My damage seems abysmal so far - will it stay like this?

[Brinzy]

Hello, new to the game. Highest level is 7 on a cleric and a warchanter. Well, I know I am a low level, but my two friends I play with are a fighter and a barbarian, and both of them seem to do WAY more damage than I do. I did expect a damage gap, but I feel kinda useless at these levels.

I recently ran the first part of Delera's on my warchanter with a cleric hireling, and said cleric had more killing blows and generally did a lot more damage than me. Now, having a cleric myself, I expected the cleric to do fine in an undead dungeon, but without my cleric doing anything, it would take me 35-45 minutes to clear the first part of Delera's because I spend so much time missing targets and then lightly tapping them, to use a bit of hyperbole.

Here is my character sheet for basic info: http://my.ddo.com/character/sarlona/jeorgio

Normally I use two +4 Scimitars. I was saving my plat for +2 tomes later on.

Current enhancements are

Fighter: Haste Boost I, Fighter Toughness I
Rogue: Sneak Attack Training I
Bard: Extra Song I, Inspired Attack I, Inspired Bravery I, Inspired Damage I, Lingering Song I, Song Magic I, Energy of Music I, Charisma I, Wand and Scroll Mastery I
Human: Adaptability Strength I, Improved Recovery I, Versatility I

I have three unused enhancement points.

Feats are Toughness, Force of Personality, Two Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons, and Power Attack (human w/ Fighter level)

Spells are Focusing Chant, Expeditious Retreat, Sonic Blast (woohoo experimenting!), Heroism, and Rage




Bottom line, is it normal for me to feel like my damage is significantly lower than the classic melee classes in the low levels? If so, when should I expect it to improve? If not, what am I blatantly doing wrong? I am open to suggestions.

[Aurora1979]

Im not great for build advice, but i am here atm so until someone better comes along......

You say you use 2x scimis, but have no oversized 2 weapon fighting. This could be the start of your problems for getting so many misses.

It doesnt look like you have done much wrong from what I can see.

Dex maybe a point or so too high.... not really a bad thing but.... what strength did you start with? and where did you +1 to stat at level 4 go?

Something you need to remember with a bard, your DPS is lower then quite a few classes, but you also get to lay claim to a little bit of every other melees dps too if your buffing them.

To help at lower levels its better (if you can fund it) to try and keep a wide selection of weapons each giving the best chance to hit. So holys for your undead, eles banes for eles..... etc...

The extra bit really helps. You are probably talking about +3-4 to hit will make a big differance.

ill have another nosey and see if anything pops out at me. It doesnt look like anything MAJOR is wrong to me though.

Oh yea... forgot to say, for an easy +1 to hit check out the goggles from korthos, the starter ones. If you, or someone you know, is high enough level to craft them you could also use the cannith crafting for a +2 battle skill. Wont stack with the korthos goggles fyi.

[Forzah]

I'd probably swap to a two handed weapon for a while, until I get some more TWF feats and more solid to-hit. Maybe even turn PA off (hitting 20% more can outweigh the damage from PA).

[Kmnh]

You are using some seriously bad gear, it will get better.

As a bard, with all your buffs going, you do more damage than an unbuffed barbarian or fighter. But your buffs help the whole party, so they will usually be ahead of you.

[Pingshot]

until you recieve Greater TWF (or Improved TWF at least) no point to use two weapons fighting style. you have x1 STR bonus to damage on main hand and x0.5 STR bonus to damage on offhand, while offhand procs at ~40% swings IIRC (aside of significant to-hit penalty).
use twohander on lowlevel, it will give you x1.5 STR bonus to damage each hit.
I see you have voice of the Master. So, run Delera couple more times and farm Carnifex from endreward (+2 greataxe, keen, 17-20x3 crit profile)

[Kmnh]

On a bard, twf makes sense. If he is a warchanter, with a song going, he will do more damage with two weapons than with a two-hander. Using a falchion would be right on a barbarian or fighter.

[Pingshot]

On a bard, twf makes sense. If he is a warchanter, with a song going, he will do more damage with two weapons than with a two-hander. Using a falchion would be right on a barbarian or fighter.

with only basic TWF feat and 2 oversized weapons he have... -6/-6 penalty, IIRC, and his offhand damage (0.5STR+40% procs) is negligeable

[wax_on_wax_off]

Generally speaking I would want to be hitting 95% of the time before I switched to TWF'ing or turn power attack on and if I started missing I'd switch back.

