Excited EQ vet and SOD newb, got some questions!

[Kpnecessary]

A friend just introduced me to SOD and I couldnt be more excited... but i dont know how things have changed... I plan on starting a Paladin, any suggestions on what race and starting city I should choose are most welcome....

 

[JarL]

Erudite and dump all of your starting stats into CHA with anything leftover in STA. That would be the min/maxed way of approaching it. It honestly doesn't matter a whole lot though. As to starting cities I am pretty sure characters do not have a choice on SoD and you'll start in Erudin. Erudites ARE basically blind here so it would be somewhat frustrating unless you box a char that can provide infravision for him until you get an item to provide it later.

Regardless of your starting race, dump points into CHA though. CHA is used in mob resist calculations and you'll have no trouble maxing the other stats later in the game.

 

[Cyzaine]

As paladins are tanks, it would be a good idea to create a healer as well. We allow you to play two characters at once here (but no more than that). You can also adventuring band them together so they don't vary in level too much. Of course you'll have to gear them both out which is it's own set of downsides to the starting character, but the many quests available at most level ranges helps that alot. They are also a good source of exp!

 

[Glamrin]

Sod is quite different from Eq especially with paladin's. You should go with either a dwarf for stats or a HighElf for being uncharmable. (or a gnome for bonus to all focus and haste items/gear, might get issues with being mezzed though)

starting city will be decided by your race so dont worry about that, you can also move anywhere you like to start at a different spot if you like exp in other zones better.

 

[Vartenaal]

dwarf - if you dont plan on getting to the high end (expect to spend about 2 years on this if you work from the ground up through all the tiers)

gnome - for racial stats which give +10% to all item focii

in any case spend points into agility (which directly translates into AC and will not be capped even at the top top top top end, unless something interesting comes out in ikisith) and charisma

 

[Kirin Folken]

If you dont care about the min/max approuch then any race will do. As others have pointed out certain races do have some very nice additons that give them a edge vs other races.

Erudite gain +3% Specializetion bonus (translation: More damge, better heals)
Gnomes +10% foci effect and haste items (Translation: More proc Damage, better heals, faster swings *more melee damage*)
High Elf Charm immunity anD Mez resistance (translation: your immune to resistable Charms and haev a +20% bonus to resist resistable Mez effects).

*note Paladins also have Fear Immune AAs so it combos rather well with High Elf.

Those would be the 3 Min/Max picks... Though Gnome and Eruidte are definitely the ultimate Min/Maxer route.

For solid around choice, Dwarves Solid stats and +35% biult in Fear resistance is very nice


I personaly went Froglok, which learn skills faster (not a big deal at the high end but leveling up was nice) and innate swim and bigger lung capacity. Plus you do a kick ass backflip when you cast spells

As to stats... DEFNITELY dump as much as you can in CHA, this still will always be a pain to max out and really helps you land spells (which are key to paladin Aggro). After Cha I would go ether Agil or Dex both are much much harder for a paladin to max out (just look at the top 5). Then again if you dont plan going to the end game ballpark any of your other stats are good save for Int LOL.

If your going to box definitely pick a Healer type to go with you. Healers on SoD are Clerics, Druids, and Shaman (in that order) however unlike Live Druids and shamans don't suck at healing.

For a Paladin I would suggest druid or Shaman over cleric. Druid brings DS and paladins love AoE tanking along with buffs and good DPS of thier own. Shamans bring buffs and slows allowing Paladins to do thier thing.

I feel Druids are a slight better match for Paladins but prehaps thats because Im box a Shaman with mine *shrug*