So I have been talking about a build I have been kicking around, a 12/6/2 monk/ranger/x build. And if you don’t read the comments, you should because DarkSable has been making some good points and asking some better questions.

How would I layout the stats and how does the 2 splash levels effect the stats?

Let me start by saying, I like to TR. It is more likely that I would TR an older less played build into something new just to feel like I am doing something with that character vs leaving it sit longer unplayed. So a lot of my builds start at 34 points. But if you want to build something using my stats loosing 2 points shouldn’t be too hard. I don’t think I would build a stat heavy build with 28 points. Oh and I have no problems getting a +2 tome or six if I think the build would be aided by it/them. It is good to have guildies/friends that also sit on tomes making a swap easy.

Okay so 34 points Pally or Rouge: I am thinking 16, 15, 14, 10(12), 14(12), 10. All positive numbers. Tomes in order of importance Dex, Int, Str, Con, maybe the others. Oh and these stats are on a Human/Helf depending on how you roll. I also added () to show How I might tailor points for a few more skills.

34 points on the fighter: Either the same or if human I could loose 2 Int to boost Chr and still have skill points.

So before I get in to Skills (I think tomorrow) let me talk a little about how I think/plan my stats.

1, 14 is my bottom number for Con. And often my top depending on race. If we are talking Dwarfs or Warforged 16-18 is easily doable. Other races need a good reason to dip that deep into the point pool for a few HP.

2, What roles do I plan to handle and what stats do I need to support those tasks. If I am melee first, then I need as much str as I can afford with out killing my secondary roles. Caster first then I need my casting stats at their maxim.

3, What secondary jobs need stats/ and number of skill points to support them. If I am going trapper then I need 2/4 skill points per level to support those skills. Add in UMD and now we are talking 2 more… A basic plan for leveling is also needed here because we might be able to use less Int if we can plan our skills along our levels and allow us to move by full ranks.

Guess that is the big three. I think tomorrow we can talk about skills.

Let it never be said that I don’t read my replies. And I got a good one for “A build forming” and I want to address DarkSable, has he could be correct.

“your saves are already gonna be killer form the monk; I would go with either 14 monk or 8 ranger. If you really do want silly high saves, go with the 2 pally, but I wouldn’t think anything else would be worth it.“

DarkSable

I thought of both 14 monk or 8 ranger but here is the thing what does those levels really do for you? Lets look at the break down.

14 monk vs 12 monk. +1 BAB, +1 all saves, Diamond Soul for a SR of 24, more slow fall, no more damage, no more AC, No more move speed.
To me the monk power curve as many false tops. Or should I say many plateaus. There are just so many levels of ho hum, between great plateaus, I can’t build into a ho hum level.

8 ranger vs 6 ranger, +2 BAB +1 will save, Imp Wild Empathy, and a 2nd level spell (what + bark skin?).

2 Pally vs 0 Pally +2 BAB, +3 Fort Save, Smite evil(1),LoH(1), Divine Grace (+x to all saves X = Chr bonus; +6 item = +3 to all), Intim as a class skill

2 rouge vs 0 rouge +1 BAB, +3 Ref savem d6 sneak attack, Trap Finding(might be okay if there are points for search/disable but never super high) UMD & Intim as class skills as a huge starting pool if skill points, attack speed boost(E).

2 fighter vs 0 fighter +2 BAB, 3 Fort, 2 feats, attack speed boost(E), +1 str(E), +1 stunning blow(E)

I hope this helps you see my mental balancing act.

❤

For months now I have had a possible build stuck in my brain. Rattling around in side my skull. Only showing itself to me in pieces.

This is the main build points.

12 monk = = Abundant Step, 2d6, Improved Evasion.
6 ranger = = Most of the TWF feats, 2 Favored Enemies, Manyshot.
2 pally or
rouge or = = saves or skills or more feats.
fighter

Probably not a WF, So this build can use the Garments of Equilibrium to boost the fist damage more. Saves should be solid. Damage… 2d8+ wraps (normally Vamp Stonedust ) + rings. Hp..not bad. And intim should be high. Not top of the line but again very solid.

