Make Money Fast! (in U9 DDO)

[GuntherBovine]

Introduction
Making money is easy in DDO and it is even easier in U9. My toon has made almost 200k at the end of level 5 by following these three steps:
1. Get all the collectables in every quest
2. Run the Tangleroot Gorge and Phiarlan Carnival quest chains
3. Be smart about selling valuable finds on the AH

Here is how I did it:
Korthos (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3776913&postcount=2)
Level 2 in Stormreach (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3776914&postcount=3)
Level 3 (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3776915&postcount=4)
Level 4 (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3776917&postcount=5)
Level 5 (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3776920&postcount=6)

[GuntherBovine]

Step 1 - Get out of Korthos
Korthos is great for picking up newbie friendly equipment, but it is poor for making money. You want to get to Stormreach as quickly as possible as it has the two things that are going to make you your money - collectables and the Auction House (AH). To get out of Korthos as quick as possible, do the village quests, "Redemption", do something else to get to level 2 (I did "Sacrifices"), then "Misery's Peak". Take the boat over to Stormreach.

When I play, I smash every crate, vase, etc that I come across. These provide a little extra cash, but it probably isn't worth my time. Still, it is the way I play.

I am starting a new toon, Epaine. She will be my example during this post. Epaine arrived at Stormreach with 68 plat in her pocket.

Side note: the money drops in Korthos were really boosted in U9. In U8, I would typically have less than 2 plat when I reach Stormreach.

Step 2 - Determine which of your items are trash
I have four categories for item values - craft (items that can be used for crafting), valuable (items I can sell for around their base value on the AH), very valuable (items I can sell for a lot of money on the AH) and trash (items that I am going to sell to a vendor for a fraction of its base value). The listing price for an item has to be at least 10 plat, so item with a base value less than 10 plat generally can't be sold on the AH.

Guild slots
Some items have in their description "Tiny Guild Augment Slot". Others have "Small", "Medium" or "Large" instead of "Tiny". Guild slots enhance the value of items. The guild slot stays on the item during crafting, so an item with a guild slot have value as a blank regardless of its suffixes and prefixes. Items with Large Guild Augment Slots are very valuable. Items with Medium Guild Augment Slots also have value. Small and Tiny, I am not too sure about. The value of the guild slot can override what I say below about the value of items. Epaine has not items with a guild slot.

Craft items
Almost every piece of armor, clothing, jewelry and weaponry that you find can be used for crafting. Arrows, bolts, and thrown weapons cannot be used currently for crafting. No named items can be used in crafting. If you look at the description of the item, you should see a number in the upper right (the Base Price Modifier or BPM). If your item doesn't have one, you can't use it for crafting. For now, I am going to store all of my craft items in my bank.

Trash items
* Basic armor (for example, Leather Armor)
* Basic weapons (for example, a Longsword)
* Plain arrows
* Plain bolts
* Throwing weapons (e.g. darts, shurikens)
* Gems
* Potions of Tumbling
* Most Caster Level 1 scrolls (see below)
* Spell components

Digression - Scrolls not available from NPC's
Wizards learn two spells every level. If they want to add more spells than that to their spell book, they have to acquire a scroll and some inscription material and then they can inscribe the spell into their spell book. Most of the time, Wizards go to a shop to buy the scroll of the spell they want to add to their spell book. However, some spells aren't sold as scrolls. If the Wizard wants to buy those, he or she must buy them from the AH. The list of those spells is here (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=280067). Acid Spray and Sonic Blast are the two level 1 spells not available from shops. Master's Touch and Merfolk's Blessing are available from a shop that requires a Teleport spell to get to. Epaine was lucky enough to find a scroll of Acid Spray.

Valuable items
The only items that you typically find on Korthos that could be sold on the Auction House (AH) are potions. Korthos used to drop a lot of masterwork arrows/bolts but I haven't seen them since U9 (they are valuable as well). Early on, I hold on to most of my potions and then starting sell them later. Caster Level 1 potions are worth only 5 plat, so I always sell them in groups of at least 2. Wands are sometimes valuable, sometimes trash depending on the type (Blur is very valuable).

Very valuable items
The only very valuable item that I have seen drop in Korthos are the valuable level 1 scrolls. Other very valuables items you will find during earlier levels are:
* Valuable collectables (see below)
* Elixirs of X Mnemonic Enhancement
* Potions of Invisibility
* Various named clothing or jewelry
* Wands of Blur

Step 3 - Sell your trash to vendors
Epaine has a pretty full backpack, so it is time to sell some stuff to make space. She can maximize the amount she makes from selling her trash if she sells what she can to the Pawn Vendors.

What to sell to a Pawn Vendor
Pawn vendors have a base selling percentage of 15% but will only buy specific items. The pawn vendors you will use initially are in the Marketplace, just down the stairs from the Harbor entrance. Pawn vendors buy:
* Armor worth at least 300 plat
* Weapons worth at least 300 plat
* Clothing (Cloaks, Boots, Headgear, Gloves, Belts)
* Jewelry (Goggles, Necklaces, Rings, Bracers, Trinkets)

Epaine wants to sell her Amulet of Inner Focus to a pawn vendor. Before she can do so, she must repair it to remove all damage, which sets her back 1.2 plat. Epaine sells her Amulet of Inner Focus for 19.2 plat, bringing her money up to 86 plat.

What to sell to a General Vendor
* Plain arrows if you aren't going to use them
* All plain weapons and armor
* Plain, Masterwork and +1 Throwing weapons (e.g. darts)
* Most scrolls with a base value less than 10 plat (unless they can be used by you and you want them)
* Unneeded spell components
* Potions of Tumble
* Gems
If you have an item that you want to sell, but it won't appear in the Sell window, it could be because the it is damaged. You have to repair a damaged item before you can sell it.

Epaine sells a variety of items for 75 plat, bring her wealth up to 161 plat.

Digression - Haggle skill
If you have a character with low charisma and no Haggle skill, the amount you will get for selling items to a general vendor is 10% of base value (A general vendor is someone like a bartender who buys anything). For each increase in your Haggle skill, you earn 0.25% more. Epaine has a Charisma of 14 and a 0 Haggle skill, so she gets 10.50% of base value (if you have a negative charisma modifier it won't push your percentage below 10%). You can boost your sell percentage by doing something that boosts your Haggle skill or your Charisma. Epaine has Human Versatility - Skills I, which temporarily pumps her Haggle skill to 2 and her sell percentage to 11.00%.

Early on, Haggle/Charisma boosting items aren't worth it. Don't buy them. If you have one, hold on to it until you get a better one. You have to be selling a (relatively) high value of stuff before spending money on Haggle/Charisma boosts pays. For example, Epaine just sold items with a base value of 802 plat. If Epaine could buy a +1 Haggle necklace from the AH for its base value of 50 plat, she would have to sell 20,000 plat worth of stuff to break even (20,000 x 0.25% = 50).

As we are going to be making most of our money off of the AH, Haggle just isn't that important.

[GuntherBovine]

Step 4 - Do Level 2 quests
Level 2 quests are a good source of cash and sellable collectables. Here is what I ran:
Bringing the Light (http://ddowiki.com/page/Bringing_the_Light) (3 collectables, quest giver in The Leaky Dinghy)
Arachnophobia (http://ddowiki.com/page/Arachnophobia) (3 collectables, quest giver next to the docks, need a Jump potion or spell to get the third collectable)
Information Is Key (http://ddowiki.com/page/Information_is_Key) (3 collectables, quest giver in The Leaky Dinghy)
The Miller's Debt (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Miller%27s_Debt) (2 collectables, quest giver up the cliff above the docks)
Haverdasher (http://ddowiki.com/page/Haverdasher) (1 collectable, quest giver up the cliff above the docks)
Protect Baudry's Interests (http://ddowiki.com/page/Protect_Baudry%27s_Interests) (2 collectables, quest giver in The Wayward Lobster)
Stop Hazadill's Shipment (http://ddowiki.com/page/Stop_Hazadill%27s_Shipment) (4 collectables, quest giver in The Wayward Lobster)
Retrieve the Stolen Goods (http://ddowiki.com/page/Retrieve_the_Stolen_Goods) (4 collectables, quest giver in The Wayward Lobster)
The Kobolds' New Ringleader (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Kobolds%27_New_Ringleader) (5 collectables, quest giver in Warehouse District)
The Smuggler's Warehouse (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Smuggler%27s_Warehouse) (4 collectables, quest giver in The Wayward Lobster)
Stealthy Repossession (http://ddowiki.com/page/Stealthy_Repossession) (4 collectables, quest giver in The Wayward Lobster)

It is really important to get all the collectables in a quest. If you smash everything, you will rarely miss a collectable. If you can't find one, look up the quest on DDOwiki.com (www.ddowiki.com) to find its location.

I also found 63 Siberys Dragonshard Fragments and 101 Khyber Dragonshard Fragments. Both of those are used for crafting and the Siberys are also used to swap feats. I go into the Marketplace, go out the SW exit to The Twelve Enclave, follow the path down to the building, go into the building, go right at the T, go through the door and talk to Jeanselme Brucetius. she gives me a Small Ingredients Bag, which I open, click Gather and then set to Auto Gather.

After those quests, Epaine has enough xp to level up. Her wealth is up to 331 plat. Repairing her equipment sets her back 9 plat and a Wide Quiver set her back 6. Now time to list some of her finds on the AH.

Step 5 - List or turn in collectables
Digression - Free To Play account money cap
There is a cap (http://ddowiki.com/page/Currency) for how much money a Free To Play (f2p) account can have. If you follow my advice, you are going to slam into the cap very quickly. You also are going to have a tough time following my advice as you can list only one item at a time on the AH. I strongly recommend you spend the $5 to buy TP's to upgrade your account to Premium. It makes the game much more fun.

For most collectables, you turn them into their collector (the description tells you who the collector is) and then typically sell the item you get in return (it is uncommon for the item to actually be useful). NEVER EVER TURN IN THESE COLLECTABLES:
Amber Vial (crafting)
Amulet of the Lost Empire (crafting)
Amulet of the Six (crafting)
Blade of the Dark Six (crafting)
Blessed Candles (crafting)
Bruised Spore Pod (crafting)
Caravan Logbook (crafting)
Ceramic Bowl (crafting)
Chipped Bone Talisman (crafting)
Cryptic Message (crafting)
Deadly Feverblanch (item enhancement rituals and crafting)
Fragrant Drowshard (item enhancement rituals)
Funerary Token (item enhancement rituals and crafting)
Glittering Dust (crafting)
Lightning-Split Soarwood (item enhancement rituals)
Lily Petal (crafting)
Lodestone (crafting)
Luminescent Dust (item enhancement rituals)
Mark of the Keeper (crafting)
Mystical Formula (crafting)
Page torn from a Research Notebook (crafting)
Powdered Blood (crafting)
Research Diary (crafting)
Romantic Sonnet (crafting)
Ruddy Fungi (crafting)
Runic Parchment (crafting)
Signet of the Devourer (crafting)
Silver Flame Hymnal (item enhancement rituals)
Singed Soarwood (crafting)
Skull Fragment (crafting)
Small Planar Crystal (crafting)
Small Wooden Idol (crafting)
Smoldering Ember (crafting)
Sour Darkcap (crafting)
Sparkling Dust (item enhancement rituals)
String of Prayer Beads (item enhancement rituals and crafting)
Sweet Whitecap (crafting)
Tome: Prophecy of Khyber (item enhancement rituals)
Vial of Pure Water (item enhancement rituals)
Withered Cryptmoss (crafting)
Small/Medium/Large Eberron Dragonshard Fragment (cool items)

Epaine has the following collectables:
10 Amber Vials (crafting)
2 Blades of the Dark Six (crafting)
1 Deadly Feverblanch (item enhancement rituals and crafting)
2 Icon of Khyber (turn in)
1 Khyber Prayer Pamphlet (turn in)
10 Pages torn from a Research Notebook (crafting)
1 Signet of the Devourer (crafting)
3 Small Wooden Idols (crafting)
19 Strings of Prayer Beads (item enhancement rituals and crafting)
7 Sweet Whitecaps (crafting)
2 Vials of Pure Water (item enhancement rituals)

I turn in the Icon of Khyber. At this point, I am not worried about keeping my crafting collectables as I will find a lot more in the near future as I continue questing.

