Recently reactivated, seeking a bit of advice

[schraer]

So, I haven't played in roughly 2 years, and there has been a -lot- of new things added.

When I started playing last time, I was looking for a class / character that could solo effectively and efficiently, but still be able to easily group and provide great DPS. I went with a Kopesh + Shield paladin, pretty generic for the time, and I enjoyed it.

Is this still the case? I've read a lot and it seems that S+B has been left for the tanks, which makes me kinda sad but makes sense.

Basically, just curious if Paladin w/ Kopesh + shield is still a good, efficient character to start building up favor and if it can keep up later on in the game, while still soloing effectively, or if I should go something like a TWF paladin that can use a shield if needed?

Thanks for the advice!

[Junts]

My paladin is thus, however, it is a pretty hardcore tanking paladin, and such equipment is harder to acquire than some, it is, however, an excellent soloist. With new-player resources, an ac build is not usually the best path, especially on a paladin, who are very demanding w/o 32 point builds.

paladins benefit more than most classes from 32s, since they need to be good at basically every statistic but wisdom to be an ac build, and everything but wis/int to be a twf dps build.

[schraer]

Sure you here this all the time, but what would you recommend for a new person starting from nothing?

[Hobgoblin]

15 ranger/1 monk

[Fallout]

Take a look at the Paladin capstone, and the prestige classes, see if there's one you like. The defender line might require more dex then say the undead line if you're str based. If you stay pure, then you get added good damage to weapons.

One good thing is that you're building now, and can see whats out there. Verses people who build their pally's early, and didn't know the prestige classes.

[Junts]

Sure you here this all the time, but what would you recommend for a new person starting from nothing?

arcane casters, barbarians (to an extent), dps rangers and bards are the cheapest characters to play in ddo.

clerics and bards are the best way to get groups when you dont know some people already

dps paladin would work pretty well though, however, with a bard/cle/arcane,. you are most likely to get a character least-impacted by being 28 instead of 32: if you don't care about your 28 point toon, make whatever. If you intend to make several, pick the one closest to those for your 28, and work on the others after

I wanted to make a paladin at start and was persuaded by a friend who played alrady to make a 28 pt cleric and make my paladin as a 32: i amvery thankful for that advice.

[schraer]

I have no real desire to play a caster, really don't want to play a caster until I know more about the game. I'm coming from a healing background in every other mmo I've played, so cleric doesn't interest me either.

I think I'm gonna go with a 28pt ranger, and then go to a 32pt paladin when I get that open.

Thanks for all the advice

Also, can someone tell me why people always seem to splash one monk in their ranger builds?

[Falchion123]

Just make sure your alignment is lawful if u decide to splash monk.

[Junts]

I have no real desire to play a caster, really don't want to play a caster until I know more about the game. I'm coming from a healing background in every other mmo I've played, so cleric doesn't interest me either.

I think I'm gonna go with a 28pt ranger, and then go to a 32pt paladin when I get that open.

Thanks for all the advice

Also, can someone tell me why people always seem to splash one monk in their ranger builds?

because it basically equates to free armor class; monks get their wisdom modifier as a bonus to ac if not using any armor (just robes) or a shield

since ranger abilities already require at least light armor and there are some ******** ac robes in the game (for monks, in concept), and wis is already a stat rangers take some of (to cast their spells), those builds are gaining 1 feat + 4-6 free armor class for their splash, and rangers tend to be rather feat-starved (the tempest enhacnement line is feat-intensive).

the most common setup is 1 monk for the ac/feat and 1 rogue for umd, since rangers already get evasion naturally they dont need to take 2 of either, letting them get to 18 ranger levels for the level 3 prestige classes (prestige classes have lv 6, 12 and 18 requirements, so no more than 2 splash elvels to get the 3rd tier).

they are very, very powerful, though so much so so easily that it seems likely some sort of rebalancing will eventually afflict them.

[schraer]

because it basically equates to free armor class; monks get their wisdom modifier as a bonus to ac if not using any armor (just robes) or a shield

since ranger abilities already require at least light armor and there are some ******** ac robes in the game (for monks, in concept), and wis is already a stat rangers take some of (to cast their spells), those builds are gaining 1 feat + 4-6 free armor class for their splash, and rangers tend to be rather feat-starved (the tempest enhacnement line is feat-intensive).

the most common setup is 1 monk for the ac/feat and 1 rogue for umd, since rangers already get evasion naturally they dont need to take 2 of either, letting them get to 18 ranger levels for the level 3 prestige classes (prestige classes have lv 6, 12 and 18 requirements, so no more than 2 splash elvels to get the 3rd tier).

they are very, very powerful, though so much so so easily that it seems likely some sort of rebalancing will eventually afflict them.

Ah, gotcha. Thanks

[mediocresurgeon]

IMO, the two best solo builds are ranger/monk/rogue builds and sorcerers.

Ranger14/monk1/rogue1 can disable any trap, pick any lock, have top AC, benefits from W/P rapiers, and can still do decent DPS (even if they are finesse builds). They also have a decent chance to hit the DC for Heal scrolls.

Sorcerers can self-buff many of the best defensive buffs in the game, and with current gear and gameplay, never ever run out of mana. Charisma as a primary stat means they can easily hit the DC for a Heal scroll, even without having the benefit of maximum ranks in UMD. For soloing low-level content, flash-damage spells (like Ball Lighting) mean the enemy dies before they are within range to hurt you, and at high levels Flesh to Stone/Finger of Death means you can easily pick off enemies one by one. Knock can easily open most locked doors and chests.

A sorcerer is probably easier for a returning player to level and get gear for, but ranger/monk/rogue builds have a much greater potential, if geared properly (they tend to be tempermental without their "required" gear).

[schraer]

I looked at a 14/1/1 build but thought it's not exactly suited to a 28pt with 0 tomes. I'm not only looking to solo either, just like having the option.

[Uska]

paladin is still good but get drow if you cant get 32pt build the new enhancment classes are pretty good for paladin, the capstone is pretty sweet. What server are you on? if its the right one I might be able to help you slightly, also post on that servers fourm and tell people you have come back, on most any server people will be willing to help you out.


oh yeah welcome back

[Junts]

I looked at a 14/1/1 build but thought it's not exactly suited to a 28pt with 0 tomes. I'm not only looking to solo either, just like having the option.

i advise a dps ranger w/ a rogue level for umd (youll grow into the umd, but take it .. trust me)

being any ac-centric build as a new player is extremely hard.

[schraer]

i advise a dps ranger w/ a rogue level for umd (youll grow into the umd, but take it .. trust me)

being any ac-centric build as a new player is extremely hard.

I started a Ranger based on this build: http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p...5&postcount=52, but made Cha 10 and Dex 17.

I am leveling UMD though, I figure wands are always cheaper than potions and if I keep it up every level and take skill focus umd somewhere in there it'll make up for not taking rogue.

Thanks for all the help, now to go through the new and improved tutorials

Shavi on Thelanis, if any of you wanna talk or something