Tips on leveling at higher levels.

[Rumbaar]

I've made it to Level 18 on my first character, I tend to be a one character at a time player. I'm still new so many of the 'flagging' quest and items needed to gain access to many raids still elude me. That being said the game isn't user friendly on knowing what is needed to be done to gain access to certain content.

The guild I've created is mostly dead, lack of leader in my behalf or active recruitment. But that being said how do new 'lone wolves' level at higher levels? There are only a few quests [compared to <14] that give XP now and any of the general LfM are now for farming runs or raids.

I'm new so can't really start up LfM for quests I don't know, also some area I just know how to get to or where the quests are. I have Reavers Reach and some kind of valley are a total mystery to me.

So it my only real option is disband my guild as a fools errand and join a more active guild to gain the members and collective experience?

Any constructive tips or suggestions welcomed.

[7-day_Trial_Monkey]

I never hesitate to put a lfm for a quest I know nothing about.

Just put in the notes: "no idea where it is.. come show me!"

It can be refreshing for a vet to lead someone(s) through a quest for their 1st time. As long as your honest about it nobody will be upset.

[Lleren]

When I don't know what to do, I go slay in an explorer area, and watch the /lfm panel.

[Antheal]

I'm sure as long as you specify it's a quest you've never done before in that LFM notice, people wont think badly of you for it.

[Lorz]

OP - at this level hopefully you still have most of the Vale slayers and Reavers and Amrath left to slay. That can go a long ways to getting you to 20. As post above says...just post it up...everybody was new at some point. Some are new again :)

As for flagging runs, they can still be a good source for XP...and you can learn the quests..although they tend to be quicker runs, do it enough you will learn it.

Also finding other players leveling up at your level is a good way.

And last but not least....get an active guild. There are plenty and all types. A good guild can make all the difference.

[Mackem]

I also happen to play on Khyber.

Our server has a decent number of players active at a prime AU/NZ time and a couple of guilds active at this time, Phoenix Crusaders and Stormreach Theves Guild.

And you do not even have to disband your guild to get into the groups as they happen to be on LFM rather often.

Try to get into the Vale flagging quests whenever they are done at level or put your own LFM up.
You can join Subterraine skelly runs for some Sub slayers or farm Vale slayers area for mats/stuff to sell.
You can join Hound/VoD raids as well and get some decent exp from those...

[Rumbaar]

I guess the consensus is to not be afraid to put up a LfM, but just state at the start no clue. As my first run through many I'm the type to 'stop and small the roses' so joining others at times can be a zerg. I do like to be able to learn from a quest, so next time I know.

And yes I have plenty of slayers, I've been running the Orchard for the last few days, before that it was Sands/Gianthold. But ransack and boredom are slowly eating into my enjoyment.

Hound and VoD you don't need pre flag quest and/or items?

[Mackem]

No need to flag for Hound and VoD, you just pick those quests from the market area, middle part near the tent...

[sly_1]

A good way to figure out all the flagging requirements is to look up the raid in ddo wiki.

Just a couple examples:

All raids:
http://ddowiki.com/page/Category:Raids
Shroud flagging:
http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Thirteenth_Eclipse
reaver flagging:
http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Reaver%27s_Bane

etc. each page for each raid either explains or has a link to a page that explains the flagging for each raid.

oh hey, p.s., no need to be in a guild in order to raid. many raids are run as pugs, just make sure you actually inform the raid group you are new so people can make sure you don't do something wrong. most of the time ppl are happy to explain the raid to you.

[tihocan]

That being said the game isn't user friendly on knowing what is needed to be done to gain access to certain content.
Usually if you follow the NPC dialogues and quest logs it should be clear enough.

[Wyrmnax]

After lv 17, raiding is a fairly decent income of xp.

Reaver, VoD, Shroud and Hound all give decent amounts of xp, and all are quite easy to flag as you should already have done the reaver req quests for xp ( missing only AHable relics and the dragons ), and the Shroud quests as they are some of the few lv16 quests.

Really, once you get past lv 16 and the xp penalty for powerleveling you can just engage "endgame" activities and that will eventually bring you to 20.