I am going to list the 2 Vials of Pure Water on the AH, but I have to figure out for how much. To do that, I first have to know how many of each collectable are needed for a set:
Amber Vial - 2 for crafting
Amulet of the Lost Empire - 3 for crafting
Amulet of the Six - 2 for crafting
Blade of the Dark Six - 3 for crafting
Blessed Candles - 3 for crafting
Bruised Spore Pod - 2 for crafting
Caravan Logbook - 2 for crafting
Ceramic Bowl - 2 for crafting
Chipped Bone Talisman - 3 for crafting
Cryptic Message - 1 for crafting
Deadly Feverblanch - 1 for crafting, 12 for item enhancement rituals
Fragrant Drowshard - 9 for item enhancement rituals
Funerary Token - 3 for crafting, 22 for item enhancement rituals
Glittering Dust - 3 for crafting
Lightning-Split Soarwood - 4 for item enhancement rituals
Lily Petal - 2 for crafting
Lodestone - 2 for crafting
Luminescent Dust - 3 for item enhancement rituals
Mark of the Keeper - 2 for crafting
Mystical Formula - 2 for crafting
Page torn from a Research Notebook - 1 for crafting
Powdered Blood - 1 for crafting
Research Diary - 1 for crafting
Romantic Sonnet - 1 for crafting
Ruddy Fungi - 2 for crafting
Runic Parchment - 1 for crafting
Signet of the Devourer - 2 for crafting
Silver Flame Hymnal - 6 for item enhancement rituals
Singed Soarwood - 2 for crafting
Skull Fragment - 2 for crafting
Small Planar Crystal - 1 for crafting
Small Wooden Idol - 1 for crafting
Smoldering Ember - 1 for crafting
Sour Darkcap - 1 for crafting
Sparkling Dust - 6 for item enhancement rituals
String of Prayer Beads - 3 for crafting, 15 for item enhancement rituals
Sweet Whitecap - 3 for crafting
Tome: Prophecy of Khyber - 2 for item enhancement rituals
Vial of Pure Water - 5 for item enhancement rituals
Withered Cryptmoss - 2 for crafting
Small/Medium/Large Eberron Dragonshard Fragment - 3 for cool stuff

I go to the AH, click Collectables, enter "pure water" into the Find Text box and click Search. I then click on Buyout to sort them by Buyout price. If someone is going to buy Vials of Pure Water, she/she is going to need probably at least 4, so I want mine to be the 4th cheapest. I look down to see if there are multiples (e.g. 2 Vials of Pure Water). Based upon the prices, I decide to list mine for 1900/2900 for 72 hours. I always list for 72 hours. If you sell your item, you get the posting fee back so the increased posting fee doesn't hurt as it makes it more likely it will sell.

When listing collectables, it is best to error on the high side. It only cost 2 plat to list the collectables for 72 hours. If you set the price too high, you can re-list them in 72 hours. If you set the price too low, you have missed out on a pile of money.

For the crafting collectables, I am going to post at most 2 of each type as I haven't seen buyers buy a whole lot of crafting collectables at once and I wide to provide a wide variety of collectables to increase the chance that I will be selling something that some buyer wants. For Amber Vials, there is a set of 4 for 3k/4k, a set of 9 for 2.5k/4.8k, a set of 10 for 7k/7.5k and a set of 9 for 5k/8.5k. I list two sets of 2 for 1600/2000 per set. For Blades of the Dark Six, there is a set of 3 for 30/1,000 and a set of 99 for 20k/33k. I list my 2 individually for 250/500 apiece. There are 7 Deadly Feverblanches listed for 2k/2.2k each, then 3 more at 2.6k/2.7k. I list mine for 2550/2650.

Here are all of my listings:
2 Vials of Pure Water at 1900/2900 each
2 sets of 2 Amber Vials at 1600/200 for each set
2 Blades of the Dark Six for 250/500 each
1 Deadly Feverblanch for 2550/2650
2 Pages torn from a Research Notebook for 750/950 each
1 Signet of the Devourer for 200/400
2 sets of 3 Strings of Prayer Beads for 100/150 for each set
2 Small Wooden Idols for 50/100 each
2 sets of 3 Sweet Whitecaps for 950/1950 for each set

Step 6 - List very valuable items on the AH
The very valuable items Epaine found besides collectables were: an Elixir of Minor Mnemonic Enhancement, a Scroll of Acid Spray and Boots of the Long Step. Searching the AH, the cheapest is 200/475 and then next cheapest is 200/1970, so I list it for 1000/1950. I know from past experience that this is probably too high, but if you don't ask, you won't get. There are lots of scrolls of Acid Spray, the cheapest being 300/500, so I list mine for 290/490.

Digression - Spread between Initial Price and Buyout Price
If I am confident that I can sell an item for the Buyout Price I am going to use (typically because I see a lot of the same item for sell on the AH), then I set the Initial Price close to the Buyout Price. I really want the item to sell for the Buyout Price. If I am unsure what I can sell an item for, I set the Buyout Price as high as I think I is probable for me to sell the item and then set the Initial Price as a fraction of that, typically 1/3 or 1/5.

Step 7 - List valuable items on the AH
You can skip over this step and not lose out on much money.
I don't have much in the way of Materwork and +1 Arrows and Bolts. Arrows and bolts have to be better than +1 in order to provide any benefit to the +1 Longbow I have. I usually sell Masterwork and +1 arrows in sets of 100. Ditto for bolts. So I am not going to list the arrows and bolts yet.

I have 5 Oils of Light and I think I can get around its base value. As it can be bought in shops, I will only sell it if my price is cheaper than the shops. For these types I items, I general list for an Initial Price of base value and a Buyout Price of 10% more.

It is hard to sell on the AH most +1 weapons and armor. I have had luck in the past selling +1 Longbows, Handwraps and Full Plate. I list my +1 Composite Longbow for 49/99.

Digression - How to tell if it is a bad idea to try to sell something on the AH
Let's say that Epaine found 2 wands - a Wand of Enfeeblement and a Wand of Snowball Swarm. Should she try to sell them on the AH? Well, I did a search under Wand for "enfeeb" and there are 6 Wands of Enfeeblement currently for sale. There are 3 with a Current Price of 10 and their Buyour Prices are 13, 15 and 15. From that, I would conclude that there isn't a market for Wands of Enfeeblement and that Epaine would be better off selling hers to a General Vendor. I do the same search for "Snowball" and no items are found. Probably whatever Wands of Snowball Swarm that have been recently been listed have all been bought, so it would probably be worth listing.

All the AH listings took Epaine down to 272 plat. She sells her trash for 138 plat.

[GuntherBovine]

Step 8 - Lather, Rinse, Repeat
That is all there is to making money:
* Run quests
* Get all the collectables you can
* Be smart about selling valuable finds on the AH

When I play, I run each quest once on each difficulty. When I level up, I try to do all of the quests of that level on Normal I think my toon is up to doing. I run some quests, sell my trash, pick up my money and then I periodically list my best finds.

Continuing Epaine's adventures:
Where There's Smoke... (http://ddowiki.com/page/Where_There%27s_Smoke...) (4 collectables, quest giver in The Cerulean Hills)
The Kobold's Den: Clan Gnashtooth (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Kobold%27s_Den:_Clan_Gnashtooth) (5 collectables, quest giver in The Waterworks)
The Kobold's Den: Rescuing Arlos (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Kobold%27s_Den:_Rescuing_Arlos) (6 collectables, one of which requires a INT of 13 or 14, continuation of prior quest)

Repair set her back 10, but she made 126 selling her trash, bring her wealth up to 654.

The Friar's Niece (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Friar%27s_Niece) (2 collectables, first Catacombs quest)
To Find a Witness: Return to the Sanctuary (http://ddowiki.com/page/To_Find_a_Witness:_Return_to_the_Sanctuary) (4 collectables, second Catacombs quest)

Tangleroot Gorge Adventure Pack
Those TP's you just bought? Spend some of them buying the Tangleroot Gorge adventure pack. The typical adventure has 9-10 collectables in them. The collectables vary widely and some of them are the most valuable in the game.

Some advice on Tangleroot Gorge:
* You have to hike across the wilderness area Ungorz on the far side of the gorge. If you are level 3, don't bother exploring as you probably aren't up to tackling most of the bosses. Once you get to Ungorz, hit the two nearby collectables and then recall. Heal up in the tavern and then talk to Emeric Quall again and you get instantly teleported to Ungorz
* In "First Strike", don't stop when you slay 20 Hobgoblin Guards. Keep exploring until you get all 5 chests and all 9 collectables
* In the Eastern room with a pit, take the ladder down until you hear the Night Scorpions wake up, then climb back up the ladder. Pull out a bow and severely weaken them before going down. The Night Scorpions are far deadlier than anything else in this quest
* In "The Hobgoblins' Captives", don't talk to the last prisoner until you have explored the whole dungeon, getting the 5 chests and the 9 collectables

Epaine did "First Strike" and "The Hobgoblins' Captives". She found lots of collectables, none of the very valuable collectables. Epaine was up to 856 plat. Repair set her back 15 plat. Selling trash netted her 59 plat. I found out that you can deconstruct +1 items for 1 Arcane Crafting xp, so I bought back all of the +1 items that I sold at a cost of 128. Meanwhile, the following items sold:
+1 Composite Longbow - 73.5 net
3 Sweet Whitecaps - 1367 net
3 Strings of Prayer Beads - 107 net
3 Strings of Prayer Beads - 107 net
Scroll of Acid Spray - 345 net
Signet of the Devourer - 282 net
Elixir of Minor Mnemonic Enhancement - 1369 net
5 Oils of Light Repair - 21.6 net
Small Wooden Idol - 72 net
Small Wooden Idol - 72 net

Epaine was up to 4588 wealth. Half way through the level, so time to list some more stuff and do some crafting.

What to do when you have more of something you already have listed
Let's say I have 2 Vials of Pure Water listed and I have 2 more. What should I do? One thing I never do is list my new items at a different price than what I already had listed. What do is I list my new items if I think it is likely that someone will buy both my current listing and my new listing. Could I sell 4 Vials of Pure Water instead of just 2? Maybe, so I would list them. OTOH, if I had 7 Pages torn from a Research Notebook listed, I wouldn't see any point in listing any more.

I didn't have any very valuable items this time. Here are the collectables I listed:
* 3 Vials of Pure Water for 4000/4900 each
* 2 Amber Vials for 300/850 each
* 2 sets of 3 Blades of the Dark Six for 250/550 each
* 3 Bruised Spore Pods for 450/750 each
* 2 sets of 3 Funerary Tokens for 200/290 each
* 2 Lily Petals for 100/500 each
* Lodestone for 200/245
* 2 Pages torn from a Research Notebook for 500/975 each
* Research Diary for 1000/5000
* 2 Runic Parchments for 5000/15000 each
* Singed Soarwood for 500/875
* 2 Signets of the Devourer for 500/2500 each
* 2 Small Wooden Idols for 50/95 each
* 3 Skull Fragments for 475/975 each
* 2 Sour Darkcaps for 1000/5000 each
* 2 sets of 3 Strings of Prayer Beads for 100/300 each
* 1 set of 3 Sweet Whitecaps for 345/495

Merely Valuable Items
Again, I am doing this because I really like making money, though I don't think the amount I will make from this will be significant.

For bolts and arrows, I usually leave the Initial Price as the Base Value and then use the following rules to set the Buyout Price:
* Masterwork and +1 without suffix of prefix - 10% more than Base Value
* Has a useful prefix or suffix - 25% more than Base Value
* Has a really useful prefix or suffix - 50% more
* Has a useless prefix or suffix - sell to a vendor
The prefixes and suffixes I consider really useful are "Banes" of something hard to kill or that you can't do a critical on - Undead Bane, Elemental Bane, Dragon Bane, etc. Useless prefixes and suffixes include Anarchic and Banes of creatures you really encounter in quests such as "Plant Bane".

