Most efficient TR questing

[Maxxcore]

What is the most efficient questing route for a TR to finish the dreaded life (for me, fighter)? Assuming all content is available, have Eveningstar Key, and plan on soloing.

[Grynberg]

What is the most efficient questing route for a TR to finish the dreaded life (for me, fighter)? Assuming all content is available, have Eveningstar Key, and plan on soloing.

Hey,
In the light of the recent racial reincarnations, I decided to return and go over my TR list for heroic content to grab the extra 30 lives. Since I won't be running epics, I'm including some of the content here, that I usually save for epics. Note that I'm playing with every kind of XP bonus available and that includes the 50% xp potions. I'm going to run the racial lives with a warlock (DUH!) so the runtimes for a fighter might be a lot slower.
I've been away for about half a year now and I don't know how the new insane difficulty levels work on heroic and if they're worth running at all for quick xp.

Levels 1-4
Stealthy reposession EEEHN. 18k xp, 7min. Grap invis scrolls or an invis clickie, zerg through.
Kobold's New Ringleader. EEEHN. 23k xp 9 min. Having a buddy for the other lever saves about 15 seconds per run.
Durks Got a Sectret. EHN. 14k, 4min.
Waterworks. Whole chain E. 49k, 19min. Probably the worst xp/min here but there's not a lot around for these levels.

Levels 5-7
Deneith depths E. 23k, 9min. Invis and zerg.
House K Ruined Halls, Lair of Summoning EHN. 36k, 10min. Some traps, resists from ships and zerg on.
Delera 1 E. 12k, 3 min. Get jump spell and jump up from start, avoid skulls and run to the end.
Ghost of a chance EEEHN. 77k, 20min. Learning the puzzle early on gives you a massive boost in xp. Zerg to the end, break containers on the way for ransack and finish with puzzle. Usually 4m per run.
Stones run red EEEHN. 69k, 18min.
Old grey garl EHN. 48k, 10min.
Troglodytes Get, Brood of flame, Prove your worth, Legend of tobias E. 84k, 25min.

Level 8-10
Delera 2-4 E. If you have a buddy, even better. No opts, zerg on. 75k, 20min.
Spies in Deneith EHN. 146k, 30min. Jump, featherfall, resists.
Necro 2 E, Shadow Crypt EEEHN. If you have an opener, skip Necro 2 E and farm some more SC. 386k, 76min.

Level 11
Von 3 EEEHN. 220k, 61min. Grab a rogue hire or find a buddy who does traps for 20-30% bonus xp.

Level 12
Sands of Menechtarun E. 203k 35min.

Level 13
Tomb of the Blighted, Unhallowed, Forbiden E. 112k, 31min
Sovereign, Invaders E. 83k, 20min
Diplo chain E. 88k, 18min

Level 14
Attack on stormreach chain E. 142k, 34min.

Level 15
Gianthold E+ saga reward. 482k, 84min.
Lord of Dust+Servants, 98k, 20min.

Level 16
Subversion, Grim E. 71k, 12min.
Orchard E. 186k, 32min.

Level 17
Missing EHN. 67k, 12min.
Litany EEEHN. 150k, 30min.

Level 18
Wheloon E (Mirror EEEHN). 320k, 64min.
Running with devils EHN. 116k, 20min.
Sane Asylum EEEHN. 98k, 16min.
Monastery EHN. 137k, 28min.
Kobold EHN. 152k, 32min.

Total run time: 13:26:51
Average quest xp/min: 4710

This should cap you in about 16-18 hours or so if you're counting sorting gear, running up to the quests and so on. My fastest TR has been 17 hours when I was saving quests for epic levels, but this list should cut it down to 15 hours.

EDIT: Incidently, suggestions to improve the list are more then welcome if anyone has them.

[psykopeta]

Hey,
In the light of the recent racial reincarnations, I decided to return and go over my TR list for heroic content to grab the extra 30 lives. Since I won't be running epics, I'm including some of the content here, that I usually save for epics. Note that I'm playing with every kind of XP bonus available and that includes the 50% xp potions. I'm going to run the racial lives with a warlock (DUH!) so the runtimes for a fighter might be a lot slower.
I've been away for about half a year now and I don't know how the new insane difficulty levels work on heroic and if they're worth running at all for quick xp.

