Ying's First Life Bow

[Ying]

Ying's First Life Bow (link) contains feats, enhancements, epic destinies, gearing, commentary about choices and a breakdown for the most important mechanics. It is hosted in Google Docs because it's 10 pages long, and the forum software would choke if I tried to cut and paste it. Feel free to download a local copy, or bookmark the link in case I make minor adjustments based on feedback. The build is current as of Update 59. I'm happy to answer any questions about it.

 

[Writz]

I really appreciate the in depth build you’ve made targeted towards newer players, you’re doing a very good service for the community and I wish these sorts of resources were more readily available when I started out.

 

[Lim]

Hello! Running your build on a first life character (it's been fun so far! but a bit of a struggle to keep up with trap skills).
Just got to 20 and was wondering what bows would you recommend to use while leveling? Could use a new level 20-ish bow (still using the Borovian Longbow until something better comes along) and looking at what I could try to get for next life. Have not done any raids and not planning to for a while at least, playing in a duo most of the time and solo.
Edit: have VIP, used the DUNGEONCRAWL code while it was up, got the 4 expansions for 100 LP during the sale at the same time, also now have saltmarsh and feywild

 

[Terpilar]

An easy to get bow would be the epic silver one from the Borderlands, you only need an epic silver ingot from the wilderness - then put a ruby of the iron hand in the red slot (Feywild wilderness on heroic) and you'll be breaking, silver, cold iron and good DR; next step is the sentient jewel from the Barovian wilderness and you're set for epics. Many other options (mostly from the Sands area) but you'll need mats (50 sand crystals) to upgrade those.

 

[Lim]

Barovian wilderness on heroic? I am looking at https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Sentient_Jewel and it is not listed...
Also, no idea what sentient jewels do, the wiki only lists their dialogue quirks

 

[misterski]

Sentient jewels allow you to add filigrees to epic weapons, mainhand only. Filigrees are a way to give your build quite a bit more power, especially with filigree sets. Jewels start with 1 slot. You can add more slots by leveling the jewel; up by feeding named gear to it. There's also an item that will add 1 slot max to a sentient jewel. Minor artifacts also get filigree slots. One annoying thing about sentient jewels is unslotting them from weapons when you get an upgrade or do an epic reincarnation and need to move the sentient jewel to a levelling weapon. Sentient toolkits cost store points or are very very rare drops. You also have to unslot any filligrees in the sentient jewel before you can remove it from a weapon.

 

[rabidfox]

Barovian wilderness on heroic? I am looking at https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Sentient_Jewel and it is not listed...
Also, no idea what sentient jewels do, the wiki only lists their dialogue quirks

You have to go into the epic wilderness to claim them; 1st time you talk to the person he'll give you a weapon, 2nd time he'll give you a jewel. This should help explain the sentient weapon system https://ddowiki.com/page/Sentient_Weapon

 

[Zxt_the_grand]

Ying's First Life Bow (link) contains feats, enhancements, epic destinies, gearing, commentary about choices and a breakdown for the most important mechanics. It is hosted in Google Docs because it's 10 pages long, and the forum software would choke if I tried to cut and paste it. Feel free to download a local copy, or bookmark the link in case I make minor adjustments based on feedback. The build is current as of Update 59. I'm happy to answer any questions about it.

Love this, returning player and I was able to follow along great. Only the enhancements section was a bit confusing, is there a priority ideology to take into account when leveling through the different trees?

 

[Ying]

Put one AP into Knight of the Chalice early on for the light imbue.

Deepwood Sniper is going to give you the most bang for your buck.

Vistani isn't available until you complete Ravenloft, which is base level 12 for the last quest chain. That means you'll be doing it at character level 14.

Harper isn't available until epic levels, because you won't have the favor to earn it before level 25 or 26.

 

[Fisto Mk I]

Put one AP into Knight of the Chalice early on for the light imbue.

Maybe it's worth noting for beginners that the paladin should be a follower of the Silver Flame?

 

[Ying]

Maybe it's worth noting for beginners that the paladin should be a follower of the Silver Flame?

Good point. The guide has been updated with that info.

 

[unknown32]

Hi, I used your build on a two life toon; and it has been really fun! I tried it on r10 pug groups, and I was able to contribute decently. Hoping to upgrade gear to the new expansion stuff soon

 

[Zxt_the_grand]

Could this be done with an iconic? I know I'll lose that sneak damage but I would so much rather start at 15. What are the thoughts? I do plan to reincarnate to make the build stronger over time but would starting as SDK hurt the build to the point it's not worth it?

 

[Ying]

You can certainly use an iconic, or any other race. Just comes down to what you gain vs. what you lose. Tabaxi is my preferred race due to the movement speed and damage benefits.

 

[Zxt_the_grand]

was thinking of doing an iconic since i dont have any leveling gear and when i came back i managed to gather a decent amount of sharn gear so i could just jump right in there. not sure if ima jump in as shadrkai asimar or bladeforged - would either of these have any major hold ups other than losing a litle damage here and there?

 

[Zxt_the_grand]

wait, can you go tabaxi then using the free heart to switch and still start at level 15?

 

[Ying]

You'd need a Lesser Heart of Wood +1 to swap from Monk to another class if you went Tabaxi Trailblazer. AFAIK you don't ever get a free LR+1 heart.

 

[Zxt_the_grand]

perfect, thank you for clearing that up!

 

[unbongwah]

wait, can you go tabaxi then using the free heart to switch and still start at level 15?

You'd need a Lesser Heart of Wood +1 to swap from Monk to another class if you went Tabaxi Trailblazer.

Alternatively you could run Trailblazer as monk 1 / rogue 7 / ranger 12; squeeze in Zen Archery + Master of Forms to run in Master Fire stance for the crit multiplier bonus.

 

[Neurik]

Alternatively you could run Trailblazer as monk 1 / rogue 7 / ranger 12; squeeze in Zen Archery + Master of Forms to run in Master Fire stance for the crit multiplier bonus.

What are the thoughts on doing this but with Monk 2 (extra feat)/Rogue 7/Ranger 11 (lose a level 3 spell and trap sense). I have been running the build and will finish up my last Tabaxi racial life to regain racial completionist and will TR into a trailblazer because they are the last 3 racials I need and to skip the 1-15 grind. I am trying to find a way to avoid using a +1 heart and just make the monk level work. Is losing the light armor enough to make running in fire stance with master of forms worth it?