Budstein.

[SirValentine]

This thread is intended mainly to be a reference and log of the progress of my caster cleric, Budstein. I just recently finished my last planned True Reincarnation, and am finally back to the Cleric class, after acquiring Heroic 21 past lives (Completionist, Clr x3, Sor x3, Wiz x3, FvS x3). I don't object if anyone has comments, but I'm not specifically looking for feedback so much as putting all my information down in one easily-accessible place.

EDIT: This is not a newbie-friendly build. I get where I get in part due to multiple past live, good gear, and knowledge from years of playing. I also (knowingly) give up certain things, some quite significant, including some things that people will typically expect you to have (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/433397-Budstein?p=5407007&viewfull=1#post5407007). If you're not already quite familiar with Clerics, I wouldn't suggest trying to blindly copy what I'm doing. A build similar in concept, but more new-player friendly in detail, is here: EllisDee's Necro Cleric for New Players (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/422552-Necro-Cleric-for-new-players)

EDIT: Here's links directly to my endgame Wisdom/DC breakdowns (post 39) (http://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/433397-Budstein?p=5301320&viewfull=1#post5301320), and current endgame gear layout (post 36) (http://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/433397-Budstein?p=5283009&viewfull=1#post5283009), and various other stats (post 64) (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/433397-Budstein?p=5406750&viewfull=1#post5406750).

As I first write this, I'm only back up to level 4, so information is subject to revision.

I'm intending to run this as a Necro-specced caster; however, if my DCs prove ineffective, I will LR to an Evo-spec.

EDIT: Necro has worked quite well for me; I haven't seriously considered switching to Evo, though Evo may work better for a new player without the gear & PLs to jack up their Necro DC.



Budstein, the Human Cleric


Starting stats:

STR 10 (8)
DEX 8
CON 14
INT 14 (15)
WIS 18 + all level-ups here
CHA 14

I was tempted to leave STR at 8, and either grab +1 more Reflex by upping Dex by 2 or more skill points with 1 more Int. If I end up LRing at some point, I still might do one of those.

EDIT: When I ER'ed, I lowered Str to 8 and increased Int to 15.


Feats:

1: Maximize
1 (Human): Spell Focus: Necromany
1 (Cleric): Follower of Sovereign Host
3: Completionist
6: Past Life: Arcane Initiate
6 (Cleric): Unyielding Sovereignty
9: Heighten
12: Quicken
15: Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy
18: Spell Focus: Evocation
21: Spell Penetration initially, then swap to Great Wisdom after done with Drow content
24: Epic Spell Focus: Necromancy
26 (Destiny): Guardian Angel
27: Great Wisdom
28 (Destiny): Mass Frog

EDIT: While ERing, I've been experimenting with slightly different feat layouts. I've tried dropped Maximize and Spell Focus: Evocation, and have taken Spell Penetration and Ruin. Not sure exactly which way I'm going long-term, still experimenting.

LATER EDIT: I've pretty much decided on dropping Maximize & Ruin, and keeping Spell Penetration and Spell Focus: Evocation.

LATER LATER EDIT: I dropped Spell Focus: Evocation to take Maximize back in.


Skills:

Concentration
Heal
Spellcraft
Balance
Haggle
UMD

On a Human with 14 Int and a +4 Int tome, there is EXACTLY just enough skill points for this. Thanks to skill tomes, Perform and Tumble are usable without having to spend any skill points. I actually have a +5 Int tome, but with an even starting Int, the last point from the tome is wasted.

EDIT: A skill tome does NOT grant you use of Tumble, even though it no longer shows up as N/A on your character sheet. Recommend putting a real skill point there, which I did when I ER'ed. Upping starting Int to 15 gave enough for a real skill point in Tumble and Perform (not sure it's needed there, but can't hurt), with 3 ranks left over for something, which I put into Search.


Enhancements:

Divine Disciple, 41 points, including +2 Wisdom, capstone for +2 more, & +2 Necro DC.
Radiant Servant, 24 points, including Turn regeneration, Radiant Burst and +2 Wisdom.
Warpriest, 12 points, including 10 PRR, 15 HP, DR 5/-, and +1 Wisdom.
Human, 3 points, Skill boost and +1 Wisdom.

EDIT: Moved 2 points from RS to Human, dropping Turn regeneration, and picking up Ability Surge (Charisma +2). I use Skill Boost mostly with Charisma-based skills (Haggle, social skills for quest objectives, etc.).

Gear: MOVED TO 3RD POST BELOW

Destiny: Exalted Angel. +5 caster levels, +6 Wisdom. Renewal. Maybe Divine Wrath...will see how onerous it is to charge with no Archon.
Or we'll see how the new divine ED plays out.

EDIT: Rebuke Foe & Divine Wrath pretty worthless without an Archon. Dropped them for a bit more spell power and spell points.
LATER EDIT: See later post for new ED layout after dev changes to divine sphere.

Twists:
+3 Necro DC (Magister)
+2 Wisdom (Primal)
EDIT: For 3rd twist, while levelling, one of +1 Wisdom and +2 Evoc, whichever makes my Wisdom even. Eventually, if/when I get Epic Completionist, both of them.
LATER EDIT: No more +Evoc twist, 3rd & 4th twists after Epic Completionist are each +1 Wisdom.

Stats:

DCs:
(just estimates at this point; I'll update when I get to Epic levels)
Necro DC: 65-66
Evo DC: 63-64
Other schools DCs: 57ish

EDIT: With new gear, etc., ended up getting DCs a fair bit higher than this. See Endgame DC breakdown (http://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/433397-Budstein?p=5301320&viewfull=1#post5301320).

Spell Pen:
Normal: 20 level + 5 ED + 4 gear + 9 PLs + 3 Divine Disciple = 41.
Max: With Spell Pen feat, and change twists to grab 3 each from Draconic & Magister, 41 + 2 + 3 + 3 = 49. Not no-fail on EE Drow, but high enough to be useful.

EDIT: +3 in EA, -1 from twisting Echoes instead of Magister, and +3 more for Thunderforged +7 instead of +4, makes for a 54 max total.

HP:
Around 700, I think.
EDIT: Update: mid-800s to low-900s, usually, though some gear swaps are going to drop me a bit at some point (when I give up 45 from Greensteel, and lose +3 Insightful Con on Leaves). Also, currently around 2900 SP, though been higher 3100+, and may go lower, depending on gear & ED points spent (gave up 150 Greensteel, lowered EA +10% to +7% and may lower further when updates come).

LATER EDIT: Much more up-to-date stats in later posts. Including 75!!! Necro DC. See links at top of this post.

Saves:
Reflex saves will be a weakness, but the other 2 should be solid.

[SirValentine]

As part of kicking the tires on my supposed final build, I intend to solo a lot of content. Not that I haven't anyway in previous lives, but more because nobody joined my LFM than that I deliberately wanted to solo.

To me, a "perfect" solo means at the hardest difficulty possible, at a level that gives maximum XP (including Bravery if applicable), no hirelings, no deaths, no re-entries, and no Store or rare consumables. Consumables purchasable from in-game vendors are fine to me.

In this post, I'll chronicle how my build does at soloing content, from Korthos all the way up to Stormhorns.

Note at very low levels, I mostly play as a crappy melee with self-heals and a little bit of Light nuking and the occasional Soundburst. Things will get a lot more interesting after level 9 or so.

Level 1 quests: Done.

Level 2 quests: Done. When I did Stealthy Reposession, I (rather unthinkingly) drank some Invisibility potions. Later, realizing that they really should be considered rare consumables, and not allowed by my own rules, so I re-ran it using Invisibility SCROLLS instead.

Level 3 quests: Done.

Level 4 quests: Done. Almost perfect, but I used a hireling as a lever-puller in Rest for the Restless. Proof is in the Poison was an exercise in SP efficiency, as that's a LONG quest for only 1 shrine. Good thing I had some Cure Pots with me to help my SP go further. Note The Bookbinder Rescue took me 3 tries, due to suicidal NPCs.

Level 5 quests: Done. Also Normal Devil Assault. Trapped wheels in The Big Top are pretty vicious when you have no trapper or Evasion. Died first attempt. Burning Heart was easier than expected. Turn Undead keeps mobs on pressure plates quite nicely.

Level 6 quests: Done.

Raids interspersed at appropriate levels, but listed separately from 6-man quests.

Chronoscope. Did a big gear shuffle before trying this. Took a few tries before I got the Bloodplate down; he was pretty tough. Ran out of SP and Cure Pots. Would have been easy enough if I drank SP pots. Went to Razorarm, he was going much better, as I gradually whittled down his HP. When he was at about 20%, and me with still plenty of SP left, he hit me with some kind of double Lightning Ball, for 108 and 95 points of damage, respectively, putting me at -2. Then he killed me. Boo. It does seem doable, but I didn't want to bother doing Bloodplate again, so I just went and took level 9. Went back later and did it over-level.

Level 7 quests: Done. Had to use a hireling in The Missing Party to pull the one lever. Was my first time soloing The Pit.

Level 8 quests: Done. Used a hireling as lever-puller again, in Xorian Cipher and Tomb of the Shadow Lord.

Levelled up to 11, grabbed Heal and Blade Barrier, re-specced to Darkness, dropping all the SLAs. Slay Living's got a 34 DC at level 11 now. Not counting the possibility of using one of my leftover Yugo pots.

Level 9 quests: Done. The trapped lever in VoN4 gave me a bit of trouble...had to try 3 times before I'd buffed up enough to live through getting hit with 7 spikes. Stoneskin made the difference, along with Rage, False Life, etc.. On to level 12, and my Greensteel weapon...boom! DC's up to 37.

Level 10 quests: Done. All easy stuff here.

Vault of Night: Not soloable. Completed with a party.

Tempest Spine. Done! I remember soloing this on my gimp Paladin life a long time back, but that was prior to the radical poison changes. After 2 runs through most of the quest, only to die to the poison/acid traps on the levers at the Bridge to the Inevitable, I was a bit frustrated. So I tried again and just skipped that rune. I didn't need it to kill him.

