by Hammerdahl » Thu Oct 28, 2010 4:35 pm
Welcome back!
The game has changed a LOT since serpent's spine, as I'm sure you're finding out. Nowadays most mains are 85+ and most people have 1000+ aas. Many people are focused on House of Thule since it was just released. It will be difficult finding lower level exp groups unless someone is leveling up an alt. Fortunately, Sony has put in a lot of things to help people in your situation catch up.
(You didn't indicate what level your main is, I assume you are close to level 80 like your other toons. I also assume you have all expansions.)
For starters, level specific "defiant" armor randomly drops in all zones. You won't be able to tank past SoF with it, but it will be a pretty big upgrade over the PoT and anguish stuff you are using. Best of all it is droppable so you can get it in the baz for next to nothing. Not sure what server you are on if it is xegony send a tell to Hammerdahl and I'll try to score you some, at least to temporarily fill any weak slots you have.
From there you might want to try the boomerang missions in Brells rest (assuming you have all expansions). The boomerang is basically a video game where you run around and try to hit gnolls with colored boomerangs, you need three people so you may need to box your ranger or recruit someone else to join, but you win silver tokens which you can spend on gear that will allow you to tank the first level of the UF expansion.
You may also want to consider the "classic monster missions" in Plane of Knowledge that you get from Old Man McKenzie, which are instances in old school zones where you play a level 50 toon of any class you want. Unfortunately, those missions no longer give any exp since the release of HoT (I guess Sony didn't want people leveling in the new expansion by just running these missions). But the missions still give about $2000 plat plus a chest at the end which contains an item that is a huge upgrade over the defiant gear, plus one "brew" for each participating toon (currency that can be used to purchase gear). The classic mission gear is just under Underfoot group in quality, an enormous upgrade over Anguish. The first couple of missions may be time consuming, but if you run many of them you will be able to do them in 30 minutes no problem. Hopefully they re-implement the experience reward because people with less than 1000 aa's were getting like 8 aa per mission, good regular exp too. Keep an eye on this.
From there I would focus on armor from UF and the new expansion HoT. The exp in those expansions is significantly better than seeds of destruction/SoF. Also, It would be a little difficult for you to find enough groups to progress through the prior expansions. And armor becomes obsolete very quickly in the modern game so I wouldn't kill myself getting any complete set, move on to later expansions as soon as you can tank them and you'll get the armor you need quickly.
For aa's, I would continue to focus on defensives the way you are doing you will need them in UF/HoT. Also focus on aggro grabbing aa's like hand of disruption/force of disruption and disruptive prosecution (i think that is the name). Get deflection discipline if you dont have that disc. IMHO, self healing has become a much bigger part of tanking as a paladin in the last 3 expansions - especially in fighting names. So get healing mods when you can and focus on healing aa's once you get the defensives done. Get burst heal spell as soon as you can, and aurora group heal. Heal over time potions too.
For exp'ing, I would recommend getting to Ruins of Illsalin, the aa's come very quickly there. It actually is an excellent solo spot over 80 using a swarm killing technique. For lots of info on that, see the recent thread called "solo spots over 85" or something like that. I'm not sure what the exp penalty would be duoing it at 80, probably not too awful and you definitely won't have to worry about dying if you get some good armor. You will kill so much faster than LP or Frostcrypt that you should pretty much live in ROI until you are satisfied with your aa's and are ready to level up over 85.
For grouping, you might want to try riftseekers, if exp is too slow try dragonscale hills. If you like Loping, you might want to forget the undead and run worg missions (the kill x worgs and turn in) the exp from those is good. Seeds of Destruction is a fun expansion but the exp is slow so I would be tempted to skip it and go to UF as soon as you can tank it. If you get mercenaries for your toons, you can have a full group when the two of you box the ranger. Unfortunately, there are no slower mercs yet, but if you get a healer and the cleric and ranger get dps mercs, you have a group of a puller, tank, 2 clerics, and 2 dps, you will be in good shape against anything pre-UF.
Good luck!