Hello all,

Just thought I'd give a data point for those druids out there who are 65 and considering going to 66 (and beyond), but are not in power raiding guilds or are more a soloing/slow play style and tend to be gear limited (a few focus 4 effects, low level of FT, etc).

My favorite aa xp grinding area is PoS and the loroks. It's very safe, very quiet, on Xev at least almost everyone respects the camp, and the aa xp is very, very good... about 5 to 6 percent AA per kill. I've managed to get up to 227 aas in my time here.

When OoW came out, I wanted to get to 66 just to be the first in my guild (we are a large, non-raid family style guild). After ding and exploring OoW for a day, I decided to go back and kill some loroks to finish off an AA.

Boy was it a shock...

Two kills moved the aa bar less than one did at 65. I don't use a mod with exact xp percents, but I'd estimate they were about 2 to 3 percent per kill. So instead of 1 aa per hour and change, I'm looking at 2+ hours. Which for a more slow play style is a sizable difference.

The benefits of 66 for me right now aren't that great since the rune drops for the 66-67 spells seem to be rare (seen 3 drop so far in 12 hours of fighting in OoW) and I'm not yet at the point where the aas available at 66 do me any good (don't have any preqs yet).

So I'm going to go kill myself a few times and get back to much better xp:)

I was not around during the beginning of PoP (started just after it came out), so I'm sure this is nothing new to those who have been through a level limit raise before. I just wanted to give a datapoint for those in a similar circumstance as me.

Brickhaus

P.S. Not complaining nor suggesting any changes to be made...the game is what it is.

you can get MUCH better AA fighting higher leveled mobs.
soloing in Tipt is GREAT XP! AA and regular still at 66. I'm closing in on 67 though. I assume you aren't elem flagged, but god has great XP places too.

No yellow cons anymore at 66. :(

Each EVEN con kill in tipt is giving me 2 - 2.5 % in regular XP at 66, used to give 4 blue in AA at 65.

BLUE cons giving 1 - 2 % ( can't tell what level they are any more 62 - 65 )


I choose Tipt all the time since you don't have to split mobs right off the bat. I don't have much down time. I can kill 3 in a row before being close to OOM, root/rotting until < 20% and then blasting. ( if i spent that < 20% time medding I'd probably be able to do a 4th, but i'm impatient :P ) once i end up with too many stonemites i quit and get a fresh exp.

I have tried Vxed, following the suggestions of the wonderful thread in the forums. While the Barundi ports will make getting there much easier, I have been underwhelmed by my experiences so far. To effectively root/dot, I need more than just my own mana buff...which limits the time and/or effectiveness of the play. Also, having to depend upon the right set of mobs to be in the instance is unsatisfying. The single kill xp is amazing, but a lot of downtime medding for someone with my gear.

From what I have ready Tipt does not seem that much different than Vxed...or am I missing something? I will try it next time I'm on though...

I like PoS because it's a burst of activity followed by predictible downtime, which allows me to do other things and still gain the xp. If I am wanting challenges/continual play, I will look for groups/LDoNs for my fun.

Brickhaus
(yes, not EP flagged nor GoD)

The frogs in POS are level 60 max. At 66, they've dropped to a lower XP "window." You need to be killing mobs 61+ at that point, preferably 67+ for a nice bonus (it's why PoF is busier than Karnor's ever was).

2.5% per mob in tipt at 66? wow I wasn't seeing anything near that in Vxed I don't think.. is tipt higher exp mod?

Getting <1% in Vxed here

Vxed is just under 1% regular experience 65-67 (last level I checked) and .5% duoing. Though it does get boring with all the new zones out there.

There is NO way its giving 2-2.5% each. No offense but I wasnt even seeing that experience at 60 with my other toon in there.

Best way to level is still a group. PoF > PG > Vxed in full groups has been the best way (since the ikkinz nerf heh).

I am getting one AA an hour in Walls of Slaughter at 66. Seems that the exp is better if you are doing battle in Omens than the old zones. That is unfortunate. We are back to what happened when PoP came out and they had to change the cons in the old zones because players could no longer hunt and get exp or decent exp in the old zones such as Maidens.

Yeah I've been saying that OoW is PoP without the flags. I haven't played since OoW came out. EQ2 is open beta soon......

To maximize XP, do not fight mobs more than 5 levels below your level. You lose a substantial bonus by doing so.

I am finding that AA is still rolling in at 70. At 70, each giant killed at tables in a full group of 6 still gives me 4% in AA. Get yourself set up in a good quad group, and the AAs will still come in at a good rate.

I see no reason to not get 70 as soon as possible.

Only problem with OoW zones at least on Fennin is everyone and their retarded uncle has decided it is the place for leveling. It is like being in BoT all over again with the crowds and the constant training in attempts to steal rares. I try to stay away from these kinds of zones until they die down a little. I know most guilds have taken a raiding break to allow people to level up so I assume in a week or so when guilds are back up to business as usual these may thin out a little bit...

You have just as good a shot at runes in your own OoW instances, most times.

I am getting one AA an hour in Walls of Slaughter at 66. Seems that the exp is better if you are doing battle in Omens than the old zones. I find it kind of depressing that having spent more time than I really wanted to in Fire over the last year and a half .... it's still better xp than the new zones (an AA every 35 minutes or so vs one per hour). With the massive AA costs in GOD, and OOW being almost as bad ... time per AA is pretty important to me, and going back two expansions to grind them irritates me. I guess it's a hard balance ... how to not make older content useless, while still making the newer (and more dangerous) content valuable.

While I agree on a certain level I think having the exp in Fire being more then OoW and GoD fair. Being Fire flagged takes an incredible amount of flags while GoD flagged zones take a couple and OoW takes none at all (for most zones). For this reason alone I can see why Fire retains its place as leading xp grind zone. Also while the exp is great in Fire when you get bored go out and explore /shrug I mean the exp/aa grind will always be there when you get back.

