Question - Returning team hits 115 and beyond - questions on spending recommendations and more!

[Sintor]

Hey all, been having a blast since coming back. Some probably saw my original threads but with this great community and some elbow grease I've managed to get a boxed squad up to 115, am running several CWTN plugins (MA for Bard cause I like the gui), and am now working on capping AAs with MQ2 grind in the 110 GD scenario. My swarthy group of six is WAR/SHM/NEC/BST/ROG/BRD.

My to-do list is currently:

• Get some epics. I have done zero at this point, yes I'm incredibly lazy. I know SHM is mandatory but which others are must-haves? I realize I should get them all, but still trying to optimize my time.
• Cap AAs. Letting MQ2Grind run most of the time while I work/hang out with fam. I've gotten it tweaked to be very stable with about 1/3 of the available spots (non-tanks die randomly a lot if I go farther but their gear is pretty awful besides weapons)
• Level the tank to 120.
• ???

Looking for general advice on next steps, etc. The whole crew is kronod for the next couple weeks still, so I plan to at least cap off their AAs. Am I correct in understanding that when the next expack drops in December all their level caps will raise to 120 as the 120 expansion becomes the third instead of the second oldest? The tank has expansion pre-order, all access, and the two bonuses turned on.

I've had a blast leveling the squad up and playing with the scripts etc. What's a good content loop if they're all 115? Is it group content from COV or raid from a previous tier? While I could turn buy a couple more krono and just vomit gear onto them from the bazaar, farming some of it seems like a little more fun so they're currently all just in conflag still, tank is in Snowbound with some choice 115 pieces since I am still in MQ2Grind for a 110 zone.

As always, great community and I appreciate all the help - it's made coming back to the game a blast and easily worth the money for entertainment.

 

[FrozenSun]

You'll definitely want to prioritize getting the bards 2.0. I'd also add the anguish chests (Jayruk's Vest quests) for the warrior and necro as a high priority.

 

[delfnec]

shm,rog,bard epic are amust

 

[RobRenfro]

Sounds like you are having a blast. Thanks for sharing. I love to hear other players having as much fun as I do. I was out sick for a few days and did 13 hours straight yesterday like a young man.

 

[rrriches]

Looking for general advice on next steps, etc. The whole crew is kronod for the next couple weeks still, so I plan to at least cap off their AAs. Am I correct in understanding that when the next expack drops in December all their level caps will raise to 120 as the 120 expansion becomes the third instead of the second oldest? The tank has expansion pre-order, all access, and the two bonuses turned on.

I was told on test a few days ago that, for test at least, the expansion normally goes free in June of the year following an expansion release. I'm not sure if it works the same on live though.

 

[Koko]

Same as live releases in June

 

[durango773]

No, sorry the level for F2P will not happen in December. And the expansions don't always go F2P in June. That is just the month it happens in the most. But they are notorious for changing the order of things. It could be earlier.

TOV went Free in June 2022
The Burning Lands became F2P on in June 2021.
Ring of Scale became F2P in Dec. 2019
The Broken Mirror became F2P in Feb. 2019.

So you have the new expansion preordered on the warrior, by the time June comes around you could possibly get the cheap version for the rest of your crew.

And yes, test and F2P run the same free expansion releases.

And its not the new expansion, if you see Redmonkey's sweet list, around next summer, CoV will come F2P.. so still 115 level cap I wouldnt expect LS to be "free" until 2026?

 

[lazershoes]

I'm in a very similar situation, trying to hit 115 with my squad. Been hunting named mobs in EW. Everyone has a full suit of the snowbound armor, just trying to fill in the other slots. Definitely noticed a substantial slowdown in progress, and much more deaths. Tank gets knocked out a lot, especially vs these lvl 118 nameds. But I'm doing it. EW is about all I've done so far, but would like to try out Crystal Caverns and Great Divide. Seems like the loot is all about the same quality?

I'm guessing this is the best course of action at this time. I haven't tried the missions, mostly avoid quests/missions and prefer camping a spot.

 

[Sic]

I'm in a very similar situation, trying to hit 115 with my squad. Been hunting named mobs in EW. Everyone has a full suit of the snowbound armor, just trying to fill in the other slots. Definitely noticed a substantial slowdown in progress, and much more deaths. Tank gets knocked out a lot, especially vs these lvl 118 nameds. But I'm doing it. EW is about all I've done so far, but would like to try out Crystal Caverns and Great Divide. Seems like the loot is all about the same quality?

I'm guessing this is the best course of action at this time. I haven't tried the missions, mostly avoid quests/missions and prefer camping a spot.

how's your tanks AAs and augs? both type 7s and type 5s?