Now to level 13. Get to put on another end-game item, Litany. (Quiver on since level 1, of course.) DCs to 39, and Destruction added to Slay Living. Really feeling more Necromantic now.

Level 11 quests: All except 2: Tomb of the Forbidden can't be soloed; I thought it couldn't even with a hireling, but realized afterwards how it could be done with just a hireling. And From Beyond the Grave...is very tough to solo, too tough for me. Partied up for those 2. Also did Hard Devil Assault.

Twilight Forge: Not solable. Flagged, will try to get a party for it some time.

Level 12 quests: Done.

Zawabi's Revenge: Done! This was pretty intense. Took me several tries, as my old fingers don't have quite the speed they used. I had plenty of damage-dealing, and plenty of self-healing, but if I made a kiting error and let her get close, I'd get knocked down, and then be dead. Off to take level 15! Up to 41 DC now.

Level 13 quests: Done. Used a hireling in Maze of Madness to pull levers. Leveled to 16; my DC's up to 43.

Level 14 quests: Several quests in here that are difficult to solo. Used a hireling in Prison of the Planes. Grouped up for Crucible, Fleshmaker's, and GoP.

Reaver's Fate: Grouped up, didn't even try solo, though maybe it's possible in theory. Has anyone soloed this on Elite, at level, since they bumped up the Stormreaver's hit points?

Took level 17. Implosion! Crazy thing is, with nothing in my build for it yet, Evoc is still ahead of Necro for me right now. 44 on Slay Living & Destruction, 46 on Implosion. (+3 from Sorc past lives, and +4 versus +2 from items due to the Sage's Locket, versus 2 from feats and 1 (so far) from Enhancements.)

Level 15 quests: Done. Several especially fun moments here: In the Flesh end fight, & Delirium, both drinking contest & end fight. Disciples of Shar seems painfully long and annoying.

Level 16 quests: Done. Spinner of Shadows was easier than I expected.

Took level 19. See stat snapshot in post #16 below.

Level 17 quests: Done. Grouped up for Acute Delirium. Enter the Kobold end fight was a little rough (no evasion here!), but I got it on my 3rd try...after crafting a triple-fire-absorb GS. Also did Elite Devil Assault.

Abbot: Grouped for it. I know people have soloed this, but my hat is off to anyone who solos this on Elite at level.
Shroud: Same comment as Abbot.

Yay, level 20! Epic Destinies back. Up to 60 Wis, Necro 55, Evoc 56. Time to see whether Rebuke Foe & Divine Wrath are at all worth the effort without an Archon to charge them.
EDIT: They are not.

Level 18 quests: Done. Perfect except In the Demon's Den, which I partied up for. I tried it solo, but it seems they changed it: the Ritualists would not follow me to the middle, and there isn't time to kill them each at their spawn spot by myself. Also did Raiding the Giant's Vault.

Hound of Xoriat: Partied up for this. Has anyone soloed this since they "fixed" her DR? I know lots of people did when it was only 1000. Don't think I could solo it the "traditional" way. Anyone know any tricks?
Vision of Destruction: I might try this solo later, but not a top priority for me right now. <shrug>

OK, time to start drinking XP pots. I haven't need them at all this life, until now. Heck, level 16 quests hard-capped me at level 20 XP, so I got zero XP for all the level 17s I ran. Level 18 quests done, but I have not yet reached level 21.

Level 19 quests: Done. Used a hireling lever-puller in Genesis Point. Yugo favor done, access to Yugo pots is back! What Goes Up was a slow PITA, but got it done.

Level 20 heroic quest: Done.

ToD: Partied up...might be interesting to try to solo, but again, not a priority now.

Level 20 epic quests: This was in progress...until I ran into a red-named with WAY too many HP. See post #31 below.

I won't be updating this post any more now. I'll still post updates or comments later in the thread.

[SirValentine]

EDIT: Superseded by U21 and later gear. See later posts below (http://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/433397-Budstein?p=5283009&viewfull=1#post5283009).

Gearing thoughts for level 28, subject to change:

Quiver: Alacrity
Trinket: Litany of the Dead
Armor: Leaves of the Forest
Main hand: Alchemical with +2 Wisdom, 90 Devotion, and a red slot with Impulse
Off hand: +Necro DC (I have a +4 lootgen handy; +5 lootgen or Nether Orb when I can find them)
Off hand SWAP: +5 Transmutation Nether Orb (Swap in, cast Mass Frog, swap back. It has a 60 second cooldown, so I think I can handle the swapping.)
Wrists: Sage's Cuffs
Hat: Sage's Skullcap
Necklace: Sage's Locket
Goggles: hoping for EE Shadowsight; haven't pulled them yet, making due with +10 Wis lootgen
Ring 1: EE Ring of Shadows
Ring 2: Guardian's Band
Gloves: lootgen Health +10 / False Life +50 (already have this)
Boots: Sage's Shoes (Swap to EE Surefooted Boots when appropriate, or Anchoring or Firestorm Greaves or whatever.)
Cloak: Too bad the Tablecloth is nigh useless now, otherwise it would be here. Not sure what will go here. Epic Cloak of Silver Concord is good placeholder. Maybe go for Dragonfriend, just for an extra slot?
Belt: No idea, honestly. Got something with spell points as a placeholder. Maybe one of the several Gianthold belts that have 2 slots. Seven Ideals, or Arkat's. Hmm...think I already have an EE Arkat's around.

That covers Necro, Evo, & Conj DCs, and Transmut as a swap.
Have Devo, Impulse, & Radiance covered also.
There's enough slots for a Globe, Necro & Evo DCs, and a Master's Gift, with a slot or two to spare.

[voodoogroves]

Love the CON and INT.

I'd really consider a bit more STR initially, personally - if this is last life, and LR out later. That said, I've not done the new cleric SLAs - are you able to mostly use just them?

[Teh_Troll]

But if you solo all the time . . . how can you hjeal meh?

66 Necro should be fine but it will not work on all targets. High-fort mobs will require an energy-drain and possibly a bestow Curse before landing.

[SirValentine]

I'd really consider a bit more STR initially, personally - if this is last life, and LR out later. That said, I've not done the new cleric SLAs - are you able to mostly use just them?

At EllisDee's mention of this approach, I thought I'd try it. Nimbus of Light and Searing Light are OK for picking off casters & archers, but I've still being doing crappy melee to kill most mobs. The issue, compared with, say, Sorc SLAs, is that they are single-target. However, Holy Smite, now at level 6 instead of 7, cheaper, and with free meta-magics, is pretty nice.

Not really worried about the Str though...lowbie levels are easy whether your Str is 8 or 14. I just hit level 7, so now I have Holy Smite as SLA and as spell. I'll be fine.

[SirValentine]

But if you solo all the time . . . how can you hjeal meh?


Soloing as much content as possible, at least one run each, is the goal. Doesn't have to be the only run of that content, or even the first run. (Though for most of the pre-20 levelling content, one run is all I'll need for XP purposes.)



66 Necro should be fine but it will not work on all targets. High-fort mobs will require an energy-drain and possibly a bestow Curse before landing.


Good to hear. I'll also have Enervation & Necrotic Ray available for debuffs.

Now Turbine just needs to give Clerics back their Earthquake and I'll be a happy camper.

[voodoogroves]

At EllisDee's mention of this approach, I thought I'd try it. Nimbus of Light and Searing Light are OK for picking off casters & archers, but I've still being doing crappy melee to kill most mobs. The issue, compared with, say, Sorc SLAs, is that they are single-target. However, Holy Smite, now at level 6 instead of 7, cheaper, and with free meta-magics, is pretty nice.

Not really worried about the Str though...lowbie levels are easy whether your Str is 8 or 14. I just hit level 7, so now I have Holy Smite as SLA and as spell. I'll be fine.

Not that it is important, as your final heroic life, but I wonder how useful a Moonhowl Axe or similar would be. Still, non-cleaving crappy melee - but I have a few stashed myself.

Mostly curious as to how this works as I'm about to do either 3 druid or 3 cleric lives on Jenniecide next.

[EllisDee37]

My only differences would be:

- Take Empower at level 1 then switch it out later when you actually get necro spells you'll use
- Max jump, dump haggle

You're almost up to the point where you have meaningful necro spells now, though, so the first part is moot.

Not having jump would drive me nuts. For me, jumping is as important as striding in terms of quality of life. My cleric on live has low/mid-30s jump normally, 40+ with a pot as needed. My personal minimum standing jump is 30 because the only high jump checks I know of are 30 even.

[SirValentine]

My only differences would be:

- Take Empower at level 1 then switch it out later when you actually get necro spells you'll use


I did think about doing that, but ended up not bothering.



- Max jump, dump haggle
<snip>
Not having jump would drive me nuts. For me, jumping is as important as striding in terms of quality of life. My cleric on live has low/mid-30s jump normally, 40+ with a pot as needed.


Not have some Jump would drive me nuts, too, but not having RANKS in Jump hasn't bothered me at all.

Between some Str, Completionist, skill tome, Greater Heroism, Good Luck, and Epic levels, I'll be in mid-20s or so without trying. Then I can swap on a +15 (or higher) Jump skill item, and even the Cannith Boots if needed, to reach 40+.

Though I'll be way above that, really, as long as I can hit 10 Jump, then the House P buff (early) or Amrath clicky (later) gives me 40. More than that doesn't do anything anyway.

[SirValentine]

Not that it is important, as your final heroic life, but I wonder how useful a Moonhowl Axe or similar would be.


I've actually been sword-and-boarding it.

Sovereign Host gives long sword proficiency, and I've got a couple nice lowbie long swords: ML 1 BtA Flaming Burst with Festival Icy Burst & Force Ritual; both the old ML 6 and current ML 8 versions of Retribution. And my +1/+2 Wisdom Greensteel is actually a Min2 long sword, too.

Also a craftable Large Guild Slot shield; Melee Alacrity, and +20% Fort, say, earlier on. To be replaced with Dalorent's Seal very soon now, to cover my Devotion, Radiance, AND Impulse all in one, with some free Sacred.