Levels 1-4
Stealthy reposession EEEHN. 18k xp, 7min. Grap invis scrolls or an invis clickie, zerg through.
Kobold's New Ringleader. EEEHN. 23k xp 9 min. Having a buddy for the other lever saves about 15 seconds per run.
Durks Got a Sectret. EHN. 14k, 4min.
Waterworks. Whole chain E. 49k, 19min. Probably the worst xp/min here but there's not a lot around for these levels.

Levels 5-7
Deneith depths E. 23k, 9min. Invis and zerg.
House K Ruined Halls, Lair of Summoning EHN. 36k, 10min. Some traps, resists from ships and zerg on.
Delera 1 E. 12k, 3 min. Get jump spell and jump up from start, avoid skulls and run to the end.
Ghost of a chance EEEHN. 77k, 20min. Learning the puzzle early on gives you a massive boost in xp. Zerg to the end, break containers on the way for ransack and finish with puzzle. Usually 4m per run.
Stones run red EEEHN. 69k, 18min.
Old grey garl EHN. 48k, 10min.
Troglodytes Get, Brood of flame, Prove your worth, Legend of tobias E. 84k, 25min.

Level 8-10
Delera 2-4 E. If you have a buddy, even better. No opts, zerg on. 75k, 20min.
Spies in Deneith EHN. 146k, 30min. Jump, featherfall, resists.
Necro 2 E, Shadow Crypt EEEHN. If you have an opener, skip Necro 2 E and farm some more SC. 386k, 76min.

Level 11
Von 3 EEEHN. 220k, 61min. Grab a rogue hire or find a buddy who does traps for 20-30% bonus xp.

Level 12
Sands of Menechtarun E. 203k 35min.

Level 13
Tomb of the Blighted, Unhallowed, Forbiden E. 112k, 31min
Sovereign, Invaders E. 83k, 20min
Diplo chain E. 88k, 18min

Level 14
Attack on stormreach chain E. 142k, 34min.

Level 15
Gianthold E+ saga reward. 482k, 84min.
Lord of Dust+Servants, 98k, 20min.

Level 16
Subversion, Grim E. 71k, 12min.
Orchard E. 186k, 32min.

Level 17
Missing EHN. 67k, 12min.
Litany EEEHN. 150k, 30min.

Level 18
Wheloon E (Mirror EEEHN). 320k, 64min.
Running with devils EHN. 116k, 20min.
Sane Asylum EEEHN. 98k, 16min.
Monastery EHN. 137k, 28min.
Kobold EHN. 152k, 32min.

Total run time: 13:26:51
Average quest xp/min: 4710

This should cap you in about 16-18 hours or so if you're counting sorting gear, running up to the quests and so on. My fastest TR has been 17 hours when I was saving quests for epic levels, but this list should cut it down to 15 hours.

EDIT: Incidently, suggestions to improve the list are more then welcome if anyone has them.

knowing that u will run on a warlock, with some gear, and you have some playing skills, do the 1st run on 1 skull reaper

u get 50% extra base xp iirc, and you don't need to worry about the reaper xp since you are aiming to the heroic xp, just stick to bb levels... think of 1st run each time as a run that doesn't count as elite but gives more xp(so if you run later elitr you get 80% extra base xp instead of 150%, however with reaper u get 200% extra base xp)

[Grynberg]

knowing that u will run on a warlock, with some gear, and you have some playing skills, do the 1st run on 1 skull reaper

u get 50% extra base xp iirc, and you don't need to worry about the reaper xp since you are aiming to the heroic xp, just stick to bb levels... think of 1st run each time as a run that doesn't count as elite but gives more xp(so if you run later elitr you get 80% extra base xp instead of 150%, however with reaper u get 200% extra base xp)

Oh, thanks! I'm not sure I understood the formula but if it gives me more XP, it's worth looking into. I'll test it out on my next TR.

