Level 20 and Epics

Over this last week I hit level 20. I wanted to test pugsneeze in epics. He had 2 levels in LD and 4 in GMoF. I was going to level LD this life and try to max it out if not just get it up high before my TR. I am in love with all the tactical cleaves! This has been a fun life. I can keep myself alive for a very long time but I found he realy lacks in DPS.

I was running EN Von1, (this was the easiest Epic IMO) and I found that I really could not out DPS the heals in this dungeon. I made it to the areana just fine. Killed off the Kobolds and Ogres. Then when the Air Moffits and Minautars came out all hell broke loose. I was desprately trying to kill something but the 2 minautar healers keep everyone up to full health. So I dragged things around and managed to seperate them and kill them. I got to the part where there was a few monsters from each group. I used this same tactic. Kiting them away from the healers and killing one at a time. I got to where just the two minautar healers where left standing but that stupid Ogre mage casted blur on both of them! I don’t have true site. I know…I know. I was getting them down close to death. I’d go for a big hit to try and finish one off and sure enough those percential dice where not in my favor. I missed with that heavy hitting Smite Evil and then POW full health and I’m att it again. After about 10 minutes of this I decided there was no way (maybe if I got extremely lucky). So I recalled out of there.

It was a rather depressing day lol. Both my pure monk and AA had amazing burst DPS. I could take a monster down quick then focus on another. But Pugsneeze what happened to you? You either hit semi hard of for very little. I ended up doing the Von’s in a PuG and made it to level 21 got more points in LD and went and tried it again with the same results. I am just not equipt to solo epics this life. I am rather close to getting my Tokens of the Twelve. That True Heart wood never looked so good!

That thin line between Wicked Face Smashing and an Immovable Object

          Pugsneeze is slowly moving to that level 20 mark and I’ll go into working on my legendary dreadnaught ED and gathering Tokens of The Twelve. Despite how much I despised being a paladin, I will actually miss certain aspects after this TR.

         Here is just a little recap on Pugsneeze’s paladin life. First and foremost he had 2 levels in Rogue and made a fairly decent trap monkey. While I lacked a good lock pick skill I was able to find and disarm just about every trap I came up on. Pugs also went through a number of enhancement respecs. I started him out focusing on more damage out put that survivability and at low levels this worked out extremely well. Only a few times I worried about him dying due to his lack of defenses which was close to none. I continued this way up until about level 16 when I was getting destroyed by even the smallest of kobolds atlevel.

           I spent more points in Stalwart Defender and he was able to stand amoung the most powerful of dragons and take a beating while poking away at his enemies HP. This was slow but somewhat effective until I came across a few quests where Pugs had to both live and kill things in a somewhat faster way then he was killing things. The Dryad in Outbreak comes to mind here. I was slowly taking her down to get her to jump in that stupid tree so I could take it out. Well she went into the tree and I started waking away. After a bit, I had the tree at about ½ health and she shows her face again. I’m not half way spent on resources and I have to take her down again. She goes back into the tree after a number of hits and now the tree is back to full health. I could not kill the tree fast enough but I could live for just about ever smacking both the Dryad and the Tree. So back to the drawing board.

           I respected him once more. This time about the same amount of Defenses, with more focus on DPS. This did the trick. I saw a lot larger numbers from my hits. I was still staying alive while soloing atlevel quests and I was feeling good about how Pugsneeze had evolved into a well-balanced paladin. I could see while being in groups a majority of the time a pure DPS face bashing build of mass destruction could be viable. But the hours I play and the amount of time I have to dedicate to the game I find myself soloing a lot. I just have to work on balancing both survivability and damage. By next week I do foresee Pugsneeze dungeon crawling the lower levels again as a barbarian. I just have to find that balance and try and maintain it from the start so I’m not trying to learn the character over again at level 18 when I should have things completely down by then.

            Thank you for reading and I hope that this may help or be somewhat informative to someone out there.

Holding Levels?

           So I have been like this child on christmas everytime I aquired enough XP to level I scurred to my class trainer and leveled up. Excited for my new feats and skills sometimes a boost to me Primary Attribute but most importantly that number next to my Portrait went up by one. Gawk at my might as I have just advanced in level!

