Returning Player Help

[Nureyev]

I’m just getting back into DDO after a pretty long break. I have a level 18 ranger AA that I’m looking to TR, the character already has one past life as a paladin. If I recall correctly I need to get a bunch of tokens of the twelve, is this still the case? Mainly I’m looking for help on a build for the new life as I don’t really know what’s changed while I’ve been gone. I had the idea of a halfling rogue with a crossbow, for trapping and self healing (dragonmark) with ranged damage. Would this build be viable? What advice would you give me for building it?

[Thunder-Monkey]

I’m looking to TR, the character already has one past life as a paladin. If I recall correctly I need to get a bunch of tokens of the twelve, is this still the case?

Correct. When you get to 20 you can farm Devil Assault (any epic difficulty) for a chance of 2 per run. Put up an LFM and ask for tokens to be passed. Or you can buy a heart from the store.


Mainly I’m looking for help on a build for the new life as I don’t really know what’s changed while I’ve been gone. I had the idea of a halfling rogue with a crossbow, for trapping and self healing (dragonmark) with ranged damage. Would this build be viable? What advice would you give me for building it?

Yes rogue mechanics are still strong. Do you have access to the Harper Tree (it may be visible to you but can you spend points in it)? Do you have access to the Artificer class? Do you plan to take him/her through Epics or TR when you hit 20?

TM

Edit: Welcome back to DDO.

[Fedora1]

You don't have to run DA for tokens, although that is a very common way to do it. You can run any epic Eberron quest (well I don't know about "any" anymore, but for sure Lords of Dust, Red Fens, Sands, and the House P and House D chains) for Fragments of a Token of the Twelve, 100 of which combine to make a regular Token.

[kamimitsu]

The fastest way I know to get tokens is Bargain of Blood. 3-4 minute runs (a group I did a few days ago managed 1:54) for 1 token. Hang the door or abandon/share and repeat until ransacked. 8 tokens in under 30 minutes.

[Nureyev]

Yes rogue mechanics are still strong. Do you have access to the Harper Tree (it may be visible to you but can you spend points in it)? Do you have access to the Artificer class? Do you plan to take him/her through Epics or TR when you hit 20?

I have access to Harper Tree and Artificer. I’m not sure about whether I would want to TR immediately or go into epics, probably TR when I know/remember a little more about the game and I can build something more specifically tailored for epics. It’s probably worth noting that I like to solo, hence the halfling with dragonmark thought.

[Thunder-Monkey]

I have access to Harper Tree and Artificer. I’m not sure about whether I would want to TR immediately or go into epics, probably TR when I know/remember a little more about the game and I can build something more specifically tailored for epics. It’s probably worth noting that I like to solo, hence the halfling with dragonmark thought.

Cool, if you plan to TR at 20 I can recommend you splash 2 Artificer, it has some benefits - free feat:Rapid Reload, early proficiency with repeaters, runearm use (with only 2 arti levels it won't do much damage but with the right runearm it can be very useful to smash up aoe breakables and open doors that would normally require a weapon swap). You get a controllable dog, although it wont be much more use than a lever-puller with 2 arti. Also it gives you access to tier 2 in the arti trees (which were re-worked recently and a new tree was added, Renegade Mastermaker)

If you plan to run into epics, splashing 2 arti is still viable but you lose the Mechanic capstone. You should read the wiki (https://ddowiki.com/page/Mechanic_enhancements) to help you make that decision.

The Harper tree allows you to get INT to-hit and Know The Angles, which is a nice damage boost. You can also get INT to damage in this tree but you get that at rogue 6 anyway (in the mechanic core). It also has some extra INT if you have spare points. Using INT to-hit/dmg allows you to pretty much dump DEX, but i recommend you take enough DEX to hit 13 (with tomes) to get feat: Precision. It's also important to take feat: Insightful Reflexes to get INT to reflex saves and make the most of your evasion.

Repeaters work well in the lower levels, but at level 12 you can put points into tier 5 mechanic and great crossbows get a big boost.

Halfling works. Their low shot means you hit more things with Improved Precise Shot. Gnome also works for the same reason, they start with +2 INT and also get a Color Spray SLA which works off your INT modifier. It's very effective in heroics. Obviously you'd lose the dragonmark healing if you went with Gnome.

Hope this helps.

TM

[Nureyev]

Cool, if you plan to TR at 20 I can recommend you splash 2 Artificer, it has some benefits - free feat:Rapid Reload, early proficiency with repeaters, runearm use (with only 2 arti levels it won't do much damage but with the right runearm it can be very useful to smash up aoe breakables and open doors that would normally require a weapon swap). You get a controllable dog, although it wont be much more use than a lever-puller with 2 arti. Also it gives you access to tier 2 in the arti trees (which were re-worked recently and a new tree was added, Renegade Mastermaker)

If you plan to run into epics, splashing 2 arti is still viable but you lose the Mechanic capstone. You should read the wiki (https://ddowiki.com/page/Mechanic_enhancements) to help you make that decision.

