What to do when very new

[Sorcsia_DDO]

My highest level character is 5. The next closest is 3 and barely out of Korthos. The level 5 is a rogue and has completed most of Stormreach, but got stymied at Irestone Inlet. Just too many big bands to do alone even while quaffing healing potions.

I do not mind grouping but have difficulty finding them. My question is, wither to now? I cannot imagine any other areas get easier.

[mikarddo]

My highest level character is 5. The next closest is 3 and barely out of Korthos. The level 5 is a rogue and has completed most of Stormreach, but got stymied at Irestone Inlet. Just too many big bands to do alone even while quaffing healing potions.

I do not mind grouping but have difficulty finding them. My question is, wither to now? I cannot imagine any other areas get easier.

Wrt group it depends which server you are on. Orion probably as the most groups atm. If you do join a group dont be surprised if you sometimes end up with people that run much faster and are much stronger than you, thats expected. Make sure to say you are new to the game and would like a bit of help learning how to play the quests.

Irestone is a tough and long quest. Dont be surprised you didnt make it.

What difficulty are you playing on? If you buy a cleric hireling from a vendor you should be easily able to run almost every quest on Normal, most on Hard and some on Elite. Dont try Reaper just yet though.

[Sorcsia_DDO]

That character is on Orien although I have some others elsewhere. I have just been trying out different classes with different builds. I generally run on Hard since Normal proved too easy for the most part. I never considered a hireling since I hardly have any coin to speak of. The gear I have is just what I find in treasure chests and quest rewards so nothing fancy. In other games they would call them "greens." As far as stats, I have played D&D before so generally know the concepts although that is not near as fast paced as online games.

[Nebless]

Irestone Inlet is just plan HARD. It might be better to skip it at this time and come back when you have a couple of more levels behind you. A straight Rogue isn't the best at those kind of stand up fights.

If you're curious when else to go you can either google DDO quests by level or open up your Adventurer's panel in game and sort the quests by level.

Shan to Kor, 3 Barrel Cove or Delera's Tomb should work better for you.

[KoobTheProud]

Get a Cleric or FVS hireling and set them to active on their bar. They'll distract some mobs for you and they will generally heal faster on active than on normal setting.

At level 5 as a new player I would do the Waterworks chain and then the Seal of Shan-to-Kor chain if you have that pack. Also do the 2 quests just before you get to Wayfinder Dal for Shan-to-kor chain. All of those quests give you Coinlords favor and you will be close to unlocking an extra backpack slot by the time you are done with them.

If you are completely F2P this list will help: https://ddowiki.com/page/Guide_to_Fr...lay#Quest_list

Click on the quest in the list before you enter and just glance to the right side of the page. Irestone Inlet is listed as Extreme Challenge, it's one of the few F2P quests that is very hard for new players.

[Sorcsia_DDO]

Thank you for the feed back. It will take me a while to decipher what that means. I went VIP because I never liked any of the Free to Pay schemes. I am unsure what "packs" I have since I bought the game aiming at the basic stuff and am trying it out. That character has been in the Waterworks (I think), but it sounds like there is more than the one quest I did in there.

[KoobTheProud]

Yes, there are a couple of quest chains in there. The first one is the guard that gives the quest which turns into 2 quests as I recall with a continuation quest inside the first. then he sends you up to the other end of the Waterworks for a 2 or 3 instance chain there. It's good XP and good favor all around. At level 5 I would try it on Hard as a new VIP. The traps will kill you first time around but then you know where they are and all you really have to watch out for is the Kobold Shamans.

[MJtheKing]

Thank you for the feed back. It will take me a while to decipher what that means. I went VIP because I never liked any of the Free to Pay schemes. I am unsure what "packs" I have since I bought the game aiming at the basic stuff and am trying it out. That character has been in the Waterworks (I think), but it sounds like there is more than the one quest I did in there.

Since you are VIP, all the packs are available to you except for expansions. At your level you're only missing out on Saltmarsh and Feywild. Isle of Dread, Ravenloft, Sharn, Shadowfell, and Menace of the Underdark are the other expansions that are higher levels. They are not necessary, BUT they are the more popular quests and provide the best gear for their levels. So down the road you may want to pick up some expansions. Thy go on sale a few times throughout the year.

DDOwiki.com is a great resource. Here is a list of quests by level. https://ddowiki.com/page/Quests_by_level_and_XP Don't feel like you need to do every quest. Also Rogues can be difficult to solo, so bring a hireling or find a group and let them know you're new and hopefully they will slow down some so you can keep up.

