Character Stats 101

[FordyTwo]

In my ongoing effort to gather and present information for newer DDO players with lingering questions, the Character Stat 101 guide has been published today.

Constructive feedback and criticism is encouraged! I'd love to hear feedback from you (the community!) on information that's potentially missing from this guide, or that you feel could be presented in a better manner.

[GoldyGopher]

In my ongoing effort to gather and present information for newer DDO players with lingering questions, the Character Stat 101 guide has been published today.

Constructive feedback and criticism is encouraged! I'd love to hear feedback from you (the community!) on information that's potentially missing from this guide, or that you feel could be presented in a better manner.

How and where would you like our feedback?

For Example you write:

In DDO, your Base Attack Bonus (BAB) is a small number with big consequences. BAB determines your ability to hit enemies with both melee and ranged weapons; the higher your BAB, the better your combat accuracy!

You have forgotten to mention the most important factor of BAB, it sets the speed (number of attacks) at which a character fights at. The difference in 1 point of BAB can be as much as a loss of 3% attack speed.
While other factors can modify your attack bonus only one spell (clickie) can increase your BAB and there there is some debate at how well it works.

[Trample]

can you please add: "CON IS NEVER A DUMP STAT" ?

[vrobel]

can you please add: "CON IS NEVER A DUMP STAT" ?

this is something many new players dont know

[karl_k0ch]

can you please add: "CON IS NEVER A DUMP STAT" ?

Wait, that's not inside, despite the fact that about 50% of the posts in the "which advice was most important to you as a newb" thread were emphasizing this?

So here comes my constructive feedback:
Problem: The guide is missing the "Con is never a dump stat" line.
Solution: Insert "Con is never a dump stat". Thrice or so.

[Quarterling]

can you please add: "CON IS NEVER A DUMP STAT" ?

Okay, I won't dump any points into that ability.

[Zenako]

Expand the intro to the brief saves discussion at the end to indicate when and why that matters.

When a monster casts a spell at you, in order to resist those effects (or reduce the effects) you need to save. Each spell has type of save associated with it. For example a Fireball (an well known fantasy spell) has a Reflex save to indicate if you avoid the direct hit of the spell. A spell that would hold you still (Hold Person) is a WILL save to resist.

Saves also come into play when avoiding things like traps.

[Zenako]

Could also mention in the skills and feats text, that some character classes get bonus feats they can take at certain levels over and above the ones listed above. For details look into the class info.

[FordyTwo]

Expand the intro to the brief saves discussion at the end to indicate when and why that matters.

When a monster casts a spell at you, in order to resist those effects (or reduce the effects) you need to save. Each spell has type of save associated with it. For example a Fireball (an well known fantasy spell) has a Reflex save to indicate if you avoid the direct hit of the spell. A spell that would hold you still (Hold Person) is a WILL save to resist.

Saves also come into play when avoiding things like traps.

Great suggestion! I've updated the entry and given you a thumbs-up, good sir.

[FordyTwo]

can you please add: "CON IS NEVER A DUMP STAT" ?

After some discussion with Tolero, we both agreed this was a good point! So I've added "Keeping this Ability Score no lower than 10 is highly encouraged, even if you're making a character who isn't a melee style." to the entry concerning CON.

[Trample]

After some discussion with Tolero, we both agreed this was a good point! So I've added "Keeping this Ability Score no lower than 10 is highly encouraged, even if you're making a character who isn't a melee style." to the entry concerning CON.

+1 to you, and you will get another one if you can also add it to the character creation screen.

[dkyle]

Some nit picks:

Tip! Skills are improved by spending skill points; feats are improved by learning their corresponding II, III and IV variations. Both skills and feats can be improved via enhancements!

This is wrong, or misleading. Feats don't have II, III, IV variations, Enhancements do. Some feats have "Improved" or "Greater" versions, but those are separate feats, not improvements of feats.

Tip! Enhancements are different than ability scores, skills, and feats; enhancements are never permanent choices. You may reset your chosen enhancements for free once a week has passed.

It's not free, it costs a small amount of plat (could be significant for the intended audience of this), and I'm pretty sure the timer is 3 days, not a week. But I might be confusing it with feat and spell respecs.

And a suggestion:

Tip! Some class abilities and feats require you to have a “minimum” amount of a particular Ability Score. Keep that in mind when picking your ability increases!

Something about how Tomes apply to those prereqs, but not Enhancements or items could be good. This is often a source of confusion.

[karl_k0ch]

Thanks for the quick replies to the Con issue.

I largely agree with GoldyGopher's post.

Especially, suggestion 3. I wanted to use the nice picture as a navigation tool, too, and was disappointed when I was directed to the image's wiki page.

I want to emphasize that the option to cross-link to other pages, in order to explain things in depth, or to provide supplemental information should be used - this is one thing what makes wikis so powerful.

[Lifeblood]

After some discussion with Tolero, we both agreed this was a good point! So I've added "Keeping this Ability Score no lower than 10 is highly encouraged, even if you're making a character who isn't a melee style." to the entry concerning CON.

if your con is only a base 10 ...you have dumped it

on the other hand ...at least your trying to do the right thing

[bryanmeerkat]

if your con is only a base 10 ...you have dumped it

on the other hand ...at least your trying to do the right thing

Yeah 10 is dumping con and many new people reading this may take that as meaning put my con to 10 , think that is worse than not mentioning it at all .

Put at minimum 6 build points into con is the rule I like best

[Lorien_the_First_One]

After some discussion with Tolero, we both agreed this was a good point! So I've added "Keeping this Ability Score no lower than 10 is highly encouraged, even if you're making a character who isn't a melee style." to the entry concerning CON.

Did you mean to say 14?

Because if you look at the threads in the last couple days you will realize 10con gets people auto-declined from groups thanks to myddo.

[TheDjinnFor]

Did you mean to say 14?

Because if you look at the threads in the last couple days you will realize 10con gets people auto-declined from groups thanks to myddo.

rofl

[Thucydides04]

Did you mean to say 14?

Because if you look at the threads in the last couple days you will realize 10con gets people auto-declined from groups thanks to myddo.

LOL, who is declining people because they have con lower than 14? If you are, you obviously lack the ability to get things done.

Con < 10 can be problematic for certain classes, however well played toons are fine without putting ten build points into con. Furthermore, spending more than 6 build points on a 28 point toon for a newb is highly inadvisable. I usually only do 4-6 build points into con. Seriously, the HP issue is because people do not wear con/GFL/toughness items, or craft GS HP items.

Advice to newbs: Make your GS ITEM first, your weapon 2nd. Metalline of PG is fine, but having less than 400 hp is problematic. It does not take much work to get 400+hp on even arcanes.

To the OP: I would put that con is not the only way to boost your HPs. There are 30+20+25(45)= 75(95) easy HPs out there to help boost totals.

[PNellesen]

After some discussion with Tolero, we both agreed this was a good point! So I've added "Keeping this Ability Score no lower than 14 is highly encouraged, even if you're making a character who isn't a melee style." to the entry concerning CON.

Fixed that for you