Build Repository

[MichelleOtter]

Guys, please advise who to create for a beginner? And which build to choose?

[unbongwah]

Guys, please advise who to create for a beginner? And which build to choose?

First off, welcome to DDO.

Second, this thread is no longer being updated by the OP so some of these builds are very out-of-date. It's still a useful starting point IMO but it's a good idea to inquire about specific builds before using them, either in their main thread or the Request a Build thread.

Which builds are best for beginners depends largely on what sort of character you want to play. I'll presume you're F2P and restrict my suggestions to F2P classes.

• 2H weapons: paladin and barbarian are both good options. Paladin has more survivability, barbarian has potentially better DPS IMO. Fighters have no self-healing so they're less self-sufficient than either; whereas barbarians gets lots of temp hit points and (at level 12) self-healing options which ironically makes them easier to solo as a newbie.
• dual wield (TWF): ranger is the easiest choice, either STR- or DEX-based; pure ranger or splashed (e.g., Tempest Trapmonkey). Rogue Assassins have high single-target DPS, but their weapon options are a lot more limited and they don't get the buff/Cure spells a ranger does so they're harder to solo IMO.
• shield users (S&B): the obvious choice is the Vanguard tree, available to fighters and paladins. Fighters get a lot more feats, paladins get survivability bonuses. Less obvious is Swashbuckler (bard): your gear options are more restrictive, but a Swashbuckler can combined Single Weapon Fighting bonuses with S&B bonuses.
• Ranged weapons: you basically have three options which will lead you to one of three F2P classes - crossbows (->Mechanic); longbows (->ranger); simple thrown weapons (->Swashbuckler probably MCed with ranger). Shurikens work best with monks (P2P class); the martial thrown weapons (axes & hammers) are subpar compared to simple throwers, ironically; and there's no good reason to use a shortbow instead of a longbow (lower base damage and much fewer weapon choices).
• Spellcasters: for raw DPS, it's hard to go wrong with sorcerer. Wizard is more advanced IMO but also more flexible; and Pale Master offers survivability on a F2P fleshy race which sorcs don't get. Clerics are the obvious choice for party healers, but they can also pump out decent caster DPS with the right build and Domain. Finally don't overlook bards, their sonic spells got some DPS buffs earlier this year so pure Spellsinger is actually a viable option again.

I know that's a lot to take in, but that's because DDO is a complex game with a lot of build options, even for the F2P newbie. Also I don't think there are any "bad" classes but each class has its own forte or niche. [DDO's endgame balance is always way outta whack but you got a long way to go before that's an issue.] What's important IMO is to have a core concept of how you want to play then look for builds which match it - or alternatively, get told why your favorite PnP D&D character doesn't work within DDO's implementation and have to try again.

[C-Dog]

As time passes, and more and more of the current game is updated/changed/nerfed/improved/tweaked, some of these builds will not work as advertised. Some will simply fail (due to major changes), some can easily be improved (due to updates to trees or the combat system, etc.). With some, the feats/enhancements listed simply do not exist any more, or the math doesn't work any more - but, for 99% of these cases, "better" alternatives should be easily available to swap in.

If you find one you like, re-post it (w/ link) in a thread in the appropriate Class subforums, and ask if it is still valid, and/or what improvements need to be made. You should get some very constructive suggestions/alternatives there.

o Class Sub-forums: https://www.ddo.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/21-Classes

Guys, please advise who to create for a beginner? And which build to choose?

Welcome to the game, M!

Yeah, what Un' said, above.

The best way to start consists of 2 parts:

1) Accept that your first character will probably not be your favorite character, and certainly not your "best". Don't use your favorite Character Name on that toon - it's almost certainly doomed to be retired as you find an "improved" version once you've played a week or three.

2) Just play the game, and learn by experience. Your play style, your idea of fun, are exactly that - yours. No one else can tell you what you will enjoy, and my ideas on fun may be 180^o from yours.

Read my "Basics of DDO", link in sig. Very easy to try one of each class (or more than one variation!), and see for yourself what you like best!

And haff fun stomin' da cassul!
o/

[ccd1977]

Yes, I am resurrecting this thread lol. Is the "Lite" planner still being updated? I downloaded what I thought was it and it didn't have the new stuff and this new planner (not in your link)I tried was buggy and way to convoluted.

[C-Dog]

Ellis' stopped posting/playing a while ago - sad, but it is what it is.

A group of players picked up his software and has been updating it, so there is a current version available; there's a thread in the forums, but I can't find it atm (and am out the door, sorry). A little better search-fu should turn it up.


Oh - @ all new players -

Since this does indeed "resurrect" this thread (and many of you have never seen it!), most(!) of these builds would now be considered "obsolete", but only because there have been changes that would make them "better". However, most would still work, just not 100% as well as they might. If you see something you like, make a new thread and post a link to the build, see what the advice forum gurus have to offer for polishing it up to modern standards.