[Rumbaar]

Usually if you follow the NPC dialogues and quest logs it should be clear enough.Really? I must miss most of them, I can't say I ever saw a NPC dialogue that told me I had to run three? flagging quests in Gianthold area, then collect 20 of each relics and then do another quest, but make sure I kill three optional dragons to gain access to a raid. Same could be said for the Vale Raid, I'm still not 100% sure how to gain access to that raid. Can you offer a tip on what NPC to talk to and where to get all this info, in game?

I'll have to check my quest logs though, does the raid show up and indicate what I've done and haven't done to gain access to it?

As for quests I should have done and already been flagged, I guess those are the quests I'm talking about that don't know or haven't seen many groups for.

[Renvar]

Check out the lost quest guide. It's a forum post that gives details on most every quest in the game (just a couple post mod-9 ones are not detailed) and has an Am I Raid Ready? section that tells you exactly what to do to get ready flagged for any raid.

Also, there is a downloadable Shroud Crafting tool that is linked in the forums that once downloaded has the raid guide and flagging guide in it as well. It will also help you with puzzles in the raids.

Two great resources to use.

[Arctigis]

You could also run the Inspire Quarter and Dreaming Dark Quests for XP. The major challenge there is boredom IMO.

[Rumbaar]

You could also run the Inspire Quarter and Dreaming Dark Quests for XP. The major challenge there is boredom IMO.Are these soloable? Or once again getting parties is the issue :)

I can't say I've ever been in Inspired Quarter but only once, when I randomly remembered it was there.

[Anderei]

There are occasional parties for the inspireds, and the nice thing about them, usually a party runs trough the whole chain at least once, often even doing stuff multiple times for the discs, so once it gets going, you get a very nice xp/hour.

Monestary of the scorpion (reavers package) is a pretty popular quest, which is IMHO quite fun too. Also has decent XP.

Vale slayers also get you a steady XP stream, slayer parties are very easy to get, since many people look besides the XP after the scales. If slayer the vale regulary you even get not so bad xp for the rares, as there are a lot that can be killed in a relatively short time.

[Rumbaar]

Looks like I'll have to keep my eye out then. I know the investment in time to do full chain runs is a little difficult at times for me, also GMT +10 isn't the peak time for many.

It was funny from levels 14-18 I was killing it, banking XP and only being forced to level due to reaching the limit. But since getting to 18 I don't think I've done one XP giving quest and have only been getting XP from explorer areas.

I guess it's how you make it. Yes Vale slayers can fill randomly, which are good at times. Of course still learning what is needed to be farmed and well still a little squishy in there. I have zero raid gear or 'uber' gear.

[Mackem]

Really, once you get past lv 16 and the xp penalty for powerleveling you can just engage "endgame" activities and that will eventually bring you to 20.

This is very true.

On my characters I made my first priority to flag for Shroud once I hit lvl 16 and did not really noticed when I got to 20 as I was busy farming Vale, Vale quests for pie/mats, Subterraine, Shroud, Hound and VoD...

GMT +10 is an OK time actually and we have quite a lot of solid players on Khyber active at this time. I play at the same time zone and last night got into groups to complete a couple of Shrouds (2 characters), VoD, Reaver and an elite Sleeping Dust in Vale for the pie. :) Seen a couple of other Shrouds, a Hound and a few other lvl 16+ quests LFM's too.

And if you have Shroud flagging questions, please feel free to PM Mackem on Khyber, I'd be happy to help.

[Rumbaar]

Thx Mackem, I think I've run with you a few times or at least once. Your name is familiar.

[KKDragonLord]

Really? I must miss most of them, I can't say I ever saw a NPC dialogue that told me I had to run three? flagging quests in Gianthold area, then collect 20 of each relics and then do another quest, but make sure I kill three optional dragons to gain access to a raid. Same could be said for the Vale Raid, I'm still not 100% sure how to gain access to that raid. Can you offer a tip on what NPC to talk to and where to get all this info, in game?

I'll have to check my quest logs though, does the raid show up and indicate what I've done and haven't done to gain access to it?

As for quests I should have done and already been flagged, I guess those are the quests I'm talking about that don't know or haven't seen many groups for.

Really.

