Levelling questions...

[fraktur]

Hey everyone! I love the game and am looking forward to many hours playing. I've only been with DDO for two weeks, and I was hoping someone could explain the leveling system for me, or at least point me in the right direction so I could do my own research.

I've heard variances that some players reach level 80, and others that say the level cap is level 16.

What's the difference?

I've learned that there are 5 ranks to each level, and with each rank you get an additional experience point to spend, and at the 5th rank, you gain a level, but that is all I've found thus far.

Any help or explanation would be great!

Thanks in advance for your time!

[Deadz]

80 ranks = 16 lvls.

[Deadz]

ranks 1-5 are lvl 1 6-10 lvl 2 11-15 lvl 3 etc..

really there are only 16 lvls, but if you break it down to ranks, you get a tradtional number of lvls you find in other mmo's..

Dungeons and dragons is different from alot of rpgs, a lvl means alot.

[Murgatroyd]

Hey everyone! I love the game and am looking forward to many hours playing. I've only been with DDO for two weeks, and I was hoping someone could explain the leveling system for me, or at least point me in the right direction so I could do my own research.

I've heard variances that some players reach level 80, and others that say the level cap is level 16.

What's the difference?

I've learned that there are 5 ranks to each level, and with each rank you get an additional experience point to spend, and at the 5th rank, you gain a level, but that is all I've found thus far.

Any help or explanation would be great!

Thanks in advance for your time!

There are only 16 levels and you are right that each level has 5 ranks.
Rank 1 = Level 1
Rank 6 = Level 2
Rank 11 = Level 3
...
...
...
Rank 76 = Level 16
Rank 80 = Current Cap
Rank 81 = Level 17 (Coming in Mod 9)

Each Rank with the exception of those that give you a level gives you one enhancement point which you can use to customize your character. Once you hit Rank 80, you will have had 64 enhancement points to play with.

The levels are what give you more hit points, spell points, attack bonus, etc.

[FreudoBaggins]

each character gets to:

1) pick a feat every third level [3, 6, 9 ...] (these are changeable later, with Siberys dragonshards and $$, talk to Fred the Mindflayer, underneath the Garden of Repose in House J)

2) add a stat point every four levels [4, 8, 12 ...] (these are unchangeable, think before you level!)

3) add 2 stat points from race [dwarf & WF are Con], and 3 stat points from class [rangers get Dex, clerics get Wis and Char] through enhancements

4) spend action points for enhancements to boost skills, stats and abilities - talk to your class trainer (enhancements can be redone every 3 days, if necessary, with $$)

look ahead at possible feats and enhancements for your character, like Spellsinger / Warchanter / Virtuoso for bard, or Tempest for ranger; that helps you to plan ahead to meet their prereqs.

As Murgatroyd and Deadz point out, its the increase in things like HP, SP, base attack bonus, spell slots and spell levels, and saves which make gaining a level more important than getting a rank.

[fraktur]

Thanks everyone for the quick replies. I am getting a much broader understanding now. I'm liking the system more & more!

[Deadz]

It's a difficult game to grasp at first sometimes, but imo there isn't a more rewarding one out there.. plus the high lvl stuff becomes insanely fun, the little of it i've seen.

[Scalion]

Thanks everyone for the quick replies. I am getting a much broader understanding now. I'm liking the system more & more!

There's a lot of other differences in DDO than other mmos. For example, stacking items or spells that give the same effect generally don't work. Two items that grant strength will only result in you gaining the higher of the two strength bonuses, not both. Same goes for items that give skills. There are some items that do stack (mostly AC items). This is when one item or spell gives a different kind of bonus than the other item or spell. For example you gain AC from your armor, and your shield but the armor gives and armor bonus and the shield gives a shield bonus. There are both spells and gear that give deflection bonuses, and they will stack with the armor and shield bonuses, but two items or spells that give deflection bonuses won't count.

Sorry if that's a bit much, or if you already knew it, but it's something rather unique to DDO so I thought I'd mention it before you asked.