Make sure that you have appropriate weapons as well. Bludgeoning weapons for skeletons, slashing weapons for zombies and good weapons for ghostly skeletons.

Finally, you can try short term buffs. Focusing chant (+1), heroism/good hope (+2), guild augment slotted weapon with accurancy (+1-4), high + weapon (which you have), attack dummy on training ship (+2), +2 strength ship buff (+1), kobold ship guy (+1), rage spell/clicky (+1), bull strength potion/spell/wand (+2), korthos goggles (+1) or cannith crafted goggles of battle skill (+2), angers wrath/pathfinder korthos set (+2), abishai set (+0.5) and ... I can't think of any more. Probably more around but not sure what.

Anyway, there's up to +18 attack mod there before you consider the enhancement on your weapon. Obviously you only need some of these but if you're missing a lot then you can see what more you can get to help.

[Brinzy]

Whoa, ok, I learned a lot of info, and now for some replying:

@Aurora1979, I made the character a while ago, but I am 95% sure I put my point into Strength and started 16. I believe I used a +1 tome to Dex as well, to have 17 w/o items for later TWF feats. I had considered oversized TWF in the past, and I completely forgot about it - maybe that would be a big help.

I will head to Korthos to get those goggles.

@rest, I am glad I kept that Carnifex around from a pally I no longer play, so I will borrow that for now then and see how it works out. My gear is pretty awful, I agree.

I have no idea what to expect in later levels and instances, so I will go do all of these things before trying the next part again. I'll report how much it helped me.

EDIT: Missed the above post while replying - so, I take it that it'd be a great idea to start unlocking things for buffs then. I am still somewhat unfamiliar with DD rules... to have 95% hit, I would need what value to my attack rolls? 20? Sorry if that sounds weird, I haven't played in a little while.

EDIT 2: Found the +2 goggles for an affordable price, so I went on and got them.

[Pingshot]

something about what similiar level 7 THF horc fighter with Carnifex can have:
STR: 20 base + 1 lvlup + 2 fighter + 1 horc + 4 item + 2 shipbuff = 30 (+10 mod)
DMG:
6.5 (base)
+2 (weapon)
+15 (Str mod x1.5)
+10 (PA x2 on twohanders)
+2 (horc PA enchancement)
+4 (horc TH melee enchancements)
+1 (Kensei I)
+2 (Weapon specialization)
+2 (Claw set)
=average 44.5 per swing (20% chance to 139.5 damage (seeker +2 as kensei I))
not bad, huh?

[kaleid0star]

As a bard its very difficult to reach the damage output of pure melee classes but you can get close with the right gear which (looking at your current gear and the fact that you are new) you are lacking.

Like what everyone else has already mentioned you're going to need more essential feats before you start dishing out damage with your chosen weapons.

I commend you for finding the forums while you are still new, there's a lot of knowledge here, you just have to know where to look (^_^)

[Jiirix]

I dont play on Sarlona, but perhaps someone can give or craft you:
Belt or Ring of CON+4
Gloves of DEX+4
Bracers of DEX+4
Belt or Ring of False Life

You can deconstruct the trash items you find into essences in house k. and find someone that trades you some good stuff for it or makes you some shards.

Your +5 and +3 ring of performing dont stack

Have fun, Jiirix

[Pingshot]

something about what similiar level 7 THF horc fighter with Carnifex can have:
STR: 20 base + 1 lvlup + 2 fighter + 1 horc + 4 item + 2 shipbuff = 30 (+10 mod)
DMG:
6.5 (base)
+2 (weapon)
+15 (Str mod x1.5)
+10 (PA x2 on twohanders)
+2 (horc PA enchancement)
+4 (horc TH melee enchancements)
+1 (Kensei I)
+2 (Weapon specialization)
+2 (Claw set)
=average 44.5 per swing (20% chance to 139.5 damage (seeker +2 as kensei I))
not bad, huh?

what ANY THF horc can have at lvl 7:
STR: 20 base + 1 lvlup + 1 horc + 4 item + 2 shipbuff = 28 (+9 mod)
DMG:
6.5 (base)
+2 (weapon)
+13.5 (Str mod x1.5)
+10 (PA x2 on twohanders)
+2 (horc PA enchancement)
+4 (horc TH melee enchancements)
+2 (Claw set)
=average 40 per swing (20% chance to 120)
still not bad)

[Galeria]

Also bear in mind that Delera's without a good-aligned weapon can be pretty miserable even for a barb or fighter. I've been in there plenty of times with melee toons who complained about not being able to hit anything.

