Allods Online: Correct Spell Rotation = +DPS

• If you can't kill a same-level mob fast, & your gear is (more or less) up to date, then look at your spell rotation
• DoT (Damage Over Time) should be cast at the beginning, and let to run to about 1 second of expiration before recasting.  However, you should always keep up DoTs, since they damage while you're CC'd or casting another spell.  Most of your casting rotation usually is centered around your DoTs.
• HoT (Heal Over Time) should be cast:
• Really tough mob? At just before the start of the fight
• Somewhat tough mob/long fight?  After the opener
• Weaker mob/not much damage? After first rotation (1-2 seconds DoT opener expires)
• Emergency clickies (instant stuns, blinds, short-time stat boosts, heals with longer cooldowns) usually are cast mid-fight to help keep your health up while gaining combat advantage.
• Spamming spell keys will make you cast faster.   Either the internet or GUI lags enough not to let you know when you can cast again at the proper time.  If you keep pressing the spell hotkeys, fast enough, you'll start to cast imediataly after your last casting.

Allods Online lvl20-23: Elf rep Gear

Elf rep is mostly found in Tenebra, though you may have some from your quests in Lightwood/Novogrand. You can buy the gear both in Novogrand Elf Quarters & in Summer Manor, so shop to see if you can use it. A few tips about Elf rep grind:

• Fun to try a few times, & you have a few quests there anyway, so might as well join the rep raid
• To be eligible for the rep raid, you have to finish the Tainted Woods chain, with the friendly Treent & calling the vampire to the West.
• Though helpful to have most quests done before doing the rep grind (likely will hit Trusted with just normal quests), it is best to have atleast green/Trusted rep gear before trying the Citadel.

1. Pick up the repeatable in Summer Manor, & pick up all quests for the Western Border while you're there.
2. Join/form the Wearwolf rep raid
3. Run SW of Summer Mannor
4. When you see the blue lanterns/clusters of vamps & bats, either do your quests there or pop your potion to turn into a werewolf
5. Werewolf form: Mash Z & C to melee
6. When starts to get old or you messed up the potion, you can grind/quest in human form & still get vampire quest kills if you're in the raid & in the area!

Allods Online Levels 20-25: Greenhorn Gear Chase

The next zone after Darkwater is Tenebra, but that might not be the best rep upgrade for you.  If you are levels 20+ and are part of a guild, they might let you join them in the zone after that, Asee-Teph.  There you can get the first PvP rank "Greenhorn" rather easily (30 Combat Glory). Before go though the hassle for either Tenebra's rep grind or looking for PvP kills in A-T, you can go window shopping in Novograd. For your chat cut&paste pleasure, here are the terse instructions on how to find the Greenhorn vendor followed by a pic:

Greenhorn vend:Novo, bldg S of Construction rep, upstairs, 2 near window

A few tips:

• Combat Glory info is found at the top of the Reputation tab.
• 30 CG may be fast to get, or may be slow.
• Though most Greenhorn gear are levels 20-23 to wear, most people will not tollerate being partied with someone that low.  You can be more of a pain since you are likely to be spending too much time in purgatory.
• You may find some Elf rep gear better; depends on your stats.  Fortunately you can find the Elf vendor in the Elven District near by.

Allods League Grinding: Do it levels 18-33 or die in PvP lands.

Sad but true, Allods Online seems to be missing quests & experience from those in the levels leading up the the Holy Lands where your first true PvP takes place to get you at the place where you can survive both PvE & ganking. If you do a bit of grinding here & there, it will make your life as a newbie in Asee-Teph much easier. I would try to hit 25 or almost there before going to the Holy Lands, since then you are able to wear shoulders can buy an extra ruby. Though many of the mobs are only levels 23-25, you need to be able to kill them off with out much effort or damage, since PvP can start at any time.

Here are some of the good spots and mobs:

15+ Frozen Frontier onwards
Repeatable reputation quests do give small amounts of XP. This helps make all rep grinds worth more.

17-19 Darkwater/SE & W of Valir Settlement
Humanoids there drop speed pots; very handy when you're 23-25 in Asee! Don't grind too much, since they are used in quests.

