Tips - please add yours...

[achitophel]

Invisibility scrolls: Many quests can be run "discreet". Not only is this very fast, it also gives you a "discreet" xp bonus. XP per min is better than xp per quest.

UMD: cha of persuasion helps. Persuasion can be crafted ml0. +4 cha ml 5. Bunny hat is a cosmetic hat that also gives +3 UMD on scrolls (but does not stack with persuasion).

Cure serious pots: Heal better than any pug divine (Much better than low level hires even...), especially a fvs. If you are playing with a guildie divine, he probably wont heal you either and then proceed to call you a noob when you die. Until about level 12 this is true. Sometimes this is true until level 18. FYI i do not play a divine.

Remove Curse/Disease/Poison/Blindness/Restoration pots: Should maintain at least 100 pots of each. If a divine cant be bothered to heal you, then why do you think that they will cast remove curse on you ?

Heal amp: you want as much as you can reasonably get.

Silver flame: Grind out the favor when it gives xp. Get silver flame pots. Be self sufficient. A friends quote "A good melee can self heal, a great melee is self sufficient".

Deathward: If you are playing a class that has a specific buff, say.. Deathward then it is good form to pass that buff out. If you can cast Deathward and you die to finger then you should be embarrassed and possibly delete your character. I see this happen a lot. Unlike some games, one does not need to stand still to cast spells so start running and pass buffs as you jump - space + buff spell. If casting masses, and people run off, then it is their problem.

GH: Contrary to popular believe, people do not ask for GH for the +4 to attack, generally it is to prevent Fear effects. Fear stops people using the aforementioned pots to self heal. If you are a bard, then you should definitely be passing out GH. This is probably more or less the only reason they let you in the group anyway (applies to 85% of all bards). Most people make sure they have a gh clickie or can UMD it.

Cleric/FVS: Carrying Harm can keep those pale masters alive. Keeping them alive is a good thing, especially if they are ccing. Agreed that many are arrogant SOB's but keeping them alive (and thus yourself) is a great way to gloat. The intelligent ones will thank you for it. The stupid ones will abuse you. Clearly come back to "if you knew what you were doing then i wouldn't have to Harm you...". Harm also clears stat damage on a pale master. Especially good for those IQ quests, Von2, Von5, etc. There is a ring that drops in Accursed Ascension that can be unlocked to give 5 charges of Harm.

Druid: Mass regenerate is possibly my favourite spell in the game. Throw it all the time!

If you are asked to pike, buff everyone as best you can and then pull up youtube or the forums for some giggles. Don't run in and die.

If someone is incap, do not stand on top of them and fight.

If you happen to die, stand next to your soul stone and not on it. Do not run away from your stone unless someone who can res has asked you to.

If you join a Zerg LFM, don't stay in the quest and loot all the chests when 5 other people are standing at the door waiting to come in again.

Litany of the dead: Use invisibility to reduce the number of mobs that must be killed. This gives extra xp.
Rainbow in the dark: In the caves, run to the end and kill everything. This saves on SP. If you die jumping the pillars, get to the other side and then take your res.
Any escort quest: Bring a divine hireling.
Abbot: If you do not know what your role is, or how to do it then say so. There are no stupid questions, only stupid people who fail to ask what the hell they are meant to do. Abbot in particular is a raid where the tolerance for failure on "easy" roles is very low, possibly getting you banned from future Abbots. However stating that you are willing to learn will more often than not be met with careful explanations and possibly even being edumacated.

[rest]

If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife.

[cidchronic]

If you are asked to pike,



No-one should be asked to pike, no-one should ask to pike. IMO piking is wrong.
thx for your time

[TrinityTurtle]

Ask questions. Sure, some people will be jerks about it, but most players are happy to help you out. And in this game knowledge really is power. :)

[Ilindith]

Con is not a dump stat.

[Enoach]

Invisibility - I agree with your general idea. Not all quests need to be beat down to win. And XP/Min is only > Questing if your goal is to get XP faster. Added note: Invisibility Potions can only be found in Quests (chests/breakables) and the AH - Get as many as you can find learn when to use them to benefit your questing style or pocketbook.

UMD: A 50% chance use on a Buff/Utility Scroll is worth it. Also Consider UMD of 10 (Low Level RR by pass)/20 (Alignment By pass)/30 (Greater Alignment By Pass). Also if using UMD for Buff/Utility/Equip restricted items, consider switchable gear and remember to switch back to questing gear once done.

Cure serious potions do heal better at lower levels than most divines as they still have a low SP pool to work with, however consider why you are taking so much damage - Elemental or Physical and is there something you can do to mitigate it. Not needing to drink potions non-stop because your not taking damage is far more valuable.

Carry potions to remove curse/disease/poison/blindness/restoration - if your taking penalties or have become ineffective you are no longer benefiting your party. You don't need 100 of each, what you need is enough to make it through the quest. If you are playing a class that is constantly Rage (Barbarian/Madstone) and have access to Guild Potions choose these. It is also good to carry a few non-Guild ones to help out party members in distress - Incap and have curse that prevents healing.

Healing Amplification is a good thing - I agree with getting as much as is reasonable. However, consider having switchable gear to maximize healing between encounters.

Silver flame - The potions are more HP than Cure Serious Potions. Keep in mind that you will suffer Ability Score, Save and Movement Speed penalties for 30 Seconds per type you drink. Using these between fights before you run off to the next one will give you time to recover. Using these in combat can be more harm than good so drink responsibly.

