Blightcaster is great for hardcore ~ Dungeons and Dragons Online Blightcaster Guide

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[@davidr1138]

I am an average player but get exactly what Strim means about the main danger being "hubris"... my first two BCs died because I became, perhaps not careless, but less careful because you are lulled into believing that its such an easy levelling process. Concentration is key along with [quest, game mechanics] knowledge. BC is a lot of fun in heroics!

[@zevirem9301]

Mine just hit level 8. Hubris effect doesn't matter when you are playing things at an equal level on normal. I did learn to keep the wiki open and see what dungeons I can even do. Got far in a dungeon just to run into a door that I need to go through that needs either str or lockpicking -.-

[@sarkmangaming8164]

It is bananas to me how fast people level now. These vids help a lot, thanks. I haven't played since 20 was the max. Came back last week off and on a bit. Forgot how complex the game is. If there's ever a bloody sale again (which I missed by a month!) will try Alchemist. Very informative vid. Cheers.

[@Strimtom]

Prep prep prep! Having a build planned, planning out a levelling path, setting up items ahead of time, planning routing through quests (especially when you can split up to clear objectives faster). You can level pretty fast if you put some time in before hand

[@Sielumies]

I found acolyte of skin to be easier in a way. Better early levels and to push defensives with low sp consumption due to blasting.

[@TheNeoVid]

Returning to the game after barely playing since Update 20, and decided to take a shot at HC with your build since I needed to learn the game all over again, anyway. Got to level 5 without a hitch, having loads of fun and an easy time finding groups... then my computer decides to have a meltdown and I can't play at all. Here's hoping I can get back in game before the season's over.

[@Strimtom]

My computer had a major crash this week too! Turns out it was a bad windows update, a full back up and I'm rolling again. Hopefully you get your stuff sorted soon

[@phillipbolanos6053]

Heard about all the fires up there in Canada NYC looked like doomsday hopefully it will not impact your streaming stay safe man!

[@Strimtom]

Fortunately the only thing that effects me is the air quality, but I have air filters and closed windows for that. Stay safe out there!

[@user-jh9cb5bh9o]

Strim have you ever looked into a Dragonborn Blightcaster? Wondering if going for Draconic Heritage (3/3), Draconic Knowledge (1/1) and True Power (3/3) is better but you have to sacrifice some points

[@roguedexx938]

Blightcaster is freaking fun and Awesome!Lol give it the 2 levels of Acolyte for the chain

[@scotta1820]

What are the best weapons for this type of character at different levels?

[@matheusbizarro5480]

Do you have a Quest List to do when you are leveling (for TR's) ? If yes, could you share this information ?

[@Strimtom]

docs.google.com/document/d/1xMJIlNntb8IRmTkuTDEPwmgdxAKnIELL_Nbs25Ugj6s/edit?usp=sharing

[@LeandroSorinhach]

Leveling mine was a breeze

[@garga2]

Not complaining, but I feel I keep taking nature mantle+evergreen as often as I used to take meld and the direcharge feat before the epic destiny revamp. Is that only me?

[@soupkitchen467]

Since you're in the hive master form in epics, which gives you improved evasion, do you have to wear light armor or could you wear the feywild medium armor?

[@Strimtom]

I swapped to the light armor because it is easier to get and gives me evasion. You can use the medium if you want.

[@kenenthboyd6254]

i wear medium and full thorn knight but evasion wont proc in medium armor

[@Elemenopi23]

The commentary in the beginning tells any new player what they'd need to know about how DDO is balanced. The HC server gives mobs some MRR damage mitigation against spells, but its only around 30% which barely moves the needle in what people chose to play. 30% in any other game would be the difference between META -vs- something that is never played, not even for flavor.

[@carpathian677]

Why people always seek balance? You're going to play what you like playing, immersion is not dictated by balance. If the game is balanced then why play any class, they will all play the same? We have dps classes, melee classes of different varieties, support classes and so on. So stop with this balance nonsense already.

[@minstrel7210]

​@@carpathian677I think the issue he's pointing at is, why play anything but a spellcaster in Hardcore when the spellcasters can do every other class's jobs better than they can. Is kind of an issue in the 3.5 TTRPG as well. It would just be nice if they toned back the power creep a bit and made things like fighters feel just a bit more on par.

[@Spectre06Gaming]

It's a hardcore mode in a game where being in melee is probably a VERY bad idea, and there's still desync issues for builds that rely on ranged weapons. You could make them take 50% less damage from spells and people would still run trains on the mobs using spellcasters simply because they want safety, especially on their first character.

[@minstrel7210]

@@Spectre06Gaming Feel like spellcasters should have their power rolled back just a bit and melee/ranged characters should have their power brought up a bit to get more of a meeting in the middle. Game is fun regardless, it's just a little bit of a feelz bad when my spellcasters steamroll with no gear and my martials struggle with gear.

