Returning PoP Player, few questions regarding contentFollow

Hey there,

I am returning from PoP era days and had a couple questions regarding a group setup. I intend to 3 box and was thinking about going with an SK/Sham/Ranger for my 3, all with Gold level accounts.

My intent is to be able to handle group content into the end game (won't likely raid). Will these 3 be sufficient to handle my desired content with mercs involved? I have also considered a Bard in place of the Shaman, but feel I may be limited with healing playing through older raid content (like epic 2.0 stuff) where mercs aren't allowed.

Can anyone comment on this setup? I chose the ranger for auto fire and tracking mostly, and back when I played, a shaman would compliment the SK and ranger well, but so would a bard. This is the main part I'm stuck with. I don't want to be limited in group content.

I would be using a dual display setup with ISBoxer, so screen time isn't as limited as someone who would be alt+tabbing while they play.

Also, any suggestions for a server? I remember that FV was a cool server idea where everything but epic stuff had the no-drop tags removed. Is that server still good? Or should I go with a newer server?

Thanks in advance for any insight.

50% xp bonus sounds nice, especially when it comes to the amount of AAs ill need.

The other combo I've been considering is mage/mage/bard, but i thibk i'd rather have a live tank in the long run.

Thanks for the info.

In the Ranger Bowing thread, I stated how generally low dps an autofire Ranger will be, especially versus a similar to box Magician.

I personally like Clr + War for boxing raid encounters, but of course, it depends on the encounter. But for most, that is a better pick, unless there's the need for FD pulling, or the more universal cure tool of Shaman's Pure Spirit, or the need for slow. Also it depends on level of players versus the encounter. In general though, the SK offers alot more versatility, as does the Shaman. Alot of my SK friends like Clr boxes better than Shm as well, due to the better healing. But for group, Clr merc will do fine, and Tank mercs are pretty powerful tanks, just both not real bright.

Yther Ore.

Edited, Jan 23rd 2013 4:03pm by Yther

Slows are always nice, but you could also consider an enchanter. Sk shaman and zerker maybe better dps, but then you have to work two melee classes and you said you don't want to do that. Ranger bow dps is not great but when you have headshot certain zones you will only use the sk to pull and slow.

I think I will probably settle on sk/enc/wiz or mage then. Gonna suck losing the tracking and run speed though. Tough decisions :(

At least they have sow pots.

My highest level 3 box is mage-mage-druid. Only L80 so far but I haven't hit content in my level range which I can't handle yet. Thanks to the druid, this set up has runspeed/levitate and tracking; single pulling is easy with druid harmony, or if necessary, snare something from a group and then Call of Hero. Instant casting Evac for when I ***** up, and ports to get me from place to place in the twinkling of an eye.

And because I'm a lazy player, I would also add it is so darn easy to play this group without having to position a melee character, and then press all the dozens of special attacks, disciplines, clickies the melee needs to keep pressing during combat. Fire the pets off, cast a spell or two at my leisure, and stuff dies. I will admit the druid adds less in dps than another character might, but the utility of this class makes playing EQ a real pleasure.

Truncheon of Doom works pretty good for a War to slow most stuff. For most encounters well equipped / AA'd tanks don't need slows. I generally did when soloing / moloing on my War, but not always, and depending on how long the truncheon takes to proc and land. On the other hand, alot of people box Shamans, especially Rangers.

Any combo will work, as long as you like to play the classes. And the best will vary by what you want to do the most. All the combinations mentioned will work very well in different situations. I mentioned War + clr for raid encounters, as many of the newer raid encounters are instances you can't take mercs into, and the healing power of the cleric is more critical than a shaman slow versus a truncheon's slow, and due to the War is the best tank for a hard raid mob. For most grouping situations though, the SK is way more versatile, and their self-healing capabilities are impressive with AA, clickies, and epics.

Just thought my other post wasn't clear enough.

Yther Ore.