I went DA because I liked the thought of a Panther pet. My question is I am mostly a soloer. This is due to real life obligations and I never know how much time I have to play. So far, my DA is only level 13. It's easy soloing. Will this continue? If not, how many more levels do I have before it starts getting rough?
If ya don't know your panther is gonna gank like 10-25% of your xp once it is summoned. Not sure on exactly how much but it should say in your skills list.
I've mostly solo'd my poor little DA from lvl 43 or 44 to 56 (though he's clanned the last 4 levels so there has been some help there). It took me a LONG time to get from 40-52 mostly alone---a LONG time!!!
I still solo alot. The DA is a character type you can solo for quite awhile if you're at level 13.
A human knight doesn't really 'get fun' unless you begin actually playing as a tank and you enjoy tanking (it's a protective role for groups).
His patk will always be sad (cause he is created to defend). Panther is a little powerhouse. His patk is much higher than the DA (lvl 40, btw). He can be buffed but is not great with pdef so he takes some attention (you can't just send him out to kill mobs solo in most cases).
A DA and panther together is BETTER FOR THE DA (exp-wise)than having a live playing DD along!!!! The % the panther takes when you solo with him is LESS than another live player will take from you. The C-crystals are expensive. Look for really good bargains when you get close to 40 and if you can afford 'cheap' C-gear buy it and have it crushed for crystals. If you get C-drops you don't need (I keep getting Divine Stockings from Valley Treant Elders in EV)--crush those for crystals.
If you can afford to summon the panther and give him beast soul shots (an expensive way to level) then you can solo. Honestly, once you play with others in-game, you won't want to solo. It's not as much fun and for a DA it will ALWAYS be expensive. But it IS possible and even effective (just not cheap).
You can solo with him for a long time. If you want to play that character you should. It's not for everyone but if you like it (or think you might) then that is all that matters.
GL.
Leveling starts to really slow down when you get to about 51. You'll see the difference as you go up. It begins to slow down in the 40's.
I know you are going to solo a lot as you said, I have the same problem. Here is a suggestion though when you have the time. Get in raids every chance you get. Below level 40 they are very good xp and with the changes that have been made on the bosses, melee characters rule in raids now.
You'll probably get invites to clans, maybe already have, make sure to let them know your play style and the contraints that you play under. So they know up front that you might not be on long when you are there. Eventually you should find a clan that won't mind that. If you can, find a clan with an Academy. They can put you in the academy and when you change class at 40 they will get reputation points. For you though, there is a clan quest you can do for D grade armor, and it's really pretty good armor too. It's a pretty easy quest, you have to have a sponser from the main clan. The armor will cost you a certain number of D Crystals. The clan should help you get them. This way you can save a little adena on your way to C grade. That's when equipment starts getting quit a bit more expensive in the adena area.
Edit> Oh! and the poster before me is quite right. You will want to play with others and not solo all the time. One of the best things about this game is the interaction with the other players. They are just like you, live people somewhere else in the world playing the same game. You picked a pretty good class. Unlike many other classes in the game, the DA does have the ability to solo whenever you're in the mood for it, but he can party well too. Don't waste that aspect of him.
these are all great suggestions. I cant add much more. I would like to mention, if you are going to solo for most of your L2 life like I do, get a second account for a buffer or make a gladiator. Lvling the DA is very slow without buffs. A gladiator will keep you interested in the game much longer. Try getting in good raids groups ASAP, very good xp for the time. If you are not so concerened with "catching up" in lvls, and you are purely playing for the fun, then a DA will be right for you. Enjoy :D
DrakkosIV said:
"Honestly, once you play with others in-game, you won't want to solo. It's not as much fun and for a DA it will ALWAYS be expensive"
Inglorion1 said:
" Oh! and the poster before me is quite right. You will want to play with others and not solo all the time. One of the best things about this game is the interaction with the other players."
The problem as I mentioned is that I have real life commitments that pretty much will not allow me to group. I am a stay at home father of 5. While 3 are in school, 2 are still home. One being 3 and the other 6 months. I have to go afk at random times for a myriad of reasons. When my wife is home, I am a volunteer EMT/Firefighter. Again, I will need to go afk at random times.
This isn't my first MMORPG however. I started playing them with EQ's release. I have played many, in all I have been pretty much a solo player... lol. The above reasons are why. If I know that I will have time to group, I will, but it's rare.
Inglorion1 said:
"You'll probably get invites to clans, maybe already have, make sure to let them know your play style and the contraints that you play under. So they know up front that you might not be on long when you are there."
This is a given for me. I always ask if my leaving at a seconds notice will be an issue. I can tell you that with most guilds, it is, so it's hard to find a nice guild that will allow you the freedom that you need!
Allwine said:
"If you are not so concerened with "catching up" in lvls, and you are purely playing for the fun, then a DA will be right for you. Enjoy"
This is pretty much me, I am looking forward to level 35 however where I can embark on my hatchling quest. So you can say I am trying to level as quickly as I can in order to start that quest.
Thank you for your responses! Trust me, I know how hard playing mostly solo can be. Or how long it can take. The only race that I am in, is just to get to 35 for my hatchling and then to 40 for my Panther.
I have several players in my clan that are on at odd hours and play by themselves. So it's not really a problem to find a clan like that you just have to keep looking.
Lone,
You and I seem to be exactly alike in how we want to play this game. I retired my sorc because i need to go afk suddenly too. Your DA will fit your life/play style perfectly. You have great p.def that makes it so you can be distracted and not die so easily. I can even play the DA one handed if i need to. If i may suggest, dont waste too much time on hatchlings. Try'em out but i think your panther will be of much better use. If you are on Erica send me pm you will be a great fit for our clan.
I still feel summoners are better for an independant playstyle, but that's just me - after all, a DA can't solo infinitely, not without a buffpet or clanhall.
when i got level 40ish, i started leveling a wolf. works great with tanks becasue of hate. hate mobs and attack with the pet, you will both level pretty quick. but try to find places without aggro mobs, or without social mobs, depending on how you like to play. "pet parties" can be a lot of fun, especially if you find a buffer friend with a pet. also the panther doesnt hit very hard unless it uses beast ss. the advantage is that as the price of your ss goes up, beast ss stays the same. and the grind will continue to be not-so-bad as long as you remember this very important thing: "weapon first, armor later". at least until you start tanking for parties.