Who is this build for?
This build will work for anyone but it's designed for free-to-play players creating a new character with only 28-point build available. The build will perform well in groups but is optimized for soloing content. This build is not presented as an optimized end-game build with raid gear, tomes, store items, past lifes, etc. but rather is intended to work well without all those things. The race and class are free-to-play and paladin provides a really useful past-life feat if you reincarnate and start over at level 1 again.
General Plan for This Build
I am going to post videos of this build running content solo. The build isn't intended to be only for soloing, but since it's generally a good idea for new players to run content solo on lower difficulties to learn the game this build includes everything needed to solo content including reaper difficulties. I will run all content on normal and hard difficulty and will then solo reaper 4 levels above the level on 1 or 2 skull reaper. The reason for running 4 levels above is that it only comes with a -10% over the level penalty and still includes all first-time bonuses. Being 4 levels over helps tremendously as the extra power from 2 levels helps make up the power gap you have as a first-life character. Bravery bonus isn't a big deal since you want to run solo on normal initially to learn the content anyhow. I am going to post all content ran (unless I run into a technical issue) so you will see some normal, hard and even wilderness runs. It's intended for new players that want to get familiar with questing before running it.
Some difficult quests will be skipped and ran on elite as part of a level 20 and 30 clean-up run rather than on reaper as we want to get maximum favor but do not want to spend too many cycles failing content that is too difficult.
This character was born on June 7, 2020 and as I level up I will post videos and update this post with anything note-able. I'll link the level updates in this main thread which includes stat bumps, skills selected and any gear swaps (and where the gear came from). Please note I will not be leveling this character up super fast - if you want to level a first-life character super fast you can run the first life on normal to 30, then the second life on hard and then start running for favor on life 3. I want to get 5000 favor for a +2 and +5 tome each life and accumulate some gear as well. Also, it's my belief by running difficult content starting your first life you will develop better habits. Running difficult solo even helps more in this regard. NOTE: I have several other things going on besides this project so I won't be running through this life super fast, but rather spending a few hours most days on this project. Also, it is much quicker to run on Normal to 20, but I opted for a slower progression of running Normal then Hard then Reaper/Elite so I can earn my +5 tome this life and run the build on reaper even without optimized gear and past lifes.
This plan is customizable if it's not working. For example, if you are finding running Reaper to hard @ 4 levels above you can run elite 4 levels above or even 6 levels above this first life. The key is to get used to more difficult content and to get the additional favor. Even at 6 levels above you will get more than enough experience to reach level 20 and 30.
NOTE: After running through this plan and receiving feedback, I would recommend that new players run quests on Normal for the first life, Hard for the 2nd life, Elite for the 3rd life and Reaper for life 4. The build will work for your first 3 class and racial lifes so this is a more progressive approach to increasing dfficulty. Although I ran the build on a first life character on a new free-to-play account - I do have significant experience with the game that allows me to start with reaper right away. Also, if you join a group for R1 you should be able to contribute well as a first-lifer - the N/H/E/R1 progression is primarily intended for folks that solo.
Level 1 Initial Creation
Class: Rogue
Race: Human
Feats: Two-Handed Fighting, Insightful Reflexes
Starting Stats: 28 Point Build
Str: 15
Dex: 8
Con: 14
Int: 14
Wis: 10
Cha: 14
Note: Each character comes with a lesser heart. When you unlock 32-point build you can use that heart to add more stat points or save it for another life.
