A new player looking for some advice and perhaps a group to play with.

[Zombie]

I've never really been into DDO because Neverwinter was shinier and it didn't lock races and classes off from players. (perhaps its also the fact that I didn't have anyone to play with) I really want to get into DDO but I'd like to know if it's worth it, particulalrly if I'm only looking to drop maybe $10 a month on the game. Thoughts anyone?

[gamingforfun]

Yes, you can get a VIP membership for less than $10 per month if you pay for a year (12 months). A VIP membership will unlock most of the classes and all of the races as well as all adventure packs (but not the two paid expansions). If you are looking for a group to play with, start on Argonnessen server and look up 'Oceantides.' I can add you to our Guild.

[Zombie]

Awesome! I'll try to look you guys up.

[Doug]

Yeah.. if you have $10./mo. to spend, you're golden. That buys you VIP, which has access to all content except the two expansions and leaves you to possibly need/want to buy a couple or 3 races and classes. Since VIP includes 500TP/month, it won't take you long to accumulate enough TP to do all that.

[Rodfather]

vip is worth it...no question

[gamingforfun]

A 12 month VIP membership can be purchased for $99. http://www.ddo.com/en/become-vip

[gamingforfun]

Originally posted by Doug:

Yeah.. if you have $10./mo. to spend, you're golden. That buys you VIP, which has access to all content except the two expansions and leaves you to possibly need/want to buy a couple or 3 races and classes. Since VIP includes 500TP/month, it won't take you long to accumulate enough TP to do all that.

All races except the Drow Elf are unlocked with a VIP sub. A new player can unlock the Drow by reaching 400 Favor, which is very easy.

[Doug]

Originally posted by gamingforfun:

All races except the Drow Elf are unlocked with a VIP sub. A new player can unlock the Drow by reaching 400 Favor, which is very easy.

Iconic is free to VIP? ( Can't find it on http://ddowiki.com/page/Account_Comparisons )

[殺してあげる]

Iconic is 'speshul' :P It's a race/class[At least level 1] combination with a forced high level start. Can't really *just* call it a race, especially as they are just subraces; except PDK..that's just an advanced steroid regime*.



*The War Wizards catagorically deny any charges of forced interbreeding with orcs.

[Doug]

That's all well and good, but didn't answer my question.. Is Iconic free to VIPs?

[殺してあげる]

Sure it does :D It's speshul, so no :P

When there are exceptions, expect them against the player. Iconics were tied to Shadowfell, an expansion, and so...no.

All the pure RACES you get (drow being a free favour unlock, so you get it, just have to work for it).
All the pure CLASSES you get (fvs being favour, arti being favour from packs you get).
All the advanced LEVEL STARTS you get (by unlocking with favour).

So the claim of getting 'all the content' stands. BUUUUT the wonderful mixerblend of all three...nope~

Got to give VIP some reason to throw cash into Shadowfell... by the whining, the quests weren't enough...and that's pretty much all shadowfell was: 10 quests and the iconics.


[Aside: personally loved the quests, and the mountain explorer]

[Doug]

Yeah.. if you have $10./mo. to spend, you're golden. That buys you VIP, which has access to all content except the two expansions and leaves you to possibly need/want to buy a couple or 3 classes (though you can unlock those with favor) and Epic Destinies. Since VIP includes 500TP/month, it won't take you long to accumulate enough TP to do all that.

There.. corrected.

[Impulsive 3k addict.]

Vip is only needed for a month or two, and only if you are running herioc content. It's very easy to find people that can open elite pick up games in epics, so you don't need vip after you unlock some content. Also, I would honestly only get the highest level package for menace of the underdark, (like 60 dollars), it gives you some bonus tp. Spend the bonus tp on the ruins of gianthold and the vualt of night packs(very high value packs), then earn everything else in the game with tp. The secrets of the artificers(for a benchmarking/highly difficult boss) and the thunderholme(end game gear) are good packs to get after those two.

As for finding a guild, consult the forums for your server to find recruiting guilds. Most are cool with new users. Just steer clear of wayfinder, canith and orien. Argonessen, kyhber, ghallanda and thelanis are good servers for new users.