[fraktur]

There's a lot of other differences in DDO than other mmos. For example, stacking items or spells that give the same effect generally don't work. Two items that grant strength will only result in you gaining the higher of the two strength bonuses, not both. Same goes for items that give skills. There are some items that do stack (mostly AC items). This is when one item or spell gives a different kind of bonus than the other item or spell. For example you gain AC from your armor, and your shield but the armor gives and armor bonus and the shield gives a shield bonus. There are both spells and gear that give deflection bonuses, and they will stack with the armor and shield bonuses, but two items or spells that give deflection bonuses won't count.

Sorry if that's a bit much, or if you already knew it, but it's something rather unique to DDO so I thought I'd mention it before you asked.

wow. Clear as mud, right?

Good insight into future questions I"m sure I'll ask!

[Murgatroyd]

There's a lot of other differences in DDO than other mmos. For example, stacking items or spells that give the same effect generally don't work. Two items that grant strength will only result in you gaining the higher of the two strength bonuses, not both. Same goes for items that give skills. There are some items that do stack (mostly AC items). This is when one item or spell gives a different kind of bonus than the other item or spell. For example you gain AC from your armor, and your shield but the armor gives and armor bonus and the shield gives a shield bonus. There are both spells and gear that give deflection bonuses, and they will stack with the armor and shield bonuses, but two items or spells that give deflection bonuses won't count.

Sorry if that's a bit much, or if you already knew it, but it's something rather unique to DDO so I thought I'd mention it before you asked.

The trick to understanding what Scalion is saying here is look at the bonus type of the item. Different bonus types will stack. The item will always tell you what type of bonus it has and if the type is different than another item they will stack.

Armor is a big complicated because there's so many types of bonuses. With the exception of Dodge, bonuses of the same type will not stack.

Various "armor" types include:
Dodge (Dodge Feat, or items like the Chattering Ring)
Natural (Items, Barkskin)
Shield (Shield)
Deflection (Protection Items, Shield Spell)
Armor (Armored Bracers, Armor)
Insight (Crafted Items)
Alchemical (Collectables)
Enhancement (Magical + on armor)

Example:
If you are wearing Full Plate (+8 armor, +1 max dex) and you pull some Armored Bracers (+1 to +8 armor), then they will not stack.

You still have your Full Plate and a level 16 Ranger casts Barkskin (+5 natural) on you then your armor class will go up by 5.

[gemini26]

Just a note, the arcane spell shield provides a shield bonus, the deflection bonus is from the divine spell shield of faith.

[Xanthrawl]

The trick to understanding what Scalion is saying here is look at the bonus type of the item. Different bonus types will stack. The item will always tell you what type of bonus it has and if the type is different than another item they will stack.

Armor is a big complicated because there's so many types of bonuses. With the exception of Dodge, bonuses of the same type will not stack.

Various "armor" types include:
Dodge (Dodge Feat, or items like the Chattering Ring)
Natural (Items, Barkskin)
Shield (Shield, Shield Spell)
Deflection (Protection Items, Shield of Faith Spell)
Armor (Armored Bracers, Armor)
Insight (Crafted Items, Parrying Weapon)
Alchemical (Collectables)
Enhancement (Magical + on armor)

Example:
If you are wearing Full Plate (+8 armor, +1 max dex) and you pull some Armored Bracers (+1 to +8 armor), then they will not stack.

You still have your Full Plate and a level 16 Ranger casts Barkskin (+5 natural) on you then your armor class will go up by 5.


Fixed for ya.

[FreudoBaggins]

Don't know what class your character is, but it took me some time to work out that Potency items (scepters and stuff) do NOT stack with items that boost specific types of spells [such as Combustion boosting fire, Devotion boosting healing].

Potency boosts all spells [by 20, 30, 40, or 50%, depending on prefix]. The only difference is that Superior Combustion IV items, for example, are useable 2 levels before Superior Potency IV items are. Greater Potency items are useable 2? levels before Superior Potency.