I am trying to figure if this build is good enough to go ahead and build. I know that the 6/3/x ranger/monk /clr build so far is good but the damage is a little light unless I switch to special wraps.

Sound off if you want to as always.

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So Samius has been at level 17 for a few days now. The last few days xp per minute has been a little low. Mostly do to wanting to get all ready to jump into ToD. Twenty thousand in xp a run more or less? Yes please. Anyway all that is beside the point. The point is 20 is in range again, meaning time to start planing out the next life.

I had planned on doing a fighter life next, allowing me to keep the same 11/6/3 layout for leveling. But I have been thinking about the bard “free” past life feat. Bonus to will saves sound real nice. It bothers me to fail a hold person/monster and hope/pray I break free before they beat me to death.

So I am mentally forming a plan. Please keep in mind I mostly build for soloing/leveling up and not the end game build. So this is my plan for levels 1 to 7.

Bard then Fighter then a lot of bard levels. Picking up the feat requirements for Warchanter. And the past live clr feat. On a Horc frame thinking of stats like 20 10 14 12 8 12. Yes. I know I am doing the bard life for a bonus to saves and I don’t have any wisdom…. never said I was consistent.

So the question is, should this build push back the first tear of the pre by taking rouge at one? With a 12 Int bard would give 7 skill points a level. One for concentration, one for umb… search, disable, are both 2… so I guess I could fit it in..

What do you all think?

I was very clear with the guild. I was going to flag for the Abbot raid this weekend and suck all the xp I could from Litany of the Dead. Saturday rolls a round. No guildies.

Well I could pug it out, read loose 10% and probably be forced to babysit all day. Or solo it all myself.

So I decided to go for it solo on normal. I know I could handle it on solo diff. But I am going for xp here.

Running threw the quest is not hard. Answering all the black dragon’s questions can be. Thankfully answers are in a few places. I like the wiki myself. It has all the answers grouped by boss. In fact the only thing I would like to see changed would be highlight the key words in the line to spot to speed up looking for the right answer.

A2: I would stand by his side as he brought Stormreach to its knees. (Evil)

Anyway I was off to slay Mentau the Flesh Maker. His dungeon is fairly smooth. A few doors but you don’t have to find any keys or stand in a anti magic sphere for 20 secs or any thing. Just kill to the end hit 3 runes and pull a lever. I got a weird bit a lag and was throne up to a ledge were I could range Mentau and not have to worry about healing in his bubble. I couldn’t duplicate this leap if I tried a hundred times. But it made this fight a manyshot fest. No named loot or any thing of real value other then something like 20k xp in 20/25 min, man I love this quest.

Next Vol, Again it was a simple kill and dash. I shaved off my quest completion time to 11 mins. Now to see if he is the fastest boss. It takes about 5 mins to get to Vol and 2-3 to beat him down. My biggest waist of time was running past a key and having to back track. But a clear winner in time to complete. Still no loot.

Chilthulzz, This guy has the tendency to be a real pain. But I have gear for that. I have gathered no slip booties, a beholder necklace as well as two silver flame ones. It is good to be a TR, but I wont make a third necklace most of the time they just sit in the TR bank until I need them then they sit in the real bank. Lets see what else…. Wretched Twilight, a ghost touch granting cloak with a beholder proof blur. My light bright wraps from the Mabar event and a silver long bow. Oh and we can’t forget the Torc, and a Chr ring, with them on I have 6 bursts from radiant servant and as long as I can cast lots of life.

I was asked how I was able to do this. So here it is. I spawned Chili. And moved to a corner where there was some land/ice. And watched charges on the necklaces switching as needed. As I switched to the last silver flame I ran to the other corner and began to range. As he was mostly dead from a good fisting, and manyshot and just a hair longer got him. Thankfully monk and the burst healing all works in beholder anti-magic. And if you get far enough away Chili stays away and lets to stay healed with mana. And tasty ham. Chili was the longest and most stressful of the bosses so far. Again no loot.

