Please advise free "exploiter" build

[Basil2]

When thinking about some damaging class, I found topic "New Players' Guide to Multiclassing". And this excited me! Thus I think about some powerful hybrid. Since multiclassing is difficult for novice, I need an advice.

What build will be suitable within these constraints:

- free (no paid races/classes)
- strong during leveling

I have no personal preferences about caster/melee. I also plan to level mostly within random groups. Just wanna fun powerfull buid.

Which one will be most useful for it?

[voxson5]

I would recommend:

Human 18 wiz (pale master) 2 rogue

Rogue levels at 1 & 9
Wiz all the rest

Max INT & CON (I think thats all you can do for 28 pointers), level ups into INT
Max Open locks/Spot/Search/Disable/UMD/Balance/Concentration/whatever at creation

while leveling you get 7 skill points as a wiz (8 at level 8->15, 9 at level 16->20, more if you nom an INT tome)

Take Spot(2) / Disable(2) / Search (2) / UMD (1 until lvl 8)

Check the Building an end game Pale Master (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=302573) thread for some good info and ideas on feat/spell selections

Make sure you take the insightful reflexes for a very nice reflex save :)

And have fun!

[zex95966]

When thinking about some damaging class, I found topic "New Players' Guide to Multiclassing". And this excited me! Thus I think about some powerful hybrid. Since multiclassing is difficult for novice, I need an advice.

What build will be suitable within these constraints:

- free (no paid races/classes)
- strong during leveling

I have no personal preferences about caster/melee. I also plan to level mostly within random groups. Just wanna fun powerfull buid.

Which one will be most useful for it?


Hmmm it depends on how often you plan to group with other people as well.
Strong during leveling doesn't sound much like a Pale Master imo - they don't get good until around lvl 12 when they get their next form.

Barbarians are strong for the early stages of the game and pretty much stay strong they may sound "simple" but tbh no class is really that simple there is plenty to do as a good barbarian - Shade's guide details a lot of it.

However if being a big strong melee doesn't appeal to you, then I suppose next in line would be a battle cleric or a palemaster.

Palemasters are bit slow imo, but they have immunities, and are self sufficient, with rogue splash and insightful reflexes you are pretty well rounded and can take on traps with optimal equipment.

As for races, I recommend Dwarf for a Battlecleric or Barbarian and Elf for Palemaster which gives you easy spell penetration. 2 less con is not that huge of a deal, just don't do something silly like dump it.

Dwarves are very survivable since they get +5 to all spell saves if the enhancements are taken, and extra constitution.

I think you would be most happy with either a Barbarian or Battlecleric.

both of the above options I would splash 2 fighter with.
You can also stay pure on your barbarian though which I would recommend - the fighter gives you some feats - but they aren't required just desired and easier for a newbie to play with.

feats on a pure barb:
Toughness
Power Attack
Cleave
Improved Critical
Two Handed Fighting
Improved THF
Greater THF

Feats I would add with the fighter splash:
Stunning Blow
(your choice here, the second fighter lvl is more for the enhancements it gives you.)

[cru121]

you could try a simple splashed bard warchanter, e.g. this:
http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=2789906&postcount=6
human version works great; 28 point buy without tomes

can solo reasonably well, can self-heal a bit; and when you group, you are a popular addition to the party because of the buffs that you can give but you are unlikely to be guilty if something goes wrong because not much is expected from a bard.

[voxson5]

-snip-

Arn't you telling everyone in the lets talk thread how difficult the game is on your melee?

[jwdaniels]

I would play your first character as a single class to get a feel for the game. Honestly, your best bet probably is barbarian - max strength, rest into Con, there's not much actual choice involved with feats (6 are basically spoken for, and you only get 7 (or 8 if human) and the class is very effective (although it feels much less so in the level 12 - 15 range or so). Lots of HP make for good survivability and you hit hard. Barring that, try fighter - so many feats that it's hard to mess them up too badly, and also fairly straightforward.

