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Help! I'm Level 60! A guide to the life of an adventurer
magenubbie
Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 7,344 Arc User
Help! I'm Level 60! A guide to the life of an adventurer
Welcome fellow adventurers, to the second half of your life as a hero of Neverwinter. Up til now you've been left pretty much to yourself where it comes to character builds, gear and tactics. As of now, things are going to heat up. You thought Mount Hotenow was hot? Oh no. The fun is just getting started. In this guide I'll go over the basics of what you need to know and some do and don't at lvl 60. The orange colored text refers to in game terminology. I'll explain them at the end of each paragraph. Let's start out with the most basic of basics:
Introduction to leveling to 70:
Before starting your grind (there’s no need for gentle phrases, it is what it is) to 70, it is of vital importance that your character is the best it can be at that point. Save up some AD and exchange it for Zen to get a respec token and buy some rank 7 enchantments from the auction house. More on that below. While the grind can be a bit boring, rest assured that Misc will lighten the mood every now and then.
Up til lvl 60, you probably didn’t have many issues getting through. This changes dramatically once you hit lvl 61. The leveling itself is done through 4 maps, which all have a “vigilance collection” quest, asking you to do 16 vigilance quests on that map. It is wise to grab this quest before starting. Completing this quest is mandatory to get your reward at the end of the grind: your new artefact weapon and off-hand. If you, for whatever reason, did not complete these quests, you’ll be sent back to do so.
Post lvl 70 advancement
Since the release of module 3, you don't have to waste your experience points anymore when you reach max level. For every level of experience past lvl 70, you will get a reward. Possible rewards include enchantments, AD and power points. Because of this, companions will continue to gain XP even when you are maxed out.
New word:
Power points: Extra points awarded through post lvl 70 advancement. These points can be invested in any skill on your power page you have not maxed out yet.
Builds. AKA What skills do I need?
So far, you've been left alone deciding what skills you want to use. This lack of education stops today. It's time to learn how to get the best out of your character. So head over to the class forums again and start reading. Please do NOT copy a random build just because it seems effective. People show off their builds to give you an IDEA on how to play. By no means should you simple follow a cookie cutter build just because it has max of X. Let me give you an example: A perma-stealth executioner build for a Trickster Rogue is quite common, and arguably the best choice for PvP on a TR. But it doesn't mean it's how YOU want to play. There's also an excellent guide showing what stat on your character does what.
So here's what you do: You look over the guides, take the parts of builds YOU like, and head over to the preview server and test it out. Respeccing your character is free on the preview server, so test away as much as you like. To access the preview server in game, simply click on it on the launcher. Note that the preview server is constantly being modified, so it is NOT a 100% replica of the live server. Nonetheless, for purposes of creating and testing a new build this is the best place to do it. Once you have the build you want, save it on the talent calculator for easy reference and bookmark it.
Now, all that's left to do is gather about 100k AD, put that in the ZAx, buy a respec token from the zen market and you're all set.
New words:
cookie cutter build : A build that focuses on min-maxing your character. Cookie being your opponent, the newbie, the cutter refers to you. It roughly translates as "1 size fits all". Used to indicate a "default" build.
Respeccing: The act of rebuilding your character. With the appropriate token, you can redesign your character, including skills, feats and more. Like everything else, this has no cost on the preview server. Initial stats, race and appearance are excluded from this rebuilding. Use a race reroll token if you wish to change race and initial stats. You cannot change classes in this game.
ZAx: Short for Zen to Astral diamonds eXchange. It is here where you can trade your AD for Zen and vise versa. Note that this exchange is purely governed by supply and demand. So if you can’t get your zen right away, be patient. It’ll come. The ZAx is accessible through its icon on top of your screen
Gear
If you gathered some AD during your travels, do not be afraid to spend them on some quality blue gear. Which gear do you need? Excellent question. For this we have the class forums. Remember, the kind of gear you require greatly depends on how you build your character. A damage dealer should not focus on defense and vice versa. Likewise, a perma-stealth TR will focus on other attributes and feats than a non-perma would.
New words:
AD: Short for Astral Diamonds. This is the currency used to buy items from players and the auction house. The other currency is gold, and is mainly used to buy services from NPCs.
build: A combination of skills and feats designed for a specific purpose. Usually either PvE or PvP, but some people choose to run with a combination of the 2.
Artifact Equipment
There are new types of artifacts introduced with the release of module 4.2:
Weapons, of which there are three for each class. These unique primary weapons add an additional effect to a specific at-will power.
Off-hand: forms a gear set with your artifact weapon. Comes with a special bonus to one of the passive skills from your class. You can unlock additional bonuses using augmentation cubes from the Wondrous Bazaar. Unlocking is random, so you may need to purchase several of them.
