Returning/New player need a cleric or bard build.

[Knightjim323]

I have played this game in the past but not too much so I am basically brand new. I am in need of a good solo Bard or Cleric build. The main thing I want out of the build is good solo survivability and a good character to have in a group (Heals and/or buffs) so I thought I would look into a cleric or bard build. I looked around these forums but haven't found anything that seems to fit me.

The character building seems so complex and confusing to me, I would love to build my very own character but don't want to really gimp myself since I don't have the knowledge.

So if you can, Please point me in the direction of a good solo Cleric or Bard build (I don't mind multi-class either).

Thank You!!

[Rhysem]

I have played this game in the past but not too much so I am basically brand new. I am in need of a good solo Bard or Cleric build. The main thing I want out of the build is good solo survivability and a good character to have in a group (Heals and/or buffs) so I thought I would look into a cleric or bard build. I looked around these forums but haven't found anything that seems to fit me.

The character building seems so complex and confusing to me, I would love to build my very own character but don't want to really gimp myself since I don't have the knowledge.

So if you can, Please point me in the direction of a good solo Cleric or Bard build (I don't mind multi-class either).

Thank You!!

Bard 5. Attr order, cha&con, dex, str, maybe int. Take precision and the SWF feats. Run up the swashbuckler tree. Grab shield mastery/imp shield mastery if your gear/past lives are weak. If you do a lot of bard, pick up quicken and emp heal or maximize. Buy a swash weapon (search the wiki -- tiefling assassin's blade is good, but so is other stuff which is less costly if you're low on cash). Do whatever you want with the rest of your levels/talent points. Yes, really.

I'm running Rogue 2/Fighter 3/Bard 15. Its broken. The only thing that would have made it more broken is a T3 cove shield at level 4, rather than waiting till 16 for my guardbreaking cove shield. A friend described it as "greensteel damage at level 4 -- I'm not used to being the one being carried through missions."

2 rogue 18 bard, 20 bard, the 2/3/15 split above -- all viable. I'm pretty convinced you can bard 5/non-bard 15 pretty much anything that isn't alignment restricted successfully. You lose some of the cool toys (ddoor, fom, heals) but could easily past life something else with it.

My numbers in epic aren't super impressive -- until you consider how generally awful my gear is, and then suddenly they're pretty good. High ROI. Works in most spheres (primal is the weak spot).

[UurlockYgmeov]

welcome / back !

look for the counte of monte cristo bard build / and
https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...e-swashbuckler
https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...eezing-goddess

https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...-of-Eilistraee

[Makkuroi]

be careful with the 15/3/2 warchanter builds, these rely on purple dragon knight iconic race for damage and DCs. The class split works as well with heavy swashbucklers, though (coup de grace).

[eachna_gislin]

I have played this game in the past but not too much so I am basically brand new. I am in need of a good solo Bard or Cleric build. The main thing I want out of the build is good solo survivability and a good character to have in a group (Heals and/or buffs) so I thought I would look into a cleric or bard build. I looked around these forums but haven't found anything that seems to fit me.

The character building seems so complex and confusing to me, I would love to build my very own character but don't want to really gimp myself since I don't have the knowledge.

So if you can, Please point me in the direction of a good solo Cleric or Bard build (I don't mind multi-class either).

Thank You!!

EllisDee's Necro Cleric is a very solid choice for a new player (or returned newish player): https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...or-new-players

It's very uncomplicated and simple. You can use it to teach yourself the fundamentals of play and move on to more complex builds later. The name is a little misleading in that you don't *have* to use necromancy spells. There are directions in the build on how to play it as an evoker instead.

FYI, the game is much more solo friendly, which means most characters are self-healing. Even classes like barbarian have ways to heal themselves. Also, most people won't stick around for buffs. The necro cleric will be useful if your party gets into trouble (it has strong healing) but it will also be able to kill things with either necro spells or light damage.

If you check Ellis's sig in the first post, he has links to other newbie-friendly builds (in case something else in there appeals).

You'll want to be a little careful multi-classing. There's a lot of power in mult-class builds, but as you note they can be complicated.

Edit: A pure or mostly pure paladin is also a strong choice now. Paladins are hella hard to kill, self-healing and self-buffing, can toss an emergency cure or two to someone else in distress, and have been rebalanced into one of the more powerful melee classes. A solid pure 20 paladin is effective right up into epic raids and can be built on most races.

[Knightjim323]

Thank you everyone!! I think I might go with the Cleric Necro build, however I will keep the other builds in mind for later use. Once I get more comfortable I plan to use a more "complex" build.

[UurlockYgmeov]

Thank you everyone!! I think I might go with the Cleric Necro build, however I will keep the other builds in mind for later use. Once I get more comfortable I plan to use a more "complex" build.

just remember to have fun while storming that castle!

[Knightjim323]

just remember to have fun while storming that castle!

Will do. I just always think of some different type of character I want to play once I get around level 7 or 8. Level 8 is the farthest I have ever gotten back in 09 or 2010, hoping to make it a little further this time.

[UurlockYgmeov]

Will do. I just always think of some different type of character I want to play once I get around level 7 or 8. Level 8 is the farthest I have ever gotten back in 09 or 2010, hoping to make it a little further this time.

That's when the fun quests just start! Gwylan's Tear etc. Good Luck!

[Knightjim323]

If I wanted to just try out my own build on a new character would going with a single class be best? Is it possible to recover a gimped build if it is a pure build?

[Makkuroi]

Pure bard isnt bad, in fact the swashbuckler capstone is quite nice. Youll lack some defenses but spellcasting and enhancements will be better. If youre in the habit of discarding a char after a few levels, you should probably go pure bard to get a feel for the new bard enhancements.

[UurlockYgmeov]

If I wanted to just try out my own build on a new character would going with a single class be best? Is it possible to recover a gimped build if it is a pure build?

simple straight answer: Yes.

Pure bard isnt bad, in fact the swashbuckler capstone is quite nice. Youll lack some defenses but spellcasting and enhancements will be better. If youre in the habit of discarding a char after a few levels, you should probably go pure bard to get a feel for the new bard enhancements.

Good way to learn both the class, and relearn the game as well.

Swashbuckler works great - and review the counte-of-monte-cristo thread for gear and playstyle information.

[Knightjim323]

simple straight answer: Yes.

Good way to learn both the class, and relearn the game as well.

Swashbuckler works great - and review the counte-of-monte-cristo thread for gear and playstyle information.

Sounds good. Right now I am playing a Cleric and following a build directly. One day soon I plan to make either a Bard and follow "Counte-of-Monte-Cristo" or Rogue but play around a bit with the build. Soon as I have the extra cash for VIP I will do it, so I have more Races, quests, ect..

I very much appreciate all the help. DDO seems to have an exceptional community compared to most other MMO's I have played in the past few years.