[C-Dog]

A LOT more: http://ddowiki.com/page/Reaper#Experience

Levels 1-4
Stealthy reposession EEEHN. 18k xp, 7min. Grap invis scrolls or an invis clickie, zerg through.
Kobold's New Ringleader. EEEHN. 23k xp 9 min. Having a buddy for the other lever saves about 15 seconds per run.
Durks Got a Sectret. EHN. 14k, 4min.
Waterworks. Whole chain E. 49k, 19min. Probably the worst xp/min here but there's not a lot around for these levels.

Q - wouldn't this alt have Vet II by now, and start at Lvl 7? Or, at least, Vet I for 4?

[Grynberg]

A LOT more: http://ddowiki.com/page/Reaper#Experience
Q - wouldn't this alt have Vet II by now, and start at Lvl 7? Or, at least, Vet I for 4?

You start at level 1 when you TR. Has this changed in the last half a year?

[Mornyngstar]

Still lv 1 when you HTR or RTR.
If you are not maximizing the reaper xp the running them at lv is no problem. The first time completing reaper is a 120% bonus to xp instead of 80% on elite. Then toss in your boosts with the elite streak to top off everything also makes it worth the slow down from doing a reaper lv 1 imo.

[awar1234]

Is this a 1-20 or a 1-30?
Do you care about favor and the free TP that comes with it?
Do you care about Earning reaper XP alongside your regular xp?

FOR ME.........it is most efficient (I think speed and combining the most bonuses the game offers at the same time) I run Most quests at REAPER 1 and done.

1) 120% R1 bonus.......This gives you 120% Reaper XP to your Heroic XP !!! YEAH 120%....plus all your other bonuses elite streak/first time/mater/ship/ blah blah blah

2) The Favor........ FREE TP.....For me this is most important... I am VIP, but if am running 1-20 you might as well get the free TP. so I DON'T REPEAT quests over and over. With running a quest FOR THE FIRST TIME IN reaper 1 giving you 120% XP is seems you will MORE XP going to the next quest than repeating quests at EEEHN. You also need to run favor for coinlords invetory space, Hous K for bank space, and other favor bonuses...Also you need to hit 1750 favor for FREE TOME which turns into EBBERON shard for crafting :P

3) Reaper XP!........ If your are running 1-20 WHY OH WHY run any quest on E,H,N? you are spending time and not getting the full available benefits the game offers....You are running quests(TIME) and LOSING REAPER XP) because if you run most quest at reaper 1 and done. you will build your reaper XP pool as you level.


SO IMHO...... run each quest (the ones that you like, i don't run stealthy repo at LVL 2 or KA at lvl 3 or the sharn syndicate chain) on REAPER 1 until you have maxxed out your XP holding back a level ( running level 2 quests until you have enough to go to level 4, ETC)

FOR ME this is the MOST EFFICIENT way to get all the game offers at the same time going from 1-20.

[Grynberg]

Is this a 1-20 or a 1-30?

You should be able to deduce that by just skimming over the list. I was pretty clear in the beginning that this was made for grinding racial reincarnations. I was using roughly the same quest list for my previous 60+ TR-s, but since I'm not touching epics, I added some stuff for faster leveling.

Do you care about favor and the free TP that comes with it?
Do you care about Earning reaper XP alongside your regular xp?

No and no. OP wanted to get to 20 fast and since I had the same plan, I posted my list here.

FOR ME.........it is most efficient (I think speed and combining the most bonuses the game offers at the same time) I run Most quests at REAPER 1 and done.

1) 120% R1 bonus.......This gives you 120% Reaper XP to your Heroic XP !!! YEAH 120%....plus all your other bonuses elite streak/first time/mater/ship/ blah blah blah

2) The Favor........ FREE TP.....For me this is most important... I am VIP, but if am running 1-20 you might as well get the free TP. so I DON'T REPEAT quests over and over. With running a quest FOR THE FIRST TIME IN reaper 1 giving you 120% XP is seems you will MORE XP going to the next quest than repeating quests at EEEHN. You also need to run favor for coinlords invetory space, Hous K for bank space, and other favor bonuses...Also you need to hit 1750 favor for FREE TOME which turns into EBBERON shard for crafting :P

3) Reaper XP!........ If your are running 1-20 WHY OH WHY run any quest on E,H,N? you are spending time and not getting the full available benefits the game offers....You are running quests(TIME) and LOSING REAPER XP) because if you run most quest at reaper 1 and done. you will build your reaper XP pool as you level.


