(N)EverQuest Scrolls

I had a 10 day break in the middle of this, but I have cleared my 30 stored AA, and, as of this morning, am now 59 (updated on 30 March, 2007). Destroyed constructs and gargoyles in the Hole are still light blue, even at 59, so should do for my next batch of AAs.

Level 56 took about 2 – 2.5 hours; I didn’t time it accurately, but the last 20% took 35 minutes (18% for 30 minutes) – no lesson. Level 57 was over in one day, 3.5 – 4 hours; lesson gave me 28%. As of yet I am still using the same spell set as for 52, with the one exception of Scirocco, from 54; nothing else has been an upgrade. I had one death early on, and am on my third epic pet; one died in a big pull, and one was lost when Plane of Knowledge was respawned. I have gated out of bad pulls (aka other people’s trains) twice.

Update at 59: 58 took me two days to clear. In my last two lessons, I got 21% and 28%. At 59, my spell set has been updated with a bigger nuke (Seeking Flame of Seukor) to replace Char. AAs have been spent on Pet Discipline, Mend Companion, Frenzied Burnout, and Quick Damage 2, with 4 remaining. Next spend will be to complete QD, then I think Turn Summoned, the four elemental forms at level one, and Quick Summoning.

Given the general trend of increasing times required per AA, I am slightly regretting not getting trade skill and resist AAs back at 51. At the time I was getting bored, but I think I could have stuck it a lot longer. Given that the epic is fixed level, that shouldn’t be a big surprise to me. Although the archetype AAs have helped, they haven’t been a massive improvement. Looking forward, I can see Mend Companion having a significant effect on exp times, as well as the mini-pet AAs, before the pet dps AAs that start to kick in at 65.

Update 13 April: I am now back up to 1.5 AAs per lesson, which isn’t as great as 51 was, but is a step forward from 55. Exp location is still the same area in the Hole, although there is considerably more competition for the camp spot. When I started, the Hole was almost guaranteed to be empty at all times; now I can expect a mid-40s group either at ZI or the pit, and a PLer with a 30s tag along in the other spot, plus one or two high 50s at my preferred spot, either PLing or gathering AAs (I presume). I have also found that if you sit a character down just before the drop off into the pit, he will get grouped exp from you killing any of the massive constructs, most of the destroyed constructs (apart from the one in the bedroom), and everything in the castle – but not the zone in set of elementals.

Other AAs at 61, not considered in my previous posts:

Convalescence 6
(Lasting Breath – required Imp Lung Capacity)
Packrat 15 – forget it

GoD+ level 65 AAs:

Pet Affinity 12
FoM Mastery 18
Shared Health 25
Elemental Durability 18
Elemental Agility 18
Elemental Alacrity 25
Elemental Fury 15

Total 131 !!

Note that at 61, there is a DoN spell, Summon: Lava Orb, for 120 crystals.