Delera's is one of the first quest chains where you really have to think about weapon specialization and be prepared.

[huffandpuff]

just for a heads up, the +2 attack from goggles wont stack with bard song. its good for low lvls since u dont have many songs and they dont last that long, but later its just as wearing +nothing goggles of uselessness
and also takes u a bit of cash every times u repair it (even though its neglible)

like others said, use a 2 hand weapon early and switch when u feel u can. power attack doesnt have to be on all the time as it has a -5 atk penalty (hadnt seen that mentioned, though i'de put it in)

and cant stress this enough - use apropriate weapons vs enemies.
u might hit with ur scimitars often but doing 3-4 yellow dmg wont do u much good.
the basic dr breaking (bldg for skeletons, and slicing for zombies) all melee should have
also unique to delera pack are ghostly skeletons which have 20/good or 15/good DR not sure which, but i remember its quite high.
holy, pure good, aligned or righteus all bypass dr/good, holy being the best dps.

[Aganthor]

@rest, I am glad I kept that Carnifex around from a pally I no longer play, so I will borrow that for now then and see how it works out. My gear is pretty awful, I agree.

This GAxe will really help you!

If you want to keep going TWF, use a light weapon in your offhand. Or try using a higher + weapon in your main hand. Sometimes it's better to just use a +4 longsword than a +1 longsword of PG.

[Lalangamena]

I have THF bard who fully buffed does quite awesome DPS on first life,

http://my.ddo.com/character/thelanis/amusia/

I use +2 hit googles from crafting ( not wearing on myddo) and "khortos set" which give stackable +2 hit
(so total +4!!!)
have IC slashing feat which make me crit on my falchions on rolls 15+, before that i had keen falch.


i hit with PA on, on rolls of 5+ on dungeons my level. on hard mobs i turn off PA (i.e. armored skeletons on xorian cypher etc).

in your case, you use TWF style, which leaves you with less str ( lower to hit), and also big minus on hit due to your offhand weapon choice ( i suggest taking light weapon in offhand if you stick to TWF).

also, on your myddo page you use +1 weapons which are not good if you have to hit issue, "empty" +4 weapons will be better ( less damage per hit but more hits)

my suggestions :
if you can get good two hander, use it instead TWF at least untill you get the third TWF feat on it.
get higher bonus weapon, even on the cost of dealing little less special dmg on hit.
also, get rid of philaran ring and ring of performing ( they dont stack, and basically useless).
try to get angers step boots from khortos and the gem from chronoscope end reward.

[grandeibra]

Great friendly thread and good advice


Whoever claims the ddo community is elitist should look at this thread

[karl_k0ch]

Chiming in with Pingshot. Usually, I start TWFing once I have ITWF. Before that THF is the way to go, and a carnifex is one of the best weapons to do so.

As a warchanter, you should always keep in mind that you already provide a huge increase of the DPS of the other melees:

• Inspire Courage increases damage and to-hit (which allows them to switch on Power Attack more often).
• Rage (spell) increases Str and Con, the latter of which translates to longer Rage (ability) times.
• Haste enhances the melee's attack animations and allows them to do more attacks per minute than without

So if they are killing everything fast and efficient, they do it thanks to your bonuses.

[Vanquishedfo]

fighters and barbs suck,

If you have a lvl 7 cleric you should be as the hand of gods among mortal scum.

Your stats should be wis and str with a decent bit of con and chr. You need to make sure you can take the radiant servant prestige enhancment line at lvl 6 so check its prereqs and work them in asap. Your a weapon beyond all others against undead as a cleric and should focus on chains like the catacombs and deleras as well as other undead centric quests if u can.

lvl 4 spell at 7th u can use called divine power will remove any difference between you and a fighter or barb and your ability to heal your self makes you alot better solo.