Here is what I listed:
* 2 +1 Longbows for 95/115 each
* A Wand of Sonic Blast (32 charges) for 32/48
* A Wand of Sonic Blast (35 charges) for 36.5/52
* 20 +1 Bolts of Goblinoid Bane for 64.02/80
* 20 +1 Bolts of Reptillian Bane for 64.02/80

I then spent 233 on crafting supplies and 82 on listing fees, which brought Epaine down to 4273.

Finishing out level 3:
The Old Archives (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Old_Archives) (3 collectables, third Catacombs quest)
The Crypt of Gerard Dryden (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Crypt_of_Gerard_Dryden) (3 collectables, fourth Catacombs quest)
Setting the Wards: The Lower Cathedral (http://ddowiki.com/page/Setting_the_Wards:_The_Lower_Cathedral) (3 collectables, fifth Catacombs quest)
Setting the Wards: The Patriarchs' Crypt (http://ddowiki.com/page/Setting_the_Wards:_The_Patriarchs%27_Crypt) (3 collectables, sixth Catacombs quest)
Endgame: Marguerite (http://ddowiki.com/page/Endgame:_Marguerite) (0 collectables, seventh Catacombs quest)
Home Sweet Sewer (http://ddowiki.com/page/Home_Sweet_Sewer) (0 collectables, quest giver in Warehouse District)
An Explosive Situation (http://ddowiki.com/page/An_Explosive_Situation) (2 collectables, quest giver up hill from Harbor)
The Captives (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Captives) (3 collectables, quest giver in Warehouse District)
Kobold Assault (http://ddowiki.com/page/Kobold_Assault) (0 collectables but lots of bags, quest giver up hill from the Harbor)

Epaine had 4405 in cash. Repair costed 21, trash brought in 10. The following items sold:
* 3 Funerary Tokens - 205 net
* 3 Funerary Tokens - 205 net
* Page torn from a Research Notebook - 684.5 net
* Page torn from a Research Notebook - 684.5 net
* 3 Strings of Prayer Beads - 212 net
* Skull Fragment - 684.5 net
* Skull Fragment - 684.5 net
* Skull Fragment - 684.5 net
* 3 Sweet Whitecaps - 348.5 net
* + 1 Composite Longbow - 84.7 net
* +1 Longbow - 84.65 net
* 3 Blades of the Dark Six - 387 net
* Research Diary - 3502 net
* Signet of the Devourer - 1752 net
* Signet of the Devourer - 1752 net

To bring her wealth up to 16349.

Guild Slots
Epaine found a ring with a Medium Guild Augment Slot (a Ring of Sustenance +3). If the ring is disjuncted for crafting, it will retain its guild slot. Consequently, another player who belongs to a medium guild will find this ring valuable. Checking the AH, there are no rings with Medium Guild Augment Slots. There is a ring with a Large Guild Augment Slot listed for 40k/45k. I know items with Medium and Large Guild Augment Slots are valuable, but I don't have a feel for how valuable. I listed the ring for 5k/25k.

Update: The ring sold in a few hours, so I may have priced it too low.

End of level listing
Collectables
Epaine listed the following collectables:
* 2 Amber Vails for 400/495 each
* 2 sets of 3 Blades of the Dark Six for 75/150 each
* 3 Bruised Sporepods for 500/2500 each
* 3 sets of 3 Funerary Tokens for 100/300 each
* Lodestone for 300/975
* 3 Marks of the Keeper for 400/495 each
* 2 Pages torn from a Research Notebook for 900/1075 each
* Powdered Blood for 5000/15000
* 2 Runic Parchments for 7000/10500 each
* Singed Soarwood for 400/495
* 2 Skull Fragments for 400/495 each
* 2 Small Wooden Idols for 75/95 each
* 2 Sour Darkcaps for 300/450 each
* 2 sets of 3 Strings of Prayer Beads for 40/95 each
* 5 Vials of Pure Water for 1950/2450 each

Valuables
Epaine listed the following valuable items:
* +1 Longbow for 95/195
* Wand of Niac's Cold Ray (3rd) (25 charges) - 100/200
* +1 Full Plate for 195/245
* A Wand of Sonic Blast (32 charges) for 32/48
* A Wand of Sonic Blast (35 charges) for 36.5/52

Listing fees dropped Epaine down to 16259 plat. Then she levels up.

Financial Summary So Far
Income
700 - Money from chests and smashables
299 - From sells to vendors
1369 - From sells of Mnemonic Elixirs on the AH
22 - From sells of valuable items on the AH
242 - From sells of +1 weapons and armor
345 - From sells of scrolls not sold in shops
13793 - From sells of collectables on the AH
=====
16770 - Total Income

Expenses
56 - Repair
449 - Crafting and AH fees
6 - Purchase of a wide quiver
====
511 - Total Expenses

=====
16259 - Net Wealth
=====

[GuntherBovine]

The Adventure Continues
The next set of missions:
Stand Your Ground (http://ddowiki.com/page/Stand_Your_Ground) (0 collectables, first quest in The Sharn Syndicate)
Dirty Laundry (http://ddowiki.com/page/Dirty_Laundry) (0 collectables, second quest in The Sharn Syndicate)
The Stormreaver Fresco (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Stormreaver_Fresco) (0 collectables, third quest in The Sharn Syndicate)
The Bookbinder Rescue (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Bookbinder_Rescue) (0 collectables, fourth quest in The Sharn Syndicate)
Repossession (http://ddowiki.com/page/Repossession) (4 collectables, fifth quest in The Sharn Syndicate)
Come Out and Slay (http://ddowiki.com/page/Come_Out_and_Slay) (3 collectables, last quest in The Sharn Syndicate)
Epaine is up to 43,545. 6 plat out for repair and 1 plat in for trash. I was keeping a hold of Masterwork and +1 weapon and armors for crafting, but I had far more than I needed and was having space problems. I dumped a bunch of the Masterwork weapons and armor for 45 plat. I then listed a bunch of +1 weapons for 41 plat.

The following items sold:
* a Scroll of Bear's Endurance - 12.5 net
* a Wand of Sonic Blast - 41.9 net
* a +1 Chain Shirt - 40.7 net
* a +1 Hide Armor - 40.53 net
* a +1 Heavy Mace - 74.02 net
* a +1 Falchion - 74.15 net
* a +1 Falchion - 74.15 net
* a +1 Battleaxe - 74.038 net
* a +1 Warhammer - 74.024 net
* a +1 Maul - 74.024 net
* a +1 Kukri - 74.016 net
* a +1 Greatsword - 74.1 net
* a +1 Handaxe - 74.012 net

Tangleroot Gorge Adventure Pack
Epaine did "Yarkuch's War-plans" and "Whisperdoom's Spawn". She found lots of collectables, but none of the really valuable ones. Just before she went, she visited Fred and swapped a feat for 640 plat. Epaine is up to 43,815 plat.

What to do when your item doesn't sell
Epaine has mail! Sadly, it is many items she listed on the AH being returned to her. She got back:
4 Pages torn from a Research Notebook
4 Amber Vials
2 Signets of the Devourer
Scroll of Merfolk's Blessing
2 Oils of Light Repair

There are lots of possible reasons why these items didn't sell. I may have priced them too high. I may have priced them fine, but someone undercut me right after I posted. Or I posted the items in a period where no one is buying those particular items.

Actually, not all of her items selling is a good sign - if all of her stuff sold that would mean that I was pricing them too low. I would rather err on the side of pricing too high than too low. There isn't any rush to sell my items and the listing prices for collectables is really low compared to what I typically sell them for. As Signets of the Devourer and Blades of the Dark Siz drop a lot, I am more surprised I sold one than that the 2 Signets didn't sell.

What should she do with the items Epaine got back? Re-list them, of course! She will do that later. Right now, repair costs her 8 and selling trash earns her 4.

Finishing out Waterworks:
Venn's Trail: Clan Tunnelworm (http://ddowiki.com/page/Venn%27s_Trail:_Clan_Tunnelworm) (5 collectables, third Waterworks quest)
Venn's Trail: Venn's Fate (http://ddowiki.com/page/Venn%27s_Trail:_Venn%27s_Fate) (5 collectables, last Waterworks quest)

Epaine has 43,937 in cash. 2 for repair, 49 for trash. Completing Waterworks gives you a nice bonus in that your base percentage for selling stuff to vendors goes from 10% to 12%.

She is halfway through the level, so time to list and craft. She listed:
* a +1 Docent for 100/5/145
* 2 Elixirs of Minor Mnemonic Enhancement for 400/700 each
* a Sparkling Dust for 4000/4900
* 3 Deadly Feverblanches for 6000/6400 each
* 3 Pages torn from a Research Notebook for 990/1670 each
* 3 Amber Vials for 1900/2300 each
* 2 Signets of the Devourer for 900/1900 each
* a Wand of Ligthning Bolt for 300.5/450
* a Scroll of Merfolk's Blessing for 225/450
* a Chitin Shield for 95.9/190
* a +1 Half Plate for 80/120
* a +1 Full Plate for 125/187
* a +1 Chain Shirt for 55/83

Crafting and listing took her down to 43,755.

What to do when you want to sell more items than you can
I have a Premium account, so I am limited to the number of items can have listed at any one time (50 listings?). Because I auction so many things, I can hit that cap. If you think you might hit your limit, organize your items to be listed before you start posting to put the most valuable first and the least valuable last. That way, if you hit the limit, you minimize the lost opportunity. Also, as you gain experience you will get a feeling for when the items listed are priced too low and you are better off waiting to post yours.

The following items sold:
* 2 Marks of The Keeper - 702 net
* 2 Marks of The Keeper - 702 net
* 2 Marks of The Keeper - 702 net
* a Skull Fragment - 3502 net
* a Skull Fragment - 3502 net
* a Skull Fragment - 3502 net
* a +1 Docent - 103.61 net
* a +1 Chain Shirt - 60.3 net
* a Page torn from a Research Notebook - 1171 net

The following auctions expired:
3 Small Wooden Idols
15 Strings of Prayer Beads
1 Glittering Dust
1 Caravan Logbook
20 +1 Bolts of Goblinoid Bane
40 +1 Bolts of Reptilian Bane
2 Blades of the Dark Six

Because of space problems, I bought a Small Ingredients Bag for 8775.

I do some more listings:
* 2 Small Wooden Idols at 700/950 each
* 20 +1 Bolts of Goblinoid Bane for 64.02/80
* 40 +1 Bolts of Reptilian Bane for 128.04/160
* 100 +1 Arrows for 80.1/88
* 3 sets of 3 Strings of Prayer Beads for 50/100
Epaine is down to 48,910

Trade Channel
The trade channel is a chat channel where players are suppose to post buy, sell and/or trade offers. I create a separate tab for the Trade channel and it usually is the one I have selected. To create a tab for the Trade Channel, I right click on one of the existing chat tabs and select Create Window. I then right click on the new tab and select Rename Window. I rename mine "Trade" (clever, eh?). I then right click on the Trade tab, select Select Incoming Text Types and uncheck "Advice". Then I uncheck "Say". I then right click on the Trade tab, select Select Outgoing Text Type and select "Trade".

The #1 thing with the Trade Channel is you have to know your prices, particularly of small eberron dragsonshards, portable holes and high volume collectables. I see a lot of WTB's (Want To Buy) at ridiculously low prices. I see a lot of WTS's (Want To Sell) at ridiculously high prices. I also see WTS's at very good prices. Occasionally, I see people giving away stuff. There are a lot of people who are willing to sell an item at a fraction of the AH price to get the money NOW. One time, I saw someone post that they were selling a collectable (Large Sulfurous Stone?) worth 300k on the AH for 105k. I checked the AH and sure enough, the Buyout Prices started at 300k. I asked the buyer why he/she was selling it so cheap and he/she said that they just didn't like dealing with the AH.

Ideally, I should sell everything through the Trade Channel instead of the AH. That would save me 30%. However, I rarely sell stuff through the Trade Channel as I usually get no response when I do try it. For example, I went to the Crafting House and posted that I was selling Amber Vials, Pages torn from a Research Notebook and Deadly Feverblanches. No response. And that makes sense as people rarely are looking to buy a particular item and my post has to be after they decide they want an item and they have the cash to buy it and before they buy it off the AH. OTOH, in the Harbor, I posted that I was selling 9 Oils of Light Repair for 45 and I got one response, which was good for both of us.

