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Sol A is so under ratedFollow

#1 Jan 15 2004 at 11:18 AM Rating: Good
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Morning All,

I have a Level 32 Pally and I wanted to know why Sol A is so underutilized for characters around my level. The loot is awesome, there are some good magical drops (Drake-Hide stuff) and the Gobbys are spread apart enough to lull and pull individually.

The Exp seems to be better then LDON and each monster generally drops at least 2-3 PP per kill, sometimes as much as 10-15 with large pieces of Ore. There is a defined line between Good and Evil. There are merchants in the zone to sell stuff to.

Please give me your thoughts on this matter. The only thing I can figure is that this zone is an old zone and may have lost favor with the experienced player. I am new and this is my main character and I love it! Just make sure you have Temp before you go in there.

Lurff
Level 32 Paladin
Bristlebane
#2 Jan 15 2004 at 11:44 AM Rating: Good
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mainly because HHk is more convienient, for a number of reasons

1. you can bind in zone, so when you die the corpse run is easy

2. it has 3 definate camp spots for 24 - 34 lvl chars making it group heaven

3. vendors and bank in the Zone so you can sell that hard earned loot. the drops in HHk are not bad especially RR and WR.

this is not to say that Sol A is not a good dungeon at the level but it is easier to do it in HHk and thats why it's empty all the time. all i can say is it's nice to not have to fight for mobs to kill so enjoy that big empty ol' zone you have and wallow in your superority since you get a better xp bonus in SolA.



#3 Jan 15 2004 at 12:04 PM Rating: Decent
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You have a point but HHK is usually over camped and the spawn rate is quite slow. The lack of a bank in Sol A is a big minus but you basically have an endless supply of Gobby's to bash. If you can group with a healer then you have it made. Also there seems to be a few high level characters (50+) hunting for something and they usually have time to buff you while they are camping in Sol A.

Sol A is closer then HHK - and you don't have to run through that darn forest at night where the undead usually nuke ya a few times and then its a corpse run.

Lurff
Level 32 Paladin
Bristlebane Server
#4 Jan 15 2004 at 12:49 PM Rating: Decent
I intend to take my bard there. I went there for the first time to rez someone with my 56 cleric. But after reading this and hearing so much about it... I think i will go check it out for myself.

I really did not like going to HHK in any of the few occasions I treked there.
#5 Jan 15 2004 at 1:47 PM Rating: Default
Well, I'm probably about as close to an authority as anyone on my server on this subject. I've leveled several characters in there and it's still one of my favorite spots.

First of all, you CAN bind in Sol A.

There are 3 reasons why people avoid Sol A.
1. Lava - Fall in and the CR is a royal pain!
2. Casters, casters, casters - There are wizard and shammie casters in there. A blue wizzie can nuke you to death in no time. To make it worst, they'll root you when you're trying to run away.
3. Let one 80% mob get away and you'll soon be ran over by a huge train. The #1 rule for hunting in Sol A is that no mobs can get away! If one does, beat feet to zone immediately.

Like I said, I love Sol A. My friends are scared to death of it for the above reasons. Heh.
#6 Jan 15 2004 at 2:39 PM Rating: Decent
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I played my beastlord there with a cleric friend for a while. This was mid-20's I think...so perhaps a little too low for there. But a Vah Shir there without Shrink really sucks. And a few mobs definitely got away a couple times...and the cleric, who's an experience SolA player, fell into the lava and died too. I was able to drag his corpse, relatively easily, actually...but we still decided it wasn't worth it.

Heh, then a few levels later we decided to try Najena...fell down the pit trap and got mezzed by that enchanter...we both survived thanks to my pet, but once was enough.

Both places were almost completely empty on Kane Bayle. I think we tried SolA three times and one time there was someone being PL'ed there, the other times it was deserted.

Game on,

The Oneiromancer
#7 Jan 15 2004 at 3:27 PM Rating: Decent
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You are correct Bub, Sol A is an awesome dungeon but it is too difficult for most players in EQ. They prefer the easy road to leveling without much risk involved. My first character grew up in Sol A and i still head back once in a while. Another thing is the loot is pretty badly outdated but its one of the few dungeons that was well thought out. I doubt most of the newer player couldnt even get a character to 50 in the original game. The game is whole lot easier than it used to be.
#8 Jan 15 2004 at 4:02 PM Rating: Good
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For me its the lava. I just have a huge fear of losing my corpse. and the passageways around the lava are too narrow.
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#9 Jan 15 2004 at 4:50 PM Rating: Decent
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I agree that the Lava is bad news. However if you can kill your way over to the Clockwork side then you are golden. There is very little lava to fall into on that side. Most of the Gobbys on your way there are green or light blue (at level 32). Once you are at the entrance to the miners then things start getting difficult (dark Blue). And yes - the wizards are a pain in the *** and usually Nuke for 180 or so. Go after them 1st but usually you can pull them 1 at a time.

The named characters spawn fairly frequently and usually drop loot worth 50-500plat in the bazaar. One is Singe and the other is an imp looking thingy.

I have even Sowed myself (with potion) and ran to the entrance to Lavastorm with about 30 MOB's chasing me. You can be slow on the steps leading to entrance. Just watch your step and your HP's.
#10 Jan 15 2004 at 5:16 PM Rating: Decent
Levitate is your friend. :) Then lava isn't so much of a problem.

I really enjoy SolA, and there are bits that drop there for some nice quests. I have had a couple of problems with people PLing there, but for the most part people are pretty civil.

The spawn rate is good and the drops are fair for the level needed to kill there.