SO IMHO...... run each quest (the ones that you like, i don't run stealthy repo at LVL 2 or KA at lvl 3 or the sharn syndicate chain) on REAPER 1 until you have maxxed out your XP holding back a level ( running level 2 quests until you have enough to go to level 4, ETC)

FOR ME this is the MOST EFFICIENT way to get all the game offers at the same time going from 1-20.

Yeah that is solid advice. Running quests on elite or R1 once and moving on works. However, it's much slower then i'd like at this point. I became a father few months ago and my gaming time is down to an hour or two every evening. Like I said earlier, I'll be definitely looking into reaper experience and I'll work that into the routine. I think you should read the previous post before going on a caps lock extravaganza

[Thrudh]

Hey,
In the light of the recent racial reincarnations, I decided to return and go over my TR list for heroic content to grab the extra 30 lives. Since I won't be running epics, I'm including some of the content here, that I usually save for epics. Note that I'm playing with every kind of XP bonus available and that includes the 50% xp potions. I'm going to run the racial lives with a warlock (DUH!) so the runtimes for a fighter might be a lot slower.
I've been away for about half a year now and I don't know how the new insane difficulty levels work on heroic and if they're worth running at all for quick xp.

Levels 1-4
Stealthy reposession EEEHN. 18k xp, 7min. Grap invis scrolls or an invis clickie, zerg through.
Kobold's New Ringleader. EEEHN. 23k xp 9 min. Having a buddy for the other lever saves about 15 seconds per run.
Durks Got a Sectret. EHN. 14k, 4min.
Waterworks. Whole chain E. 49k, 19min. Probably the worst xp/min here but there's not a lot around for these levels.

Levels 5-7
Deneith depths E. 23k, 9min. Invis and zerg.
House K Ruined Halls, Lair of Summoning EHN. 36k, 10min. Some traps, resists from ships and zerg on.
Delera 1 E. 12k, 3 min. Get jump spell and jump up from start, avoid skulls and run to the end.
Ghost of a chance EEEHN. 77k, 20min. Learning the puzzle early on gives you a massive boost in xp. Zerg to the end, break containers on the way for ransack and finish with puzzle. Usually 4m per run.
Stones run red EEEHN. 69k, 18min.
Old grey garl EHN. 48k, 10min.
Troglodytes Get, Brood of flame, Prove your worth, Legend of tobias E. 84k, 25min.

Level 8-10
Delera 2-4 E. If you have a buddy, even better. No opts, zerg on. 75k, 20min.
Spies in Deneith EHN. 146k, 30min. Jump, featherfall, resists.
Necro 2 E, Shadow Crypt EEEHN. If you have an opener, skip Necro 2 E and farm some more SC. 386k, 76min.

Level 11
Von 3 EEEHN. 220k, 61min. Grab a rogue hire or find a buddy who does traps for 20-30% bonus xp.

Level 12
Sands of Menechtarun E. 203k 35min.

Level 13
Tomb of the Blighted, Unhallowed, Forbiden E. 112k, 31min
Sovereign, Invaders E. 83k, 20min
Diplo chain E. 88k, 18min

Level 14
Attack on stormreach chain E. 142k, 34min.

Level 15
Gianthold E+ saga reward. 482k, 84min.
Lord of Dust+Servants, 98k, 20min.

Level 16
Subversion, Grim E. 71k, 12min.
Orchard E. 186k, 32min.

Level 17
Missing EHN. 67k, 12min.
Litany EEEHN. 150k, 30min.

Level 18
Wheloon E (Mirror EEEHN). 320k, 64min.
Running with devils EHN. 116k, 20min.
Sane Asylum EEEHN. 98k, 16min.
Monastery EHN. 137k, 28min.
Kobold EHN. 152k, 32min.

Total run time: 13:26:51
Average quest xp/min: 4710

This should cap you in about 16-18 hours or so if you're counting sorting gear, running up to the quests and so on. My fastest TR has been 17 hours when I was saving quests for epic levels, but this list should cut it down to 15 hours.

