81 Shm needs advice

[Delik]

Hi,

I have returned to EQ as Shaman. I have not played one since POP but I am catching on fast. My friend who was still playing has done a good job of getting me caught up.

Here is link to my gear... http://eq.magelo.com/profile/1437429

I believe I have most every foci covered I could need. I do groups and root/rot.

I am 7 blues from 82, with 120 AA including Canni5, SCM, and VP1.

I am looking for a good spot to root/rot. I have been doing jardel's hook pirates but the xp there isnt that great. I have read most threads I could find on the subject but most of the people are either 85 or mid 70s.

Thoughts on obvious gear upgrades, and root/rot xp spots?

Thanks.

[Scalia]

According to your Magelo, your Defense and Dodge are not maxed. If so, I would go to a safe place with weak critters like Paw (or, better yet, some place with useful rewards if you can tank there) and tank mobs until you max both skills.

Gear-wise, your Charm needs to be upgraded. Any number of droppable charms should get you another 250+HP.

Earring of the Arts looks like it could be easily upgraded with recent 400+HP jewelry.

You have two Poison focuses and no Disease focus? Not a terribly big deal, but might as well add it to your shopping list.

Augments: You are missing quite a few, so a romp through the current and former hot zones may be in order. Definitely get a high AC augment for your shield since shield AC circumvents the AC softcap.

In terms of AAs, VP1 is very weak, I would aim for at least VP3 (but your Magelo says you already have it?). Definitely get Spell Casting Mastery Reinforcement, Quick Buff (which affects HOTs), Spiritual Channeling and slow/Malo AAs. The second level of Canni AA will be very useful as well. Another spell gem is also very good to have.

[Delik]

Thanks...I got a few augs in bank, waiting on T5 before I insert them like the hand aug from TBS.

Been debating about charm, might just buy the one from Zeb. We really dont do camps so far that drop charms.

I do have a disease foci, I just rarely wear it cause I rarely use disease.

[Delik]

I must be doing something wrong. I am using VP rank 3 when I am root/rotting blacksail pirates, and all day today and yesterday since I started the VP does not last full duration. Most of the time it will last 30 seconds to 1 min if I am lucky, alot of times its going on and lasting 10 seconds then gone. I am debuffing like other posts say...this is ridiculous.

[Brohg]

Then you've found a disease resistant type of monster is all.

[dohrian]

[Delik]

Yup, my spell line-up is the following:

S1: HoT Healing
S2: Dot 1-Poison
S3: Dot 2-Poison
S4: Dot3-Poison
S5: Dot4-Curse
S6: Dot5-Curse
S7: Dot6-Curse
S8: MD
S9: Slow

I am going to add the 10th slot today I think so I can run the malo line in it.

[Sowslow]

They happen to be sk? I don't remember doing that part at all, so not much help.

[Scalia]

If you are going after the skeletal hand augment and don't care about maximizing XP/hour, why not just use a tank mercenary on VP-resistant mobs?

[dohrian]

You can also try FoS (animal type), exp should be good, and you could have many rotting upgrade for non-armor spot (maybe some armor if you find a group)...

[Delik]

Already have the hand aug slot done. I have been sticking with the pirates on Jardels because of the additional xp from the 5 other quests i can do there also. I average about 3 aa an hour just from root/rot, then when I get the pieces I get about 2 to 3 more aa over 4 hour period from the quests. I might go try root/rotting in beta, see how it goes.

[Delik]

So I cranked out 85 this last weekend.

I also updated my Magelo, http://eq.magelo.com/profile/1437429

Some slots dont have augs yet, because i am waiting on getting T5 or raid gear since I joined a raid guild.

My issue now is finding spots I can solo effectively at 85 root/rotting. Suggestions?

[dohrian]

[Thyrm Jarlson]

Gators in Loping Plains are real nice for aa, even at 85. I can vp 1, reg root 2 others and have them down by the time VP refreshes.