World of Warcraft Refugee's

[Brother_Tuck]

Welcome to the game and to the best server by far....

As to answer your question about UMD its Use Magic Device and you will want to max it out to use any item/weapon/wearable in the game no matter if its race or alignment restricted. It one of your skills and its based on a characters Charisma modifier. Alot of us "old timers" can help so newer players do not make the same mistakes alot of us made when we rolled up our first characters who we later found out were GIMPED.

If you need any help just give a shout to just about anyone you see who responded to this post and all of us are always willing to impart some knowledge to help make your gaming experience and transition smoother. Some of us even offer plat and items as well to help newer players along.

Happy gaming..

[Uamhas]

Use Magic Device= charisma-based skill. UMD allows you to equip gear that has some kind of restriction on it that you don't qualify for (ie: you are an elf with a race required warforged strength ring) or to cast scrolls/use wands when you do not have the requisite class (ie: raise dead scroll via sorceror). The higher your UMD the more likely you'll be able to find stuff you can use sooner, as race restricted gear is usually of a lower minimum level than the comparable gear w/o restrictions.

Awesome!

~snip~ i appreciate any advice i can get, but what is UMD?

Thanks in advance!!
Luvs to all of you!

Badsign

Also... um... I have a foul mouth and a dirty mind... hm, maybe that's why I was asked to leave that guild? Who can say *insert eyeroll here*. However, I can (and have) honored requests to "tone it down", so if you run with me and I blister your ears, please don't hesitate to let me know that it bothers you.

[Ringos]

Also... um... I have a foul mouth and a dirty mind... hm, maybe that's why I was asked to leave that guild? Who can say *insert eyeroll here*.

Oh really...I'll talk to Vic and see if I can get you in GSI.

[Badsign]

Oookay i have only been on here a few days and have now realized how little i know, i started on the trial and now have DL'd a regular account and am gettin serious, i have played several toons to level 2.5 approx and have realized i would like some advice. What is the general consensus of what would be a good first character to start out with? My three lvl 70 characters in WoW were a heal spec Druid a Rogue and a Mage so i can play heals DPS or support. Would it be best to start with a character i can use to farm with at higher levels and then make a specialized character? or just ramp right on up with the sorcerer i intended? i kind of like the cleric too, but should i spec a level of fighter to start or what? was thinking of playing a level of bard and Then starting some sorc levels too but will that gimp my high end sorc? I am sure you experienced people know what i am asking and i would appreciate any advice!! also is there somewhere else i should be posting these questions? i really love talking to the people i hope to play with more than just searching general opinion.

Thanks and Luvs in advance!!

Badsign

[Memnir]

If you enjoy playing a cleric, then you've already gotten a head start on one of the best ways to learn the game. Clerics are always in demand, at all levels. Plus, they can be a very solo-able class. A cleric can learn all the quests in the game very easily for those two reasons.

I'd say run with a cleric at least until you gain your 1750 Favor to make 32 point builds. By that point you will also have a greater feeling for the other classes in the game, having seen them in action & know better what class(es) would be interesting for you to try next.

Beyond that, I'd advise you look at the Race and Class sub-forums on this site. Both are great places to find answers or to ask questions you may have regarding specifics.

[sigtrent]

Welcome, hope you find the game to be fun!

There are a ton of good guilds on Thelanis and I think most of them are pretty low on the drama quotient due to mature players and a lot of fun loving folks.

Umber Hulks is the guild I'm in, it is extreemly low drama. On the other hand we hardly do any organized raiding and most of our guild events are light RP or general questing nights. The big plus is that our members are super friendly and easy going, the minus is we are somewhat a sleepy guild. You can check out our nice but somewhat quiet website via my signature, or just contact any Umber Hulk you find in the "who list" in game. We generaly look for the qualities: Nice, Friendly, Generous, Relaxed, and Likes DDO.

