Leveling while solo?

[Shad]

Keep poking into everything)
basic gold is most easy.
Graveyard. You are strong so pick up all the junk. Just by the exit there is some sage that gives gold for undead remains, and merchants that would buy most other things

[Logan Kensington]

Okay, are you talking about the sage under that tent near the merchants? Because I went to him with remains and he was looking for bones or something like that.

[flyingchair]

He should give 25 gold per remains, just choose the "give me work option" and then "I have more bones for you". Then you lose the remains and get the gold.

[Logan Kensington]

That's weird because when I choose that option I keep all of my remains and he tells me to come back when I have some.

[chad878262]

Seriously, sorcerous sundries is your friend. +3 ac from Barskin potions which last 15 minutes, +4 AC from mage armor potions last 10 minutes and +4 AC from shield potions last 5 minutes and grant immunity to magic missile. That's 11 AC if you don't have any magical gear. You'll find survival at 26-30 AC at level 5 is much easier than when your AC is 19.

[Evelyn]

+4 AC from mage armor potions last 10 minutes

They last exactly 60 seconds for me.

[Hoihe]

+4 AC from mage armor potions last 10 minutes

They last exactly 60 seconds for me.

Are you sure it isn't something else?

Mage armour, by definition of being a 1hour/caster level based spell must AT LEAST last 5 minutes due to 1 MECHANICAL hour lasting exactly 5 minutes.

All mage armour casting items that I know of have level two caster level, thus 10 minute long.

[Evelyn]

+4 AC from mage armor potions last 10 minutes

They last exactly 60 seconds for me.

Are you sure it isn't something else?

Mage armour, by definition of being a 1hour/caster level based spell must AT LEAST last 5 minutes due to 1 MECHANICAL hour lasting exactly 5 minutes.

All mage armour casting items that I know of have level two caster level, thus 10 minute long.

The potions last 60 seconds, the scrolls on the other hand...

[chad878262]

No difference between portion or scroll. Mage armor can't last 60 seconds, as Hoihe said. Although if you can use the scrolls and they work better, go for it.

[Serithis]

Yeah this was my case. As a Drow Rogue/Assassin, (level 14) and actually still is my case. The only difference is that now I have invisibility/hide in plain sight to get around and loot chests or some times prevent myself from dying. I can throw up the occasional item I do find and make some money from that, or just grind the beetle pincers.

There's really nothing I -can- solo effectively. Taking on groups usually gets me nearly killed (having to use hide in plain sight to try and take them down individually with sneak attacks with potion buffs which wear off way too fast to be worth the money in the time frame necessary to get xp, and likewise Use Magic Device is useless other than for some of the 1gp scrolls I can buy and occasional rare wand that I'd rather sell for the money)

I have a good group of people that I run with when I level, and otherwise I just try to loot items or fight much lower level mobs that will give me 15-25 xp.

Leveling alone is a 10x slower grind, and usually never worth the loss. Run with groups when you can, stick to low levels when you can't, and such as mentioned; using the graveyard, bear hide or wolf hide to make money (I think there's a Wolf hide Vendor).

Underdark side is much more difficult, though to be fair there was a couple feats I should have taken as early as possible- such as combat expertise/feint, which would have made soloing a lot better in the low levels, and I suspect things probably will be rough until I can actually upgrade my two weapon fighting higher and get Invisible Blade into my build.


It's always good to make sure you have the right gear in order for Armor Class.

+1/2 Natural Armor bonus on the necklace

Get the best armor/dexterity limit ratio suitable for your armor proficiency with +2 or 3 Armor rating. Example if your dex is staying at +2 or +4 get a piece of gear that will allow for a maximum dexterity bonus of +4 or +2.

alternatively you can get Gloves to give you extra dexterity and wear slightly less armor

I've more often seen +3 AC (Deflect) on capes and helmets, so if you find one of those-- that will do, or a +2 deflection ring.

+2 AC Dodge on your boots, and if you can use shields, you might want to grab one of those.

