We need to tech new players about bonus stacking

We still get a lot of intermittent 'Do X and Y stack' questions, so its clear that a basic part of game play isn't coming over. We need some way to clearly teach the way bonuses work in D&D, perhaps a quest on Korthose where your given an item known to clash with starting gear only to be told 'Oh that's no good, here have [item] with [different] bonus.' Going on to explain the interactions?

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Originally Posted by Devonian

We still get a lot of intermittent 'Do X and Y stack' questions, so its clear that a basic part of game play isn't coming over. We need some way to clearly teach the way bonuses work in D&D, perhaps a quest on Korthose where your given an item known to clash with starting gear only to be told 'Oh that's no good, here have [item] with [different] bonus.' Going on to explain the interactions?

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I agree this needs to be explained to players new to the DnD ruleset. Putting in a scenario on korthos and/or the harbor which introduces this to players would be good. I think also that there should be a tooltip popping up for any character's first time using a new bonus type or using any two items that don't stack due to the same bonus type explaining what happens with said items and their impact on the character.

Just a thought...

Your character sheet should indicate in red if there is a conflict or bonus from an item that is overriding another one.
When I started out I had no idea things didn't stack and I wondered why having 3 or 4 str items didn't seem to improve anything. If there was an indication in the character sheet with a possible explanation, it would make it easier to learn these things.

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Originally Posted by sultanica

Just a thought...

Your character sheet should indicate in red if there is a conflict or bonus from an item that is overriding another one.
When I started out I had no idea things didn't stack and I wondered why having 3 or 4 str items didn't seem to improve anything. If there was an indication in the character sheet with a possible explanation, it would make it easier to learn these things.

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That's another good idea. A shiny red number in the breakdown when you mouse over the stats and a red number for the stat itself showing there's a conflict would be great. Granted my 20 monk does actively have some non stacking stat items because the other abilities on the items are worth it (+6 con belt of greater false life vs. shintao cord necklace that has +6 con and +15 concentration).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sultanica

Just a thought...

Your character sheet should indicate in red if there is a conflict or bonus from an item that is overriding another one.
When I started out I had no idea things didn't stack and I wondered why having 3 or 4 str items didn't seem to improve anything. If there was an indication in the character sheet with a possible explanation, it would make it easier to learn these things.

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This is a great idea. Or maybe a pop up (similar to the one you get when you successfully bypass a requirement with UMD) that indicates you are not receiving a bonus from something (Specified) when you equip the item.

All good, and its just the kind of thing that will help new players, I mean lets face it learning D&D of any edition is pretty hard when you ave 4 friends and a hard back, DDO is trying to get folk to pick it up on nothing.