DDO Orien server catch all - Static Group nights Tuesday and Thursday 8PM EST

Have you guys filled up with players or is there still room for one more? I only started messing around with the game this evening, but I enjoyed what I've seen so far. I don't have my heart set on any particular class so I'm up for rolling whatever might be needed.

Though I may be buying the Drow race while it's on sale just because 13 year old me would have been super excited by the chance to play Drizzt.

A.) Yes you are more then welcome to join us.
b.) DON'T buy the drow, aside from only being useful in very specific builds you can unlock them through favor, save your T.P. and get something better.

gwartok wrote:

Well, I was thinking I'd try and get in on this so I thought i'd log in today and dabble a bit. It turns out I can't play though because it looks like they let the domain name expire, woops. :oops:

Looks like it's back in place today. I tried to get in on the weekend and kept getting weird errors; so I figured I had acquired a virus. Deleted Foxpro and the DDO startup program, reloaded Foxpro, but still got the odd web page instead of DDO.com. Only then checked DDOWIKI. Hopefully I can re-download the startup program tonight to be ready for tomorrows runs.

Anyone have thoughts on the new expansion? I'm thinking of purchasing the standard edition I have no idea if the extras are worth $20. Mostly wondering if the adventure packs are worthwhile.

Since I'm asking questions already, any thoughts on the artificer class? It looked interesting but I'm wondering about rolling a cleric or bard to start with...

gwartok wrote:

Anyone have thoughts on the new expansion? I'm thinking of purchasing the standard edition I have no idea if the extras are worth $20. Mostly wondering if the adventure packs are worthwhile.

Since I'm asking questions already, any thoughts on the artificer class? It looked interesting but I'm wondering about rolling a cleric or bard to start with...

The adventure packs might be cheaper for you to get if you wait for sales in the store. As for the the Expansion itself it all depends on how much you play. You cannot access any of the new areas until you are level 16.

The Artificer class is a good jack of all trades caster. They are not the best at anything they do but can take care of traps, DPS with spells and rune arms buff and attack at ranged (I'm currently playing a melee Artificer with the static group, but seeing an Artificer geared for melee is pretty rare) They also can be good healers if you drop a lot of plat to buy scrolls.

Bards are good to have around as their songs are great buffs and also the best crowd control you can get for epic quests. It does take some practice to be able to get the timing right when using songs for CC.

Clerics are the best healers in the game right now as they can have an AoE heal aura up at all times which will save you spell points between fights. If built right they can also do DPS with spells or melee. I'd never say no to more clerics.

One of the changes upcoming in the next patch (Monday!!!) is the ability to get a spell point bar on a class that is not a caster. If you equip a spell point item or have the Sorcerer past life feat you will get spell points. They added this feature so you could take a caster epic destiny on a non caster class.

That change does not seem like a big deal but it is for one reason. You can now make a pure fighter and take advantage of both the fighter capstone, fighter kensei and the arcane archer prestige enhancements. Those combined will be the highest available ranged DPS ever seen in the game.

The build will require the past life sorcerer feat so I am working to get a sorcerer capped and reincarnated by next week. This is going to be awesome.

They have reincarnation in DDO?

How does that work, is it only for sorcerors?

Do they have druids yet? (did they then nerf them to hell?)

fangblackbone wrote:

They have reincarnation in DDO?

How does that work, is it only for sorcerors?

Do they have druids yet? (did they then nerf them to hell?)

Any class can reincarnate. There are two forms one is just a means of respecing your character and the other allows you to take a max level character and start over with some new benefits. Basically a new game plus.

Overview of Reincarnation
Past life benefits

Druids will be in the game as of Monday. The way they work is pretty unique to DDO. Animal and elemental forms have thier own spells on the druid spell list so you have to choose those spells when you rest if you want to use them. Makes it so you really need to focus on one form at a time and cannot be effective while bouncing between them like a Druid could do in PnP.

Druid info

Arovin wrote:

One of the changes upcoming in the next patch (Monday!!!) is the ability to get a spell point bar on a class that is not a caster. If you equip a spell point item or have the Sorcerer past life feat you will get spell points. They added this feature so you could take a caster epic destiny on a non caster class.