Rogue-splasehed palemasters and battle clerics are solid builds, but tend to rely on more than 28 stat points, some gear and knowledge of the game that a brand new player just doesn't have in order to be most effective.

[FrozenNova]

You may be perhaps a little misled with your title -
"Exploiter" refers to a specific build - 18 ranger/1 rogue/1 monk - the combination of which boasts evasion, trap skills, damage, armor class, umd, resist energy, freedom of movement, and cure spells. It's a little dated now because such jackofalltrades fall behind in epic, and the defender lines' new hp bonus surpass it as a tank.

I do recommend a barbarian for your first toon, regardless of what you're after. Barbarians are fun, foolproof, and powerful without special measures and regardless of experience. They work just as well as 28pt as any other. A good free route would be 18 barbarian/2 fighter, as a dwarf. The 2 fighter splash means you can take all of stunning blow, toughness, and improved sunder - while a pure barbarian must pick between the three.

[unbongwah]

tihocan's Revisiting paths (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?p=2789906) thread should be the first stop for every newbie shopping for a custom F2P build. Also have a look at my Tempest trapmonkey thread, which is like the Exploiter (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=168687) minus the monk splash. [Rumor has it Tempest III is due for a buff, so they might be in vogue again soon.] Clerics are another good choice for newbies if you don't mind being considered the party's de facto healer; check our sirgog's build guide (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=223253) and my own battle cleric thread for examples.

Really, though, any class can be a pretty solid leveling build if soloability isn't a concern.

[Basil2]

Thank you for advices and links, "Revisiting paths" was quite helpful.
I think I'll start with dwarven barberian - I like classes which run fast :)

The only choice is THW or TWF one. From one side, I prefer small quick damage rather than seldom heavy damage, since heavy damage is often redundant. From the other, I have told that two weapons are useful only after 6 lvl, and these first 6 lvls I will not feel my char overpowered. Also this build need at least +1 tome ($ only, am I right?).

So I am still choosing...

[FrozenNova]

Thank you for advices and links, "Revisiting paths" was quite helpful.
I think I'll start with dwarven barberian - I like classes which run fast :)

The only choice is THW or TWF one. From one side, I prefer small quick damage rather than seldom heavy damage, since heavy damage is often redundant. From the other, I have told that two weapons are useful only after 6 lvl, and these first 6 lvls I will not feel my char overpowered. Also this build need at least +1 tome ($ only, am I right?).

So I am still choosing...

As a 28 pt dwarf barbarian, you'll deal outright more damage as THF at all stages of your character. Heavy damage is only "often redundant" while you're running content where you one hit everything. That doesn't last very long. It also requires no tomes. TWF also works poorly alongside barbarian Supreme Cleave, where it triggers only your main hand's attack.

Stick with the greataxe, you won't regret it for long.
And actually, if it's the thrill of a great many damage numbers over your the heads of your foes.. Two handed glancing blows, with all feats, will proc on 75% of your attacks while standing still - compared to the 80% offhand chance for TWF.

Tomes can be found and bought in-game - I'd never recommend spending real money on one, unless you're a new player who can't find one in game and you're desperate to play a TWF with perfectly optimal stats.

[zex95966]

Arn't you telling everyone in the lets talk thread how difficult the game is on your melee?

This is totally different context, he asks for an easy during leveling character. Also I'm not a barbarian (but I wish I was) If I was a PM with great equipment (I doubt I could get that equipment, I have lots of caster stuff saved up and none of it is really "optimal") I might be able to blaze through the end game content, but I made a PM myself and brought it to 9 before giving up on it, before the second form (lvl 12-14 if including rogue splash), they don't offer much before then.

Imo that is the opposite of easy during leveling. If I was a Barbarian instead of a fighter, I might have a much easier time, back when I made my fighter I wasn't aware how much of a difference soloing most of the content makes - I don't have access to freedom of movement, so holds are a pain on my fighter - if I was a dwarven barbarian like I'm suggesting, I would hardly get held due to rage will save, dwarven will save, and enhancements... not including equipment. I would also run a lot faster (I've replaced the striding boots I had for feather fall which I feel is necessary since unless you know the quest beforehand your never going to know when to hotswap to FF item before it becomes important) and barbs run naturally fast, + have an enhancement to temp move even faster.