[EllisDee37]

Not have some Jump would drive me nuts, too, but not having RANKS in Jump hasn't bothered me at all.

Between some Str, Completionist, skill tome, Greater Heroism, Good Luck, and Epic levels, I'll be in mid-20s or so without trying. Then I can swap on a +15 (or higher) Jump skill item, and even the Cannith Boots if needed, to reach 40+.

Though I'll be way above that, really, as long as I can hit 10 Jump, then the House P buff (early) or Amrath clicky (later) gives me 40. More than that doesn't do anything anyway.Fair enough, and it was the only nitpick I had in what otherwise is a build plan I absolutely love.

I do loads of jumping in town on the way to quests, or in wilderness areas. Heck, even on the airship while buffing, such that on my latest wizard it annoys the **** out of me how low his jump is despite being able to cast +30 jump any time I want. Using a clickie or running for a House buff wouldn't work for me, but I concede that that's just me.

EDIT: Man I loved Dalorent's Seal while leveling my last cleric life. I greatly enjoyed pairing it with a Scepter of Healing.

[Wipey]

Final life on cleric I didn't put any points in jump or concentration, only umd, balance, spellcraft and hjeal.
While levelling 2 haste clickies and jump pots are enough, and from lvl 18 jump from Morah has been the first thing with GH clickie in every quest in last 2 years anyway.

Started with higher charisma and con for full turn goodness but dropped almost everything from RS anyway, it's beyond useless.
Featwise same as yours but full ****** evo, and empower instead compl and no mass frog but forced escape cause no idea where to put Transmutation.

68 evo but missing Litany and alchemical still. I don't really play anymore so you might be the last casting cleric on the server lol.
Mostly looking forward to how will you solve the gear puzzle so keep rocking :)

[Teh_Troll]

Final life on cleric I didn't put any points in jump or concentration, only umd, balance, spellcraft and hjeal.


Good minion.

[SirValentine]

no mass frog but forced escape cause no idea where to put Transmutation.


Swap in every 60 seconds, swap back out. Heck, and even if it's only useful in easy content, it's too fun to skip. And the bypasses-Deathblock property makes it ideal for some things. Killing PMs in the PvP pit, for one. Orange-named mobs for another.



I don't really play anymore so you might be the last casting cleric on the server lol.


There's a couple others around, but not many. And a few casting FvS, too.



Mostly looking forward to how will you solve the gear puzzle so keep rocking :)


I was just on a caster FvS life over the summer, but I couldn't remember exactly what I had or I would have posted that as a starting point. Subject to change if/when the supposed new raids come out.

EDIT: dug around in my memory, my TR cache, and the wiki, and have a semi-coherent gear set up there now, in the 3rd post. Still subject to change, of course.

[SirValentine]

OK, so I've done everything on Elite up to level 16 quests except the Titan raid, almost all of it solo. I've leveled to 19. I thought I'd give a little snapshot of where I'm at while near the top of, but still in, Heroic levels. So, no Epic gear, no Epic Destinies, no capstones, here's where I'm at:

Assume buffed in-quest unless specified otherwise. Includes ship buffs, GH, etc., but not Yugo pots (since I haven't re-earned that favor yet).

Budstein, Human Cleric 19:

Str 28 (enough for Str levers in VoN5, good enough for me!)
Dex 18
Con 37
Int 24
Wis 48 (don't think I can get more on a pure Cleric at level 19) (EDIT: a tier-2-but-not-tier-3 Alchemical weapon could get you 2 more; I have to wait until level 20 to use mine)
Cha 27

HP: 584 (this isn't maxed; I could swap gear to push it a bit higher if I cared)
SP: 2109 (when shrining; down to 1987 after buffing & switching off an SP item), plus 1300 or so SP worth of SP clickies

PRR: 45

Saves:
Fort: 35
Ref: 22 (not great; I try to avoid the situations where a failed save means death :-/ )
Will: 41

Necro DC: 46
Evo DC: 48
Spell Pen: 34
Spellpower: Force, Light, Fire, Postive, ranging 174-208
Universal spell crit chance: 15? (5 base, 6 gear, 4 enhancement)

UMD: 38 typical standing, 51 with gear swaps & skill boost. Mainly for Teleport, Greater Teleport, & Greater Heroism scrolls.

Enhancements: 39 DD so far (2 more to come), 3 Human, 12 WP, 22 RS (2 more to come)

When I do take level 20, I'll suddenly be 13 points higher on Wisdom (6 ED, 2 Acute Instincts, 2 capstone, 2 Alchemical, 1 level-up), and another +3 Necro and +2 Evo on top of that, so up to Necro 55, Evo 56.

[SirValentine]

I've been impressed with Divine Healing, BTW. Lasts longer than aura, doesn't care about spellpower, perfect for soloing as a cheap passive heal-over-time. It used to be junk prior to the enhancement pass, but now it's actually quite decent.

[silinteresting]

OK, so I've done everything on Elite up to level 16 quests except the Titan raid, almost all of it solo. I've leveled to 19. I thought I'd give a little snapshot of where I'm at while near the top of, but still in, Heroic levels. So, no Epic gear, no Epic Destinies, no capstones, here's where I'm at:

Assume buffed in-quest unless specified otherwise. Includes ship buffs, GH, etc., but not Yugo pots (since I haven't re-earned that favor yet).

Budstein, Human Cleric 19:

Str 28 (enough for Str levers in VoN5, good enough for me!)
Dex 18
Con 37
Int 24
Wis 48 (don't think I can get more on a pure Cleric at level 19)
Cha 27

HP: 584 (this isn't maxed; I could swap gear to push it a bit higher if I cared)
SP: 2109 (when shrining; down to 1987 after buffing & switching off an SP item), plus 1300 or so SP worth of SP clickies

PRR: 45

Saves:
Fort: 35
Ref: 22 (not great; I try to avoid the situations where a failed save means death :-/ )
Will: 41

Necro DC: 46
Evo DC: 48
Spell Pen: 34
Spellpower: Force, Light, Fire, Postive, ranging 174-208
Universal spell crit chance: 15? (5 base, 6 gear, 4 enhancement)

UMD: 38 typical standing, 51 with gear swaps & skill boost. Mainly for Teleport, Greater Teleport, & Greater Heroism scrolls.

Enhancements: 39 DD so far (2 more to come), 3 Human, 12 WP, 22 RS (2 more to come)

When I do take level 20, I'll suddenly be 13 points higher on Wisdom (6 ED, 2 Acute Instincts, 2 capstone, 2 Alchemical, 1 level-up), and another +3 Necro and +2 Evo on top of that, so up to Necro 55, Evo 56.

looks very nice but id like to ask a question if i may.

you quote 48 wisdom at level 19 and i was wondering
if posible if you could give me a break down of how you
got it so high.

as my final build will be a caster cleric this would be most
helpful to me.

thankyou for any help
your friend sil :)

[SirValentine]

you quote 48 wisdom at level 19 and i was wondering
if posible if you could give me a break down of how you
got it so high.


Sure.

18 base
5 tome
4 level-ups
2 Completionist

2 Divine Disciple
2 Radiant Servant
1 Warpriest
1 Human

7 Heroic Elite (or Heroic Hard) Shadowsight
2 Insight (Greensteel weapon or ToD ring)
1 Exceptional (GS weapon or ToD ring [or a couple other possibilities])
1 Profane, Litany of the Dead

2 ship buff

--
48 total

But I just realized you can get 2 higher, up to 50, at level 19: a Tier-2-ONLY Alchemical weapon has a Min Level of 18. My Alchemical is fully upgraded to Tier 3, so I can't use it until level 20.

[silinteresting]

Sure.

18 base
5 tome
4 level-ups
2 Completionist

2 Divine Disciple
2 Radiant Servant
1 Warpriest
1 Human

7 Heroic Elite (or Heroic Hard) Shadowsight
2 Insight (Greensteel weapon or ToD ring)
1 Exceptional (GS weapon or ToD ring [or a couple other possibilities])
1 Profane, Litany of the Dead

2 ship buff

--
48 total

But I just realized you can get 2 higher, up to 50, at level 19: a Tier-2-ONLY Alchemical weapon has a Min Level of 18. My Alchemical is fully upgraded to Tier 3, so I can't use it until level 20.

thankyou very much for the quick reply

so im missing a litany, a tod ring, and completionist.
well the middle one i can do, the other 2 will be a bit harder.

once again thankyou very much for the breakdown
your friend sil :)

[SirValentine]

so im missing a litany, a tod ring, and completionist.
well the middle one i can do, the other 2 will be a bit harder.


If you plan on TRing much, a Greensteel weapon might be a better choice than a ToD ring, as you can start using it at level 12 instead of 18.

What server are you on? If you're on Ghallanda, my guild loves Abbot. In the old days, we'd run it every night. We still run it once a week or so.

[silinteresting]

If you plan on TRing much, a Greensteel weapon might be a better choice than a ToD ring, as you can start using it at level 12 instead of 18.

What server are you on? If you're on Ghallanda, my guild loves Abbot. In the old days, we'd run it every night. We still run it once a week or so.

unfortantly no im not on ghallanda im on sarlona,

as for tring ive got under my belt, 2 bard, 3 sorc,
2 cleric, just finishing my 3rd wiz life now, 3 bladeforged (wiz lives).
3 epic pasts for colours of the queen.

so having 1 more cleric and 3 fvs soul lifes still to do before
going into my final cleric life i have came to the same conclusion
ill be crafting a scepter with +9 wisdom on.

i do have another question tho sort of, regarding the 3 fvs lives
do you think it would be a good idea to do these as a morninglord
or a dragon knight?. in truth im kinda torn between these. its one
or the other as i dont want to do both.

anyway enough of my ramblings ive taken up far to much of your
thread and time, thankyou for your help earlyier and may the loot
gods smile upon you.

your friend sil :)

[SirValentine]

Here's a summary of 6-man quests I couldn't solo so far (of quests of base level 1-19):

6-man quests I couldn't solo simply because I'm not uber enough:
From Beyond the Grave (level 11) (Classes with a pet would probably be able to pull this one off.)
Acute Delirium (level 17) (First part is tough. Maybe a Bard fascinating everything could pull it off?)
In the Demon's Den (level 18) (Did they change this? You used to be able to pull the Ritualists to the middle, but they wouldn't follow me.)
EDIT: So they added 3 level-18 quests. 2 were no problem, but I repeated failed to solo Elite Terminal Delirium. Man, that mirror room sucks.