They all tell all of that if you follow the dialogue lines, they don't say it all at once but its just a matter of doing one thing after the other.
Don't know how you could have missed it...maybe reading would help.

[tihocan]

Really? I must miss most of them, I can't say I ever saw a NPC dialogue that told me I had to run three? flagging quests in Gianthold area, then collect 20 of each relics and then do another quest, but make sure I kill three optional dragons to gain access to a raid. Same could be said for the Vale Raid, I'm still not 100% sure how to gain access to that raid. Can you offer a tip on what NPC to talk to and where to get all this info, in game?
If you read the dialogues it should be pretty clear. For instance Cydonie will direct you to the giant in GH who will tell you about how you need to run the 3 quests and collect the 20 relics. Then once you're done she'll tell you about the dragons to kill in the Tor. In the Vale you first get the quest to reach Meridia, then the NPC in front of Shroud will tell you about how you need to go find the Twelve members (and when you go back to him without having done all 5 quests he'll tell you you need more).


I'll have to check my quest logs though, does the raid show up and indicate what I've done and haven't done to gain access to it?
The quest logs aren't always complete unfortunately, and sometimes if you missed the NPC dialogue you can't really get the full info anymore. I don't remember for sure what it says about Reaver/Shroud though.

[Anderei]

Reading the NPC dialoges? Humbug!

With my last char I tried to, but in the catacombs people got mad at me, since only one can "use" the guy at the time, and if everybody would actually read the dialog which works in series only and not parallell (what a stupid design idea), it takes forever. Thus at lvl 4 I gave up again actually reading any of the story plots :-/

BTW Other games log the complete dialog in the quest log... i don't see why DDO can't do that.

[Rumbaar]

If you read the dialogues it should be pretty clear. For instance Cydonie will direct you to the giant in GH who will tell you about how you need to run the 3 quests and collect the 20 relics. Then once you're done she'll tell you about the dragons to kill in the Tor. In the Vale you first get the quest to reach Meridia, then the NPC in front of Shroud will tell you about how you need to go find the Twelve members (and when you go back to him without having done all 5 quests he'll tell you you need more).


The quest logs aren't always complete unfortunately, and sometimes if you missed the NPC dialogue you can't really get the full info anymore. I don't remember for sure what it says about Reaver/Shroud though.Yes I've found this issue in Vale, I had gotten enough favor to talk to someone when I did, she game me ingredients. I went back and she said something about stones, I have 3 it seems, but I guess that's not enough. She wont repeat what she said so it does make it difficult to work out what I've done wrong. I guess I need 2 more? As the alter takes 5 items at a time.

But I wish they would log what they say or repeat it. I know the Giant in GH would just ramble something and have end conversation whenever I talked to him after the first time.

I think they could improve that logging and have the indicators or 'flagging' for each of the raids in your log. With a check box of all the things you need to do and have done.

I'm not complaining it's too hard, but at times they don't make it very user friend for no other reason than making it hard. I can't see adding logs or pointers as dumbing down or making it too easy for all vets to complain.

Yes I used to read the quest giver dialogues, but when 80% of the time there is no need it hard to know when important once only available information is being presented. Maybe weed out the garbage so we'll know that if they talk it's always important to read.

[Mackem]

Yes I've found this issue in Vale, I had gotten enough favor to talk to someone when I did, she game me ingredients. I went back and she said something about stones, I have 3 it seems, but I guess that's not enough. She wont repeat what she said so it does make it difficult to work out what I've done wrong. I guess I need 2 more? As the alter takes 5 items at a time.

Shroud flagging could be a "little bit" confusing to do for the first time with in fact two separate flagging components present - crafting tutorial and actual flagging by running the pre-req quests.

I did it simple way - I did not bother with crafting tutorial until I got all 5 stones from Vale quests:

1. talk to the Gustavine dude inside the building at 12 enclave to be sent to find Meridia.
2. In Meridia talk to a dude in front of Shroud to find some lost folks (quest will advance)
3. At this stage run all 5 quests in Vale: dust, coal, rainbow, sacrifice, devils to pick a stone from each quest end chest.
4. Do the crafting tutorial
5. Talk again to the dude in front of Shroud and you are set :)

Happy Shrouddage!