To 32 point or not to 32 point.

[Ashnon]

Hi All, I have been playing this game quite casually since December and really enjoy it. Now that I have gotten used to things and completely destroyed a couple of builds , I am ready to re-roll and start again. The question I have is in regards to putting out the cash and buying 32 point build now(hoping it goes on sale soon) or start at 28 and continue on until I unlock and spend the points on packs? I realize that once I unlock I can not turn my current 28 into a 32 without reincarnation. All thoughts and opinions welcome.

Thanks in Advance.

[DavionFuxa]

You will eventually unlock the 32 point build on a server that you play once you accumulate 1750 points on a single character. Though, as a F2P player you can only get that after you have bought several adventure packs, as you can only get around 1000 favor points after doing all the F2P quests on elite.

My thoughts are it is a valid consideration to buy the 32 point build, but you should keep in mind a few key points. Does the character you plan to roll need 32 points to be effective, like a Paladin for instance? Could you get away with just using a Drow Elf? How much money are you thinking of spending as eventually you will need to consider adventure packs down the road. Eventually if you play the game enough you will get the 32 point build on a server where you have a character reaching 1750 total favor - Might you eventually play that long?

You should be asking yourself the above before you consider buying the 32 point build. Myself, I plan on playing this game for a long time so I haven't bought it; plus I find Drow are adequate to play in place of a 32 point build.

[Lehrman]

Do not buy it. Earn it. I strongly recommend only buying those things that are not easily earned such as adventure packs if you are F2P or xp potions if leveling is not fast for you.

[Mackem]

I did not buy 32-pt myself due to the following reasons:

1. Most classes do just fine with 28-pt. You "really" need it if you build some stat-intensive min-max character (AC palladin tank, exploiter ranger etc) which is not likely to be your first character you decide to take to lvl 20 cap.

2. I needed to lvl my 1st/2nd characters and farm some equipment for them so I needed to buy adventure packs anyway. I was able to reach 1750 mark on my "home" server naturally and it actually did not take long.

3. I won't really need 32-pt builds on any other server except my "home" one as it takes a very big time investment to properly outfit your character(s) and I simply have no time to play actively on any other server except my "home" one :)

So I second the advice above: buy adv packs instead :)

[unbongwah]

Do not buy it. Earn it. I strongly recommend only buying those things that are not easily earned such as adventure packs if you are F2P or xp potions if leveling is not fast for you.
IIRC, buying 32-pt builds unlocks it on all servers; earning it thru favor only unlocks them on that server. Dunno if the OP is the sort to hop servers to make alts, but it bears mentioning.

[Chai]

What classes do you like to play? I got away with a drow back in the day until I unlocked 32 pointers. Drow are "technically" 32 pointers with some of the stats already allocated. If you like casters, bards or rogues, you could level a drow and unlock 32 pointers with that toon by running favor, which also has the side benefit of netting you more points and getting you a +2 tome when you reach 1750.

[PurdueDave]

1750 favor is a lot easier now that it used to be but it will still require some grinding. There's nothing evil about buying it if you're so inclined. It's more "what are you passing on to pick this up" that might help answer it.

[Ybbald]

Definitely go for the adventure packs.

I think you could do fine even with only 26 points builds cause at the end of the day, after you raise your important stats, the extra 2 points are just +1 in one or 2 places. I think on my most recent character (wizard) after I maxxed int and raised con as much as I could, I had 2 extra points I didn't really need so I just tossed them into str so I wouldn't get enfeebled so easily and I could carry more (halfling)

[sirgog]

What classes do you like to play? I got away with a drow back in the day until I unlocked 32 pointers. Drow are "technically" 32 pointers with some of the stats already allocated. If you like casters, bards or rogues, you could level a drow and unlock 32 pointers with that toon by running favor, which also has the side benefit of netting you more points and getting you a +2 tome when you reach 1750.

For most purposes, Drow are weaker than 28 point builds due to their weak racial enhancements. There are some exceptions, particularly dual-wielding paladins with Divine Might 3 or 4 (these can be better than 32 point non-drow).

If powergaming is your thing and you aren't a VIP, consider the Warforged race, it's generally the better buy if you want one of the account options.