[Uamhas]

You start out with several character slots. Roll a cleric... and.... Considering your experience, a mage. Sounds to me like you have the twitch factor needed to manage the different hotbars, and I believe the BEST way to learn (in this case) is by doing. Don't multiclass until you get a better "feel" for the class, and have perhaps rolled and run the other class you're planning to splash it with- it's just that easy to totally screw up what you've planned for your character. Ask for advice of people you see making successful characters that have what you want. It's easy to find opinions in any group you join, (opinions being like pootie holes: everyone has one) so be choosy. Write stuff down. There is also a character planner program that I can never ever seem to find but that SOMEone on here will probably be able to provide a link that you can download it from. That takes alot of the guesswork out of it, and avoids dumping time in a toon you may HATE at lvl 7.
I've rolled and played 2 clerics & 2 wizards to level cap, 2 mid-level clerics, and 2 sorcs each to lvl 13. My observations: wizard is more versatile and sorc is better for specialization.
Pros and Cons.
Wiz gets to choose more spells per level and can change them at will in a tavern or after resting at a shrine so long as the spell is in the spellbook (hint: keep the scrolls you find so you can inscribe the ones you don't have, buy the ones you don't have if you can afford it).
Sorc must pay to change a single spell at a time and the wait between changing spells is 3 days.
Wiz is granted metamagics as class feats (I forget at which levels)
Sorc must spend a feat for each metamagic effect.
Wiz will likely have many many more skill points to spend due to being intelligence based for spellcasting.
Sorc is more likely to have better UMD due to being charisma based for spellcasting.
Wiz has slower casting times when unenhanced by metamagics.
Sorc gets up to double extra spell points for power/wizardry/magi items.
Suggestions
-Start with wizard, get a feel for the caster as a class, then roll a sorc after you've got at leave 5 lvls on your wizzie. If you DO roll a sorc- plan it out ahead of time.
-Wizard- max out Int
-Sorceror- max out Cha
-Boost Con, maybe use Str as a dump so you won't be overburdened so easily.
-Find yourself a warforged to keep as a convenient body shield at lower levels, and keep repair wands handy.

I believe that both classes are fun as h.e. double hockeysticks, and that they are SO not just mirror images of each other. Aside from the fact that they both cast spells, the two classes have very distinct advantages to each of them.

Enough out of me for now. Holler atcha later.
-Uma

[DoctorWhofan]

You start out with several character slots. Roll a cleric... and.... Considering your experience, a mage. Sounds to me like you have the twitch factor needed to manage the different hotbars, and I believe the BEST way to learn (in this case) is by doing. Don't multiclass until you get a better "feel" for the class, and have perhaps rolled and run the other class you're planning to splash it with- it's just that easy to totally screw up what you've planned for your character. Ask for advice of people you see making successful characters that have what you want. It's easy to find opinions in any group you join, (opinions being like pootie holes: everyone has one) so be choosy. Write stuff down. There is also a character planner program that I can never ever seem to find but that SOMEone on here will probably be able to provide a link that you can download it from. That takes alot of the guesswork out of it, and avoids dumping time in a toon you may HATE at lvl 7.
I've rolled and played 2 clerics & 2 wizards to level cap, 2 mid-level clerics, and 2 sorcs each to lvl 13. My observations: wizard is more versatile and sorc is better for specialization.
Pros and Cons.
Wiz gets to choose more spells per level and can change them at will in a tavern or after resting at a shrine so long as the spell is in the spellbook (hint: keep the scrolls you find so you can inscribe the ones you don't have, buy the ones you don't have if you can afford it).
Sorc must pay to change a single spell at a time and the wait between changing spells is 3 days.
Wiz is granted metamagics as class feats (I forget at which levels)
Sorc must spend a feat for each metamagic effect.
Wiz will likely have many many more skill points to spend due to being intelligence based for spellcasting.
Sorc is more likely to have better UMD due to being charisma based for spellcasting.
Wiz has slower casting times when unenhanced by metamagics.
Sorc gets up to double extra spell points for power/wizardry/magi items.
Suggestions
-Start with wizard, get a feel for the caster as a class, then roll a sorc after you've got at leave 5 lvls on your wizzie. If you DO roll a sorc- plan it out ahead of time.
-Wizard- max out Int
-Sorceror- max out Cha
-Boost Con, maybe use Str as a dump so you won't be overburdened so easily.
-Find yourself a warforged to keep as a convenient body shield at lower levels, and keep repair wands handy.

I believe that both classes are fun as h.e. double hockeysticks, and that they are SO not just mirror images of each other. Aside from the fact that they both cast spells, the two classes have very distinct advantages to each of them.

Enough out of me for now. Holler atcha later.
-Uma

What he said.

