Some Questions on DDO

ginetti

I've not played the game, but I do have questions about it:

1: Is there a balance between classes, or are some overly popular and to the same extent, largly ignored? 

2: Is Voice Chat a must?

3: How long can missions get with a competent group?

4: Roughly how many instance hours does it take to cap level 10.

5: I'm familiar with PnP Dungeons and Dragons, however i'm confused on how ranks work - what is this function?

6: I hear rangers do not get a pet - have they been at all compensated for this?

7: As i'll be the only one i know playing this game, if i do, how long does it take to find a group.

Thank you for any help in advance.

burrek

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Originally posted by ginetti

I've not played the game, but I do have questions about it:

1: Is there a balance between classes, or are some overly popular and to the same extent, largly ignored? 

Class balance is very similar to DnD. As to popularity the claerics and rogues are the most played. Since a party can do with 2 clerics but needs only 1 rogue it's hard to fidn a group when your a rogue.

2: Is Voice Chat a must?

You do not need to speak, but it is good to hear so you need broadband.

3: How long can missions get with a competent group?

2mins-2 hours ( 8 hours if your doing a quest chain)

4: Roughly how many instance hours does it take to cap level 10.

I've heared 80+ hours. (can do it in less if you have previous experience of the missions)

5: I'm familiar with PnP Dungeons and Dragons, however i'm confused on how ranks work - what is this function?

This lets you pick an encancment every 1/5 of a level. Encancments are skill or stat bonueses.

6: I hear rangers do not get a pet - have they been at all compensated for this?

No. Although rangers still kick arse.

7: As i'll be the only one i know playing this game, if i do, how long does it take to find a group.

If your a rogue it can take a hour or even more. If your a cleric you will have to fight off the people that want to group wth you.

Thank you for any help in advance.

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brihtwulf

I think burrek is correct in everything but his assesment of the ranger class.  A lot of people are of the view that they are next to useless for the group dynamic.  Having not played one, I don't know, but I have heard a lot of that from other players.  My logic on that would be that rangers are probably not the best at close quarters fighting, which happens a lot in a dungeon.  But that's just my guess on why they might not be the best class to choose.

Still, play one for yourself and form your own opinion.  There's no harm in trying another class.

burrek

I've played with some high level rangers and they can really dish out the damage with the proper items.

Rangers are great when facing large numbers of weak foes or casters.

You can also make a blademaster ranger that is a melee damage machine although I've never seen one of those in action.

Talon54

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Originally posted by burrek



Originally posted by ginetti

I've not played the game, but I do have questions about it:

1: Is there a balance between classes, or are some overly popular and to the same extent, largly ignored? 
Class balance is very similar to DnD. As to popularity the claerics and rogues are the most played. Since a party can do with 2 clerics but needs only 1 rogue it's hard to fidn a group when your a rogue.

I am always getting tells on my rogue to join groups.  However one race, the Warforge are at a bit of a disadvantage.  Clerical heals only heal for half, and most wizards don't take the healing spells for the warforged.

2: Is Voice Chat a must?
You do not need to speak, but it is good to hear so you need broadband.
Most people with the voicechat dont read thier group chat, and as the scout of the party (ranger or rogue) voice chat really is a must have.  Other classes can get away without it, but it is really helpful.
3: How long can missions get with a competent group?
2mins-2 hours ( 8 hours if your doing a quest chain)
Yep.
4: Roughly how many instance hours does it take to cap level 10.
I've heared 80+ hours. (can do it in less if you have previous experience of the missions)
I have heard the same, however i dont believe it at all.  Just this last weekend myself and a group of RL friends (4 of us) put in just over 20 hours going threw quests with some brand new characters.  We reached level 3.3, and i have expereinced a huge slowdown in Exp in the higher levels.  I dont see how anyone other then a true power gamer could grind up to 10 in 80 hours unless all they did was read all the quest walkthroughs and tweak themselves out. 
5: I'm familiar with PnP Dungeons and Dragons, however i'm confused on how ranks work - what is this function?
This lets you pick an encancment every 1/5 of a level. Encancments are skill or stat bonueses.
6: I hear rangers do not get a pet - have they been at all compensated for this?
No. Although rangers still kick arse.
Actually yes, they no longer have to choose between 2 weapon fighting or bow feats, they get them both.
7: As i'll be the only one i know playing this game, if i do, how long does it take to find a group.
If your a rogue it can take a hour or even more. If your a cleric you will have to fight off the people that want to group wth you.
Its really not that hard to find a group as a rogue, particularly after level 3.  Traps are deadly and one trap can easly kill 1 or 2 group members in one shot.
Thank you for any help in advance.