[also, the clicky spell boosting items (under different names) are generally considered to be too much trouble to be worth carrying and using]

also, displacement does not stack with blur, but when it runs out, the blur will still be active.

[fraktur]

okay, 2d question...

If I play a character (for example, a rogue) to level 2, and then multi-class that character into a Ranger, I then have a level 2 Rogue/Level 1 Ranger. If one can only have a level 16 character, does this mean I can only go to level 14 with my Ranger? (i.e. a level 2 Rogue/Level 14 Ranger)...

Secondly, if I were to do it as a level 8 rogue/level 8 ranger, does this mean I can only group with level 8 characters, and never be able to group with level 16 characters, because they would be too high of level for me to gain experience with?

[Leyoni]

Yes, a L2 rogue that multiclasses to ranger could be 2/14.

No, a 8/8 multiclass could group with any L16 character and is considered L16 by the game.

When multiclassing the thing to think about is what skills you will have at that 16th level. There is hardly any reason to do an 8/8 split with any class combination because you don't gain enough benefit from it.

Effectively this means that unusual multiclasses don't get much opportunity to join groups because most of the players won't think the character can help the group.

Typical rogue/ranger multiclasses involve only 1 level of rogue with the rest ranger or 6 levels of ranger with the rest rogue. Level breaks at 6, 12, and 18 are important because those are the level where prestige enhancements can be learned (which can significantly improve your character).

[Cap_Man]

Welcome to DDO!

The multi-class levels are added together to give you your over all level. If you are a level 5 rogue/5 ranger you are in fact a level 10 character.

Multi-classing is one of the great things about DDO, you can build some very effective characters ... you can also create a horribly gimped character if you are not careful. The key is to plan ahead when multi-classing.

For instance you will see many people take 6 levels of Ranger and 13 levels of rogue, that is so they can get the level 6 Ranger enhancement Tempest and at the Rogue level 13 you can get a special rogue ability like crippling strike. And if you are going to multi-class any rogue levels into your build you will want your first level to be a rogue level as rogues get more skill points to use at level 1. (ie: if you had a level of ranger and then took a level of rogue you would have less skill points than if you started with a level of rogue and then took a level of ranger)

But I would recommend you get comfortable with the game for a bit before you try multi-classing. And btw, most rarely keep their first build. Try and get up to 400 favor to unlock drow and by then you should have a better idea of what you want to build.

Note - the examples shown here just discuss rogue and ranger level multi-class but you can multi-class anything you want. You can make a cleric/soc/paladin if that's what you wanted to play.

Have fun!

[fraktur]

Welcome to DDO!

The multi-class levels are added together to give you your over all level. If you are a level 5 rogue/5 ranger you are in fact a level 10 character.

Multi-classing is one of the great things about DDO, you can build some very effective characters ... you can also create a horribly gimped character if you are not careful. The key is to plan ahead when multi-classing.

For instance you will see many people take 6 levels of Ranger and 13 levels of rogue, that is so they can get the level 6 Ranger enhancement Tempest and at the Rogue level 13 you can get a special rogue ability like crippling strike. And if you are going to multi-class any rogue levels into your build you will want your first level to be a rogue level as rogues get more skill points to use at level 1. (ie: if you had a level of ranger and then took a level of rogue you would have less skill points than if you started with a level of rogue and then took a level of ranger)

But I would recommend you get comfortable with the game for a bit before you try multi-classing. And btw, most rarely keep their first build. Try and get up to 400 favor to unlock drow and by then you should have a better idea of what you want to build.

Note - the examples shown here just discuss rogue and ranger level multi-class but you can multi-class anything you want. You can make a cleric/soc/paladin if that's what you wanted to play.

Have fun!

Thank you for this... How do I know if I'm working on favor?

[Leyoni]

Note - the examples shown here just discuss rogue and ranger level multi-class but you can multi-class almost anything you want. You can make a cleric/soc/paladin if that's what you wanted to play.

