click on the following link read and let your brain digest before proceeding another step
Hidden Forest Rules http://www.thehiddenforest.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2001
Before trying to connect to hidden forest server I would suggest a clean install of Everquest and follow the guide http://www.thehiddenforest.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1763 and get the map pack http://www.thehiddenforest.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=5651
Once you have logged into the game you will be in the Hidden forest hub ( http://www.thehiddenforest.org/wiki/index.php/The_Hidden_Forest) here you will find skill trainers, spell scribes & Translocation NPCS (hint *you will be giving a quest automaticaly at start do this quest as it will give you 100pp nice little start for a new char and help you learn the NPC's in the hub)
Bots for information on bots http://www.thehiddenforest.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=2252
ok on to the fun bit killing
lv1 – 30ish
Crushbone : http://www.thehiddenforest.org/wiki/index.php/Crushbone
Paludal Caverns : http://www.thehiddenforest.org/wiki/index.php/Paludal
Unrest : http://www.thehiddenforest.org/wiki/index.php/Unrest
At least do all the quests in Crushbone and Paludal as this will fill out your armour, weapons and jewelry slots and one of them has a clicky invis item that will prove useful for levels to come (I would suggest hunting in these zones till lv36 to make the level transistion easier)
lv30-55ish
City of Mist : http://www.thehiddenforest.org/wiki/index.php/City_of_Mist
Karnor Castle : http://www.thehiddenforest.org/wiki/index.php/Karnor_Castle
Ruins of Old Guk : http://www.thehiddenforest.org/wiki/index.php/The_Ruins_of_Old_Guk
Oasis of Marr : http://www.thehiddenforest.org/wiki/index.php/Oasis_of_Marr
Natimbi The Broken Shore : http://www.thehiddenforest.org/wiki/index.php/Natimbi,_The_Broken_Shores
If you try to break into these zones at lv30 you may have difficulty if you can not handle multiple pulls, I would suggest going to Broken Shore and doing the badge quest till you get a few levels (50ish)then going to the others for the quests and Chaotic Armor components once you have all the Chaotic Armor go back to Broken Shore and do more grinding/badge quests till lv65 (yes broken shore can take you over lv65 there is mobs at the top end that will con DB even at lv65)
lv55-70ish
Old Sebilis : http://www.thehiddenforest.org/wiki/index.php/Old_SebilisNagafens Lair : http://www.thehiddenforest.org/wiki/index.php/Nagafen%27s_Lair
The Plane of Valor : http://www.thehiddenforest.org/wiki/index.php/The_Plane_of_Valor
Qinimi Court of Nihilia : http://www.thehiddenforest.org/wiki/index.php/Qinimi,_Court_of_Nihilia
ok not had much exp in these zones as most of my chars got deleted (class trying) but from what I have done Iwould really hold of hunting in these zones till you are at least lv60+ or in a good group on a side note for pet classes in these zones a pet aug drops that will increase your pets power by quite a bit so get hunting and don't forget to keep an eye out for epic 1.5 parts