PLing in Strath/Scholo... how early?

[Tonuss]

I see that in another thread, Menthu mentioned using a 70 to level a group in Stratholme and/or Scholomance starting at level 45. Has anyone else done this with characters in this range? I was considering a pretty straightforward path for my group (level 46 paladin, priest, mage, warlock, PLed by my 70 enhance shaman) that would take me through BRD before hitting Scholo or Strath. But I was able to solo my way through many of the early pulls in Scholo with the shaman, and even took out Rattlegore + one of his skeleton adds.

So I'm wondering if anyone has tried it with characters this low (think 48/49, I still want to complete some quests in Uldaman and ST before moving on) and what their experiences were? More to the point, what is aggro like as you move through the instance? I'm thinking that just getting to the instance at those levels involves aggroing quite a few mobs (to say nothing of opportunistic players on a PvP server). But it's probably a lot less of a headache to get them to those two zones than it is to get them to BRD (again, particularly on a PvP server).

My priest is ready for runecloth (260/300 tailoring), about the only downside would be the relative lack of skinning available (paladin is 312 skinning). But the whelps in Scholo should make that easy as well. Ah, I guess I'll be trying it sooner than I expected, but any information or experiences would be welcome!

[Ughmahedhurtz]

If we're talking about epics, a well-geared enhance shammy will cuisinart mobs just about as fast as a warrior. Won't be able to AoE packs of mobs like a mage but it'll work just fine.

[Richard5657]

As a fresh 70 warrior, with only quest blues, and tier 1 blacksmith crafted mace, i flew a buddies group through Scholo. It was actually very fun, feeling like you were invincable. Rattlegore did hit pretty hard still, but as long as you dont let a cleave hit a clone, a few light heals will be more than enough.

The most difficult part with any melee will be the mobs that eventually go immune to melee damage, and must be killed by magic. An enhance shaman would solve that issue.

The only other hangup might be Alexi Barov, he is still pretty difficult especially if clones are 45. The shadow aura in his room would proabably make short work of someone at those levels.

Gandling is a joke, solo'd him completely, since my friends were killed by the adds when they got ported into the rooms.

All in all, it should be pretty fast, and mostly easy. Should be great xp/hour, but definately skip Jandice. She just isn't worth the trouble unless you have the quest for her. Even then, i'm not sure it's worth it.

[mackenziemi]

Should you hit Strath and Scholo? I have been told you should run BRD until 58 and then hit Outland.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

Well-geared fury warrior = AoE Melee class. Sweeping strikes / whirlwind / cleave = AoEAh yes, I always forget that they have AoE abilities. :P

[Tonuss]

Most, if not all of the mobs in Strat/Scholo will be RED at level 45. Which means you'll get your ass handed to you.

At 55 (x5) you might stand a chance - but I doubt it. Most 5 man groups with all lvl 60 players had trouble with these places. If you've got a 70 to go with you that can kill really fast, then power leveling will be viable. (70 epic mage or epic warrior). Otherwise, just do quests.Oh believe me, I know. Pre-BC, we ran Scholo and Strath until our eyes bled... then we ran it some more. >.<

I'd be doing this with my level 70 enhance shaman, in mostly kara/S1 gear (and soon to be replacing his 91 DPS axes with 103 DPS fist weapons once the badge vendor is unlocked after patch 2.4). When I went in there to solo with him out of curiosity, I managed pretty well. I cleared to Rattlegore without a problem, and died once to him when he aggroed as I grabbed one of the adds and wasn't ready. The second time I pulled him and the add came as well but they both went down (thank you mister earth elemental!). I was clearing to Jandice before I got bored and left.

With two healers (priest/paladin) and two ranged DPS (mage/warlock) I should be okay. They'll probably be 48 or 49 by the time they make their first trip there because I plan to hit Uldaman one more time (where they will ding 47 and complete the disc quests at the end) and Sunken Temple at least once more (to get level 48 and complete the essence quest). My primary concerns are having them aggro mobs as they zone in or move around, and having them aggro a mob by casting a heal or renew and getting turned into a messy stain on the floor. I don't really do speed runs through zones, especially since I can't AoE and I like to take my time with looting and such.

I'll give it a shot, probably weekend after the coming one. Thanks for the replies!

[Gallo]

All in all, it should be pretty fast, and mostly easy. Should be great xp/hour, but definately skip Jandice. She just isn't worth the trouble unless you have the quest for her. Even then, i'm not sure it's worth it.

A note about Jandice's room. The little skeletons that run around are 100% immune to magic damage ('cept holy). My 4x Shammy 1x Pally (54) almost wiped here because I just couldn't kill them. I ended up rounding as many as I could with a Shaman + earth shield, then droping 4x earth elementals, then having all shaman melee DPS. Took forever and was really stupid.