Cloaks: can form a set with belts and artifacts. Dropped in Well of Dragons HEs, Tiamat's lair or purchased from the campaign vendor.
And belts, one for each of the six ability scores, granting that selfsame ability score to their wearer. There's also a new range of belts that form gear sets with artifact cloaks and artifacts.
It is possible to “buy” your lvl 60 and lvl 70 artifact weapon. If you wish to do so, unlock and use the artefact chest in the Rise of Tiamat campaign window. You will be able to choose between the lvl60 and lvl70 weapon. If you follow the series of quests all the way through to lvl70, both artefact weapon and off-hand are free of charge.
Artifact Equipment requires other level 60+ equipment or unique refinement stones in order to be refined into higher ranks. Higher ranks will increase the potency of the artifact, granting bonuses to their additional effects, weapon damage and ability scores. Matching the same equipment type will yield bonus refinement points. (For example: refining a belt with another belt item.)
Once you hit lvl 70, you'll get a quest to acquire a new artifact weapon and off-hand. The RoI of refining your mod 4.2 artifact weapons into the new ones is about 40%. This sounds rather low, but remember that the new weapons are much better and after refining you will always find yourself stronger than with the lvl 60 weapons. The only thing that really changes is the level and color of the new weapon. So when you refine a purple lvl 60 artifact weapon into a lvl 70 one, it will probably turn blue, but will be more powerful than your old weapon.
Armor reinforcement kits can now be crafted in applicable professions at levels 8/15/20/25 to create an uncommon/rare/epic item that can be consumed to permanently increase a single stat of a head, arm, body or feet slot item by 25/50/100 depending on the quality of the armor reinforcement kit used.
They require 6 refined basic resources, 10 uncommon resources, Astral Diamonds and an arcane shard or a dragon egg for the higher level versions.
If you're still unsure which gear to get after reading this post and the class forums, feel free to make a thread asking questions in the section belonging to your class. Alternatively, but a bit more chaotic due to the huge amount of talk in game, you can PM a better geared player you come across during your travels. Don't be afraid, we won't bite unless specifically asked for.
Le Moneys
Alright. So how do I get that 100k AD? There are some excellent money guides around, but the easiest way to get started is by doing your daily quests. Press L in game, and click the appropriate box for daily quests. Take the quests that are within your limits and finish them.. He pays very well for doing so. Also, invoking and doing leadership tasks will give you some AD.
Campaigns
Campaigns in Neverwinter are basically long-term wars against against foes larger than could ever dream of beating by yourself. Sharandar's fight is with Malabog, a vile creature with no respect for nature or life. In the Dread Ring you finally get to take on Valindra Shadowmantle and her army of undead. Remember that lady that killed your friend on the bridge at the beginning of the game? That's Valindra. Didn't you have a bone to pick with her?
The latest campaign revolves around the return of the dragon goddess Tiamat (Tyranny of Dragons).
Campaigns are played through daily quests and the further you progress in it, more boons will become available. You can start working on the campaigns as soon as you reach lvl 70. The exception is ToD, which starts at at lvl 26. Knox will have quests ready to get you started.
Sharandar consists of 4 parts: 3 gates (areas) to unlock and 1 weekly lair. Each area contains 3 daily quests and a daily lair. The 3 daily quests provide you with the materials you need to unlock rewards and progress through the campaign. The lair is optional, but it can drop you some nice rewards. Don’t forget to take the free key from the leprechaun next to the door.
Dread ring works more or less the same. There are no areas to unlock, but the progression through the campaign and the way you get boons work the same. To mark your progress in either campaign, click on the flag button on top of your screen.
Icewind Dale is the campaign released in module 3. Again, the workings are similar to the other 2. Through progression through the campaign you unlock boons, new maps and useful items such as Black Ice and Black Ice gear.
Upon your first arrival in Icewind Dale, don't forget to search out Jarlaxle, to find out how you can obtain your new class artifact. It requires at least 2 lvl 60 character eligible for and have been to Icewind Dale.
Do not take this campaign lightly. This campaign is not for the weak. To enter this campaign, talk to Knox in Protector's Enclave.
Module 4 added the Tyranny of Dragons quest-line. This module is spread over the already existing storyline maps and can be started at lvl 26. Campaign progression again works similar to the previous ones. Start by talking to Harper Boward in Protectors Enclave, Hall of Justice, who will send you to revisit Neverdeath Graveyard and begin the campaign. If she has nothing for you, talk to Knox and he will send you to her. This module was updated later on with the actual return of Tiamat herself and an extra map, known as the Well of Dragons. Knox will guide you there as soon as you're ready for it. As with the previous campaigns, progress can be marked and reviewed using the flag button on top of your screen.
Getting tired of running the campaigns? Why not test your mettle against other players in some competitive PvP?