Deathward - Run tangleroot to get the fleshrender goggles (they are BtA 1 charge 7 minutes). If Deathward is passed out save your clickies for later. When running a quest that has high use of instant death and dispel always backup your deathward with deathblock - Silver flame trinket or any other item that has it.


Greater Heroism: while I agree the +4 attack is not the primary reason for this spell and Fear Immunity and +4 Skill boost. The Fear Immunity is not always needed, but for skill classes the +4 Skill bonus is always used. Keep in mind that there are other forms of Fear Immunity - such as Hero's Feast (which could be activated at the next shrine). This also falls in the if you can get even 50% UMD on scrolls or get your hands on the Level 9 or Level 18 gear that has this as a clicky.

Divines able to carry Harm should consider using this spell and not just for helping a Pale Master. Targeting is tricky in that your target has to be in front of you, it also has shorter range than its heal counterpart. However, it is negative energy and does not have spell resistance and each enhancement you spent in healing also increases its effectiveness. To the Pale Masters out there - Keep in mind Harm and Inflict do not target the same as cure/heal, if you need the assistance in keeping yourself up make it easier to Harm you by not bouncing behind the Divine - Also take the time to turn in the collectables and consider handing a few Harm Scrolls to a Divine.

Druid - regeneration spells are useful to help reduce party healing - Others while regeneration is great it does not stop death by taking massive damage your not invulnerable.

Artificers - Cure Potion infusions are available starting at level 1. You get more out of an infusion of the cure light wounds potion than you would drinking it.

If you are asked to pike and don't want to pike, leave this is not the party for you. Personally I hate piking I want to play the game, get the XP and Loot, I don't care if others think it sucks.

Any quest your in try to compromise and run the quest as the party leader wants to. If you can't, than leave. But sometimes you can learn some interesting things from both the Flowersniffer and Zerger alike.

If you die in a trap, and its possible to take the raise on the other side, choose to take the raise on the other side. You've already proved that the trap beat you, no need to give it a second chance.

Escort Quests - Never consider yourself too good to take a turn to watch the escortee

If your unsure of what to do in a quest, ask questions. Don't pull levers and open doors or pick stuff up if you are not sure what it does or who is behind it. Simply asking the question can get you information about if it is ok or not and in some cases can help you avoid an untimely death. Speaking up and asking questions shows that you are attempting to help with the completion. It also opens you up to receive more information. Many that have been around and have run quests numbers of times don't know you are new or don't know until you speak up. Never be embarrassed to ask - Everyone has had their first time and I dare say 90%+ of the people you meet were taught by someone else how to do it, of course not everyone is cut out to teach but all should have the patience to handle questions from someone that is new and trying to learn. There are very few "Self-Taught" around.

[Tobril]

/joinchannel Defense (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?p=4208724)

/1 hi

:)

[stoopid_cowboy]

Know your roll, play your roll.

"You shall not pass!" Famous last words of Gandalf, a whizzard who thought he could tank.
With that being said, just because you see the intim icon pop up over the monster's head does NOT mean you can lay down your characters max DPS instantly. Let the tank "establish aggro". A good tank will be able tell the party when it is ok to lay down max DPS.

If you are playing a hjealing capable class, you should be able to at least help hjeal!!!! I do not care what kind of favored soul you are playing, you have the ability to help heal a raid. End of discussion! If you don't have any heal spells, why in the world did you roll a favored soul instead of a paladin or a fighter? (Yes, I can argue this point with anyone. My human DPS favored soul is one of my fave's. I will do decent DPS on any bad guy, not to mention tank if need be, and also solo hjeal a raid in the process.)

Spell point reduction buffs first! Please please please for all bards and monks to cast the spell point reduction buffs BEFORE the party starts buffing at the beginning of the raid!

Arty's, thank you very much for your deadly weapons. However, may I have another? The weapon(s) I was holding are not what I am going to be using, or the weapon(s) I am holding really need <insert metal type or alignment here>. Let the party members request what they need. This will usually save you spell points.

There is no need to Finger of Death a bad guy that the melee have beaten down to 1% health! Save your SP and let the melee feel UBER for 1 second! :D

yuda

[Sethus]

No-one should be asked to pike, no-one should ask to pike. IMO piking is wrong.
thx for your time

That's fine if it's your opinion, but if you join a group where the leader says that's all he wishes you to do you have the option of leaving, or sticking around and getting your easy button XP.

It's well within your right to think that, but to say someone else is wrong for wanting to do it (and honestly, it's a benefit to those who just want some quick, easy XP) is short sighted at best.

[LafoMamone]

Cleric/FVS: Carrying Harm can keep those pale masters alive. Keeping them alive is a good thing, especially if they are ccing. Agreed that many are arrogant SOB's but keeping them alive (and thus yourself) is a great way to gloat. The intelligent ones will thank you for it. The stupid ones will abuse you. Clearly come back to "if you knew what you were doing then i wouldn't have to Harm you...". Harm also clears stat damage on a pale master. Especially good for those IQ quests, Von2, Von5, etc. There is a ring that drops in Accursed Ascension that can be unlocked to give 5 charges of Harm.


Carrying Harm on a FvS is a particularly bad idea, because not only are you nannybotting a class that has excellent healing/damage mitigation capabilites (PM), but you are also shutting yourself out of either an excellent nuking/crowd control spell (Cometfall), the best single-target healing spell in the game (Heal), or the best persistent damage AoE spell in the game (Blade Barrier).