The one time I always use the Trade Channel is when I am looking for bigger ticket items (portable holes, tomes). When I do that, I start well before I need the item as I know I will probably have to try many times before I find a seller. I open up Notepad in Windows and type the text of my offer, which is typically 80% of the lowest AH Buyout Price. I copy it. I then go to the Marketplace, paste my text and hit Enter. I then go to House P, House D, House J and House K and post the same offer. I also keep an eye out for WTT's (Want To Trade) for the item I am looking for. One time, I wanted a +2 INT tome and someone wanted to trade a +2 INT tome for a +2 CHR tome. There was a +2 CHR tome on the AH with a lower Buyout Price than the +2 INT tomes, so I gave him/her to Buyout the +2 CHR tome for the +2 INT tome and both of us were happy.

IMPORTANT!!!! If someone gives you something or someone sells you something through the Trade Channel, be very appreciative and polite to them, particularly if they gave it to you. For example, at the end of the 2010-2011 Winter Festivult, someone posted on the Trade Channel that they were giving away a small collection of festival coins. I asked for them and the person gave them to me. After I received them, I used the "/bow" command and sent the player a thank you tell. I checked to see what the player was and it was a level 20 Wizard. I then sent the player a tell saying that I was going to try to give them something back as a thanks but as I was level 5, I had nothing to offer them. I ran off towards the Marketplace. The player then caught up with me and opened a trade window. I was wondering why he did that when he gave me 50K plat, just because I had been appreciative and polite.

Time to finish out the level 4 quests
Epaine ran:
The Depths of Despair (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Depths_of_Despair) (6 collectables, quest giver in the Hammersmith's Inn in House Deneith)
The Depths of Darkness (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Depths_of_Darkness) (6 collectables, quest giver in the Hammersmith's Inn in House Deneith)
4 repair, 14 trash. I had to hire Hireling Steel (2 plat) for the next quest
Rest for the Restless (http://ddowiki.com/page/Rest_for_the_Restless) (5 collectables, quest giver in Bogwater Tavern in House Phiarlan)
Endgame: The Archbishop's Fate (http://ddowiki.com/page/Endgame:_The_Archbishop%27s_Fate) (0 collectables, last Catacombs quest, a very tough final boss)
Epaine is up to 49,063. 2 Repair

Digression - Favor
Favor is the second currency of DDO and I consider it more valuable than plat. I never run a quest unless it earns more favor. Favor unlocks many game features and earns you TP's so that you can buy more game features.

Early on, there are two many patrons that you can earn favor for - The Coin Lords and the Free Agents. Reaching 75 Coin Lord favor unlocks a 4th tab in your toon's inventory. Reaching 150 Coin Lord favor gives you an opportunity for a fifth inventory tab. You need to acquire a Collapsed Portable Hole and pay someone in the Harbor 10K to get that fifth tab. Hitting 150 Coin Lord favor is not difficult as 185 F2P Coin Lord favor is available in levels 1-5 and three early adeventure packs (Shan-To-Kar, Sharn Syndicate and Chronoscope) give Coin Lord favor.

Reaching 75 Free Agent favor unlocks a favor vendor who will sell +2 Thieves' Tools (yeah!), +2 Healer Kits (yawn), +2 Repair Kits (yawn) and trap parts (yeah if you are into trapping). 150 Free Agent favor unlocks +4 versions of Thieves' Tools, Healer Kits and Repair Kits. You can buy Thieves' Tools on the AH, but they are much cheaper from the Free Agents. Hitting 75 Free Agent favor isn't difficult as 132 F2P Free Agent favor is available in levels 1-4. To get to 150 Free Agent favor, you must purchase an adventure pack.

The Silver Flame is the next patron that you can receive benefits for earning their favor, but you have to purchase an adventure pack to earn 75 favor and the benefits are close to useless. House Phiarlan is next and at 75 House P favor, you can pay a vendor to cast 30 minute wizard spell buffs. To get 75 House P favor, you have to purchase an adventure pack. House Jorasco is similar to House P, except at 75 House J favor the spell buffs are cleric. House Deneith is the last patron worth mentioning to a new player and at 75 favor, you can buy from a favor vendor lots of nice missile weapons (e.g. +3 arrows).

Normally, I go for 75 Coin Lord Favor first, but with Epaine, I am going to go for 75 Free Agent favor first so I can buy the +2 Thieves' Tools. Here are her Free Agent favor runs:
Sacrifices on HARD
Durk's Got A Secret (http://ddowiki.com/page/Durk%27s_Got_A_Secret) (6 collectables, quest giver up the hill from the Harbor)
Walk the Butcher's Path (http://ddowiki.com/page/Walk_the_Butcher%27s_Path) (5 collectables, quest giver South of Durk)
Redfang the Unruled (http://ddowiki.com/page/Redfang_the_Unruled) (8 collectables, quest giver in the Marketplace)
The Swiped Signet (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Swiped_Signet) (5 collectables, quest giver in the Phoenix Tavern in the Marketplace)
Protect Baudry's Interests HARD
Stop Hazadill's Shipment HARD
Retrieve the Stolen Goods HARD
Epaine is up to 49,331. 6 out for repair, 60 in for trash.

At some point, I ran out of inventory space, so I listed:
* 2 +1 Banded Mail for 125/150 each
* 2 +1 Half Plate for 160/200
* +1 Docent for 105.5/150
* +1 Greataxe for 202/300
+ 2 +1 Hide Armor for 101.5/150 each
* +1 Khopesh for 202/300
* +1 Rapier for 202/300
* +1 Light Pick for 200.4/300

The following items sold:
* +1 Full Plate - 135.9 net
* +1 Half Plate - 87.2 net
* Elixir of Minor Mnemonic Enhancement - 494 net
* Elixir of Minor Mnemonic Enhancement - 494 net
* +1 Rapier - 214.04 net
* 100 +1 Arrows - 63.6 net
* a Small Wooden Idol - 667 net
* a +1 Greataxe - 214.04 net
* a Small Wooden Idol - 667 net
* +1 Docent - 107.11 net
* a Sparkling Dust for 3432

The following auctions expired:
* a Glittering Dust
* 9 Funerary Tokens
* a Fragrant Drowshood
* a Scroll of Master's Touch
* an Oil of Serious Repair
* 40 +1 Bolts of Goblinoid Bane

She is 70 xp shy of level 5, but is out of storage space, so I am going to do crafting and listing now. After lots of crafting, she is up to level 13 Arcane, level 5 Divine and level 12 Elemental. Hopefully next crafting session she can construct a +2 stat item. Crafting set her back 733.

Here is what she listed:
* an Elixir of Lesser Mnemonic Enhancement for 1000/1150
* an Elixir of Minor Mnemonic Enhancement for 400/490
* a Scroll of Acid Spray for 700/740
* a Vial of Pure Water for 990/1490
* a Tome: Prophecies of Khyber for 4450/4950
* a Fragrant Drowshood for 25000/30000
* 2 Small Eberron Dragonshar Fragments for 25000/28500 each
* a Scroll of Master's Touch for 90/900
* 2 Glittering Dusts for 900/980 each
* 2 sets of 3 Sweet Whitecaps for 1000/2000 each
* 2 sets of 3 Blades of the Dark Six for 1000/1500 each
* 2 Small Wooden Idols for 400/450 each
* 2 Sets of 3 Funerary Tokens for 400/450 each
* a Potion of Invisibility for 1000/2000
* a Wand of Electric Loop for 120/200
* 40 +1 Bolts of Goblinoid Bane for 64/128
* 40 +1 Bolts of Reptilian Bane for for 24/48
* a Scroll of Hold Person for 30.5/40

I am now listing at most 2 of any one item as I want to have as many different items listed as possible. Generally, the chances are better for selling a item I don't have listed versus an item already have listed twice. Her wealth now is 55,163.

Her last quest at level 4 was:
Durk's Got A Secret HARD

After selling 18 plat worth of trash, her wealth is 55,236. She then levels up. A disappointing level wealth-wise primarily because her high most valuable collectable (the Fragrant Drowshood) didn't sell on its first listing.

Financial Summary So Far
Income
1576 - Money from chests and smashables
335 - From sells to vendors
527 - From sells of named items on the AH
1510 - From sells of Mnemonic Elixirs on the AH
211 - From sells of valuable items
1670 - From sells of +1 items
69218 - From sells of collectables on the AH
=====
75047 - Total Income

Expenses
72 - Repair
1592 - Crafting and AH fees
17505 - Purchase of Bags
640 - Fred
2 - Hirelings
====
19811 - Total Expenses

=====
55236 - Net Wealth
=====

[GuntherBovine]

The quest for 75 Free Agent favor continues:
Sacrifices ELITE
Misery's Peak HARD
Walk the Butcher's Path HARD
Where There's Smoke... HARD
Freshen The Air (3 collectables, quest giver in Marketplace)
Epaine is up to 55,423. 13 out for repair, 54 in for trash, 15 out for +2 Thieves' Tools

The following items sold:
* 3 Blades of the Dark Six - 1052 net
* 3 Blades of the Dark Six - 1052 net
* 40 +1 Bolts of Reptilian Bane - 36.1 net
* 3 Strings of Prayer Beads - 72 net
* 3 Strings of Prayer Beads - 72 net
* 3 Strings of Prayer Beads - 72 net
* a Fragrant Drowshood - 21002 net
* a Scroll of Hold Person - 30 net
* 3 Funerary Tokens - 317 net
* 3 Funerary Tokens - 317 net
* 40 +1 Bolts of Goblinoid Bane - 92.16 net
* 20 +1 Bolts of Goblinoid Bane - 58 net

The following auctions expired:
* 3 Deadly Feverblanches
* 2 Pages torn from a Research Notebook
* 3 Amber Vials
* 2 Signets of the Deverourer
* a Wand of Lightning Bolt
* a Scroll of Merfolk's Blessing
* a Chitin Shield

When to bid versus buyout
I am thinking of buying a +1 WIS Tome. Epaine just gained her 4th Paladin level, but can't cast any of her spells even with a +2 WIS Necklace as her Wisdom is 8. The Buyout Price for a +1 Wisdom Tome starts at 18k. However, there is a listing ending in 11 hours for 6.3k (with no buyout price). Should I buyout for 18k or bid on the 6.3k listing?

If it is important, buyout
There is always a chance that you will lose out any listing. Consequently, don't plan on winning a given auction. If you have a rogue who is out of lockpicks, not questing while you are waiting for an auction for +5 Thieves' Tools to end is stupid. On this issue, I lean towards buying out.

Bids on slow moving items are more likely to be successful
Right now, there are 17 +1 WIS tomes for sell on the AH (4 for 350k/500k!), 5 ending in the next 16 hours. It looks to me that there is a lot more supply than demand. So hopefully no one will care about this +1 WIS tome. The times I have tried to bid on +2 tomes, I have always gotten into a bidding war and lost out. Ditto for +5 Thieves' Tools. People are constantly checking the prices for those items and too many people will see that an underpriced auction is about to end and will jump in on the bidding. On the end of the spectrum, let's say Epaine had 2 Lodestones and wanted a third to be able to turn them in (for a level 3/4 scroll) to free up a slot in her collectables bag. There isn't much of a demand for Lodestones, so almost any bid will probably win.

Side note: Collectables that you can only turn in are frequently ridiculously priced on the AH. For example, the Lodestones listed on the AH are 1 for 52.5/-, 2 for 10/-, 3 for 1800/2000 and 1 for 1000/-. You turn in 3 of them for a random scroll worth at most 70 and that you can buy at a vendor.

When the auction ends is important
If the auction is ending in the evening on the US East Coast, there will be lots of people on line when the auction is ending and you are likely to lose out. This auction will end about 10 pm EST, making it a bad one to bid on.

Given the above, I don't think the 6.3k +1 WIS tome is worth pursuing. Instead, I bought one for 14k through the Trade Channel.

