I've been a long time player, now coming back. I was gonna pick up a month of gametime (You can still buy gamecards, right? edit: Looked into it, I can use a 1500sc card for a month time) soon and make a new char. I'm torn between SK, beastlord, and mage. Also don't know which server. Definitely not gonna do progression, since I like to molo. Please let me know what the benefits to each class are, and help me pick a server. I think right now it's between Stromm and Vox. I have a necro on Stromm but I don't like kiting too much, I want a more straight-forward class, but always have something to do (ie, not hit autoattack and go watch TV like molo'ing a warrior). Having the option to hit autoattack and watch TV isn't a bad thing though. Random note... I just checked my account and it's 9 years old today. Activated 10/31/2003. Something about Halloween makes me EQ, I guess
From what I hear Vox is a newer server with a larger level spread throughout the content. And as far as having a pet/merc any of those 3 classes should be fine for you. I have been away a long time so I won't give tips on your classes because I don't know whats best for what anymore. I always liked SK's though
Test Server, unless you intend to raid at a high level at some point would be my suggestion for a server. Especially if you like to molo... because at the beginning, if you go to test server, you will likely do a lot of it. Benefits x2 xp all the time Gold Status Access to all expansion /resetaa available All Vet AAs for all toons Challenges Low population weak bazaar selection because of above.
You can also check us out on Trakanon, we are a casual progression raiding guild, currently at PoP, we allow mercs and have groups from lvl 1-65 going most of the day.
Definitely want to play with other people. I just accept the reality that I can't always find a group. The ability to get something done while trying to find people is awesome. I'm interested in raiding despite having no knowledge of it. I used to do it on WoW and it was fun.
Beastlord is probably the most well rounded choice here, but you should ask yourself if you want to tank or dps to help narrow your decision. As for the server most of the servers have a decent population with a couple of raid guilds hanging around so basically go to one find some groups, talk in general and make friends as soon as you can.
Any of those classes would be fun to play. I prefer my necro, the new pet foci/aa make them a pretty viable tank you can use in conjunction with a merc cleric. So you don't always have to kite, you can pet tank now as well, broadening your soloing or "moloing" capabilities. Necros also fair pretty well in groups now, due to the newer fast acting dots we can rack up some respectable dps in a short amount of time. Not sure when you stopped playing, I came back about 4 months ago from a 3 year break and it felt like a very different game in some aspects. Welcome back to EQ!!
Sks are not a dps class. Some might say they do the best damage out of the tanks, but you need to be very patient to kill something with an SK. Beastlords can be great, but if you are going to be mainly soloing (post 70), you may want to reconsider. Your pet cannot tank while you are in melee range. So unless you have a tank there, you can't melee much. While a tank merc would fix that, a BL can't reasonably play cleric without frequent med breaks and no named fights. Please keep in mind my descriptions above are for players WITHOUT raid gear. When your over geared for content, anything is possible
If you don't like the Necro, I wouldn't bother with the Mage. Both are similar (pet tanking, caster doing the damage) but Necros solo better. At 95 (or before) Mage pets are beasts and can often solo tank content with maxed pet AAs; but Necro pets are beefy too. Beastlords are now given a Feign Death ability, so you can AFK in a spot like Necros can. I play a Mage, it's pretty weak until later on. Also, Shadow Knights, and other tanks, are hard to level up and get groups until much later. Unless you have a group of friends or higher levels to power it up, you're gonna find a lonely world being replaced by merc tanks. Beastlords, although I have no interest in them, seem to have substantial utility in every stage of the game, a rabid pet, good damage output, useful buffs, etc. Also a pretty easily soloable epic 1.0 at like level 50.
Thought I'd add this in here, because I have somewhat contrary opinions on the classes. Necro: powerful soloer, aggro kiting 50-95. You may be able to pet tank at 95 with strong AAs and top pet focus, but can get there without. Not what you are looking for. Mage: also powerful soloer. Pets weak 50-60 (unless you have epic 1.0). Also dependent on pet AAs and pet focus, better able to pet tank. Beastlord: weak 70-80 (pets and personal tanking). Pet tanking/clericing not really practical, but good utility. SK: most soloable tank. Ability to solo for exp post 70 pretty good. If you want to tank for groups, get your AAs and gear sorted first.