[DarkForte]

Deathward: If you are playing a class that has a specific buff, say.. Deathward then it is good form to pass that buff out. If you can cast Deathward and you die to finger then you should be embarrassed and possibly delete your character. I see this happen a lot. Unlike some games, one does not need to stand still to cast spells so start running and pass buffs as you jump - space + buff spell. If casting masses, and people run off, then it is their problem.

But if your class doesn't have it, consider doing tangleroot 3x for a visor of the flesh render.

Cleric/FVS: Carrying Harm can keep those pale masters alive. Keeping them alive is a good thing.
No No No. A wisdom-based FvS that doesn't carry cometfall (not having BB or heal is out of the question) loses one of their best nuking options for static enemies that don't follow through BBs (divine wrath only comes at 20!). Clerics are ok carrying it, though.

If someone is incap, do not stand on top of them and fight.

Casting Rage, GH, using your korthos curative cloak, bracers of assistance is good form in those cases.


Coments in bloody red

[achitophel]

But if your class doesn't have it, consider doing tangleroot 3x for a visor of the flesh render.

Should definitely have several pairs on any toon that can't cast DW. On those longer quests, like CITW a 25min DW is very handy as opposed to 7mins.


Carrying Harm on a FvS is a particularly bad idea, because not only are you nannybotting a class that has excellent healing/damage mitigation capabilites

If you are in an EE and that disco ball is the only thing between you and death and you don't harm that PM, then you are gonna have a bad time. I'm not saying your fvs has to take harm, but there are alternatives that will keep YOU alive - its kind of a symbiotic relationship. Its a tip, disregard as you wish.

Bringing me to...


There is a ring that drops in Accursed Ascension that can be unlocked to give 5 charges of Harm.

The state of FVS players on Sarlona leaves a lot to be desired. I see on many occasions a FVS join my group zerg, pull a red alert and die, or get fingered/wailed. In fact my last epic levels on my arcane archer i did not have at any point a FVS who joined and didnt do one of the these two things. Don't get me wrong, there are a bunch of great FVS of which i am sure you are one.

[LafoMamone]

If you are in an EE and that disco ball is the only thing between you and death and you don't harm that PM, then you are gonna have a bad time.


If you are in an EE and everything is discoballed, you won't need harm to keep your PM alive.

If you are in an EE and nothing is discoballed, you won't need to keep your PM alive. Rez him to be a buff-bot maybe.

[Pank]

ddowiki.com is your friend: use it

Re-rolling a toon is not necessarily a bad thing, most of us have gone through it (especially first toons)

Asking questions about stuff you don't know is a clever thing to do. Most people are friendly enough to answer and help (unless of course you don't stop asking them and become a PITA)

If you don't know the quest or are absolutely sure about what the outcome will be don't be the first to do anything (pull a lever, open a door, attack, etc.). This is of the upmost relevance in a PUG.

[arjiwan]

"You shall not pass!" Famous last words of Gandalf,

No. I think it was Fly, you fools.

To the OP, just the tip?

[achitophel]

Some good tips! Keep them coming. I will edit the OP with them and give credit. Tobril... I am sure that you realise most casters wait until a mob is at 1% BEFORE fingering while cackling like a maniac ? ;)

[Ryan220]

If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife.


Years ago when I was single I had this discussion with a friend.

He followed your advice and went for a "not so photogenic" option whereas I married my wife for her looks.


25 years down the line and both our missus's have turned into bitter and twisted man-haters but at least mine is still easy on the eye.



My advice is marry the best looking woman you can find - she'll end up hating you anyway so you might as well have something thats pleasent to look at.

[rest]

Years ago when I was single I had this discussion with a friend.

He followed your advice and went for a "not so photogenic" option whereas I married my wife for her looks.


25 years down the line and both our missus's have turned into bitter and twisted man-haters but at least mine is still easy on the eye.



My advice is marry the best looking woman you can find - she'll end up hating you anyway so you might as well have something thats pleasent to look at.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NF5XU-k2Vk

[TrinityTurtle]

Carrying Harm on a FvS is a particularly bad idea, because not only are you nannybotting a class that has excellent healing/damage mitigation capabilites (PM), but you are also shutting yourself out of either an excellent nuking/crowd control spell (Cometfall), the best single-target healing spell in the game (Heal), or the best persistent damage AoE spell in the game (Blade Barrier).

Carrying harm on your spell bar might be a not great choice for a FS, but carrying it on scrolls to help a teammate out when needed and having access to whatever spell you put in it's place is good. There is a VAST difference between nannybotting and the ability to react to a situation as needed and keep the group good going. Even though the class has inherently good self-healing, no one is ever so good that they don't eventually get into trouble at some point.

[TrinityTurtle]

Carrying harm on your spell bar might be a not great choice for a FS, but carrying it on scrolls to help a teammate out when needed and having access to whatever spell you put in it's place is good. There is a VAST difference between nannybotting and the ability to react to a situation as needed and keep the group good going. Even though the class has inherently good self-healing, no one is ever so good that they don't eventually get into trouble at some point.

