Am I the fish that swallowed the bait ?

[Veljko]

I just started this game and wanted to play a drow wizard so I dished out some dough for some points and bought the drow race. The problem is that now my main game screen says 4 characters max instead of 2, and premium account where it said free account before. What I want to be sure of is this - am I still an unattached free citizen or did I get suckered into automatically signing up for some periodic subscription which will take money from my card periodically, and if so how do I cancel it ? I apologize in advance if I'm just being overly suspicious.

[Victorie]

Congrats! You've been upgraded to Premium.

Premium is a free (no subscription) status that we give to any player who buys points (or has previously subscribed). For more information on the perks included with Premium access, please visit http://www.ddo.com/vip.

If you had agreed to pay a subscription fee you'd be VIP. We do require that the player agree to that upgrade and select a billing plan.

[BangsLiekWhoa]

You will not be charged again. This is simply an upgrade. When you spend RL money in the Turbine store the first time, your account is upgraded to "Premium" status. http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Account_Types

[Veljko]

Thanks for the quick response guys.

[Veljko]

I got another question and I could really use a quick response. Along with the drow I bought the ability to create 4. level characters instantly (to catch up with some of my friends who've been playing for a while) but I don't see how I'm supposed to use it. I went through the usual character creation process but didn't get an option to make that character a higher level character, it just turned out a level 1 character. Am I supposed to begin the game and pass through the introductory part and then I get 3 more levels instantly or what ? And what about enhancements, I read you have to find a trainer and pay them to get the enhancements ? Where can I find them and can any of them give me any enhancement I want or do I have to search around for the right one (I want the enhancements for intelligence, spell points and bonus damage to fire and cold) ?
While we're at it, what's the point of spell points if wizards have a limited number of spells per day anyway (at least in D&D) ?
And are spell ingredients required for a lot of spells or what (in which case I'm going to be using that no ingredient feat a lot) ? In P&P D&D we didn't use spell ingredients and I'd really hate to be constantly hunting for some weeds...

P.S.
Sorry I went offtopic (for this forum section) and question-crazy, but I really need the answer to the first quickly and badly, the rest I'll eventually figure out.

[flynnjsw]

I got another question and I could really use a quick response. Along with the drow I bought the ability to create 4. level characters instantly (to catch up with some of my friends who've been playing for a while) but I don't see how I'm supposed to use it. I went through the usual character creation process but didn't get an option to make that a character a higher level character, it just turned out a level 1 character. Am I supposed to begin the game and pass through the introductory part and then I get 3 more levels instantly or what ? And what about enhancements, I read you have to find a trainer and pay them to get the enhancements ? Where can I find them and can any of them give me any enhancement I want or do I have to search around for the right one (I want the enhancements for intelligence, spell points and bonus damage to fire and cold) ?
While we're at it, what's the point of spell points if wizards have a limited number of spells per day anyway (at least in D&D) ?

The 1 thing I am not sure is if you have to talk to Nyx in the Harbor (by the Harbormasters house) to activate your bought veteren status. Click play on the character, and it will either start you on a beach (which means you will have to talk to Nyx) or you will start on an Airship (which means you will level to 4th).

There are trainers that give you your enhancements. You do not have to pay for them, unless you decide to reset them. It will only give you the enhancements for your class and race. As far as SP, it is supposed to represent your spells per day, which is why Sorcs and FvS have more than Wizards and Clerics.

[Phidius]

I got another question and I could really use a quick response. Along with the drow I bought the ability to create 4. level characters instantly (to catch up with some of my friends who've been playing for a while) but I don't see how I'm supposed to use it. I went through the usual character creation process but didn't get an option to make that a character a higher level character, it just turned out a level 1 character. Am I supposed to begin the game and pass through the introductory part and then I get 3 more levels instantly or what ?...

When you have Veteran status (the ability to create toons at level 4), you simply create a build like normal. Once you log onto that character, you start off on an airship, and talk to various people on the boat to advance to level 4 (at the front of the boat is someone who gives you the XP and choices of classes).

... And what about enhancements, I read you have to find a trainer and pay them to get the enhancements ? Where can I find them and can any of them give me any enhancement I want or do I have to search around for the right one (I want the enhancements for intelligence, spell points and bonus damage to fire and cold) ?...

The person on the boat that allows you to advance to level 4 will also give you the option to spend your enhancement points (4 per level). Once you leave the boat, all you have to do is open your map (Press "M") and locate a trainer of any of the classes in your build. Talk to that trainer, and you will get choices to

1. Spend Action Points
2. Reset your Enhancements (clear out your enhancements which allows you to spend them all over again).

...
While we're at it, what's the point of spell points if wizards have a limited number of spells per day anyway (at least in D&D) ?

Spell points are granted based on class levels and primary casting stats, and augmented with items.

The DDO Wiki describes it very well here

Edit after re-reading your question

The point of "Spell Points" is to limit the number of spells you can cast per "day". These spell points primarily regenerate when resting at a shrine (all at once), or slowly regenerate in a public area.

You can also replenish your spell points with potions (use and lose) and rare items (Torc of Prince Rayum de Ill in the Desert, or Concordant Opposition crafted in the Shroud - Vale of Twilight, etc...).