As I am famous (or is that infamous?) for playing clerics, this is my advice for you on that class. Clerics can be the most expensive, but the most requested class in the game. That means you will level fast, if you are good. In the later levels, some really nice offensive spells are lined up. Butthey are wanted for their heals and raise dead abilities.

Recommend a maxed out WISdom, a decent (say 14) CHArisma-clerics have some nice enhancements dealing with CHA and turn undead mora about that later, some STRength and CONstution, but only need a 9 DEXerity (there is a +3 DEX item in Tangleroot quest (level4-6) that will cover your DEX for full plate) and INTelligence isn't needed.

Turn Undead, unless you focus on it, doesn't really work, especuially after the level 7 range. Most clerics use their Turn Undeads for Divine Vitality, Divine Healing, etc. You can find these and more on the enhancement page. Saying that DON'T getthe feat improve turning. But the feat extra turning is ok.

Speaking of feats, if you play a caster, mental toughness feats are almost needed.

Clerics do not have arcane spell failure due to the fact they are divine casters. SO wear that armour and shield!

Don't splash your character until you get a feel for the class.

Playing a cleric as your first character allows you sit in the back, watch the tactics and learn the quest easier. Many of the good clerics on the server are the best group leaders.

There is a list of my alts below, so if you see them online, give a shout! I'll help you any way I can.

[Ringos]

He's a She!

[DoctorWhofan]

He's a She!

Go play the game, Ringos, or better yet, watch those videos!

[reziel_deadshot]

Hi All!

My wife and i are refugees from a very large raiding guild on the Garona server for WOW, and we have taken up residence on this server. We have been members of the same guild for nearly 8 years. (the guild is Dragon Bane) anyway we discovered that most of the folks we started the guild with were not playing as much and that the folks that were playing the most were not upholding the beliefs we started the guild with so we decided to move on without making a bunch of noise. (We hate drama) So! we are looking for a new home! We need a guild likes to have fun and run raids in that order! we are more people oriented but like to make progress in the game as well, We dont care much for guilds that swear a lot in Chat just to prove they know big boy words and absolutely cannot stand the drama a lot of young guilds have. we are older (thirties) and want some folks to have a lot of fun

now swearing? meaning actual curse words? now u mean just swearing at random or not at all? now my guild very efficient, have yet to fail a raid in a year (beat shroud and new raids first time around)

but we do have kinda dirty or sick sense of humors but most of us are 30's+ a lot are mid 40's and have kids, but we are on ghallanda. feel free to look up players in souls of the night on ghallanda,

my characters: hasheam, xenoquin, xenaquin, xenioquin, zenaquin, xenooquin, xenaqin, xenotech, zenoquin, reziel, reziela, mrzergy, mrszergy

[Badsign]

Thanks tons for some really fantastic posts

Have actually rolled a cleric named Omenborn, do i need to reroll him? i only went to 16 wis bc it looked like i could make 20 wis pretty easy. start stats were 14 str and con 16 wis and 10 for the rest. i didnt want any negatives ;-P took toughness and the extra spellpoint feats at level 1 and spent my first enh point on energy of the zealot. he has 44hp and 224 sp at level 2.
He seems to actually work better than the level1 fighter / level 1 cleric hybrid i made on the starter account. but if i need to reroll him with diff stats now would be a great time to know! ;-P. I have looked at the cleric boards but they seem to be amazingly short of suggestions on how to build a cleric and how to play one in a group. do we have to buff the party? 224sp seems to go in a pretty short time if i had to buff people and heal them too, also most of the groups i have seen appear to be like one high level guy dragging 3 - 4 lowbies thru a big dungeon. kinda hard to learn anything there.

Am i on the right track? i know this thread is gettin long but i am reveling in the help!!
Thanks and many luvs
Badsign

[Ringos]

Looks fine to me! 16 base Wis will work just fine, and you have a bit of Str too if you want to melee. As far as buffing goes, people do it differently, but I usually ask if anyone needs any buffs from me when we start. If I know they need a 'cleric buff', Freedom of Movement, Deathward etc, I make sure I throw that, usually without asking. Most in-tune players on a Pali or Ranger will help with elemental resists etc. when they can. I try to save my Sp for healin', crowd control and killin'!

Have fun!