ETA: Upon further thought, I would also put in a tip that scrolls are a fabulous option for spells that you don't have room for in your lists, especially for sorcs and fs. But they are also a great option for emergencies when you run out of mana. Mana conservation is an acquired skill through experience, and carrying a supply of emergency scrolls is a good idea to help you to the next shrine if you misjudge it. Wands too, especially healing and emergency damage ones. :)

[marinerfan]

Have fun -- this is a game

[dragon2fire]

That's fine if it's your opinion, but if you join a group where the leader says that's all he wishes you to do you have the option of leaving, or sticking around and getting your easy button XP.

It's well within your right to think that, but to say someone else is wrong for wanting to do it (and honestly, it's a benefit to those who just want some quick, easy XP) is short sighted at best.

This

I know if i am leading a litany run i want you to pike don't mess up the ambush please.

[Ryan220]

Years ago when I was single I had this discussion with a friend.

He followed your advice and went for a "not so photogenic" option whereas I married my wife for her looks.


25 years down the line and both our missus's have turned into bitter and twisted man-haters but at least mine is still easy on the eye.



My advice is marry the best looking woman you can find - she'll end up hating you anyway so you might as well have something thats pleasent to look at.



Someone Neg Repped me for this - lol

Either my wife has a Forum account or............

[elricken]

Just the tip.

[Munkenmo]

byoh = bring your own heals
zerg = skipping most trash / chests / probably invisible / and you're not likely to get people helping or waiting on you
ip = in progress
farming = repeating quest till leader decides to stop.
pike = stay at the start, don't do anything.
know it = know the quest, probably the shortcuts and normal tactics

Learn these abbreviations.

Don't be afraid to take the step to join a group with the tags listed above, but if you're unsure of yourself, let the leader know in advance, and don't take ignored responses, or delayed responses personally. If someone's running through a quest in Red Dungeon alert, it's difficult to stop and type back.

/squelch add munkenmo = command to enter if you take issue with seeing these abbreviations.

[DeKalbSun]

Stay with the group and don't jump in the lava.

[stoopid_cowboy]

/squelch add munkenmo


This could possibly the best single piece of advice given in this entire thread!!!!

yuda :D

[Spoonwelder]

Invisibility - I agree with your general idea. Not all quests need to be beat down to win. And XP/Min is only > Questing if your goal is to get XP faster. Added note: Invisibility Potions can only be found in Quests (chests/breakables) and the AH - Get as many as you can find learn when to use them to benefit your questing style or pocketbook.


Silver flame - The potions are more HP than Cure Serious Potions. Keep in mind that you will suffer Ability Score, Save and Movement Speed penalties for 30 Seconds per type you drink. Using these between fights before you run off to the next one will give you time to recover. Using these in combat can be more harm than good so drink responsibly.

Greater Heroism: while I agree the +4 attack is not the primary reason for this spell and Fear Immunity and +4 Skill boost. The Fear Immunity is not always needed, but for skill classes the +4 Skill bonus is always used. Keep in mind that there are other forms of Fear Immunity - such as Hero's Feast (which could be activated at the next shrine). This also falls in the if you can get even 50% UMD on scrolls or get your hands on the Level 9 or Level 18 gear that has this as a clicky.



Invis pots - can be used underwater - scrolls can't - keep pots for this very purpose - example Missing - lever underwater - pot lets you get out invis - relying on scrolls may get you some dungeon alert if you are trying to zerg it.

Silver Flame Pots - Total PITA - if you need 250hp in the middle of a fight and its not over yet then I will likely need another 250 in less than 30seconds since I can't really run away(due to the pot slowing me)..... So be careful - run away first - find a safe spot - then chug - don't chug and keep fighting unless the fight will be over before you need another. My point - these are for emergencies or where you are getting slow steady damage - if you are getting hit by spike damage find a better solution.

GH - me - I cast/scroll it for the saves, then skills, then attack, then fear. Fear is a PITA but doesn't kill - failing saves can kill and 20% better chance to save>>>>not being able to act for 6 seconds. That said anyone who can cast/scroll it for the party should - IMO the single best buff in the game. Also if you get an 11min GH from someone - they are scrolling it so if you have a way to scroll/clicky it yourself then let them know and save some plat.

[Spoonwelder]

Spell point reduction buffs first! Please please please for all bards and monks to cast the spell point reduction buffs BEFORE the party starts buffing at the beginning of the raid!


There is no need to Finger of Death a bad guy that the melee have beaten down to 1% health! Save your SP and let the melee feel UBER for 1 second! :D

yuda

If you are a caster and have a bard/monk in the party - ask if they can do the SP buffs (not all are spellsingers or light monks) before you fire off all of your buffs. I don't immediately fire off this buff as I don't know when people are going to start casting. So a little communication goes a along way.

IF you have SP to spare the FOD at 1% is awesome fun....in guild runs.

[DarkForte]

/squelch add munkenmo

best tip evar.