Which is also why I said it really depends on how often he parties up - if he always has a caster by his side then it's less important. Even then though, a barbarian is a great choice for your first melee.

I used to have barb splash on my fighter and loved everything about it - only got rid of it because guild suggested rogue for UMD, and at lvl 15 I have 19.5 UMD with boosts I can wand or something... but I had to wait until lvl 15 to use it! (I reincarnated at 13 so it's only a small loss, but I would hate to have tried this at lvl 1 since the UMD is largely useless until much later)


Thank you for advices and links, "Revisiting paths" was quite helpful.
I think I'll start with dwarven barberian - I like classes which run fast :)

The only choice is THW or TWF one. From one side, I prefer small quick damage rather than seldom heavy damage, since heavy damage is often redundant. From the other, I have told that two weapons are useful only after 6 lvl, and these first 6 lvls I will not feel my char overpowered. Also this build need at least +1 tome ($ only, am I right?).

So I am still choosing...

I recommend THF for a variety of reasons:
Most importantly it's easier on the stats and the tradeoffs are pretty small and hotly debated anyways.
You will one-shot monsters for quite a long time assuming your running on normal, and a dead monster is not hurting anyone =P
Barbs get lots of Bonuses to THF.
I think TWF is more for raid bosses - where the quick succession of slow damage adds up, but against most content stuff dies quick enough you won't really feel the benefit of it.
and yes, if you go TWF you will prob have to buy a tome, and most likely a +2 since going 16 dex at start hurts quite a bit unless your a halfling or elf. 15 saves you 2 points...

[voxson5]

... I might be able to blaze through the end game content, but I made a PM myself and brought it to 9 before giving up on it, before the second form (lvl 12-14 if including rogue splash), they don't offer much before then....


(sorry for derail, your regularly scheduled thread will resume shortly)

OP asked for a fun powerful build,

How much fun is a non-self sufficent barb? OP is f2p and a new player. Do you really think he is able to get his silver flame pots quickly?

Even the 1st PM form gives you heavy fort/deathblock/many immunities/the ability to self heal. You dont need the best equipment to succeed as an arcane - you just have to play smart (some epics not withstanding re: gear).


I do not endorse a new player to play a character that will require a babysitter, because this is what he will accept as the norm.

[zex95966]

(sorry for derail, your regularly scheduled thread will resume shortly)

OP asked for a fun powerful build,

How much fun is a non-self sufficent barb? OP is f2p and a new player. Do you really think he is able to get his silver flame pots quickly?

Even the 1st PM form gives you heavy fort/deathblock/many immunities/the ability to self heal. You dont need the best equipment to succeed as an arcane - you just have to play smart (some epics not withstanding re: gear).


I do not endorse a new player to play a character that will require a babysitter, because this is what he will accept as the norm.

As you mentioned in the other thread, a hireling should be just fine as a "babysitter"
What they aren't good enough in this thread?
Also a PM cannot be healed at all by other players - that is quite a bit different.

I had quite a bit of fun on my low level barbarian so far. What not to love? they are fast, have twice as much HP as everyone else and smash heads quite nicely.

[FrozenNova]

(sorry for derail, your regularly scheduled thread will resume shortly)

OP asked for a fun powerful build,

How much fun is a non-self sufficent barb? OP is f2p and a new player. Do you really think he is able to get his silver flame pots quickly?

Even the 1st PM form gives you heavy fort/deathblock/many immunities/the ability to self heal. You dont need the best equipment to succeed as an arcane - you just have to play smart (some epics not withstanding re: gear).


I do not endorse a new player to play a character that will require a babysitter, because this is what he will accept as the norm.