Cinnis was fairly simple. I made a pair of X3 water booties, 30 cold resist, Hp, Ice guard, crushing wave. So as long as I was Dwed and able to heal with bursts and fists. Cinnis is just a big training dummy that gets foggy and sometimes knocks you down. Again no loot.

Each time I run Litany I pick up speed until I am down to about 8 mins to completion. I run normal 13 times. Going between Vol and Cinnis. Never getting any loot. But I had a loot gem and an xp pot running so vendor trash was good.

Hard and Solo (didn’t bother with optionals on not normal) were not bad but Elite was a trip, . I wasn’t paying attention to my con damage fighting the mini boss. I tried to run around the room helpless until I got some con back. But he got me. Thankfully I had a stack of rez cakes left from the PAX hat giveaway. So I picked myself up and finished him. But I was mostly tapped out at that point. Jumped into the ambush pulled the lever and hunted undead. But I was across the room and I noticed that the level was reset? Okay get it repulled, I must have not pulled it. I started to notice it had been a long time with no green signal. Looked and the lever was of again. Damn the undead must turn it off on elite. So I worry about just holding the level from now on and that seemed to do the trick. Clear all the mobs from the ambush to the jumb down. Top off rage and go…. Down, Down, fail to save 110 points of damage, Down, fail to save, fail to save, (can’t take another hit) Down and made it! Hit the spikes and fail die. 😦 Again I turn to my stack of cakes. Big xp.

So there is xp aplenty for a level in Litany first life anyway. Maybe a first tr life also. But not a 2+ tr. But it was at least 3 ranks maybe 4. It was great fun, a good balance between challenge and xp.

❤

So I found a change I don’t care for in the update 9 notes. Not something so major I would have a hissie fit over but something that makes me go. Oh No! That was cleaned up from what I would really say, just so you know, and can replace “Oh No” with what ever bad word/s you have heard me say. 🙂

Want to know what it is? I know you do, I have been swamped with questions/comments wanting to know what would be come the PM nerf.

Shroud of the Lich’s prerequisites have been changed to: Level 18 Wizard, Wizard Pale Master III, Toughness, 66 Action Points spent. Any characters that currently possess Shroud of the Lich will possess Shroud of the Vampire, which replaced it at level 12.

Yep, thats it. Lich is now level 18/ PM3.

It is sad, as Lich is one of the best reasons to become a PM. The bonuses to offense capabilities are top notch. +2 int and necro dcs. But the Defenses are amazing. A big bonus to con for Hp now, and a fair shot when hit to get temp Hp. It is the whole package.

Sure double light damage hurts. As does dieing when you hit 0 Hps. But they are nothing compared to how late in life you get Lich form now.

I guess the up side is PM 3 is really really good now. I hope the incoming healing feom Vamp form will be ½ as good as all the Hp lich form granted. Guess we will know in a few weeks.

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I was a Dm, for a long time. I say was because I haven’t hardly run a game since before I started to play Ddo. Why? I was burnt out. But from time to time I get that old spark and I get an idea then I think well maybe but I just don’t have the fuel to get a full blown fire going. I was always a set of the pants Dm anyway. Starting will little more then a loose guild line of a hand full of fun points.

So when I read an idea for a quest/raid on the forums I get excited. I love the idea that someone’s idea might make it in to ddo. That gives me hope that some day I might motivate and get something moving.

But one of the things I never like in a quest/raid write up is level of detail. You can tell who is/was an experienced Dm by their writing.

It is almost too detailed. As if we are trying to explain what is going on to players and then adding in details as to how we think things should work. And that is fine. But isn’t that a little bit like giving the players the notes for the adventure the night before and saying “This is my plan for tomorrow’s game, what do you think?” Or making a module and saying Dm it just like this.

I would say keep your ideas broad. Giving plot points and an idea of how you think might play out. But don’t go super into detail so people get lost in the fine print.

For example an idea I have been kicking around. A few quests with a raid. I would rather do the raid in the middle of the story not at the end as we always end up doing in ddo so here we go.

Person A gets kid napped, always a classic, by a group of pirates. The nice thing here is Ebberon we have airships as well as normal ships. So lets go save Person A.

