Relatively short post this time, but in my recent wanderings I've come across some new spots to level, and the level ranges for these areas are pretty ideal, so I thought I'd share.
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First, show of hands. Who here likes Qufim? Especially if you're going through it for your fifth or sixth time like I recently did, you know that little stomach-clenching knot of fear you get whenever you think of that damnable island with its sadistic and horribly-placed undead spawnpoints and its precision-timed "/sh OMG 4 WIGHTS, 2 BANSHEES, A PUGIL AND 3 GIANTS TO ZONE!!!11 SWEET JESUS, THE HUMANITY!!! OHHH, THE PAIN!!" every 1.85 minutes. How much would you pay to bypass it entirely? Well, shoot me a message and I'll send you my paypal account, because:
Carpenters' Landing (Northern San d'Oria entrance) - Excellent spot for a high teens-mid 20s party. The entrance is a trap door located almost directly across from the carpenters guild. It's a small area with lots of spawns nearby, and several good "safe spots" to camp near the zone to North Sandy. On the low end you have bees and beetles, then there's lots of orcs and funguars too. Be careful though, thunder elementals tend to spawn here a lot (thunderstorms are common in Carpenters' Landing) but they usually stick close to the boat dock. Flytraps might be worth trying too, but they like throwing around status effects (I've seen Slow, Sleep and Paralyze, and I suspect they can Poison as well). You'll also see the odd Glide Bomb (grenade-type enemy) as well as formation-bats (avoid these, they like Jet Stream a little TOO well). The area can probably support no more than two parties since it's a relatively small location, but its proximity to San d'Oria is incredibly convenient. I'd put the mob levels approximately on par with Jugner Forest. I was able to farm (albiet slowly, everything was EP) there as my 27 WAR, so I'm estimating the mobs to be decent levelling for 18-23ish?
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So, you've managed to wriggle your way out of Qufim by enjoying San d'Oria's newfound sanctuary, but now you're experiencing painful flashbacks of 30-goblin trains and dead bodies as far as the eye can see. Yes, you have Kazamitis. There's only one cure for this dread disease:
Bibiki Bay - This tranquil area is a bit out of the way, being located near Mhuara. Follow the coastline on the beach just west of Mhuara and keep going west til you get to the area with the bard quest song runes. Keep following the beach and you'll see a cave entrance right on the water at the far west end of that beach. It's a bit out of the way but for a high 20s party there is no better levelling. You have a smaller selection of mobs to choose from, but how sweet they are! Island Rarabs (yes, Random Rabbit Clone #8223) are an interesting new diversion. Besides the bunny standards Dust Cloud (cone-AOE blind), Whirl Claws (AOE damage attack), and Foot Stomp (single-target big-hit attack), these devious bunnies have learned to grow their own crops. Wild Carrot will heal them for around 120 HP, but it looks pretty cool and 120 HP isn't much in the grand scheme of things. Marine Dhalmels (now you know why they have the incredibly long necks... dhalmels are native to the seabed where their elvaan-style necks allow them to reach the surface for air) are FANTASTIC levelling at around 28-29. They have the exact same specials as your typical dhalmels and don't vary in any way from their mainland brethren, and are a fast and easy 200 EXP kill. There are also the Batallia-variety of Goblins a little further in and to the right through the canyon (but don't go too far! The mob level range jumps from 20s to 60s in a matter of a few steps if you go too far down the canyon path!) There are also some pretty wicked looking new gecko-like enemies called Efts. Don't be fooled by their "Very Tough" ratings. These things will eat you alive with their powerful attacks and VERY evil Dispelga specials. They don't aggro but they link like mad, so hands off unless you enjoy seeing your butt sticking in the air. At level 28, rabbits were mostly IT with the occasional VT. Almost all the dhalmels were IT, while the goblins were about 50/50 IT/VT. Also, one small word of warning: Stay away from the pier if anyone is fishing. It's almost comically easy to fish up Krakens in this area, and you don't want to be nearby when that happens. This area can probably support three well-spaced parties at any given time. The nearest home-point is in Mhuara, but it's not that far a run to get back to your party if you die, and you won't have to face the nonstop Goblin Locomotive Co. in Yuhtunga/Yhoator.
So far those are the only new hot levelling areas I've found, but as I explore I'll try to keep this thread updated. My party had a fantastic time levelling in Bibiki Bay today, it was great to go to a new area and fight new mobs for a change.
Edited, Fri Oct 1 10:59:04 2004 by Saboruto