Question About AC, Hit Points & My Build.

[Amber-Dawnn]

So I was told at about level 13 that AC on a high level Sorc was useless by many people so I replaced all items giving me AC bonus. I'm now level 18 with 11 AC.

Question Number 1.
Should I have listened to those people and given up on having any AC? (I know it's too late to fix now but I can in the next life.)


My Sorc was the first toon I made being a n00b I wanted a TANK Sorc sooo I maxed out Cha gave myself 16 Str and 2 into Con. Sooo I have 224 HP + 40 From Items + 20 From False Life MAX 284. I will gain 18 total from level 19 and 20.

Question Number 2.
What is a good number of HP a Sorc should have at level 20. Are there any items that would help my HP? (I have a Dusk Heart & Minos)


Question Number 3.
ATM will I be made of total fail in Epic quests? (I only plan to stay level 20 until I can TR I don't care about farming items.)


Stats ATM
Str 22
Dex 9
Con 18
Int 14
Wis 14
Cha 30
HP 264 Unbuffed
SP 2300 (People have even told me my SP is made of fail for being level 18)

[Aranticus]

So I was told at about level 13 that AC on a high level Sorc was useless by many people so I replaced all items giving me AC bonus. I'm now level 18 with 11 AC.

Question Number 1.
Should I have listened to those people and given up on having any AC? (I know it's too late to fix now but I can in the next life.) yes


My Sorc was the first toon I made being a n00b I wanted a TANK Sorc sooo I maxed out Cha gave myself 16 Str and 2 into Con. Sooo I have 224 HP + 40 From Items + 20 From False Life MAX 284. I will gain 18 total from level 19 and 20.

Question Number 2.
What is a good number of HP a Sorc should have at level 20. Are there any items that would help my HP? (I have a Dusk Heart & Minos) u want more than 350 for sure, 400 is a good number thou


Question Number 3.
ATM will I be made of total fail in Epic quests? (I only plan to stay level 20 until I can TR I don't care about farming items.)


Stats ATM
Str 22
Dex 9
Con 18
Int 14
Wis 14
Cha 30
HP 264 Unbuffed
SP 2300 (People have even told me my SP is made of fail for being level 18)

yes your sp should be closer to 3000 by the time you hit L20. you want more cha, yours is looking low

[Gadget2775]

Question Number 1.
Should I have listened to those people and given up on having any AC? (I know it's too late to fix now but I can in the next life.)

Generally speaking you didn't make a mistake. It takes a fair amount of planning/work to make an AC centric toon. It's possible with a lot of work (grinding) to make a successful arcane caster with good AC, not something I'd recommend for a new player. Can't answer your other questions, but if you want details on building casting AC I can provide some information.

[Aranticus]

Generally speaking you didn't make a mistake. It takes a fair amount of planning/work to make an AC centric toon. It's possible with a lot of work (grinding) to make a successful arcane caster with good AC, not something I'd recommend for a new player. Can't answer your other questions, but if you want details on building casting AC I can provide some information.

there must be a certain level of sacrifice other than just grinding

[Snowborne]

Greater False Life Items = 30 hp
+6 Constitution Item = 60 hp
Minos Legens Helm = 20 hp Check
Draconic Vitality from Favor = 10 hp
+2 Constitution Tome = 20 hp
15 starting Constitution + 1 Human Greater Adaptability = 20 hp
3 Levels of Racial Toughness = 30 hp
Base 15 starting Constitution = 140 hp
Toughness Feat = 22 hp

Total = 352 Hit Points

I would also create at least Greensteel item. I know the scales and stones are hard to get, but you can always make a regular greensteel item, not a double. Either would benefit you.

Greensteel 45 hp item (10 + 15 + 20) as well as exceptional skill abilities
Greensteel 300 Spell Point Item (Wizardry VI 150sp + 50 Elemental Spell Points + 100 Elemental Spell Points)
This second one is extra nice for Sorcerers since you can also increase your Charisma Skill Points by 6 with exceptional +1, +2, +3, which adds a lot to UMD scores. Also, the double SP from items makes it 600 extra spell points.