Storing things "under the bar"
In an unsurprising development, Epaine ran out of storage space yet again. I sold 6 items for 21.21 plat to a bartender that I will probably want to use for crafting or sell on the AH. They are stored "under the bar" for the next 24 hours, waiting for me to buy them back. When I did crafting, I clicked on the "Buy Back" tab and bought them back for 23.73. So it set me back 2.52 to store them with the barkeep. Also, if you ever accidently destroy something (I have read stories of someone upgrading collectables bag and then accidentally destroying the new bag full of collectables), it will be available on Buy Back tab for 24 hours.

You can also use the AH and the mail system to store stuff. The player(s) who listed the +1 WIS tome for 350k/500k probably didn't expect for them to sell. Instead, they were paying the AH listing fee to store the tome on the AH for 3 days. When the 3 days is over, it will go to their mailbox and stay there for 3 weeks. I have never done this, so I have no idea what happens when your mailbox gets full.

Even with selling those 6 items, I still need to make some more space. I decontrusted a bunch of stuff at the crafting hall for 6 plat.

F2P Level 5 Quests
Epaine ran the following quests:
Archer Point Defense (http://ddowiki.com/page/Archer_Point_Defense) (0 collectables, quest giver in Marketplace)
The Lair of Summoning (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Lair_of_Summoning) (4 collectables, quest giver in the Ever Full Flagon in House Kundarak)
The Depths of Discord (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Depths_of_Discord) (5 collectables, quest giver in the Hammersmith's Inn in House Deneith)

29 plat for crafting, 26 for listing +1 items, 10 plat repair, 1 for trash. The +1 items she listed were:
* 2 +1 Dwarven axes for 300/400 each
* +1 Heavy Mace for 300.2/400
* +1 Greatsword for 300/400
* +1 Splint Mail for 180/240
* +1 Half Plate for 240/320
* +1 Chain Shirt for 165/220
* +1 Breastplate for 180/240

Tangleroot Gorge Adventure Pack
Epaine did "The Deadly Package: The Stronghold Key" and "The Deadly Package: Agent of the Darguul". She found lots of collectables, but none of the really valuable ones. The other time I did this series, I found a Lighting-Split Soarwood, a Medium Eberron Dragonshard Fragment and 2-3 Fragrant Drowshoods. Either I was unusually lucky then or unusually unluck this time. Epaine is up to 65,814 plat. 7 out for repair, 10 in for trash.

The following items sold:
* Small Eberron Dragonshard Fragment - 19952 net
* Small Eberron Dragonshard Fragment - 19952 net

The following auctions expired:
* 40 +1 Bolts of Reptilian Bane

Time to craft and list. Here is what I listed:
* a Zizoo's Spangle for 1150/1450
* a Raktu's Trifle for 975/1975
* a Tome: Prophecies of Khyber for 3998/4998
* a Garzad's Helm for 2000/5000
* a Scroll of Sonic Blast for 400/498
* 100 Masterwork Arrows for 60.1/66
* a Wand of Lightning Bolt for 210/420
* 2 Sets of 15 Strings of Prayer Beads for 400/490 each
* 2 Research Diaries for 500/2000 each
* 2 Pages torn from a Research Notebook for 800/1600 each
* 2 Skull Fragments for 1000/5000 each
* 2 Signets of the Deverourer for 1000/1400 each
* 2 sets of 3 Blades of the Dark Six for 500/1000 each
* a set of 2 Marks of The Keeper for 1000/5000

All of the crafting and listing took her down to 105,371. Then the following items sold:
* Garzad's Helm - 3502 net
* a Page torn from a Research Notebook - 1122 net
* 15 Strings of Prayer Beads - 345 net
* 2 Marks of The Keeper - 3502 net
* 15 Strings of Prayer Beads - 345 net

Phiarlan Carnival
I bought the adventure pack and this is my first run through it:
A Small Problem (http://ddowiki.com/page/A_Small_Problem) (22 collectables, quest give in House Phiarlan)
Partycrashers (http://ddowiki.com/page/Partycrashers) (34 collectables, quest give in House Phiarlan)
I died in "Partycrashers" and decided it was a bad idea to try new quests at level. I always get upset when one of my toons die. Death results in expensive repair bills and knocked 20 off her 114,313 wealth. I got lots of collectables including one Fragrant Drowshood.

I used a lot of arrows in "Partcrashers" and was worried about running out, so I bought a Wide Quiver for 7.

The following auctions expired:
* 2 +1 Banded Mail
* 2 +1 Half Plate
* 2 +1 Hide Armor
* +1 Khopesh
* +1 Light Pick

The following auctions sold:
* a Glittering Dust - 688 net
* a Zizoo's Spangle - 1017.4 net
* a Vial of Pure Water - 1045 net
* a Page torn from a Research Notebook - 1122 net
* a Signet of the Devourer - 982 net
* a Signet of the Devourer - 982 net
* a Glittering Dust - 688 net
* a Skull Fragment - 3502 net
* a Skull Fragment - 3502 net
* 100 Masterwork Arrows - 48.2 net
* a Scroll of Master's Touch - 632 net
Taking her up to 128,502. She had made over 160k so far.

Going for 75 Coin Lord favor
I ran out of backpack space in "Partycrashers" and had to throw items away. Time to get the 75 Coin Lord favor and the fourth inventory tab:
Recovering the Lost Tome (http://ddowiki.com/page/Recovering_the_Lost_Tome) (3 collectables, quest giver on island in Harbor)
Missing in Action (http://ddowiki.com/page/Missing_in_Action) (4 collectables, quest giver in Marketplace)
The Sunken Sewer (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Sunken_Sewer) (5 collectables, quest giver in Marketplace)
Irestone Inlet (http://ddowiki.com/page/Irestone_Inlet) (0 collectables, quest giver at pier in the Warehouse district)
Garrison's Missing Pack (http://ddowiki.com/page/Garrison%27s_Missing_Pack) (5 collectables, quest giver up hill from the Harbor)
Kobold Assault (http://ddowiki.com/page/Kobold_Assault) (0 collectables but lots of bags, quest giver up hill from the Harbor)
Stopping the Sahuagin (http://ddowiki.com/page/Stopping_the_Sahuagin) (0 collectables, quest giver in Korthos wilderness area)
Taking Epaine to 75 Coin Lord favor and 128,751 wealth. 9 out for repair, 88 in for trash. She also spent 98 deconstructing items.

The following auctions expired:
* Elixir of Lesser Mnemonic Enhancement
* Elixir of Minor Mnemonic Enhancement
* Scroll of Acid Spray
* Tome: Prophecies of Khyber
* 6 Sweet Whitecaps
* 2 Small Wooden Idols
* Potion of Invisibility
* Wand of Electric Loop

The following auctions sold:
* 3 Blades of the Dark Six - 702 net
* 3 Blades of the Dark Six - 702 net

Getting Enough XP to Level Up
Now to run quests for useful fixed quest rewards:
The Cannith Crystal HARD
The Cannith Crystal ELITE
Tried Come Out and Slay HARD, but died in the last battle
Epaine is up to 130,237. 8 plat out for repair

Finishing the level 5 quests for the level:
The Depths of Doom (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Depths_of_Doom) (4 collectables, quest giver in the Hammersmith's Inn in House Deneith)
Epaine is up to 130,248. 113 plat for trash.

She is out of space, so time to craft and list. She listed
* Small Eberron Dragonshard Fragment for 25k/29.5k
* Fragrant Drowshood for 32k/34k
* 2 Elixirs of Minor Mnemonic Enhancement for 390/395 each
* Moog's Ornament for 2.4k/3.4k
* Scroll of Merfolk's Blessing for 240/480
* Hobble's Crossbow for 200/1400
* Scroll of Master's Touch for 45/145
* Tome: Prophecies of Khyber for 3998/4998
* Elixir of Lesser Mnemonic Enhancement for 900/998
* 5 Oils of Serious Repair for 375/450
* Scroll of Acid Spray for 300/390
* +2 Battleaxe for 90/390
* +2 Full Plate for 460/480
* 2 Skull Fragment for 1000/5000 each
* 2 Glittering Dusts for 1400/1490 each
* 2 sets of 3 Sweet Whitecaps for 2k/6k each
* 2 Pages torn from a Research Notebook for 1k/1.4k each
* 2 sets of 15 Strings of Prayer Beads for 1k/3k each
* 2 Small Wooden Idols for 900/1000 each
* 2 sets of 2 Signets of the Devourer for 1k/2k each
* 2 sets of 2 Caravan Logbooks for 1k/2k each
* 2 Amber Vials for 750/900 each

The following auctions sold:
* +1 Heavy Mace - 284.024 net
* Scroll of Master's Touch - 103.5 net
* Fragrant Drowshood - 23802 net
Bring Epaine up to 153,917

Re-running Waterworks is a good idea as it:
* Gives Coin Lord favor working towards 150 Coin Lord favor and a fifth inventory tab
* Works towards a quest chain reward, which are always good

The Kobold's Den: Clan Gnashtooth HARD
The Kobold's Den: Rescuing Arlos HARD
Epaine is up to 154,039. 2 out for repair, 11 in for trash.

The following auctions sold:
* +2 Full Plate - 347 net
* Tome: Prophecies of Khyber - 3500.6 net
* Tome: Prophecies of Khyber - 3500.6 net

The following auctions expired:
* 2 +1 Dwarven axes
* +1 Greatsword
* +1 Splint Mail
* +1 Half Plate
* +1 Chain Shirt
* +1 Breastplate

As al of my +1 item auctions have expired, time to list some new ones:
* 2 +1 Full Plates for 99/148 each
* 6 +1 Half Plates for 44/79 each
* 2 +1 Quarterstaff for 200/250 each
* 2 +1 Khopeshs for 200/250 each
* 2 +1 Dwarven Axes for 200/250 each
* +1 Longsword for 200/250
* +1 Composite Longbow for 200/250
* +1 Warhammer for 200/250
I still have more +1 items to list, but I have hit my listing limit.

That listing took Epaine down to 161,331. Then she leveled up.

Financial Summary So Far
Income
2628 - Money from chests and smashables
612 - From sells to vendors
5046 - From sells of named items on the AH
1510 - From sells of Mnemonic Elixirs on the AH
579 - From sells of valuable items
1954 - From sells of +1 items
347 - From sells of +2 items
632 - Rare Scrolls
183110 - From sells of collectables on the AH
=====
196402 - Total Income

Expenses
133 - Repair
2777 - Crafting and AH fees
17505 - Purchase of Bags
7 - Purchase of Quiver
640 - Fred
2 - Hirelings
14000 - Tomes
8 - Net fee for storing items with bartender
15 - Thieves' Tools
====
35087 - Total Expenses

=====
161331 - Net Wealth
=====

[GuntherBovine]

I multi-classed Epaine into Monk, but the only good handwraps I have are Eternal Rest. Consequently, time to run some undead quests:
The Chamber of Insanity (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Chamber_of_Insanity) (5 collectables, quest giver in the Ever Full Flagon in House Kundarak)
The Mystery of Delera's Tomb (http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Mystery_of_Delera%27s_Tomb) (5 collectables, quest giver in House Jorasco)
Dead Predators (http://ddowiki.com/page/Dead_Predators) (3 collectables, quest giver in Open Palm Inn in House Jorasco)
Mirra's Sleepless Nights (http://ddowiki.com/page/Mirra%27s_Sleepless_Nights) (3 collectables, quest giver in Drowning Sorrows Tavern in House Jorasco)
Valak's Mausoleum (http://ddowiki.com/page/Valak%27s_Mausoleum) (6 collectables, quest giver in Delera's Graveyard)

U9.1 went live, so I can dump my collection of masterwork/+1 weapons/armor. I made 792 from the dump and my inventory situation vastly improved. 49 out for repair, 42 in for trash. Epaine also picked up some more Thieves' Tools for 15. I spent 456 on crafting supplies.

The following auctions sold:
* Raktu's Trifle - 719.025 net
* Wand of Lightning Bolt - 218.568 net
* Moog's Ornament - 2382.4 net
* 2 Signets of the Devourer - 1402 net
* Scroll of Acid Spray - 275 net
* 15 Strings of Prayer Beads - 2102 net
* +1 Khopesh - 179.04 net
* +1 Quarterstaff - 179 net
* 2 Caravan Logbooks - 1402 net
* 2 Caravan Logbooks - 1402 net
* Skull Fragment - 3502 net
* Skull Fragment - 3502 net
Epaine is up to 176,708

The following auctions expired:
* Scroll of Sonic Blast
* 2 Research Diaries

I want the Pillar of Light (http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Weapon:Pillar_of_Light) so I can have a Pure Good weapon. To get it, I am going to rerun Catacombs on Hard:
The Friar's Niece HARD

At this point, I read that handwraps are bugged in 9.1, so I am going to park this toon until it is fixed. Epaine is up to 179,394.