He asked for a levelling build, not a solo build. Trying to make a new player solo as a pale master? That's just needlessly cruel. Low level pale masters are the exact opposite of "fun, powerful" compared to every other class.
A barbarian can solo whenever he needs to with a hireling. We recommend barbarian precisely because it is a class not expected to be self sufficient - let them learn the game and content before you insist that they are able to provide the facilities of an entire group on a single character.
Not being self sufficient is not the same as "not being fun". I have a perfectly self-sufficient paladin who routinely clears the way to vod or hox without resources - and he's not nearly as fun to play as my barbarian who can hardly walk a few steps without a healer beside him.

[voxson5]

Each to their own I guess.

I'm not suggesting PM as a solo build, just something that can let OP solo and also bring a lot to a party.

Also quite aware I have my own blinkers on (I've learnt to build and play self-sufficent toons, and thats the way I like it), so that channels my judgement.

Arcanes not fun at low level? All depends on how you play them I guess.

Looks like OP wants a barb anyways :)

[7-day_Trial_Monkey]

Thank you for advices and links, "Revisiting paths" was quite helpful.
I think I'll start with dwarven barberian - I like classes which run fast :)

The only choice is THW or TWF one. From one side, I prefer small quick damage rather than seldom heavy damage, since heavy damage is often redundant. From the other, I have told that two weapons are useful only after 6 lvl, and these first 6 lvls I will not feel my char overpowered. Also this build need at least +1 tome ($ only, am I right?).

So I am still choosing...

Tomes are not $ only. You have a chance of finding a +1 in any level 8+ quest. You can buy them off the auction house for between 10k and 20k pp depending on the stat (and server you play).

[Basil2]

I would recommend:
Human 18 wiz (pale master) 2 rogue
And have fun!
Despite I like my young barbarian (spent at least 10 minutes just jumping around Korthos ang enjoying high jump skill), I also tryed sourcerer, wizard and rogue.

Sourcerer didn't impress me, but when I chose Wizard with different set of spells, I found him very funny. Also my eyes was pleased by rogue since I like dual-weapon halfling animation :) So I have two next questions:

1. What are advantages of Pale Master over pure wizard?
(remember I do not plan soloing because it's boring for me)

2. What class will be the best with dual weapons?
(And can use them at early levels, not late than 3rd. I think about Dark Blade rogue, but I guess it's not the best warrior).

[Grace_ana]

Rogue is a very difficult first toon, so if you go this route make sure you work out your build beforehand all the way to 20 and ask for a lot of advice in the specialists subforum when you do so. I started with a rogue. I love rogues, but I messed her up so badly I had to reincarnate her at level 15 just so she could make it to 20 without riding in a backpack. If you choose rogue, don't take any of the preset paths. They're awful. If you look down under classes -> specialists, you'll get advice from people that play rogues, and you'll see a lot of different builds and advice as well.

[MsEricka]

Also a PM cannot be healed at all by other players - that is quite a bit different.

That is just patently untrue. Stop spreading FUD.

- Other pale masters can heal a pale master.
- Pale masters can drink pots.
- Anyone with UMD can use a harm scroll on a pale master.
- Clerics and favored souls can cast harm on a pale master.
- Anyone with UMD can wand heal a pale master.

[Havok.cry]

Since you specificly asked for a multiclass build, I'm going to make my reccomendation: ranger12, barbarian 6, rogue 2. Go tempest2 for two weapon fighting, and frenzied berzerker1. Rogue would give trap skills. I would go human for the extra feat, skills, damage boost, and heal amp. Dwarf would be solid too with dwarven axes and extra HP. Elves and drow Also have nice racial weapons, but have the drawback of lower HP. I would do the rogue levels at the standard 1 and 9, and take all the ranger levels before barb. This build will give you all the TWF feats for free, regardless of qualifications. It will also give you the ranged feats, allowing you to sample more of the games playstyles with one character. The ranger will also give you access to nice self healing.

Free feats:
Two weapon fighting, improved two weapon fighting, greater two weapon fighting, diehard, bow strength, rapid shot, manyshot, precise shot, and improved precise shot.

