Past lives...

[LongForgotten]

How many and of what type do solo wizards typically need? I have never TR'd before so I am not familiar with the process.

[Stoner81]

http://ddowiki.com/page/Past_Life_Feats

The mains ones are, I think, 3x Wizard and 3x FvS since they give universal buffs to your spells (+6 spell penetration, +3 spell penetration and 60 spell points relatively), it all depends on what you are trying to build and what content you are trying to play in.

Stoner81.

[LongForgotten]

my build will be pretty basic from what I've been reading. Drow PM. I am not sure about epic levels and beyond at this point just getting to 20 7 times seems to be the biggest hurdle.

[boredman]

How many and of what type do solo wizards typically need? I have never TR'd before so I am not familiar with the process.

For soloing i think you are better with a dps force spec archmage wizard in undead form https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post5861903

and that build does not require past lives (maybe energy criticals is good but not needed), as you will use cheap damage spells like ability from archmage evocation line for sustained damage against red names. The dc wizard is not very solo friendly unless you have gear to reduce sp cost or have sp pots or playing normal/hard content.

For epics can raise in draconic and then reach shiradi champion destiny for more sustained damage and nerve venom. you will lose spell penetration and enchantment/necro spells against enemies with spell resistance but will gain much more sustained damage for overall solo content with cheap spells like magic missile, chain missile, arcane bolt, arcane blast, cyclonic blast, that can be empowered, maximiced and intensified at no cost. later you can twist echoes of ancestors if needed from exalted angel or avenging light for another cheap sla (that also can activate empyrean favor if twisted), also wild shots from shiradi can be helpful to save sp although a bit slow to cast.

basicaly you want to have good force power since most of your sla spells are force or untyped, and force crit chance, and some elemental spell power and crit chance later for hellball in epics.

[Wh070aa]

You can make shiradi wizard without them.

but wizard, FVS, Sorcerer and Cleric past lifes are always good.

If you are necro focused instakill, wizard and FvS are a must because spell pen requirement go up insanely in later levels.

1 wizard past life is a must for the magic missile clcikie/ +1to all dc's feat.

So in short how to wizard- 1rst life- be wizard, spam shiradi missiles. 2nd life- same thing, add 1 or 2 levels of rogue or artificer for getting more XP, and disabling traps. Then just do whatever.

[Blastyswa]

How many and of what type do solo wizards typically need? I have never TR'd before so I am not familiar with the process.

If you're an insta-kill caster, your options are either go all out on spell penetration with gear/twists or have 3x wizard (And preferably 3x favored soul) past lives. Any mix and match between those two can also work, for example taking just 1-2 spell penetration twists with 3x wizard past lives and no favored soul past lives. 3x deep gnome past lives can also be nice if you want to use phantasmal killer any as well as +15 acid spellpower, and can be knocked out simultaneously with wizard past lives. Sorcerer past lives can be useful for evocation based non-shiradi missile wizards, but aren't necessary. Completionist is the same story as sorcerer, and if you don't have huge amounts of playtime, completionist isn't really worth the massive time investment. Epic Past Lives are nice, especially 3x from each sphere for Epic Completionist (I like 3x Power of Life and Death, 3x Doubleshot, 3x Energy Criticals, and 3x Fortification for my own wizards) but a wizard can be played without them.

[Ellihor]

Past lifes can get you +7 spellpen. You can twist 6 and take more 4 with epic spell penetration. Could also be a sun elf and have 3 more. You can get more than enough spellpen without past lifes, but you'll sacrifice 1 or 2 DC for that. The U32 orb will have +4 insightful spell penetration. The first wizard past life is the most important, because it gives you the option to buy the active feat, so it's highly recommended. A first life DC caster is toally doable, just not for elite. If you are playing content on hard it's fine.

[SirValentine]

Past lifes can get you +7 spellpen.

9, actually. 6 from 3 Wiz, 3 from 3 FvS.

You can twist 6

Hmm...6? I mean, sure, in theory you could twist 8 even, but in practice, if you're a Wizard who cares about Spell Pen & DCs, you'll likely only be twisting 5 at most, right?

[Blastyswa]

9, actually. 6 from 3 Wiz, 3 from 3 FvS.



Hmm...6? I mean, sure, in theory you could twist 8 even, but in practice, if you're a Wizard who cares about Spell Pen & DCs, you'll likely only be twisting 5 at most, right?

Yes, you're right on both counts. You could get all 8 spell pen without dropping DC much if any by going Piercing Spellcraft EA, Piercing Spellcraft Draconic, Echoes of the Ancestors Wizard, Intelligence, and another Intelligence if epic completionist, but that requires having 8-9 fate points from EPL's and a +2-+3 Tome of Fate. I've seen some people who go Echoes of the Ancestors Wizard and 4 stacks of intelligence from Draconic and Shadowdancer, but they gain 3 intelligence (1-2 DC) at the cost of having spell pen not function as well in LE Shroud, especially against kobolds.

[SirValentine]

You could get all 8 spell pen without dropping DC much if any by going Piercing Spellcraft EA, Piercing Spellcraft Draconic, Echoes of the Ancestors Wizard

It is worth the Fate Points & a Twist slot to Twist EA's Spell Pen instead of just spending the 3 Destiny points in Magister? I assumed people would just take the 3 Piercing in Magister and Twist Draconic Piercing & Echoes. But I guess if you really need the points in Magister for something else...