New words:
Boons: A stat bonus awarded for completing certain parts of a campaign.
gearscore: The sum total of all offensive and defensive stats on your gear and every boon you may have. This also includes active bonuses from companions, but does not include stats gained from augmenting stones and cats. Appropriate stats are modified on the Character screen (press C), they just don't count towards gear score.
PvP
For those who never PvPed before, here's the 1o1:
Domination is the name of the game. There are 3 nodes that give points to the party that owns them. To own a node, simply stand on them till they change to your side's color. As long as there's a member of the opposing team on that node, it will not change colors. The opposing team is trying the same, so feel free to kick their butts off your node. First side to 1000 points wins. There are several strategies to get this done, each depending on team makeup and personal preference, but most commonly people fight for the middle node first. Why?
Warfare 1o1: If you can stop the enemy from before entering your territory it's easier to advance to the enemy's side. You're already halfway there, aren't you? Once the center node is won, have 1 member go back to get the node closest to your spawn point, the rest advances to the enemy's side. Again, there are alternative ways to win, but this is the most commonly accepted one.
Personal points are given for kills, node defending, node capturing and kill assists. You'll get glory points based on the amount of personal points and the total result of the match. Gain at least 300 personal points to have them counting towards your glory rewards.
With the release of module 3, 3 PvP campaigns have been created: one for Gauntlgrym, Domination and Open world PvP in Icewind Dale respectively. All 3 progress through the campaign in much the same way. Detailed information can be found here and by pressing the flag icon on top of your screen. Unlike the other 2 PvP events, this is open world PvP. Note that PvP in Icewind Dale is only accessible if you meet the Icewind Dale campaign requirements.
Having acquired some glory points, shop at the Trade of Blades in PE, which sells better PvP gear, artifacts and companions. As always, class specific strategies can be found in the classes forums.
NOTE: PvP is not about personal ego's. While having the most kills is certainly rewarding, sometimes you can be more productive doing something else, like slipping past the war zone and going after the enemy's node. This forces the enemy to split it's forces. Divide and conquer. It's a team effort. Never forget that.
New words:
Domination: A contest between opposing teams. The goal is to occupy certain areas which will give points to your team. While killing the opposing team is not required to gain points, it's often useful to prevent losing control of a node.
glory points: A currency obtained by participating in PvP events. With this currency you can buy items at the Trade of Blades. Items include new gear, artifacts and companions.
nodes: Pillars that give the controlling team points. To control one, stand on it till it changes to your team's color. Contested nodes do not give points.
Open world PvP: A giant free-for-all PvP area in Icewind Dale, where you -and your team if you are in one, are free to kill anyone from the opposing side as you please. Sides are chosen while progressing through the normal Icewind Dale campaign. Note that your loyalty to the chosen side only lasts for 1 day. You're free to switch the next day. To prevent people ganging up on others, both sides have a limit to the amount of players that can sign on on any given moment. Once on the PvP map, you cannot change instances to prevent the same ganging up.
Dungeons
Dungeons are your source of gear advancement once you hit lvl 70. They are way too difficult to handle on your own though even at lvl 70. So gather up a team and start exploring! Collect seals and exchange them for gear at the traders in the Suncoast Market.
They come in 2 types: 3 man and 5 man dungeons. Press K to see which dungeons you can queue for. Requirements are based on what level gear you have, so make sure you have the best gear you can afford.
Each tier has a different requirement to enter and are harder to complete. Keep in mind that just having the average item level for a specific dungeon does NOT mean it'll be easy. Teamwork is required, as well as communication. You all have to get through together, so work as best you can.
If a player is making mistakes or making things harder for your class, kindly point it out between battles, but be respectful. Make sure everybody knows what to do during the boss fights. Don't be afraid to get killed. Gaining experience is how you learn. Bring injury kits just in case. Again, communication is vital. Also noteworthy is the fact that NW has it's own voice channels during dungeons. You'll find the settings under the options when you press Escape.
With the release of module 3, people are no longer restricted to the Dungeon Delves hour to open the bonus chest. You can acquire a daily key from the key master in Protector's Enclave. This key gives access to 1 bonus chest outside the DD hours. If you have a key and compete a dungeon within the DD hours, the key will not be used. Serg. Knox will give you a quest to meet this guy and pick up your first key.
The Foundry
The Foundry is that part of the game where players create their own game content which, after completion, is available to every player. It's a great place for (aspiring) DMs and PvE fanatics alike. It's filled with unique quests, dungeons and other User Generated Content (UGC for short). Also, Rhix has a daily quest involving the Foundry. Make sure you pick up those quests before you start.
To access Foundry quests, press K and select the Catalog tab. Usually the "featured" and "best" tabs will give you the better quests and campaigns.