Reccomended feats to take while leveling:
Human: dodge
1 mobility
3 oversized two weapon fighting
6 spring attack
9 toughness
12 improved critical slashing
15 power attack
18 cleave
Dodge mobility and spring attack are required for tempest, cleave is required for frenzied berzerker.

Reccomended starting stats for 28 point build:
Str 16
Dex 13
Con 16
Int 8
Wis 9
Cha 8
Put level ups into strength and use a +2 wisdom item or higher to cast your ranger spells.

[EllisDee37]

Totally f2p toon for new players? Can't go wrong with a tempest trapmonkey (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=277496).

[Basil2]

That is just patently untrue. Stop spreading FUD.
- ...
Since it looks like you are familiar with PM, could you please clarify:
What are advantages of Pale Master over pure wizard?

[Basil2]

Since you specificly asked for a multiclass build, I'm going to make my reccomendation: ranger12, barbarian 6, rogue 2. Go tempest2 for two weapon fighting, and frenzied berzerker1. Rogue would give trap skills.
Sounds very interesting. Could you tell more about this build:

1. When I tested Rogue, I revealed I like DEX-based build (which is opposite to my barb STR-build). Can this build work well if DEX-based? (probably picking a halfling)

2. What if I take barbarian at L2 or L3? I like speed boosts very-very much.

3. Why second rogue at L9?

4. When I get TWF? At first ranger level?

5. What are advantages of this build over Tempest trapmonkey?
(18 ranger/1 fighter/1 rogue or better 18 ranger/1 barb/1 rogue, which is the most alternative)

[unbongwah]

What are advantages of Pale Master over pure wizard?
There seems to be some confusion in terminology. Pale Master (http://ddowiki.com/page/Pale_Master_enhancements) & Archmage (http://ddowiki.com/page/Archmage_enhancements) are the prestige enhancements (PrE) for wizards. If you're familiar with PnP D&D, PrEs are kinda like a hybrid between 3.x prestige classes (PrC) and AD&D class kits. A build is "pure" if it contains only one class; it has nothing to do with which PrE you take. A common multiclass combo for wizards is wiz 18 / rogue 2.

Pros of wiz 18 / rogue 2: gain rogue skills and Evasion (combine w/Insightful Reflexes for higher Reflex saves)
Pros of wiz 20: one extra metamagic, +2 Spell Penetration, wizard capstone (+2 INT, lowers SP cost of metamagics)

Basically, a pure wizard is a stronger caster, esp. at endgame; but the wiz 18 / rogue 2 gains greater survivability (from Evasion) & more versatility (e.g., UMD, trap skills). Which is better largely depends on what you want to be able to do.

Can this build work well if DEX-based? (probably picking a halfling)
As a general rule, DEX builds are a gimp / flavor choice: lowers your DPS, limits your weapon options, and costs a feat. If you do want a DEX build, I would say rogues, monks, rgrs, maybe certain pally or bard builds work OK as Finesse-based. Do NOT go DEX-based on a ftr or barb, though, as their DPS largely depends on their STR boosts.

4. When I get TWF? At first ranger level?Rgrs get TWF feats free at rgr lvls 2, 6, and 11.

5. What are advantages of this build over Tempest trapmonkey?Rgr lvls 13-18 get you lvl 4 spells, more skill pts (making it easier to maintain UMD & trap skills), and Tempest III (which rumor has it may get a buff in the near future). Six lvls of barb gets you more HPs, +10% run speed, a few uses of Rage, & Frenzy from FB I PrE; but the drawback is you can't disarm traps or use wands or scrolls while Raged.

For newcomers, I don't advocate heavily-multiclassed builds like the rgr 12 / barb 6 / rogue 2 option Havok mentions; too easy to make newbie mistakes and oftentimes your best abilities wind up really backloaded.

(18 ranger/1 fighter/1 rogue or better 18 ranger/1 barb/1 rogue, which is the most alternative)It basically boils down to the extra feat & hvy armor prof. from ftr 1 vs +10% run speed, +1 Power Atk enh, and a single Rage from barb 1. Both are pretty nice (presuming you don't have monk unlocked), so it boils down to personal preference, IMHO.