[Spoonwelder]

ETA: Upon further thought, I would also put in a tip that scrolls are a fabulous option for spells that you don't have room for in your lists, especially for sorcs and fs. But they are also a great option for emergencies when you run out of mana. Mana conservation is an acquired skill through experience, and carrying a supply of emergency scrolls is a good idea to help you to the next shrine if you misjudge it. Wands too, especially healing and emergency damage ones. :)

Good scrolls to use - where the effect is not really modified by caster ability/stats:
---------------------
GH
Stoneskin (less HP than casted but.....on a Sorc the SP are worth it)
Prot from Elements
Teleport/Greater Teleport
Summon Monsters (if you want agro magnets)
Prot from Evil (if needed)
Hypnotism (merely for -3will save debuf)
True Seeing (if you don't need have gear - but also for the occasional undergeared party member)
Invisibility
Blur - if you have no other source
Heal/Reconstruct - all other healing either use pots or wands
Enervation (on creatures with no SR)
Stone to flesh (Eyes of Stone only really)
Prismatic Spray (but only really for Schemes of the Enemy)
Shield (really only for UMDers - if you can cast it or Nightshield then do so)
Restoration (for UMDers and FVS mostly)
Raise Dead/Resurrect

Wands:
Same as the above if available.
Other than that damaging wands meh....the damage they can do is really only enough at really low levels to make it a staple of your arsenal.
Note: Carry both Cure Crit wands (or as high a wand as you can UMD) and CSW pots - when you are in trouble you alternate wand/pot/wand/pot while jumping and running away (or is circles) to get HP back much faster. Don't use scrolls as they require concentration checks and if you are umd'ing them you will probably fail (assuming no Concentration skill).

[DarkForte]

Silver Flame Pots - Total PITA - if you need 250hp in the middle of a fight and its not over yet then I will likely need another 250 in less than 30seconds since I can't really run away(due to the pot slowing me)..... So be careful - run away first - find a safe spot - then chug - don't chug and keep fighting unless the fight will be over before you need another. My point - these are for emergencies or where you are getting slow steady damage - if you are getting hit by spike damage find a better solution.

Bad advice.

You can chain-drink SF pots, down one as soon as the last one's cooldown is off (ie, you don't have to wait 30 seconds to drink another). It doesn't stack the ability penalties, it merely resets the penalty timer to 30 seconds. It's completely feasible for a lob-tank to chain-drink sf pots if healers are knocked down/dead/lagging, for example.

[jandhaer]

Silver Flame Pots - Total PITA - if you need 250hp in the middle of a fight and its not over yet then I will likely need another 250 in less than 30seconds since I can't really run away(due to the pot slowing me)..... So be careful - run away first - find a safe spot - then chug - don't chug and keep fighting unless the fight will be over before you need another. My point - these are for emergencies or where you are getting slow steady damage - if you are getting hit by spike damage find a better solution.



Totally disagree with this. If you have access to these especially on a non self healing class then you need to carry them and use them. This is further evidenced by the fact that there numerous videos of pure fighters etc. soloing epic elite quests with only these as their source of healing.

Buy them, use them, love them.

My tip : Be as self sufficient as you can be no matter what class your playing.

[Spoonwelder]

Totally disagree with this. If you have access to these especially on a non self healing class then you need to carry them and use them. This is further evidenced by the fact that there numerous videos of pure fighters etc. soloing epic elite quests with only these as their source of healing.

Buy them, use them, love them.

My tip : Be as self sufficient as you can be no matter what class your playing.

Sorry maybe it wasn't clear - I don't say not to use them. Yes every melee should get them - especially now that you don't need to do Abbot to get them. BUT be wary of when you use them. They are either for Oh S$%t moments OR when you are fully aware of how a quest is going to go and how you will manage the incoming damage. SF pots are part of an overall package of self reliance - not the end all.

Few melee's can chug two in a row without being incapable of any other action. So you need to be wary of how/when you use them. Say Elite ETK - if you are getting spike damage of 300hp+ per shot from the living spells - chugging an SF pot isn't going to win the day IF that is your only form of available healing. Chugging one to keep you up until the Cleric gets rezzed or until you can get back in LOS yeah sure but don't go into ETK soloing and expect to win if SF pots are your 'solution'. (Evasion/PRR/Saves/FR/Fire Absorp/Prot elements etc...are all more important to your potential survival in this case).

[Tobril]

SF pots can be chain drank without issues, the penalty doesn’t stack.

Your saves will suffer a bit, but with a bit of amp to boost the pots
you can stand toe-to-toe with a wide range of baddies.

[Spoonwelder]

Bad advice.

You can chain-drink SF pots, down one as soon as the last one's cooldown is off (ie, you don't have to wait 30 seconds to drink another). It doesn't stack the ability penalties, it merely resets the penalty timer to 30 seconds. It's completely feasible for a lob-tank to chain-drink sf pots if healers are knocked down/dead/lagging, for example.

Again - my intention was not noted. Earn the SF favor to get them. Have a large stack.

Use appropriately.

If you are chain drinking SF pots to let the quest get back on the rails.....sure go nuts if it will keep/get the quest back on the rails. But using multiple SF pots then not being able to do anything else for 30seconds is more often than not a recipe for disaster.

Oooops rereading your point I now see what you mean - stat damage is capped at 10. So you don't go helpless unless you are already at 10 in a stat......Not my point - the 50% slow and the minus to saves (-9 between the save and stat debuff combined) is likely going to make things worse for you not better if you are dealing with large damage spikes - yes chaining SF pots will keep you alive but there is a good chance you won't recover unless you have alternate solutions. I still think they are a PITA.

So back to my point - they aren't your first line of defense - they should be much closer to your last line.

[rest]

SF pots FTW. If you drink one and become helpless, reroll or plan your gear better.

[Spoonwelder]

SF pots FTW. If you drink one and become helpless, reroll or plan your gear better.

Yeah cuz theres nothing else in this game that causes stat damage......

