New player seeking help

[Dark_Messiah]

In creating characters. i wish to make a dragonborn, but i don't know which classes are best for it, also i'd like to ask about the different classes, more specifically, what are the most important stats for different classes and why. When i was making a custom class today i've noticed that the tooltips when spending the stat points are almost useless, they only tell me that it is useful for my class, the basic tooltip tells you how it changes your manapool defense hp and dmg, but when making for example a rogue wis and int merely tells me that it is useful for that class' skills, but doesn't say in what way. Also, if possible, could someone tell me when making a custom class what feats/skills are the most beneficial for a class and the best way to distribute statpoints.

To help you with you helping me, i'll describe what i'm looking for from a class based on the path description:
-fighter dps/tank
-barbarian dps
-paladin tank/heal
-monk dps
-sorcerer dps/crowdcontrol
-cleric heals
-wizard dps/buff perhaps necro
-ranger dps
-rogue utility(opening stuff disarming traps etc.)/dps
-bard buff

[AbsynthMinded]

So far as I can tell Dragonborn Excell in all class combinations, however most of them Ive seen appear to be Warlocks.

[CW]

Mines a Druid. Caster focused based off Gingerspyce's build.

[Doug]

That's an awful lot of info you're requesting. I could write a full-length book and not cover it all adequately.

Let's start with Dragonborn. Their racial traits give them a bonus +2 to Strength and Charisma at the cost of a -2 to Dexterity. Thus, any class (or build) that benefits from Str (generally melees: fighter, ranger, monk, paladin, melee druid, some bards, etc), will have the potential to have either a higher Str or the same Str at a lower stat investment. Frankly, a couple of points of Str are seldom crucial to a build.. not in the same way that a couple of points in a casting stat can be by boosting all spell DCs. Which brings us to the Cha bonus, which will help sorcerers, bards and warlocks who cast have their spells more difficult to resist. The Dex penalty is unlikely to be fatal to any build or class, though probably less than ideal for rogues and artificers as it will both lower their Open Locks skill (not enough to matter) and reduce their Reflex save vs traps and some spells (which could). If you consider the Dragonborn enhancement tree, a major feature is their optional breath weapon, and the DC for reducing (or avoiding, for those with evasion) its damage is based on Cha.
Finally, an elemental spellcaster (generally sorc, but possibly wizard) can find bonuses to the element that matches the color of Dragonborn they choose to be on the Dragonborn racial tree.

All considered, a Dragonborn is probably ideal for an elemental DPS sorc, good as a warlock or paladin or bard and pretty neutral for other classes (possibly a bit negative for Dex-based ranged and for rogues and artificers).

[Dark_Messiah]

Автор сообщения: Doug

That's an awful lot of info you're requesting. I could write a full-length book and not cover it all adequately.

Let's start with Dragonborn. Their racial traits give them a bonus +2 to Strength and Charisma at the cost of a -2 to Dexterity. Thus, any class (or build) that benefits from Str (generally melees: fighter, ranger, monk, paladin, melee druid, some bards, etc), will have the potential to have either a higher Str or the same Str at a lower stat investment. Frankly, a couple of points of Str are seldom crucial to a build.. not in the same way that a couple of points in a casting stat can be by boosting all spell DCs. Which brings us to the Cha bonus, which will help sorcerers, bards and warlocks who cast have their spells more difficult to resist. The Dex penalty is unlikely to be fatal to any build or class, though probably less than ideal for rogues and artificers as it will both lower their Open Locks skill (not enough to matter) and reduce their Reflex save vs traps and some spells (which could). If you consider the Dragonborn enhancement tree, a major feature is their optional breath weapon, and the DC for reducing (or avoiding, for those with evasion) its damage is based on Cha.
Finally, an elemental spellcaster (generally sorc, but possibly wizard) can find bonuses to the element that matches the color of Dragonborn they choose to be on the Dragonborn racial tree.

All considered, a Dragonborn is probably ideal for an elemental DPS sorc, good as a warlock or paladin or bard and pretty neutral for other classes (possibly a bit negative for Dex-based ranged and for rogues and artificers).

Thx that explained a lot, now i'm much more confident in making a custom class.

[Doug]

As for the benefits of stats on skills, you can find that info on the character sheet itself within DDO, but a look at the skills page on ddowiki.com will cover the effects. In general, every 2 stat points gives a +1 to all skills affected by that stat. DDO gives you a hint as to which skills are useful for your class in the selection of class vs cross-class skills. Cross-class cost double to raise and are limited to half the overall total.. in other words, you can spend the same 23 points on a cross-class skill, but will gain only 11.5 skill points for the investment. That doesn't mean it's never worthwhile to invest in cross-class skills (UMD, for example, is cross-class for most classes, but many people find it sufficiently useful to invest in it anyway). On the ddowiki page, the use for each skill is listed; hopefully that will help you decide which skills are important for which of your toons.

http://ddowiki.com/page/Skills

[Dark_Messiah]

Автор сообщения: Doug

As for the benefits of stats on skills, you can find that info on the character sheet itself within DDO, but a look at the skills page on ddowiki.com will cover the effects. In general, every 2 stat points gives a +1 to all skills affected by that stat. DDO gives you a hint as to which skills are useful for your class in the selection of class vs cross-class skills. Cross-class cost double to raise and are limited to half the overall total.. in other words, you can spend the same 23 points on a cross-class skill, but will gain only 11.5 skill points for the investment. That doesn't mean it's never worthwhile to invest in cross-class skills (UMD, for example, is cross-class for most classes, but many people find it sufficiently useful to invest in it anyway). On the ddowiki page, the use for each skill is listed; hopefully that will help you decide which skills are important for which of your toons.

http://ddowiki.com/page/Skills

Thanks for the explanation!