To start creating your own quests and stories, select the Foundry from the character screen. You'll be guided by a short tutorial the first time you attempt to create something. For more information select the wiki button on the bottom or read up on all the creative things you can do in this section of the forums.
Guilds
Try and get into one. It doesn't have to be the top guild and you don't have to get along with everybody. Use it as an opportunity to learn and socialize. You'll learn how to play in a team, and have a good supply of people to run dungeons and PvP with. Being in a guild also grants you access to Gauntlgrym. While being in a guild is not mandatory except for Gauntlgrym, joining an active one will greatly increase your experience and fun in the game.
Gauntlgrym
This part of the game is accessible only when you're in a guild. When the guild is first created the owner is asked to pick sides in 2 warring factions in Gauntlgrym. Every guild member by default fights on the same side. There are ways to change sides, but that involves a lot of AD. It is a 10 vs 10 PvP event on a huge map. Objectives are similar to normal PvP, but with many more nodes to control and defend.
Companions
Be aware of what your companions do. While it may be awesome for a ranged character to have a tank companion, consider how that effects the rest of the team. For example: It's extremely annoying for a melee DPS to have a companion kick the mobs away from them. It also slows down the dungeon run. Healer class companions are useful, but the AI sometimes feels you need more mobs and will draw them to you. Consider switching to an augment companion. These will not stray, have no AI problems, but in return they provide you with buffs to your character. It's quite easy to get over 1k bonus on a certain stat using an augment companion. How's that for extra power? Some people don't even go back to normal companions once they have a stone. Something to think about.
New word:
augment companion: A type of companion that does not fight or take any other part in combat. These pets serve only 1 purpose: to give bonus stats to it's owner. They come in 2 basic versions: An ioun stone or a cat. Bonus stats given by augment companions show up on your character screen, but do not count towards gear score.
Other stuff you want to know
If you are having problems getting into parties or guilds, consider joining the nw_legit_community channel. It's full of friendly people who do not discriminate between classes. They also don't use exploits or bugs. In order to help keep the channel fun and friendly, it's required to sign up before gaining access, but it's definitely worth doing. More info on the channel's history can be found here.
Also, there's a community channel available for asking "newb" questions: NW_Newbie . If you have questions about mechanics, the latest patch, builds and whatnot, this is the place to ask. Of course this channel is not just for newbies but for everyone regardless of level and playtime.
Note that while you may find advice and dungeon runs in both channels, /legit aims at party matchmaking, while /newbie's goals include more asking questions and getting answers.
Additional recommended reading:
Neverwinter Wiki. Tons of useful information about classes, gear, strategies for dungeons and so on.
Guide to Neverwinter Campaigns: Strategy guide that'll tell you everything you need to know to get the most out of every campaign.
Things I wish I'd new before I learned it the hard way: A nice overview of common do and don't during the game. Some of it is pre-60, some of it is post-60. It's way too long to go into detail about this list, but it's useful. Really.
After reading this I hope you new adventurers are a bit more prepared for the life ahead of you. Any questions and feedback is appreciated, but please remain constructive. I have a towel and I'm not afraid to use it
Welcome fellow adventurers, to the second half of your life as a hero of Neverwinter. Up til now you've been left pretty much to yourself where it comes to character builds, gear and tactics. As of now, things are going to heat up. You thought Mount Hotenow was hot? Oh no. The fun is just getting started. In this guide I'll go over the basics of what you need to know and some do and don't at lvl 60. The orange colored text refers to in game terminology. I'll explain them at the end of each paragraph. Let's start out with the most basic of basics:
Introduction to leveling to 70:
Before starting your grind (there’s no need for gentle phrases, it is what it is) to 70, it is of vital importance that your character is the best it can be at that point. Save up some AD and exchange it for Zen to get a respec token and buy some rank 7 enchantments from the auction house. More on that below. While the grind can be a bit boring, rest assured that Misc will lighten the mood every now and then.
Up til lvl 60, you probably didn’t have many issues getting through. This changes dramatically once you hit lvl 61. The leveling itself is done through 4 maps, which all have a “vigilance collection” quest, asking you to do 16 vigilance quests on that map. It is wise to grab this quest before starting. Completing this quest is mandatory to get your reward at the end of the grind: your new artefact weapon and off-hand. If you, for whatever reason, did not complete these quests, you’ll be sent back to do so.
Post lvl 70 advancement
Since the release of module 3, you don't have to waste your experience points anymore when you reach max level. For every level of experience past lvl 70, you will get a reward. Possible rewards include enchantments, AD and power points. Because of this, companions will continue to gain XP even when you are maxed out.
New word:
Power points: Extra points awarded through post lvl 70 advancement. These points can be invested in any skill on your power page you have not maxed out yet.