That change does not seem like a big deal but it is for one reason. You can now make a pure fighter and take advantage of both the fighter capstone, fighter kensei and the arcane archer prestige enhancements. Those combined will be the highest available ranged DPS ever seen in the game.

The build will require the past life sorcerer feat so I am working to get a sorcerer capped and reincarnated by next week. This is going to be awesome.

So, you take an elf sorcerer up through level 20, reincarnate as a fighter, keep 20 spell points, which allows the enhancements required for the arcane archer, which you can combine with the benefit for being a level 20 fighter. so 40 levels? that is some serious hard core playing. I think my highest level character anywhere is 13th...

Not sure I can make it tonight, I seem to have messed up the download somehow, and it won't connect (or I did something else stupid, I'm not tech-savvy enough to figure out what). Tried support, but so far all they sent was a 'read the FAQ' message that wasn't really helpful.

I'm out tonight too due to social obligations. Should be in for Thursday, though, so I won't fall too far behind.

Support has responded. Apparently the solution is to uninstall MORE stuff. Something I would have never figured. I'll have to try it out and see. I will strive mightily to be there for 9:00.

Will do my best to hop on at 9. If we've got a group, ill be good for an hour or so.

Did I ever tell you how much I love being recused by spastic NPCs that have trouble following directions. That whole situation was kinda funny. I'm really glad I took augmented summoning.

Pretty stressful last night but fun. I think that was the 1st full wipe I have had with the weekly group. But we still finished within the time limit.

I'm just about to level 6 on Safehouse. He's a bit more squishy then I would like for fighting in melee, but overall it is working out. Soon i'll be getting some better AoE spells and won't be able to buff as much so I can save the spell points.

I need to get caught up putting the last few sessions in the 1st post. I'll try to get that done ths afternoon on my lunch break.

Had a ton of fun, cannot wait till Thursday.

Since work had me going to the wee hours this morning, I've been graced with today and tomorrow off. Huzzah. Starting this evening I hope to be putting some time in to (hopefully) catch up with you guys in time for Thursday night.

Are any particular classes needed at the moment?

Also, if anyone else starting a character wants to hook up just drop me a line here or on Steam.

Staked wrote:

Are any particular classes needed at the moment?

I've been away for a bit due to work-related stress and the end of the basketball season (I shall be back!), but last I checked we were short on melee sorts. Since my Wizard has fallen behind appparently, I'll likely start playing again with my Paladin when I return, but even then the group is short on armor.

Arovin could probably answer better than I, though.

The last few weeks of sessions have been updated, sorry I let it get so far behind.

Blind_Evil wrote:
Staked wrote:

Are any particular classes needed at the moment?

I've been away for a bit due to work-related stress and the end of the basketball season (I shall be back!), but last I checked we were short on melee sorts. Since my Wizard has fallen behind appparently, I'll likely start playing again with my Paladin when I return, but even then the group is short on armor.

Arovin could probably answer better than I, though.

Yeah, we are short front line melee types who can take a beating, Fighter, Paladin or Barb. With that in mind, we can make just about anything work so play what you will have the most fun with.

Arovin wrote:

Yeah, we are short front line melee types who can take a beating, Fighter, Paladin or Barb. With that in mind, we can make just about anything work so play what you will have the most fun with.

I ended up making a dwarf fighter on the vanguard path. I'm only level 2, but he's been fun to play so far. My toon's name is, naturally, Staked.

Also, what's with the rank? I was level 1 rank 6 before I chose to move up to level 2. Now I'm level 2 rank 6. Do I always want to wait several ranks before leveling up?

Staked wrote:
Arovin wrote:

Yeah, we are short front line melee types who can take a beating, Fighter, Paladin or Barb. With that in mind, we can make just about anything work so play what you will have the most fun with.

I ended up making a dwarf fighter on the vanguard path. I'm only level 2, but he's been fun to play so far. My toon's name is, naturally, Staked.

