Returning Player - what to do?

[dajg]

Hi. I've not played since the High Road quests came out and I am thinking of giving it another go. Obviously things have changed a lot with the level cap increasing to 28 and the new enhancement system coming out also the new repetition penalties will really suit my casual style of play (no more than 2 quests per day - I have family). I have a LR+20 sitting in my inventory giving me a chance to redo my main. I like to group but the PUG scene on Argo when I play (European time) isn't great so solo ability is a must.

My main is a TR1 level 24 warforged pure wizard. I have maxed magistar and was working on draconic. Looking on the forums pure wizard seems to be out of fashion with FVS and monk splashes very much flavour of the day. This build: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/425312-Just-Shiradi-The-U19-shiradi-standard-(16-wizard-2-favored-soul-2-monk) seemed good and not too unobtainable - although I don't have a Sorc past life just wizard. This would require me to change alignment (currently true neutal - need lawful for monk) and unlock Shiradi (I can purchase keys of fate for this). I do worry about how to get started with this build though - as a brand new shiradi I won't have any abilities from the epic destiny and my wiz abilities are not going to cut it - do I just find a group and leech for a few levels?

I've enjoyed playing an 18/2 wiz/rogue with full trapping abilities is this still viable? How about the active wiz past life?

I'm quite happy to grind away on epic normal until I get enough experience to cap shiradi. Any advice much appreciated.

[cdr]

although I don't have a Sorc past life just wizard.
The sorc PL is really just SP; you can take something else and just have 245 less SP. The wiz PL is subpar because 1 DC doesn't help anything and 10 MMs disappear really quickly. You could take maybe another Toughness, or move some feats around and take Mobility after Dodge.


I do worry about how to get started with this build though - as a brand new shiradi I won't have any abilities from the epic destiny and my wiz abilities are not going to cut it - do I just find a group and leech for a few levels?

You're still a wizard, you'll still do more than fine in EH content. Pretend as if you're back in U14 when wizards had to spend mana and cast real spells. Leveling up into shiradi can be annoying, but it's not that bad.


I've enjoyed playing an 18/2 wiz/rogue with full trapping abilities is this still viable? How about the active wiz past life?

IMO 2 rogue is much less powerful for EE than monk, but I'm sure it's fine. You can check out EllisDee37's Pale Trapper thread - it's a completely different build than AM shiradi.

If shiradi interests you, I would heartily recommend giving it a try. Even a "subpar" shiradi is very powerful and makes a strong contribution to any EE group, or can solo EHs easily. I understand though that not everyone enjoys spamming MM.

[dajg]

You're still a wizard, you'll still do more than fine in EH content. Pretend as if you're back in U14 when wizards had to spend mana and cast real spells. Leveling up into shiradi can be annoying, but it's not that bad.


My go to spells were finger of death and wail plus disco ball etc. I am giving away a lot of DC and spell penetration with a shiradi build, I may have to resort to casual!

[Tscheuss]

The best way to see how your character works now is to play it. You probably don't need the LR+20, so you can save for when you really do. Take your time picking out your enhancements, and start having fun. :)

[cdr]

My go to spells were finger of death and wail plus disco ball etc. I am giving away a lot of DC and spell penetration with a shiradi build, I may have to resort to casual!

Well, you could set yourself up as a necro archmage (or Pale Master) and should still have fine DCs for EH while leveling Shiradi. Or set yourself up as enhcantment archmage. Maybe not both, though.

You start accumulating enough abilities in shiradi pretty quick too. By the time you get Rainbow in the third tier, you should be able to switch to full shiradi just fine.