Speed Run To Level 4

[GrandMajora]

Are you tired of grinding your way up to level 5 over and over again while we wait for full release? Well, after playing the game for 3 years, I think I've found the quickest route to reaching the previous level cap of 4 as quickly as possible.

And the best part is, you can do it before you even reach the Goblin Camp, which should mean you have plenty of time to reach level 5 before you complete the EA route to Moonrise Towers.


--------------------------

1 - Kill everyone on the nautiloid: This is much easier than it sounds, if you use the rest shrine exploit by having US or some other party member disconnect from the group and wait behind.

Doing this will guarantee you get enough XP to reach level 2, and also put you relatively close to hitting level 3 already.

2 - Clear out the ruined tomb: Unlike the Nautiloid, there's no cheap exploit to make this dungeon easier. Unless you count elves being immune to the skeleton's sleep spells.

Doing this will usually bump you up to level 3 if you cleared the nautiloid. If not, then you should hit level 3 by the time you reach Nettie in the Druid Grove.


3 - Kill the Ogres in Blighted Village: This is very easy if you climb up to the roof and snipe them from stealth. The ogres are too stupid to move from their positions if they can't see who's shooting them.

Depending on how much of a murder hobo you decided to be (refer to the grove), the ogres might grant you enough XP to hit level 4. But if you've been refraining from such activities, then your next stop is Waukeen's Rest.


4 - Help the Flaming Fist save the woman from the fire: This grants you your choice of one of three weapons as a reward. Saving the man trapped under the burning rubble is optional.

I'm not sure how much XP this quest actually gives you, but seeing as how it's 'on the way' to our next destination, you might as well stop by and complete it.

5 - Wipe out the Zhentarim Hideout: This is way easier than it seems, if you can manage to talk your way past the guards. They'll disable the traps, allowing you to roam free through the hideout. Once this is done, you can head over to their treasury storage area, where there will be a button to reactivate them.

Wait until one of the patrolling guards (should be a woman with a wolf) crosses over the bridge, then reactivate the proximity mines to send both her and her dog falling into the pit below. After that, it's a simple matter of using Sneak Attack to finish off everybody else in the cave as you go.

----------------------

And that's it, that's how I manage to reach level 4 as fast as possible!

[Lord Adorable]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

1 - Kill everyone on the nautiloid: This is much easier than it sounds, if you use the rest shrine exploit by having US or some other party member disconnect from the group and wait behind.

Doing this will guarantee you get enough XP to reach level 2, and also put you relatively close to hitting level 3 already.

About that: I think Larian is implementing a timer for the battle on the Nautiloid helm. Otherwise you can-at least in the EA- even reach level 3 just there alone by killing Zhalk, the Cambions and the now-turned-hostile Illithid.

[everybe2]

Wow, seems very fast indeed. :D

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Lord Adorable:

About that: I think Larian is implementing a timer for the battle on the Nautiloid helm. Otherwise you can-at least in the EA- even reach level 3 just there alone by killing Zhalk, the Cambions and the new-turned-hostile Illithid.

And that's where the Clerics come into play. Zhalk and his cambion buddies are not resistant to Necrotic damage, so you can have Shadowheart and potentially the player spam Inflict Wounds, while US keeps replenishing their spell slots in the other room. ;-)

[Lord Adorable]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

Originally posted by Lord Adorable:

About that: I think Larian is implementing a timer for the battle on the Nautiloid helm. Otherwise you can-at least in the EA- even reach level 3 just there alone by killing Zhalk, the Cambions and the new-turned-hostile Illithid.

And that's where the Clerics come into play. Zhalk and his cambion buddies are not resistant to Necrotic damage, so you can have Shadowheart and potentially the player spam Inflict Wounds, while US keeps replenishing their spell slots in the other room. ;-)

Ah yes, the ol 'Clerics are stupid strong even at low levels'. Gotta love it.
Seriously though, Clerics are busted in 5E and Inflict Wounds is one of several reasons why. xP

[Wolfgang421]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

Are you tired of grinding your way up to level 5 over and over again while we wait for full release? Well, after playing the game for 3 years, I think I've found the quickest route to reaching the previous level cap of 4 as quickly as possible.

And the best part is, you can do it before you even reach the Goblin Camp, which should mean you have plenty of time to reach level 5 before you complete the EA route to Moonrise Towers.


--------------------------

1 - Kill everyone on the nautiloid: This is much easier than it sounds, if you use the rest shrine exploit by having US or some other party member disconnect from the group and wait behind.

Doing this will guarantee you get enough XP to reach level 2, and also put you relatively close to hitting level 3 already.

2 - Clear out the ruined tomb: Unlike the Nautiloid, there's no cheap exploit to make this dungeon easier. Unless you count elves being immune to the skeleton's sleep spells.

Doing this will usually bump you up to level 3 if you cleared the nautiloid. If not, then you should hit level 3 by the time you reach Nettie in the Druid Grove.


3 - Kill the Ogres in Blighted Village: This is very easy if you climb up to the roof and snipe them from stealth. The ogres are too stupid to move from their positions if they can't see who's shooting them.

Depending on how much of a murder hobo you decided to be (refer to the grove), the ogres might grant you enough XP to hit level 4. But if you've been refraining from such activities, then your next stop is Waukeen's Rest.


4 - Help the Flaming Fist save the woman from the fire: This grants you your choice of one of three weapons as a reward. Saving the man trapped under the burning rubble is optional.

