I enjoy playing Alts in MMOs. I find that leveling the Alts through the same old content provides new challenges if the Alts are of different classes, but also that I can hone the use and efficiency of traversing content the next time through even if the same classes are used. However, recently, over the last several months, some things have happened in Tera that have now reminded me how useful playing the same content over and over can be. One learns to do it better and better. Here is a short chronicle of my experiences in Tera since the Gunner and Fate of Arun expansion were released:
Fate of Arun
Tera at Enmasse released the Fate of Arun expansion in December 2014. This expansion provided a foothold on the as yet unoccupied content of Northern Arun and provided a path to level from 60 to 65. I did not rush into playing this expansion. I had some toons at nearly level 60, but didn’t have any that were ready to take on the new content.
I was struggling in Elenea with toons at level 58 or so that seemed to be under-powered and were not advancing beyond what looked like a strength valley in their ability to level up.
Gunner
The gunner class arrived in May of 2015 and was immediately widely agreed as Overpowered. It was easy to blow through all the content to reach level 60, and with the two week double EXP event that was going on, I was able to get two gunners – one on each of two servers, up to level 60 in very short time.. And then I moved on with those gunners to do the new Fate of Arun content.
Using the gunners I learned the Fate of Arun content and leveled those toons to 65 with very little trouble. Of course the Gunner class has not only great “Crowd Control” skills, and damage, but also a self-healing bot.
Other Classes
After leveling two gunners to level 65 and completing the Fate of Arun content – at least the PvE content without the dungeons – I moved on to the other classes. The Mystic went fairly well. With it’s Protector tank pet and self healing orbs, it was reasonable. Then I tried the Priest and this was a little harder, but again possible. But this content seemed so hard that I despaired of taking other classes like the Warrior, Slayer, Sorcerer, and especially the Archer through this content. There is especially one instance that is very difficult, the killing of the transformed Zolyn. This solo instance starts with a room full of attacking Archdevans that you must survive. While you have help from Dougal and ohters, even a strong class like a Berzerker was taken down.
Learning The Ropes
I gave up on the new content for a while and solved the problem of leveling to 60. It turns out that moving to Lorcada after reaching level 58 is the solution to the Leveling Valley problem. Complete the caves of Doomcrypt, the SkyCastle dungeon if it’s convenient, and the other areas of Elenea, minus the BAM quests, and then move on to Lorcada. I don’t bother to complete the story quests here since I rarely have anyone to help out, and they cannot be easily solo’d. However, Lorcada from Habere is easy at level 58, and ignoring the dungeons and BAMs, you can pretty easily reach level 59.
Once you reach level 59 move on to Val Tirkai and complete that area to reach level 60. As soon as you reach level 60, you can safely move to the Airship platform near Velika and begin the Fate of Arun content.
Long Grind in Northern Arun
I found it could be a long grind in Northern Arun. However, recent updates have adjusted the XP gained by the Vanguard Requests and perhaps Story Quests and so it seems to go a little faster. Use some EXP boost scrolls and keep at it. Try to keep ahead of the story quest level if you can. And the goal is to grind to level 65 before attempting the last content in Arx Umbra, at least before entering the keep. If you hammer away at the Vanguard Quests you should be able to reach 65, get your new skills while you are working on the quests to close the three Storm Towers. Once you close those towers, many of the Vanguard Requests become unavailable, so make sure you reach 65 before completing them.
Buffs and Potions
One of the key insights that I have discovered that has allowed me to complete the Fate of Arun content is the use of Potions and Bandages. I have always used Charms and as you have learned as well, make it a lot easier to kill stuff and survive. But I have largely been able to avoid using any Potions and Bandages for any of the classes. So let’s go through a list of the potions and buffs that I have found useful in this last content to complete the PvE content of Fate of Arun:
Noctenium
Make sure you take the side trip to the Isle of Dawn to complete the Noctenium quest. I suggest you save your Nocs until the last part of the Fate of Arun content.
As as example, using Noctenium allowed my Berzerker to complete the fight to kill the transformed Zoylin, I died in a pervious attempt without enabling Noctenium. Be sure and enable Noctenium in all your solo instances and when you are in the Arx Umbra keep.
Crystalbind – save those Crystals
Recently – in the last year or so – I’ve avoided or skipped dungeons. Basically any of the dungeons lower than level 60 are frequently vacant. So consequently I have not used many Crystalbinds up to now. Well be sure and use these now. Those freebees crystals that you get in the mail are very useful and you will want to preserve them. If you don’t have Crystalbind, then buy some on the trading post. Keep Crystalbind active in all the later instances of FoA and inside Arx Umbra.
Potions and Bandages
Keep these on hot keys during the later content. Valiant Potions can be used during combat and Vet Bandages save your VPs when you are not actually in combat, which is surprisingly often. Step back from Rhodos, go out of combat, and you can use your Vet Bandages.
Finally, keep a couple of these to save having to do the instance again. All the instances are solo, so you can’t bring a priest friend to help you. But one of these is almost as good.
So I’m back to finishing off the Fate of Arun content with my Alts. I have completed it with Mystic, Gunners, Berserker, Slayer, Warrior and have a hope that I can do it with Sorcerer and Archer with these tricks. I hope these tricks help you if you are having trouble.
I’m looking forward to doing it all again with the Brawler when she comes out.
Enjoy, ww
Windy Weather 