[archest]

dont look at AC as the solution to lowering your damage taken when your hit.
in DDO it is the chance of being hit at all or not.
PRR and MRR lowers the actual damage.

rogue are a hit and run type of character. and move to the rear after trapping or after argoing the mob.
you want to draw some of the mob away to kill it then draw some more.

using a bow, and sneaking.
good spot skill

you can hit 1 guy from far away to not alert others in some cases using mark target and open shot can 1 shot 1 kill it with good sneak attack dice.

in reaper they chase you all the way across the map but in hard and elite they will respawn when they get too far from there own spawn.

learn to run backwards and get some speed item.
I use the boost for trapping +6 to skills but they have speed boosts as well will pull you away from the mob.

other skills for mob control and such you want to try and control the battle.
I like fearsome in my armor.
so when 3 or 4 guys attack 1 or 2 hit me and then run away in fear while I only have to fight the 2 left instead of getting hit by 4 at the same time.


Its hard to get a party started when you open the quest on normal.
open elite. your vip your an opener.


How to make a LFM source from the forum will help go at level so if your level 6 you open all the level 4's on elite. this give you an advantage.
make sure your LFM is public so people can see it in the group window.
make sure the level of the quest members see is the same level you are.
max level who can join setting for each time you open a new lfm verify this.
you can open an lfm and still have 1 , 1 set for the public group when its a level 6 quest.
even you wont be able to see it clearly in the lfm group window.

https://i.imgur.com/rT1u1cA.gif
item 1 and item marked 2 is for the max level who can join the group.
make sure the 2nd number is your level or greater.
# marked 4 is where you set the group to public during creation.

this will tell you all the level 4 quest .... available in the game
https://ddowiki.com/page/Adventure_Compendium
do level 4's then level 5's and such.
use the top of the column to sort the list.

[Scrag]

My highest level character is 5. The next closest is 3 and barely out of Korthos. The level 5 is a rogue and has completed most of Stormreach, but got stymied at Irestone Inlet. Just too many big bands to do alone even while quaffing healing potions.

I do not mind grouping but have difficulty finding them. My question is, wither to now? I cannot imagine any other areas get easier.

What server are you on? Might have some luck digging things out of the server boards.

A rouge I imagine would be pretty tough, but healbots (favored souls, clerics from hirelings) really just help things along. If you are playing on normal or hard, Irestone is pretty easy, with a pet healbot, and ranged gear. Just plink away at the casters until they die, and when the melee guys finally close, switch weapons. I will be honest, just going slow is all it takes.

Get REAL familiar with ddowiki.com because it is insanely helpful.

For example:
https://ddowiki.com/page/Quests

Search for your level column, click on wilderness area, and backtrack your way to how to get to the quest area, like so:

https://ddowiki.com/page/Quests -> wilderness adv areas -> level 5 column

https://ddowiki.com/page/Quests_by_l...Level_5_quests


Everything should be here

[C-Dog]

First, welcome to the game!

My highest level character is 5. ... a rogue and has completed most of Stormreach...

"...completed most of The Harbor", the first area beyond Korthos - "Stormreach" is the larger city & surroundings where the majority of the quests are based, more or less. (No big, you'll learn the vocab.)

o https://ddowiki.com/page/Places

My highest level character is 5. ... a rogue ... got stymied at Irestone Inlet...

Many players make it a policy to run quests with a base no higher than -2 under their character level, and moving up +1 in quest difficulty when they move up in Character Level.

Irestone is Level 4, and generally agreed one of the harder quests for its level. So it's not surprising that a Level 5 would have problems, doubly since you can be max Level 6 and not be penalized for XP.

(There are some typical exceptions, chains that start at one level and move up in level. Waterworks starts with two Level 3 quests and then moves immediately to two Level 4 quests. Shan-to-Kor starts with a Level 3, then moves to 4 and then to 5; it's more convenient to not quit the tunnels and then come back in, so usually a strong group either just toughs it out at Level 5 (starting quest base 3 +2), or Level 6 (losing the bonus for the first quest, but being tougher for the subsequent level 4 and 5 quests.) Tangleroot and Sorrowdusk have an even wider spread, and so on.)

I generally run on Hard since Normal proved too easy for the most part.

When running quests, there is a thing called "Favor", and it's a good thing, and you earn it by running quests on higher difficulties. For max Favor, you want to run on Elite; you only have to do it once, repeating the same difficulty doesn't help.