Quest 1, When we get the quest we are given the name of someone that might be able to give us some information. Perhaps this person was captured by a third party and you have to save them. Think water works.

Quest 2a and 2b, are variations of the same thing. And only one is required. Travel to the kidnappers stronghold. I picture the baddie held up in a mountain stronghold allowing us to enter via quest 2 a subterranean maze. I mean every great adventure has a castle where you wonder threw the catacombs. Or quest 3, you load up an airship (funded by who ever is important to person A) and we chart a path to this mountain stronghold. Either way we find a good staging area to assault the stronghold. Here is where we add puzzles/non combat options. After all opening doors in the catacomb avoiding mini bosses or repairing the airship while it is being attacked has to be fun, right?

Quest 3, the raid. Once we have a staging point we can form a raid group and we fight our way into and threw the stronghold. It like most raids would have a few parts.

Start with an option like storm the beaches. Maybe we do a frontal attack into the a courtyard ? Or we can try to use the tunnels to find a way into the a courtyard? Either way we have part one.

Part two, Storm the throne room or try to get to the dungeon tower. Were person A is who knows. But this is were the first big piece of meat for the raid is a big boss fight. A big scary guardian, with some support mobs. But as always your princess is always in another castle.

So we do part three. A final showdown. Where we hope to save Person A and defeat the bad man. And we return to the staging area.

Quest 4, then we have to leave. But what villain wouldn’t have a plan for retribution should he fall? Where we go back to a 6 man group to stay behind and by time for “the other group to get away.” I say a short many many mob swarm for say 10-20 mins and chain complete.

Do part 1 and 2a or 2b and be permanently flagged for the raid. Do the raid and part 4 for chain end reward of some sort. I like think I would like something along the lines of the rewards like Attack on Stormreach.

Please notice how I didn’t give any mob types, level ranges, or any real details. This could be set up at any level. Lets do kobolds, cool. Lets to demons, cool. I gave most general idea so the devs can feel in the details. Or you can take this idea and make it a few nights of pnp. Whatever.

Enjoy.
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I believe I said I would share a little bit of my internal debate on what to do with my Epic Jidz. So here is the deal. I have everything I need to build an Epic Jidz and a few characters that I could use it on. And possible ideas for those builds.

So Samius is using a jidz a far amount of time now but that is mostly for leveling. Once he doesn’t spend a lot of time a cap lately and when he does get to the point where is will be hanging out there he will be using that slot for his cordOp. So he is an easy no.

Javabot is sitting at cap and for a long time this is where I just assumed I would put them. But lately I have become less pleased with his dps and I am thinking of TRing him in to a full Monk or WF. It is strange half of his gear would make him a good candidate for a monk. At the same time he has some gear that would scream a melee caster of some kind. Something not unlike how Gemstone is built.

I also have Samyus that can us a little love. He is a human wiz/ranger/monk that still need to be caped. And SamiusJr , my monk, also needs to be ran to cap. Or any number of arcane or divine casters that use robes and have no real ac but can use the +8 from bracers or the +1 wisdom and the epic slots.

As always there are so many options I can’t really decide. But the main question is can I use them on Javabot even if I tr him in to a FvS? And how would I slot them for his as a FvS and how would I slot them for X build and Y build. And what can I do with them now that doesn’t hurt those plans. Because you never know how you might lean in a year.

So last night the DG (Defense Guild) gets all currently on line members together to knock out the normal “we have an hour or two” epics, Bargain and Tide Turns.

We pick up a few puggers and Fopo and get started. 2 or 3 of get started while the rest of the group makes their way to the quest. With little problems. Tobril Dcs a few times, making me herd the group or watch as my buffs count down. Hence we start caster and a monk (Fopo).

Bargain was not bad. Tobril was playing his WF barb so I got to scroll repair him. But I started the night with 75 or so scrolls no problem. Oh, also I was able to loot the chest after dancing the water eles, for a seal of Jidz, completing my list to epic one of my Jidzs. I will save that debate for tomorrow I think.

