skill up paths

[darksisco007]

Is there anywhere people have posted easier (hopfully cheaper) skill up paths for research? Im looking at it for a mage. I've quit playing for a few years, and there seems a ton of possible recipes to sort through now. I believe im around 114 right now.

[Danedori]

The best guide for skilling up spell research (and any other skill) is the Complete Guide to Tradeskills. At 114, it is saying to start making the parchment solutions, which can get a bit pricey (or tedious if you make them all from scratch). My spell research was already at 200 when the new system was introduced, so I haven't looked into the skillup paths from 114 to 200.

When the old recipes are transfered over to the new system, there will be a bunch of spells in that range that should be fairly easy to get materials for and not too expensive.

Danedori

[Ndaara]

specifically as a mage, i would wait for systematic research to get put in place, unless you simply must do it now. for mages, the "old research" requires a lot of chain research (where you have to make an old pet before you can make the new pet) and finding the right words can be a real pain.

that said - if you are consistent, and if you like to vendor dive, you can make yourself a list of words you'll need until 182 or 187 (wherever the end point is, can't remember). Watch the bazaar, set up a buyer if you can, and check NPC merchants for what you need.

Keep a list of components to make the swatches, also:

http://www.eqtraders.com/recipes/rec...r=080105120000

If this sounds like too much tedium, just wait for the new expansion and the revamped systematic research. I did it years ago, when "old research" for mages was yucky >< I like the new way quite a lot better, but i'm not hurting for funds, either.

and as always, that Complete Tradeskill Guide is the best place to look for any questions like this.

Good luck!

[Bobaten]

Making the wands with sunshard dust will get you to 158 pretty cheap.

[Danedori]

I didn't even think about the sunshard dust. That's a great path. They are really cheap in the bazaar. But, also now that the aqua regia and muriatic acid are purchasable, the cost of saltpeter and crystallized sulfur has come way down. So the solutions will be reasonable. Those are all options I would look at now if I were at that stage of research. But waiting until November will only make things easier with the new research for all the old recipes.

Danedori

[Bobaten]

For those saying wait for the systematic research, remember that the trivials are a bit lower under the systematic system than they are under the old system. Which is good for spell making, but not so much for skilling up.

In any event, there really isn't anything to wait for, the drops have been in for a year now, and there is a pretty good skill up path from the LDoN spells already.

[Gorse]

It costs a little bit, but making a variety of solutions now for skill ups is a good idea, because once you get to where you need to clean parchments and vellums you have to make the solutions anyway. I felt it was definitely worth the investment to build up a stockpile of solutions while skilling up. I must say I find that making the solutions the most annoying part of the spell making process.

At least now you can also buy your parts of the solution subcombines. I spent lots and lots of time farming Saltpeter which can all be skipped now if you want to spend the pp.

Gorse

[Ndaara]

Good point Bobaten. I had assumed the poster wanted to skill up specifically to make their spells. I suppose realistically, no one who wants their spells is going to put their character on hold for 2 months. I hadn't really thought it through. I remember doing mage research and being frustrated, and watching enchanters, wizards, and necromancers combining the pages and words as they dropped. I could not figure out how they could keep all those previous level's spells handy in their bags, and still have room to combine things in those little 4 slot containers! I was trying to save someone else that frustration.

At any rate - previous posters have the right idea. Do systematic research for your skilling up, and save all the stuff you make, because you will need it later! I also suggest keeping a shopping list handy until the expansion, so that if you find words for spells you want, you know to buy them. Just be sure to use them up before November =)

Ndaara

PS: I have not made any lower level spells yet, but I know about the hides and such that drop in TSS zones. Are those what we will use as the "Stationery" component? or do we really know what it's going to look like, yet?

[Danedori]

The systematic research is available now for the LDoN spells, but I'm under the impression that the hides for them will drop from a much wider selection of mobs, making them more available. Or I may be way off base here and just imagined that. It wouldn't be the first time my tinfoil hat has failed to protect me adequately.

Danedori