[unbongwah]

Is the "Lite" planner still being updated?

Not by the original author, but it has been forked by others. There was an U54 update earlier this year. Someone compiled the U55-U57 data into updated .txt files, however the program itself hasn't been updated to accept them yet.

So it hasn't been abandoned but it isn't ready for U57 either. If you want a builder which has been updated, try this one.

[ccd1977]

Not by the original author, but it has been forked by others. There was an U54 update earlier this year. Someone compiled the U55-U57 data into updated .txt files, however the program itself hasn't been updated to accept them yet.

So it hasn't been abandoned but it isn't ready for U57 either. If you want a builder which has been updated, try this one.

OK. I will check it out! Thank you!

[beldin13]

okay, with the entire first page reserved, i'm all set. Replies welcome.

What builds should be included?

how about something you seem to have ignored? An inquisitor build. Multi-class, to include at least 2 levels of rogue for evasion and trapping.

[unbongwah]

how about something you seem to have ignored? An inquisitor build. Multi-class, to include at least 2 levels of rogue for evasion and trapping.

OP didn't ignore anything at the time this thread was created. The original posts haven't been updated in at least 4 1/2 years and the OP hasn't logged into the forums in almost 2 1/2 years. So this thread is mostly useful for historical reference and to figure out which old builds still have any relevance.

[C-Dog]

how about something you seem to have ignored?

And no Alchemist builds!? And no Tabaxi or Shifter races used! And...

Welcome to the forums. It's important to check the date of posts before replying to them (doubly so if you find them via a Search).

Haff fun stomin da cassul!
o/

So this thread is mostly useful for historical reference and to figure out which old builds still have any relevance.

This thread still has some solid builds, and the ones that have been changed are solid frameworks or starting points. Always better to find something "modern", but there's still some tread on these tires.


@ New(er) Players - When you find an "old" build (like any in this thread), and you're not 100% sure what (if anything) needs updating, just start a new thread (of your very own!), copy/paste the link to the build, and simply tell folk what you're looking for and ask the gurus what they think. Often it's just a matter of a couple small tweaks, easy peasy. Most(!) of these builds will still work fine to get you to 20, but some will work better, and a few a LOT better, if you update them to the current META.

[tabannon]

Builds are grouped by primary class, and within each class by New Player / Premium / Outdated Builds.

New Player Builds can be rolled up and played by a brand new player without spending a penny on the game. For premium classes, new player builds are defined as a build that doesn't require any premium features other than the class.

Premium Builds include pay features (premium races/classes, iconics, tomes, harper agent, 32pt builds) or past lives. A brand new player can start with a premium build if they already have the listed premium features unlocked. For example, if the only premium features listed are Gnome and Warlock, a VIP can roll it up immediately.

Outdated Builds include both New Player and Premium builds. There are two reasons a build could be listed as outdated. First, if the author has officially abandoned it due to game changes making something else clearly superior. (eg: Centered Kensei is strong, but the paladin pass made paladins clearly stronger.) Second, if it hasn't been updated since its class trees have been updated. (eg: The Dwarven Defender is a strong S&B tank build, but hasn't been updated since the Vanguard tree was added.) If a build concept has been completely broken by game changes, it won't be included in these lists.

In other words, there are legitimate reasons to consider rolling up any of the Outdated Builds listed in this thread.


Artificer
Barbarian
Bard
Cleric
Druid
Favored Soul
Fighter
Monk
Paladin
Ranger
Rogue
Sorcerer
Warlock
Wizard

Specialty Builds (Challenge Farmers, Event Farmers, Dual-box Openers)


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If you have a build concept in mind but are unsure how to put the pieces together, you can ask for volunteers to craft a custom build for you:

Kent's custom Character Builds by Kentpb
Kentpb has crafted many, many customized builds by request. He also keeps a list of all his builds in the first post.

Request a Build - Get a Build
Possibly the longest-active thread on the forums, approaching 9 years and with over a million views. There's a table of contents in the first post, but it stopped being updated in 2013. The thread itself is still active, so feel free to ask away.


A previous thread with a similar theme: New U19 Builds for Characters by Battlehawke


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Here's a history of major game updates that greatly impact all builds. All of these should be considered "Mendoza lines," where any build that hasn't been updated since one of these updates needs to be viewed as potentially obsolete.

Aug 19th, 2013: Enhancement Pass (Update 19: Shadowfell Conspiracy)
Dec 17th, 2015: Level cap raised to 30 (Update 29)
Feb 2nd, 2017: Reaper difficulty (Update 34)

Kent's Custom Builds should be removed from the highlighted section on build help. There haven't been any new builds since Update 47. That's before the Fables of the Feywild came out and before the Epic Destinies revamp.