Most needed character type?

[milesalpha]

Thinking strongly of giving up the wizard, a bit boring after 20 odd years and I'd like to get into something that is in demand. Rangers seem in pretty strong supply so I have eliminated them. Monks have little appeal for me. I doubt I could RP a sorc, you have to (or should) have a bit of sinister in you, and I am too goofy for that. So which would likely be the most useful?
Especially around the Landing?

Bard (Whirlin's excellent guide makes this interesting)
Warrior (So Ardwen can adopt me)
Cleric
Empath
Paladin (can you be an atheistic Paladin?)
Rogue (where have all the high level pickers gone, only Ewin, Whestra and a couple others seem to be around)

Appreciate any input.

[Whirlin]

I'd actually say a picking rogue would be in very high demand and well met everywhere.

Paladins and Warriors are similar... depends on the archetype you want to play. Paladins have a very easy time scripting, hell, I know one pally that is still scripting into his 60s relatively safely. And after that, redux has kicked in, and you can just redux your way through the world.

Clerics are very prevalent, and can provide bonuses to other characters by choosing alignment carefully. However, having a cleric alt myself, I can tell you that they're not as high demand as you'd think. They play very similarly to other pures, like sorcs and empaths... or like a wizard if you want to take the spell aiming route.

Rangers and Bards are actually somewhat similar... being Semis. Both are very powerful, with quite a bit of versatility. Ranger guide will be coming up eventually.

[Ardwen]

In demand, I agree locksmith is near the top, I like warrior because to me they seem to have to most effective paths you can train them, and well bards in general are a blast to play and always useful.

[milesalpha]

Well, in consideration of the info so far, I am eliminating empath and cleric from the list. Can the picker hunt effectively as well? Seems like tripling there is too important.

Thanks, folks, trying to research everything.

[Fallen]

A reliable locksmith that spent the majority of his time picking and likely helping with their guild would be a service to the game.

[milesalpha]

Can I assume people would recommend a killing build for the first 30 day, then switch?

[Buckwheet]

I don't go out of my way to open boxes on a regular basis but I also rarely see requests for box opening in Illistim area. Is there more demand on the landing or Teras?

[thefarmer]

Most needed?

Good GMs

[Stretch]

Leveling a pure bard is like easy mode once you hit level 40 or so. Pretty fun if you like playing a one person wrecking crew.

I always found picking to be boring and kind of a chore, but if you're looking for a rogue there's a little known rule that Edaarin has to be sold once every few months or the terrorists win.

[milesalpha]

Most needed?

Good GMs

Did it for a while with EQ early in it's day. Snapped when I got an argument from a kid about his namechange (Penisbreath). After changing about 50 names that day, I had had enough. Don't have the nerves for it any more.

[Buckwheet]

Leveling a pure bard is like easy mode once you hit level 40 or so. Pretty fun if you like playing a one person wrecking crew.

I always found picking to be boring and kind of a chore, but if you're looking for a rogue there's a little known rule that Edaarin has to be sold once every few months or the terrorists win.

Not going to happen unless something bad happens to me. Besides he hasn't moved in 2.5 years so I think the Terrorists are winning.

[milesalpha]

Bard seems tempting, if nothing else I could follow Ardwen around...

Bravely bold Sir Ardwen rode forth from Whenimer's
He was not afraid to die, O brave Sir Ardwen
He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways
Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Ardwen
He was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp
Or to have his eyes gouged out and his elbows broken
To have his kneecaps split and his body burned away
And his limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Sir Ardwen
His head smashed in and his heart cut out
And his liver removed and his bowels unplugged
And his nostrils raped and his bottom burnt off and his penis...

[milesalpha]

Geez, to the repper. Not sure if you were attempting humour, but I will be selling the wizard. I have no interest in MAing. For one thing, it would be too much work.

[milesalpha]

Considering a few things. Anyone out there who doesn't have a society? Is it merely inconvenient or a real crusher?

[Buckwheet]

I tried it on a wizard with 303 ranks of harness power because they had already been kicked out of COL and were in Voln which I despise. I lasted about two weeks before I paid for the society reset potion and went COL.

[Lord Orbstar]

Rogue then Empath. I loved playing both at all levels. A picking, magical rogue is a blast to play. Empaths past TSC that are not someone's bot are rarer particularly in Illistim and Teras. ALso the pure "Deathpath" build is VERY powerful and kills anything except constructs, and heals the people. I also had issue with bandits, but mainly because I didnt have good padded armor at cap.

[Fallen]

You can be viable without a society, but you're definitely choosing to gimp your character. Unless RP demands it, I'd use one.

[Lord Orbstar]

to answer your last question, I have a warrior without a society. It doesnt bother me and I am really just being lazy. You do not really notice it although with a society life/hunts are easier. There have times when I type sign of thought or something and get the message *you dont belong to a society bitch*. You should get a society if it will be a character you play. I personally do not like Voln because I do not like to hunt Undead. GoS has awesome utility although the short duration sigils suck balls. I do not use macros and such to hunt or play (other than ;narost and ;waggle) so you can see why that would be a pain in the ass. The CoL fits like glove and is my "go to" society in almost all cases (my paladin and monk were GoS, and I had a warrior and mid level rogue that were Voln)

[Lord Orbstar]

I sold you Edaarin I think... He is a great example of what a rogue can be. Magical Rogue in plate armor shooting arrows from the shadows while picking open any box that drops. :) Unless you fixskilled him to a dagger and shield square wearing double leather, Chris?

[Buckwheet]

I sold you Edaarin I think... He is a great example of what a rogue can be. Magical Rogue in plate armor shooting arrows from the shadows while picking open any box that drops. :) Unless you fixskilled him to a dagger and shield square wearing double leather, Chris?

Nope he hurls and I got him from Swami.

[Methais]

I don't go out of my way to open boxes on a regular basis but I also rarely see requests for box opening in Illistim area. Is there more demand on the landing or Teras?

There's plenty of demand on Teras. Picking rogues are pretty rare over there.

[Fallen]

A good locksmith works to establish a clientele who actively seek them out and is willing to wait to have their boxes opened. That takes time and effort, where the player must advertise their services and put in the hours so that they build a reputation for being available fairly frequently. The savings from using a PC locksmith over an NPC locksmith, assuming you don't tip some obscene amount, should be quite substantial. My favorite locksmith was/is Rlen. I would actively box hunt when he was around because I enjoyed speaking with him and it was extremely profitable. I'm sure I wasn't alone in that.

[Loyrl]

I'm such a packrat that if I don't see a locksmith at the rest or at the statue, I ;townsmith it (Teras). I really need to unload a bunch of scrolls and other crap I don't use. I would say a locksmith would be useful in any town you go to, once you can pick the majority of the boxes that are brought back to that town.