VIP disables you from buying maps, so you really wanna steer clear after a month or so, since you won't be able to capitalize on turbines completely random sale times.

http://ddowiki.com/page/Vault_of_Night_%28story_arc%29
http://ddowiki.com/page/Gianthold

http://ddowiki.com/page/Shadow_Under_Thunderholme
http://ddowiki.com/page/Secrets_of_the_Artificers

http://ddowiki.com/page/Turbine_Point#Earning_Turbine_Points

http://ddowiki.com/page/Epic_Reincarnation

http://ddowiki.com/page/Menace_of_the_Underdark#Pre-order_feature_comparison
try to grab either the standard or collectors edition of this. It's on sale atm

[Doug]

Originally posted by Duster-san!:

Vip is only needed for a month or two, and only if you are running herioc content.

VIP for two months at $15./mo = $30. VIP for three months is $30. Umm.. really? Two months?

Originally posted by Duster-san!:

It's very easy to find people that can open elite pick up games in epics, so you don't need vip after you unlock some content. Also, I would honestly only get the highest level package for menace of the underdark, (like 60 dollars), it gives you some bonus tp. Spend the bonus tp on the ruins of gianthold and the vualt of night packs(very high value packs), then earn everything else in the game with tp. The secrets of the artificers(for a benchmarking/highly difficult boss) and the thunderholme(end game gear) are good packs to get after those two.

Originally posted by Duster-san!:

VIP disables you from buying maps, so you really wanna steer clear after a month or so, since you won't be able to capitalize on turbines completely random sale times.

There's nothing inherently wrong with your suggestion, except that it doesn't really add much to mine. 3 months VIP's TP will buy you GH & Vale. So whether you buy MotU and/or Thunderholme before or after that, if you're doing it with $$, it really doesn't change anything.

If someone IS willing to make a one-time investment to get rid of the 'glass ceiling', rather than VIP + MotU, I'd recommend VIP OR MotU. Sale or no, buying MotU (specifically Standard or Collectors Edition) isn't a bad option. It's a bit more expensive than 3 months of VIP, but does provide even more value. Either of these two versions of MotU throws in not only TP but a bunch of additional adventure packs. The included value of either package is considerable. If you are going Premium, one of these is a good place to start, and since MotU is one of the two upgrades NOT included in VIP, it's a worthwhile purchase even for VIPs. Regrettably, the included packs won't by themselves completely eliminate the 'glass ceiling'. The level ranges for most don't hit the L13-18 hole we need filled. The 'Attack on Stormreach' pack at L13 helps some, but you'd still want to invest the included TP in GH and/or Vale (in this case, probably Vale by preference if you only bought one).

[Doug]

Essentially you've just opened up the VIP vs Premium discussion. Some of my arguments on that can be found in the thread called 'Everything that's wrong with DDO.. from a FAN'. In a nutshell.. if your plan is to eventually own all content, VIP is cheaper for a VERY long time (turnaround to buy everything VIP gets as a Premium, ignoring farmed TP is likely to be 4-5 years according to my math, and that assumes buying TP on double bonus sales and packs on sale). That, of course, includes VIP perks like Shared Bank and such, the value of which will vary for each player.

If your Premium goal is more modest (paying just enough to eliminate the 'glass ceiling), then as noted above, a one-time investment of $30. or so would do it.

Subscribing as a VIP is flexible, removes all barriers and lets you not worry about things like plat caps, elite opens, auction limits and difficulties sharing gear across toons. It lets you own everything immediately (aside from the Expansion packs) and keep access to everything as long as you subscribe. If you get tired of the game, you stop paying and playing. If your budget gets tight, you stop paying, get switched to Premium and can start buying packs and things with the TP you've collected. The worst-case VIP scenario is that you find you like DDO too much and you're still paying in 6+ years, at which point it would have been cheaper to have gone Premium and bought everything. Not a risk I'd fear.

But the overall point is that everyone's circumstances, visions, budgets, etc. differ. Paying $10./month seems like nothing to some people.. to others it would feel like taking food off the table. Best we can do is present options so people can pick the one that best suits them.