elite trapper woes

[chrichton]

I play in a static, free-to-play group. We take our time and play only a few hours a week. We do not raid (our group is too small for that).

We recently rolled a new group (first group got to lvl 20), and I am now the rogue. We also have one person subbed, so they can now open elite to start, so we have been taking advantage of the bravery bonus.

However, my rogue can't seem to sense any traps or find the trap boxes.

I have max skill points per level in rogue skills. I have +7 skill items at level 5. Caster provides heroism (some pots too, for emergencies). Have +4 stat items or +4 stat from spell/pot. I have Rogue Skill Boost Enhancement I (so far). My rogue skills end up around 20-22 so far - yet I can't seem to do anything for traps on at-level elite quests.

I know the trap damage was boosted through the roof with U14 - but I am wondering if the DC for the traps as a whole was also bumped. I don't remember elite trap-handling being this difficult in updates past.

Considering I do not have access to raid/twink gear, what other options do I have to try to boost rogue skills? Some in our group have not yet purchased Delera's, so getting the +1 luck trinket might not be an option. I guess I could purchase the craftable trinket and craft good luck onto that - but that is only +1. (I have a separate crafter with craft levels in the 60s). I do not have the Cannith pack, so I don't think I can get the crafting Marks to reduce min level for crafted items.

Any suggestions?

TIA

[cru121]

do you have a bard in your group? he could sing you a +2 skill song.
consider investing more AP into permanent skill bonuses as well as action boost bonuses.
Stone of Good Luck is a ML7 unbound trinket with good luck +1.
Check DDOWiki, http://ddowiki.com/page/DDO_information_project/Traps_and_locks to see what values do you need to hit.

[MarQuileth]

What build is your rogue (Assassin, Tumbler or Mech) and what are his/her stats?

[GlassJaw]

Join the club. It's not you. The trap Spot DCs definitely got a boost as well.

I've been playing my Art a lot more lately (level 9) and I consider myself pretty much geared as best I can be right now: base 10 Wis + 4 Owl's Wisdom + GH (Planar Gird) + Spot +10 goggle + max ranks.

I was still having trouble spotting traps in Elite Ruined Halls last night (base level 6 quest). If I hit my action boost, I would spot them.

It's a little disconcerting being totally specced for traps and not being able to spot them, especially with how nasty the traps are hitting on elite right now. I got wiped out by the lightning trap because I stepped a little bit too far, and that was with Res 20 and 160ish hit points.

I'm hoping they get toned down a bit with tomorrow's update.

[delsoboss]

do you have a bard in your group? he could sing you a +2 skill song.
consider investing more AP into permanent skill bonuses as well as action boost bonuses.
Stone of Good Luck is a ML7 unbound trinket with good luck +1.
Check DDOWiki, http://ddowiki.com/page/DDO_information_project/Traps_and_locks to see what values do you need to hit.

Currently both trap damage (and spell damage too) and trap DCs are throug the roof in elite heroic content, i don't see any indication on that wiki-page about the modified (bugged, since Devs said it's not working as intended) post U14 situation. Tomorrows patch should correct the issue.

About raising skill checks:
1 - As cru121 said if you got a bard friend you can ask for the +skills song;
2 - For disable device/open locks checks it's important to get +5 tools as soon as possible (they give +7), you can buy them on the auction house or pass them with your higher level toons or the crafter (they're a common drop in level 15 quests and up).
3 - Again, as cru121 said, if you're in a static group, fights are not a problem and the rest of the team is ok you could do an enhancement reset and go all out on the skill enhancements (spot/search/disable/racial boni if elf/skill boost).
4 - Magda Yarrowmill in house Deneith provides collectible turn-ins for pots that gives +1/+2/+3 alchemical bonus to intelligence or +1/+2/+3 alchemical bonus to intelligence based skills (turn ins available for Mystical Formulae, Academic Treatises, and Tome(s): Alchemist's Chapbook).

Hopes this helps, but personally i hope the problem is fixed to lift the stress from low level or new rogues/trappers (at high levels it's not so bad since there are a lot more ways to boost skills and checks).

[chrichton]

Well - good to hear tomorrow's update might calm this down a bit.

FYI -
The character is an acrobat (based on "Big F'n Stick"). I had not planned to max rogue skills, but did so with my last level-up.

No - the group has no bard :(

[Thaxlsillyia]

max your rogue skills (search, disable), max UMD, decent amount in open lock. If you have capped a toon already chances are you / group already know about trap box locations. So spot becomes essentially useless. Recommend starting with atleast 12 intel on any race. 14if you can afford it. Take mechanic enhancement till lvl 10 abouts. will not need any special feats to get it and gives trap bonus at lowbie levels. continue taking the feat required for the stick build and switch out later by resetting enhancements. Get the enhancement bonuses for lowbie levels. Use heroism/greater hero and search/disable gear appropriate for level. This can be a little expensive at start. having a good luck item helps too (there is a +1 luck trinket for lower levels). If memory serves the bard skill song come up at much higher levels. By then you wont need it really.

:) love you rogue

[Malison]

I have max skill points per level in rogue skills. I have +7 skill items at level 5. Caster provides heroism (some pots too, for emergencies). Have +4 stat items or +4 stat from spell/pot. I have Rogue Skill Boost Enhancement I (so far). My rogue skills end up around 20-22 so far - yet I can't seem to do anything for traps on at-level elite quests.

You're probably just a point or two under, with the effort you've put in. Aside from build points in int or Improved Search enhancements, the only useful suggestion I can think of would be scrolls of Find Traps. Buy them in the marketplace, it's another +1 or 2 (the bonus caster level from arti splash has spoiled me, I don't remember what they are without it) to search.

[MRMechMan]

You should be finding them, you are doing everything right.

But as others have said, it is bugged.

Adding to what other said-guild augment goggles or gloves (I think) can add an extra stacking +4, but that is a large slot and a fairly large investment for something that you shouldn't be failing.

I would wait till tomorrows updates before speccing overly for trapfinding, ranks+best at level item+heroism+int item will be enough if they fix it.

[EpiKagEMO]

With that gear, you should be able to get traps.
My rogue had no problem with the buffs, and similar gear-but he had 14 int. I would not suggest building a trapper rogue, especially an assassin without AT LEAST 14 Int.

[Cap_Man]

I'm not so sure if this is a problem with DC's being bugged.

It could be, but I remember having these same issues on untwicked non-mechanic rogues at those levels. I had boosts, max skills, best standard gear for that level, fox, owl and heroism pots and I still had trouble in elite quests at level.

To solve that I ended up taking 1 or two tiers of the Spot and Search skill enhancments. Then around level 10 or higher, I reset my enhancments and took something else.

And I have been playing casually since day one and I still don't know exactly where every single trap box is. And there are also some that move around so Spot is not a wasted skill. It also shows stealthed mobs too which can be very handy.

Oh, and I think the Cleric spell Prayer (also on clickies) and Recitation (also on wands) can help by adding +1 for Prayer or +2 for Recitation to your skills. They don't stack to so use Recitation if you can, Prayer if not.