[Ringos]

Go play the game, Ringos, or better yet, watch those videos!

Sorry, floods in my area have my internet spotty. Don't want to DC in a group quest or have a Doctor Who video end mid-stream!

[Badsign]

Thanks Ringos! That actually makes me feel much better.

To clarify the swearing thing some folks seem confused about, i am an ex sailor, so i am sure i have forgotten more foul language than most of you have ever learned, i don't get offended by swearing. i just don't like folks who swear constantly for no apparent reason in regular guild chat where anyones child walking by can see etc... if somethin happens an you haveta let a lil verbal steam off i dont stress, if you whack out on me an start constantly swearin a blue streak, especially directed at someone THEN i get a lil bent. I also have a temper that can strip paint off your car thru your internet connection, so it gets pretty funny sometimes.
Anyway i haven't met anyone i consider offensive in this whole game yet, i am constantly amazed at the kindness and willingness to help everybody has shown, after some of the things you see playing "WoW" it has been a real eye opener what you get when you don't have two hundred 14 - 16 year old wanabee gangbangers logged on trying to pretend they are twentyfive and Uber Leet megagamers.

I have seen nothin but Luv an respect so far, so thats what everyone will get outta me.

Badsign

[JayDubya]

Those are fine stats to start with, IMO.

in terms of play style, there are several. How much mana you spend on buffing is tricky - there are some quests where buffing is critical to success, and others where it doesn't matter much.

However, one thing that is almost always helpful is good crowd control. At first & second level, you have Command, which can be used to knock down enemy casters (generally the most dangerous mobs in a group). Bless is a good buff to give out here. Shield of Faith is nice as well, but expensive - maybe only use this on the melee types with shields.

At third & 4th, you get Soundburst, which is another good CC spell. You also get Aid, which is a nice buff, but can be expensive. You also get a set of stat buffs - bulls strength and bear's endurance, and resist energy. Generally, I will cast resists in preference to Bulls' Strength, but that can be somewhat debateable. Hold Person is a great CC spell, but you have to know what DDO considers to be a "person", which, generally is: humans/elves/dwarves/halflings/kobolds/hobgoblins/orcs/

At 5th and 6th level, you get 3rd level spells, most of which are defensive. Mass Aid and Magic Circle against evil are nice party-wide buffs.

at 7th and 8th, you get 4th level spells. Holy Smite is ok CC. Recitation is a fabulous buff. Freedom of Movement and Deathward are fabulous buffs as well, if you use them at the right times.

At 9th and 10th, you get 5th level spells. Greater Command is an awesome CC spell, I use it all the time. Raise Dead is obviously tremendously valuable. Lastly, Slay Living is useful on enemy casters, if they get close to you.

11th and 12th, you get 6th level spells. Cometfall is great CC. Blade Barrier is decent damage, but you have to use it right. Heal is an excellent spell for keeping the tanks up. Banishment is a great "wipe out a bunch of enemies" as long as those enemies are elementals, outsiders (mephits, hell hounds, demons, devils, etc) or "fiendish X" type monsters.

13th and 14th, you get destruction, which is a great spell to use to instantly kill enemy casters at range. The symbols can be good debuffs here, but they take practice.

As a cleric, you can rejigger your spells in any tavern or at any shrine, which is nice for flexibility. In other words, feel free to experiment with your spell selections.


In terms of overall play style, I generally do the following:

1. Mass Buffs at the beginning of the adventure. Usually extended, assuming the quest is long enough to justify that.
2. If there are some specific resistances or buffs needed for the quest, I'll give those out. If I'm balancing out mana, I'll focus on buffing the tanks first, especially at the lower levels, and I may forego buffing the others.
3. When we fight, I use soundburst/greater command/cometfall to knock the monsters out. That way I don't have to worry about healing quite so much.
4. At lower levels, I get a lot of practice using F1-F6 to target fellow players, and hit them as necessary with healing spells to keep them up. I map Control C and Control X to my most common healing spells, so I don't have to hunt for the icon on my screen.
5. As you get mass cure spells, I target those on the melee types, so I can heal all of them at once in the middle of the fight.
6. If I have the money, I'll buy raise dead scrolls, so I don't have to use mana unless I want to. Scrolls are very nice for spells where you aren't attacking - curing and Heal and Raise dead and (to some degree) buffs.
7. I do spend a fair amount of money on Cure Serious Wound wands (at 7th level) and Heal scrolls (at 9th level), so I can keep a party going when I'm out of mana. Again, the good use of Crowd Control will reduce the need for those expenditures, but it's always nice to have them handy.