Favor gets your character little freebies and boosts each life, and are generally good to chase.

o https://ddowiki.com/page/Favor

So, between Favor and Experience, the sweet spot is to run at Elite but not have your character more than +2 levels over the base quest level. Since Elite is also +2 levels over the base level, this also means you don't want to run over the effective quest level, base +2. So, for Character Level 5, you should be running base Level 3 (Elite = 5) quests and quest chains.

(If you want to go back and "clean up" favor later, at a much higher Character Level, there is no Favor penalty, even if you might earn little or no XP.)

I never considered a hireling since I hardly have any coin to speak of.

Hirelings are not that expensive, last (at least!) an hour of actual questing, and are (almost?) necessary for many who solo, depending on the build. For better or worse, it's often the price of soloing.

I have just been trying out different classes with different builds. ... As far as stats, I have played D&D before so generally know the concepts although that is not near as fast paced as online games.

Hokay, be very careful here - DDO is not like any edition of D&D that you've ever seen or played! So all your tabletop build experience is of little value here! Favorite tabletop builds will probably fail. The good news is that there will be unexpected ways to achieve what you are looking for!

Strongly suggest you follow forum-approved builds from the forums, at least for your first run. 95% of new players "my own build" attempts fail*, and the 5% are just lucky.

(* my first two certainly did! )

Later, once you get a feel for what does/not work, then you can go off the reservation - but until then, use something that's been proven "no fail".


And so, finally, we get to your actual question...

My question is, wither to now? I cannot imagine any other areas get easier.

As explained above, at Level 5, you "should" be running Level 3 quests.

Up to you whether to "hold" at level 5 and finish them off, or level up and then worry about it - different players adopt different leveling and Favor strategies depending on their own playstyle preferences.

The Wiki can be your friend - here is a list of quests, sortable by level etc. etc.:

o https://ddowiki.com/page/Quests_by_level_and_XP

(And here is a list of packs, with levels they contain:

o https://ddowiki.com/page/Adventure_Packs )

What server are you on? ...

That character is on Orien although I have some others elsewhere...

[TitusOvid]

Hi Sorcsia,
if you like, I can help you out with a bit of equipment and platinum. I can also refer you to a good guild.

The game can be pretty overwhelming especially because the quests or not balanced. Some quests are a cake walk the other a nightmare and they are the same level! It happens, don't worry you will be fine.

Consider joining the ingame Titan channel on Orien. You can as for help and advise there and might get a faster response to a current problem. I explained how to join here.

Don't hesitate to contact me here, ingame or on the discord (see my signature).

Cheers,
Titus

[Sorcsia_DDO]

Once again, thank you for the information. Lingo is something I have never caught on to anywhere, especially initialisms and acronyms. That is just me. In other games I have a tough time with help pages because they are almost all written that way which may have answered my questions, but I never knew since it was a foreign language (or seemed like it).

I shall comb through your advice and glean what I can. It will probably take a few days. I shall let you know how I fare!

[C-Dog]

Lingo is something I have never caught on to anywhere, especially initialisms and acronyms.

You're not alone - at the top of every Wiki page is a header w/ commonly used links; one is "Glossary".

o https://ddowiki.com/page/Glossary

... I never knew since it was a foreign language (or seemed like it).

I shall comb through your advice and glean what I can...

"comb"? "glean"?!!! I do not think "foreign" means what you think it means.

[Ddealti]

Hi and welcome.
I just got my first toon to level 18 as a Rogue16/F1/W1
The wizard splash was only useful for Shield wand (your friend) and I think UMD might suffice.
A Shield wand it wonderful for keeping magic missles from whittling you down.
I also carry a set of elemental protection potions, along with protection from evil and Aid, that are my standard buffs.

Bluff is your friend. Bluff is your game changer. Bluff lets you clear halls and rooms while taking almost no damage. Best AC is don't get hit.

Sneak until you activate the closest enemy. Hit bluff, and back up to pull them out of trigger range for the other. When they run up to you, hit them with your best attacks, and they typically won't even get a chance to hit you. I will make it to boss fights only down a handful of hit points. Rarely even need to use heal potions. Until the boss fights. They are there own problem.

In rooms, move up to the door NEXT to it, and you can open then door and drop to sneak (which should be assigned as an easy click, so you can pop in and out of it) without being seen. Then carefully pull the room's occupants out to the hallway one by one.

BEWARE, if they are ranged or spellcasters they don't pull, they just attack you from a distance. So pull melee, and then sneak in and backstab the biggest threat. The remainder you deal with the best you can, but you should come out alive and slightly beat up.

Learning bluff was my game changer. When you get Assassinate, you just slay. One at a time.