EDIT: Incidently, suggestions to improve the list are more then welcome if anyone has them.

Interesting list. Nice of you to do the breakdown.

I'm curious how you complete quests so fast... The entire Desert in 35 minutes? I guess you are a master of invisible zerging? Elite and Reaper have a lot more champs with true seeing, so this may be harder.

Seems exceedingly boring to me to repeat quests, not only in 1 TR, but 30 TRs in a row. I mean, is your plan to run the same quests the exact same way 30 times in a row, and then take another 6 month break from the game? Seems rather pointless. But it does indeed answer the question of "most efficient TR questing".

[C-Dog]

You start at level 1 when you TR. Has this changed in the last half a year?

I've never TR'd - looking at it coming up, first time (heh, yeah). Never knew that - my bad, carry on!

[C-Dog]

What is the most efficient questing route for a TR to finish the dreaded life (for me, fighter)? Assuming all content is available, have Eveningstar Key, and plan on soloing.

One way of avoiding the "dreaded" aspect of that is your build. Some claim that you can just put 11 X on top of 9 Warlock and not see much diff.

With Fighter, you could glom F 10 on the back side of 10 levels of anything (except Barb, Bard and Cleric) and call it good, or go for something fancier (but less % Fighter) with something closer to a 7 F/7x/6y split.

Whatever, the life will be less painful if you can find a way to actually enjoy it.

[Grynberg]

Interesting list. Nice of you to do the breakdown.

I'm curious how you complete quests so fast... The entire Desert in 35 minutes? I guess you are a master of invisible zerging? Elite and Reaper have a lot more champs with true seeing, so this may be harder.

Seems exceedingly boring to me to repeat quests, not only in 1 TR, but 30 TRs in a row. I mean, is your plan to run the same quests the exact same way 30 times in a row, and then take another 6 month break from the game? Seems rather pointless. But it does indeed answer the question of "most efficient TR questing".

The quest times don't include running from quest to quest and they're averages. Depending on the group and luck, wizking might take 6 minutes or 20 minutes.
The usual route. Shrine 4:28 (killing everything), Rahmat 1:20 (invis), Raiyum 12:56 (invis, all opts), Korush 1:44 (invis), Mines 3:04 (invis, break 11 barrels for bonus xp), OOB 9:18 (killing everything), Raid Vulkoorim 4:29 (killing everything). I don't run chains or adq. Both are horrible xp/min.

I've been taking breaks like this for 10 years now, I think. I play for a few months and then I'm off again for half a year until new content shows up.

One way of avoiding the "dreaded" aspect of that is your build. Some claim that you can just put 11 X on top of 9 Warlock and not see much diff.

Basically this. Get utterdark+cone+2 blasts, slap a bunch of metamagics and fire/light spellpower on it and you're golden. 9 warlock levels should be enough to get you dimension door and some other goodies as well to speed up the process. Heroic warlock alone is such a powerhouse that I didn't notice much difference when I was running epic elites in shadowdancer (instead of my normal exalted angel) for 6 martial past lives. I did miss the wings, though.

EDIT: I was just thinking what makes a good zerger (name that I'm happy to wear). I have a feeling people think it's about running to the end without any regard to the quest you're in. I don't think that's what it's about - running to the end usually gets you into red alert and killed. Zerging is all about knowing everything about the quest you're in and then some more. You have to know to a meter when to fight, when to run, how long can you run before yellow/orange/red alert, how many mobs can you handle at that point, is there an obscure game mechanic you can apply to speed it up and so on. There's usually a sweet spot in any quest that makes it safer/faster/ridiculous - be it wall jumping in Maze, wall chandeliers in basically anywhere or just a good old rogue hireling who can magically see all the traps without needing to search, thus speeding up the trap removal.
It's a bit of a science and I'm enjoying it.

[C-Dog]

9 warlock levels should be enough to get you dimension door and some other goodies as well to speed up the process.