In the meantime, the following auctions sold:
* Amber Vial - 632 net
* Amber Vial - 632 net
* +2 Battleaxe - 289.03 net
* 3 Sweet Whitecaps - 4202 net
* Elixir of Minor Mnemonic Enhancement - 280.5 net
* Elixir of Minor Mnemonic Enhancement - 280.5 net
* 2 Signets of the Devourer - 1402 net
* +1 Full Plate - 108.6 net
* Small Wooden Idol - 702 net
* Small Wooden Idol - 702 net
* Glittering Dust - 1045 net
* Glittering Dust - 1045 net
* +1 Quarterstaff - 179 net
* +1 Full Plate - 108.6 net
* +1 Half Plate - 58.5 net
* +1 Half Plate - 58.5 net
* +1 Half Plate - 58.5 net
* +1 Half Plate - 58.5 net
* +1 Half Plate - 58.5 net
* +1 Half Plate - 58.5 net
* +1 Dwarven Axe - 151.06 net
* +1 Dwarven Axe - 151.06 net
* +1 Longsword - 151.03 net
* +1 Composite Longbow - 151.2 net

The following auctions expired:
* Small Eberron Dragonshard Fragment
* Scroll of Merfolk's Blessing
* Hobble's Crossbow
* Elixir of Lesser Mnemonic Enhancement
* 5 Oils of Serious Repair
* 3 Sweet Whitecaps
* 2 Pages torn from a Research Notebook
* 15 Strings of Prayer Beads
* +1 Khopesh
* +1 Warhammer

She cleared out some trashing, earning 151 and taking her to 192,109.

[GuntherBovine]

Reserved

[Xionanx]

yay

[margorn]

this post has some good advice for new players

[Raiar]

So you made over 50k PP by level 3, this hardly warrants a "how to maek teh monyz" thread.

IF and WHEN you figure out a way to easily churn out over 1 Million plat AT WILL then by all means post a thread on how to do it. Untill then I think we all know that if you collect all your loots, sell it to pawnbrokers when its trash, and AH the "Good" stuff.
In the "New Player Advice" forum it certainly does warrant it. Of course your "collect all your loots, sell it to pawnbrokers when its trash, and AH the 'Good' stuff" summary says the same thing to experienced players, but it's meaningless to new players. What a new player needs is this sort of guide that GuntherBovine is providing, that explains what is good stuff and what is trash.

[jillie]

I think for new players this is quite valuable, and wish I'd found a similar thread back when I was new and turning in all the collectables I found.

I do have one quibble though, and that's with the OP's method of determining what price to set at the AH. One should always remember that what you see there is what hasn't sold - which may, especially if there are only a small number of listings, indicate that the prices are really far too high. Prayer Beads, for instance, while used in sets of three in the Stone of Change, are so easily come by that I'd honestly be surprised if someone would pay 1kpp for a set.

Still a valuable thread; +1 to OP

[Xionanx]

lol, well then my bad. I'll just edit out the nasty then..:p

[Ashurr]

Not bad at all mate, +1 for ya.

[GuntherBovine]

?? Ok, seriously?

So you made over 50k PP by level 3, this hardly warrants a "how to maek teh monyz" thread.

IF and WHEN you figure out a way to easily churn out over 1 Million plat AT WILL then by all means post a thread on how to do it. Untill then I think we all know that if you collect all your loots, sell it to pawnbrokers when its trash, and AH the "Good" stuff.

You would think that all players would know to AH the "Good" stuff, but basing upon forum posts, most don't. The inspiration for this thread is this: I was reading a thread about a veteran player starting a Permadeath toon for the first time and the poster said that the toon will be able to buy from the brokers, vendors and the AH, but with the character having to raise all its money itself, "this won't be feasible often". A veteran replied:

As far as money being tight, that only last until character level 8-10.
I replied that making money is easy and that I had a level 8 toon that has made about 500k. Someone replied:

Jeez man, do you repeat quests alot for stuff to sell? My level 17 has only 60k.
None of the veterans on the thread seemed to know how to raise substantial cash by selling on the AH the "Good" stuff.

[Alabore]

+1 Rep Cookie.

[Matuse]

At level 5, the two best quests to scrounge up collectibles - particularly anything mushroom based, is from Partycrashers and Small Problem. They have PILES of collectable nodes.

[LordMond63]

When you were a brand-spaking-new DDO player, did your first character have 50k plat by the time he was level 5?

Now that question really cannot apply to the earliest generation of DDO players, because no one had enough plat at that time in order to be able to afford to buy the items GB suggests selling at the prices GB suggests selling them. But, if you've begun playing in the past, say, 2-3 years, that was not a problem.

I know for a fact that none of my characters had anywhere near 50k by level 5. Therefore, a guide like this one would have made a hugemongous difference in my ability to make progress faster in the game.

A well-deserved +1 to ya Gunther. Ignore the naysayers.

[pal_sch]

I used the U8 version of this guide extensively, but do think that a completely F2P addition would be useful.

My 100% F2P advice;

The main difference isn't the plat cap (you aren't going to hit it unless you get very (un)lucky) but rather the auction house limit. You can only list one item at a time so you have to obey a few basic rules;

1) Always have an item listed and a replacement for when it sells.
2) Price items for quick sales.
3) Pick items to list for best return per sale.

Collectables are probably the most reliable source of income at the lowest levels. You can run Protect Baudry's Interests in about 1:00 - 1:30 by failing on elite (just leave all kobolds alive and avoid aggro), hitting a mushroom and cabinet collectable node on each run. The mushroom can give Deadly Feverblanches which are very reliable sales. The cabinet can give Tomes: Prophecies of Khyber which tend to sell for more than Feverblanches, but are less reliable sales.

However, I'd recommend not listing collectables unless you have no other items worth listing. You can list collectables as a stack, ideally up to the amount needed for the relevant crafting recipes. Stocking up collectables while selling weapons/armour/etc until you can post full stacks maximises the amount you get for each listing compared to waiting for each individual collectable item.

[Ashurr]

This is essentially what I've done in the 5 years I've been playing ( old Xoriat player) just never had to gumption to write it all down, lol. Accumulating 2-300k plat by level 7 is *possible* if you follow a system such as this.

[hockeyrama]

this is good for newer players who really need the cash but it is a bit of a grinding way and in many groups if you get some veteran players trying to level there tr they going ot get frustrated waiting for you to pick up every collectable.

For more experinced players run quests that give alot of loot like shroud and vendor/ah it all you can make huge cash that way without slowing down to pick up every little collectable.

The truth is though that once you been playing ot higher levels it really easy to make the cash.

The one good thing mentioned here is to learn what is and what is not going to sell on ah. That is very useful to know. Preyer beads won't sell for alot but other collectables that are wanted will. You can still list preyer beads but they easy to get so you won't often get alot for them. However ioun stones can go for more money then he says he made here (they can go for 1-2 mil plat depending on which stone). So yea, it good for low players to make whatever cash they can but certain items are essential to know they are valuable. I have seen veterans ask and get new players to trade them bloodstones, and ioun stones in chests as the new player did not know how valuable it is.

[sirdanile]

i've been doing this type of thing for years (minus collectables... I just keep those :D) and it hasnt failed me yet!

+1 for spelling it out in a nicely formatted guide for the new players.

[Postumus]

Great guide. I like the format and information, and you kept it brief enough to hold the interest of of the average forum reader.


I did expect to see more about selling greater essences (did I miss that part?) since those are valuable to higher level players but completely worthless to players who don't plan on crafting.

[GuntherBovine]

At level 5, the two best quests to scrounge up collectibles - particularly anything mushroom based, is from Partycrashers and Small Problem. They have PILES of collectable nodes.
I don't have the "Phiarlan Carnival" adventure pack as the quest chain rewards looked underwhelming. 22 collectables from "A Small Problem", 34 for "Partycrashers", 6 for "The Snitch" and 11 for "Under the Big Top" - that is amazing. I am thinking strongly about buying it now.


I do have one quibble though, and that's with the OP's method of determining what price to set at the AH. One should always remember that what you see there is what hasn't sold - which may, especially if there are only a small number of listings, indicate that the prices are really far too high. Prayer Beads, for instance, while used in sets of three in the Stone of Change, are so easily come by that I'd honestly be surprised if someone would pay 1kpp for a set.
None of those sets sold. I was overoptimistic about the supply/demand situation and wasted 10 plat. Oh well, if you don't ask, you will never get. Sometimes the momentum on the AH will be "Buy, buy, buy" and I can sell things for top dollar. Other times, I will post something at I price I think will certainly sell and it sits there like a lump of coal.


this is good for newer players who really need the cash but it is a bit of a grinding way and in many groups if you get some veteran players trying to level there tr they going ot get frustrated waiting for you to pick up every collectable.
If a new player is playing with someone leveling their TR, the TR is going to cast Exp Retreat at the entrance and the new player will never see them again. The new player might as well spend the rest of the time in the quest grabbing collectables.


The truth is though that once you been playing ot higher levels it really easy to make the cash.
That is true, but a new player is more likely to make it to higher levels if they have cash at earlier levels to buy solid equipment.


I have seen veterans ask and get new players to trade them bloodstones, and ioun stones in chests as the new player did not know how valuable it is.
That is terrible. Such veterans should be given a vacation from the game.


I did expect to see more about selling greater essences (did I miss that part?) since those are valuable to higher level players but completely worthless to players who don't plan on crafting.
I am doing crafting, don't really know what I am doing and am holding on to everything I think will be useful, so I am not selling any greater essences.

[LordMond63]

On the issue of crafting....

I'm treating the essences that drop pretty much the same way that I trated the Mabar Festival motes- sell 'em!

Now there's no doubt that I didn't maximize my character's capabilities by not equipping them all with the highest level Mabar items but then it isn't necessary (though it helps) to have the absolute best possible equipment in order to participate in and enjoy DDO's endgame. Compare that to raiding in EQ in which you absolute did have to have top-notch gear in order to participate (if not necessarily enjoy).

Prices seem to be all over the place regarding Greater essences, though I find it interesting that none of them seem to sell for appreciably more than any others (although Evil essences are tough sells). Most are in the 1000- 1200 each range and sell well and quickly for those prices.

[GuntherBovine]

Does anyone know how I can change the name of this thread? I am getting sick and tired of seeing "Mkae" instead of "Make". I spent a lot of time writing the initial posts, but I posted it in a hurray because of a small window between familial responsibilities and wasn't as careful as I should have.

[Alabore]

Does anyone know how I can change the name of this thread?

I'm guessing you'll be needing a mod to fix that.
Try asking Cordovan maybe...?

[razmat]

can you sell essences or collectible items. they never seem to show up in my sell list at a vendor.

[GuntherBovine]

can you sell essences or collectible items. they never seem to show up in my sell list at a vendor.
You can't sell them to a vendor. You sell them on the Auction House to other players

[stille_nacht]

i was purely to lazy to follow any sort of system, i just levelled as quickly as possible the first time :P, selling vials of pure water (didnt know any other valuable thing) and vendoring loots

[mariedee]

Thank you. This is great, especially for newbies for missed out on the big money making events during the last six months.

[Unreliable]

Lot of work to go through for a guide that you mispell on the title :)

[Alabore]

They fixed it.

:)

[GuntherBovine]

Lot of work to go through for a guide that you mispell on the title :)
What are you talking about? ;)


They fixed it.
I followed Alabore's advice and sent a PM to Cordovan, who was nice enough to fix it.

[Alabore]

I sent a PM to Cordovan, who was nice enough to fix it.

I used to be have mod powers over a couple of somewhat populated forums; I actually felt better when I could fix stuff and make people happier.
Doesn't happen often enough.

:)

...

Be sure to send cookies to Cordovan.