 

[RobRenfro]

What server are you own? I can't help myself I try and watch over new and returning players on FV who need a hand and want it.

 

[lazershoes]

how's your tanks AAs and augs? both type 7s and type 5s?

SK tank has every AA worth getting at 114 (autogrant and grinding). I plan on doing much more AA grinding at 115, looks like a big level for that.

But aug situation isnt the best. Got a lot of the heroic stat augs from RoS and a few others, but nothing special. Sitting at just under 300k HP and 6400 AC.

 

[lazershoes]

What server are you own? I can't help myself I try and watch over new and returning players on FV who need a hand and want it.

Not on FV, but that sounds like a fun server. I'm doing pretty good all things considered, and having quite a lot of fun. Usually, the deaths I've had come from being too greedy with the pulling settings, trying to optimize things to the absolute maximum efficiency. While that is fun and good, in the ToV expansion I've found there's a very fine line between "safe" and "you're gonna die because you're a greedy fk."

Kinda enjoying the overwhelming addiction to EQ just like it's 1999 again. In fact, I haven't wanted to play any other games than EQ for like the last two months. Steam sale looked boring af.

Appreciate the offer tho!

 

[Redmonkey]

Did you do any progression to get your Hero AA?

One of the biggest benefit to heroic AA is that they raise the cap on the stats, which means if you want to roll around in best in slot gear/raid gear you will get all the stats from it. Otherwise you are missing out on lots of mana regen, attack etc. It all adds up.

You don't have to do them in any order but it is a big list. Most of its fairly easy now. Even going back to the first ones - the DON and MPG - can help.

Handy list here

Hero's Special AAs - Fanra's EverQuest Wiki

 

[lazershoes]

Did you do any progression to get your Hero AA?

One of the biggest benefit to heroic AA is that they raise the cap on the stats, which means if you want to roll around in best in slot gear/raid gear you will get all the stats from it. Otherwise you are missing out on lots of mana regen, attack etc. It all adds up.

You don't have to do them in any order but it is a big list. Most of its fairly easy now. Even going back to the first ones - the DON and MPG - can help.

Handy list here

Hero's Special AAs - Fanra's EverQuest Wiki

I don't have any of those. So you basically have to complete every quest in the zones for each expansion to unlock that stuff?

 

[Redmonkey]

I don't have any of those. So you basically have to complete every quest in the zones for each expansion to unlock that stuff?

I try to go thru and solo the Mercenary ones since most of those are solo and just kill stuff. It goes fast unless your dragging 2 or 3 others with you. Then I move on to the partisan where it is groupish.

 

[lazershoes]

I try to go thru and solo the Mercenary ones since most of those are solo and just kill stuff. It goes fast unless your dragging 2 or 3 others with you. Then I move on to the partisan where it is groupish.

Ahh, I've never actually used mercs, always had my full team of 6. I'll check into this because I've never been to some of these zones!

 

[Robban]

Ahh, I've never actually used mercs, always had my full team of 6. I'll check into this because I've never been to some of these zones!

Mercenary and Partisan quests, dont think you got what he meant

 

[Redmonkey]

Ahh, I've never actually used mercs, always had my full team of 6. I'll check into this because I've never been to some of these zones!

Mercenary is a type of quest too. It is confusing and then they throw in all the Hero's journey, Hero's Forge, Heroic characters, Hero AA........

This is an example for the ones in Tainted West Karana. When you do them all then you get an /achievement called Mercenary of XXXXX. They are like Hunter Achievements.

Mercenary Quests:
Bash Them on the Head: 1
Feel the Burn!: 2
Get Feral: 3
Never Succumb to Fear: 4
No Time for Bandits: 5
We Shall Fight Them on the Beaches: 6

 

[lazershoes]

Mercenary is a type of quest too. It is confusing and then they throw in all the Hero's journey, Hero's Forge, Heroic characters, Hero AA........

This is an example for the ones in Tainted West Karana. When you do them all then you get an /achievement called Mercenary of XXXXX. They are like Hunter Achievements.

Mercenary Quests:
Bash Them on the Head: 1
Feel the Burn!: 2
Get Feral: 3
Never Succumb to Fear: 4
No Time for Bandits: 5
We Shall Fight Them on the Beaches: 6

Yeah this actually sounds incredibly overwhelming. Not sure my ass can handle that much chair time.

 

[Redmonkey]

Yeah this actually sounds incredibly overwhelming. Not sure my ass can handle that much chair time.

Yes, its a lot. But I try to do one or two a day. It adds up.