           Recently I had been listening to DDOCast and specifically #320 where he talks about Tips for TRing and effective leveling. I have heard people talk about this but have never really put it to practice. Holding levels? What why would you do that? I can hardly resist the temptation to advance just one more level. While a majority of the time, I still want to run quests that, prior to me leveling, were At-level quests now they are not and I take a hit to XP and Don’t get to apply that Bravery Bonus. Still I want to complete the quest because it has very good XP per minute or its just one of those Quests I really enjoy playing. Had I just held that level I would have recieved the full XP and my BB for a much larger XP gain.

             I would like to reiterate that I am fairly new to this game and in no way a master of the art of DDOing. I had asked my friend, who has been less that helpful in some aspects but very helpful in others. I had no Idea how much XP you could save and was worried I would be wasting or losing potential XP. This is an exciting concept, while I have not yet employed it on Pugsneeze this life, I will make an effort to “Bank” a level at every opertunity and work on getting a massive BB by the time I hit 20. As I had Said before Pugsneeze will be a Barbarian in his next life. I am not 100% sure if I will be working on getting a greensteel weapon this life, most likely I will be to Excited to get him TR’d that I will only have time for running the Shroud enough to make my Bracers. I’ll have a post on the potential build in just a bit as I have been working on this for a little while. I would like to have evasion on him but I just dont forsee that happening without losing spells, While now with this greensteel bracer I can give up Blur on my Bard levels for another spell. I still would like at a minimum 11 Barb levels for Greater Rage or what ever it is called.

And now for my build. Let me know if you think it is viable, I do realize I am probably sacraficing alot of DPS for Survivability and Self-Healing.

 

 

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 04.19.03
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Pugsneeze
Level 20 Chaotic Neutral Human Male
(12 Barbarian \ 8 Bard)
Hit Points: 332
Spell Points: 276
BAB: 18\18\23\28\28
Fortitude: 14
Reflex: 13
Will: 10

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(36 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)

Strength 16 24
Dexterity 14 17
Constitution 16 18
Intelligence 12 17
Wisdom 8 10
Charisma 14 16

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 3
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 3
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 3
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 3
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 3
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 11
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 11
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 11
+4 Tome of Intelligence used at level 15
+5 Tome of Intelligence used at level 19

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)

Balance 6 26
Bluff 2 3
Concentration 3 4
Diplomacy 2 3
Disable Device n/a n/a
Haggle 6 8
Heal -1 0
Hide 2 3
Intimidate 4 22
Jump 7 30
Listen -1 0
Move Silently 2 3
Open Lock n/a n/a
Perform 6 18
Repair 1 3
Search 1 3
Spellcraft 1 3
Spot 1 8
Swim 6 30
Tumble 3 4
Use Magic Device 6 26

Level 1 (Bard)
Feat: (Human Bonus) Dodge
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Monk
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Monk
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Paladin
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Skaldic Rage (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Enchant Weapon (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Rough and Ready (Rank 1)

Level 2 (Barbarian)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - The Poetic Edda (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - The Poetic Edda (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Rough and Ready (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Rough and Ready (Rank 3)

Level 3 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - The Poetic Edda (Rank 3)

Level 4 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Fighting Spirit (Rank 1)

Level 5 (Bard)

Level 6 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Great Cleave

Level 7 (Barbarian)

Level 8 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR

Level 9 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Two Handed Fighting

Level 10 (Bard)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Song of Heroism (Rank 1)

Level 11 (Bard)

Level 12 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons

Level 13 (Barbarian)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Furious Rage (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Do You Like Pain? (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Do You Like Pain? (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Do You Like Pain? (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Barbarian Power Attack (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Barbarian Power Attack (Rank 2)

Level 14 (Barbarian)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Barbarian Power Attack (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Hardy Rage (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Hardy Rage (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Hardy Rage (Rank 3)

Level 15 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Handed Fighting
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Pain Touch (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Demoralizing Success (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - I Like Pain (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - I Like Pain (Rank 2)

