Spell research is driving my nuts!

[Buzz]

Just came back to EQ and needed to research some spells, but I hate crafting, I really do. I'm not knocking folks that enjoy it, but it's not for me. Yet, there are some spells I need and no one is selling them on Combine, so here I am. I've gotten my skill to 54 (and I've got an automated quill), but that still isn't high enough to get the first spells I need for my chanter and necro (feedback, mesmerization, renew bones, intensify death, and haunting corpse), and I'm basically looking for the easiest and quickest way to get my next 10-20 skill ups.

I know there are multiple ways of doing this, but which is the best for me. I'd be willing to spend more if it meant I didn't have to leave CR.

And advice appreciated.

Thanks

[Gorse]

Based on what I read, I think the best advice would be to suggest you find a researcher on your server and hire them to make the spells for you. Try the bazaar, POK and the Lobby on random intervals asking to hire a researcher to make XX level spells. Offer reasonable prices and repeat service and I am sure you will find someone. I get my share of emails from people wanting upgraded spells as they level up their toons. I don't ver charge and they keep coming back.


If you want to do it yourself, look up the tradeskill guide at the bottom of the forum list here. Following your post here, making solutions is an expensive, but available option, and it is how many of us skilled up. If that is the route you want to go this would be the schedule to follow (make sure to hang on to these as you will need them to clean the parchments and vellums later or at least put up a vendor in the bazaar with them at a reasonable price):

Parchment Solution to 144
Fine Parchment solution to 174
Vellum Parchment solution to 203
Fine Vellum Parchment solution to 216
Runic Parchment Solution to 243

As long as you have the bank account to support it, this route will skill you up without leaving CR, you will have to take the elevator a lot though as the spell vendor and the gem vendor are on different floors.


Gorse

[Screamm]

Gorse

I am in a simliar boat, i have alot of alts atm, and really tired of paying high prices for spells wanna just get my necro to say 300 or so to make alot of these spells.

What do you think going the parchment skill up route for research will it cost roughly of course.

Also I have heard of a binding power skill up route not sure how that works?

Any help is really appreciated presently I am 102 atm and just finished making oil of vitrol. But now I am sorta lost which directtion to go in?

[Windru]

Binding Powders

Morpheaous created a spreadsheet for binding powders that is quite small but very informative.
http://www.editgrid.com/user/aakanaar

You said you were 102 skill, so using that as a starting point, the first binding powder you need to find is:
Elementary Binding Powder, its first combine is trivial at 118. It is listed here as dropping from a sporali decomposer in Blightfire Moors, but I presume it to be off any mob of similar level.
First, you need to make the spell(s): Spell: Focus Elementary Spellcaster's Essence for the 1 yield version; or Spell: Focus Mass Elementary Spellcaster's Essence for the 5 yield version. These spells are no trade, so you have to make them for yourself. Scribe the spell and cast as many as you have of the Elementary Binding Powders. The spell name is relative to the name of the Binding Powder, for this example, Elementary.
Now purchase A Piece of Parchment and Elementary Binding Solution.
Combine in your Spell Research Kit:
1x A Piece of Parchment
1x Elementary Binding Powder
1x Elementary Binding Solution
1x Elementary Spellcaster's Empowering Essence, (which you got from casting the Focus spell.)

You now have "Elementary Enchanted Spell Parchment". That was your first non-trivial combine. Repeat this until you become trivial or use up your supply of Binding Powder. You should now have a few of these parchments that you can use for the second non-trivial combine. There are five "flavors", but I opt for the the highest non trivial, Elementary Scroll of Pestilence, which trivials at 140. So you get 2 combines for every 1 binding powder. Not a bad way to get skill ups.
Elementary Scroll of Pestilence:
1x Elementary Enchanted Spell Parchment
1x Ink of Bertoxxulous
1x Quill of the Arcane
You can buy a stack of Ink and Quills from the vendors, and use them as you need them, or you can make them yourself and save some coin.

So at your 102 skill, Elementary Binding Powders will take you to 140 skill. Copy Morphaeous' spreadsheet or print it for reference, it is very helpful.

[Gorse]

Gorse
What do you think going the parchment skill up route for research will it cost roughly of course.

Huge differences based on play style, supply and demand, and how fast you want to make it happen.

I bought some saltpeter and cystallized sulfer, but never paying more than 10pp each in the bazaar. I spent a LOT of time farming parts (mostly while leveling alts at the same time). I also had friends saving me spell parts, but a majority I bought from players in the bazaar (never did a buyer, I probably could have gotten a lot more cheaper that way, but I jsut did not have play time or inclination to do it at the time).

Anyway, I sold spells to buy parts and more spell parts, I know I spent over 3 million plat and could have made a lot more, but I was mostly just working to cover my costs and keep the trade skills moving verses trying to cushion the bank account.

Like any tradeskill, a lot will depend on the amount of time you want to spend on it. While lots of people recommend binding powders, but I have never found anywhere near enough to consider it a good skill-up route (please note I am allready 300 and 7/7, so I might not be putting in as much energy as needed).

Here is my advice. Find what works for you. Look for options where you have access skill-up parts. Look for opportunities to help others while helping yourself. Unless you have plat to spend, be patient! =)



Gorse

[Screamm]

Windru and gorse thank you very much for your replys, great write up windru
I think I will be heading in that in direction skill up wise thanks for your help .

Screamm

[Windru]

for Buzz

Buzz, sorry for hijacking the thread for Screamm, but as for your spells and not wanting to leave CR yet, I am not totally sure off the top of my head what the specific type of "hide" is that you need for your spells. You can find it on this site by searching for the spell you need. If the spell is less than 20, you can probably find the appropriate hides dropping from mobs in CR, either upstairs on the 3rd level or outside near the undead ogres. If the spell is 20-30, you can find the hides dropping from mobs in Blightfire Moors.

Hides are the only ingredient required that is a drop; all the others can be purchased.

I hope this helps you.

[Qaladar Bragollach]

The OP isnt a pirate is he?

Sorry... just looking at the thread title and thinking of an old pirate joke.