Best leveling style?

[Valendur]

I've been away from EQ2 for some time but recently returned. My wife had moved her characters to a different server some time ago, so when I returned I did not have a character on her server anymore. Rather than spend the money to move my previous character(s) to this server, I decided I would prefer to simply level a new toon.

So here's the problem:
As one of my "veteran rewards" I have received a device that will refill my vitality once a week. Orb of Concentrated Memories I think it was called. So when I adventure and empty out my vitality, I use the Orb and refill vitality and keep going. When I craft and empty out my vitality, the only way to get it back is to wait. As a result, my adventure level is currently 11 levels above my crafting, even though I try my best to keep my crafting level up.

So my question is:

What is the most effective method to level Sage?


Create one of each spell each level until you run out of spells, even if you level in between, maximizing discovery XP.
Create one of each spell of your current level until you level, then move on to the new level's spells, using discovery xp while also maximizing level-based XP and only using off-level spells when you don't level from discovery XP.
Do work orders.
Do rush orders.

Maybe those choices are a little too limiting. It's pretty clear that as long as I have vitality I can make it through a level on between 1/2 and 2/3 of the recipes of a given level (depending on exactly how many spells there are on that level) using discovery XP. The only real question becomes when I have no vitality and am unable to get through a level on discovery alone. When I run out of discovery on the current level, which is my best alternative for xp?


Rush orders (does level in the tier matter?)
Work orders (does level in the tier matter?)
off-level discovery (L-1, L-2, L-3, etc.)
grinding current level spells (non-discovery)


Fuel / mats are not a concern except I don't plan to use rares to level. Time is really the main issue. I'd rather not dedicate an excessive amount of time to crafting when I could be adventuring, yet I really want to keep my spells up to date and they're obviously not. Current crafting level is 55 if that matters, and current adventure is 66.

While I'm asking, where is a good place to adventure solo with a quest line at 66? I'm currently doing the Loping Plains line with my wife when we can play together and I need an alternate location for when I play alone. Thanks!

[Aandaria]

This is just my preference:

- Rush Orders (highest level)
- Disco if I need a little push over on a level
- Tradeskill XP potions from my veteran rewards after vitality is gone

[Howlingmoon]

Here's the way I've been lvling MY Sage:
Create one of each spell for First Pristine bonuses, and only craft WITH vitality. My Sage tis lvl 60 now, still doing lvl 52 First Pristines. She's just had to wait a week in between every couple lvl's. (Usually 2-3 full lvl's from T4 or 5 on, it seems.)

Here's how my friend has been doing HIS Sage:
Craft one of each spell for First Pristine bonuses, with AND without vitality. When those run out, do Rush Orders 'til more First Pristines are received. He started at lvl 1, doing it that way, and started running out of First Pristines around T5 because he wasn't waiting for vitality to build back up.

[abbneer]

This is just my preference:

- Rush Orders (highest level)
- Disco if I need a little push over on a level
- Tradeskill XP potions from my veteran rewards after vitality is gone

this is the way to go, plus you get faction so you can make maniquins, AA mirror and get the cool house items along with the title from faction vendor. Plus you will get disc exp along the way.

[Niami DenMother]

Don't discount crafting quests for a bit of variety and tedium reduction - some of them give a goodly amount of crafting experience, and getting AA as well is a lovely bonus.

At your adventuring level, it should be pretty easy to whiz through the Grandmaster series of crafting quests, earning crafting xp and crafting society faction along the way. Then there's the satchel quest from Mara.

If you own TSO, the Ship Out line will give you a pretty solid chunk of xp as well as some AA, the daily Mara missions will then give you a goodly chunk (especially the first time through each, if you make one of every item for disco either during the quest, or after completion, before exiting the instance), and the daily tasks from Grobb, Tupta and Firmroot can't be discounted, either.

You can find more details on many of these in the Quests section of the site (http://eq2.eqtraders.com/articles/article_page.php?article=q1&menustr=060000000000)

~Mum