The New Difficulty: CORE

[EdsanDarkbane]

Core Difficulty's purpose is a new take on progression and danger.

Core difficulty uses the original rules that DDO was released with as well as the following:

No MRR,PRR. Dodge is a miscellaneous bonus to AC.
As a reminder Stat Items are reverted to their original level thresholds, a +4 Stat Item is minimum level 8.

Core Difficulty can be played without any extra difficulty selections.

Key Feature is the ability to add previous Hardcore Season challenges to quests.

Resurrection Shrines are reduced to one use per quest, and if two or more exist whichever is used first locks the others.

Rest Shrines are reduced to half of there normal effectiveness. No additional rule.

No Bound Items, No Bound to Account, no Cannith crafted items are allowed.

Characters are allowed to purchase from weapon and armor vendors in the Harbor and Korthos.

Each Character is allowed up to 5 healing potions. No other potions are allowed.

Each Hardcore Season Challenge now has its own Favor Faction.

Each Level grants the player an augment of their choice that is restricted to Core rules minimum level.

Additionally the augment once slotted is always leveled against the level of the quest played.

The player has full control over stat choice or effect of the augment. They may be freely removed and reslotted without penalty, once Core Items with Slots are purchased from the Core Vendor.

Casters are more specialized. When selecting an augment that would effect spell DC, they may choose a universal DC, or a specific school, but they may not have both. If both are equipped then highest value is applied.

This rule also stands for spell power and spell lore. Only one spell power/lore stat may be enhanced, universal or other specified. Only the highest value applies.

Mnemonic Potions are not allowed.


If a character in the party is killed the enemy is emboldened and a champion is summoned along with a number of his minions. The number is determined by the number of living party members.


Players may earn special Core Items by earning favor. These items may be slotted and reslotted at no cost. These items persist through Reincarnation, and do not count as BTC, or BTA, for the purpose of Core Rules. They may be purchased from the Core Vendor(armors, weapons, accessories, ect..)

This mode is available from quests 1-14, we will move forward with quests up level 24, after a six month period of feed back from the live servers.



Anyone want to add something else?

[Saekee]

do you think they have the tech to do this? I am not sure.

I would do a permadeath difficulty—if the toon dies, it starts over at level 1. Otherwise, some sick xp boost. Woukd make a great piker toon anyway…

[mikarddo]

Why? Is there a reason you want this? I am hsving a hard time seeing the point.