12:19 pm, May 20, 2017
253
Need Help Picking Classes and Things
I played this game a little bit, long ago. I left primarily because, as a free player, I didn't have many quests to choose from. I didn't like having to play through the same few quests quite so many times to level up enough for the next ones.
I'm considering coming back, but as a subscriber. If I make it a point to try to do everything at least once, how much am I going to need to repeat missions?
Also, I'm trying to decide what character I'd play. I have some things I'd like to work in, and I'm hoping you guys could give me some advice.
Cleave
I remember being very fond of this when I played before. As I recall, it's possible to get up to three cleave abilities on separate cooldowns? And the best ones are in Paladin skill trees? I'd really like to work those in, and as early as possible (well, practical).
So, it looks like I'll be needing at least 5 levels of Paladin for this. And I'll want those by 12th level, because I'm impatient. Are Exalted Cleave, Avenging Cleave, and Holy Retribution the three “cleave” abilities I was remembering?
Trap Finding
Yeah, I know I don't need it. I can learn the locations of the traps and walk around them or jump over them. Thing is, I don't want to. For what little leveling I did when I played before, I enjoyed the characters with Trap Finding more than the ones without it. I'd really like to have all the trap stuff, even if it's sub-optimal. (As long as it's not crippling.)
So, I'll want Disable Device, Search, and Spot maxed out. I'm okay with lagging behind for a few levels, as long as I catch back up. I'd also like to fit in Open Lock, if I can. Do I want listen? I remember that skill annoying me more than anything. And, apparently, it's only rarely associated with traps?
Should I play a human? It would help with all the cross-class skill points I'll be spending. Also, their skill tree contains bonuses to the skills I'm going for. Is it hard to keep up with the DCs for traps?
Tankiness
And by “tankiness,” I mean wading in amongst groups of enemies and not dying very easily. I don't actually care about maintaining aggro. I'll be mostly playing alone, and probably not sticking around that long after I hit max level. That's how I usually do things in MMOs, anyway. Of course, if being able to actually tank in group content is easy to fit in, by all means let's do it.
I'll have Heavy Armor Proficiency from Paladin. Should I stick with full Base Attack Bonus classes (except for the one rogue level) to maximize my Physical Resistance Rating? Are there any classes that give especially good features for staying alive? Other things I should look for?
Ranger has the most Skill Points of the full Base Attack Bonus classes, but I'm not too thrilled with the class features. I was planning to go with a two-handed weapon, which is the one style Ranger doesn't give you the feats for. And the skill trees aren't really geared toward anything I'd be interested in either.
Barbarian has an okay number of Skill Points and seems to have decent features and skill trees. I don't really see myself using Rage though. Partly, this is because I don't like buffs that I have to remember to activate. Also, Sacred Defense looks nice, and it's incompatible with Rage.
Fighter levels and extra Paladin levels could both work, but it would take some heavy investment in Intelligence. Even if I were human, I'd still need Int 16 to keep up with just three cross-class skills.
Since I'll have a level in Rogue already, does it make sense to take the next three too? I'd only really be in it for some extra Skill Points, but I wouldn't lose another point of Base Attack Bonus as long as I keep under five levels.
Should I play a warforged? They look like they get some nice defensive abilities. Also, greatsword is my favorite weapon, and warforged look to be the only ones who can get the Paladin bonus stuff with it. But maul is pretty good too.
Damage
As I mentioned, I'll mostly be going solo. So I'll need at least decent damage output. The higher, the better, though. I'm interested in the two-handed fighting style. Maybe also Power Attack, I'm not sure.
I'm considering coming back, but as a subscriber. If I make it a point to try to do everything at least once, how much am I going to need to repeat missions?
Also, I'm trying to decide what character I'd play. I have some things I'd like to work in, and I'm hoping you guys could give me some advice.
Cleave
I remember being very fond of this when I played before. As I recall, it's possible to get up to three cleave abilities on separate cooldowns? And the best ones are in Paladin skill trees? I'd really like to work those in, and as early as possible (well, practical).
So, it looks like I'll be needing at least 5 levels of Paladin for this. And I'll want those by 12th level, because I'm impatient. Are Exalted Cleave, Avenging Cleave, and Holy Retribution the three “cleave” abilities I was remembering?
Trap Finding
Yeah, I know I don't need it. I can learn the locations of the traps and walk around them or jump over them. Thing is, I don't want to. For what little leveling I did when I played before, I enjoyed the characters with Trap Finding more than the ones without it. I'd really like to have all the trap stuff, even if it's sub-optimal. (As long as it's not crippling.)
So, I'll want Disable Device, Search, and Spot maxed out. I'm okay with lagging behind for a few levels, as long as I catch back up. I'd also like to fit in Open Lock, if I can. Do I want listen? I remember that skill annoying me more than anything. And, apparently, it's only rarely associated with traps?
Should I play a human? It would help with all the cross-class skill points I'll be spending. Also, their skill tree contains bonuses to the skills I'm going for. Is it hard to keep up with the DCs for traps?
Tankiness
And by “tankiness,” I mean wading in amongst groups of enemies and not dying very easily. I don't actually care about maintaining aggro. I'll be mostly playing alone, and probably not sticking around that long after I hit max level. That's how I usually do things in MMOs, anyway. Of course, if being able to actually tank in group content is easy to fit in, by all means let's do it.
I'll have Heavy Armor Proficiency from Paladin. Should I stick with full Base Attack Bonus classes (except for the one rogue level) to maximize my Physical Resistance Rating? Are there any classes that give especially good features for staying alive? Other things I should look for?
Ranger has the most Skill Points of the full Base Attack Bonus classes, but I'm not too thrilled with the class features. I was planning to go with a two-handed weapon, which is the one style Ranger doesn't give you the feats for. And the skill trees aren't really geared toward anything I'd be interested in either.
Barbarian has an okay number of Skill Points and seems to have decent features and skill trees. I don't really see myself using Rage though. Partly, this is because I don't like buffs that I have to remember to activate. Also, Sacred Defense looks nice, and it's incompatible with Rage.
Fighter levels and extra Paladin levels could both work, but it would take some heavy investment in Intelligence. Even if I were human, I'd still need Int 16 to keep up with just three cross-class skills.
Since I'll have a level in Rogue already, does it make sense to take the next three too? I'd only really be in it for some extra Skill Points, but I wouldn't lose another point of Base Attack Bonus as long as I keep under five levels.
Should I play a warforged? They look like they get some nice defensive abilities. Also, greatsword is my favorite weapon, and warforged look to be the only ones who can get the Paladin bonus stuff with it. But maul is pretty good too.
Damage
As I mentioned, I'll mostly be going solo. So I'll need at least decent damage output. The higher, the better, though. I'm interested in the two-handed fighting style. Maybe also Power Attack, I'm not sure.
References
1. https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/486768-Need-Help-Picking-Classes-and-Things?goto=newpost