I suggest looking into a regeneration cloak. I have no idea where you can buy them on the surface, and they are quite expensive, but they generate +1 health in combat, which really helps between all the dodges/misses the enemy may make, and save money on potions/healing out of combat and the rest Cool down as level gets higher.

(Just providing some tips in case there's more you can do to fix your gear in order)

Healing Kits are Heavy, Potions provoke attacks of opportunity in combat. Since you're a fighter, you're probably going with a lot of strength, so bring healing kits are a good choice to use in combat and out.


Patience helps even when you feel like you want to bang your head into a wall, when I first made my Wizard I had remade him because the same thing happened as level 1, lost all the XP I made from the beginning quests and it was difficult enough to fight anything on my own.

I was also a bit inexperienced with Wizards then, and as far as I've learnt, spell casting is entirely pointless because the rest CD is too long, I'd rather just throw on all my strength/dexterity/intelligence extended buffs and improved weapon and shield AC and just hit things, which is much easier and does not require me to rest every fight or three.

[Serithis]

And I have one more thing to advise.. go to earlier levels such as the bandit cave, and anywhere else like the Kobold Hilltop Ruins, and do cycles bashing the lockboxes to potentially find useful items, get acquainted with the economy, and pricing and try to make money off of them from either vendors or on the Auction (at Mudd's thing in the Palace district, or Friendly arm Inn).

You can only loot lock boxes <x> amount of times per day (or reset?) depending on how high above the area's level you are. This is very inconvenient if you're in a position of having been power leveled with no money to upgrade your gear and AC because then you're dying in low level places and trying to find rares with much more limited item spawns. So it helps to take advantage of the daily/reset based chest spawns in an accessible area I've found, before you're some what screwed for cash.

[Aspect of Sorrow]

UD Wizard who refuses to bother looting and has half an inventory missing chiming in.

Soloing at low levels takes patience and tactic. The few coins I had at the beginning went to a backpack that added a few more points of health and a crossbow that I can sit at range to try picking things off with; ATs being my safety net. Aggro creatures individually without going into the LoS of their companions. Test theories, go back and test another option, rinse and repeat. I've RCR'd a few times with my Drow character, but even now just shy of 20 you'll see me on occasion testing combat ideas on low CR creatures for efficiency the next time around. When I RCR'd, I was soloing the Illithid compound at level 12 based on what I came to learn.

[Shad]

So, how have you been, Logan?

otherwise I just try to loot items or fight much lower level mobs that will give me 15-25 xp.

Uh oh that meant to mean low xp per mob?
Counter to what been said, at low levels I wouldn't use consumables when possible, otherwise its much harder to get money to buy gear.
Regen cloacks are sold in the Palace District of the Gate, forgot name of shop, but I reckon its in north-western quadrant of the map. Around 10 bags of gold.

[Serithis]

So, how have you been, Logan?

otherwise I just try to loot items or fight much lower level mobs that will give me 15-25 xp.

Uh oh that meant to mean low xp per mob?/quote]


It's the standard, but for the time, emphasis was more on the 15 per mob. maybe it doesn't capture how long it takes to kill one thing when you're not geared well or using crud weapons.

[Ithilan]

15-25 experience per mob is a luxuary you will not soon forget when you reach epic levels, especially if you play a drow

As others have said before, armor class is a key component for getting a nice flow practically anywhere and at all levels. But what works even better than armor class, is finding someone to act as punching bag for you, or rotate on that duty

I find that most often there are groups of lower level players centered around the hilltop ruins, gibberling camps and later on goblins/gnolls. Perhaps if you seek out some of them to go on a glorious adventure together things would pan out better?
Or make a post in the elfsong tavern, advertising your fantastic company for the road im sure there is a lonely halfling somewhere just waiting for the opportunity.

If solo play is the perspective however, id really recommend you consider your build thoroughly or get someone to assist you with it, so you wont feel you're bashing your head against a wall.

On any account, welcome to the server I hope to one day hear of your heroic exploits that all started here