I would make one or the other, not both since it would take a lot of grinding, 20 runs of the shroud, to get a cleansing item so you could wear both items. Instead, if you have 6 scales, use the other three to create a weapon, such as a +9 Charisma weapon (+ 6 Charisma + 1 Exceptional + 2 Exceptional + 3 Exceptional). With 5 level ups, 3 from Enhancements, 9 from items, buying a + 2 tome from AH, and 16 starting stats, you get 35 Charisma. If you go Human, you can boost this to 36 with a level up from race, and by two more if you max out your charisma at start, giving you 38 Charisma.

Each one of these items only costs about 3 large scales, which you can do without too much grinding, especially if you are willing to pay outrageous prices on the AH.

With 38 Charisma, that would be +14 bonus.
14 Ability bonus + 6 Exceptional + 11 Skill Levels + 4 GH + 3 Delera Golden Cartouche + 1 Voice of Master = 39
Roll a 1 and you get 40, which pretty much ensures you can Use Heal Scrolls

[Snowborne]

Side not...you can always get increased Elemental Energy (Spell Points) on Dragontouched Robes, which would allow you to sill get the extra SP and also have the extra Hit Points. Spell Points on the Dragontouched and Hit Points on the Greensteel. This would give you almost 400 Hit Points

[Aranticus]

I would make one or the other, not both since it would take a lot of grinding, 20 runs of the shroud, to get a cleansing item so you could wear both items. Instead, if you have 6 scales, use the other three to create a weapon, such as a +9 Charisma weapon (+ 6 Charisma + 1 Exceptional + 2 Exceptional + 3 Exceptional). With 5 level ups, 3 from Enhancements, 9 from items, buying a + 2 tome from AH, and 16 starting stats, you get 35 Charisma. If you go Human, you can boost this to 36 with a level up from race, and by two more if you max out your charisma at start, giving you 38 Charisma.

or he could grind for tod rings

[Carpone]

Making AC useful past the early levels in DDO requires the best gear in the game. That gear is typically melee-centric, so as a sorcerer you made the right choice.

300hp is ok at level 20, but you can do better. One of the sorcs in my guild only has 312hp and does every epic quest/raid without issue. Strive to craft a 45 hp greensteel accessory. It will help you during your TR starting at level 11.

2300sp at level 18 is fine, considering you're missing 300 SP from a greensteel accessory.

While you're waiting to TR, complete Shroud every three days. It's easy to get enough mats to at least make a tier2 SP or HP item. To wear both an SP and HP greensteel accessory, you'll need to complete 21 Shroud raids and take an Essence of Cleansing as your reward on your 20th.

[Gadget2775]

there must be a certain level of sacrifice other than just grinding

There are, and end AC still won't be as high as an actually AC toon. First big requirement is race. There are only two in the game (at the moment) that can reduce ASF for armor. Means he'd be locked in as an Elf or WF (haven't seen a full list of Half-Elf Enhancements so I don't know if they're viable...). Also requires CE (Dodge as well, if you really want to max it), so at least one feat, 3 build points and a tome (+ depends on how many build points are sacrificed).

I'm sure there are other sacrifices to building for AC on a caster, but the coffee hasn't really kicked in yet.

[richieelias27]

There are, and end AC still won't be as high as an actually AC toon. First big requirement is race. There are only two in the game (at the moment) that can reduce ASF for armor. Means he'd be locked in as an Elf or WF (haven't seen a full list of Half-Elf Enhancements so I don't know if they're viable...). Also requires CE (Dodge as well, if you really want to max it), so at least one feat, 3 build points and a tome (+ depends on how many build points are sacrificed).

I'm sure there are other sacrifices to building for AC on a caster, but the coffee hasn't really kicked in yet.

