I saw in the tutorial was 4, including my 2. There were stretches where my 2 were the only characters in there. Doing /who all 75 of various classes revealed that there just weren't that many people on at all. Most classes had fewer than 10 people showing online (who weren't roleplay or anon). When I logged in during the evening "prime time", there were 12 people in the tutorial, and the same /whos that I had done earlier showed too many to list. It is notable that during the evening hours, /who all 20 65 of various classes showed very, very few people in that level range. All this isn't really a surprise for me, since I played on Xegony until this past January. It's top-heavy and the population is thinning, particularly in the off hours. It's probably not the best choice for a returning or new player, unless you are returning to a level 70+ character, or unless you bring your own group and want to have whole zones to yourselves. (IMO, frequently proven to be wrong.)
In the evening, I created a second erudite duo, a necro/mage duo, on Stromm. I didn't get them both logged in at the same time before it was time for bed, though. I just took the necro out for a spin in the tutorial. That was fun.
Today, I'll go back to being a wizard. I guess I'd better get on that. Still level 17. Distractions, distractions! I'm just a few dings away from having a surname. I've been thinking about a surname all along. Perhaps Mysaphari or Mysapharian (after his parent dragon)? Maybe those are too long. I'll think about it some more.
Necro shamy is a great duo. I also had good experiance in the past with a mage druid combo.
I think Mages got beefed up a bit too. I had a mage alt before and I dont remember it being this easy. Even the necro I had then, and have again now has more problems. Well not really problems, just requires a little more mana management. My necro seems to be OOM every 2 fights, where as my mage gets a good 5-7 before needing to actually sit and med.
Fire pet eh? Personaly I'm a water pet fan. I just give him a DS and only ever need to "renew eleaments" on yellow mobs.
Fri Oct 12 2007 12:14PMI have previously been a water pet fan, breaking out the earth pet when I needed something with a little more hp, back in the day, but my husband recommended the fire pet for the early levels and an air pet at higher levels, so I decided to take his word for it, since he's the resident mage expert. (Of course, his mage is level 75 and he hasn't played in 9 months anyway, so what does he know about being a newbie? hehe)
I may have to try the necro/shaman duo. That sounds like it might be fun.
I have mana management issues with the wizard, but I /claimed a horse, which has helped, since it means I take advantage of the out-of-combat regen every time it pops up. I can still kill 2 yellow con critters on one bar of mana, if I don't fizzle or have a lot of bad resists, but then my mana is utterly spent-- not even enough to root or gate if the fit hits the shan, so to speak. I am getting better.
Managing aggro in groups helps conserve my mana as well. I had a couple of "Oh, NO! I am the wizard that my mother warned me about!" moments with aggro while grouped. Shame on me! I should know better.
Fri Oct 12 2007 2:54PMThis blog does really bring back a lot of memories of playing EQ. Actually made me reminisce about it in my own blog, lol.
I never did mages, but had a few very good friends who were mages, and they agreed fire was better for low and air for high levels. Although I quit EQ before the level cap raised above 65.
Good stuff and keep writing. Love the writing style, and brings back tons of memories.
Fri Oct 12 2007 4:23PMWater pet rules. Man, I miss the good ol' days of EQ.
Fri Oct 12 2007 5:50PMI'll give the fire one a shot, in the past I remember him taking too much of a beating.
A friend from the old days tripple boxed. Mage, cleric and enchanter. He passed on a lot of mage gems of knowlage.
I do find mobs die faster with my necro, but 3 dots and a life tap or 2, with no fizzels is 1/2 my mana and my pet loses 1/3 of his health or more on an even con. My mage with a water pet. 3 nukes 1/4 mana and my pet finishes with 90% health on an even. Necro is fun, but I think I'll stick with the mage...Less medding. :) And summoned focus effects help too.
Fri Oct 12 2007 6:06PMMMORPG.com writes:
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