[Havok.cry]

I'll start by saying Unbongwah was giving me build advice when I started playing, he knows what he's talking about.


1. When I tested Rogue, I revealed I like DEX-based build (which is opposite to my barb STR-build). Can this build work well if DEX-based? (probably picking a halfling)

Currently the game is not set up for a dex build to work in anything but early content, it just does too little damage, and others would end up carrying you through. However changes to tempest that are under development, that the devs have shared with us "appear" to be making dex builds more viable. Until those changes happen though, I would stick with STR based.

If you decide to go dex based You might consider dropping ranger altogether and replacing it with fighter. The reason I say this is that the ranger's main thing for me is the free feats, which normally would have a dex requirement, can be gotten without the dex. If your getting the dex anyway, fighter might give you more.


2. What if I take barbarian at L2 or L3? I like speed boosts very-very much.
The level order isn't that big a deal IMHO, but FYI rangers get speedboost too.


3. Why second rogue at L9?
A second injection of a large amount of skill points at this time can help skills that are falling behind get to where they need to be to be useful.


4. When I get TWF? At first ranger level?
you automatically get the following feats at the indicated levels:
1 bow strength
2 TWF
2 rapid shot
3 diehard
6 ITWF
6 Manyshot
11 GTWF
11 preciseshot
11 improved precise shot


5. What are advantages of this build over Tempest trapmonkey?
(18 ranger/1 fighter/1 rogue or better 18 ranger/1 barb/1 rogue, which is the most alternative)

I pick builds based on weather or not I like the feel of it, so I'm the wrong person to ask this. still Ill make an attempt at it:

2 rages per rest vs 1, and with enhancements they can last alot longer too.
Improved uncanny dodge
more HP
I also suspect FB1 will give more DPS than the third teir of tempest, but I'm no good with a dps calculator so I'm not sure on that one.

Ranger 18 will have better longer lasting spells, possibly better saves, and maybe better DPS (again not sure here)

[EllisDee37]

I also suspect FB1 will give more DPS than the third teir of tempest, but I'm no good with a dps calculator so I'm not sure on that one.

Frenzy I: +1 to hit and damage, +2d6 per swing
Tempest III: +1 to hit, +5% mainhand doublestrike

Let's see, frenzy adds 19 * (1 + 2d6) = 19 * 8 = 152 damage after 20 swings if you hit on a 2. The +1 is multiplied by crits, so assuming khopesh with improved crit that gets you another +8 from crits for a total of 160. These bonuses apply to both mainhand and offhand.

Tempest III procs one free mainhand attack after 20 swings if you hit on a 2. "After 20 swings" in this context means both weapons swing 20 times, so the frenzy will have added 160*2 = 320 dps over that span.

320 is the cutoff. If your mainhand does that or better, tempest III is more dps. If significantly less, FB1 is more dps. If at all close I'd go tempest III because it doesn't cost you any hit points to activate and use, and in fact doesn't require activation at all.

[Basil2]

Thank you for explained answers, my choice is narrowed :) I do understand that my build will be for fun more then for profit. But it's difficult to have fun on a totally gimped build, so that's why I am asking so much. And the question is about feats.

Since I decided to play rogue-started halfling with DEX-based build, I need to pickup Finesse. But, in order to complete Tempest prerequsites, I also need Spring Attack, Mobility, Dodge. It's impossible to get 4 feat to L6 with halfling :((. I could imagine these variants to evade this:

1. Wait till L9
2. Splash 1 fighter (on what level?)
3. Do not aim to Tempest (so what's instead?)

1 is boring, 2 excludes 1rog/1barb/18rgr build, 3 - I don't understand its consequences.
May be you can tell more about these variants or think out the 4th one?

