Beginner's Guide

From DDO Compendium


Additional Resources
Overview

Welcome to Dungeons & Dragons Online (DDO)!

This can be an exciting experience for new players, as any new player has a large game, which can take years to complete.

The first step is to download the game, which can be done here

Picking your Server

Once you have installed the game, and launched it, you will be prompted to select a server to play on from the launcher. DDO has 8 separate servers for playing on a day to day bases, and 2 special servers:

Main Servers

  • Argonnessen
  • Cannith
  • Khyber
  • Ghallanda
  • Orien
  • Sarlona
  • Thelanis
  • Wayfinder

Each of these servers has a diverse player base, and it may be prudent to create a character on each of the servers to determine which you personally like best. There is no penalty for playing on all of them, though each server is completely independent, so anything done one one is not available on the others. The only exception to this is when you purchase some items that are account based, those will be available on all the servers

Special Servers

  • Hardcore - This server is a special event server that is only up for a short amount of time, during Hardcore League.
  • Lammania - This server is a testing server, up for a few days at a time when Standing Stone Games has some new feature or content they would like help testing out

Both of these special servers are not permanent, and when they are made available, they are wiped clean, meaning anything that was created, purchased, or done on those servers is lost.

Character Creation

Once you have entered a server, you will have to create your first character. This process can be very daunting, as DDO has a large number of options for races, classes, feats and enhancements that can take a newer player a while to complete grasp.

Play Style

Your first decision when creating a character is to choose a play style. Do you prefer to aid others, blast enemies with powerful magic, or rely on stealth as your primary weapon? The choice is yours! Style represents a fundamental archetype of an adventurer in the world of Dungeons & Dragons Online, the basis for your character. Choose the Style that best suits the type of character you’d like to play. There are three Styles to choose from:

  • Melee - Melee characters engage in up-close, hand to hand combat. Choose this Style if you want to attack with weapons instead of magic.
    • Barbarian
    • Fighter
    • Monk
    • Paladin
    • Sacred Fist
  • Spell - Spellcasters harness the power of magic to assist allies or attack their enemies from a distance. Choose this style if you want to use magic more than weapons.
    • Cleric
    • Dark Apostate
    • Druid
    • Favored Soul
    • Sorcerer
    • Warlock
    • Wizard
  • Specialist - Specialists can excel in scouting, ranged combat, trap disarming, and more. Choose this style if you prefer a more specialized role.
    • Alchemist
    • Artificer
    • Bard
    • Ranger
    • Rogue
    • Stormsinger
  • Iconics - Leap into the action with an Iconic Hero. These seasoned adventurers are versed in danger and look the part. Choose this style to begin as a high-level character with custom gear, abilities, and a tale to tell.
    • Rogue Shadar-kai Assassin
    • Fighter Purple Dragon Knight
    • Cleric Morninglord
    • Paladin Bladeforged
    • Wizard Deep Gnome
    • Ranger Aasimar Scourge
    • Bard Tiefling Scoundrel
    • Barbarian Razorclaw Shifter
    • Monk Tabaxi Trailblazer

You can find more information on which class to choose from by navigating to the page on Classes.

Races

After your choice of a class, you need to choose a race, unless you have chosen an Iconic for playstyle, as that is both a race and class selection. There are currently 15 races you can chose from

  • Aasimar
  • Dragonborn
  • Drow Elf
  • Dwarf
  • Elf
  • Wood Elf
  • Gnome
  • Halfling
  • Half-Elf
  • Half-Orc
  • Human
  • Tabaxi
  • Tiefling
  • Shifter
  • Warforged

You can find more information on which race to choose from by navigating to the page on Races.

Starting to Play

Now that you have a character created, go ahead and enter the game. When you first enter the game, you will be placed in Shipwreck Shore. Go ahead and talk to Jeets Shimis. Enjoy this experience, and learn how to play the game.