Anyway, afterwards we head to TTT. Tobril and I step in. Haste, Rage, and Gh Tobril and we are off. Yep once again we are not waiting for puggers. We get the Npcs in the fight and get moving. No problem.

We do have a death as our healer is having a hard time keeping Tobril’s barb healed with his jumping around, taking massive amounts of damage and what not but that was while I had pulled out the First Mate so I am not 100% of the details. But we are making good time.

Until the first trap. Everyone begins to carefully move threw the trap. And the box becomes visible. Sweet, we have a rouge! I know I should care about party make up.. but as long as everyone is killing (and this rogue was) why do I care? So I stand and wait. No reason to risk a lag death, when I can wait a sec and not have to risk anything.

Boom! 5Millon points of damage! And 3 people are dead, including me.

Okay maybe I should have moved along….

No big, get a raise, as the rouge explains that she swapped into the wrong goggles. No problem.

I risk lag death as I move to threw the second trap, but I don’t have any problems. And I turn to take with my son.

Boom! 5Millon points of damage! I think we had 3 or 4 losses, again including me. Guess the rouge failed to disarm…

Again we get up, and buffed and move along.

Lighting traps….

Hell no, I yell over mic, and every one busts into laughter. But the rogue to her credit, while laughing disarms the traps.

Then the hard door. The one with the sorc, the spirit caller and all the drow… I get a mass off and start my charge into the room to dance the caller and boom. Comet fall for 100 points or so over my max Hp… Reallty? When did to night become kill Samius? Well I know when. When we invited Fopo to run with us, thats when.

So I get resed again. And we clear the hall. All the way up to the exit, the rouge disables the traps. And we shrine. Kill our way to the end. But as we head below I see a drow archer running up from below. But we are going in to the last room no big deal.

The boss fight went smoothly, even though I had to repair Tobril again but what the heck I have 10 scrolls.. What? 10? Well I have been toping him off all night but I should have more then 10? Well fine I can use Sp if I need to.

Clearing the final room… I have 300 or so sp via a few little pots and my spell storing ring. Should be enough for the final room.

Go in and mass. Every one saves. No way. Fine. Hold Person, Hold Monster. Dance a Elie. Die from the drow arrows and a volley of ice ray from the other ellie. Then another pugger drops. Then the wife (our healer) then Tobril. I bellow retreat. Some how tobril gets a rez and he is the only one to make it out.

He starts drinking pots, and was able to get Fopo picked up and runs him to the shrine. After a min Fopo is up and Tobril is running back as Fopo shrines.

Ding. Tobril dies. We hear how there is an archer. Be careful. But Fopo stuns it and kills it quickly. Doesn’t hurt that he is at max thanks to a mediating. We all get raised again and I drink 3 or 4 little pots to get to 300 or so mana again toggle my heighten feat. And we clear the room with ease. I want to blame that near wipe on the heighten bug.

But even threw out everyone was in good spirits and laughing and having a good time. It was a pug that gives me hope for doing more pugging. It was a good time and everyone rolled with the punches. Oh and 2 good shards dropped. The Jidz and the Elyd Edge.

❤

Something of late that I am finding to be a little frustrating is playing with none TRs while leveling my TR. Its not their skill or anything. It is being told how I am holding their character up. Let me explain.

Samius has about 2.5 millon xp, putting him squarely in the first rank of level 16. Considering that he was level 15 on Friday and I got about 20-25 epics runs in I would say that is a fairly good weekend. I earned somewhere in the ball park of 75k on Saturday and Sunday.

But the thing is since I end up playing alone most of the time. So I end up doing a lot of the same quests on Normal. But when my leveling team logs on, and is ready to help. They end up banking lots of xp, wanting to level up but waiting for me. And/Or getting burned out on the level of quests I have to do, trying to say around at level or one above the quest. And lets not talk about wanting to farm out some peace of gear, like the Dragontouched armor. According to my xp plan I need to be at least level 17 before heading in to those quests.

Anyway I had a good time. Oh and I failed to 3 man Reaver at level 15, but I can’t get a raid group to run it somewhere near level. I will have to try to take sign up via the forms I guess.

Okay see you all tomorrow.