you dont have to.
but your char will suck, you need sp to get decent magic attacks

.
also, you dont have to start at 16, you can start whenever, but 16 is porbably the most convenient.
also, sp farming with a 9 gap will get you lots of sp.
with no gap, jsut grinding, youll level and wont get loads of sp.
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Started playing again, on CSRO now though, not ISRO (:
Hybrid - 5x 70:70 Hybrid - Ocean[VIP] CSRO
_EXPO_ - 7x 1H Warrior Cleric - ISRO - QUIT