'Locks can take DD @ 7, then have to choose between T-Port and Evard's at 10 (and a 10/10 split is fine for all but Druid PL).

o http://ddowiki.com/page/Warlock

[Grynberg]

'Locks can take DD @ 7, then have to choose between T-Port and Evard's at 10 (and a 10/10 split is fine for all but Druid PL).

o http://ddowiki.com/page/Warlock

Yeah I knew dd was at 7 but I figured the 9th was for the extra pact spell and 1 more eldritch blast dice. I do like the occasional evard's but it's not as important as the rest of warlocks abilities (cone+2 blasts). Then again, why not.
That's weird, druid was introduced before warlock. Thought the order was original classes alphabetically, monk, fvs, arti, druid, warlock.
Had to check quick and you're right!

[C-Dog]

I'd be torn - Evards for no-save CC, or T-Port for MUCH faster quest access. Def a ymmv, depends on whether you're having trouble in quests. (I ~think~ if I was doing RXP, I'd prly need to grab Evards, but that's me...)

Yeah I knew dd was at 7 but,,,

I figured ~you~ knew, just posting as a general fyi.

The Druid/Warlock thing... yeah, caused some confusion at the time,. still does. No idea why that order got switched, but it did. Is what it is. <shrugs>

General FYI: http://ddowiki.com/page/Past_Life_Feats#Dominant_class

[jalont]

I'd be torn - Evards for no-save CC, or T-Port for MUCH faster quest access. Def a ymmv, depends on whether you're having trouble in quests. (I ~think~ if I was doing RXP, I'd prly need to grab Evards, but that's me...)



I figured ~you~ knew, just posting as a general fyi.

The Druid/Warlock thing... yeah, caused some confusion at the time,. still does. No idea why that order got switched, but it did. Is what it is. <shrugs>

General FYI: http://ddowiki.com/page/Past_Life_Feats#Dominant_class

Teleport can be scrolled.

[Grynberg]

Teleport can be scrolled.

This. I'm usually carrying a hefty number of utility scrolls with me on heroic levels to save spell slots and equipment slots for some of the situational stuff: teleport, greater teleport, greater restoration, resurrection, fire shield, heal, greater heroism, jump, shadow walk, true seeing. On epics, most of this becomes irrelevant besides teleports/resses.
Btw. You can use teleport scrolls at level 7 and warlock UMD is as insane as the rest of this class. I had UMD 40+ at level 9 for 100% heal scrolls.

I tested out the reaper XP last night and this is an amazing boost to the experience. R1 doesn't add much time speeed-wise, but allows you to run one more quest without maluses.
Went from level 9 to 12 with three quests in about 2 hours - spies, shadow crypt and von3. Yay for changes

EDIT: I also found out that reapers and invis don't mix too well. They see through invis like you're in plain sight and the fear reapers put a DoT on you that will eventually kill you even if they're half a dungeon away. So anything I need to invis has to be done on elite.

[mrphlegm]

EDIT: I also found out that reapers and invis don't mix too well. They see through invis like you're in plain sight and the fear reapers put a DoT on you that will eventually kill you even if they're half a dungeon away. So anything I need to invis has to be done on elite.

Some champs have true seeing/see invisible as well.
Theres something with the new aggro mechanics that screws a bit with invis zerging; if you run close to other mobs so that they start looking for you, but not necessarily spot you, they will get "firm" aggro once something else spots you. So you run through half the dungeon and a champ spots you and theres instant red alert...
Also it seems like reapers have longer aggro range and will automatically alert groups of mobs nearby which can make some quests a bit fubar. Quite noticeable in creeping death, though that's not a good quest for xp zerging anyway i think.

[Grynberg]

Some champs have true seeing/see invisible as well.
Theres something with the new aggro mechanics that screws a bit with invis zerging; if you run close to other mobs so that they start looking for you, but not necessarily spot you, they will get "firm" aggro once something else spots you. So you run through half the dungeon and a champ spots you and theres instant red alert...
Also it seems like reapers have longer aggro range and will automatically alert groups of mobs nearby which can make some quests a bit fubar. Quite noticeable in creeping death, though that's not a good quest for xp zerging anyway i think.

I'm on my third racial past life now and I've gotten the hang of this. Reapers have to die during zerging, champs i don't mind much. The extra experience is more then worth the few stops on the way, I should be able to cut my RTR time down to 13 hours now so I can watch the snooker world championships for the rest of the week. Go Ronnie!