:D

[Evennote]

Add another +1 from me. I've made a fair amount on my lvl 18 pally but a lot of it has been guesswork, as I was a TOTAL noob not so very long ago. Even with that, I found some good info in here, and I wish I'd had this info when I was starting out and couldn't afford anything.

Someone should write a patch that automatically links this post whenever some moron types something in general like, "hay duz eny buddy got 10k plat they cud give me, im broak." :D

[GuntherBovine]

Level 4 is done here (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3776917&postcount=5)

[Alabore]

Level 4 is done here (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3776917&postcount=5)

Oh, you used tan.
Mithras be praised...
I love it when people pick colour choices that don't particularly sap my eyes' will to live.

:D

...

EDIT:

Also, I noticed you're on Ghallanda; I'll be keeping my bards' collective eyes peeled, so they can give you some extra haggle boost when buying those bags.
Last I checked I was able to fetch one in the neighbourhood of 7k.

[countfitz]

Wouldn't it be easier to level a haggle bard, pike him to level 20 (read hordo's guide on making a piking bard) and run through the IQ?

[Doganpc]

Wouldn't it be easier to level a haggle bard, pike him to level 20 (read hordo's guide on making a piking bard) and run through the IQ?You'll have to get him into a large active guild to do that much piking. Yeah, still not that difficult but part of the purpose of this guide seems to have functional on-hand plat for your character to use while leveling.

My misguided advice to pure F2P leeches... Create a 2nd account and trade AH items amongst the two characters on that account. Its an easy 6 tabs of inventory that only requires you to have a 2nd installation of DDO (copy & paste as new folder, execute the programs separately but before you login). Alternatively and much much better way to go about inventory management, save $, buy/save 750 Turbine Points & acquired shared bank from DDO Store during a %50 sale. This is the #1 thing thats not an adventure pack you will ever use and you end up premium too.

Dogan
Always buy at 50% its worth the wait.

[GuntherBovine]

Wouldn't it be easier to level a haggle bard, pike him to level 20 (read hordo's guide on making a piking bard) and run through the IQ?
My guess would be that Crafting has killed the haggle bard. Let's say that the level 20 haggle bard has a Haggle skill of 40. That would mean they could sell weapons, armor, shields, jewelry and clothing for 25% of base value to pawn vendors. I am listing +1 weapons and armors on the AH for 150% of base value and they are selling like hot cakes. I am selling very little to vendors.

[Cardtrick]

Level 4 is done here (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3776917&postcount=5)



I open up Notepad in Windows and type the text of my offer, which is typically 80% of the lowest AH Buyout Price. I copy it. I then go to the Marketplace, paste my text and hit Enter. I then go to House P, House D, House J and House K and post the same offer.

I've found that it's most effective when doing a WTB if you do the math for the other person -- you just can't count on people to understand how big a cut 30% is. Simply say (right in your Trade message) how much they would have to sell for in the AH to match the price you're offering.

The AH commission is 30%, so a person selling an item for X plat on the AH actually only gets X - .3X = .7*X plat. So, let's say you want to buy something for Y plat. If someone were to sell something on the AH for Y/.7, they would earn (Y/.7)*.7 = Y -- exactly as much money as by selling it to you.

This is probably only worth it for more expensive things, like tomes, ToD ingredients, specialty weapons, or large scales (pretty much the only things I post WTBs for anyway). But to do this, just open up Windows Calculator, type in the amount you want to pay, and then divide by .7.

For example, say I want to buy a large scale for 550,000 plat. 550,000/.7 ~= 785714. So if someone were to sell something for 785714, they would actually receive 785714*.7 = 550000 plat. In that case, I would post something like:

"WTB Large scale for 550kpp. That's over 750kpp (after 30% commission) if selling on the auction house, and you get it right now! PST."

[GuntherBovine]

Level 5 is up here (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3776920&postcount=6). Epaine is up to almost 200k earned so far.

[BitkaCK2]

I'm not sure if this was mentioned yet but if the AH opportunity presents itself, buy low sell high. Example: Snagged a Sword of Thirty for 2300pp (on bid not buyout, there were several others up). Used it for a while, even did 1 permanent damage to it. Resold it for 35,000pp (24K-ish net) when none were up.

Also helps to learn da twink weapons, ;)
bitkaCK2

[BOgre]

You already know my feelings on the subject GB. Immensely valuable thread. I was pointing all my new guildies to the old one, and am now updating our website to link to this one. Thanks a million. :)
+1

[GuntherBovine]

I'm not sure if this was mentioned yet but if the AH opportunity presents itself, buy low sell high. Example: Snagged a Sword of Thirty for 2300pp (on bid not buyout, there were several others up). Used it for a while, even did 1 permanent damage to it. Resold it for 35,000pp (24K-ish net) when none were up.

Also helps to learn da twink weapons, ;)
bitkaCK2
Earlier, I wrote Make Money Fast! (in U8 DDO) (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=296536) and that guide was about things you could do to actively make money such as buying stuff on the AH and then reselling it. When I shared it on threads to people complaining that they were broke all the time, I frequently got responses along the lines of "That is too much work" or "That is too grindy". So I wrote this guide to show you can make a tremendous amount of money just smart selling what you find twice a level. I basically stole that approach from Postumus here (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3592109&postcount=23).


You already know my feelings on the subject GB. Immensely valuable thread. I was pointing all my new guildies to the old one, and am now updating our website to link to this one. Thanks a million. :)
+1
Thanks for the rep. Getting positive rep is definitely a motivator for me to write these guides.

There is a bug in 9.1 that effects handwraps, which is what Epaine fights with. Consequently, I am going to park her until the bug is fixed. I updated the Level 6 post to reflect her progress so far.

[Vikkus]

Level 4 is done here (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3776917&postcount=5)

Thanks for guides! :)

[Miyamoto_Musashi]

+1 rep I wish I had this when I was a newbie.

[JakLee7]

interesting experiment into the buy/loot/sell experience.
I am curious though, you don't seem to be purchasing healing/gear to assist you in leveling - I find that as an expense, gear is a big one followed by healing if you are wanting to be self sufficient....
+1'd you as well

[vVAnjilaVv]

Nice post Gunhter :)

Might I suggest adding that the collectibles bags that drop from monsters themselves, i.e. NOT mushroom patches, cabinets, etc......can be turned in at one of the two Necropolis
collectors for some hard to find arcane scrolls and inscription materials...both of which can be quite costly for the new aspiring Wizard.

[GuntherBovine]

interesting experiment into the buy/loot/sell experience.
I am curious though, you don't seem to be purchasing healing/gear to assist you in leveling - I find that as an expense, gear is a big one followed by healing if you are wanting to be self sufficient....
+1'd you as well
We have a winner! Epaine was an experiment to see if I could play almost completely self-found and I was wondering if anyone would notice that she wasn't buying healing pots and gear. What I miss the most actually is Potions of Resist Fire and Acid.

Here is what she can spend money on:
* Repairing
* Crafting
* Listing items on the AH
* Hirelings
* Respecing feats
* Resetting enhancements
* Buying back items on the Buy Back tab
* Items from favor vendors
* Quivers
* Bags
* Tomes
* Portable Holes

At 192k, she has plenty of money for healing and gear. I would say that the big thing with gear is to not get the very best as good items will do very nicely. For example, buy a +1 Holy Longbow of Power II instead of a +1 Holy Longbow of Pure Good as it almost as good but at a small fraction of the price. As for healing, I play toons that can use wands and the Wands of Cure Moderate Wounds from turning in 2 'Wavecrasher' Cargo Manifests to Kipling Vranch seems to provide me with an adequate amount of healing. Also, sell all of your Potions of Cure Light Wounds on the AH and buy with the proceeds Potions of Cure Serious Wounds and/or healing wands. Questing time is too short to spend chugging potions that recover a small portion of your health at a time.


Nice post Gunhter :)

Might I suggest adding that the collectibles bags that drop from monsters themselves, i.e. NOT mushroom patches, cabinets, etc......can be turned in at one of the two Necropolis
collectors for some hard to find arcane scrolls and inscription materials...both of which can be quite costly for the new aspiring Wizard.
What specifically are you talking about? I don't have the Necropolis adventure packs, so this doesn't ring a bell for me.

[vVAnjilaVv]

What specifically are you talking about? I don't have the Necropolis adventure packs, so this doesn't ring a bell for me.

Sorry, should have been more specific with that....it's only the mobs from the first Necro series....the Bloody Crypt quest pack or more commonly Necro I.

Can't remember what all of them are called, I believe one is The Ring of the Abbott....and there are two others. You can even farm the kills on casual and get them if your having a hard time with the quests...makes no difference to collectible drops and you can't ransack them.

I have gotten inscription materials, rares scrolls such as DDoor, FoM, and DW and other pull only scrolls and you get some nice wands sometimes as well.

I believe only one of the two collectors gives these tho, I wanna say it's the one on the Silver Flame side.

[Yetzederixx]

Being new this was a great thread. I'm not as money crazy as this experiment, but it's nice to be able to drop 10k on a sword yesterday and regained 5k via auctions while I slept.

Thanks.

[Littoface]

Agh, I've been selling my items to the general vendor. I know better now.

[Lerl]

I started using your advice and selling collectables. I had a character go from 900-ish to 112k plat. I am sold. : )

As an aside- I ran through Tangleroot, two slayers and 4 quests. I ended up pulling 2 Medium Eberron Dragonshards and 3 Fragrant Drowshoods.

[GuntherBovine]

I started using your advice and selling collectables. I had a character go from 900-ish to 112k plat. I am sold. : )
Glad to hear


As an aside- I ran through Tangleroot, two slayers and 4 quests. I ended up pulling 2 Medium Eberron Dragonshards and 3 Fragrant Drowshoods.
That is a sweet pull. I once got a Lightning-Split Soarwood in Tangleroot - that was worth a LOT of plat

[GuntherBovine]

There are 27 collectables used for crafting now. The list is here (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=322814).

Recently, I have discovered the value of items with a Large Guild Augment slot. I sold today a plan Robe with a Large Guild Augment slot for 20k on the AH and that sold in a few hours. I couldn't find any other robes or outfits on the AH with a Large Guild Augment slot.

I can't believe how long DDO is taking to fix the handwraps bug.

[BOgre]

There are 27 collectables used for crafting now. The list is here (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=32281).

thanks for the link. super helpful.

[GuntherBovine]

Your link is busted GB. Looks like you missed one number in your copy/paste
Link fixed

[GuntherBovine]

With U10, the crafting collectables is now up to 33. See here (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=325066). I have decided to restart Epaine as (1) I want a U10 updated run, (2) I messed up her crafting, which really hurt when she took her first Monk level at level 6, (3) there were somethings I didn't do correctly the first time, mainly with crafting collectables and guild slots and (4) probably most importantly, it is really hard for me to resume playing a character that has been sitting on the shelf for a while.

I have updated the Korthos section and am close to updating the Level 2 section.

[erli2000]

I just popped in to say thank you for writing your guides. I find them very helpful and enlightening, especially the solo quests with lousy equipment. Also, what did you mess up on for your guild slots?

[GuntherBovine]

I just popped in to say thank you for writing your guides.
You are welcome


I find them very helpful and enlightening, especially the solo quests with lousy equipment.
I just posted my level 8 adventures. I would appreciate it if you gave me feedback on that thread as to what you like about it


Also, what did you mess up on for your guild slots?
I didn't realize their value and I didn't look for them. I probably disenchanted items that were worth a lot of money

[boettg33]

Not sure if it's this thread or simply the changing economy within the game, but the numbers you use for selling items such as sparkling dust and even deadly feverblanch have fallen a great deal.


Even still there is value within the guide for new players. Good job.



Forthmore.

[ebop99]

Nice job GB.

We were all new at some point and flat broke to boot!

I guess it's a matter of preference but I usually don't go after the breakables and chiefly stick to the nodes. While every little bit of plat helps I try to stay away from the low profit items (masterwork and projectiles). They take up too much room and are a pita to list on the ah (boy do I miss auctioneer).

Anyways rock on GB +1 to you.

[GuntherBovine]

I have redone level 2 in Stormreach in U10.