Fixed that for you. :)

Some multiclasses are prohibited because of alignment restrictions (barbarian/paladin for example).

Still, most things are possible -- even if they aren't always the smartest thing to do. I, for example, am working on a rogue/wizard/cleric build that will be 2/7/7. When level cap goes to 20 I'll be adding at least 2 more levels to wizard. Haven't yet decided on whether to put the last 2 into wizard or into cleric.

A build few people would play but one that I want for personal reasons.

As with all "odd" builds it will have trouble getting into some groups as a result of the class combinations.

[FreudoBaggins]

Thank you for this... How do I know if I'm working on favor?

There's a button in your command bar (you know, backpack, quest journal, options, etc.) which is I think called the adventure compendium. The first tab lists all quests up to 2 levels above your current level, each with an associated faction (Coin Lord, House Deneith, Silver Flame etc.) which "sponsors" that quest.

Completing a quest for the first time on normal, hard, and elite difficulties earns you a set amount of favor with that faction (say, 3 each difficulty for a lower level quest, giving a maximum of 9 total when elite difficulty is completed). The adventure compendium only lists the highest level favor done; if you did normal and then elite, doing hard will not earn any more favor (but you will still earn the one-time xp bonus for doing it on hard).

The second tab lists all favor earned so far by faction, with a bar showing progression to the next level. The overall favor is at the bottom.

Faction milestones you want to look for early on are:
Coin Lord 75 and 150 - gives you the opportunity for extra backpack slots (#4 & #5, at a cost)
House Kundarak favor 75 and 150 - gives you an opportunity to add more bank tabs (1 each)
Total favor 400 - once reached, allows you to roll any new characters on that server as Drow (it's a permanent flag, even if you delete that first character later)
Silver Flame 75 and 150 - first decreases the cost of heals and other aid purchased from Silver Flame clerics in the taverns, then speeds health and mana regeneration in the taverns somewhat.

Other favor rewards are listed in the DDO wiki: http://ddo.enterwiki.net/page/Browse_portal

Oh, and 1750 total favor earns that character a bound (untradeable) +2 tome in the stat of your choice, just so you know, for planning purposes.

[fraktur]

There's a button in your command bar (you know, backpack, quest journal, options, etc.) which is I think called the adventure compendium. The first tab lists all quests up to 2 levels above your current level, each with an associated faction (Coin Lord, House Deneith, Silver Flame etc.) which "sponsors" that quest.

Completing a quest for the first time on normal, hard, and elite difficulties earns you a set amount of favor with that faction (say, 3 each difficulty for a lower level quest, giving a maximum of 9 total when elite difficulty is completed). The adventure compendium only lists the highest level favor done; if you did normal and then elite, doing hard will not earn any more favor (but you will still earn the one-time xp bonus for doing it on hard).

The second tab lists all favor earned so far by faction, with a bar showing progression to the next level. The overall favor is at the bottom.

Faction milestones you want to look for early on are:
Coin Lord 75 and 150 - gives you the opportunity for extra backpack slots (#4 & #5, at a cost)
House Kundarak favor 75 and 150 - gives you an opportunity to add more bank tabs (1 each)
Total favor 400 - once reached, allows you to roll any new characters on that server as Drow (it's a permanent flag, even if you delete that first character later)
Silver Flame 75 and 150 - first decreases the cost of heals and other aid purchased from Silver Flame clerics in the taverns, then speeds health and mana regeneration in the taverns somewhat.

Other favor rewards are listed in the DDO wiki: http://ddo.enterwiki.net/page/Browse_portal

Oh, and 1750 total favor earns that character a bound (untradeable) +2 tome in the stat of your choice, just so you know, for planning purposes.

VERY VERY Good information! Thank you.

Next question:

What is a tome, and what does it do? Is it a book that goes in the trinket slot that gives you +2 to whatever stat it is? Or is it a book the character can read that will increase that individual stat?