[SirValentine]

Epic Past Lives are nice, especially 3x from each sphere for Epic Completionist (I like 3x Power of Life and Death, 3x Doubleshot, 3x Energy Criticals, and 3x Fortification for my own wizards) but a wizard can be played without them.

Interesting layout. My caster uses a totally different layout; personally, I like Arcane Alacrity, Brace, and Skill Mastery better. I also use Fast Healing, but then I'm not Undead. Still, is Doubleshot better than Colors procs?

[Ellihor]

9, actually. 6 from 3 Wiz, 3 from 3 FvS.

Hmm...6? I mean, sure, in theory you could twist 8 even, but in practice, if you're a Wizard who cares about Spell Pen & DCs, you'll likely only be twisting 5 at most, right?

Right, I don't know where my head was. Add 2 more on each value. I was thinking about what I do when I run TS: I drop echoes and one int, to twist piercing spellcraft twice, because doing that makes the int even. Anyways, first life character can get enough for epic/legendary hard, but I wouldn't recomend going to elite not because of the spellpen past lifes (twisting piercing spellcraft twice costs only 1 DC), but because gear, tomes, PRR past lifes, etc.

[Tlorrd]

Interesting layout. My caster uses a totally different layout; personally, I like Arcane Alacrity, Brace, and Skill Mastery better. I also use Fast Healing, but then I'm not Undead. Still, is Doubleshot better than Colors procs?

I also prefer arcane alacrity for my DC instakilling spells rather than energy criticals ... because when I match it with T4 Magister Spell School Alacrtiy, I get 25% reduction to cooldown time from that school (only works for regular spells, not SLAs) ...

Thus
Evocation:
- Implosion 45 sec cooldown instead of 60
- Sunbolt 2.25 sec instead of 3 sec (basically spam Sunbolt and another spell over and over)

Necro
Wail of Banshee 45 sec instead of 60
Circle of Death 22.5 sec instead of 30

[slarden]

9, actually. 6 from 3 Wiz, 3 from 3 FvS.



Hmm...6? I mean, sure, in theory you could twist 8 even, but in practice, if you're a Wizard who cares about Spell Pen & DCs, you'll likely only be twisting 5 at most, right?

I don't believe the spell pen from magister and exalted angel stack. One locks out the other although their might be work arounds for it.

So realistically you can only twist in 5 legitimately.

[slarden]

instakill is tough to solo because when it's not working your backup options are either slow, cost too much sp or both.

If you get deep gnome you can start at level 15 and get an iconic past life (illusion +1 dc) and wizard past life for leveling 1 to 28 and work on filling epic destinies. With the new gear coming out in U32 you can be effective at instakilling in LE on your second life, but obviously extra lifes help alot especially if you go the illusion route. Here is a template for a 2nd LE instakill build.

https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post5853817

As other suggested if you want to solo, I would go archmage to get past lifes and then you can decide what you want to do for your final life. At the moment fvs lifes aren't really needed although it can free up twists/feats.

[Enoach]

When hunting past lives for a wizard build here are the past lives that will go towards your focus...

Wizard Past Lives -
+2 Spell Penetration
+2 DC of Wands (May seem like a non-issue but if you are one that prefers to cast instead of picking up a big axe wands between levels 1 and 20 and Epic Wands 20+ can be a good resource extension)
Access to Feat that gives you +1 DC to All Schools

You can take that 3 times for a total of +6 Spell Pen and +6 Wand DC

Favored Soul Past Lives
+1 Spell Penetration
20 Spell Points

You can take that 3 times for a total of +3 Spell Pen and 60 Spell points

Cleric Past Lives
+1 Conjuration Spell DCs

Active Feat of 5 Healing Words per rest and +2 to Heal Skill. This is an option for those that don't want to be Warforged but also don't want to be a Pale Master

At 3 times that is +3 Conjuration Spell DCs - Spells like Web are strong Crowd Control. While they don't make mobs helpless they can help to gather a large group in a single spot or slow part of the room down while you deal with the other part

Sorcerer Past Lives
+1 Evocation Spell DCs
+20 Spell Points

Take a feat that gives you 10 casts of a random elemental (ray spell) DC is based on charisma. But also acts as Mental Toughness for more spell points

At 3 times that is +3 Evocation Spell DCs and +60 Spell Points

Iconic Gnome Past Lives
+1 Illusion Spell DCs
+5 Acid Spell Power

3 times that is +3 Illusion Spell DCs and +15 Acid Spell Power

Now depending on your style of play all could be valuable. Example, you are not a fan of DC casting then the Conjuration, Spell Pen and Illusion lives are not going to be useful.


Now you mentioned Solo. Now people define Solo differently, but in all the definitions the one part that is agreed upon is that it is a single Player. To that end if you use Pets, Hirelings and Summons as part of your play style then the Druid Past Lives will be useful as they boost the Attributes of these. Each Druid Past Life adds +2. This is useful as Augment Summoning requires a feat not always something a person can get into their build, but also the Druid Past Lives stack with Augment Summon. While a +2 to attributes does not sound like a lot, adding +10 can make a significant difference especially in Hirelings that use skills like the Rogue Hireling
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Now the above list is not exhaustive, and each person may find other Past Lives equally if not more useful to their style of play. I recommend looking at http://ddowiki.com/page/Past_Life_Feats, don't forget to look at Epic and Iconic Past Lives.

Next keep in mind that again depending on the way you play you may want to prioritize them, you don't want to get lost in the destination and miss the journey.