Builds. AKA What skills do I need?
So far, you've been left alone deciding what skills you want to use. This lack of education stops today. It's time to learn how to get the best out of your character. So head over to the class forums again and start reading. Please do NOT copy a random build just because it seems effective. People show off their builds to give you an IDEA on how to play. By no means should you simple follow a cookie cutter build just because it has max of X. Let me give you an example: A perma-stealth executioner build for a Trickster Rogue is quite common, and arguably the best choice for PvP on a TR. But it doesn't mean it's how YOU want to play. There's also an excellent guide showing what stat on your character does what.
So here's what you do: You look over the guides, take the parts of builds YOU like, and head over to the preview server and test it out. Respeccing your character is free on the preview server, so test away as much as you like. To access the preview server in game, simply click on it on the launcher. Note that the preview server is constantly being modified, so it is NOT a 100% replica of the live server. Nonetheless, for purposes of creating and testing a new build this is the best place to do it. Once you have the build you want, save it on the talent calculator for easy reference and bookmark it.
Now, all that's left to do is gather about 100k AD, put that in the ZAx, buy a respec token from the zen market and you're all set.
New words:
cookie cutter build : A build that focuses on min-maxing your character. Cookie being your opponent, the newbie, the cutter refers to you. It roughly translates as "1 size fits all". Used to indicate a "default" build.
Respeccing: The act of rebuilding your character. With the appropriate token, you can redesign your character, including skills, feats and more. Like everything else, this has no cost on the preview server. Initial stats, race and appearance are excluded from this rebuilding. Use a race reroll token if you wish to change race and initial stats. You cannot change classes in this game.
ZAx: Short for Zen to Astral diamonds eXchange. It is here where you can trade your AD for Zen and vise versa. Note that this exchange is purely governed by supply and demand. So if you can’t get your zen right away, be patient. It’ll come. The ZAx is accessible through its icon on top of your screen
Gear
If you gathered some AD during your travels, do not be afraid to spend them on some quality blue gear. Which gear do you need? Excellent question. For this we have the class forums. Remember, the kind of gear you require greatly depends on how you build your character. A damage dealer should not focus on defense and vice versa. Likewise, a perma-stealth TR will focus on other attributes and feats than a non-perma would.
New words:
AD: Short for Astral Diamonds. This is the currency used to buy items from players and the auction house. The other currency is gold, and is mainly used to buy services from NPCs.
build: A combination of skills and feats designed for a specific purpose. Usually either PvE or PvP, but some people choose to run with a combination of the 2.
Artifact Equipment
There are new types of artifacts introduced with the release of module 4.2:
Weapons, of which there are three for each class. These unique primary weapons add an additional effect to a specific at-will power.
Off-hand: forms a gear set with your artifact weapon. Comes with a special bonus to one of the passive skills from your class. You can unlock additional bonuses using augmentation cubes from the Wondrous Bazaar. Unlocking is random, so you may need to purchase several of them.
Cloaks: can form a set with belts and artifacts. Dropped in Well of Dragons HEs, Tiamat's lair or purchased from the campaign vendor.
And belts, one for each of the six ability scores, granting that selfsame ability score to their wearer. There's also a new range of belts that form gear sets with artifact cloaks and artifacts.
It is possible to “buy” your lvl 60 and lvl 70 artifact weapon. If you wish to do so, unlock and use the artefact chest in the Rise of Tiamat campaign window. You will be able to choose between the lvl60 and lvl70 weapon. If you follow the series of quests all the way through to lvl70, both artefact weapon and off-hand are free of charge.
Artifact Equipment requires other level 60+ equipment or unique refinement stones in order to be refined into higher ranks. Higher ranks will increase the potency of the artifact, granting bonuses to their additional effects, weapon damage and ability scores. Matching the same equipment type will yield bonus refinement points. (For example: refining a belt with another belt item.)
Once you hit lvl 70, you'll get a quest to acquire a new artifact weapon and off-hand. The RoI of refining your mod 4.2 artifact weapons into the new ones is about 40%. This sounds rather low, but remember that the new weapons are much better and after refining you will always find yourself stronger than with the lvl 60 weapons. The only thing that really changes is the level and color of the new weapon. So when you refine a purple lvl 60 artifact weapon into a lvl 70 one, it will probably turn blue, but will be more powerful than your old weapon.
Armor reinforcement kits can now be crafted in applicable professions at levels 8/15/20/25 to create an uncommon/rare/epic item that can be consumed to permanently increase a single stat of a head, arm, body or feet slot item by 25/50/100 depending on the quality of the armor reinforcement kit used.
They require 6 refined basic resources, 10 uncommon resources, Astral Diamonds and an arcane shard or a dragon egg for the higher level versions.