Hope this helps. PM me if you have any questions. These are just my techniques, others have different styles which are just as good, if not better than mine.

[Badsign]

Thank you Jaydubya!
I have actually printed that post out!

Anyone else? i love all the advice i can get! this is your chance to imprint on a nooblet the CORRECT way to play a cleric!
I am a wisdom soakin sponge! lay it on me!!

Lol! Thanks

Badsign

[Ringos]

Nice post by JayDub above...I'm way too lazy to go into detail via my 11 WPM on the keyboard.

If you ever want to just jump in some quests and mess around with spells, get feedback etc., feel free to look me up. I've got a new lvl 2 Cleric (Silverwaffle) and other alts from 6 to 16. I'm usually on Lillis these days, but send any of my alts a Tell if you see one online and let me know who you are if you want to run something.

As a side, this server isn't ALL peaches and cream...so don't get discouraged if you run into a few folks that aren't the best. Overall this server is like a family, even though there may be a bit of fightin' amongst the family members, we tend to circle the wagons if someone else threatens (see the race to unlock the new content). The majority of the people here are top-notch and will lend a hand if they can. Use your Friends list and keep a few notes on those you enjoy running with. It will serve you well on many days when you need a hand or you want to get in a group. Your name is big here, as people talk and know of each other's reputation. It can open many doors if you are a good person to have around.

Edit: Just saw the post above. You will probably get conflicting advice on what it takes to be a great Cleric. Those that heal only, those that heal and buff, those that kill, etc. Starting off, the best bet is to focus on healing and keeping folks alive. While doing this, experiment with Command, Hold Person etc. to get the feel for the right time to use those spells. You'll figure out what type of Cleric you want to be. For the most part, if you keep people alive, you are going to be considered a good! I prefer a combo of healing, melee, crowd control and insta-kill in parties. I tailor my style to the group.


Take care!

[MrWizard]

Oookay i have only been on here a few days and have now realized how little i know, i started on the trial and now have DL'd a regular account and am gettin serious, i have played several toons to level 2.5 approx and have realized i would like some advice. What is the general consensus of what would be a good first character to start out with? My three lvl 70 characters in WoW were a heal spec Druid a Rogue and a Mage so i can play heals DPS or support. Would it be best to start with a character i can use to farm with at higher levels and then make a specialized character? or just ramp right on up with the sorcerer i intended? i kind of like the cleric too, but should i spec a level of fighter to start or what? was thinking of playing a level of bard and Then starting some sorc levels too but will that gimp my high end sorc? I am sure you experienced people know what i am asking and i would appreciate any advice!! also is there somewhere else i should be posting these questions? i really love talking to the people i hope to play with more than just searching general opinion.

Thanks and Luvs in advance!!

Badsign

IN any new game there is so much to learn. In my opinion, the first toon you should play is a straight fighter. It is hard to gimp a straight fighter so it will last you (I still have my first fighter from start).
This allows you to learn the mechanics of leveling without nerfing your toon. Teaches you how the UI works in this particular game. And most importantly, allows you to see how the dynamics of party play, caster spells, and cleric usage in detail before building your own.
Seeing how spells operate and which ones you can use to best build your toon is very helpful and leads to a better experience.
I think everyone wants to build a fighting mage when they start. It is not a great build for a new toon as DDO does not quite make that a good build until you are really experienced.

If you want to play and learn, start one of each, a cleric, a fighter, and a wizard (not a sorc). THis way you can hop around at the same level and be a different person/toon with the same group if need be.

You will find many are happy to help. Just let them know when you join a group that you are new, but experienced.

[Uamhas]

No need for that Ringos. In one day I lost my best friend that I met in DDO (long story) and the first guild I had ever joined (not such a long story but unsuitable for public consumption), and I just want to leave the girls that got unguilded as a result where they are- unaffiliated. Thank you, though, sincerely... it makes me feel warm inside that you would make such an offer to me.

Oh really...I'll talk to Vic and see if I can get you in GSI.