DDO's implementation allows greater flexibility - rather than choose the number of each spell that you will cast when you rest, you choose which spell you will cast at the time you need it. In a nutshell, the difference between a Wizard and Sorceror is that Sorceror's get more spell points (more casting) but fewer spell slots and the inability to switch them out easily (sorcs can switch one spell every 3 days at a trainer)

[BangsLiekWhoa]

I got another question and I could really use a quick response. Along with the drow I bought the ability to create 4. level characters instantly (to catch up with some of my friends who've been playing for a while) but I don't see how I'm supposed to use it. I went through the usual character creation process but didn't get an option to make that character a higher level character, it just turned out a level 1 character. Am I supposed to begin the game and pass through the introductory part and then I get 3 more levels instantly or what ?It should start you on an airship. Talk the the person with the icon over their head to level.
And what about enhancements, I read you have to find a trainer and pay them to get the enhancements ?Yes, you need to find a trainer. You only have to pay to reset enhancements if you decide to change them later.
Where can I find them and can any of them give me any enhancement I want or do I have to search around for the right one (I want the enhancements for intelligence, spell points and bonus damage to fire and cold) ?All your enhancements will be at your class trainer.
While we're at it, what's the point of spell points if wizards have a limited number of spells per day anyway (at least in D&D) ?It is spells prepared, not cast, per day.
And are spell ingredients required for a lot of spells or what (in which case I'm going to be using that no ingredient feat a lot) ?Spell components are available at vendors. Just buy big stacks of the components for each level spell.
In P&P D&D we didn't use spell ingredients and I'd really hate to be constantly hunting for some weeds...

P.S.
Sorry I went offtopic (for this forum section) and question-crazy, but I really need the answer to the first quickly and badly, the rest I'll eventually figure out.

Answers in cyan.

[Veljko]

Thanks again.
Now if I automatically start from the airship after I've bought this veteran status, is there any way I can start from the beach just to see it, maybe on another server / world ?
I mean this is my first time with the game and as I understand the beginning is some kind of walktrough / tutorial and I might not want to skip it. Not unless the airship is an equivalent tutorial.
And as for the spell points, I'm still not clear.
As a level 1 wizard I get 6 known spells and 3 spell slots to memorize spells. Now in D&D that would mean I can cast exactly 3 specific spells per day and when those exact spells are used I'm done. Here these spells cost around 10 spell points and I have more then 150 spell points. Does that mean I can cast any of those 3 memorized spells until I run out of spell points, like 15 times ?

EDIT:
After reading your responses which you wrote while I was reading this, I get the situation is like this - in D&D you have N spells known and M<N spells prepared per day, and M spells are single use only, while in DDO you can use those M spells O number of times per day in any combination, where O is determined by spell points and much larger then M (and therefore more spellcasting then in D&D) and for wizards M is larger then for sorcerers. That still leaves wizards with little adaptability at low levels (if you have only 3 spells to use, they're going to be offensive / defensive spells, and the utility spells are wasted). I hate all the restrictions wizards have in D&D in comparison to clerics and druids, I've always thought they're too harsh.

[Phidius]

Thanks again.
Now if I automatically start from the airship after I've bought this veteran status, is there any way I can start from the beach just to see it, maybe on another server / world ?
I mean this is my first time with the game and as I understand the beginning is some kind of walktrough / tutorial and I might not want to skip it. Not unless the airship is an equivalent tutorial.
And as for the spell points, I'm still not clear.
...

It's been a while since I created a brand-new character with Veteran Status, but I seem to recall getting a choice.

...
As a level 1 wizard I get 6 known spells and 3 spell slots to memorize spells. Now in D&D that would mean I can cast exactly 3 specific spells per day and when those exact spells are used I'm done. Here these spells cost around 10 spell points and I have more then 150 spell points. Does that mean I can cast any of those 3 memorized spells until I run out of spell points, like 15 times ?

Correct. Wizards can also find scrolls of spells that they don't know, and inscribe them so that they can choose from any arcane spell at a shrine.

[Veljko]

It's been a while since I created a brand-new character with Veteran Status, but I seem to recall getting a choice.

Well I just tried and I wasn't given a choice. It was strait to the ship. Oh well, I'll get the hang of it soon, but I still wish I tried the tutorial. Does this mean I can't make any level 1 characters anymore ? That shouldn't be so. Maybe there's some dialog choice to be made or something on this ship which will determine if I go to the beach as a level 1 character or to the main world as a level 4 character. I'll look around...
Anyway, I've got a more serious problem. My graphics card handles the graphic with no problem even at ultra-high (40+ fps) but I get pauses of about 1-3 seconds every once in a while due to the connection it seems (my net connection is 5Mbps DSL, and my comp to router connection is 54Mbps WLAN with a solid signal strength), what's going on ? If it gets like this ingame while I'm in a fight, I'm a dead duck !

EDIT :
I did a little testing, it seems it is the graphics, my graphics card may be pretty new and strong, but my processor is almost 7 years old I think, and when I turn down the graphics way low the pauses mostly disappear. Too bad I have to look at ugly graphics even though I have a great card (the reason I have such an old processor and a new graphics card is because the latter keeps dying on me, this is the fourth one in as many years).

EDIT :
Yup, like I thought, a dialog choice lets you decide the ship is a dream and it's off to the beach.

[PNellesen]

I rolled a Vet character maybe 2-3 weeks ago, and I "thought" that if you choose vet status on the ship, you still get transported to the island like a level 1. It's after you finish that first intro-quest that you get to choose your level 4 gear. You still start on Korthos, and can do all the quests, but you're able to go to the Harbor if you want to.

My memory could be wrong, though

[Enfira]

It has been awhile since I wanted to start as level 1. However, as I recall you can talk to one of the characters on the airship who gives you an option to start in korthos instead. But I don't believe you can do this if you level the character up first.

[flynnjsw]

If you want to start as level 1, when you first talk to the NPC that levels you up in the original dialogue there is an option "I think I am dreaming" or something like that, and you go to the beach as a 1st level character.