So I've been out of the game since, well, November or December 2004. Popped my head in once about a year ago, but didn't stick.
Now I'm back and actually having fun. Granted I'm levelling up a new toon (a bit tweaked with leftover money from my last one) and got up to lvl 19 in a day or so.
Problem is, there is nobody to level with. I'm on Gustin, and it's pretty empty.
Got me a nice D grade weapon (I'm going DE Assassin at 20) and that's all I can afford. I still have a few million, but nobody sells Manticore.
Are all the servers as dead as Gustin? Should I even bother trying to level up? I can't imagine what the solo grind would be post lvl 40 without buffs and people to grind with.
Any and all advice would be welcome. I'm actually very much enjoying the game (though everyone I knew who played is long gone) even if it is a bit lonely.
So I've been out of the game since, well, November or December 2004. Popped my head in once about a year ago, but didn't stick.
Now I'm back and actually having fun. Granted I'm levelling up a new toon (a bit tweaked with leftover money from my last one) and got up to lvl 19 in a day or so.
Problem is, there is nobody to level with. I'm on Gustin, and it's pretty empty.
Got me a nice D grade weapon (I'm going DE Assassin at 20) and that's all I can afford. I still have a few million, but nobody sells Manticore.
Are all the servers as dead as Gustin? Should I even bother trying to level up? I can't imagine what the solo grind would be post lvl 40 without buffs and people to grind with.
Any and all advice would be welcome. I'm actually very much enjoying the game (though everyone I knew who played is long gone) even if it is a bit lonely.
--Me
No one stays in the new player areas so that is not a good measure of the server population.
However, Gustin is not the most populated NA server. Bartz is.
You won't really see anyone until Dion and Giran. PuG's(Pick up groups) are pretty much nonexistent. No one uses the group finder utility in game. That's the bad stuff.
The good news is that there are tons of small to medium sized clans looking for rep poi...I mean, new blood to put into their academies. Being that D-grade is super cheap they can probably hook you up in full D-grade and maybe even find you a leveling partner now and then.
My suggestion would be to post in the "Clan Recruitment Hall" forum or the realm forum itself and see who is recruiting. If you don't get a quick response or you don't like the ones you do get you can always head to another server where the grass may indeed be greener.
Basically, as I'm sure you all figured out, this post was mostly a request for information.
Advice on what to do, and where to do it. I may end up pinging a small to medium sized clan, but I don't know how much time I have. Got 3 month and 15 month old children at home, so I can't exactly spend hours grinding every day :)
Gah, starting over on a new server scares me. Having to level up the first 40 levels without tweaked gear is, well, scary... Even with the new buffs.
Reaching L19 in one day pretty much shows you where everyone else went...UP!
Best option is to post on the Recruitment boards. (I know it worked for me, and that was very recently.)
Manticore? Giran sells the top and bottom. Don't bother with the boots or gloves, cuz the only way you will ever see them is as horribly overpriced. (Or not so overpriced considering how hard it is to get the mats for them.)
Your best option would be to join a clan *before* you hit 20 and class change, so you can get the best out of their academy as well the Clan Oath armor set(s).
Just a suggestion/caveat about joining a clan -- I wouldn't be surprised if a clan will want to talk to you on Ventrillo or Teamspeak first, just to get to know you and be sure you're legit.
Welcome back. When those kids hit 4 years old you can turn them into farmers :). Or wait till they can shout "I got to poopie" and hold it till you can take over.
With transfers looming (and promised)--level the lowbie ranges right where you are. There will be less competition and you'll level much more quickly. You don't need groups to level fast if you have some adena in the bank as you can solo cata's through almost 40.
Later you can decide to move to Lionna where the sky is bluer, the grass greener, the toons more talented and good looking.
I wouldn't been surprised to see many players go to the less crowded servers since I've heard stories of dungeons heavily camped and difficulties to level past level 40 on the most populated servers.
As others said your best luck would be to find a clan with an academy to join.
Wow, nice feedback :) Yeah, found lots of spots to get the noob buffs (which are bloody fantastic, if I may say so). Too bad they only last an hour. Kinda time sink sending me back to town every hour to rebuff.
Kohn is the name of the toon running the clan, BlankStares? Not sure a clan would want me, because I'm not exactly a full time gamer (with the above responsibilities). I play maybe 10 hours a week. And sometimes less.
Wow, nice feedback :) Yeah, found lots of spots to get the noob buffs (which are bloody fantastic, if I may say so). Too bad they only last an hour. Kinda time sink sending me back to town every hour to rebuff.
Kohn is the name of the toon running the clan, BlankStares? Not sure a clan would want me, because I'm not exactly a full time gamer (with the above responsibilities). I play maybe 10 hours a week. And sometimes less.
--Me
10 Hours? Not too low actually...thats either 2 hours most nights, or a good chunk of the weekend. Some times I barely get that in. Or I get it in game, but don't actually grind. I'll just be chillin' and shufflin the WH crap around.
My problem, is I like to break up my hours over all the characters I have, which means I haven't gone to the highest levels on any one char.
There is at least 3 clans on Gustin that would take you I know of. Probably even a few more if you shout ingame too.
hit up Wolfkrieg in HG, he's a good guy and we (HG) are always willing to help legits. ok, propaganda speil off...LOL that's aconyte's department. Mostly we like to hang out and goof off (ie the reason most of us are b grade and less) I feel your pain, i got a 4yr and an 16month myself. Time in game is not as important as enjoyment of said game. Quality over quantity you know.