[QuantumFX]

Don’t waste your money on 32pt builds. Buy Adventure Packs, Warforged/Monks, and Shared Bank space. If you feel your 28pt build is “gimped” get some epic tokens and do a True Reincarnation. You can go from 28pt to 34pt w/o spending a dime of real money.

[Dendrix]

Spend the money and do it now. You will be just that little bit better all of the time. The favour reward to unlock it is months of play away.

Plus you go from Free-> Premium and unlock 2 more character slots and get to put more things in the AH etc.

[r3dl4nce]

Now with greater reincarnate you can start a 28 points char, earn 1750 favor, buy from store the greater heart and reincarnate in 32 points.

[Kepli_Moonshadow]

Earn it. I was SO excited (yes I'm easily amused) when I hit 1750 favor. First thing I did was build my beatstick Pally, lots of fun!

It took some discipline, though. I didn't jack with any alts until I hit the favor req.

Just felt so much more rewarding, rather than buy it. Doing the same for FvS.... O.o

[vVAnjilaVv]

Buy PACKS to help u more easily UNLOCK 32pt builds.

Honestly 32 pt builds are only slightly better than a 28 point build.....really if ur not effective with a 28 point build the four extra points is not going to help u that much.

A 36 point build will see a pretty big difference, but a that's 8 points as compared to 4. Plus as previously mentioned....drow are a fine canidate for many classes, and are technically 32 point build....tho thier 4 extra points are already pre-assigned...so u don't get to choose where u want to allocate them.

Great if INT, CHA, and/or DEX will be important stats in ur build because they start with base 10 in all so it's cheaper to get them higher than when u start with 8, tho the 6 base CON will cost u a little.

[Maxson]

If you can manage it, then I recommend the favour grind, but it's much harder to do as a FTP character. I would've paid for 32 points but they released it after I made the grind. I did - however pay for drow so I wouldn't have a throw away character at the end of the favour grind (as drow don't get 32 points)

[vVAnjilaVv]

Drows can't get 32 points because they already ARE 32pt builds.

I still do not understand why people cannot understeand this.

Normal 28point elf
8 STR
10 DEX
6 CON
8 INT
8 WIS
8 CHA

Drow Elf
8 STR
10 DEX
6 CON
10 INT
8 WIS
10 CHA

The extra 2 points each in INT and CHA are the 4 extra points u get.....if Drows got 32point builds on top of those stats they would be 36 point builds....sorry u have to TR twice at least and grind epic tokens or buy hearts of wood from the eStore for that.

Drows are still great races and unless u have the money to THROW AWAY, buying them is a complete waste....grinding 400 favor is extremely easy even for a new player who has no adventure packs......and they do not have to be thrown away...if u make a good build they are just fine all the way up to cap. Capped characters make loot runs a whole lot faster if u want to finance ur Alts......a non-drow 32 point build is still not going to have thier full potential until higher levels.
By the time u get to 1750 u'll probably be if not at cap....there is no point in throwing away the character u use to unlock 1750 unless u need the character slots.

[unbongwah]

Now with greater reincarnate you can start a 28 points char, earn 1750 favor, buy from store the greater heart and reincarnate in 32 points.
Except a single GR costs almost as much as 32-pt builds from the DDO store - in which case, why not just pay to unlock 32-pt builds in the first place?

I did things bass-ackwards: leveled up a couple of 28-pt builds, paid to unlock 32-pt builds, then discovered I couldn't upgrade my original characters without paying for GR - D'OH!

[Kawabonga]

Man... if you have the budget, go for it!

Why would you not allow yourself to start with 4 more stat points if you have pocket money to spend? The 10$ investment will last you longer than a movie night evening thats for sure (provided you like the game and will play regularly for a while)!

While your'e at it just buy all the adventure packs that you will need up front (30% off this week! eeek!). This guide (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=199945) will help you evaluate what is worth it and needed.

But that just my own opinion. The newb that I am.:D

[PurdueDave]

Except a single GR costs almost as much as 32-pt builds from the DDO store - in which case, why not just pay to unlock 32-pt builds in the first place?

Good point.

[JustWinBaby]

Since 32 point builds are now on sale from the DDO Store, 25% off.....I say go for it. If I had the extra cash, I would do it. This way it will be on all servers instead of just on one (or however many servers you have 1750 favor on).

