New player looking to get into the game with a few questions

[Twilightsong]

Hi I've always been curious about DDO and dabbled in it a bit in the past now I think I'd like to start playing the game as my main MMO. I have a couple of questions though.

-If you buy both expansions you can get 11,000 TP for $60. Does this stack with the holiday sale bonus on TP (so I would get like 20K of them)?

-If so, would that amount of TP allow me to unlock most or all of the main content in the game without subbing or is it cheaper for a new player to just pass on the TP deal and sub?

-Is Sarlona a good active server to play on? I'd like to find an RP friendly guild that kind of treats it like a pen and paper game (adventure sessions) Is this the best server to roll on?

thank you

[Kriogen]

You don't have to buy anything to start, test it. Register, download, play. Good way to find out if you like game mechanics.

If you know you will stay in DDO for just a month or two, its cheaper to get Subscription.

If you will stay for longer, its cheaper to buy/unlock stuff.

If you buy expansion pack, that would mean you plan to stay for longer.
How I would spend TPs you get from buying expansion packs:
- buy shared bank slot. Too usefull not to have.
- don't spend all TPs now. Always check for discounts.
- first buy stuff that is permanent, account wide. Adventure pack, class, race. Skip 'fluff'.

You don't need everything now. Unlock stuff as you go. Don't foget, that you get free TPs when you get faction favor (do enough quest for specific faction). It adds up.

[Twilightsong]

Thanks, I've already played DDO as a free player for a few hours, enough to know that I like the game but the free restrictions are annoying like not being able to play what race and class I want so if I get in to the game seriously I don't want to play free.

I really like the lifetime sub I have in LOTRO because it allows me to just pick up and drop the game when I want without feeling obligated to play it all the time when I'm subbed. Was hoping the big stack of TP + the expansions would be able to unlock most of the game content and let me play the game kind of like I play LOTRO but I guess even 15,000 TP aren't enough to do that?

[Wulverine]

Was hoping the big stack of TP + the expansions would be able to unlock most of the game content and let me play the game kind of like I play LOTRO but I guess even 15,000 TP aren't enough to do that?

Well, it's easy to calculate. Look at http://ddowiki.com/page/DDO_Store#Account and look at the TP cost of all the adventure packs.

Right now would be a great time to buy all the adventure packs, since there is a 25% off of all packs deal going on until Jan 2nd.

Note: If you buy Menace of the Underdark standard edition, the following older packs are included as a bonus: Phiarlan Carnival, Attack on Stormreach, The Path of Inspiration, The Dreaming Dark

Adding up all the adv packs, excluding the above 4, adds up to 13945TP. With that 25% reduction that comes to 10458TP. But this includes only the quests, you'll still have the Store bought classes, races, bankspace and other extra's (such as monster manuals) to consider. Depending on your playstyle some might be much more needed than others. Also some classes are unlockable by earning favor, like Favored Soul and Artificer.

You'll be earning TP just by playing the game and earning favor and you can use that TP to purchase the leftovers you weren't able to buy right now. But wait for those things to go on discount, if you can! If you don't need it right now, but know you'll need it some time in the future, just wait for a sale.

Hope this helps.

[Twilightsong]

Very helpful....thank you. I decided to go for it and got everything I wanted (all adventure packs + monk and 32 point build ) with 90 TP to spare.

Kind of annoying that I didn't get the double bonus on the 11,000 TP but oh well...

Looking forward to getting into the game.


Well, it's easy to calculate. Look at http://ddowiki.com/page/DDO_Store#Account and look at the TP cost of all the adventure packs.

Right now would be a great time to buy all the adventure packs, since there is a 25% off of all packs deal going on until Jan 2nd.

Note: If you buy Menace of the Underdark standard edition, the following older packs are included as a bonus: Phiarlan Carnival, Attack on Stormreach, The Path of Inspiration, The Dreaming Dark

Adding up all the adv packs, excluding the above 4, adds up to 13945TP. With that 25% reduction that comes to 10458TP. But this includes only the quests, you'll still have the Store bought classes, races, bankspace and other extra's (such as monster manuals) to consider. Depending on your playstyle some might be much more needed than others. Also some classes are unlockable by earning favor, like Favored Soul and Artificer.

You'll be earning TP just by playing the game and earning favor and you can use that TP to purchase the leftovers you weren't able to buy right now. But wait for those things to go on discount, if you can! If you don't need it right now, but know you'll need it some time in the future, just wait for a sale.

Hope this helps.

[Annex]

Happy Yule, Twilightsong. :)

I started about three months ago, bought into the game early as you intend, and can offer some insight.

First off, you may find the cost of all individual game components in the DDO Wiki: http://ddowiki.com/page/DDO_Store

The game includes approximately 31 quest packs costing approximately 15,950 Turbine Points at full price, two Challenge packs costing 1990 Turbine Points at full price, and two Expansions--Menace of the Underdark and The Shadowfell Conspiracy. Through a combination of sales, Quest Pack Bundles, and Expansion Bundles, you may significantly lower those costs.

The game includes numerous optional races, classes, and iconic heroes. You may unlock most of these races and classes on a per server basis by playing the game. The Favor section of the DDO Wiki explains this in detail (scroll to the bottom): http://ddowiki.com/page/Favor You may also purchase these optional items in the store, unlocking them on all servers. Do your research, as some Expansion Pack bundles offer significant savings on these extras.

By purchasing both Expansions and 11,000 Turbine Points one may unlock the vast majority of the game. I ended up with 18 of 31 quest packs, both Challenge packs, Monks, some cosmetics, a creature companion, both Monster Manuals, 20 units of Shared Storage, four huge/gigantic storage bags for my main character, and two thousand points left over. If I never spent another penny, I would unlock the rest of the quest packs, races, and classes within perhaps six months. I unlocked Drow, level 4 characters, and 32 point builds very quickly just by playing.

Good luck and take care. :)

[Lonnbeimnech]

Just looking at this

http://ddowiki.com/page/Adventure_Packs

You can buy just about every adventure pack with those 11,00 points. And that's assuming you don't wait to buy them on sale. They go on sale regularly, btw.