[unbongwah]

Well, I don't think DEX-based is the way to go on this build, but if you're committed to it, maybe do rgr 12 / rogue 7 / barb 1. [Is barb just for run speed?] That way you can skip OTWF since you won't be getting Tempest III. Feats: Finesse, Toughness, Imp Crit Pierce (assuming you use rapiers), Power Atk (probably w/STR tome), and the Tempest I pre-reqs (D/M/SA). If necessary, back-load D/M/SA and delay Tempest I/II until later in your build.

BTW, I hope you didn't dump-stat STR, otherwise you can't get Power Atk.

[EllisDee37]

My tempest trapmonkey took khopesh early and pushed the tempest prestige back until 12 when I finally finished getting the feat prereqs. Didn't seem to be a problem for me.

[Basil2]

Well, I don't think DEX-based is the way to go on this build, but if you're committed to it, maybe do rgr 12 / rogue 7 / barb 1.

To tell the truth, I am choosing between pure rogue (like Dark blade) and tempest TM variations. What is the main difference between rogue and your tempest?


[Is barb just for run speed?]
Yes. But since I revealed that ranger has the same speed enchancement as barb, splashing barbarian isn't so critical yet. So I am open to all variants like rogue-20, 12-7-1 suggested above, rgr-18 / rog 1 / barb-or-fgtr 1, rog 8 / rgr 12 and so on.
I aim to get the build "which gives the most plusses" within described restrictions (work with traps, DEX-based, fast speed)
Is 12-7-1 the best bet under these conditions? Why?


BTW, I hope you didn't dump-stat STR, otherwise you can't get Power Atk.
Does it mean I should get 12 STR, hoping for +1 tome?
How much will this tome cost at auction? (Cannith)
Why Power attack is so important? (heard alot about it :))

[unbongwah]

What is the main difference between rogue and your tempest?
A pure rogue has more skill pts and a lot more sneak atk DPS plus extra Haste Boost for better burst DPS; they also can take extra Wand & Scroll Mastery enhs to improve their healing output with Cure wands & Heal scrolls (once their UMD is high enough). A rgr gets a lot of free feats (both TWF & ranged), rgr spells, Favored Enemies, and can use rgr wands right away (Cures & energy resists being the most useful, IMHO). Basically, rogues do a lot more DPS when they can get their sneak atks, while rgrs are more versatile & self-sufficient from the get-go.

But since I revealed that ranger has the same speed enchancement as barb, splashing barbarian isn't so critical yet.Rgrs & barbs both get Sprint Boost, but barbs also get a +10% run speed (http://ddowiki.com/page/Run_speed) bonus at lvl 1, which stacks with Sprint Boost and enhancement bonuses like Striding items.

Does it mean I should get 12 STR, hoping for +1 tome?
How much will this tome cost at auction? (Cannith)(A) Yes and (B) they tend to go for 15K-25K on Argon in my experience. [+2 tomes usually got for 10x more.] No clue if Cannith has higher inflation. :)

Why Power attack is so important?Power Atk (http://ddowiki.com/page/Power_Attack) adds up to +5 dmg per hit with 1H weapons and up to +10 with 2H weapons while taking up to -5 to-hit penalty (depending on BAB). [Barbs, HOs, and WF can boost the dmg bonus - and to-hit penalties - higher with enhs.] It's a pretty important feat for every melee build to pick up, especially Finesse builds, which need all the DPS help they can get.

[Basil2]

Very well, thank you for explanations. In that case I'll pick up a rogue.

However, I am still targeting for speed boost. "Revising path" tells that rogue may splash 1 lvl of fighter. So I'll splash barb or ranger instead. The only choice is whom of them?

Or, may be, even 1 lvl of wizard for "Expedition retreat"? :)

[Kmnh]

There are many ways to solo in DDO.

High level spell casting with good hp and some self-healing is the quickest and easiest.

High AC melees can easily beat elite content if they have the patience to kill high hp mobs with their midrange DPS.

High DPS/ healing amp melees can grind it out on elite quests by killing stuff quickly enough to avoid the resource drain.


If you don't bother with elite content, any build can solo its way to 20, as long as you kill casters first and abuse the consumables system.