For you elemental shaman boxers - learn how do melee DPS multibox, arm a 2hander /w windfury and then start blowing up these guys. And make sure your 2hand wpn skill is high enough before trying! ;)

I'm at 57 with my shammies, and realize that all of them are VERY low on all weapon skills AND defense (except the main who gets hit the most). Before outlands, I may spend an hour getting smacked around by a couple mobs to get defense up and weapon skills up for mace/staff/axe

[Lorune]

I'm at 57 with my shammies, and realize that all of them are VERY low on all weapon skills AND defense (except the main who gets hit the most). Before outlands, I may spend an hour getting smacked around by a couple mobs to get defense up and weapon skills up for mace/staff/axe

Yeah i also experienced this, all my toons were boosted from 1 to 40 now, and they all have like 20/30 defence at most, guess it'll be quite some work to get it all up.

Anyone got any tips on how to do this the fastests (and savest of course)

[Gallo]

I tried to level it up in the 40s for a little bit. Basically, aggro a equal level mob with your healing totems out. Then start attacking melee with all your toons and watch them miss like nuts. Chain Heal when needed. Next mob you have to kill, make sure to aggro with a diff character.

[Gallo]

Go to blasted lands. Find the mobs that are found to the crystals (its a quest where you have to kill teh crystal after the mob gets low). Anyway, just don't kill the crystal. The mobs turn invincible, so you can beat on them forever.

For weapon skills that is good, but I'm not sure if your defense skill will ever go higher than the level of mob that is beating on you (ie if you should have lvl 150 defense at lvl 40, and a lvl 30 mob beats on you, it might stop giving skill after 120). I don't know this for sure, but its something to think about.

[Poolboy]

For easy/afk Defence skillups you need http://www.wowhead.com/?item=10515#comments the torch from searing gorge quicky quest. Then, hit up some tram rats for free unarmed + defence skill.

voila

[Sanctume]

I'm at 57 with my shammies, and realize that all of them are VERY low on all weapon skills AND defense (except the main who gets hit the most). Before outlands, I may spend an hour getting smacked around by a couple mobs to get defense up and weapon skills up for mace/staff/axe

Yeah i also experienced this, all my toons were boosted from 1 to 40 now, and they all have like 20/30 defence at most, guess it'll be quite some work to get it all up.

Anyone got any tips on how to do this the fastests (and savest of course)Go to Blasted Lands, those "Servants" that wont die until you use this quest item--yeah, they hit you back for little, and you gain skills by swinging at them. Judge a Paladin Seal of Light, and watch some TV.

[Fragmad]

I just did a Scholo run with my 70 lock. I got full venge and I had problem with dying on some of the last bosses :P
So yeah It's kinda hard imo, and I would suggest questing instead, but if you really feel like it it's no worse exp then normal solo-grinding.

[Tonuss]

Figured I'd let everyone know how it went... you can see a more detailed explanation in my blog.

Summary: Cleared it, killed all of the bosses. Three wipes, all to trash.

> Wipe #1 outside of Lorekeeper Polkelt's room, when I tried to stand and tank the group of slow-moving mobs that hit you, AE you, and AE when they die. Solution: kite them back and forth, jousting and nuking, and healing at each end when I had gained some distance.

> Wipe #2 outside of the Ravenian's room, when I assume that the trash came in packs, and pulled indiscriminately. Three mobs that hit really really fast made heals difficult, especially after they flattened my paladin and priest. Solution: Pull them carefully, and one at a time!

> Wipe #3 in the second large room, to respawns when a mob ran off at low health and brought back two or three (or a hundred... holy crap) other groups. I was heading back to the entrance to reset the zone, then decided that heck, I'll just clear my way back! I got sloppy with a pull (the third or fourth time I did that) and everyone died. Solution: don't treat Scholomance like Uldaman, you twit!

Jandice was interesting, but keeping the group out of combat range worked. She died, they didn't.

Someone had mentioned that Theolen Krastinov hits like a truck, and I'm glad I read that! I went in fully prepared and downed him easily, but it would've been dicey if I'd been less cautious.

Alexei Barov... *laugh*... say hello to my earth elemental! Now say goodbye...

Gandling was interesting, I figured I'd lose the group but kill him. He only tried to teleport one time, and I am not sure what happened. Maybe he aimed it at me and I resisted it, maybe I managed to interrupt it (I earth shocked him right about that time, but don't know if I did, or if it's even interruptible), maybe it bugged on one of the lower-level guys. No idea. But the door on one room did close and a mob did spawn inside. /shrug

Looks like a very good zone for me to boost them in. Lots of enchanting mats (greater eternal essences and large brilliant shards, which are still decent moneymakers), lots of runecloth, decent coin, etc etc. After patch 2.4 I will be able to buy both of the 103 DPS fist weapons to replace my 91 DPS axes, which should make it even easier to clear this zone. Wheeeeee...

[Jaws5]

wow , I guess i did not know you could go in at 45, guess it makes sence since you can get in ZF at 35. I run Scholo with 70 BM Hunter full S1 and vertern's mix. He can clear all in about 20 mins. Head master is pain when he teleports you away but as BM pet last until I return. I have tried with 70 mage Ice and 70 s1 vetern's Shammy but Hunter is best for that instance. Will have to try this at 45 with next grp im working on. I went in at 52 with my grp. hmmmmm

[Los]

actually went in there a couple of times last few weeks, if you stand in the room gandling ports you to, and fight him there, no problem with the fact he teleports :P (i was standing there to my luck/surprise)