Downloaded the game, read the forums, built my first toon. Im now level 10 and doing pretty good, thanks in no small part to great advice from Sirgog (both about clerics, and as well smart advice on which adventuring packs to plonk my favor points down on).. thanks man.
I went with melee capable, with slight deviations considering its my first toon and i have no resources, and am planning on at some point doing a reroll/greater reincarnation anyhow.
28 pt built
Dwarf
Cleric 9/Fighter 1
stats after racial bonuses:
16 str now at 21
16 con now at 22
8 dex now at 11
10 int (1 rank in tumble, concentration maxed, rest bumps up balance)
16 wis now at 20
6 cha
Ive got the con and wis enhancements, and was lucky to eat a +1 con tome from tear on hard. Got axe dam1, axe hit2, the two SP boosters at 3, save booster at 2, cleric life magic 3, wand mastery 2 (going for 3).. basically what Sirgog wrote down as it made the most sense. Also fighter toughness 1 and dwarf toughness 2.
Feats: Toughness, Extend Spell (switching it out later, so far its very useful), Mental Toughness (switching out soon now that I have some SP to play with), Power Attack (fighter bonus), and the meta magic for 50% boost to healing spells.. oops looks like it will be a while before that becomes useful, i was in a hurry that day =P
Been pumping str each 4 lvls, tho I doubt I will take the second lvl of fighter. Will wait till 17th lvl of cleric at least before I decide.
At 10th lvl im over 600 sp (650 with my noob items), and just under 200 hps. Ive got some +3 stat items from tangleroot, that 5% xp trinket, AC 32 unbuffed and moderate fort, tho I realize that I will soon have to drop my shield and go two handed in a few levels.. apparently. Sucks. I like the shield slot, Ive got stability on it now. By the time I hit 11th, I will have a minos legens helm ready, for heavy fortification survivability. I got underwater action item, perm ff boots with jump, exp retreat clicky, and a few other useful clickies (visor of the fleshrenders etc), and a growing weapons collection, +2 acid dwarven axe of righteousness for dps, +4 adamantium heavy mace for skelly and claygolem beat downs, +2 ghost touch of backstabbing for.. ghosts, +2 metaline axe for when i need silver or whatnot. Its not great, but what I can find on the AH and brokers.
Right now Im just kinda trying to level, (its finally getting harder) and trying to find some decent players who know what they are doing. Getting real tired of idiots and SP sponges in PUGs, tho i would say ive been pretty lucky so far and made a few good friends. I bought gianthold and Vale of Twilight, so I got something to look forward to in later levels, and have 1200 more TP to throw at someething else, looking at the different raid zones atm.
Anyhow if theres any more tidbits of advice for mid/high lvl play for my build, would love to hear it tho i do read the forums a lot. Otherwise, if you need a capable frontline healer in your group, gimme a shout! =D Grumni Grimmskaeg, Orion Server.