My other game changer was assigning my hot bar to the keyboard. A quick keystroke now changes my weapons. A quick keystroke triggers my AoE attacks, like Thunderstone. A series of quick keystrokes trigger all of my specialty attacks, in sequence, when I am facing a boss. That and a 4 button trackball, and I can finally react fast enough to keep up with the game. My hot bar mainly is so I can track cooldowns for my special attacks.

Early game, the Great crossbow from the bartender on Korthos was my main weapon. Back pedaling with it cleared Korthos' wilderness.

When you get in the **** backpedaling with your ranged weapon is a perfectly acceptable strategy. Your main defense is don't get hit.

Tips from these veterans and ddowiki are invaluable.

I hope this helps.

BTW, I splashed Fighter1 as my second level, for the bonus feat and to get access to more weapons. Sneak attacking with a Great Club is interesting, before TWF really kicks in. But it did cost my my Rogue/Assassin capstone, so I don't know if it was worth the trade off. TWF with dual longswords is interesting.

[C-Dog]

I'm surprised you didn't just use one of the three Wizard spell slots for Shield. Yeah, there's a small ASF %, but it's not an "in combat" type spell, just cast until you get it, profit. :/

BTW, I splashed Fighter1 as my second level, for the bonus feat and to get access to more weapons. Sneak attacking with a Great Club is interesting, before TWF really kicks in. But it did cost my my Rogue/Assassin capstone, so I don't know if it was worth the trade off. TWF with dual longswords is interesting.

Typically(!), a splash like that is worth it if...

1) You do it early and it makes leveling a lot faster/easier/more fun...
...and...
2) You are only going to 20 and TR immediately(ish), so you only "lose your capstone" for as long as it takes to farm 20 Tokens of the Twelve.

If only one of those, then it may or may not be. If neither, then it was pro'ly a mistake.

(Also, sometimes the capstone just isn't that good, depending on the build - a very few trees are like that. Then there's often no reason not to multi to 18/+2.)

[Sorcsia_DDO]

"comb"? "glean"?!!! I do not think "foreign" means what you think it means.

I am a writer! I use words as much for the feel as for the meaning

[the_one_dwarfforged]

I'm surprised you didn't just use one of the three Wizard spell slots for Shield. Yeah, there's a small ASF %, but it's not an "in combat" type spell, just cast until you get it, profit. :/

Nightshield.

[Ddealti]

I'm surprised you didn't just use one of the three Wizard spell slots for Shield. Yeah, there's a small ASF %, but it's not an "in combat" type spell, just cast until you get it, profit. :/


Typically(!), a splash like that is worth it if...

1) You do it early and it makes leveling a lot faster/easier/more fun...
...and...
2) You are only going to 20 and TR immediately(ish), so you only "lose your capstone" for as long as it takes to farm 20 Tokens of the Twelve.

If only one of those, then it may or may not be. If neither, then it was pro'ly a mistake.

(Also, sometimes the capstone just isn't that good, depending on the build - a very few trees are like that. Then there's often no reason not to multi to 18/+2.)

1st time through, not sure what I am going to do at 20, so it was pro'ly a mistake. Holding at 18 to farm Sharn right now.


Regarding the wizard splash, since I could get Shield on a wand, I took, for my spells, Hypnotize, Color Spray, for CC, and Sonic Blast as an attack, but I never managed to use them effectively.

Learning.
Thanks for your advice.

[C-Dog]

Regarding the wizard splash, since I could get Shield on a wand, I took, for my spells, Hypnotize, Color Spray, for CC, and Sonic Blast as an attack, but I never managed to use them effectively.

I have several alts that use a 1-level Wizard splash - none pretend that those can be offensive spell slots, even at the lowest Heroic levels.

You take Wizard for the free Metamagic Feat, that's the main reason (and possibly the only "convincing" one, realistically). Maximize for Halfing DM of Healing, Extend for Elf Displacement, possibly Quicken for Human panic-button Dimension Door (altho' that would be more a HC thing). The spell slots are gravy on top of that (and a 1 AP Invisibility is handy at times, depending).

Even if you start w 20 Int, you typically have no Enhancements buffing them, no Spellpower/DC gear or Feats, no nuthin' that allows a real "Caster" to land those reliably. Those are utility spells: +10 Jump, Shield, and Expeditious Retreat (swapped for Swim later when gear covers +25%+ speed). Summon Animal 1 can be amazingly useful as a distraction, and I can see Sonic Blast for box-breaking. Master's Touch for certain builds that rely on it (esp 2-weapon fighting that can't scroll it!) Possibly Detect Secret Doors for lowbie-heroic insta-search, a nice QoL bump, but that won't be useful for long. Few others are realistic.