Hunting advice for a good group of low 80's??

[Boogoog]

Hi everyone,

Brief Background
I'm typically grouping with brother and a friend in a well-rounded group -- SK, DRD, SHM (me), MAG (me), ROG, BRD -- with each of us boxing a second toon. We are all currently between level 82 and 83. We've done Oceangreen theme for J2 mercs but waiting until 85 to do the other themes. When not AAing in Direwind or Ashengate, we are hunting in G.Beza/Zeka for regular XP. We tried FoS for regular XP, but the risk vs reward didn't seem that great, which is why we're in G.Beza/Zeka. (We wish Unrest was still a high level zone - so much fun.)

Questions
Are there more efficient places to hunt as a group to level up to 85?
When is it feasible for us to attempt Underfoot or HoT zones?

I'm a long time reader but first time poster. I returned to EQ a few months ago after a 6 year absence. Thanks in advance for any advice you can spare.

- Boog

[ariowen]

If you like doing quests, then I would suggest completing Old Kithicor line, not only progression but all of the quests and missions as completion of those also gives as a reward a nice aug, Blood of the Fallen, found at the following link . I enjoy doing quests and I found these to be quite fun to do and challenging while in the hunt for 85 back when SoD was the new expansion. Same goes for the below progression line quests as well.

Also, in the course of doing Field of Scale progression, with a few side quests, you will gain, as a reward, an iksar illusion mask that makes running around FoS and in FoS tasks and missions much easier. Doing all quests and missions in FoS also gives you an iksar skeleton illusion mask, which is kinda cool.

I am sure you already know this, doing Warrens progression will give you access to J5 mercs, doing all quests and missions will give you a familar that is 400 hp/mana and doing all 4 lines gives you access to Korafax which I found much more fun than doing Beza/Zeka continually.

Lastly there is Old bloodfields/city of dranik/Korafax quest line as completing that also gives a nice aug, Dark Soul Crystal found at the following link

Like I said, I enjoy doing quests and I found the SoD progression and theme completion quest/missions to be quite fun and rathr well thought out and excuted, for the most part (as in everything a very few of the tasks were not quite as fun and enjoyable to do as the others)

I found that doing these theme quests/missions along with mixing up other zones over the days and weeks was alot of fun. But, of course your milage may vary.

[fendaann]

Are there more efficient places to hunt as a group to level up to 85?
I would not know really only you know what your looking for in gear upgrades or exp or what mobs you are looking for.

have you tried The Mechamatic Guardian or Hills of Shade yet for the AC augs.

EXP a lot of peeps use to get the 3 repepable kill quests (Goblins,Wereorcs and Worgs) in Loping at some point in the 80's I think but I dont remember when the exp stops being good.

http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/zlvlchart.html

[Boogoog]

Thanks for the advice ariowen. We do enjoy doing quests to keep sane while grinding. The SoD progression themes have been fun so far.

We're about half way through Bloody Kithicor, but we got stuck at the escort part: we had issues with the 4 Obliteration mobs when we were all 80, so we decided level up elsewhere before finishing it - hence why we're in Beza/Zeka. I guess we'll grind a bit more there until we're all 83, which is about one more evening session, and then go back and attempt to complete Kithicor.

We'll likely just continue with the SoD expansion, progressing through the FoS theme to get level 85 and then start the Warrens theme.

I am also hoping to explore Hills of Shade - looks spooky - when I'm just 2-boxing and waiting for our group to form.

[Boogoog]

@ fendaann - You've given me more reason to explore Hills of Shade. Thanks. Loping Plains is getting a little boring for the group, although I still 2-box there from time to time.

[Ughbash]

Jsut a heads up about the SOD progression.

While it is great to do them all.... I woud focus on toing the Toskriak stuff.

If you complete the merc progression for Tosk you can buy T5 mercs, you do not have to do Kithicor, and SoD first.

[Brohg]

I hated doing Kithicor progression. The mechanics worked fine, it wasn't too easy or overly challenging, just the tasks made me feel like a putz doing them. You talk to one NPC who says "I don't like that person over there, how about you go kill their fiance for me? or poison some of their kittens? maybe put some flaming poop in those bunks. heck, do all of that and I'll pat you on the head." Hero that I am, off I trot to get it done and check off my achievements...

[ariowen]

When SoD first came out, we only did what was required to progress through each theme to get the next void access. It was later that I went back and did complete all of the quests in each theme in SoD to complete it all.

And yes, some of the tasks in each theme were rather asinine, but overall the tasks and missions were fun to do. Ugh has a good point, only need to complete Warrens line to gain access to J5 mercs, so if you feel the need to have the top level merc access sooner rather than later, do the Warrens line.

[Boogoog]

According to Allahkazam's SoD quest information, you need to be level 85 to complete some of the Warrens group quests.

Regardless of whether it's true or not, it isn't too important for me to get the J5 merc asap since I normally a full group when I do have the time to play. None of us is in a rush to 95 (or even 90 for that matter), as we want to stop at 85 to do some extensive AAing. We'll probably complete the SoD progressions in order, doing only do the necessary quests and skipping the fluff.

[Lenil]

[fendaann]

only need to due the tasks under the Invasion of Rathe section all in Korascian Warrens and lvl 85 req..

http://home.comcast.net/~mathadon/Guide ... check.html

Dont forget to let the NPC Tavid Dennant to hold your SOD items.
http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/npc.html?id=32082