Also, what's with the rank? I was level 1 rank 6 before I chose to move up to level 2. Now I'm level 2 rank 6. Do I always want to wait several ranks before leveling up?

Yes, there are 5 ranks per level with the max level being 20 (Soon to be 25). Each rank you get an enhancement point to spend. Where you are on a character path I think it spends your enhancement points automatically, but I am not sure as I have never used a path before.

Arovin wrote:
Staked wrote:
Arovin wrote:

Yeah, we are short front line melee types who can take a beating, Fighter, Paladin or Barb. With that in mind, we can make just about anything work so play what you will have the most fun with.

I ended up making a dwarf fighter on the vanguard path. I'm only level 2, but he's been fun to play so far. My toon's name is, naturally, Staked.

Also, what's with the rank? I was level 1 rank 6 before I chose to move up to level 2. Now I'm level 2 rank 6. Do I always want to wait several ranks before leveling up?

Yes, there are 5 ranks per level with the max level being 20 (Soon to be 25). Each rank you get an enhancement point to spend. Where you are on a character path I think it spends your enhancement points automatically, but I am not sure as I have never used a path before.

Are enhancement points the same as action points? If so, it didn't spend them automatically for me when I leveled up.

Staked wrote:

Are enhancement points the same as action points? If so, it didn't spend them automatically for me when I leveled up.

Yeah that's them, Action points you spend them on enhancements.

Man, im really struggling with normal solo content many levels under me. I'm level four, rank 2-3, and level 3 solo quests, as a ranger, are basically kicking my ass. Sigh. I mean, my weapons don't even seem to HIT enemies towards the end of a level 3 normal solo quest.

rabbit wrote:

Man, im really struggling with normal solo content many levels under me. I'm level four, rank 2-3, and level 3 solo quests, as a ranger, are basically kicking my ass. Sigh. I mean, my weapons don't even seem to HIT enemies towards the end of a level 3 normal solo quest.

Are you Two weapon fighting? If you are you take a huge hit to your ability to hit at low levels. Also what is your STR? As a Ranger you get most of the DEX based feats for free so you don't really need a high DEX. Rangers should be focusing on STR to max to hit and damage with melee weapons and damage with a bow. Good rangers are tough to build and can struggle in early content.

Another huge help is to buy a cleric hireling from the hireling venders of the same level content you are doing. The Harbor vender is right next to the mailbox and the vendors in the Marketplace are to the right at the bottom of the 1st staircase. A cleric hireling will keep you healed and is great for running quests solo. Heck on Tuesday night our cleric hireling and my pet dog carried the whole group through part of a quest because the rest of us died. It was pretty funny.

It is patch day, and it is a big one. Remember to patch before 9PM on Tuesday.

Patch Notes

A ton of changes there. Epic levels up to 25. Druids! Forgotten Realms content. Revamp of AC and To Hit mechanics. Changes to how spell power is calculated. Also a new UI!

One thing of note that is good for everyone is that all your current characters and any new character from now on will get one free respec. It will be good for new players to a class to be able to fix mistakes without having to reroll or buy an item from the store.

This is back on Steam.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/20...

Worth getting again?

Manach wrote:

This is back on Steam.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/20...

Worth getting again?

Its free if you already have an account you can just download and play. No need to buy again.

Some interesting changes, what's the consensus on how the update effected monks?

WizKid wrote:

Some interesting changes, what's the consensus on how the update effected monks?

Monks are still up in the air as far as AC and Dodge. There was a ton of complaining on the beta forums. The Devs stated they are keeping thier eyes on monks and will balance if needed. Seems earth stance is not mandatory for defense and tanking. Also dodge seems great but has a hard cap of 25%.

I'm not an avid monk player so I do not have all the info.

I'll have to get on Kyber and see how my 36pt Dex/Wis, Wind stance monk has fared.

Posting here because there doesn't seem to be any other (active) DDO thread. Is there a GWJ guild?

Tkyl wrote:

Posting here because there doesn't seem to be any other (active) DDO thread. Is there a GWJ guild?

Yes, currently the active one is on the Orien Server. Post your character names here and I can send you an invite via the in game mail system when I get home from work.