6-man quests I ran with a group, through some combination of needing more bodies & not being uber enough:
Tomb of the Forbidden (level 11) (I think I could easily do this with just a hireling, but wasn't thinking about it and was helping a guildie flag at same time.)
Ghosts of Perdition (level 14) (Is this at all soloable since the quest changes a while back? In the old days, you could pull the Brothers together, but now they rubberband and refill health.)
The Fleshmaker's Laboratory (level 14) (There is no way I can get all the runes by myself. Is this even doable with a hireling, if you don't have Abundant Step?)
The Crucible (level 14) (This is capable of being done with just a hireling, I believe. But not by me.)

Almost perfect, 6-man quests I used a hireling just as a lever-puller:
Rest for the Restless (level 4)
The Missing Party (level 7)
Xorian Cipher (level 8)
Tomb of the Shadow Lord (level 8)
Maze of Madness (level 13)
Prison of the Planes (level 14)
Genesis Point (level 19)

[SirValentine]

i do have another question tho sort of, regarding the 3 fvs lives
do you think it would be a good idea to do these as a morninglord
or a dragon knight?. in truth im kinda torn between these. its one
or the other as i dont want to do both.


Purple Dragon Knight seems just as good as Human, to me.

Personally, I don't see a lot of synergy for Morninglord with a high-DC caster divine. You're down a feat, down a point or two of Wisdom, and whatever cool enhancements you grab from the racial tree takes away from what you can get from your class trees. I've seen posts from others who seem like them, though more for Light-nuking-type builds, I think.

[EllisDee37]

Tomb of the Forbidden (level 11) (I think I could easily do this with just a hireling, but wasn't thinking about it and was helping a guildie flag at same time.)You can.


The Crucible (level 14) (This is capable of being done with just a hireling, I believe. But not by me.)Without evasion it would be pretty tough, I think.

[Teh_Troll]

Without evasion it would be pretty tough, I think.

I've done the swim on non-evasion toons. It's doable.

[SirValentine]

I've done the swim on non-evasion toons. It's doable.

The swim and trap run both give you time to heal.

How about grabbing the first horn from the maze?

[Teh_Troll]

The swim and trap run both give you time to heal.

How about grabbing the first horn from the maze?

What does the trap hit for? is it something to can survive with enough fire absorption?

[SirValentine]

What does the trap hit for? is it something to can survive with enough fire absorption?

Is it fire? For some reason I thought it was spikes... Usually in a group, either someone disables it, or someone evades it; I can't really remember what it hits with.

[SirValentine]

T
Destiny: Exalted Angel. +5 caster levels, +6 Wisdom. Renewal. Maybe Divine Wrath...will see how onerous it is to charge with no Archon.
Or we'll see how the new divine ED plays out.


OK, OK, they told me. Now I KNOW: no Archon = Rebuke Foe & Divine Wrath SUCK. Just too difficult to accumulate charges. Time to respec those points into something else.

(I ran an Elite VoD tonight. I was hoping to do what I did on my FvS life in raids: keep the boss Rebuke-stacked to 5 for an extra +25% party DPS, and also pretty much keep Divine Wrath on cool-down for party heals and some direct damage. No dice. I never manged to get Rebuke stacked higher than 2, and that not consistently, let alone actually using Divine Wrath.)

I hope when the promised changes to Exalted Angel show up, they address this in some fashion. Preferable just scrap charges, and just have the cool-downs. But even vastly reducing the charges needed, and increasing the time before the charges expire, would help somewhat.

[SirValentine]

Well into Epic levels now (up to 24), and I've been Slaying and Destructing (and also Imploding) my way merrily through EE trash mobs. But my weakness is now very clear to me: red-named mobs with super-bloated HP totals.

It's not just a matter of taking a long time...it's a matter of running out of SP. One particular end fight, I used a shrine just before, so was pretty much full SP. When my SP was gone, the boss was still at half HP. Sure, I could start drinking tons of SP pots, but...that just doesn't appeal to me. It doesn't strike me as any sort of accomplishment or as particularly fun.

So, going to give up the solo-only path for the moment...need some DPS minions along to beat down the bosses for me. Troll, I'll even hjeal you...DURING the red-named fights. (BYOH getting there!)

I might re-evaluate if/when proposed changes to Exalted Angel take effect.

[Teh_Troll]

Troll, I'll even hjeal you...DURING the red-named fights. (BYOH getting there!)



You've won DDO.

Jokes aside if it's anything like a PM you'll greatly appreciate some minions for the rednames.

[Wipey]

It's not just a matter of taking a long time...it's a matter of running out of SP.
100k GH bosses aren't that bad, 250k SH minibosses are.
Even with that nuking helm, alch pot, Earplug and heavy usage of SLAs.

I was considering 3 Sun elf lives but man, that's a LOT of work when you have 5 other toons hehe.
Or even switch to Sun Elf for another 30 but there are just no points to spare in racial tree already without compromising DCs.
So far only took light spellpower instead of Guardian Angel after ETR and made 6 int skills greensteel.
Sun Bolt SLA and that new ring ( still don't know if it's gonna be 3 or 4 wisdom or whatever ) will prolly help.

[pappo]

HP: 584 (this isn't maxed; I could swap gear to push it a bit higher if I cared)
SP: 2109 (when shrining; down to 1987 after buffing & switching off an SP item), plus 1300 or so SP worth of SP clickies


What are you using for "SP clickies" ??

Great build +1

[SirValentine]

Now that I'm in Epic levels, I'm currently sitting at a little over 3000 SP. That'll go up slightly when I level enough to put on my +250 SP item, and get a bit more Wisdom.



What are you using for "SP clickies" ??


Mysterious Bauble (average 352 SP)
(Heroic) Spell-Storing Ring (75 SP)
Epic Twisted Talisman (50 SP per shrine, another 200 SP available once per quest only)
(Heroic) Twisted Talisman (50 SP per shrine, another 100 SP available once per quest only)
Archivist's Necklace (average 45 SP)
Vile Blasphemy x5 (So 15 charges of 10 tics of average 7 SP each = average total of 1050 SP)

Total average SP recovery of 1622 SP per shrine, and an extra 300 once per quest only.

I don't have an Epic Spell-Storing Ring. I know the Shard exists, because ONE person once linked me their upgraded Epic version.

I also have a Torc, but don't normally use it in Epics. (Saved my butt a couple times in tough Heroic Elite runs when I ran low on SP, though!)

EDIT: Updated because I recently pulled a 5th Vile Blasphemy :-)

[SirValentine]

This is what I'm currently wearing:

Quiver: Alacrity
Trinket: Epic Litany of the Dead
Armor: Shadowscale Armor (Light Armor, +1 DC version, False Life Augment, Power Augment)
Weapon: Alchemical with +2 Wisdom, 90 Devotion & 90 Combustion (Red slot)
Weapon: Thunder Forged with 150 Impulse & +6 Necro (Tier 2 only) (+2 Necro Augment)
Wrists: Dumathoin's Bracers (+2 Good Luck Augment)
Necklace: Sage's Locket
Belt: Epic Belt of Thoughtful Remembrances (Fear Immunity Augment)
Gloves: Gauntlets of Immortality (+2 Evoc DC Augment & Colorless slot)
Boots: Sage's Shoes (Swap to EE Surefooted Boots when appropriate, or Anchoring or Firestorm Greaves or whatever.)
Cloak: Sage's Cloak (Mainly, lately, though used to be and sometimes still Stormreaver's Tablecloth (Yellow slot).)
Ring 1: EE Ring of Shadows (Globe of True Imperial Blood Augment)
Ring 2: Lantern Ring (Green & Colorless slots)
Hat: Deific Diadem (+2 Con Augment, +2 Enchant DC Augment)
Hat, quell territory:Helm of the Blue Dragon (+3 Wis, EH version, +2 Enchant DC Augment, +2 Con Augment)
Goggles: Intricate Field Optics (+3 Wis, EE version, +2 Conj DC Augment)
Goggles, quell territory: Epic Glimpse of the Soul (+2 Conj DC Augment)

Swap items:
Weapon SWAP: Thunder Forged with +6 Transmutation (Orange slot with +2 Transmutation in it) (Swap in, cast Mass Frog, swap back, at most once every 60 seconds.)
Various SP regen items on Gloves, Neck, Ring, and Trinket

Augments, in various places:
+2 DC to each of Necro, Evo, Conj, Enchant
False Life 35
Power 200
Good Luck +2
Fear Immunity
Globe of True Imperial Blood
Strength +7 (just for carrying capacity)
Master's Gift
I think I might have Blindness Immunity and +11 Jump thrown in there somewhere.

[Vellrad]

I got EE shadowsight somewhere in bank, I think we can negotiate.

Edit: sorry for flooding ur thread, that was supposed to be a PM, but I clicked wrong button.

[SirValentine]

I got EE shadowsight somewhere in bank, I think we can negotiate.

Edit: sorry for flooding ur thread, that was supposed to be a PM, but I clicked wrong button.

No worries. Check out my Trade post, https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/438284-Budstein-s-Trades, see if anything there interests you.

[SirValentine]

OK, I've had several people asking me in-game for break-downs of my Wisdom score & DCs, so I thought I'd get it down in one place I can link:
EDIT: Note I've tried out some different feat layouts while Epic Reincarnating.
EDIT: Update 22 brings a new +1 DC ship buff, and +6 Wisdom tomes.
EDIT: Epic Litany of the Dead, Epic Completionist, and in-game-earnable Lasting Ability potions!

