As an untwinked level 9 Human Druid who has completed all the Pine Druid quests except one (a stranger gave me Splitpaw Hide Gloves which are superior to the PD ones) I thought I'd pass on a few tips that might help some of you starting out. Because of the difference in stats I figured a Human Druid would be quite a bit harder to play than a Halfling or Wood Elf but it seems Verant has balanced the class nicely by adding the PD quests and providing a terrific hunting area for newbies. The Qeynos Hills hunting area area, mostly around the Qeynos town zone line, is filled with drops that sell for 2 gold or more. Since EQ newbies crave money for spells and equipment, this is truly the happy hunting ground. First, get the free 8-slot bag from the PD quests. Next kill a Fire Beetle for an eye and buy Flame Lick. Then spend you money on 8-slot bags. After the first level focus on blues. I know it's slower, but go for the loot. What's the point of getting to a higher level quicker if you're too broke to do anything. King Snakes and rats are particularly good but even skels drop a 2g tibia. The best is a plague tail from rats, sells for 1p, 7g. Stick with blues and even some greens to turn over the area and keep your eye out for Giant Field Rats. The toughest loot to acquire are GFR whiskers so never pass up a chance at them. Buy spells and leather armor and accumulate the PD quest no-drops as you go. The Large King Snake Skin is dropped by a Large Snake in the Qeynos Catacombs (don't ask why). You can get Spiderling Silk in Everfrost. Use Camolage to get through Black Burrow. GFR Pelts and Ruined Gnoll Leather armor are NOT no-drop so you can buy them from merchants in Qeynos and Surefall. As to the PD weapon, that was a bit of a fluke. While working on building my stats at level 9 in Surefall a generous stranger buffed me up a bunch. I knew where the Bloodsaber Defiler was (level 12 I think), so I went and beat hell out of her and took her head. Had to travel to Halas to get the sharpening stones. It is my experience that if you sit in a high traffic area when working on your stats, some nice person will throw a a buff or two on you.
Never beg. It's demeaning.
Pelis, Rodet Nife