Progressing beyond mid 150s?

[Liam]

I know there are guides here and suggested research items to raise skill level but there are a lot of new things in the game and I want to raise my research up so I can perhaps get some spells made for my other characters.

Is there any better, easier, cheaper way to increase skill than I have read so far? I believe the next item up for me is fine parchment solution but I don't know for sure.

As always, thanks in advance for any help you may provide to me in my efforts here!

[Wanyen]

Start with the Complete Tradeskill (all skills) Guide:

http://mboards.eqtraders.com/eq/showthread.php?t=30177

[Shadrok]

Not Cheap ...

"Cheap" may depend on your platinum balance, so others may say research is not expensive, but my guts are still stuck to the days I hunted skellies for a Cracked Staff.

The least expensive method for skilling up is the solutions, Parchment Solution > 144, Fine Parchment Solution > 174, Velium Parchment Solution >203, Fine Velium Parchment >216. Runic Parchment Solution >243. You can sell back the solutions or keep them to make spells. After that, you must make spells or tomes. Make a bazaar spell seller to lessen the impact. (Just not on my server; stay out of my market ... heh.)

Int-casters have the alternate route of Binding Powders. My researcher trained before these became available. Unfortunately, those are level-restricted and drop dependant (possibly a problem if your researcher is not your main). Check the guide for those.

[Liam]

Thank you Wanyen. I had already perused the complete guide but there are sometimes alternatives that others can come up with that might give some skill ups a better deal in the long run and because I am limited in play time and I don't believe in paying for PP with real cash I wanted to explore whatever might be available.

And a big thanks to you Shadrok! That was the answer I was hoping for. It really didn't change anything but it did tell me that at least the stuff I make, hopefully at least, will be similar to JC was and allow me to reinvest as I go. I read recipes and simply got sticker shock! Me and you both on that cracked staff search. lol Fact is my researcher is not my main and I just spent my entire bank on upgrades to post velious raid gear (yes, I was dressed that bad...) and spells as I actually got some levels on one of my mains.

Any more advice is definitely more than welcome! Especially if I can save a few PP along the way using it!

[Wanyen]

Researcher Ceramic Clay trivials at 262, if you don't mind farming/vendor-diving for Drake Wing Webbing (exclusive drop to Sunderspring). I used that for quite a few skill points myself.

[willimena]

Binding Powders

I have yet to see any of these guides list the binding powder combines as a path to skilling up. You get two combines from each powder. One makes the paper and the other makes the clicky scroll. It is much cheaper then making solutions, and you dont have to farm saltpeter AND sulfer to keep costs down. Your fails will not cost you 280 plat as the solutions do. You do have to watch the bazaar for cheap powders, or save them up. The powders drop off casters in most zones. The level of the zone dictates which powder will drop. Oh, they also get you to 300 and will evolve your trophy the last tier.

You could also set up shop selling spells as my friend did. He would spend all his money on supplies, research which spells sell well, make and sell the spells, rinse repeat. You would be making money in the process, but, it would take a lot longer.

[Cartville]

The powders are limited to INT casters so wouldn't work for the OP as a shaman.

Otherwise intricate, elaborate, ornate and rune binding powder combines all trivial over 300 and are fairly plentiful/cheap.

[Liam]

Thanks Willimena! That is the kind of info I was hoping for. Something less expensive to work towards and if all it takes is some farming I can do that.

And thanks for the info from you as well Cartville. While I am posting as my main character I am talking about my chanter researching. I don't see any point in working on the shaman to research if the INT caster can do a better job of it and make the same spells for my other characters.

Thanks all for the help! I will keep checking back but am going to begin working on the skill increases soon. Hopefully I can break 200 pretty easily in short order and work towards the 300 mark!