Level 16 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - I Like Pain (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Cruel Cut (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Slaughter (Rank 1)

Level 17 (Barbarian)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Slaughter (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Slaughter (Rank 3)

Level 18 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Mobility
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Cruel Cut (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Festering Wound (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - I Hit Back! (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Dismember (Rank 1)

Level 19 (Barbarian)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Festering Wound (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - I Hit Back! (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - I Hit Back! (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Dismember (Rank 2)

Level 20 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Die Hard (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Toughness (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Frenzy (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Extra Rage (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Extra Rage (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Extra Rage (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Power Rage (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Power Rage (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Power Rage (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Blood Tribute (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Blood Tribute (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Blood Tribute (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Sprint Boost (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Sprint Boost (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Sprint Boost (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Blood Trail (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Blood Trail (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Blood Trail (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Supreme Cleave (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Supreme Cleave (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Supreme Cleave (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Wade In (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Wade In (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Frenzied Berserker (Bar) - Wade In (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Pain Touch (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Cruel Cut (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Aura of Fear (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Festering Wound (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Dismember (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Critical Rage (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ravager (Bar) - Critical Rage (Rank 2)

My First Shroud run

Last night I finally finished flagging for the shroud with Pugsneeze, my friend who had got me into playing the game asked me why in 3 lifes did i not have a single greensteel item. So to be perfectly honest, I didn’t know what that was or what I needed to do to get one. After some research and using a Greensteel Planner, I came up with an amazing Greensteel Bracer idea and crafted the base item for it and went in to The Shroud. I aquired a few of the items needed for the first upgrade, boy I was not expecting to have to run the shroud a million times to aquire all the peices for this item. That being said I was going for a quick completionist on my main character and I am going to delay that a little so that I can make me these Bracers.

The Bracers are going to be amazing or atleast to me. That was the only accessory slot I had that I did not already have an item farmed for my next life. So I want to make an HP Item, with a Displancement Clicky and a permanent Blur. To me this is absolutly amazing! I started playing an alt That is a Rogue, Monk, Wizard mix. I had already had this toon made when I wanted to play a Palemaster back in update 19. After watching and reading a Post by http://mickisdelirium.wordpress.com/2013/08/28/keronna-2-0/ I desided to bring this toon back to life and do a LR and make him more sutable for this new role as a Staff Weilding Monk/Wizard of death. Anyway, the purpose of me posting that is because I have gained this amazing love for Blur and Displacement while playing a Wizard Monk. While I did make min a bit of a trapper and He was a Drow so the build is not quite like Micki’s but She had inspired me to bring Puggly back and play him a bit. He is now level 10 or 9 as of today but he is growing up so quickly.

Now on for my Shroud run. I have a video I recorded that started from “Hairy” and I’ll post that later. I was so tired last night after the run that I didn’t compress it or edit it after filming. Longstory short, It was exciting. I was so lost during the puzzle part of the quest. I went on and used the puzzle solver app but still could not figure it out. I’ll have to do alittle more research before my next run. I was so unprepared for what transpired during the “Hairy” fight. I knew that I needed a Good/Silver weapon to bipass his DR. Pugsneezes currently only likes using is Falchion and Bow, so He went to his local Auctioneer and looked for a Falchion that met his new requirements. Everything was way above his budget. Even a boring old Silver Falchion that He could craft in to the Ultimate Demon Smiting weapon. My only option during the fight was to Use my Aligned Bow with a Artificer’s Silver Weapon Buff. His bow Damage is limited and is only good when he gets his Multishot. That being said, Pugsneeze is going to need to either by the grace of Palor or The Silver Flame, find himself a silver weapon that he can craft so Good into or find his Good alighned Silver Falchion as a random loot. It’s that or *gasp* He may just have to use some other weapon with those. Maybe a Flametouched Falchion will drop in my Future and I can craft some Metaline into it.

Life 4 is going to be a Barbarian build, I just haven’t completed the design yet. Most Likely a Bard/Barb, That 20 HP is just to hard to pass up.