Your First DDO Character (Pale Trapper)

New Player Human Pale Trapper

This build is new player friendly, but also not. The Pale Trapper is sort of a step in the “more advanced” direction for when you’ve gotten the basics down. The Pale Trapper is readily available to a new player, requires no tomes or Turbine Point item buys. However it does require a bit more in the way of tactics. More about that below.

I’d like to thank Forum user Ellisdee37 for posting this build. I used it as a basis for my own build, though there isn’t much that has changed. You can read his post here. The actual build I use can be found here.

Yeah, this seems safe. -_-

Benefits

1. Advanced Tactics: Good build for when you graduate from the basic builds, but are still a bit inexperienced.
2. Multiple Roles: Offense, Support, Crowd Control.
3. Versatility: Concentrates on Necromancy spells, but can switch to elemental damage or enchantment when required.
4. SLAs: Spell Like Abilities such as Chill Touch make early levels a breeze and help even into the higher levels!
5. Continued Performance: This build does pretty well throughout the leveling process, and even solos very well.
6. Undead: Enhancement Shrouds make this character as an undead, with all the boons and banes!
7. Open Alignment: Though this is really more of a flavor option, the ability to choose a Neutral alignment (as opposed to the Paladin’s Lawful Good) means you are less susceptible to alignment damage. There are other alignment options available, but survivability is always a main concern for [Sir Dies-A-Lot].
8. Fewer Enhancement Trees: Split between three Enhancement trees, one of which (racial) only requires 4 points, which means more points where they are preferable. There’s even a non-racial tree variant.
9. Evasion: You gain the Evasion Feat, which will keep you alive when other builds fall.
10. Self Sufficient: Like most current builds, this one is self sufficient. Heal yourself at will, so long as you have SP or other abilities to do so.

Now you see me, now you don’t!

Drawbacks:

1. Low HP: Wizard class means fewer HP and lower Fort Saves. Some may balk at this predicament.
2. No Melee: This build is not meant to be in the middle of the fray, and first few levels can be difficult to solo, with or without a Hireling.
3. Button Mashing: It is not unheard of to have upwards of 10 hotbars. There are many Enhancements,Feats, and Spells that this build makes use of, and some may find this tedious.
4. Low Saving Throws: Fortitude (Fort) Saves can be a problem, however Death Ward and other spells/ potions may offset.
5. Spell Resistance and Saves: This creates a problem for this build when solo or in a Crowd Control (CC) role, however one can always swap over to pure damage.
6. You’re a target: Seriously, mobs hate casters almost as much as healers. Run away, charm, hold them (Web, etc), whatever you need do to escape!
7. Fleshy: Effects that do not affect races like Warforged are going to affect any flesh bound race, such as Human or Elf. These can be mitigated through Evasion, spells, potions, and well-timed trap avoidance. When you take shrouds of undeath (such as Vampire, Wraith, or Lich), you eliminate some of the more mundane, but open yourself up to other threats.

Character Creation

First thing you will need to do is make the initial choices of your character, such as style of play (melee, caster, specialist), class, and path. In this instance, it would be “Specialist”, “Rogue” to start, and “Custom” for your choices.

Then you get to assign your abilities, but be careful! You only have 28 points as a Free to Play first time player. As you earn favor or partake in a true reincarnation you will be given more, but at this point, 28 is your limit. You should allot your points as such for the type of character we’re building: Str 10, Dex 8, Con 16, Int 18, Wis 8, Cha 8.

Sometimes, adventuring can be a burden!

Skill Points: Next you should use your skill points to boost the skills you’ll use most. Rangers get plenty of points, so spread them around! Balance (4), Concentration (4), Disable (4), Heal (2), Search (4), Jump (4), Hide (4), Perform (2), Spellcraft (4), Spot (4), Open Lock (4), Tumble (1), Swim (3), and UMD (4) are a good starting point, and when you get Jump up to 10, you can begin placing your points elsewhere. Keep Concentration, Disable, Search, Spot, and Spellcraft always maxed.