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Shurijo

I played a ranger during several (about 3-4) months of alpha beta testing (I gave up with rangers and went fighter for my last 2 months of beta). Rangers suck, but not as much as sorcs. The alpha/beta testers (including myself) made dozens of bulletted lists of problems and suggestions and all were ignored by the devs. I wish I still had my posts and I'd show you.

a few are:

1- no pet (clerics and wiz/sorcs have pets)
2- extremely low spell points (relative to others) and/or very low timers on spells (fixing either would have worked)
3- the twf is borked because of how the multiple attacks work. even with the lv 6 improved combat style, you get more attacks with single weapon due to animation speeds (I know they tried to fix this in beta, but find one of the twf vs 1h vs 2h number of attacks posts at ddo.com).
4- as an archer, the only benefit over fighter/archer is that you can add your str to bow dmg with the lv 2 ddo ranger feat (I think its 2, maybe 1)

Without a pet and with very little spell points/worth, I believe it is better to just make a fighter - you get more feats, weapon/armor profs, and better hit points. Without pets and useful spells, a DDO ranger is just a fighter with less hp and wearing light armor.

The only real advantage for DDO's ranger over fighter is the favored enemy, but you can keep a few bane and greater bane weapons to almost make up for that (and better armor and more hp).

I think they did a good job on all of the other classes, but my favorite (ranger) still needs a few updates.

ginetti

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Originally posted by Shurijo

I played a ranger during several (about 3-4) months of alpha beta testing (I gave up with rangers and went fighter for my last 2 months of beta). Rangers suck, but not as much as sorcs. The alpha/beta testers (including myself) made dozens of bulletted lists of problems and suggestions and all were ignored by the devs. I wish I still had my posts and I'd show you.
a few are:
1- no pet (clerics and wiz/sorcs have pets)
2- extremely low spell points (relative to others) and/or very low timers on spells (fixing either would have worked)
3- the twf is borked because of how the multiple attacks work. even with the lv 6 improved combat style, you get more attacks with single weapon due to animation speeds (I know they tried to fix this in beta, but find one of the twf vs 1h vs 2h number of attacks posts at ddo.com).
4- as an archer, the only benefit over fighter/archer is that you can add your str to bow dmg with the lv 2 ddo ranger feat (I think its 2, maybe 1)
Without a pet and with very little spell points/worth, I believe it is better to just make a fighter - you get more feats, weapon/armor profs, and better hit points. Without pets and useful spells, a DDO ranger is just a fighter with less hp and wearing light armor.
The only real advantage for DDO's ranger over fighter is the favored enemy, but you can keep a few bane and greater bane weapons to almost make up for that (and better armor and more hp).
I think they did a good job on all of the other classes, but my favorite (ranger) still needs a few updates.

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Based on the information i've read here and on the www.ddo.com boards, i've decided to take the plunge and purchase the game, though i'm not happy about a total lack of pvp (even an areana or duel capability would have totaly safficed).

One last request i have, as the game will not be available here where i live in australia for another 2 days, can i get a link or information that details how ranks work and what each race/class gets to pick from - as i've no experience with ranks comming only from PnP DnD.

Thanks to everyone who's taken the time to respond.

Cheers.

Shurijo

There are 4 ranks between levels

XP 0 = rank 0
XP 2000 rank 1
XP 4000 rank 2
XP 6000 rank 3
XP 8000 rank 4
XP 10,000 = lv 2, rank 0

At each rank and lv, you can add/change 1 enhancement (max of 4 at any time).

http://en.ddowiki.ws/w/Enhancements
http://www.dndoguru.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
http://www.ddo.com/index.php?page_id=215

You get enhancements per your race and class. If you multi-class, then you get the enhancements per class level. So if you are fighter 5/ranger 5, you to choose from the ones at fighter 5 (and below), ranger 5 (and below), and your race 10 (and below).

You can have a max of 4 at one time. Some upgrades and all stack (unless it says otherwise).

Example, you can choose "Elven Perception I" at elf lv 1. At elf lv 3, you can choose "Elven Perception II", but it must replace your version 1 of it. You can't have both of those since v 2 is an upgrade.