Mummy rot
Ray of Enfeeb
Waves of Exhaustion
Vast array of poisons and diseases that DDO likes to hit us with now (though mostly we make our saves)
Mind Flayers
Beholders (once your SF pendant etc...are used up)
Undeads of various sorts
Neg Levels
Standing in tainted water
Looking at Marlith with unseemly thoughts
Looking as Succubii with seemly thoughts (the rare failed Int save)
Etc.....

[Hoglum]

Know your roll, play your roll.

"You shall not pass!" Famous last words of Gandalf, a whizzard who thought he could tank.



Did you see that other movie, the one where Gandalf proceeded to solo that demon and beat him up...

...with a sword?

[Cap_Man]

If you start climbing a ladder while stealthed, you will still be stealthed when you leave it.

Good to know for rogues climbing ladders with mobs waiting at the top.

But you can't always start climbing a ladder while stealthed, but you can run towards a ladder, jump, hit stealth while in the air and you will land on the ladder stealthed.

=======

For Assassins - learn the flying assassinate trick. Run, jump, stealth in air, assassinate mob on landing. No one wants to wait for your slowass in combat.

Assassin key mapping - Timing is everything and I found this really helped. I remapped my 'R' key to Stealth and my 'F' key to Assassinate. So, R-F=dead mob and it works well with the flying assassinate. ;)

[k1ngp1n]

If you let me in your party, just accept that you won't be getting your Survival bonus.

[Zorth]

I disagree with melee using silver flame pots, they are for soloing only since zerging this game has become the norm.

My Tip is: Put our health bar to the right or left of our characters heads, so we can see it at all times.

[rest]

Yeah cuz theres nothing else in this game that causes stat damage......

Mummy rot
Ray of Enfeeb
Waves of Exhaustion
Vast array of poisons and diseases that DDO likes to hit us with now (though mostly we make our saves)
Mind Flayers
Beholders (once your SF pendant etc...are used up)
Undeads of various sorts
Neg Levels
Standing in tainted water
Looking at Marlith with unseemly thoughts
Looking as Succubii with seemly thoughts (the rare failed Int save)
Etc.....

I will tell you I cannot recall ever being helpless after drinking a SF pot on any of the toons I run who drink a lot of SF pots. Maybe you just have bad luck, or maybe you have poor judgement on when to use them.

[moops]

Stop using FVS hirelings.

Many Cleric hirelings come with 20 DVS...much cheaper than one or two major pots.

If I'm soling or shortmanning an sp intensive quest, I'll park one at the door. While leveling this life, I was surpside at how many casters I saw pull out an FVS and park them at the door.

Also if you are just a Melee and insist on having a hireling, a Bard hireling can heal you and give you awesome songs!

[Munkenmo]

but there's an fvs hireling that can cast fom.

[DanteEnFuego]

Buy low, sell high...

[danotmano1998]

Many Cleric hirelings come with 20 DVS...much cheaper than one or two major pots.


Exactly. I like to think of them as my walking energizers when I have a blue bar.

[ZeebaNeighba]

Sorry maybe it wasn't clear - I don't say not to use them. Yes every melee should get them - especially now that you don't need to do Abbot to get them. BUT be wary of when you use them. They are either for Oh S$%t moments OR when you are fully aware of how a quest is going to go and how you will manage the incoming damage. SF pots are part of an overall package of self reliance - not the end all.

Few melee's can chug two in a row without being incapable of any other action. So you need to be wary of how/when you use them. Say Elite ETK - if you are getting spike damage of 300hp+ per shot from the living spells - chugging an SF pot isn't going to win the day IF that is your only form of available healing. Chugging one to keep you up until the Cleric gets rezzed or until you can get back in LOS yeah sure but don't go into ETK soloing and expect to win if SF pots are your 'solution'. (Evasion/PRR/Saves/FR/Fire Absorp/Prot elements etc...are all more important to your potential survival in this case).If you already chugged one SF pot, you already have your penalty, so popping one more off as soon as it's off cooldown will only give you 3 more seconds on the debuff. If you were comfortable with a 30 second debuff just three seconds ago, it would be odd to reject the same heal for only 3 more seconds of debuff (assuming you need another heal of course).
but there's an fvs hireling that can cast fom.And a level 11 fighter with dimension door.

Right click on your spells to adjust your metamagics. It took me like 8 months before I ever learned this, many people I have come across have not, and it helps so much with saving your SP. Like, with quicken, it's so useful to have the strongest heals on your hotbar quickened for when you need it (typically, you're in an emergency, so you'll probably want maximize/empower/empower heal stacked on it too) and some that are with less metamagics for efficiency (remember you can drag your strongest heal again to a 2nd slot on your hotbar, with more efficient metamagic settings). Similarly you can turn metas like quicken off for buffs, maximize/empower for weak offensive spells you use for other effects (like soundburst), etc. And still be able to use the metamagics when you really want them. I cry a little inside when I see a cleric casting quickened buffs.

[Spoonwelder]

I will tell you I cannot recall ever being helpless after drinking a SF pot on any of the toons I run who drink a lot of SF pots. Maybe you just have bad luck, or maybe you have poor judgement on when to use them.

That was my point - you can't just chug them willy nilly. There are many times/places etc....when you shouldn't.