If you're still unsure which gear to get after reading this post and the class forums, feel free to make a thread asking questions in the section belonging to your class. Alternatively, but a bit more chaotic due to the huge amount of talk in game, you can PM a better geared player you come across during your travels. Don't be afraid, we won't bite unless specifically asked for.
Le Moneys
Alright. So how do I get that 100k AD? There are some excellent money guides around, but the easiest way to get started is by doing your daily quests. Press L in game, and click the appropriate box for daily quests. Take the quests that are within your limits and finish them.. He pays very well for doing so. Also, invoking and doing leadership tasks will give you some AD.
Campaigns
Campaigns in Neverwinter are basically long-term wars against against foes larger than could ever dream of beating by yourself. Sharandar's fight is with Malabog, a vile creature with no respect for nature or life. In the Dread Ring you finally get to take on Valindra Shadowmantle and her army of undead. Remember that lady that killed your friend on the bridge at the beginning of the game? That's Valindra. Didn't you have a bone to pick with her?
The latest campaign revolves around the return of the dragon goddess Tiamat (Tyranny of Dragons).
Campaigns are played through daily quests and the further you progress in it, more boons will become available. You can start working on the campaigns as soon as you reach lvl 70. The exception is ToD, which starts at at lvl 26. Knox will have quests ready to get you started.
Sharandar consists of 4 parts: 3 gates (areas) to unlock and 1 weekly lair. Each area contains 3 daily quests and a daily lair. The 3 daily quests provide you with the materials you need to unlock rewards and progress through the campaign. The lair is optional, but it can drop you some nice rewards. Don’t forget to take the free key from the leprechaun next to the door.
Dread ring works more or less the same. There are no areas to unlock, but the progression through the campaign and the way you get boons work the same. To mark your progress in either campaign, click on the flag button on top of your screen.
Icewind Dale is the campaign released in module 3. Again, the workings are similar to the other 2. Through progression through the campaign you unlock boons, new maps and useful items such as Black Ice and Black Ice gear.
Upon your first arrival in Icewind Dale, don't forget to search out Jarlaxle, to find out how you can obtain your new class artifact. It requires at least 2 lvl 60 character eligible for and have been to Icewind Dale.
Do not take this campaign lightly. This campaign is not for the weak. To enter this campaign, talk to Knox in Protector's Enclave.
Module 4 added the Tyranny of Dragons quest-line. This module is spread over the already existing storyline maps and can be started at lvl 26. Campaign progression again works similar to the previous ones. Start by talking to Harper Boward in Protectors Enclave, Hall of Justice, who will send you to revisit Neverdeath Graveyard and begin the campaign. If she has nothing for you, talk to Knox and he will send you to her. This module was updated later on with the actual return of Tiamat herself and an extra map, known as the Well of Dragons. Knox will guide you there as soon as you're ready for it. As with the previous campaigns, progress can be marked and reviewed using the flag button on top of your screen.
Getting tired of running the campaigns? Why not test your mettle against other players in some competitive PvP?
New words:
Boons: A stat bonus awarded for completing certain parts of a campaign.
gearscore: The sum total of all offensive and defensive stats on your gear and every boon you may have. This also includes active bonuses from companions, but does not include stats gained from augmenting stones and cats. Appropriate stats are modified on the Character screen (press C), they just don't count towards gear score.
PvP
For those who never PvPed before, here's the 1o1:
Domination is the name of the game. There are 3 nodes that give points to the party that owns them. To own a node, simply stand on them till they change to your side's color. As long as there's a member of the opposing team on that node, it will not change colors. The opposing team is trying the same, so feel free to kick their butts off your node. First side to 1000 points wins. There are several strategies to get this done, each depending on team makeup and personal preference, but most commonly people fight for the middle node first. Why?
Warfare 1o1: If you can stop the enemy from before entering your territory it's easier to advance to the enemy's side. You're already halfway there, aren't you? Once the center node is won, have 1 member go back to get the node closest to your spawn point, the rest advances to the enemy's side. Again, there are alternative ways to win, but this is the most commonly accepted one.
Personal points are given for kills, node defending, node capturing and kill assists. You'll get glory points based on the amount of personal points and the total result of the match. Gain at least 300 personal points to have them counting towards your glory rewards.
With the release of module 3, 3 PvP campaigns have been created: one for Gauntlgrym, Domination and Open world PvP in Icewind Dale respectively. All 3 progress through the campaign in much the same way. Detailed information can be found here and by pressing the flag icon on top of your screen. Unlike the other 2 PvP events, this is open world PvP. Note that PvP in Icewind Dale is only accessible if you meet the Icewind Dale campaign requirements.
Having acquired some glory points, shop at the Trade of Blades in PE, which sells better PvP gear, artifacts and companions. As always, class specific strategies can be found in the classes forums.
