(N)EverQuest Scrolls

My mage is now 55, with all spells including the PoR pet buff (Earthen Strength), courtesy of 65/66 beastlord and cleric. The Hole massive constructs have turned green, so he needs a new spot, as he has to acquire another 58 (plus 30 banked) AAs before levelling again. I’ll update the following review as I experiment with AAs, there’s time enough to do everything, I’d imagine. Last update – 3 March, 2007.

Hot Zones – The Hole, Tower of Frozen Shadow, Sebilis, Chardok, Grieg’s End

In the Hole, the destroyed constructs, gargoyles and the first spirits area is working out. It’s more like 45 – 50 minutes per AA (roughly 120-130% per hour), which is slower than at 51, but it’s a convenient camp. There are several two pulls, with a very rare add, which is survivable. Now that I have 108 AAs, this area gives me 140-180% AA per hour/lesson, which gives some indication of the impact of AAs; the earlier figure would have been with just the basic 30 archetype + 9 general, including SCM3, SCF3, and MC1/2. I don’t have a record of the rate before spending those extra 30 at 55.

ToFS. Top two floors – top floor should be best, not sure of levels on the floor below; at 53, most things were still light blue. It’s a long run, and you need the master key if the top floor is the preferred one. Plus the exit has the level 63 Advisor in the way, but that’s not a problem for gating. However, at 55, almost everything, apart from some names and some enraged vampires, is green. Good exp for greens, though, and would have been good for levelling – if I had all the keys at 51, which I didn’t.

Chardok. I want to keep faction here for two reasons – CoTH to King and Queen, and easy access to Chardok B.

Sebilis. One problem – SoWed runner frogs. Deaths are certainly possible, and it’s a long run. Requires a key, which I don’t yet have.

Grieg’s End. OK for groups, too high for soloing at this point. Should be good for the level 59 AA break, though. I have test killed exactly one mob here at 55 – dark blue, gave me 8% AA exp, and it felt easier than my light blues in the Hole. If I could be sure of single pulls, I’d switch to here.

Other Zones

Plane of Justice. Known camp spots, one of which is close to the exit. Should be no adds at 55. Has PoP exp bonus. Boring as hell. I have my doubts about this spot, as the prisoners are all light blue, and rats are mostly green. Good exp would have to be Mavuin hall or caves, which are much higher level, and not safe; guards are all dark blue.

Howling Stones. Basement and North wing at this level. Requires a key, and zone in can be tricky (2 aggro mobs on zone in pad). Undead, shouldn’t run (but some do). Zone in and basement looks good, but the chance of higher level nameds makes it tricky; if none are up, it’s an easy camp, but one named anywhere can either make a very risky pull, or totally block off an area. Good exp for a non-hot zone: 120% AA in one lesson.

Nurga. I know it well, several tiers, and I would need to test each for a couple of AAs to see what works best. Middling long run, decent loot, low aggro range, relatively low hitters. Tiers 4 and 5 seem ok, but I still haven’t timed exp there; first impression is that it is no better than the Hole (but probably would be if made a hot zone). At 55 tier 2 is mostly light blue, some green, tier 3 and 4 are all light blue, tier 5 is mostly dark blue, some light blue.

Nadox. Several camps for varying levels. The Gunthak zone in (temple) has mobs up to 53, which is probably too high with no way of splitting them, but the inner troll camp with no wanderers is tempting (Lieutenant camp/vehement and furious) – there are mid 40s, all light blue, and some of the lowest mobs in Nadox. Temple steps is also an option, but might be too few mobs for ooc regen. Courtyard was very poor – roughly 1% AA per minute. I didn’t stay long enough (one clearing) to get a more precise figure.

Dulak. Would need to camp multiple boats, or possibly Dandolak plus storage trolls. 80% AA in one Lesson, so not so good – on Dandolak and docks. This is barely better than Nadox, although I imagine I could do better there if I had the storage attendants as well. This is only likely if I am alone in the zone. In a later session (alone in zone) I managed 140%; although this was with a few more critical AAs.

Veksar. Camp goblins and the first set of undead; the downside is that everyone in Veksar runs through here, and often kill a few on their way. Killing the goblins, and the first few (3) sentries/crusaders, I get 80% AA in one hour (no lesson). They have more HP than the destroyed contructs in the Hole.

Velketor’s Labyrinth. This is an old favourite, and popular on the various boards list of recommendations. Clearing the ground floor, I get 85-90% AA in one lesson. Not so good. Spiders have more hit points than the Hole or Howling Stones, and loot is limited to velium.

Too low for…

Grieg’s End. Scarlet Desert sun revs. Plane of Innovation.