Question RE: points for DDO store

[amrudnick]

I am new to the game and am playing Eberron Unlimited.
I just earned my first 50 points to use in the DDO store and I'm not sure the best way to use them.
I have a few questions that will help me figure it out.

I know you can eventually unlock extra character slots, higher point-buy, and additional races by increasing total favor. When these are unlocked, do you actually get them, or do they simply become available to buy with your points in the store?

Also, I believe you can use these points to buy adventure packs from the store later (is this correct?). Should I be savinging up my points to buy new adventure packs later once I have been through most of the free content, or is it better to use the points as you go to improve your character. These points are a scarce enough commodity for free players, that I would hate to spend them on items when you can get items for free by adventuring.

Any advice on how a free player can best make use of his/her points?
Thanks!

[Trillea]

I am new to the game and am playing Eberron Unlimited.
I just earned my first 50 points to use in the DDO store and I'm not sure the best way to use them.
I have a few questions that will help me figure it out.

I know you can eventually unlock extra character slots, higher point-buy, and additional races by increasing total favor. When these are unlocked, do you actually get them, or do they simply become available to buy with your points in the store?
Once you buy them you can immediately create characters with these options.

Also, I believe you can use these points to buy adventure packs from the store later (is this correct?). Should I be savinging up my points to buy new adventure packs later once I have been through most of the free content, or is it better to use the points as you go to improve your character. These points are a scarce enough commodity for free players, that I would hate to spend them on items when you can get items for free by adventuring.
Adventure packs open up more favor, which opens up more TPs, which can then get you other options in the future. Most of the major character upgrades are available through favor (drow, veteran status, 32 point builds, the favored soul class)

Any advice on how a free player can best make use of his/her points?
Look up Robi3.0's F2P guide.
Thanks!

Comments in GREEN

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=198865 - Robi3.0's guide

[Sleepingcap]

Once you unlock something with favor it is unlocked for good (on that server only).
At 400 favor, you will unlock Drow
at 1000 favor - Veteran status (create characters at level 4)
at 1750 - you will unlock 32 point builds (and recieve a +2 stat tome of your choice)
and at 2500 you will unlock Favored Soul.

And the first adventure pack I would suggest purchasing is Delera's Tomb. Some might argue and say that STK is a good choice but honestly I would skip it and save some points.

[amrudnick]

Thanks to both of you. That does help.
So, I guess I'll save my points for adventure packs.
I'd rather spend it on stuff I can't get any other way without spending cash and content trumps all. Afterall, buying a sword and then finding a better one would be almost too painful to bear ;)

Any expensive adventure packs down the line that I would need to save up for to afford?

Also, Sleepingcap, are those favor point amounts for all of my characters on a single server, or do I have to meet that total with a single character?

[Trillea]

Thanks to both of you. That does help.
So, I guess I'll save my points for adventure packs.
I'd rather spend it on stuff I can't get any other way without spending cash and content trumps all. Afterall, buying a sword and then finding a better one would be almost too painful to bear ;)

Any expensive adventure packs down the line that I would need to save up for to afford?

The best low level pack IMO is Delera's. After that get Vale of Twilight, Gianthold, Amrath, Menechtarun Desert, and Vault of Night in that order.

[KualaBangoDango]

Also, Sleepingcap, are those favor point amounts for all of my characters on a single server, or do I have to meet that total with a single character?Only one character needs to attain those favor levels to unlock that feature for that server for all new characters on that server. If you change servers you will need to earn the favor again to unlock those features on the new server. If you buy any of those features with TP it unlocks it for ALL servers.

Keep in mind that once you reach those favor levels you must first talk with the associated NPC (Drow faction NPC for example) to officially unlock the feature. If you were to delete the character after reaching the favor but forgetting to speak to the NPC then you don't get the feature and must re-earn the favor again. Also, for the 32-point build, once unlocked, it's applied to any NEW characters you create, custom creation only. Your already made characters don't magically become 32-pointers and 32-point builds don't apply to characters you make using the pre-made paths (those are 28-pointers by default).

[amrudnick]

Sure, I wouldn't expect to get increased stats from 32 point-buy on pre-existing characters. Point-buy is only relevant when you create a character.

In regard to favor points, let's say I wanted to get 32 point-buy. I need 1750 favor points.
Do I need to get all 1750 with one character, or can I get 1000 with one character and 750 with another character on the same server?

[KualaBangoDango]

Sure, I wouldn't expect to get increased stats from 32 point-buy on pre-existing characters. Point-buy is only relevant when you create a character.

In regard to favor points, let's say I wanted to get 32 point-buy. I need 1750 favor points.
Do I need to get all 1750 with one character, or can I get 1000 with one character and 750 with another character on the same server?All on one character.