NOTE: PvP is not about personal ego's. While having the most kills is certainly rewarding, sometimes you can be more productive doing something else, like slipping past the war zone and going after the enemy's node. This forces the enemy to split it's forces. Divide and conquer. It's a team effort. Never forget that.
New words:
Domination: A contest between opposing teams. The goal is to occupy certain areas which will give points to your team. While killing the opposing team is not required to gain points, it's often useful to prevent losing control of a node.
glory points: A currency obtained by participating in PvP events. With this currency you can buy items at the Trade of Blades. Items include new gear, artifacts and companions.
nodes: Pillars that give the controlling team points. To control one, stand on it till it changes to your team's color. Contested nodes do not give points.
Open world PvP: A giant free-for-all PvP area in Icewind Dale, where you -and your team if you are in one, are free to kill anyone from the opposing side as you please. Sides are chosen while progressing through the normal Icewind Dale campaign. Note that your loyalty to the chosen side only lasts for 1 day. You're free to switch the next day. To prevent people ganging up on others, both sides have a limit to the amount of players that can sign on on any given moment. Once on the PvP map, you cannot change instances to prevent the same ganging up.
Dungeons
Dungeons are your source of gear advancement once you hit lvl 70. They are way too difficult to handle on your own though even at lvl 70. So gather up a team and start exploring! Collect seals and exchange them for gear at the traders in the Suncoast Market.
They come in 2 types: 3 man and 5 man dungeons. Press K to see which dungeons you can queue for. Requirements are based on what level gear you have, so make sure you have the best gear you can afford.
Each tier has a different requirement to enter and are harder to complete. Keep in mind that just having the average item level for a specific dungeon does NOT mean it'll be easy. Teamwork is required, as well as communication. You all have to get through together, so work as best you can.
If a player is making mistakes or making things harder for your class, kindly point it out between battles, but be respectful. Make sure everybody knows what to do during the boss fights. Don't be afraid to get killed. Gaining experience is how you learn. Bring injury kits just in case. Again, communication is vital. Also noteworthy is the fact that NW has it's own voice channels during dungeons. You'll find the settings under the options when you press Escape.
With the release of module 3, people are no longer restricted to the Dungeon Delves hour to open the bonus chest. You can acquire a daily key from the key master in Protector's Enclave. This key gives access to 1 bonus chest outside the DD hours. If you have a key and compete a dungeon within the DD hours, the key will not be used. Serg. Knox will give you a quest to meet this guy and pick up your first key.
The Foundry
The Foundry is that part of the game where players create their own game content which, after completion, is available to every player. It's a great place for (aspiring) DMs and PvE fanatics alike. It's filled with unique quests, dungeons and other User Generated Content (UGC for short). Also, Rhix has a daily quest involving the Foundry. Make sure you pick up those quests before you start.
To access Foundry quests, press K and select the Catalog tab. Usually the "featured" and "best" tabs will give you the better quests and campaigns.
To start creating your own quests and stories, select the Foundry from the character screen. You'll be guided by a short tutorial the first time you attempt to create something. For more information select the wiki button on the bottom or read up on all the creative things you can do in this section of the forums.
Guilds
Try and get into one. It doesn't have to be the top guild and you don't have to get along with everybody. Use it as an opportunity to learn and socialize. You'll learn how to play in a team, and have a good supply of people to run dungeons and PvP with. Being in a guild also grants you access to Gauntlgrym. While being in a guild is not mandatory except for Gauntlgrym, joining an active one will greatly increase your experience and fun in the game.
Gauntlgrym
This part of the game is accessible only when you're in a guild. When the guild is first created the owner is asked to pick sides in 2 warring factions in Gauntlgrym. Every guild member by default fights on the same side. There are ways to change sides, but that involves a lot of AD. It is a 10 vs 10 PvP event on a huge map. Objectives are similar to normal PvP, but with many more nodes to control and defend.
Companions
Be aware of what your companions do. While it may be awesome for a ranged character to have a tank companion, consider how that effects the rest of the team. For example: It's extremely annoying for a melee DPS to have a companion kick the mobs away from them. It also slows down the dungeon run. Healer class companions are useful, but the AI sometimes feels you need more mobs and will draw them to you. Consider switching to an augment companion. These will not stray, have no AI problems, but in return they provide you with buffs to your character. It's quite easy to get over 1k bonus on a certain stat using an augment companion. How's that for extra power? Some people don't even go back to normal companions once they have a stone. Something to think about.
New word:
augment companion: A type of companion that does not fight or take any other part in combat. These pets serve only 1 purpose: to give bonus stats to it's owner. They come in 2 basic versions: An ioun stone or a cat. Bonus stats given by augment companions show up on your character screen, but do not count towards gear score.