[Doug]

It gets really foggy from there to try to provide the info you request. All I can suggest is that you try the following sources to learn more:
1) ddowiki covers all the mechanics of DDO. Some pages are simply data, but if you look you can find ones with various types of recommendations as well.
2) The official DDO forums at www.ddo.com, paying specific attention to the threads on various classes and on builds.
3) A guild within the game. When it comes to specific questions or overall strategies, nothing beats friends with whom you develop a rapport and who will help with all aspects of understanding and gameplay.

Feel free to post specific queries here, but the rest of your OP is essentially a request to be taught the entirety of the DDO ruleset and its implications.. which is a bit much to attempt in this form and forum.

[Doug]

Probably your best next step here is to tell us what type of toon you would like to make first on your list, and we can recommend which stats, feats, skills, etc are likely to be the most useful.

[Dark_Messiah]

Автор сообщения: Doug

Probably your best next step here is to tell us what type of toon you would like to make first on your list, and we can recommend which stats, feats, skills, etc are likely to be the most useful.

Paladin, or cleric. i always start an mmo with a healer or healing tank, Also, an easy question first and foremost, how do i access the ddo store without entering the game every time and clicking the buy this button so that it takes me to the relevant page? I cant find the button on the website lol. The store button takes me to the news section of the store, the marketplace only has the expansions packs and prem currency, as for the subsections on the store drop down menu, they're just pictures and descriptions and not the actual store.

[Doug]

Автор сообщения: Dark_Messiah

Also, an easy question first and foremost, how do i access the ddo store without entering the game every time and clicking the buy this button so that it takes me to the relevant page? I cant find the button on the website lol. The store button takes me to the news section of the store, the marketplace only has the expansions packs and prem currency, as for the subsections on the store drop down menu, they're just pictures and descriptions and not the actual store.

Can't. Can't, can't, can't, can't, can't.

Only way to access the Store is in-game. Only the expansion packs and/or DDO points can be purchased from the DDO Market (or possibly from Steam or others).

[Edit] Although the only access is in-game, you can hit Ctrl-S or find the Store on the Main Menu (The '&' in the lower left corner of the screen). [/edit]

[Doug]

Автор сообщения: Dark_Messiah

Автор сообщения: Doug

Probably your best next step here is to tell us what type of toon you would like to make first on your list, and we can recommend which stats, feats, skills, etc are likely to be the most useful.

Paladin, or cleric. i always start an mmo with a healer or healing tank,

Paladin is primarily a melee fighter, so Str and Con are primary stats. You will need a minimum of 14 Wis (though items count, so not challenging and you can 'dump' it at char creation) to cast highest-level spells (L4). You might decide to invest in some Cha for Turning Undead (I wouldn't) or to take advantage of the L3 feat that adds Cha bonus to all saving throws or for other Paladin abilities (check out the ddowiki page and their Enhancements). Dex only ifyou want to TWF, but not recommended for a first-lifer without tomes; it'll spread your stat points too thin.

Useful Feats:
Combat style: (TWF, THF, SWF, or Shield)
Power Attack, Cleave, & Great Cleave
Improved Trip (requires Combat Expertise)
Improved Crit for whatever weapon type you will use
of potential usefulness if you have low Wis and high Cha: Force of Personality

Skills:
Balance - get up quicker if tripped or otherwise prone
Heal - more HP from Cure spells and rest shrines
Intimidate - if you want to force monsters to attack you, rather than more vulnerable party members
Spot or Listen (not both) - to know when hidden or invisible enemies are nearby

[Doug]

BTW, Two of the Paladin enhancement trees focus to a greater or lesser extent on shield use. Look those over before deciding on your combat style.

[Doug]

Cleric in DDO can be played either as pure healer, combat healer, or caster (and new domains coming will probably enhance the latter options some). Obviously if you intend to melee, many of the feats listed above for Paladin will also be relevant.

Stats:
Wis, Con, Cha (in that order). Wis for spell points and DCs, Con for survivability, Cha for Turn Undead (note that there are enhancements that do other things that are powered by Turns)

Useful feats:
Metamagics to boost spells (Empower healing, Empower, Maximize, Heighten, Quicken
Spell Focus feats for any DC-based spells you might cast
Spell Penetration feats to bypass Spell Resistance
There are Turn Undead boosting feats, but they seem pretty useless to me
Augment Summoning if you like having summoned critters around

For a straight healer, the metamagics are paramount. For a spell DPS or CC, the Focus and Spell Pen are also important. Quicken is essential to ensure you're never interrupted while casting certain spells and shorten their cast time (mass heal, for example).

Skills:
Balance (as above)
Concentration - avoid being interrupted in spell casts by damage
Heal - increase the effectiveness of Cure and Heal spells
Spellcraft - increase the effectiveness of damaging spells, if you intend to cast same

[Dark_Messiah]

Thank you, that is the explanation i wanted, perfect!

[Doug]

Автор сообщения: Dark_Messiah

Thank you, that is the explanation i wanted, perfect!

These are simple, fairly generic build criteria. There are as many ways to build a toon in DDO as there are people interested in doing so.. maybe more. Check out the resources I suggested if you're interested in more ideas. For example, in order to maintain simplicity, I didn't mention that it's possible to build your toon to use something other than Str for to-hit and damage. The most likely of those to be useful for a paladin would be to build an iconic Purple Dragon Knight paladin which will come with a minimum of 1 fighter level, but can use Cha for to-hit and damage with some weapons, reducing the number of stats in which you need to invest points. Character creation flexibility is one of DDO's strongest positive features.