Skill Points
Class Skills (1 point per rank)
Balance: 4
Bluff: 4
Disable Device: 4
Haggle: 4
Jump: 4
Open Lock: 4
Search: 4
Spot: 4
Tumble: 2
Use Magic Device: 4
Cross-Class Skills (1 point per 1/2 rank)
Concentration: 2 (4)
Heal: 1 (2)
Summary by Level
Level 1 - Rogue Level
Running Quests @ Level 1 and Taking Level 2: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...43#post6331343
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...wNm6N0XWT3TGtT
Level 2 - Rogue Level
Running Quests @ Level 1 and Taking Level 2: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/515625-First-Life-Human-Two-Handed-Fighting-Paladin-18-Rogue-2-for-Free-to-play-players?p=6331387#post6331387
Video Support: https://youtu.be/bBELp_Jfjzo
Level 3 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 3 and Taking Level 4: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...38#post6331638
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...TVpCgI0nlFcTke
Level 4 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 4 and Taking Level 5: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...01#post6332101
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis..._51m0_auBFOBle
Level 5 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 5 and Taking Level 6: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...28#post6332728
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...dY_ptRqbqBfKW6
Level 6 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 6 and Taking Level 7: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...21#post6333621
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...UNauW0jgOLdnlK
Level 7 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 7 and Taking Level 8: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...38#post6334038
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...CWLk3WOeyOSRT6
Level 8 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 8 and Taking Level 9: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...34#post6335234
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...nejyGEsOlANh-L
Level 9 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 9 and Taking Level 10: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...92#post6335692
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...shvXN0-1YlsaJE
Level 10 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 10 and Taking Level 11: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...03#post6337003
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...QmVk3FZIGrYgNU
Level 11 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 11 and Taking Level 12: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...70#post6338670
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...RnhzwK11cjjtXV
Level 12 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 12 and Taking Level 13: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...28#post6339428
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...fXV3T1UaLLS9TH
Level 13 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 13 and Taking Level 14: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...63#post6339963
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...9guFlx1Fk9APxV
Level 14 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 14 and Taking 15: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...40#post6341540
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...vnsdCfZMZfu0DJ
Level 15 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 15 and Taking 16: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...48#post6341948
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...W7g3guaFmL4Jjl
Level 16 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 16 and Taking 17: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...79#post6342679
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...Dpywk5Mp65VCKe
Level 17 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 17 and Taking 18: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...24#post6342924
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...cjB7uLOWd5nGHs
Level 18 - Paladin Level
Running Quests: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...26#post6343326
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...ODzNt5nFUjwrkB
Level 19 - Paladin Level
See Level 18 above and I took level 19 and 20 after completing Questing @ Level 18
Level 20 - Paladin Level
Running Quests @ Level 20 and Taking 21: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...95#post6344895
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...1Gic_-E_MgW37r
Level 21 - Epic Level
Running Quests @ Level 21 and Taking 22: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...88#post6346788
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...fqucrhiLbV_clR
Level 22 - Epic Level
Running Quests @ 22 and Taking 23: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...77#post6348677
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...Hju2l6aOBzWkyI
Level 23 - Epic Level
Running Quests @ 23 and Taking 24: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...05#post6348705
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...xrgp9-9GRXDLTK
Level 24 - Epic Level
Running Quests @ Level 24 and Taking 25: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...09#post6349109
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...OlqdRCjBauytq_
Level 25 - Epic Level
Running Quests @ Level 25 and Taking 26: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...97#post6349397
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...Mr_THNo9PV31zP
Level 26 - Epic Level
Running Quests @ Level 26 and Taking 27: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...74#post6349574
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...DwXSCaRr22MbkJ
Level 27 - Epic Level
Running Quests @ Level 27 and Taking 28: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...99#post6349999
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...BJP1J6_jJg7xbF
Level 28 - Epic Level
Running Quests @ Level 28 and Taking Levels 29 and 30: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...35#post6350635
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EI6tyLE7Fhy6lL
Level 29 - Epic Level
See Level 28 above and I took level 29 and 30 after completing Questing @ Level 28
Level 30 - Epic Level
Running Quests @ Level 30 followed by Epic and Heroic Reincarnations: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...80#post6359180
Video Support: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...4ah_3k1M2VXXeX
Video Support
The video support is intended to be more of a reference material rather than something that is watched all the way through. If you are having trouble with a specific quest I would suggest looking at the reaper version of the quest where I am usually being more careful with what I do. The videos are commercial-free but I am certainly not a professional. The first few levels there were some issues with voice capture being too high resulting in breathing and too many other noises (apologies), but as I progressed by level some of the issues were worked out or I made some small improvements. I recorded virtually everything I did (90%+ is definitely a reasonable estimate) but ran into a few technical issues and wasn't able to record a few. There is a large gap of missing videos from levels 17-19 quests. I will post those future lifes preferably when I am running those on reaper mode before 20. This life I ran those at level 20+ on Elite due to the level lockout.