Wisdom:
18 base
7 levels
6 Epic Destiny
8 enhancements (1 Human, 1 Warpriest, 2 Radiant Servant, 2+capstone=4 Divine Disciple)
6 tome
2 Completionist
2 Great Wisdom feats
11 Enhancement item (Shadowsight)
3 Insightful (Blue Helm)
2 Alchemical (weapon)
1 Exceptional (Globe)
2 Profane (Epic Litany)
2 guild ship buff
2 Lasting Ability potion
2 Yugoloth potion
2 twist Acute Instincts + drink Rage pot
2 twist x2
--
78 in-quest sustainable-buffed Wisdom (skip Rage, Lasting Ability, and Yugo if zerging eHard for only 72)

Necromancy DC:
19 base
3 feats (Epic Spell Focus)
1 Arcane Initiate (Wiz purchased PL feat)
2 Divine Disciple
3 Exalted Angel
3 twist (Magister school Specialist)
6 item (Thunder Forged weapon)
2 augment
1 Profane (Shadowscale armor)
1 Ship buff
34 Wisdom bonus
--
75 sustainable Necromancy DC (72 in easy content)

Evocation DC (Implosion + nuking):
19 base
3 Sorc Past Life feats
1 Arcane Initiate (Wiz purchased PL feat)
3 Exalted Angel
5 item (Sage's Locket)
2 augment
1 Profane (Shadowscale Armor)
1 Ship buff
34 Wisdom bonus
--
69 sustainable Evocation DC (66 in easy content)

Mass Frog DC:
20 base (Epic spell)
1 Arcane Initiate (Wiz purchased PL feat)
3 Exalted Angel
6 item (Thunder Forged weapon)
2 augment
1 Profane (Shadowscale Armor)
1 Ship buff
34 Wisdom bonus
--
68 sustainable Mass Frog DC (65 in easy content)

Enchantment DC (Greater Command, Hold Person, Symbol of Persuasion):
19 base
1 Arcane Initiate (Wiz purchased PL feat)
3 Exalted Angel
5 item (Sage's Cloak)
2 augment
1 Profane (Shadowscale armor)
1 Ship buff
34 Wisdom bonus
--
66 sustainable Enchantment DC (63 in easy content) (also 3 lower when not wearing Sage's Cloak)

Conjuration DC (Cometfall):
19 base
3 Sorc Past Life feats
1 Arcane Initiate (Wiz purchased PL feat)
3 Exalted Angel
5 item (Sage's Boots)
2 augment
1 Profane (Shadowscale armor)
1 Ship buff
34 Wisdom bonus
--
69 sustainable Conjuration DC (66 in easy content)


EDIT: U21, Patch 1, brought in new changes to Exalted Angel, including +3 to DCs!
EDIT: U22 brought me +2 DCs, 1 via ship buff, 1 via +6 tome and twisting in an extra +1 Wisdom (at cost of not twisting +2 Evo DC)

Also, Spell Pen:

Typical Spell Pen:
20 levels
5 Angel cores
9 Past lives
3 Divine Disciple
3 Angel
2 feat
3 item
1 Ship buff
--
46 typical spell pen
EDIT: Testing is showing me actually getting 48, not 46. Not sure yet where the other +2 is coming from.

More spell pen with gear swap in quest:
+4 more item (+7 instead of +3) (Tier 2 Thunderforged instead of Alchemical for -1 to DCs)
--
50 gear-swap-no-twist-change spell pen
EDIT: Testing is showing me actually getting 52, not 50. Not sure yet where the other +2 is coming from.

Max Spell Pen mode:
+3 Twist Piercing from Draconic (-1 DC from lost twist)
+2 Twist Echoes from Fatesinger (-2 DC from lost twists)
--
55 max spell pen (note this is no-fail on all EE MotU Drow except Priestesses; but not for 3BC)

[EllisDee37]

Nice!

So it looks like the current max (sustainable) necro DC for clerics is 68?

On another note, it must be a relief if you end up in a group with a pure wizard who casts extended rage. heh.

[SirValentine]

So it looks like the current max (sustainable) necro DC for clerics is 68?


I could potentially get 3 more Wisdom, so any 2 of these 3 would make that 69:
- +6 tome instead of +5 (supposedly drops in EE of new raids)
- Epic Completionist twist in +1 Wis (haven't even started any ERs yet)
- Twist in +1 Wis instead of +2 Evo DC (I'll only do this if I get one but not two of the first two)



On another note, it must be a relief if you end up in a group with a pure wizard who casts extended rage. heh.


Yes. Or Bard. Or hanging with melees who throw Primal Scream around. Yes, 7 minutes or whatever is better than 1:30 from a potion.

But in addition to a stack of Rage potions, I also farmed Small Problem a while, so I could make an Epic Brawn's Spirit with 5 charges at CL15. (Though why any Epic clicky doesn't have CL of 20...)


EDIT: Post U21 Patch 1, that goes up to a potential sustainable maximum Necro DC of 72!

[Atremus]

On another note, it must be a relief if you end up in a group with a pure wizard who casts extended rage. heh.

Was wondering if Primal screen would work for triggering Acute Instincts.

Also 72WIS. Very nice, even 68 non-crazy is pretty impressive.

[SirValentine]

Update 21, Patch 1 is here, and with it the changes to Exalted Angel.

I've updated my DCs in post 39 (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/433397-Budstein?p=5301320&viewfull=1#post5301320). I'm still experimenting, but my first tentative plan for the new EA is as follows:

Right now, I'm prety much set on 17 of my 24 points:
12 Wisdom x6 up the right side
2 Tier 1 Avenging Light
1 Tier 5 Wings
2 Tier 6 Sun Bolt SLA (decided I need additonal somewhat-efficient red-named DPS more than an AoE, so no Divine Wrath)

For the other 7, I currently have:
1 Tier 1 Light Spellpower +10
3 Tier 2 Sound Burst SLA
3 Tier 3 Spell Penetration
But those 7 are very subject to change.

Between caster level, Past Life feats, Divine Disciple, a Tier 2 Thunder Forged, Twist Echoes from Fatesinger, and 3 here in Angel, that's 49 Spell Pen without a Spell Pen feat, after level 26 (ML on T2 Thunder Forged). Adding in a single Spell Pen feat would open the option of a twist from Draconic (Magister not stacking), putting me up to 54, or only 50 at lower Epic levels (thinking Epic Reincarnation here). That's still not no-fail on Drow, but getting closer. But how much do I need it other than the MotU quests for Sagas?

Sound Burst I need to play with more first, but I'm thinking it's going to just get dropped, with those points shifting to a bit more spellpower and SP.

OK, going to vent now, feel free to ignore:

Is it sad that the main change in how I spend my ED points is losing Renewal and picking up Sun Bolt? I guess I was hoping for more and better. It's an improvement, for sure! I love +3 DCs, and Sun Bolt is a nice additon, too. But it seems I'm still just grabbing a couple obvious abilities. There's no hard choices between multiple good options. Leaving the whole charges thing the same for Rebuke is especially disappointing; it was never about JUST Divine Wrath, it was about that whole set of abilities.

I should have spoken up more (ha, ha!) in the Divine Epic Destiny thread, not just about things to add, or specific proposed changes, but also about sucky existing abilities in Angel:
- Astral Vibrance: at least make it auto-turn-on with Ascendance and auto-turn-off when Ascendance ends. Does anyone ever voluntarily use this horrible SP-drain-thing other than with Ascendance? And having to toggle 3 times is a pain.
- Be at Peace: Seriously, a single-target, only DAZE, not even Stun, breaks on damage, with a 2 minute cooldown?
- The Tier 1 stuff...9 points for 10% SP? Or just a Tier 1 twist for non-Angels. That's screwed up.
- Judgement and it's follow-ons: only a couple specific mob types. Should be at least SOME effect against all Evil, and greater against the undead/outsiders, instead of ONLY against undead/outsiders

Though asking might not have helped:
- asked for better debuffing options...got useless Shadows
- asked for better CC options...got an SLA that works against the highest save, and, since it can't be boosted, is worse. DC-wise, than the equivalent level-2 spell
- asked for dumb FvS-archon-only charge mechanic to get fixed or go away...removed from one ability that got directly nerfed (and proxy-nerfed by Sun Bolt), and left in for the other ability it applied to

I'm sure the devs are now going to consider divine destinies a done deal, and not return to them, though. I'll make do with what I have, same as ever.

[EllisDee37]

How does fully meta'd avenging light compare to unmeta'd necrotic ray in terms of non-crit damage?

[Blackheartox]

Thinking about a 17 cleric/2palie/1fsoul light spp/necro build. either human or sun elf, hard to decide.

If you could provide me feedback how you are doing with your saves in ee.
If they are ok /which i kinda doubt/ option would be 17 cleric 2 monk 1 soul for caped dodge and stance for wisdom bonus.
Thoughts?
I alrdy had a fsoul build where i managed to get to 1000 light spell power fully selfbuffed on slas.
ITs possible to get more atm /was before new gear.

[SirValentine]

How does fully meta'd avenging light compare to unmeta'd necrotic ray in terms of non-crit damage?

I was running in Crusader just long enough to get 2 extra Fate Points from it, and now I've done my first Epic Reincarnation (Arcane Alacrity), so I'm running in Draconic to get back Arcane Karma.

When I get back to Angel, I'll let you know. :-)

I did drop 2 points of Str to pick up 1 more Int. I spent the 10 extra points on a rank of Tumble, a rank of Perform, and...3 ranks of Jump!

Even though a Tumble skill tome makes it no longer appear as N/A on your character sheet, you can't actually roll, just hop, even with a skill in the 40s, unless you actually have spent a skill point. I hadn't noticed any similar issue with Perform, but I didn't want to take the chance.

[SirValentine]

Thinking about a 17 cleric/2palie/1fsoul light spp/necro build. either human or sun elf, hard to decide.


Human gets you more Wisdom and an extra feat. That's hard to beat.



If you could provide me feedback how you are doing with your saves in ee.


Hadn't really noticed issues with Fort or Will, which were, I think, in the 60s. I expect to fail Reflex saves, only in the 30s there.