Mix and match as needed - a cleric can go up to level 11 playing for AC/ midrange DPS and then go crazy with blade barrier, cometfall, slay living and flame strike.

[EllisDee37]

Very well, thank you for explanations. In that case I'll pick up a rogue.

However, I am still targeting for speed boost. "Revising path" tells that rogue may splash 1 lvl of fighter. So I'll splash barb or ranger instead. The only choice is whom of them?

Or, may be, even 1 lvl of wizard for "Expedition retreat"? :)The spell only lasts one minute per caster level, so with only 1 level of wizard it'd only be 1 minute per casting.

If you consider human, you can take Dragonmark of Passage as your extra human feat at level 1. This grants 3 expeditious retreats per rest that last 1 minute per character level, which quickly becomes more than plenty. You can add a 4th clickie with a level 2 Extra Dragonmark enhancement.

At level 7 or 8, farm up a Mire Set from the Red Fens for the static 30% striding, which is the same speed as expeditious retreat. Then you can talk to Fred and pay to change your dragonmark feat to something useful. Don't use the free feat exchange for this, as it's pretty cheap even at 8 to pay for it, and you might need to switch a feat at high levels.

I did this on my last TR, who had both the Mire Set and a pair of rocket boots sitting in his TR cache ready to go. It effectively gives him 30% striding from birth to death.

[unbongwah]

However, I am still targeting for speed boost. "Revising path" tells that rogue may splash 1 lvl of fighter. So I'll splash barb or ranger instead.
If you care about endgame performance, I'd advise against splashing a rogue just to get a run speed boost; the capstone is +4D6 SA & +2 INT (+1 Assassinate DC) which is pretty sweet. Plus Sprint Boost is just an action boost, so you usually only get 5-7 uses per rest. As EllisDee37 points out, a human rogue could add the Least Passage DM for +25% run speed.

However, one correction:

At level 7 or 8, farm up a Mire Set from the Red Fens for the static 30% striding, which is the same speed as expeditious retreat.
The base Mire set provides +15% Striding; it's the epic version which provides +30%.

[EllisDee37]

However, one correction:

The base Mire set provides +15% Striding; it's the epic version which provides +30%.Try em on and be pleasantly surprised. I discovered this fact and posted the time trial evidence (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3743122&postcount=16) nine months ago. People just love to correct me on this, though, as if item descriptions in DDO are ever correct. I would think the first reaction would be "Really?" as opposed to "You are wrong."

As I said, take DM of passage at 1, respec it out at 7 for the Mire set, and you get 30% striding from birth to TR.

[unbongwah]

Very interesting! Have you re-tested recently to see if it's been nerfed since then, though? I'd be wary of trusting anything which sounds "too good to be true" as being WAI; in this case, having a min. lvl. 7 item set which gives +25% run speed.

Still, learn something new every day - and I may have to revise my "Zerger's Delight" combo accordingly.

[EllisDee37]

Very interesting! Have you re-tested recently to see if it's been nerfed since then, though? I'd be wary of trusting anything which sounds "too good to be true" as being WAI; in this case, having a min. lvl. 7 item set which gives +25% run speed.

Still, learn something new every day - and I may have to revise my "Zerger's Delight" combo accordingly.Yep, my low level characters have been wearing mire sets nonstop for the past nine months, including the most recent tr I referenced upthread. I just respecced out of the dragonmark last week for the mire set, still 30%.

[Basil2]

If you care about endgame performance, I'd advise against splashing a rogue just to get a run speed boost; the capstone is +4D6 SA & +2 INT (+1 Assassinate DC) which is pretty sweet. Plus Sprint Boost is just an action boost, so you usually only get 5-7 uses per rest. As EllisDee37 points out, a human rogue could add the Least Passage DM for +25% run speed.
I understand, but I don't care about endgame :)
Dragonmark instead splashing sounds very good but I desided to play halfling.

So I think about slashing barb or wizard. 1 min of ER looks better than barb's 20 sec, and I also can get extent spell feat.
Finally, it's a fun build, not a profit :)