Hey Norrathians,

New episode is out: The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy.

This is part of our Ask The Panel run where we take your questions, argue about them, and occasionally learn something. If you want to be in the room for the recording, you can join the monthly webinar.

Next webinar: Friday 19 July
https://richardsonsrubicon.com/ask-the-panel/

In this episode we cover:

• Lore oddities (including trolls and Cazic-Thule)

• The goofiest items (yes, the rare leaf gets a mention)

• The worst camps (Quillmane, obviously)

• A quiz (expect confident answers and corrections)

• Listener questions, including where a new player should start

Answering your questions

1) Where should a new player start: P99, Live, or TLP?

It depends on what you want the game to feel like. Here’s the honest trade-off:

Project 1999 (P99)

• Best for: the classic EQ experience: slower pace, danger matters, community dependence, old-school friction.

• Pros: strong “world” feeling, meaningful progression, grouping culture can be great, no official cash shop pressure.

• Cons: time-consuming, unforgiving, quality-of-life is deliberately limited, population and grouping can vary by level and time of day, you will do corpse runs and you will suffer.

• If you choose P99: go in expecting a long game and a learning curve.

Time-Locked Progression (TLP)

• Best for: classic content with modern conveniences and a big early population.

• Pros: easier onboarding, faster levelling, more grouping during the fresh-cycle rush, quality-of-life features reduce frustration, expansions unlock over time.

• Cons: the “rush” culture can turn it into a treadmill, boxing is common on some servers, krono economy can warp incentives, later eras can thin out.

• If you choose TLP: start early in a server’s life for the best community and grouping.

Live servers

• Best for: modern EQ as a long-running MMO with lots of systems and endgame content.

• Pros: loads of content, fast catch-up tools, active raiding at endgame, lots of class and gear options.

• Cons: overwhelming for a new player, early zones can feel empty, heavy emphasis on max-level play, monetisation exists and can distract.

• If you choose Live: use a beginner-friendly guild and accept that you’re learning a complex modern MMO, not “classic EQ”.

My blunt recommendation

• Want the authentic classic feeling and you’re patient: P99

• Want classic content but do not want the harsh edges: TLP

• Want an MMO you can stick with long-term at endgame, and you do not mind systems overload: Live

2) Best tips for a complete beginner starting P99

These are the moves that prevent early quitting:

1. Pick a beginner-friendly class

   • Safest: necromancer, magician, druid

   • Hard mode: warrior, rogue (gear-dependent, rough solo)

2. Bind and bank early

   • Bind near safety. Bank early. Carry less than you think.

3. Treat death as part of the loop

   • Corpse runs happen. Learn where you died, clear the area, recover calmly.

4. Get into /ooc and ask

   • P99 is social by design. Ask for a bind, ask for a group, ask for directions.

5. Do not chase “best XP”

   • Chase reliable XP where you can survive. Dying ruins XP.

6. Learn one zone properly

   • Know the safe edges, escape routes, and which mobs social aggro.

7. Loot discipline

   • In groups, clarify loot rules early. Assume nothing.

8. Use the wiki, but do not let it replace play

   • Wiki helps, but the game’s feel is learned by doing.