Except for the fact that anyone building for viable AC wears robes....

[Gadget2775]

Except for the fact that anyone building for viable AC wears robes....

Really? Are you absolutly certain of yourself? The only way to get viable AC is with robes? If you're willing to splash monk robes become more viable, but again are not the only way to get a viable AC in this game.

Per the racial limitation: Think the OP was looking for a pure caster.

[Aranticus]

There are, and end AC still won't be as high as an actually AC toon. First big requirement is race. There are only two in the game (at the moment) that can reduce ASF for armor. Means he'd be locked in as an Elf or WF (haven't seen a full list of Half-Elf Enhancements so I don't know if they're viable...). Also requires CE (Dodge as well, if you really want to max it), so at least one feat, 3 build points and a tome (+ depends on how many build points are sacrificed).

I'm sure there are other sacrifices to building for AC on a caster, but the coffee hasn't really kicked in yet.

One will still have to factor in enhancements, item slots into the overall scheme. Going ac on a sorc for an ac which may or may not be useful is definately going to have a large impact on casting ability

[richieelias27]

Really? Are you absolutly certain of yourself? The only way to get viable AC is with robes? If you're willing to splash monk robes become more viable, but again are not the only way to get a viable AC in this game.

Per the racial limitation: Think the OP was looking for a pure caster.

Even just Dex based without WIS robes are quite simply a better option. Especially for a caster. Saying one is limited entirely to a race with armor enhancements isnt correct.

[Aranticus]

Even just Dex based without WIS robes are quite simply a better option. Especially for a caster. Saying one is limited entirely to a race with armor enhancements isnt correct.

not entirely true either. it depends on what is your break point

a robe based will go for icy
dex + 5 icy + 8 bracers = 13 ac + dex

a armor based may go for kundarak delving suit
max 6 dex + 11 armor + 2 chaosgarde = 13 + max 6 dex

there is a belt which can increase MBD by 2 which means KDS combi will be 13 + max 8 dex. 8 dex translate to 26 dex. a robe is only better than this combination if your dex based caster without wisdom has 28 or better dex. how many casters have this dex?

[richieelias27]

not entirely true either. it depends on what is your break point

a robe based will go for icy
dex + 5 icy + 8 bracers = 13 ac + dex

a armor based may go for kundarak delving suit
max 6 dex + 11 armor + 2 chaosgarde = 13 + max 6 dex

there is a belt which can increase MBD by 2 which means KDS combi will be 13 + max 8 dex. 8 dex translate to 26 dex. a robe is only better than this combination if your dex based caster without wisdom has 28 or better dex. how many casters have this dex?

Probably the silly caster that went all out for AC.

[Gadget2775]

**SNIP** Saying one is limited entirely to a race with armor enhancements isnt correct.

I can give you that one. I tend to get a bit of tunnel vision. AC is totally doable with armor on a caster. 59, unbuffed is where mine stands. (He's a multi, but could still pull the same AC with one item swapped...That being the belt that grants Fighter Armor Mastery 2). Might even be able to push higher with the new version of Elven Arcane Fluidity.

[Aranticus]

Probably the silly caster that went all out for AC.

If not max then why ac?

[Gadget2775]

not entirely true either. it depends on what is your break point

a robe based will go for icy
dex + 5 icy + 8 bracers = 13 ac + dex

a armor based may go for kundarak delving suit
max 6 dex + 11 armor + 2 chaosgarde = 13 + max 6 dex

there is a belt which can increase MBD by 2 which means KDS combi will be 13 + max 8 dex. 8 dex translate to 26 dex. a robe is only better than this combination if your dex based caster without wisdom has 28 or better dex. how many casters have this dex?

I'm actually wearing +5 Twilight Mithral Full Plate...Although the DT Full plate might be possible with the revamped Rune system (not sure if the 5 and 10 ASF ruins stack, and or if they stack with the 5 finger gloves).