Cumulative List of PITA quests saved for favor cleanup @ 20 or 30
Level 2 Stealthy Repossession - difficult quest for new players - won't be run on reaper so will be run as part of level 30 favor clean-up N/H/E
Level 4 Proof is the Poison - difficult quest for new players - won't be run on reaper so will be run as part of level 30 favor clean-up N/H/E
Level 6 The Price of Freedom - difficult mechanics for new players - won't be run on reaper so will be run as part of level 30 favor clean-up N/H/E
Level 6 Gladewatch Outpost Defense - difficult protect NPC mission for new players with many reaper spawns - won't be run on reaper so will be run as part of level 30 favor clean-up N/H/E
Level 7: Temple of Elemental Evil Part I and II - Difficult mechanics - won't be run on reaper so will be run as part of level 30 favor clean-up N/H/E
Level 7: The Pit - Difficult mechanics - won't be run on reaper so will be run as part of level 30 favor clean-up N/H/E
Level 8: Faithfully Departed - Difficult mechanics with two-handed fighting specialty combined with reapers/champions killing the Venerated - run on normal + hard and skipped on reaper
Level 8: The Xorian Cyper - Never tried soloing this with bank account and likely won't - will run with guildies as part of level 30 favor clean-up or it might be skipped entirely - N/H/E
Level 11: From Beyond the Grave - difficult mechanics for new players - won't be run on reaper so will be run as part of level 30 favor clean-up N/H/E
Level 11: Desert Caravan - Protect mission skipped on reaper
Level 11: Tomb of the Tormented - Painful to solo without a way to damage enemies killing the rats (typically AOE spellcasting or artificer rune arm)
Level 11: Tomb of the Forbidden - Can't be solo'd - requires at least 2 people
Level 12: Cursed Crypt - Flagging quests are on PITA list
Level 13: Memoirs of an Illusory Larcener - Hireling AI is glitchy in this quest - saving it for level 21
Note: As long as I reach 5,000 favor or higher to get my tome I may skip the PITA quests permanently. I will only run if required to get to 5,000 favor
** NOTE: These are quests that I won't be running on Reaper during heroic levels but will be running on Reaper @ Level 30. This is more of an efficiency play than a difficulty issue.
DDO STORE COUPON CODES USED AND SPECIAL BUNDLES PURCHASED
DDOFREEQUESTS: Grants all non-expansion packs in the game for free - Expired August 31, 2020
SOV2POT: Free 50% Sovereign XP Elixir - Expired Aug 6 even though it was advertised through August 8
HAPPY14: Free Dragon Sentient Jewel - good through December 31, 2020 (1 per account)
99 point Menace of the Underdark Expansion Deep Discount - Expired August 31, 2020 (regular price 2495)
99 point Shadowfell Conspiracy Expansion Deep Discount - Expired August 31, 2020 (regular price 2495)
Please take advantage of these discounts
Final Enhancements after Taking Level 20
Knights of the Chalice
Cores
- Slayer of Evil
- Courage of Heaven
- Slayer of Evil II
- Improved Courage of Heaven
- Slayer of Evil III
Tier 1
- Holy Combatant
- Improved Second Strikes x 3
Tier 2
- Adept Combatant
- Divine Might x 3
- Critical Mastery x3
- Exalted Cleave
- Melee Power Boost
Tier 3
- Holy Combatant
- Charisma
Tier 4
- Knights Training
- Censure Demons
- Vigor of Life
Tier 5
- Ascendancy
- Censure Outsiders
- Vigor of Life
- Avenging Cleave
- Holy Retribution
Sacred Defender
Cores
- Holy Bastion
- Sacred Defense
- Divine Righteousness
- Redemption
Tier 1
- Extra Lay on Hands x3
- Durable Defense x3
Tier 2
- Resilient Defense x3
- Defense Boost x3
- Instinctive Defense x 3
Tier 3
- Constitution
Tier 4
- Swift Defense
Human
Core
- Skill Boost
- Constitution
- Melee Power Boost
Tier 1
- Improved Recovery
- Awareness x3
Tier 2
- Great Weapon Aptitude x3
Tier 3
- Improved Recovery
- Heroism
Tier 4
- Greater Heroism