[@Elemenopi23]

@@carpathian677 That observation that balanced classes all play the same is incorrect. The issue is if I can create a character (build A) and use all 80 points on offense AP, and it doubles the DPS of your character (build B), which also used all 80 points on offense AP, there is zero reason to take your character into challenging content - when I'd need two of build B to cover the output of build A. Build B then becomes some nonsense someone makes for flavor only, and is limited in effectiveness in lower settings only. What it ALSO means is I could build 30 points of defense into my character, and still be better at offense, while ALSO being better at taking hits. Thats not a trade off.

[@BlightCaster]

Something a little off topic: i think that in hardcore server everyone should have all the classes, races, expansions and adventure pack open. That way you can have new players or budget players experience with content they usually can't get to so they would know if they want to purchase it for their main.... what do you think?

[@Strimtom]

SSG doesn't do that so it encourages people to buy things. Would it be cool? Sure. Will it make them less money? Yes, so they won't do it.

[@BlightCaster]

@@Strimtom I actually think it would make them more money... new players will usually pay for something only if they know they love the game and they know that said thing is worth the money. If you look at the recent reviews of DDO, most of them criticize the fact that the first thing you notice in the character creation screen is the alleged massive paywall for classes and races. So i believe that a temporary server where you get to fool around with different fun builds or play different adventures can convince hesitating players that the game is worth it and that they should pay for things.

[@thiagopieri8074]

They Will never do those, because they open character transfer for free at the end of every season and people would Farm the gear and mats without buying the content and then transfer It tô main server, therefore less money

[@TheNeoVid]

@@thiagopieri8074 Imagine how much money they could make if the characters using features the player doesn't own were locked again after the transfer! A character you already enjoy and have put a bunch of time and effort into will cost you to play again? Cha-ching!

[@JEEBUSxHIMSELF]

is it necessary to farm out all the gear if im just going for the 10 reaper point cape? ive ran legendary hard feywild like 6 times and ive got one ring and some boots 😫

[@Strimtom]

Unless you ask for a carry, you will need the gear. Monsters hit for 1200+ damage per hit on R4, with champs hitting even harder.

[@proprich5586]

Newb question incoming. Does force spell power help with Thorn Strike?

[@BrentD25]

Yes, it does.

[@Nimoot]

Is it a graphical bug that it shows you're taking Maximize TWICE on the Blightcaster tree? It does appear they've Fixed it... guessing the % SP Cost Reduction will still make spells insanely cheap.

[@Endarire]

Being surprised = hurt.

[@Pazughartis]

If you want share the loot with the half server roll a blightcaster. When you playing with 5 druids in your party is not healthy. Just madness.

[@PunkRockCthulhu]

I've really enjoyed Blightcaster. Being able to hit for 300+ at level 4 was... kind of crazy to experience for someone who's never really delved too deep into DDO. On a side note: any interest in trying out that cold EK / cold EK tank that you were talking about on stream a few days ago? 👀

[@caelorn6640]

Yeees EK builds need more love. 100% biased because it's my favorite class since nwn2.

[@Strimtom]

Not really. I don't play tank characters in DDO because tanks level slowly and 99% of my time playing is leveling.

[@PunkRockCthulhu]

Fair enough! I do think it would be pretty neat to see a take on a cold EK, at least. I can't seem to find anything with a unique twist on it. Everything I can find is just PM/EK shenanigans.

[@davidr1138]

As a side comment regarding HC season 8 monster MRR buff and IMBUEs, Dark Apostates' evil toggle seems to be the way to go for melee/ranged.

[@Karthunk]

They gutted fvs because of heroic leveling on hardcore. Blightcaster is going to the tool shed very soon.

[@joewelch4933]

This. FVS was way over nerfed because of HC. I would argue it didnt even need a nerf, cleric needed a buff and FVS competed just fine with druid and sorc prenerf.

[@rolandboucher6751]

I have made a blightcaster it is great

[@kaleoandros25]

Starting ddo today, is barbarian better than fighter?

[@Strimtom]

No. They are different. Fighters tend to do less damage, and when built properly also can become better tanks. Barbarians require less gear to be effective, and also end up being tankier DPS characters. They also have a different play style since they can heal really well, so it's hard to pick, but I would say fighter generally is better, except in cased where you have less gear like hardcore or on a first character.

[@carpathian677]

Strim can you help me please, my account is locked with a 3032 error. I contacted support and we been going back and forth for over 3 weeks now. They are claiming I have a disputed charge on my credit card however when I contacted my credit card company about the issue they have no disputed charges filed on my account and not only that but the date Xolla claim the disputed charged occurred has no charges nor is there a disputed charge for that amount and to put the icing on the cake there has never been a disputed charge on the card associated with my DDO account. The supposed help desk asked for a copy of my bank statement where the dispute is so I'm really thinking something shady is going on. Can you direct me to a contact for help because I'm not getting anywhere with the help center. I also posted on the forums and nothing.

[@Strimtom]

I'm sorry but I can't relay help with this, customer service (while slow) is the best way. Hopefully you get a fix soon.

[@kenenthboyd6254]

i disagree on full druid outshining blight caster . my blight caster mows through pretty much everything in thorn knight as a pure blight caster