Okay, good to know, thank you. I presume it's still best to take rogue at level 1 for skills? When might be an optimum time to dip? Rapid reload alone is probably worth it, especially if there's not a real drawback besides the rogue capstone. I suspect I'll probably TR at 20 anyway, but thanks for the arti into epics advice too.


The Harper tree allows you to get INT to-hit and Know The Angles, which is a nice damage boost. You can also get INT to damage in this tree but you get that at rogue 6 anyway (in the mechanic core). It also has some extra INT if you have spare points. Using INT to-hit/dmg allows you to pretty much dump DEX, but i recommend you take enough DEX to hit 13 (with tomes) to get feat: Precision. It's also important to take feat: Insightful Reflexes to get INT to reflex saves and make the most of your evasion.

Okay, noted, pump int but don't dump dex. I suspect I won't have many spare points as I'll be investing in the halfling tree for tatts.


Repeaters work well in the lower levels, but at level 12 you can put points into tier 5 mechanic and great crossbows get a big boost.

Halfling works. Their low shot means you hit more things with Improved Precise Shot. Gnome also works for the same reason, they start with +2 INT and also get a Color Spray SLA which works off your INT modifier. It's very effective in heroics. Obviously you'd lose the dragonmark healing if you went with Gnome.

Hope this helps.

TM

Hadn't considered that about the Halfling. All very helpful stuff, thanks ever so much for your replies.

[Fedora1]

Just a word of caution, rogues, and especially halfling rogues, are a little on the hard side for soloing in my experience. When you're squishy, and a lot of your damage is coming from SA, it's just not optimal.

[Nureyev]

Just a word of caution, rogues, and especially halfling rogues, are a little on the hard side for soloing in my experience. When you're squishy, and a lot of your damage is coming from SA, it's just not optimal.

Okay, thanks for the warning! I should be able to somewhat offset this with the halfling healing (I hope?), but I'll bear it in mind. And I'm not completely group averse, so if I'm struggling that's always an option too.

[Thunder-Monkey]

I presume it's still best to take rogue at level 1 for skills? When might be an optimum time to dip?

Yeh still take level 1 rogue, as you say, for skills. Take level 2 as Arti for the free feat and early repeaters. Level 3 either rogue for evasion or arti for runearms, and level 4 take the one you didnt take at level 3.

Exploding runearms really are a QoL thing, for breakies and doors. If you're not worried about that you could instead take a level of fighter for the cheap haste boost and another free feat from this list (https://ddowiki.com/page/Fighter_bonus_feat). If you go this route you should take your fighter level once you meet the pre-reqs for your chosen feat. EllisDee's Character Builder Lite (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/455712-Character-Builder-Lite) is excellent for working this out.

TM

[C-Dog]

Welcome back!

Here's a list of all quests that drop Tokens of the Twelve. You need 20.*

o https://ddowiki.com/page/Token_of_the_Twelve#Drop_per_quest

Lords of Dust is a common on to see LFM's for.


Some players swear that the (Epic) Cannith Challenges are a great way, too - faster to earn the materials and trade them in.

From the Wiki...

"You can also obtain (ToT's) from House Cannith's Kaldoth Maz (Challenge Trader, Level 20) in exchange for the Epic Cannith Challenge Ingredients at a rate of 5 ingredients to 1 Fragment or 300 of any one ingredient for a whole Token."


* BE AWARE that there is now a 2nd Reincarnation available at Level 20, Racial Reincarnation. That uses a Heart of Blood and gives a Racial Reincarnation (https://ddowiki.com/page/Racial_Reincarnation), but for a classic TR and "class" Past Life you want a Heart of Wood.


I’m not sure about whether I would want to TR immediately or go into epics...
You want a solid character for Epics, and an older build is ~probably~ not going to meet that standard.

Here's a good place to start: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/470423-Build-Repository?p=5759353&viewfull=1#post5759353

From there, you can go to the various specific "X Class" sub-forums to find additional builds.

GL, and haff fun stomin da cassul!
o/

[CheapToad1]

I’m just getting back into DDO after a pretty long break. I have a level 18 ranger AA that I’m looking to TR, the character already has one past life as a paladin. If I recall correctly I need to get a bunch of tokens of the twelve, is this still the case? Mainly I’m looking for help on a build for the new life as I don’t really know what’s changed while I’ve been gone. I had the idea of a halfling rogue with a crossbow, for trapping and self healing (dragonmark) with ranged damage. Would this build be viable? What advice would you give me for building it?


LOL. I was just posting the same message.