[Eladiun]

1750 favor is a lot easier now that it used to be but it will still require some grinding. There's nothing evil about buying it if you're so inclined. It's more "what are you passing on to pick this up" that might help answer it.


You can say that again...

[Lorien_the_First_One]

Since 32 point builds are now on sale from the DDO Store, 30% off.....I say go for it. If I had the extra cash, I would do it. This way it will be on all servers instead of just on one (or however many servers you have 1750 favor on).

I agree. This is one of the best purchases you can make.

[scampb]

Guess what, good timing just for YOU! 32 pt builds are on sale for 25% off until April 29th. I say buy it. A few reasons. 1) You have 32pt builds across all servers, not just the one you earned it on. 2) It takes longer than you might think to earn the 1750 favor to unlock it for free. 3) Why not be a bit better than a 28pt build? One simple example is this, use your extra 4 points to bump up charisma which will help you when allocating points into UMD, Nobody will argue that a good UMD is beneficial and the extra points can be used for just that. 4) When you cap a toon and want to true reincarnate THAT toon you can reincarnate as a 34, not a 32. How sweet is that. 5) It is on sale right now for 25% off. GO GET IT, RIGHT NOW, STOP READING AND JUST DO IT, THEN IT IS DONE. Enjoy the game regardless of your decision.

[Lorien_the_First_One]

Guess what, good timing just for YOU! 32 pt builds are on sale for 25% off until January 29th. I say buy it. A few reasons. 1) You have 32pt builds across all servers, not just the one you earned it on. 2) It takes longer than you might think to earn the 1750 favor to unlock it for free. 3) Why not be a bit better than a 28pt build? One simple example is this, use your extra 4 points to bump up charisma which will help you when allocating points into UMD, Nobody will argue that a good UMD is beneficial and the extra points can be used for just that. 4) When you cap a toon and want to true reincarnate THAT toon you can reincarnate as a 34, not a 32. How sweet is that. 5) It is on sale right now for 25% off. GO GET IT, RIGHT NOW, STOP READING AND JUST DO IT, THEN IT IS DONE. Enjoy the game regardless of your decision.

While I agree witht he rest of it, 32pt doesn't impact TR. Non Drow TRs are all 34 pt.

[JustWinBaby]

While I agree witht he rest of it, 32pt doesn't impact TR. Non Drow TRs are all 34 pt.

Also, it should say April, not January :D

[ExarKun77]

Just my thought on this:

3) Why not be a bit better than a 28pt build? One simple example is this, use your extra 4 points to bump up charisma which will help you when allocating points into UMD, Nobody will argue that a good UMD is beneficial and the extra points can be used for just that.

Because when everybody has a 32 point build, you'll want a 36 point build. And this never ends...

I prefer a finely tuned 28 point builds to a messed up 32 point build.
Now...of course, if i can get a 32 point build, i'll try to get it.
But i won't simply buy it, i think it should be a reward for what you achieved.
Don't think selling it could create a major difference between "poor" and "rich" players, because not everyone is a pro at building characters, but it's definitely a step in that direction.

It's kind of like... why not putting cap lvl at 30 or 40? Why not putting +10 weapons in the game?
Always comes down for me to this: if some players are really advantaged, it will mostly create frustration.
And if the modification is available to everyone, it's just a lot of work for changing something, but then making sure the game is still balanced. Sure, you would play a more powerful character, but every other player too, so...i don't really see the point.
And when i think of all the pc D&D games that i did, the ones where i had the most fun were not always the ones where i had an uber character. Remember Baldur's gate? when a simple fireball actually meant something in combat? Remember when you finaly got the Crom feyr or Carsomyr weapons in Baldur's gate 2? (you have better gear in DDO, and at a much lower level... but it doesn't have the same feeling). Remember Planescape Torment?

D&D is about making choices.

So...32 point as a reward for something you did, i totaly agree, but buying it for starting a new character... is a bit like cheating to me.
Just my thoughts, don't want to start a flaming topic, please ;)

[sirgog]

Don’t waste your money on 32pt builds. Buy Adventure Packs, Warforged/Monks, and Shared Bank space. If you feel your 28pt build is “gimped” get some epic tokens and do a True Reincarnation. You can go from 28pt to 34pt w/o spending a dime of real money.

You can't TR unless you've got access to 32 point builds on that server.