If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now

[Tarrant]

In our continuing effort to help new players with DDO, we'd like to put together a list of useful general gameplay information. And we figured we'd hit up our greatest resource - the community - for help!

What three things that you know now would have been helpful to know as a new player?

We'd like to hear from veterans and new players alike, so give us what you've got!

[Trillea]

1) CON is *NOT* a dump stat
2) CON is *NOT* a dump stat
3) CON is *NOT* a dump stat
4) Get heavy fort as soon as possible
5) Rogues are DPS first, traps second

[k1dwizard]

1. Plus 2 arrows, and a Plus one bow does not mean you get a plus three bonus

2. improved precise shot is a feat that you need to put on your hot bar to turn it on... been playing for years and just learned this about 2 months ago /face palm

3. Con is not a dump stat

4. Troller on argo is a gimp, and if anything goes wrong it is typically his fault

5. I am Troller

6. Con is not a dump stat

a little extra i know, but does it count towards extra credit?

[redraider]

1. As a caster - you can put a sceptar in each hand - healing lore and potency - fire lore and potency, etc.

2. One level of Rog built well can do nearly every trap in the game until late levels

3. Warforged really is the master race for most builds

[Dark-Star]

1. Despite what anyone advises, make your wizard or sorc a warforged.
2. Learn to be a team player, but have self reliance in your build.
3. Be picky in what guild you join. The guilds that are prevelent in the lower levels are much different than the guilds that excel at the end game. Take your time in choosing one that fits your personality and playstyle. Ultimately the game is about the relationships you build.

[Natulyre]

1. If a chest looks too good to be true, it's trapped.
2. If the rogue stop moving, don't go past him or you'll die a horrible death.
3. Look at the brokers in house Deneith/Marketplace/Ataraxia before heading to the auction house to buy new gear, most of the time you'll find what you need for half the price.

[AZgreentea]

One thing I remember having trouble with before I got up the courage to ask (lots of F2P hate a year ago):

Right click to target your hirelings or specific players/monsters.

That must have taken me about 12 hours of play before I asked. A real quick tutorial of the UI and basic commands might help new players.

[darkrune]

1) if I knew how hard the nerf bat was going to hit some greensteel items I wouldn't have wasted so many scales. (still praying daily for deconstruct at some point)

2) if I knew that reincarnate would be an option I wouldn't have retooled so many toons.

3) it is ok to switch guilds and/or start your own. Sometimes the grass actually is greener.

And a bonus one- CON IS NOT A DUMP STAT!!!

Dark

Ps great idea for a topic guys and gals.

[Robi3.0]

In the immortal words of Will Wheaton

"Don't be a male genital"

[Zzevel]

+ Wear the best Constitution item for your level...
( +1 con = Level 1; +2 con = Level 5 ; +3 con = Level 7; +4 con = Level 9; +5 con = Level 11; +6 con = Level 13)

+ Wear the best Fortification item for your level...
(Light Fort = Level 1; Moderate Fort = Level 4; Heavy Fort = Level 8)

+ Wear the best False Life item for your level...
( Lesser False Life (5hp)= Level 1; False Life (10hp) = Level 6; Improved False Life (20hp) = Level 8; Greater False Life (30hp)= Level 10)

All Race Restricted equipment can be worn 2 levels lower than the above stated level, if you find something restricted and it is not your race and you cant use it, you can sell it for a good price on the auction house

++++ The +20hp on the Minos Legens Helm (Necro Pack 4) STACKS with False Life items and has Heavy Fort.. that's why everyone wears it.. it is Level 11

[IronClan]

1. Not everyone runs through quests like a chicken with their head cut off, find a group or guild that plays at a speed you like
2. the game is not as hard as min maxers make it out to be, have fun and find a group or guild that plays the same way you like to.
3. don't be afraid to join an LFM and say "I haven't done this one" much better to say it up front then when your in trouble later... You wont have to say that much if you find a group or... etc.