My problem on one character was he had a 10 in Cha, no slots available to bump it up without sacrificing something - with Ship buffs he was at 12 - so no prob....unless I died or got some kind of debuff. Yeah he was a bit gimpy (well actually he was quite good but SF pots were something I had to be careful with ....ie where I learned you can't just chug em willy nilly) but I had so many stats and other things to cover that I had a real hard time slotting in a Cha stat item and if you mistakenly go helpless chugging pots you can't swap gear (if I remember the time it happened to me properly - either that or I forgot to bring a cha item due to overall dumbidity but I think it was the former). Anyway - I was in a PUG - healer was busy (or just bad at it) but I saw I was low and rather than jump around avoiding dmg I chug my SF pot forgetting I had died once already. Oops - stand around looking like a dork much....so I learned to be wary of SF pots - that is all.

[Spoonwelder]

If you already chugged one SF pot, you already have your penalty, so popping one more off as soon as it's off cooldown will only give you 3 more seconds on the debuff. If you were comfortable with a 30 second debuff just three seconds ago, it would be odd to reject the same heal for only 3 more seconds of debuff (assuming you need another heal of course).And a level 11 fighter with dimension door.


Not just 3 more seconds up to 29 more seconds if absolutely required - chain chugging fine 3sec diff....but the point is more chugging one in the first place you should be wary of as if you need to then things are going pear shaped and may only get worse if you chug one.

Alternately you know exactly what you are doing and chugging SF pots is all part of the plan. Either you have thought it out first OR you should think it out first. My point exactly.

[Spoonwelder]

Stop using FVS hirelings.

Many Cleric hirelings come with 20 DVS...much cheaper than one or two major pots.

If I'm soling or shortmanning an sp intensive quest, I'll park one at the door. While leveling this life, I was surpside at how many casters I saw pull out an FVS and park them at the door.

Also if you are just a Melee and insist on having a hireling, a Bard hireling can heal you and give you awesome songs!

Larafay can almost let you pike a quest. Other than that though yes - take a cleric with DVs - even if you are a melee but have another bluebar in your quest.

Natasha along can give you almost 500sp. In fact if you are in a real bind - bring two - one with you - then dismiss/DDoor and pop a different one for more DVs.

[Spoonwelder]

And a level 11 fighter with dimension door.


Mike the Knight (aka Mikael the Pious)

He's awesome for Missing - carry Mike the Knight and Larafay on a melee - Pop mike - lock him - invis/zerg the quest - get to last book - call mike Ddoor - dismiss Mike so he can go pray - Call in Larafay - kill the crazy's - invis to beholder.....boom goes the dynamite - almost as fast as you can on an arcane.

[Orangine]

1. Don't let your high level guild inflates your ego to the point that you become a deep sociopath.

2. If you are a newbie and you play a melee character, then you should reroll as an arcane caster.
Wizard and sorc are the easiest class to play in the game and their self-healing abilities are a great advantage
considering that 95% of LFMs specifies BYOH ( self-heal ) these days.

3. If you play a divine caster and you don't consider yourself as a healer and therefore don't heal people, make sure you are still a bit useful in the group.

4. When you post a LFM that specifies « being picky », make sure the difficulty of the quest is worth being picky.

5. If you want to improve your skills and increase your knowledge, try running with pugs.

6. Hirelings are good if you learn to use them properly.

7. Before you give orders to the party, make sure you know the quest well and you are not the party leader, unless he is afk or he requested your help.

[Kulothar]

Stop using FVS hirelings.

Many Cleric hirelings come with 20 DVS...much cheaper than one or two major pots.

If I'm soling or shortmanning an sp intensive quest, I'll park one at the door. While leveling this life, I was surpside at how many casters I saw pull out an FVS and park them at the door.

Also if you are just a Melee and insist on having a hireling, a Bard hireling can heal you and give you awesome songs!

I have to disagree on using FVS since they will more often stand back and heal you rather than run up and stand in the middle of the combat to heal you like cleric hirelings seem to have been trained to do. If they could add a stand off range for healing hirelings I would agree with you.

Also Paladin hirelings tend to heal you and have LoH if you want a hireling with moderate heals that can survive a little longer.

Other suggestions:

Bluff is great for single pulling mobs. At 50+ bluff unbuffed I can pull a red named out of a room by itself which makes life easier on the non-zerg types. If the tank would let me do it.

If the tank has intimidate learn not to re-agro the mobs as soon as he hits it. There is nothing worse then hitting intim and seeing the marks show up then someone casts an AoE and pulls them right off of you. It takes a while to refresh and you have to chase everything around that just scattered to try and kill the rest of the group.

If a tank is holding agro learn to pace your damage. (see above) You don't have to dump it all at once if the healers are maintaining the agro tanks health. If you try to kill it all you just have a bunch of injured mobs mad at you. Comet fall or wail may be fine but use good judgment.

If you are the last one standing and there is a shrine near by run towards it. Fight mobs just inside running range to the shrine but not at it. That way if you die you have a better chance of recovering.

UMD is not useless. Even fighters can find a use for a few points.. CLW wand, low level scrolls, odd weapons and armor.
Useful low level scrolls or wands for non casters to UMD;
CLW (Any cure you can cast up to and including rez) a CLW wand will get that incap player (may be your healer) up so you don't have to rez him.
Invisibility (it was already mentioned that potions are harder to find but can be used underwater)
Blur (yourself and others) and any other low level buff such as bless, prayer, etc.
Hypnotise, Web, Hold undead or that obnoxious sphere one for low level CC in a panic but not much use at higher levels.
Gust of Wind..... Blow away those epic Bladebarriers, Dancing spheres and firewalls... (had a group asked how I was getting rid of them with my rogue and realized nobody thought about that spell being useful).
Nightshield or Shield (self only to block MM)
Remove Fear (aoe vs potions)
Acid Rain (good low level AoE for mobs you want to range)
Prismatic ray (although I prefer FoD this can still kill them and has double range)
Flamearrow (one extra die of dmg and useful if you run out of arrows)

I am sure there are many more depending on how high your UMD is but with a 10 most of these can be used.