If they are ok /which i kinda doubt/ option would be 17 cleric 2 monk 1 soul for caped dodge and stance for wisdom bonus.
Thoughts?


I don't have much experience with the Monk splashes. I've never wanted to deal with the whole centered thing restricting my gear choices.

[SirValentine]

OK, just completed (as in, I'm back to 28 now) my first Epic Reincarnation. It took me 9 days, and I wasn't even super-XP-grinding. Well, that was 2 weekends and the weekdays in-between. Still, that's not too bad; much quicker than I'd typically do a Heroic TR in.

Since I only want 12 Epic Past Lives (for Epic Completionist), versus me getting 21 Heroic Past Lives, that is not an impossible grind. If I spend 2 weeks and a weekend in-between ERs enjoying level 28, that's still 1 ER per 3 weeks...12 ERs in under 9 months. That's plenty quick enough for me.

I ran in Draconic to get my Arcane Karma back. Loss of Wisdom hurt, but I found some use for Energy Burst, Dragon Breath, and Energy Vortex. The other spheres will maybe be easier, as I can keep my full Wisdom: Grandmaster for Martial, one of Shiradi or Avatar for Primal (thoughts, anyone?), and Angel, of course, for Divine.

I've also decided to dump the Soundburst SLA. There just isn't a good use case for a mediocre-DC-versus-Fort-save-short-duration-CC for me. If mobs are going to fail a Fort save versus a mediocre DC, they can fail versus Mass Frog instead. I guess those points will just go to Tier 1, 10 more spell power each to Light & Positive, and +4% SP.

I'm going to keep Spell Pen for now. It puts my max-Spell-Pen mode 2 points higher, by being able to replace Magister's Piercing with Fatesinger's Echoes of the Ancestors: Magister.

Like I said in my other post...kind of a boring ED layout. Lost Renewal, picked up Sun Bolt, plus some no-brainers and some fluff.

[SirValentine]

So I was looking back through this thread, and this caught my eye:



...that new ring ( still don't know if it's gonna be 3 or 4 wisdom or whatever ) will prolly help.


+3 or +4? So of course they put +2 on it!

I've had +2 Insightful Wisdom since level 12. And +3 since level 22. Why on earth would they even bother putting +2 on an ML 26 item?

I can see that +4 would make it a must-have, cause power-creep, etc.. But they certainly should have put +3 on it, to make it an interesting alternative to the existing +3 items.

EDIT: Even leaving it +2, but making it Alchemical instead of Insightful, would have opened up some interesting possibilities. Though making Cannith raids even more useless by eliminating one of the few marginal uses they have left isn't necessarily a good thing.

[painkiller3]

OK, just completed (as in, I'm back to 28 now) my first Epic Reincarnation. It took me 9 days, and I wasn't even super-XP-grinding. Well, that was 2 weekends and the weekdays in-between. Still, that's not too bad; much quicker than I'd typically do a Heroic TR in.

Since I only want 12 Epic Past Lives (for Epic Completionist), versus me getting 21 Heroic Past Lives, that is not an impossible grind. If I spend 2 weeks and a weekend in-between ERs enjoying level 28, that's still 1 ER per 3 weeks...12 ERs in under 9 months. That's plenty quick enough for me

I've also decided to dump the Soundburst SLA. There just isn't a good use case for a mediocre-DC-versus-Fort-save-short-duration-CC for me. If mobs are going to fail a Fort save versus a mediocre DC, they can fail versus Mass Frog instead. I guess those points will just go to Tier 1, 10 more spell power each to Light & Posback!e, and +4% SP.



I'm eager to see if you can keep up your pace (especially until sagas come back). I was at about the same pace as you, but now that most of the first completion bonuses are used (sixth epic TR) I think the pace is either going to slow down, or else I will need some sovereign pots :). Keep up the entertaining thread!

[SirValentine]

I'm eager to see if you can keep up your pace (especially until sagas come back). I was at about the same pace as you, but now that most of the first completion bonuses are used (sixth epic TR) I think the pace is either going to slow down, or else I will need some sovereign pots :). Keep up the entertaining thread!

I'm hoping Sagas don't stay down too long! They were a good part of my 20-23 journey.

But 1st-completion bonuses were not any part of my ER re-level to 28. I used all those BEFORE I ERed.

Actually, I think it will go slightly quicker once I'm done my 3 Arcane lives, as I'll feel a bit more confident stepping in to higher-level EEs when I'm not down 6 points of Wisdom (and when I have 10% faster cool-downs).

I do have an XP tome, and a fair number of 20% pots, and at least enough anniversary cards to have a 50% pot running when I collect Saga rewards.

[SirValentine]

Finally located a +3 Wisdom Blue Helm tonight! Thanks, Kemp. Gear swaps followed. Sustainable DC up by 1! New gear layout in post 36 (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/433397-Budstein?p=5283009&viewfull=1#post5283009). New DC breakdown/totals in post 39 (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/433397-Budstein?p=5301320&viewfull=1#post5301320) (71 Necro!).

I'm pretty happy with my level 28 gear layout right now. There are a couple minor tweaks I wouldn't turn down if I stumbled across them (see my Trade list (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/438284-Budstein-s-Trades)), but in the main, I've got what I want.

Now, in between Deathwyrm runs, while I wait for Sagas to get fixed, I can work on my Monster Manual, and Cannith Challenge favor. Oh, and getting my latest bank mule's Coin Lord & House K favor done.

[SirValentine]

ERed my 2nd time today, Arcane sphere, Arcane Alacrity PL, again. Decided I'd use Magister instead of Draconic to level back up, just to be different. With Sagas disabled, it's probably going to take me a bit longer to get back to cap. Oh, and I ERed on a Sunday afternoon instead of a Friday afternoon, so I didn't really put full use of weekend playing time into it.

Also, I'm experimenting with some build details again. I don't want to impact my Wisdom or Necro DC, but the possibility of NOT twisting Precise Evocation, and instead just twisting +1 Wisdom, potentially frees up +1 Wisdom elsewhere in my build...such as dropping a Great Wisdom feat, and taking Ruin instead! Then, if I'm not going to twist Precise, I don't need Spell Focus: Evocation...so I can fit both Maximize AND Spell Pen back into my build, instead of only 1 of the two. We'll see how it plays out, how much I like Ruin, or how much I hate having an Implosion DC 3 points lower.

[Andoris]

Also, I'm experimenting with some build details again. I don't want to impact my Wisdom or Necro DC, but the possibility of NOT twisting Precise Evocation, and instead just twisting +1 Wisdom, potentially frees up +1 Wisdom elsewhere in my build...such as dropping a Great Wisdom feat, and taking Ruin instead! Then, if I'm not going to twist Precise, I don't need Spell Focus: Evocation...so I can fit both Maximize AND Spell Pen back into my build, instead of only 1 of the two. We'll see how it plays out, how much I like Ruin, or how much I hate having an Implosion DC 3 points lower.

I still think Ruin is way too expensive, however; I can't see my caster without it. It does something nothing else can (get past all DR), and offers a consistent (if very expensive) damage option.

It was good enough for me to drop a point off of my casters DC's to slot it in.

[SirValentine]

I'm eager to see if you can keep up your pace (especially until sagas come back).


I just finished capping after my 2nd ER. Took 10 days instead of 9 this time (well, and that was only 1 weekend instead of 2), with no sagas. And, again, not hard-core XP grinding...I spent significant amounts of time hunting for rares in explorer areas, which is NOT the best XP per minute!

Next time should actually go quicker, because for my 3rd and intended final ER within the Arcane sphere, I don't have to bother refilling the karma, and can run in Angel all the way up.

And, though it's still weeks away, I think I'll do Martial, Skill Mastery, next after my 3rd Arcane. Yes, from a pure power-gamer standpoint, Fortification is better...but I love skills! 3 stacks of that, and I'll be able to break into triple digits on my Haggle score! Maybe someday I'll get Fort as well...or maybe not.

I was originally planning to get Colors for my Primal, but now I'm thinking just Fast Healing. Random effects can sometimes be bad, but healing faster is never bad. And last of all will be Brace from Divine. Of course not Power over Life and Death! What do I look like, a hjealbot? :-)

[painkiller3]

ERed my 2nd time today, Arcane sphere, Arcane Alacrity PL, again.
... .

good to know that arcane alacrity works on divine casting as well. i was going to take it on my cleric, but was worried that it would be a waste..great to know it works

[Teh_Troll]

What do I look like, a hjealbot? :-)

Well . . .

[SirValentine]

Update 22:

- New ship buff grants stacking +1 DCs.
- +6 Wisdom tome from DDO Store means 1 more Wisdom
- Odd Wisdom now? Twist in 1 more. Oh, need to drop +2 Evo twist...oh, might as well drop Evo Focus feat next ER, and until I get Epic Completionist, then both those can come back.

Net effect:
+2 to all DCs except Evocation, which is unchanged.

So 73 sustainable self-buffed Necro DC. Updated breakdowns still in Post 39 (http://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/433397-Budstein?p=5301320&viewfull=1#post5301320).

Up to 4 points higher with non-sustainable buffs like Ascendance, DDO Store ability potions, or Bard help (Spellsong Trace & Inspire Exellence).

[SirValentine]

Couple updates:

Recently picked up my 5th Epic Past Life. 7 more to go after that for Epic Completionist. Not really interested in any ERs beyond that. Have been able to spend a week or two at cap between ERs, and still get one knocked out every few weeks.

Sunday afternoon, I logged on, looked at the LFM panel, and just managed to snag the 12th spot in an EE CitW run, led by Omnipresence. Thanks, guys, smooth run. That got me my last bit of quest favor, now maxed out. (Still missing lots of House Cannith Challenge favor, though.) It was also my 2nd-last EE. Now I'm just missing EE Master Artificer. Anyone on G-Land up for a run of that some time?

[Vellrad]

I always liked MA, if you could host a raid on weekend, I think I could come.