I'm not sure how much XP this quest actually gives you, but seeing as how it's 'on the way' to our next destination, you might as well stop by and complete it.

5 - Wipe out the Zhentarim Hideout: This is way easier than it seems, if you can manage to talk your way past the guards. They'll disable the traps, allowing you to roam free through the hideout. Once this is done, you can head over to their treasury storage area, where there will be a button to reactivate them.

Wait until one of the patrolling guards (should be a woman with a wolf) crosses over the bridge, then reactivate the proximity mines to send both her and her dog falling into the pit below. After that, it's a simple matter of using Sneak Attack to finish off everybody else in the cave as you go.

----------------------

And that's it, that's how I manage to reach level 4 as fast as possible!

The tomb is somewhat cheesable if you approach from the non-trapped side. Shove the not-yet-activated skeletons into the room with the oil and fire traps, have someone athletic trigger the traps and escape, then close the door. By the time they are activated and start heading your way they should either be heavily damaged or re-dead. Granted, this defeats the goal of farming them for exp.

[Djayc85]

Any special rewards for killing Zhalk and his friends

[Lord Adorable]

Originally posted by Djayc85:

Any special rewards for killing Zhalk and his friends

You get Zhalk's flaming sword, tons of XP and a lot of junk items worth a fair amount of gold.

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Lord Adorable:

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

And that's where the Clerics come into play. Zhalk and his cambion buddies are not resistant to Necrotic damage, so you can have Shadowheart and potentially the player spam Inflict Wounds, while US keeps replenishing their spell slots in the other room. ;-)

Ah yes, the ol 'Clerics are stupid strong even at low levels'. Gotta love it.
Seriously though, Clerics are busted in 5E and Inflict Wounds is one of several reasons why. xP

It deals 3d10 damage, which is more output than a raging barbarian with a greatweapon. And the fact that it's only a 1st level spell means you can cast it as many times as you have available spell slots!

Increasing the damage by an additional 1d10 for every slot above the first. Why would you even need any other offensive spell in your arsenal, unless you're fighting Undead?

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Wolfgang421:

The tomb is somewhat cheesable if you approach from the non-trapped side. Shove the not-yet-activated skeletons into the room with the oil and fire traps, have someone athletic trigger the traps and escape, then close the door. By the time they are activated and start heading your way they should either be heavily damaged or re-dead. Granted, this defeats the goal of farming them for exp.

I feel like I should be surprised this never occurred to me. But then I think the process of tossing / carrying every skeleton all the way to the other side of the crypt one at a time is probably why I never thought of it before.

[Djayc85]

So roll a cleric, free SH and keep lizard girl in the other room

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Djayc85:

So roll a cleric, free SH and keep lizard girl in the other room

I personally recommend Light Domain for those who want to play offensively in early access.

They get access to Scorching Ray and Fireball at higher levels, and their channel divinity feature is way more powerful than I initially believed. ;-)

[Lord Adorable]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

Originally posted by Lord Adorable:

Ah yes, the ol 'Clerics are stupid strong even at low levels'. Gotta love it.
Seriously though, Clerics are busted in 5E and Inflict Wounds is one of several reasons why. xP

It deals 3d10 damage, which is more output than a raging barbarian with a greatweapon. And the fact that it's only a 1st level spell means you can cast it as many times as you have available spell slots!

Increasing the damage by an additional 1d10 for every slot above the first. Why would you even need any other offensive spell in your arsenal, unless you're fighting Undead?

Yeah, that is what I am saying. Clerics are insane. I hope a lot of people are surprised by the amount of damage they can do, especially if they're used to 'priestly' classes in RPG's just being healbots. :P

I do like me some Guiding Bolt and Spiritual Weapon as well though.

[Lord Adorable]

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

Originally posted by Djayc85:

So roll a cleric, free SH and keep lizard girl in the other room

I personally recommend Light Domain for those who want to play offensively in early access.

They get access to Scorching Ray and Fireball at higher levels, and their channel divinity feature is way more powerful than I initially believed. ;-)

Radiance of the Dawn in front of the Grove gate if you've managed to hop down from the cliff when you're saving Aradin and his crew is beautiful to behold.

[GrandMajora]

Originally posted by Lord Adorable:

Yeah, that is what I am saying. Clerics are insane. I hope a lot of people are surprised by the amount of damage they can do, especially if they're used to 'priestly' classes in RPG's just being healbots. :P

I do like me some Guiding Bolt and Spiritual Weapon as well though.

We know the real reason why most people don't try to assault men and women of the cloth in this setting. It's not because they're pious, it's because they know they aren't walking away from that engagement!

[wtiger27]

Originally posted by Lord Adorable:

Originally posted by GrandMajora:

1 - Kill everyone on the nautiloid: This is much easier than it sounds, if you use the rest shrine exploit by having US or some other party member disconnect from the group and wait behind.

Doing this will guarantee you get enough XP to reach level 2, and also put you relatively close to hitting level 3 already.

About that: I think Larian is implementing a timer for the battle on the Nautiloid helm. Otherwise you can-at least in the EA- even reach level 3 just there alone by killing Zhalk, the Cambions and the now-turned-hostile Illithid.

From the comment now in EA on the ship when you reach the helm, " you have reached the helm in time ", I think you may be right. But I have not seen any official statement to say it is true.

If they do, will see how long it is. I don't see any one beating the Commander and the Cambions, unless somehow the Mindflayer survives ( which he can ) and helps the party kill the two Cambions. But even that can take a while. Any of those 4, can one shot your char or companions.