[slarden]

If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife.

Hah, this is a myth for sure.

And I didn't just marry a beautiful wife to offset my gene pool so I could have beautiful children. Although that's a plus.

[Vyder]

Don't waste your money on store guild renown pots. They look great but the decay monster will rob you blind :eek:

[Gkar]

Hah, this is a myth for sure.

And I didn't just marry a beautiful wife to offset my gene pool so I could have beautiful children. Although that's a plus.

Ah yes, but how many years have you been married? It always starts good...

[Hendrik]

Under no circumstance, never, never, never, never ever follow Yuda into a dark alley.

/therapy

:eek:

[achitophel]

Never post a tip thread or you will get neg rep!

[DarkForte]

Never post a tip thread or you will get neg rep!
Reported for rep farming :D

[Kalari]

If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife.

haha Rest you have great music taste, but now I know why we can never marry :(

Best tip is if you ever see a raid LFM on Friday night that says "Bring booze" do as it says you do not want to join that group sober :D

[IntrepidBear]

this is the link to the basic tips that are on the load screens,
I get many a tells from newbies.. asking me these questions while I pass thru the harbor... and marketplace;
so hopefully if any of you who are new to the DDO game; and are on the forums these are the game tips on one page :D

http://ddowiki.com/page/Loading_screen_tips

print them out if you cannot remember them

[Kronik]

Whenever Dying in a horrible or embarrassing way, always blame the deadly Lag Monster. Its hard to prove and apparently happens more often than not!

If you keep dying eventually everyone will find out you got a great Computer and actually just suck, but it might just bye you enough time to find something or someone else to blame before you get booted from a group.

[Seamonkeysix]

The best way to learn the the most about the game is to play a healer. I firmly believe everyone should level a cleric or FVS as early as possible in DDO. It gives you insight into:

1. What healers go through and how to successfully play a non-healing class.
2. It teaches you SP management
3. Healing classes are very powerful and you can solo to see more of the game, even when not grouped.
4. Healing classes are versatile and you can play with different play styles (melee/DPS vs spell casting).
5. It is easy to get into groups with a healer
6. Playing a healer teaches you how to play so you don't need a healer! You learn how to be truly self-sufficient.
7. Ironically, playing a healer also teaches you how to be a team player and you understand what makes good groups succeed.

[minionofgruumsh]

Ok ok! I think I've got a couple!

1) (mentioned before, I think) Don't waste spell slots on condition-removing spells. Just keep the appropriate wands handy. (Curse removing, blindness removing, lesser restore, etc.)

2) If you are squishy or playing with a tank who is not you, let someone *else* damage an enemy before you do. That initial hit agro always seems really difficult to overcome.

3) If you want to reach a lower-elevation spot and don't have/don't want to use feather fall, look for an angled wall; you can slide down them without taking fall damage.

4) Don't sweat being new; if you don't know how to do something or don't know what's going on, say something.

5) You don't *have* to multiclass; if you haven't planned or given thought to multiclassing your character (especially if you're new) there's a good chance your best multiclass will be more of the same class you've been taking.

6) Take all build advice with a grain of salt; sure, common sense says that if you're going to be on the front lines taking a lot of damage (or just generally grabbing agro) then CON is super-important, but at the same time my rogue who started with 8 CON does just fine (I can count on one finger the number of times that having marginally more HP would have helped...DARN YOU SOR-JEK AND YOUR HORRID WILTING WITH ITS ACCURSED FORTITUDE SAVE!!!!!). *Note, there was a steep learning curve involved in agro management and damage avoidance.

7) This especially holds true in DDO: Don't be miserable today and place all your enjoyment and happiness on tomorrow's payoff. Seriously, the Devs like to change things up enough that what you've worked so long and hard for tends to become irrelevant.

7b) Along the same lines, don't do things that "exploit" a system or mechanic or are the obvious best and "only real choice" and expect it to be forever. ((Evasion in heavy armor, monk touch of death, two-weapon fighting, etc.))

8) Have fun and enjoy yourself. :)

Edited for typo-fixing; "cure removing" has been respelled to be "curse removing"

[SealedInSong]

The only one I didn't see was:

Don't link your gear unless specifically asked.
Because no one gives a flying duck that you have a Kyosho's ring or epic _______ unless they ask, and you only look like a d-bag for preempting it.

[ZeebaNeighba]

1) (mentioned before, I think) Don't waste spell slots on condition-removing spells. Just keep the appropriate wands handy. (Cure removing, blindness removing, lesser restore, etc.)Especially remove curse...

You'll find out if you ever run Ascension Chamber or Caught in the Web, why relying on your spell points to remove curses is not a good idea, since there's a good chance you won't have them when you need them. Also in the former raid, you'll have to either have quicken, extreme concentration and fire resistance, or good timing to actually be able to cast the remove curse when you need it even if you had spell points left.

Just carry potions (or wands if you want to be able to remove others' curses), they're so much simpler.