[Andoris]

Couple updates:

Recently picked up my 5th Epic Past Life. 7 more to go after that for Epic Completionist. Not really interested in any ERs beyond that. Have been able to spend a week or two at cap between ERs, and still get one knocked out every few weeks.

Sunday afternoon, I logged on, looked at the LFM panel, and just managed to snag the 12th spot in an EE CitW run, led by Omnipresence. Thanks, guys, smooth run. That got me my last bit of quest favor, now maxed out. (Still missing lots of House Cannith Challenge favor, though.) It was also my 2nd-last EE. Now I'm just missing EE Master Artificer. Anyone on G-Land up for a run of that some time?

Bud,

If you need an EE MA just hit me up when you see me on. We did a EE LoB for kicks last weekend, I am sure we can get a EE MA ran pretty quickly.

[SirValentine]

If you need an EE MA just hit me up when you see me on. We did a EE LoB for kicks last weekend, I am sure we can get a EE MA ran pretty quickly.

Thanks for the offer! Actually, I got one in on Friday, with RcR Hrvatska. So now I've got everything on EE.

FYI, after recapping after my latest ER, I recalculated my DCs (http://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/433397-Budstein?p=5301320&viewfull=1#post5301320), and added Enchantment (and Conjuration) to the breakdown. Yes, I do occasionally use Enchantment spells. I came up with a 64 DC for Enchantment, so you don't have to have "Cleric: N/A" in your comparison in the other thread. :-)

In other news, my Martial ERs have now allowed me to break into triple-digits on my Haggle skill.

[painkiller3]

wish i had seen the EE MA post earlier, i'm looking for House C favor myself. ah well :)

[SirValentine]

Update: So, 7 ERs down, 5 to go. Re-leveled in Primal Avatar for first of my 3 Primal Sphere ERs. Was OK, but going to try Shiradi next time around. Leaving my 3 Divine (will be easiest) for last.

Other than my DCs, listed elsewhere (http://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/433397-Budstein?p=5301320&viewfull=1#post5301320), what do the rest of my stats look like at level 28? Thought I'd post it for my own reference, if nothing else.

EDIT: Things changed a bit with additonal ERs, and since I picked up the Epic Litany and Epic Belt of Thoughtful Remembrance. Changes made below.

SP as I step into a quest: 2974

Some stats after fully self-buffing:

HP: 944

Saves: Fort 57, Ref 41, Will 71 (+8 higher if I drop below 50% health) (These will all be 3 higher after I do my 3 Divine Sphere Brace ERs)

67 PRR (74 higher if I drop below 50% health)
45 MRR
62 Elemental resists (+10 more to one of Fire or Cold)
145% Fortification
78 AC

Ghostly 10%, Dodge 11%, Lesser Displacement 25%

Balance 57
Jump 67 (with zero ranks)
UMD 52
Heal 111
Concentration 92
Spellcraft 76

With gear swaps & Skill Boost:
UMD 71
Search 89 (I have 4 ranks this time around! Otherwise lower to 85.)

Vendoring in-town with Destiny/Twist/gear swaps & Skill Boost: Haggle 107.

EDIT: BTW, having a super-high Haggle is awesome. I buy things off the AH, and vendor them, for a profit. :-)

[EllisDee37]

SP as I step into a quest: 2974My cleric went from ~3030 mana to ~2980 during a recent update. I think it was the divine sphere revamp, where EA possibly lost some mana.

Does it annoy you as much it it annoys me to be so close to 3000 mana but not quite there? Drives me up a wall...

[SirValentine]

Does it annoy you as much it it annoys me to be so close to 3000 mana but not quite there? Drives me up a wall...

No, not really. 899 HP doesn't bother me by not being 900, either. :-)

[SirValentine]

So...the good point of this build is kind of obvious: good instakill DCs. But what about the bad? Nothing's free, right? So what do I give up? What are my weak spots?

- Poor Reflex saves
- Mediocre healing ability
- Poor DPS versus Red(/Purple)-named bosses

There's often ways around poor Reflex saves. Elemental Absorption...timing of traps...dodging of spells or special attacks. But, I admit, occasionally I die because I failed a Reflex save.

If you want to be "healer", that's great, but that's not this build. If people are expecting a full-blown healer, they are out of luck. I don't have a Radiant Servant Positive Energy Aura. I don't have a very high Positive Spell Power. Since the Divine Sphere pass, I don't even have cheap, effective Renewal anymore. I don't have Empower Healing, or even Maximize, to boost Heal or Cures. So the healing output as built isn't very good even if I were to try to focus on playing it like that, which I don't.

Luckily, though some bias remains here and there, the game has mostly moved on from the old days, so not being a healer as much of a issue as the old days. (Though I do still run into the occasional special person, who just can't seem to wrap their head around the idea that you can have a Cleric class icon and not be dedicated hjealbot. They seem to think it's some kind of sin or something.)

The lack of DPS, though...it really hurts. It's why this just plain isn't a solo build. Pick any EE GH, or High Road, or Wheloon...I'll happily solo my way through all the trash...but I need a whole bunch of smackers-down to help me take down those Red-named bosses. And, hey, when no trash is around, I'll even toss some heals during the Red-named beat-down!

So...if you like this build, and I've had a few people complimenting me in-game...be sure you know what you're getting. Kill count is definitely NOT everything.

(EDIT: Not to say that I don't have fun with it. I do. It's very effective...at what it does. Which isn't DPS. Or healing.)

[SirValentine]

Yay! I now never again need to run in any Epic Destiny other than Exalted Angel. Just finished up re-filling Primal Karma so I can do my 3rd Primal ER, and then just some Divine ERs after that.

[Bridge_Dweller]

Kill count is definitely NOT everything.



Lies!

[Bridge_Dweller]

I don't have Empower Healing . . .

Understandable.



. . .or even Maximize . . .

I don't get this, do you not use blade barrier or DOTs on red-names?

[SirValentine]

I don't get this, do you not use blade barrier or DOTs on red-names?


I very rarely use Blade Barrier, usually just if I want to grab aggro of some mobs so I can group them up for a Sunburst or Mass Frog. Not like the old, old Epic days, where instakills didn't work in Epic, and Blade Barrier was one of my main two ways of killing stuff in Epic. Before they bloated up mob HP, and before they nerfed my Epic other killing method.

I do use Divine Punishment on red-named bosses, but...

OK, so, I've done 8 ERs so far, so that's the 20->28 journey 9 times. I've used different feat layouts in some of those. And, yes, in several of them, I did have Maximize. So I've run it both ways.

And you know what? I've decided I just don't care. My damage per second does goes up with it...but is still a mere fraction of that of real DPS builds. The improvement from horrible to awful just isn't worth it. And meanwhile, though, my damage per spell point does not benefit much from nuking-with-Maximize.

Either way, with or without, I'm not soloing EE red-named bosses, and in a party I'm not doing a noticeable fraction of the total damage done to them. So why spend a feat on something and still be bad at it, instead of using it to help be good at what I'm trying to be good at?

If Maximize was the difference between meaningful DPS or not, I'd probably fit it in; but I really feel my DPS is meaningless both ways.

[EllisDee37]

Are you excited for U23? My cleric wears heavy armor and lugs around a large shield, so I'm actually pretty stoked for the changes.

[SirValentine]

Are you excited for U23? My cleric wears heavy armor and lugs around a large shield, so I'm actually pretty stoked for the changes.

Heavy wasn't worth the Dodge loss when I was deciding what Shadowscale to make. And between Light and Medium...Light won on looks, because Medium has yet another of those horrible one-sided shoulder humps. Now, with the PRR worth more, I might have to reconsider.

However, I am quite excited, about Epic Necro 4, even if not very about PRR changes.

Epic Litany, Diefic Diadem, and Belt of Thoughtful Remembrances are all on my wish list. Litany and the belt are straight improvements over what I wear now (Heroic Litany and a lootgen Health/Dodge belt). The Diadem would be a slight gear swap, using a +3 Wisdom Intricate Field Optics with it, instead of Shadowsight with a +3 Wisdom Blue Helm, but the both the temp DC boost and the always-on Cha & Int are nice upgrades.

And Harper tree as presented on Lama is so good it's a no-brainer for me to drop some points from Warpriest or Radiant and take Harper. (Even better, too good, IMO, for a Int-caster, but still better for me than more points in my class trees, as it was presented. They need to tone it down, really.)

[EllisDee37]

And Harper tree as presented on Lama is so good it's a no-brainer for me to drop some points from Warpriest or Radiant and take Harper. (Even better, too good, IMO, for a Int-caster, but still better for me than more points in my class trees, as it was presented. They need to tone it down, really.)Last lama update moved the +1 DC to tier 5.

[SirValentine]

Last lama update moved the +1 DC to tier 5.

Ah, OK, I had missed that. Well, guess I won't be using Harper after all then. :-)

[Riekan]

I very rarely use Blade Barrier, usually just if I want to grab aggro of some mobs so I can group them up for a Sunburst or Mass Frog. Not like the old, old Epic days, where instakills didn't work in Epic, and Blade Barrier was one of my main two ways of killing stuff in Epic. Before they bloated up mob HP, and before they nerfed my Epic other killing method.

OK, so, I've done 8 ERs so far, so that's the 20->28 journey 9 times. I've used different feat layouts in some of those. And, yes, in several of them, I did have Maximize. So I've run it both ways.

And you know what? I've decided I just don't care. My damage per second does goes up with it...but is still a mere fraction of that of real DPS builds. The improvement from horrible to awful just isn't worth it. And meanwhile, though, my damage per spell point does not benefit much from nuking-with-Maximize.

Either way, with or without, I'm not soloing EE red-named bosses, and in a party I'm not doing a noticeable fraction of the total damage done to them. So why spend a feat on something and still be bad at it, instead of using it to help be good at what I'm trying to be good at?

If Maximize was the difference between meaningful DPS or not, I'd probably fit it in; but I really feel my DPS is meaningless both ways.


So what did your end game feat list end up looking like?

[SirValentine]

So what did your end game feat list end up looking like?