18-20 Darkwater/SE of Valir Settlement
Satyrs are not far from the town, & yellow satyrs have no quests yet for them & their lower health makes easy experience.

22-24 Tenebra/Eastern Border
Demons spawn in clumps, which are the highest density of highest level mobs here.

23-25 Asee-Teph (SE)/Texio
Swamp Hydras & 'gators have higher XP, but if you have Greenhorn gear they aren't hard to kill, & PvP is easier in some ways since you can see them coming.

23-26 Asee-Tseph (NW)/Overcharged Shore
Astral Elementals near fort in Eljune - low HP & damage for their level, but are used for a quest so please don't strip-farm. Once they become too easy, try Eljune's wisps, since it is a short walk away.

27-28 Eljune/far NE corner's beach
Wisps are killable for a lower level and they have an uncommon essence drop that sells well or can renew your mana.

30-33 Coba Plateau/S of Northern Cam
Skeletons cover south of the starting Northern League Army camp. If some Empire wants to play PvP with you and you don't, run to the nearby friendly respawn point. The 40th level NPC guard will protect you.

Overall, any mob that grants you decent XP/kill that can be killed fast is worth killing.  Starting with Darkwater, it is best to grind as you go; killing a few mobs here & there as you travel.  All levels prior to 19 can be quest-blitzed.

Please share any more grinding spots.

Allods Online: The Equipment Game (Levels 10-20 guide)

A huge percentage (40-70%) of your stats will come from equipment bonuses. Missing gear = missing stats, so you need to get all the gear near your level (preferably blue) that you can. That means grinding rep at most regions until you hit maximum "Respected" reputation so you can buy some nice blue gear for cheap. Auction Houses sometimes will help you fill in the blanks (chest & feet mostly), though good finds are tricky there. So here are the important rep gear groups you'll need to advance well.

Key: Level to do: Area/Group

Level 10: Novograd/Construction

Flour on the docks: do as soon as you hit level 10. First, turn in any completed quests for their rep, then head to the docks near the first Novograd/Lightwood docks. 1000 Construction rep for a 1 minute run will get you that blue gear in no time. If a guild mate or random person can give you a speed buff to help out, all the faster! The blue equipment at 10 is a huge performance leap; is almost a free level!

Level 12-15: Siveria/SKIP

The tiger repeatable is OK 1-2 times just to get the balm, but not worth the frustrating grind since kills are not shared. Once you hit 15 you get to wear earrings & a cape, so that is quite a boost there to accelerate you though Siveria.

Levels 15-18: Frozen Frontier/Gibberlings

A repeatable reputation that can be done both as you quest and while in a raid for fast finishing, our cute little Gibberlings thankfully are the easiest to please. Only have to kill 10 of their enemies, & turn in for a rep increase! Great blues that you'll wear for levels to come.

Levels 18-20: Darkwater/Kanian

The repeatable is simple & fast to do as a raid. You can grind a bit on the way there & back if the XP is worth it for you. They drop speed pots that help out also.

~ to be continued ~

gPotato lowered Allods Online CS prices!

Great news! New prices for the Cash Shop are out:
http://allods.gpotato.com/news/2010/03/03/updated-item-shop/
Large Perfume Kit: $3 from $13.50
Holy Rune: $10 from $15
Rough Dragon Hide Backpack $6 from $20
Small Deposit Box: $10 from $15
Small Bag of Crystal Chips: $1 from $2.50
Medium Bag of Crystal Chips: $3.50 from $12
Potions: $2 from $2.50
Prices listed at US Dollars, where 1 gPotato = $0.01

Prices are more realistic, though I'd think hard-core players will still think some of the prices are too high, like the perfumes, since they are needed at high-level PvP & PvE somewhat. I guess keep watching the CS for sales, like Dungeons & Dragons Online has every few weeks.

Always PRECAST your spells!

What is "precast"? If "This ability can be prepared in advance" is in the spell description (in Spellbook), then you can cast it in advance, saving the 2-6 seconds of casting time. This helps Allods Online players kill mobs faster once you have aggro, or handy to have a stun or heal ready when needed. If you have precast spells, keep one ready at all times.