What to do with an old Exploiter

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Desdemonte

Member
I’ve been gone for a looooong time, as per my very out of date build. It’s a second life character (past life fighter) so a 34 pointer and has pretty much all the old end game weapons. It’s a wood elf and therefore running Scimitars. I’m just getting back into the game a bit and approaching level 32 with it, and TBH I’m not sure how it’s performing in comparison to what’s good nowadays. My kill count is always low and I’m not seeing any of the big Crit numbers people are talking about. I’m not even sure what realistic numbers look like anymore. Usually I’m getting 1000-1500 with the rare 3000. This is very much gear related in part, but I’m sure the build just doesn’t cut it any more. I’m hearing archers and S&B melees getting 8k, 10k, even 15k on the rare occasion (also on old re-gearing toons).

Is there anything that can be done enhancement/ED/Feat wise that can bring it to current standards, without spending a bunch of money on tomes? I still have the +20 lesser heart kicking around, as well as a +5 and regular one, so I can completely change it, or just fine tune it. I want to focus on scimitar DPS and some ranged if possible. I’ve found that the ranged side of the Exploiter was never really much more than a utility anyway, doing little damage. Same with the hand wraps (even with all the old end game bows and wraps).

I have a rogue already so don’t need another trapper or sneak attack reliance, and I’d rather the two not be competing for gear, but if that’s the best way to go, so be it. I have access to Isle of Dread and Vecna Unleashed, which seems to be the current stuff to chase.

Any advice is appreciated.
 
Titus Ovid

Titus Ovid

Mover and Shaker
You wrote your are approaching level 32. Are your close? Get somehow to 30 and TR into something nice. I always use hardcore builds for inspiration for low PL characters. The recent first life raid challenge thread by Lava Divers is a good source for builds, as well.
If you are not close, is it possible to get carried? If yes, get carried and TR out of it. If no, there are always wilderness to level. If that is no option TR in your 20s.
If I take a break and I am not talking years but mere weeks, I'd like to start with a fresh TR. Less complications and guess work what my plan for that life/character was.

Good luck.

Cheers,
Titus
 
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SchruteBuck

Member
I can't see the old Exploiter split being terrible, though it won't be as strong as a pure 20 Tempest.

But yes, I would agree on planning an Epic and Heroic reincarnation into something more up-to-date.

In the meantime, put your enhancements into T5 Tempest and Core 3 DWS, and throw the rest wherever you like. For Epic Destinies, I'd go FotW/Shadowdancer, maybe a few points to get Cocoon as well.
 
Epicsoul

Epicsoul

Lava Divers Assistant to the Regional Manager
Hello and welcome back!

You are correct that an "exploiter" build is not the highest performing DPS setup by far. However, the single best thing you could do for this build or any you decide to play is getting updated gear. Having recently returned, I'm not sure what you own of the newer content, but any of the recent expansions offer fantastic gearing options for end game and leveling. If you don't own any and decide to purchase one, I'd recommend Isle of Dread from both a gearing and gameplay perspective. The recently released Slice of Life adventure pack is free to play and has very decent gear as well if you don't own Isle of Dread or Vecna.

Now, if you have a specific type of build you'd like to play, let us know. Several players post build guides on the forums that provide a walkthrough on feats, enhancements, stats, race, etc.

EDIT: Saw that you own Isle of Dread and Vecna. While you're at level 32, I highly recommend hosting a gear farming group and running those quests for loot that you want/need. You can always use the ddowiki.com to review named items for every update.
 
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Desdemonte

Member
Thanks for all the replies guys. I made some adjustments last night, focusing more on the Tempest tree as recommended above- I was too generalized trying to still take advantage of the monk splash. Things felt better but not by much. The advice for updated gear is too true- I have a couple updated pieces but still using some dreadfully old low level stuff.

I am now about 1 pip away from level 32 so my plan is to get there (haven’t needed to be carried so far in R1) and try to gear up to modern standards and see where that gets me. I am now thinking more strongly about TRing (I really didn’t want to because I left the game after a TR burnout of 10 lives on my sorc). I see that to really get the most out of the Tempest, it has to remain pure.

So my questions are thus- what is a damage per hit Crit I should be aiming for? As a dual wielder getting (I’m guessing) more attacks off per second than a sword and board, is it realistic to look for the 5-8k numbers, or even higher?

Obviously I need to build toward Crit chance and damage, but now I see I need to bypass fortification (when did the buggers get that anyway? lol) and Strikethrough. What should I be chasing for realistic numbers for those and where do I get them other than EDs and Enhancements (I’m not super familiar with the trees). What is my priority list to maximize - Doublestrike, Strikethrough, Fort bypass. Crit chance, Crit damage? Any others I’m missing?

Also, what is a Dex number I should realistically be aiming for?

That leads to defense- how much damage should I be sacrificing to get HP, PRR, MRR, Dodge, etc? Using actual armour will be a novelty for me with the lower Dex and Dodge caps…

Thanks again folks!
 
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Desdemonte

Member
Oh one more thing- is it worthwhile investing in the Dragonmark feat to use that tree in the elf line? I’m using scrolls to cast Displacement but as you know they only last 30 seconds. Casting as a spell seems very powerful. That brings up another question- will my UMD be useable any more without the rogue splash? Res, heal, Greater Resto, Tesnser’s etc…?
 
Titus Ovid

Titus Ovid

Mover and Shaker
My I suggest something completely different?
Go 18 Ranger / 2 Shadar-Kai
The chain attack gives you nice crits and some cc and disabling and the ranger does the rest. You don't even not to go deep into Shadar-kai.
And you start at 15 which means you skip some pesky heroics and you are back in epics and can try your luck in eoics with a better build.

Cheers,
Titus
 
D

Desdemonte

Member
Titus Ovid said:
My I suggest something completely different?
Go 18 Ranger / 2 Shadar-Kai
The chain attack gives you nice crits and some cc and disabling and the ranger does the rest. You don't even not to go deep into Shadar-kai.
And you start at 15 which means you skip some pesky heroics and you are back in epics and can try your luck in eoics with a better build.

Cheers,
Titus
Click to expand...
I’ll have a look, but I wonder if it will just get me to a different version of what I am now, not going pure.
 
Titus Ovid

Titus Ovid

Mover and Shaker
You are a TWF (scimitars) so you don't need to look for Strikethrough, that is for THF.
For TWF is off-hand attack important.

Basically you take the TWF line (4 feats)
Probably Precision
In any case Improved Critical slashing
The rest is personal flavor. like going dodge, mobility, spring attack for example
Maybe Deflect Arrows and/or TWDefense

What would you like to have as a main ED? Check if the higher tiers have a feat feature for example: if you have this (heroic) feat you double the bonus or something.

It is always good to have some form of CC.
It is always good to have a source of healing. That is easier in epics than in heroics.
It is great, if you can put in some helpless damage bonus. Even if you can't make mobs helpless, other's can. If you notice that focus on those mobs. Other's prepare, you finish them off.

Since you are wearing cloth or light armor at least your MRR will be low. So focus on avoidance like dodge, incorporability, maybe even spell resistance. The last one is hard to come by in a meaningful capacity. So maybe don't.
Concealment is still fine in low and mid reapers but if you care for it on R7+ it is everyone's personal opinion. It still gives me a feeling of a warm blanket.
I know it sounds stupid but best defense is not getting hit. You can compensate a lot, if you know how to move so you are harder to hit even in close quarters.

I do think a split might turn out better than pure ranger but I haven't played a pure one in a log time.

Cheers,
Titus
 
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