Still got a few ERs to go, but I've semi-settled on this:

1: Spell Focus: Necromany
1 (Human): Greater Spell Focus: Necromany
1 (Cleric): Follower of Sovereign Host
3: Completionist
6: Past Life: Arcane Initiate
6 (Cleric): Unyielding Sovereignty
9: Heighten
12: Quicken
15: Spell Focus: Evocation
18: Spell Penetration
21: Epic Spell Focus: Necromancy
24: Great Wisdom
26 (Destiny): Guardian Angel
27: Great Wisdom
28 (Destiny): Mass Frog

[SirValentine]

So, with armor changes, reconsidering my Light Shadow armor. Was pretty much a toss-up before, decided on looks, but now going to Medium would have these results:

- If/when I pull Belt of Thoughtful Rememberance, would reduce my Dodge from 11% to 8%...but back up to 10% with an augment. So only 1% Dodge loss. Not bad.
- Be incredibly ugly.
- Free extra 20 PRR and 15 MRR at all times
- Uncap my MRR...which doesn't matter most of the time, but would matter a lot when Guardian Angel kicks in...assuming Guardian Angel actually gives MRR, which I haven't tested myself, or seen either confirmed or disproved by anyone else yet.

If Guardian Angel doesn't give MRR, I might not bother spending the mats to become ugly, even for the always-on PRR & MRR. But if it does (and it should, I feel), but is capped by my Light armor, then I guess I'll have to be ugly, or buy a Mirror of Glammering.


Meanwhile, also, now Epic Litany of the Dead is in the game, and I'm in the home stretch on getting Epic Completionist, with 9 of 12 ERs done. And Implosion is finally fixed!

- So...if I pull Litany first, I gain +2 Evo by swapping +1 Wisdom twist to +2 Evo twist.
- If I reach Epic Comp first, I gain +2 Evo by adding in +2 Evo twist.
- Assuming I eventually get BOTH, then I have a choice: gain +1 to ALL DCs (yay, sustainable 74 Necro!), with two +1 Wisdom twists, or keep the +2 Evo (only +1 over the alternative), and have another Tier 1 twist slot open for whatever.
- What to do? I think...both, situationally. Max Necro DC for, say, EE Storm Horns, where every point counts. 1 point less Necro, 1 more Evo, and extra twist slot, for slightly less Fort-save-intensive content. If/when I go with the Evo, what's a useful Tier 1 for me to grab?

[SirValentine]

Guardian Angel is currently not granting any MRR. Screw the ugly Medium, then; I'll stick with Light until they fix it.

[EllisDee37]

Guardian Angel is currently not granting any MRR. Screw the ugly Medium, then; I'll stick with Light until they fix it.Regarding ugliness, can't you use a mirror of glammering to fix that?

[painkiller3]

...
Swap items:
Weapon SWAP: Thunder Forged with +6 Transmutation (Orange slot with +2 Transmutation in it) (Swap in, cast Mass Frog, swap back, at most once every 60 seconds.)


Does this affect the DC of mass frog? I recall a thread (you may have been in it) that claimed that dc items didn't affect it

[SirValentine]

Does this affect the DC of mass frog? I recall a thread (you may have been in it) that claimed that dc items didn't affect it

So far as I know, it does. Unless they changed how it worked since I did my testing. I notice a difference if I forget to equip it.

[SirValentine]

OK, I've been kind of slacking the last couple months, between not having my good computer, moving to another country, starting a new job, and, most significantly, spending most of what play time I've had capping out slayers instead of getting XP.

But, finally, I'm back to level 28 after getting Epic Completionist.

I dumped Spell Focus Evocation, not needed since not twisting Precise Evocation, and took Maximize back. Between an extra +1 Wisdom twist, and Epic Litany of the Dead, that's 2 extra Wisdom.

HOWEVER: Mysterious Fragments! In-game-earnable Lasting Ability potions! 60 minutes long! New source of sustainable stacking +2 Wisdom! YAY!

So, now I'm up to a sustainable Wisdom of 78, with a sustainable Necromancy DC of 75.

On the not as happy side, though I have enough Fate Points for my typical twist layout (2/2/1/1), I'm exactly ONE Fate Point short of a couple nice twist combinations I want to use in certain circumstances, like 3/3/2/1 or 4/2/2/1. So...Epic Completionist is not the end. Though I have no desire to go triple-Epic-Completionist, I think I'll knock out 4 more Epic reincarnations for that one extra Fate Point.

And on the just-plain-miserable side, I've spent over a year so far on just this life, after 21 TRs, planned since after my 1st TR, time spent maxing out favor, and Monster Manual, and slayers, etc.. And all that's about to get screwed over by Warlock. So much for all I've put into my "final" life, as I have to hop back on the TR train soon. Sigh.

[SirValentine]

So, I do now have enough Phlogiston to put Tier 3 on a Thunder-forged weapon. But I want to keep a Tier 2 for ER-ing. So I think I'm just going to make a separate weapon that I'll upgrade to Tier 3.

The question is, what do I put ON Tier 3? Several options look reasonable:
- 50 temp SP per 45 seconds?
- 17% universal spell lore?
- 22% lore for some specific element? Which? (I currently have 18% Light [Lantern Ring], 16% Positive [Gauntlets of Immortality], none Force/Fire/Negative.)
- +1 use and regenerating uses for Action Boost and Turn Undead?

Anyone have any experience with and thoughts on these? Leaning towards the temp SP, but the universal spell lore looks nice, too. Light is most useful DPS element for me, but not sure a 4% upgrade is worth it.

(What would have been really nice was if Spell Pen was available on Tier 3 instead of conflicting with DCs on Tier 2. Oh well.)

[Wipey]

I don't know about others but even with eRoss, Bauble, Dethek Runestone, Eternal Scorching ( this was the first t3 tf I made ), that mana drain on bash from Nether Orb when I actually remember to use it and sometimes Torc on, I still run out of spell points. I mean with all that junk now, it's usually enough.
Sp (in)efficiency and management is still a thing.

Universal lore and spell school DCs item options are really limited.
But if you don't have Ruin ( neither do I ), Kinetic Lore is meh - casting BB like twice a month anyway. Fire ? Well there is Cannith Cloak now that Napkin is junk. And neg, well you don't fail many Necro spells eh ( is it neg or kinetic on "save", I always forget ) ? :)
There is always mod neck, but it looks like you want 5 evo always on.

It's pretty silly to still have Sage's stuff as endgame best in slots for many builds. But it's what it is.
5 necro + augment
5+ evo + augment
5 conj + augment
5 enchant + augment ... and you are "slotting" a school for only one or two spells anyway. Yay ?

Oh well, I better stop rambling, Eternal Scorching is the best imo.

[Eth]

Oh well, I better stop rambling, Eternal Scorching is the best imo.

If you ever decide to go FvS, eternal scorching is even better, since the archon does the work for you.

[EllisDee37]

I'd probably go with universal lore 17%. Necrotic Ray is a nice spell. It would also free up the gloves, since the 140 positive (factoring in the Heal +20) could be improved with an augment. If you really like the turning bonus, I believe you can craft that same bonus on a swap item.

Temp SP seems like the least necessary. I mean, yeah, more SP is always a good thing, but you can always drink a pot. Put it this way: If you aren't wearing a torc, then the equivalent of that temp SP effect is clearly not the highest priority.

Full disclosure: I have no experience with any of them, but I do have a pure 20 caster cleric.

[painkiller3]

...

Main hand: Alchemical with +2 Wisdom, 90 Devotion, and a red slot with Impulse

...



does anyone still run Lord of Blades? SirValentine, you're on Ghallanda correct? Any regular LOB raids that i'm unaware of?

[SirValentine]

does anyone still run Lord of Blades? SirValentine, you're on Ghallanda correct? Any regular LOB raids that i'm unaware of?

I'm not aware of any regular runs, but I do see it once in a while. Actually, I think the Sneak Humpers did EE LoB & MA last weekend. I'd have taken part, but my play times didn't match up with when they were running it. I admit I don't really like MA, but I'll gladly join an LoB if I've got the time.

[Andoris]

Mass Frog DC:
20 base (Epic spell)
1 Arcane Initiate (Wiz purchased PL feat)
3 Exalted Angel
6 item (Thunder Forged weapon)
2 augment
1 Profane (Shadowscale Armor)
1 Ship buff
34 Wisdom bonus
--
68 sustainable Mass Frog DC (65 in easy content)


Bud,

Can you confirm that Transmutation Items/Augments/feats are actually affecting Mass Frog DC.

The wiki is stating that it is only affected by Wisdom bonus +30 (not that this would be the first time the wiki was wrong).

Just curious as I have a guildie that is working on a Wis based monk and was trying to get a workable Mass Frog (for giggles).

Thanks,

[SirValentine]

Bud,

Can you confirm that Transmutation Items/Augments/feats are actually affecting Mass Frog DC.

The wiki is stating that it is only affected by Wisdom bonus +30 (not that this would be the first time the wiki was wrong).

Just curious as I have a guildie that is working on a Wis based monk and was trying to get a workable Mass Frog (for giggles).


It was, I don't know, a year and a half or two years ago maybe when I did my testing. Don't know if they've changed anything since then, and I haven't retested any time lately. Next time I'm 28 I can retry it.

[Andoris]

It was, I don't know, a year and a half or two years ago maybe when I did my testing. Don't know if they've changed anything since then, and I haven't retested any time lately. Next time I'm 28 I can retry it.

Thank you!

Let me know how it turns out.

[SirValentine]

So, this thread is now officially obsolete. With the release of Warlock, my "final build" isn't. And with the Sev's threat to wipe it out again (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/454324-Producer-s-Letter?p=5554603&viewfull=1#post5554603), there's no point in going back to it any time soon.

So what's next for Budstein? Nothing really. I'm doing a Warlock life at the moment, after which I guess I'll mess around with some more pointless, unneeded TRs. And likely just play DDO less and less.

Let me know when they're DONE adding classes, so I can then bring my character back to the build I want him to be and play him in it without the threat of months or years of personal accomplishments being wiped out.

For now, The End.

[Cordovan]

Closed at the request of the OP.