I find it kind of depressing that having spent more time than I really wanted to in Fire over the last year and a half .... it's still better xp than the new zones (an AA every 35 minutes or so vs one per hour). With the massive AA costs in GOD, and OOW being almost as bad ... time per AA is pretty important to me, and going back two expansions to grind them irritates me. I guess it's a hard balance ... how to not make older content useless, while still making the newer (and more dangerous) content valuable.


The only place this road leads to is the nerfing of PoF XP. It will NOT lead to better XP in OoW. Trust me.

I'm sure you're right. I wasn't asking for a change, simply voicing my opinion. :)

Scirocco, I have no idea how you ended up as Druid Class Representative, because your opinions hardly represent the majority of Druids out there.

You say you see no reason not to get to 70 ASAP. Well, I see a bunch of reasons, first and foremost I am sick and tried of the entire server packing itself into PoF. There simply are not enough places to viably XP at 70, what's so hard to understand about that? With "not enough" I mean in comparison to L65, and when considering different gear levels, and the fact that some people like to solo, duo, group.

Complaining will lead to a nerf of PoF XP? Fine, so be it, because when (not if) they do nerf PoF XP, then perhaps those who find the current situation acceptable, finally will be forced to admit that something is wrong.

Scirocco, I have no idea how you ended up as Druid Class Representative, because your opinions hardly represent the majority of Druids out there.
Actually, I think Scirocco is doing a wonderful job as the Druid Class Representative. No matter what his opinion is on a topic, he forwards on *all* druid concerns to SoE. If you want your opinions heard, make sure you post on the stickies where he is seeking your thoughts and opinions.

As for whether or not to ding to 66, I've finally decided to go for it and see if I see any benefit. It would be pretty easy to unding if I decide I don't like it.
Last night I was helping a group in Vxed to try to get to an enchanter epic mob and the cleric died. If I had the Summon to Corpse AA (gah, level 70), we could have continued the expedition that night.

I have used COW (Call of the Wild, our summon-to-corpse spell) at least once a day, maybe two or three times a day, since I dinged 70 over a week ago. The only problem is that people have looted their entire corpse even after being warned there is no XP regained...the old post-res reflex. You might want to use it on your enemies, in fact...:)


Scirocco, I have no idea how you ended up as Druid Class Representative, because your opinions hardly represent the majority of Druids out there.

First, I am not the Druid Class "Representative." I am the Correspondent, and that role is simply to try to act as a go-between between SOE and the druid communities (yes, plural).

Second, this is not an elected position. I submitted an application when SOE requested it, and I was as surprised as anyone when SOE selected me as the class correspondent. Since then, I've made an effort to be sure that any correspondent-type communications I have with SOE include as many viewpoints (including viewpoints not my own) as possible. The top 10 issue list is a good example. If I controlled the list, I'd drop half of the items on it immediately.

Third, what opinion of mine are you referring to? If it's about the importance of getting to 70 instead of knee-capping yourself at 65, I think mine is probably the majority position of druids overall. At the least, I find it questionable that you claim that your position is the majority. What's your basis for claiming that?

Not that it really matters. People will do what they want to do, and play the game the way they want to.



You say you see no reason not to get to 70 ASAP. Well, I see a bunch of reasons, first and foremost I am sick and tried of the entire server packing itself into PoF. There simply are not enough places to viably XP at 70, what's so hard to understand about that? With "not enough" I mean in comparison to L65, and when considering different gear levels, and the fact that some people like to solo, duo, group.

Why does it make you sick? Because you want PoF to yourself? That's rather hypocritical.

As far as XPing viably at 70, I don't seem to have a problem. Besides PoF, I XP in KT (at level 70, you ought to be able to get in there) and MPG, among other places. No doubt, PoF is the best for pure XP, although you give up runes, new item drops, etc., by doing so. Hell, if you are a competent druid with PoF access, you should be able to find a PoF kiting group, if you are so inclined, pretty easily. I know that on my server the initial rush in PoF is over, and tables and C2 groups regularly have spots to fill (AoEers preferred). (By the way, the initial rush made C2 a fun place to be...kiting there was like playing Air Traffic Control Tycoon ... :)

Interestingly, I'd be hunting pretty much the same places if I were 65. In other words, kneecapping myself at level 65 wouldn't make viable XPing particularly easier. No point in hanging around 65 that I can see. And that goes for soloers, groupers, and raiders, and for those who do all three (like me).



Complaining will lead to a nerf of PoF XP? Fine, so be it, because when (not if) they do nerf PoF XP, then perhaps those who find the current situation acceptable, finally will be forced to admit that something is wrong.

Nothing is wrong with PoF XP, in my opinion. It is the other zones where XP is too miserly.

Interestingly, this is the first time I've heard a druid complain that PoF XP is unacceptable. Usually it is a melee type, particularly those who think every group needs a tank. If I tap on your leather armor, will I hear the clink of metal plate beneath it?? :)

Scirocco, I have no idea how you ended up as Druid Class Representative, because your opinions hardly represent the majority of Druids out there.


Whether or not his opinions represent the majority of Druids is irrelevant. It's what he presents as the class correspondant that matters, and Scirocco has bent over backwards to solicit input from anyone and everyone, and has done a fine job of distilling it down to essentials for presentation to SOE.

Furthermore, from his posts it is evident that Scirocco is a highly experienced and skilled in the diverse roles that druids play, and articulate to boot.

He's doing a remarkable job. If you disagree with his opinions, fine. Post yours and let's have a discussion, but refrain from gratuitous and baseless attacks.

Vestix
Storm Warden of Tunare