DND Online Now Free to Play

[KrauserKrauser]

A bit of an update. DDO has announced the opening of a brand new server to be launced today, launch time unknown.

New characters only and no transfers at the moment so it's great for starting the game for the first time.

I'm still enjoying the game as a level 6 solo only Pally and am debating whether or not to start anew on the new server. An established economy really benefits new characters but at the same time I like a fresh start and with the option to purchase Veteran status all of my characters could start at Level 4.

Choices, choices...

[Mr. Coffee]

A bit of an update. DDO has announced the opening of a brand new server to be launced today, launch time unknown.

New server is up, named Orien or something like that. Already got in and reserved a couple of names for characters. New server is currently only available for VIP subscribers.

[Serafina]

You are only level 6? I am alread level eight - but then again, i had some really good groups and time to burn

I have to say, it is a really nice game.
The characer system is interesting and sufficiently different from other MMOs. The Enhancements are a great idea and offer a LOT of character customisation - and they add prestige classes, too (i.e. Arcana Archer, Stalwart Defender and much more).

As far as Teamwork goes:
You depend on it. With the right build, you can solo-gring up to about level 7 or so (hint: Cleric/Fighter Combi is quite good at it). After that, it gets very difficult.
But you REALLY notice the difference. A bad group will not only cost you experience because you miss some boni, but will also be unable to finish the elite difficulties - or generally the more complicated dungeon.

A normal dungeon around level 6 gives you between 1000 and 2000 XP - but some longer, more difficult ones give up to 10K (!) - and you really notice that.

I also enjoy the puzzle dungeons - i finished one today (the Pitt) which was mostly puzzles with a few fairly easy fights - but you really notice if people are competent or not, since they will be unable to avoid traps, screw up, split up and so on.
Puzzle dungeons are somthing you rarely find in other MMOs

If you want to be a sought-after class, consider the following jobs:
-Good healers. Either Favored Sould (tough thats not free to play) or Cleric. Both are also fairly good solocharacters.
Can also be done by a Bard, altough he will lack the manapool to be the only healer.

-Trapmonkeys. Thats pretty much a Rogue with high Spot/Search/Disable Device/Open lock. You can do that in combination with, say, a Ranger, too, if the second class provides Spot&Search

-Crowd Controll Casters. Can be done by Wizards/Sorcerers - Web, Charm Person, Hold Monster etc. are all very powerfull and can tip the tide of each battle. Pure damage can be done by everyone, but thats pretty much a domain for arcane casters.

-Good tanks. That nees an high Intimidate-Skill and a Shield. If you are blocking, you are pretty much invincible against most "small" melee attacks (everything but Ogers/Trolls/Bosses) at least at the lower levels. Invest in Improved Shieldbash, and you can whack them in the Face, too.
Doable by Fighters and Paladins - but you only really need the Intimidate-Skill for them, so that can be done fairly well by dualclassing if you want to.

Dualclassing generally is quite powerfull, at least in my oppionion. You just have to make both classes aid each other.
If you are not a Caster-Class, you can pretty much dualclass all you want - but if you are a caster, you have to watch it, since it will cost you the high-level spells, which are way more powerfull than the low-level spells, and of course spellpoints (mana) too.

Some of my favoured builds:

Bard/Sorcerer: Godlike crowdcontroll. Up to level five, i could sweep most dungeons without killing anything on my own - solo. You are failry squishy, but you can Controll/Entagle/Stun most things.
You should only take a couple of levels as a Bard (1/3 or 1/4) and maximize your Perform-Skill, and invest in Feats and Enhancments that will boost your Spell penetration and the DC of your spells, since that will scale badly.

Ranger/Rogue. Nearly a fifty/fifty build (11/9), this is a pretty good combination of a Damage-Rogue and a Trapmonkey.
Use your Ranger-Levels to maximize your Spot&Search and invest all your Rogue-Skillpoints into Disable Device and Lockpick.
If you want to, you can use your bow for sneak attacks, but you can also go for dualwielding-sneak attacks - the Ranger is equally good at both things.
You are also more durable than a pure Rogue, altough you will miss Improved Evasion - but you gain more Hitpoints, Energy Resistance and a better Fortidue-Save.

Cleric/Figher: My prefered combination, altough i am a bit suspicious about the higher levels. Add a Figher-Level every four or so levels to maximize your Intimidate-Skill (you need a bit of Int for that). You will loose nothing in AC and only a bit later on in Damage Reduction, you won't loose too many hitpoints (two per level).
But you gain good healing capabilities, Turn undead (altough the scaling sucks - but good for burning mooks), Self-Buffs otherwise unavaiable to you and a better Will-Save.
A good character for every dungeon i encountered so far - i can tank melee-enemies with ease, withstand most casters&ranged enemies and add some nice healing, too - altough a second healer helps a lot.