[Lorien_the_First_One]

CON is not a dump stat - on ANY class.

Rogues are DPS, not traps. Traps is something they do in their spare time between killing things and a well build 1rogue/19 something else can take out 99+% of the traps in the game as well as a pure rogue.

Unlike D&D, DDO requires min/maxing to a large degree that prohibits "balanced characters" that work well in D&D. Said balanced characters will own content from L1-12 and then become useless.

Do not send or accept blind guild or party invites. It's considered rude to do so and anyone who does so tends not to know much about the game. Instead looking for the "LFM" panel (social panel, then grouping tab) to see what groups are forming. Don't be afraid to start your own group if you don't see something you like! You don't need know a quest to start a group.

If you are new and join a group, TELL THEM.

[SamuelTheFree]

1 - Con is not a Dump Stat (I know a bit of a recurring theme but too important to leave out)
2 - All classes can self heal through most quests if prepared (Sure it takes resources, but resources are not that scarce)
3 - Low level casters can melee (sure not as well as a melee class but enough to solo quite a bit)

[TFPAQ]

1. Low levels, pretty much any build is a "Solo" build.
2. Low level soloing is about AC and healing.
3. High level soloing is about dps and healing.
4. Most "solo" builds don't work well at high lvl quests, raids, and in epics - excluding WF Sorc, WF Wiz, WF FvS... (hint, hint...)*

*Just kidding (not really ...)

[petegunn]

1) Build advice/ making good use of these forums.

2) To have enough con for the job at hand.

3) Concentrate on one alt at a time, that way the game will seem more tidy and in your mind, you'll observe your character develop from strength to strength.

[Memnir]

Potions are important, carry them.

[Logic]

In our continuing effort to help new players with DDO, we'd like to put together a list of useful general gameplay information. And we figured we'd hit up our greatest resource - the community - for help!

What three things that you know now would have been helpful to know as a new player?

We'd like to hear from veterans and new players alike, so give us what you've got!

I think updating in-game feat, enhancement, and item descriptions would be very useful to new players. There are many feats/enhancements/item descriptions that are lacking information or simply wrong that it makes the game difficult to play without browsing forums to learn how feats/enhancements/items actually function. Add cooldowns as well. This link is a great spot to start http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=179128

[Thelmallen]

1) Rougues have to pick up the rogue-specific skills at character creation (open lock, disable device, search, spot, etc). They are not automatically granted. I've seen I don't know how many new players get into Tangleroot and not know this.

2) You can buy potions for nearly anything you need: remove disease, neutralize poison, lesser restoration are ones everyone should carry. Maybe hand out starter versions of these potions when characters are created.

3) Constitution should never be left at 8. Ever. On any build. Ever. Never. Nunca. A minimum of 12 is required for most builds. Minimum.

[Feylina]

-It's ok to be new to the game, new players don't annoy vets, new players that act like they know what they are doing when they have no clue annoy vets

-listen to the leader, if he/she is actually leading, if you didn't want them to lead you shoulda formed your own party

-potions are your friend

-60hp at level 12 is not funny

-if you don't know the quest, perhaps do it on normal once or twice, don't join that elite group

-learn what weapons are great for what quest, holy + pg is not great for running with the devils (til the end / devil cave)

-learn the d20 system. 40 ac in gianthold is not good, 50 - 60 ac endame isn't either, in both cases you might as well be naked.


that's all for now. There's a wealth of knowledge out there for new players from veterans, to date i've met few new players willing to tap into it.

[Spartus]

1. CON is never a dump stat. No character can avoid getting hit 100% of the time, and without decent CON, you will die.

2. It's perfectly OK to reroll your first character, after learning a bit about the game. In fact, it's pretty much a rite of passage that everyone (I know in the game) has gone through. The various reincarnation options that were recently added can make this less of a chore.

3. The majority of PUG groups worth being in are formed via the LFM panel.