If you have a good group, the bar area is a good place to set up camp. Another good place is the room you come to before going down into SolB. (Hang a right instead of going down the steps into the bar area) We set up there and pulled happily for hours, escaping into SolB if needed. Just watch for the wandering kobold. *grin* (He's in SolB not A)

I strongly suggest bringing an enchanter no matter where in SolA you venture. Trains are a constant danger if you let ANYTHING get away. That and the named that occasionally shows up. *shakes her fist at Singe* And, in my humble opinion, it is the best place to learn crowd control for enchanters.

Edited, Thu Jan 15 17:16:17 2004 by Irondragon
#11 Jan 15 2004 at 6:05 PM Rating: Decent
37 posts
Also rate Sol A here. For druids and I guess shamen its also a great place to solo. Have SoW up and Gate memed. Worse case scenario if you do fall into the lava just gate yourself to safety
#12 Jan 15 2004 at 9:43 PM Rating: Excellent
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If you fall into lava, just /q out. You'll be ported to the safe spot in the zone. Been that way forever.
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#13 Jan 15 2004 at 10:45 PM Rating: Default
Many zones in EQ have been forgotten SolA is just one of em.
Great zone to hunt in for leveling and the best part is usually no one hunts thar. But the bad part is getting a decent grp to come many newbs now-a-days just think this is how they lvl

Good race/Bad
1 Newb zone 1-5
2 Higher spots in home zone 5-10
2 CB 10-16/Orcs in Ec 10-16
3 PC 16-25
4 HHK 25-30
5 OT 30-40
6 DL 40-50
7 50-65 LDON/Planes
#14 Jan 15 2004 at 10:46 PM Rating: Default
Many zones in EQ have been forgotten SolA is just one of em.
Great zone to hunt in for leveling and the best part is usually no one hunts thar. But the bad part is getting a decent grp to come many newbs now-a-days just think this is how they lvl

Good race/Bad
1 Newb zone 1-5
2 Higher spots in home zone 5-10
2 CB 10-16/Orcs in Ec 10-16
3 PC 16-25
4 HHK 25-30
5 OT 30-40
6 DL 40-50
7 50-65 LDON/Planes
#15 Jan 16 2004 at 3:51 AM Rating: Good
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Quote:
I'm probably about as close to an authority as anyone on my server on this subject.

Yet you still post anonymously... hmm...

Anyways, I'm not sure why most peeps avoid Sol A, and Sol B for that matter, but here are totally unfounded, random speculations. Most likely, unless they have played a dark character, they probably have never heard of Lavastorm. Also, nobody likes kobolds. After running through the Warrens enough times, you just wanna gather them all in Stonebrunt and have a barbeque. Plus lava is never any fun.

But if you like it, and nobody else is there to spoil your hunting, more power to ya. Just try to keep this whole thing on the DL and go on being a happy, albiet lonely, Sol A combatant!
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#16 Jan 16 2004 at 1:32 PM Rating: Decent
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Quote:
Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm probably about as close to an authority as anyone on my server on this subject.
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Yet you still post anonymously... hmm...


Alright, alright. Finally registered. *sigh*

Forgot to mention if you're an ogre without shrink, you cannot get in past the entrance hall. One of the funniest things I've yet seen in EQ is an ogre wedged in the Window room. Luckily (for him) I was playing my shammie at the time, so I shrank him after laughing hysterically.
#17 Jan 16 2004 at 1:43 PM Rating: Decent
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Alright, alright. Finally registered. *sigh*


You'll be a board troll in a month and you know it Smiley: grin

seriously everyone take note how nice we are to him now, we want more like Dirshan to join us and spread the wealth of knowlage!!!

welcome aboard Dirsh Smiley: smile

Free to register btw
#18 Jan 16 2004 at 7:16 PM Rating: Good
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Heya Drishan, sorry about that, but it had to be done. Glad you finally joined the ranks of posters here. Just get used to flaming anonymous posters, it's the most entertaining thing to do here -=)
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#19 Jan 16 2004 at 7:26 PM Rating: Decent
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LOL No problem. Thanks for the welcome. Been meaning to register for a while now. Always read the forum on lunchhour (which is only 45 minutes), so never took the time out to register before. Great forum though. Has helped me a lot. Hopefully I can give some back too.
#20 Jan 19 2004 at 8:57 PM Rating: Decent
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I agree with the original poster...Sol A IS under rated...I had soooo much fun there. It was non stop action the entire time. Goblins in the bar was my favorite prey. The ONLY bad thing about Sol A is the fact that you can rarely get picked up by a group there. I have waited nearly 1/2 hour at the entrance for a spot, although it was well worth it. SUMMARY: Loads of action (Like PC on crack), excellent place to learn grouping, decent pay out...and lastly, FUN~~~ A shame more people dont get their butts over to lavaland Smiley: grin
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#21 Jan 19 2004 at 9:53 PM Rating: Good
HHK is not really a dungeon, just a good camp spot with a great ZEM.

Sol A is a true dungeon and one of the great training grounds for learning the skills needed in high level dungeons.

It also looks and feels terrific, I rate it up there with Chardok as one of the best all round dungeons in the game.

I'll never forget the thrill of the first time that I had fought my way round to the goblin merchant and was able to sneak up behind him and sell stuff, deep in the heart of enemy territory.

When I first went to Sol A I didn't know about squeezing in through the window and went around and timed the jump through the swinging axe, this was after having had to face down a series of goblin wizards on the path down there. I felt very leet that day. (Later I discovered that you can click on the axe and stop it from swinging, lol).
#22 Jan 20 2004 at 3:22 AM Rating: Decent
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Level 39+ magicians can summon clicky levitation rings. Two charges of targetable lev each. If you can't lev yourself, load up on these before you head out. Cuts the lava risk WAY down.
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