First Life Sorcerer - level 17. Please help with a build

[TehLexinator]

So I have a PM wizard (22) on another server, but not really liking it. Just found out I have a level 17 sorc on yet another server with 0 action points spent. He is a Drow.

What should I go for? EK? A Savant? How do I compete with the crossbow running people shooting the **** out of everything?
As of now, I just feel like I am being carried through things. Should I invest anything in the Drow tree? Like Charisma?

Saw an EK just tear stuff up and didn't get a chance to ask him for his build because he left group right after completing a run.

Sorry for the noob questions. A lot seems to have changed since I last played.

Thanks all.

[janave]

What should I go for? EK? A Savant? How do I compete with the crossbow running people shooting the **** out of everything?


Thanks all.

I would suggest not to compete with them, especially not as a fresh Sorc. Putting down AoE cc, web, disco, mass hold person/monster, etc. helps them kite less, and complete the instances faster. Sorcerer is also strong in content with clusters of undead and constructs, the AoE radius of some of your spells like delayed fireball is very large.

Removing elemental immunities from bosses also helps the entire party.

I would not recommend melee, it might be tempting but your options are probably even worse as a starting Sorcerer. Wizard EK works really well however due to Palemaster tree's defense and healing, and the extra feats dont hurt either for a hybrid caster-melee, Harper gives full INT to atk/damage with a trance, so dont need to compromise there either.

[unbongwah]

Drow is fine for a first-life sorc: up to +4 CHA and Darkfire SLA is sorta useful (though probably not worth the APs anymore).

https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...eroic-Sorcerer

I prefer Air+Fire Savant for most content / leveling purposes, but Air+Water is better for specific foes (e.g., devils who are usually fire & electric-immune or resistant).

https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...Sorcerer-Build

Strimtom goes all-in on Fire Savant with heavy EK investment for the defensive benefits. Not what I would recommend for a non-Tiefling first-lifer, but some good info in there regardless.

[TehLexinator]

Thank you both.

So should I stick to my Wizard then? He is 22. Also have a Paladin at 19, but he is just bad now. Melee damage is low and I died 3 times in a single quest while those that ran with me just xbowed everything while taking virtually no damage.

[Pyed-Pyper]

Thank you both.

So should I stick to my Wizard then? He is 22. Also have a Paladin at 19, but he is just bad now. Melee damage is low and I died 3 times in a single quest while those that ran with me just xbowed everything while taking virtually no damage.

"Which toon," you say? Ask a different question.

You were active on different servers? Which server do you like best?

I'd use that as my starting point, then either continue working with the characters available or start a new one. That said, I'd avoid melees for now.

[TehLexinator]

"Which toon," you say? Ask a different question.

You were active on different servers? Which server do you like best?

I'd use that as my starting point, then either continue working with the characters available or start a new one. That said, I'd avoid melees for now.

I was active at some point in time. Haven't played in 2+ years. Probably longer on most characters.

Just came back a while ago, and checking to see what I have, what's viable, etc.

Used to love melee, but my paladin, fighter, and barb seem a lot weaker than I remember. If course it could be because everyone is just so much better and rushes everything while kiting.

[unbongwah]

The current meta is dominated by Inquisitives and sorcerers, AFAICT, but probably what's really holding you back vs other players is they're benefiting from all the power creep in recent years (since whenever you stopped playing) from the latest raid gear, past lives (there's now four forms of reincarnation with past-life feats for each), etc. and you aren't. So my first suggestion would be: stop comparing yourself to zergers who out-DPS you by a country mile, you've got a ways to go to catch up to them. If you need time to relearn how to play, you're better off soloing with training wheels than joining PUGs where it doesn't matter if you pike.

[TehLexinator]

The current meta is dominated by Inquisitives and sorcerers, AFAICT, but probably what's really holding you back vs other players is they're benefiting from all the power creep in recent years (since whenever you stopped playing) from the latest raid gear, past lives (there's now four forms of reincarnation with past-life feats for each), etc. and you aren't. So my first suggestion would be: stop comparing yourself to zergers who out-DPS you by a country mile, you've got a ways to go to catch up to them. If you need time to relearn how to play, you're better off soloing with training wheels than joining PUGs where it doesn't matter if you pike.

Thanks

Yeah, I think I need to solo for a while. Because this is not the game I played a few years ago.

Sad how I can stop playing WoW for 2 years, and catch up in a few days; while always contributing in groups.
In DDO this is just not the case. Even PUG groups utterly destroy me and make me feel useless.

[mikarddo]

Thanks

Yeah, I think I need to solo for a while. Because this is not the game I played a few years ago.

Sad how I can stop playing WoW for 2 years, and catch up in a few days; while always contributing in groups.
In DDO this is just not the case. Even PUG groups utterly destroy me and make me feel useless.

In heroics - level 12 to 20 - I think you can make the sorc work decently. You wont be top dog but you will be able to contribute.

Air Sorc Savant tree + some EK for more spell power / some defense.
Use Chain Lightning (unmeta), Ball of Lightning (unmeta), and the 3 SLA from the Savant tree (fully meta).
In groups - dont bother using CC or instakills, just nuke away with the above spells. Obviously make/find some decent spell power / spell lore for lightning spells.
I am pretty sure you will be able to contribute reasonable with such a setup though the power gamers will still out kill you.

[unbongwah]

Sad how I can stop playing WoW for 2 years, and catch up in a few days; while always contributing in groups.
In DDO this is just not the case. Even PUG groups utterly destroy me and make me feel useless.

It's been a long time since I played WoW, but IIRC the whole deal there was "level to cap then farm raids ad nauseum" or "make a new character." There was nothing comparable to DDO's Reincarnation system; and WoW classes are a lot more rigid than DDO's. The downside is there's much less variety in WoW builds; the upside is everyone is on a relatively level playing field apart from best-in-slot raid gear and player skill.

The long-term power creep is both the best and worst thing about DDO, IMO. It gives the old-timers reasons to stick around to farm more past lives etc. But it also makes the more casual players feel left out when they join a PUG full of zergers and they're struggling just to keep up. It doesn't help that DDO's game balance is, well, not very balanced when it comes to Reapers / endgame builds. The meta is always shifting and frequently it seems there's a narrow window of opportunity to play your favorite character rather than constantly chasing Flavors of the Month. E.g., the best time to play a S&B paladin was right after Update 23 buffed paladins and added the Vanguard tree; but that was over 5 years ago and it's all been downhill since then. Fortunately, paladins are supposed to get a buff (probably) next year; we'll see if the improvements make it worthwhile again.

In any case, you came back at a good time to play a sorc again. But your gear presumably needs a major upgrade. If you've bought the Sharn expansion, you should probably start looking there. Otherwise you can always fall back on the old standbys, the Cannith Challenges caster gear. Good luck!

[janave]

Thanks

Yeah, I think I need to solo for a while. Because this is not the game I played a few years ago.

Sad how I can stop playing WoW for 2 years, and catch up in a few days; while always contributing in groups.
In DDO this is just not the case. Even PUG groups utterly destroy me and make me feel useless.

If it helps you feel better, otherwise active players with lots of passives also occasionally feel useless on characters that arent exactly running the newest "Shouldn't have passed Q&A" cookie cutter meta.

It is just the way of DDO.

Right now it is DXB because it works on everything all the way to level cap, extremely cheap, and fairly easy to play. You can toss it on a Barbarian and make it work, or use Artificer, Ranger and Rogue for extreme synergies, like most people do.

The next one in line is likely Witch Doctor, ehr I mean Alchemist.