Other stuff you want to know
If you are having problems getting into parties or guilds, consider joining the nw_legit_community channel. It's full of friendly people who do not discriminate between classes. They also don't use exploits or bugs. In order to help keep the channel fun and friendly, it's required to sign up before gaining access, but it's definitely worth doing. More info on the channel's history can be found here.
Also, there's a community channel available for asking "newb" questions: NW_Newbie . If you have questions about mechanics, the latest patch, builds and whatnot, this is the place to ask. Of course this channel is not just for newbies but for everyone regardless of level and playtime.
Note that while you may find advice and dungeon runs in both channels, /legit aims at party matchmaking, while /newbie's goals include more asking questions and getting answers.
Additional recommended reading:
Neverwinter Wiki. Tons of useful information about classes, gear, strategies for dungeons and so on.
Guide to Neverwinter Campaigns: Strategy guide that'll tell you everything you need to know to get the most out of every campaign.
Things I wish I'd new before I learned it the hard way: A nice overview of common do and don't during the game. Some of it is pre-60, some of it is post-60. It's way too long to go into detail about this list, but it's useful. Really.
After reading this I hope you new adventurers are a bit more prepared for the life ahead of you. Any questions and feedback is appreciated, but please remain constructive. I have a towel and I'm not afraid to use it
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Comments
I agree. I read all the way through, a little flash goes along ways buddy.
I suggest putting some color descriptions and enlarging said descriptions for one. Accentuating specific things like "Domination", or regularly used "game-language" in bold and adding color will make it all pop nicely.
Just my 2cents, nice guide bud!
Great basic guide to point newbies in the right direction
I would have apressiated a guide like this when I first hit 60 back in the days
Yes it is pretty good. If it was updated for Mod 4 it would definitely be sticky-worth.
Excellent guide and also useful for us not-so-new-but still-struggling-along level 60s.
Thank you very much indeed.
Forgive me for saying this, but I disagree 100% with your statment that new players should use a "cookie cutter build".
My reason for saying this is rather simple, I've never used one and was as ​​GREEN As possible, I didn't do any resurch or anything till I was already level 60 on my toons.
I have only built 2 toons so far as I REALLY don't want to delete my current ones since I have spent both money and a lot of time into them (almost have all my boons for both). ~I'm waiting on Zen from the Zax to get more slots to try more characters~ (the GF and WL both look amazing with mod4)
I did NOT use any guides of any kind for either toons, I feated and placed power points as I wanted or felt it would help my character out the most (yes I have had to redo feats and boons a few times on both which is what comes with tweaking a build to how someone wanta to play)
My main is a 14.5 GS Hunter Ranger, archery paragon path, high defence/deflect/life-steal, with moderate power, crit, armor pen, full nature grim set/Full IWD set/ forest lord set that can accually take a good bit of damage while dealing a fair amount of damage when up against PVP'ers with a close GS and I also have never heard any complaints from pugs in a dungeon who've spend a good amount of the time raging about how useless TRs and HRs are. Many have ended their rants asking me if I would go on several more runs and have made friends with many of them.
My main Alt is a Devoted Cleric, 13.8k GS, full grim/MH sets healer/debuffer tank (used to keep a team alive in a dungeon and make it go faster), AC paragon path high power/recovery/crit and high Def and moderate deflect no life steal or regen to speak of (both under 500)
~PVP for a DC is just silly before getting a higher GS then I have now, The DC class also have some messed up feats BTW~
I didn't need a guide to tell me what I wanted on my toons as I learned as I played... Sure I had to spend 78k AD for the couple times I re-feated
but that is because the better I got, the more I learned, the more I learned changed how I played, and thus some of my feats were no longer being used...
All this being said, NW can be and mostly is a learn as you play and adjust as you go... (Just know enough about yourself to choose a CLASS that is in your playing style!!! You will or should know before level 30 if you like the class or not!!!)
I've only played for 3 months
Yes I'll agree the Devs have some tight bung-holes when it comes to listening to their player base, which is quite glaring in how long it takes them in fixing MAJOR bugs and have some implimented some pretty STUPID things that accually hurt the game... but STARTING OUT as a new level 60 or WAY before that a new player can quite easy find kind hearted people who will help them enjoy the game...
BTW WONDERFULL Guide!!! (I accually learned something and that is never a bad thing!!!:cool:) I saved the guide so if I meet any new players i can refer them to this to try and help them...
Well done sir! A great way for new players to get on their feet. I am sure that the new player community will thank you
I just stumbled upon this thread and LOVE IT! Thank you so much for this. I was playing daily up until I reached lvl 60, then had to take a few weeks off and tried to restart my game, but , had no clue how to proceed at this new level.
This post has renewed my excitement about playing again and now, with a much clearer sense of direction. CHEERS
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