Not sure if it's this thread or simply the changing economy within the game, but the numbers you use for selling items such as sparkling dust and even deadly feverblanch have fallen a great deal.
Prices for collectables jump around quite a bit. I wouldn't be surprised if the price for sparkling dust has dropped - with the release of level 100 recipes, I would guess that rich players are spending their money grinding to make new equipment rather than spending their money on rituals to improve existing equipment.


I guess it's a matter of preference but I usually don't go after the breakables and chiefly stick to the nodes. While every little bit of plat helps I try to stay away from the low profit items (masterwork and projectiles). They take up too much room and are a pita to list on the ah (boy do I miss auctioneer).
The potions you get from breakables are far more valuable than the money you find. Smashing breakables provides a nice xp bonus. So smashing breakables slows you down, but you don't have to run as many quests to get to the next level. As you say, it is a matter of preference.

[kernal42]

The potions you get from breakables are far more valuable than the money you find. Smashing breakables provides a nice xp bonus. So smashing breakables slows you down, but you don't have to run as many quests to get to the next level. As you say, it is a matter of preference.

In principle, there are two things of interest here:
XP/minute
PP/minute

Each player's questing style (ie optionals/breaking breakables/etc) will depend on what the appropriate compromise is between the two. In many cases they are similar (completing many quests quickly gives good exp and pp per minute), while other cases they differ significantly (grabbing collectibles grants no exp).

Personally, I understand the effect that breakables has on my exp/minute fairly well. Can you comment on the effect it has on your gathering pp/minute? Exactly how worthwhile is it, from a profit/time point of view, to slow down and get those barrels and the loot they contain?

Cheers,
Kernal

[GuntherBovine]

In principle, there are two things of interest here:
XP/minute
PP/minute

Each player's questing style (ie optionals/breaking breakables/etc) will depend on what the appropriate compromise is between the two. In many cases they are similar (completing many quests quickly gives good exp and pp per minute), while other cases they differ significantly (grabbing collectibles grants no exp).

Personally, I understand the effect that breakables has on my exp/minute fairly well. Can you comment on the effect it has on your gathering pp/minute? Exactly how worthwhile is it, from a profit/time point of view, to slow down and get those barrels and the loot they contain?
I don't think new players should be worried about maximizing xp/minute and pp/minute. They should be focused on enjoying each quest. I find smashing breakables satisfying in and of itself. Other people don't. I like making money off of lowly masterwork arrows. Other people can't be bothered. From a profit/time point of view, get to Stormreach as quick as you can, run "The Kobolds' New Ringleader" over and over until you are level 3, then run Tangleroot over and over.

[Raiar]

In principle, there are two things of interest here:
XP/minute
PP/minute

Each player's questing style (ie optionals/breaking breakables/etc) will depend on what the appropriate compromise is between the two.
The only playstyle that would really regard either one of those as being of interest is if you're viewing the game as a race where you're trying to get all you can in the least time possible. New players are more likely to be in an exploring mode where time isn't really a factor. The goal in that case is to get everything you can out of each quest rather than out of each minute of playtime. Of course that isn't everybody, and even among new players there will be some who are interested in the amount of time that things take, but it sounds odd to talk about it as though it were always the prime concern.

[Galeria]

I may not be correct here, but I believe you get a trade boost in houses that you have achieved higher favor rewards.

For example at low levels, I have more favor with the Coin Lords than the Free Agents- stepping in to use the Rusty Nail's bartender (or at the Phoenix) instead of the Wayward Lobster gives me better repair and sell prices.

[DirkHardly]

Not sure if it's this thread or simply the changing economy within the game, but the numbers you use for selling items such as sparkling dust and even deadly feverblanch have fallen a great deal.


Even still there is value within the guide for new players. Good job.


Agreed on the awesomeness of this guide as a new player. Got from 200pp to 16Kpp pretty quickly without even running too many quests.

I wonder if the value of crafting is also down since the crafting house is broken. Does that matter?

[GuntherBovine]

I may not be correct here, but I believe you get a trade boost in houses that you have achieved higher favor rewards.

For example at low levels, I have more favor with the Coin Lords than the Free Agents- stepping in to use the Rusty Nail's bartender (or at the Phoenix) instead of the Wayward Lobster gives me better repair and sell prices.
I have a toon with 146 Coin Lord favor and 0 Twelve favor. Same sell price at the Rusty Nail as the bar in The Twelve complex. I think you are confusing the improved prices you get for finishing Waterworks and STK with favor rewards.


I wonder if the value of crafting is also down since the crafting house is broken. Does that matter?
I have not bothered to try to sell any crafting collectables while crafting is down. I don't know if the prices have changed, but I can't see why there would be any demand for crafting collectables.

[Galeria]

Aha, that's why prices are better at the Rusty Nail. I wasn't sure why. Thanks!

[LordMond63]

I wonder if the value of crafting is also down since the crafting house is broken. Does that matter?

Seems to me that there are two possibilities here:

1) Prices collapse because there is no Cannith crafting activity ongoing.

2) Prices drop but do not collpase because shrewd players who craft will be looking to stock up on materials at lower prices to be ready (not have to grind for them) when crafting goes live again.

Whichever one ends up being true, I found that prices for essences had fallen a great deal the longer crafting was live. I didn't realistically expect prices to remain as high as they were immediately following the release of crafting (stacks of 10 greater essences were bringing 30-40k pp then as opposed to perhaps 7k right before crafting was closed), but I could hope, right?

[guero]

Thank you very much for this guide, GuntherBovine. The tips about collectibles are especially useful. I'm very new to the game and had no idea I was throwing away PP by turning in some of the collectibles. Last night I made a few hundred pp by putting them on the AH. They sold quickly!

I appreciate your work on this!

[Brinzy]

Yet another fresh faced player looking to throw in a cheer for this thread.

I had a pally at level 7 (with about 8k plat mind you) and decided to make an alt warchanter. He was sitting right at level 2 when I stumbled upon this thread very early this morning. About 16 hours later of playing on and off, I went from level 2 with about 200 plat to level 3 with 38.4k plat, with maybe 3k of that coming from my pally's inventory - I had no idea that I was carrying some incredibly valuable merchandise used for something entirely different from collecting.

This guide is well-written and doesn't use any complicated formulas or psychic guesswork to get the job done, and that is definitely saying something given that I've seen guides for all sorts of games over the years on making money. Thank you so much!

[jakeelala]

OP, I want to hire you to come work for me in real life.

[GuntherBovine]

Thank you very much for this guide, GuntherBovine. The tips about collectibles are especially useful. I'm very new to the game and had no idea I was throwing away PP by turning in some of the collectibles. Last night I made a few hundred pp by putting them on the AH. They sold quickly!
You are welcome!


This guide is well-written and doesn't use any complicated formulas or psychic guesswork to get the job done, and that is definitely saying something given that I've seen guides for all sorts of games over the years on making money. Thank you so much!
I am glad it was helpful. I hoped that following one toon as she made her fortune would be effective in conveying my experience in making money.


OP, I want to hire you to come work for me in real life.
I am in North Dallas and I don't do windows.

[Brinzy]

Hey there, me again. Just bumping the thread to say that I am on the final rank of level 5 and I am sitting at 203k plat.

I know I already said thanks a ton, but who says I can't say it again? AMAZING guide, recommended it to my two friends who started and they're already seeing results.

[aennae]

Well i added your collectibles price to my collectible list, but i get much lower price for common ones on thelanis.

A quite fun and rewarding quest is the pirat island assault (in which you blow the ship), it's good xp and you get many chest with gems and essences. Considering that essences have a solid market value it's rather good.

[GuntherBovine]

Well i added your collectibles price to my collectible list, but i get much lower price for common ones on thelanis.
Prices change over time. The price for essences has dropped considerably since crafting was first introduced


A quite fun and rewarding quest is the pirat island assault (in which you blow the ship), it's good xp and you get many chest with gems and essences. Considering that essences have a solid market value it's rather good.
"Irestone Inlet" is a fun quest with a lot of chests. One of my favorites. Much more fun than say "Proof is in the Poison".

[mujadaddy]

Great info, OP. Most of this I knew or was common sense, but I've probably traded in a hundred Collectables sets up to this point (and just vendor-selling the arrows or whatnot), leaving thousands of PP to waste. I'd been looting Greater Essences like CRAZY and had been at the F2P Level-Gold limit this whole time, so it's not that huge a deal, but now that I know some of those Collectables are actually worth real money to crafters (crafting being my literal least-favorite thing in the world), I'll be ridiculously flush with cash! Thanks!

Short Version: Collectables are worth the time to put on the Auction House! :D Repeat of the U10 ingredients link (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=325066)

[aennae]

You can do the caravan quest in House P, it takes 8mn and it's level 10. It is similar to kobold assault in harbor but quite easier. A decent level 10 group is still needed to do it in hard/elite.

You get Major mana potion as end reward, those sell up to 20 000.

Note that the assault on the caravans last 8mn, so the quest cannot take longer -- either you win or loose.

[GuntherBovine]

Great info, OP. Most of this I knew or was common sense, but I've probably traded in a hundred Collectables sets up to this point (and just vendor-selling the arrows or whatnot), leaving thousands of PP to waste. I'd been looting Greater Essences like CRAZY and had been at the F2P Level-Gold limit this whole time, so it's not that huge a deal, but now that I know some of those Collectables are actually worth real money to crafters (crafting being my literal least-favorite thing in the world), I'll be ridiculously flush with cash! Thanks!
I am not a F2P player and I strongly recommend buying some TP's and becoming a Premium. To a F2P player, I would recommend that if you are close to the money cap, buy elixirs of (X) mnemonic enhancement as a way of storing your money. You could then try to barter with those directly or sell them on the AH once you hit level 9 and the cap is above what you need to buy a +2 Tome.


Short Version: Collectables are worth the time to put on the Auction House! :D Repeat of the U10 ingredients link (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=325066)
I haven't checked the prices lately, but a lot of the collectables aren't worth the time to put on the AH. The ritual ones are and I think Glittering Dust, Mark of the Keeper, Page Torn from a Research Notebook, Powered Blood, Skull Fragment and Small Wooden Idol. The ones you can turn in for ammo sell pretty decently, but you can turn them in for ammo and sell that instead. There just isn't any demand for the rest.


You can do the caravan quest in House P, it takes 8mn and it's level 10. It is similar to kobold assault in harbor but quite easier. A decent level 10 group is still needed to do it in hard/elite.

You get Major mana potion as end reward, those sell up to 20 000.

Note that the assault on the caravans last 8mn, so the quest cannot take longer -- either you win or loose.
"Desert Caravan" is level 11 and as you say, a very short quest for that level. I found it a difficult one to solo because of the self-healing of the Scorrow. I don't farm quests and I recommend to new players that they don't farm quests as there are so many interesting quests to do. Another short level 11 quest is "From Beyond the Grave". I would think that a party of 6 could do that pretty quick. A short lower level quest that someone could farm if they wanted to is "Archer Point Defense". It is level 5, has 4 chests and ends in 12.5 minutes. If you go for just the last 3 chests, you could probably do the quest in half that time.

[mujadaddy]

I am not a F2P player and I strongly recommend buying some TP's and becoming a Premium. Bbbut I already have veteran Turbine Points! :D I know, I know. I'm actually just about at the point where I might sub, as I'm lucky enough to have a group of IRL friends who play.


To a F2P player, I would recommend that if you are close to the money cap, buy elixirs of (X) mnemonic enhancement as a way of storing your money. You could then try to barter with those directly or sell them on the AH once you hit level 9 and the cap is above what you need to buy a +2 Tome.Yeah, I don't have a problem doing something like that. Standing around & trading (Gr. Essences) is what got me to the gold limit in the first place. Good "commoditization" tip, though.


I haven't checked the prices lately, but a lot of the collectables aren't worth the time to put on the AH. The ritual ones are and I think Glittering Dust, Mark of the Keeper, Page Torn from a Research Notebook, Powered Blood, Skull Fragment and Small Wooden Idol. The ones you can turn in for ammo sell pretty decently, but you can turn them in for ammo and sell that instead. There just isn't any demand for the rest.Right, but I was thinking there wasn't any demand for ANY of them. I see the ones you listed often enough that they can take my single Auction slot from time to time, if those prices you mention are close to what I can get.