Feats: Every character gets a very powerful trait called a feat. Wizards get a bonus Class Feat, which is limited to a select few options. Humans get one bonus Feat at first level. Afterwards, Wizards only get one Feat every third level (1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, etc), however you will get bonus Feats at various levels. (Lvl 1 Feat: Insightful Reflexes/Human Feat: Toughness).

We don’t need no water, let the mother trucker burn!

Now you have to decide on your character’s appearance. Make your own choices, or just hit randomize. Personally, for the Pale Trapper build, I like the classic raven-haired seductress look.

Once you enter a name and choose an alignment, you’re ready to begin your first ever experience on DDO! I should note that because DDO is an MMO, the name you want may be taken. Try different spellings until you are successful, or pick a different name.

The first thing you will have to do is a little “mini adventure” where you wake from a shipwreck and have literally nothing but the clothes on your back. Thankfully, the NPC’s you meet are willing to arm and protect you until you complete the quest (where they arm you further with an upgraded weapon). The end chest to the quest has some armor, and other useful tools for you to begin your life as an adventurer as well.

Obsydhia, Deathmistress (Pale Trapper Build)

The initial quest also acts as a tutorial on the basics of how to play the game. Once completed, you come the the starter area: Korthos Island, where more adventure awaits, along with more loot, more levels, more power, and even greater challenges!

You’ll have plenty of quests to do right off the bat, one of which is very rewarding. Sacrifices pits you against the Sahuagin (fish people) that are the cause of Korthos Island’s harassment.

When you finish the quest, you get quite a bit of xp, plenty of loot from both chests and breakables, and the end rewards are very nice (for those without some sort of speed item, Anger’s Step is a great solution).

 

Strategy:

Early Levels

Group: In groups, you will largely be in a support and crowd control role. Charm Person will be your mainstay.

Solo: The fact that you can heal yourself means you can solo many quests without much risk, though melee hirelings will help save your spell points. Cleric hirelings with Divine Vitality can also help your SP replenishment.

big spider! Big, BIG spider! NONONONONONONONO!

Late Levels

Group: Your role in groups will not change much as you level up. DoT damage, buffs, and Crowd Control spells will complement your group very well.

Solo: Race through the dungeons until you have a large mob, cast Web and Firewall, and continue on. They will get stuck (remember to heighten, empower, maximize, etc), and burn within your “trap”. Blur, Displacement, Expeditious Retreat, and Stoneskin will also be your friends here.

At All Times

Equipment: You’re going to want to focus on gear that boosts your INT, CON, and STR (to help carry all dat loot!). Also anything with Sheltering of any sort, as well as Spellcraft, Nullification, DC boosters, and the like. These things will be your core concerns, with Dodge, Search, and Disable rounding out your needs. Of course, any weapon that boosts Necromancy damage or success with crowd control will be the icing on the cake!

First date with my one true love! ❤

Spell Use: Heavy spell use will make point conservation a concern, but there are items (potions of mnemonic enhancement) that can help with that in a pinch. Use sparingly!

SLAs: Spell Like Abilities, or “Clickies”, will really start coming to their own around third level and you will find them indispensable. Until you get more damaging spells, that is. Web/ Firewall, Finger of Death, Wail of the Banshee, etc will eventually dwarf these.

Group Up: New players should join a group that can assist you in the game and community. If I may be of assistance at all, by all means contact me on Twitter: @Citiplaysddo. Cannith, Thelanis, and Argonnessen are my usual haunts.

The best thing about DDO is that there are plenty of builds, classes, races, and play styles for almost every type of player. Play the game how you like, learn the quests, break stuff, and don’t forget to have fun!

If you’ve made a similar build and have advice or a comment on this build, please visit the build page, and do so there.

Thank you so much for your time and attention. If you enjoy what you’ve read, please be sure to give me a follow!