Build: The Wall

[Legacy_avigor]

               Randomly going to post a build and ask what you guys think. I know there are a couple similar builds in the epic builds forum archives, but shrug yeah I had this build mostly developed before I even saw that site. This build is stongest in the epic levels, and awkward in the mid-teen range. I can't help but think that leveling this guy might be like reliving your adolescence.... '> 


Race: Dwarf
classes: Wizard (4), Pale Master (10), Dwarven Defender (26) 
Either take these straight as listed or delay the final Wizard level as much as possible for easier spell acquisition.
Alignment: Must be lawful from 14-40, and cannot be good before 14, otherwise free.

Abilities: 
STR: 16 (28) 
DEX: 14 
CON: 17 (21) 
WIS: 8 
INT: 14 
CHA: 6 
First 4 ability bonuses into CON, rest into STR.

Character Feats by level: 
1-6: Toughness + Dodge, and choose one of Combat Casting, Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Strong Soul, or Skill Focus: Spellcraft.
9-18: Blind-Fight, Knockdown, Improved Knockdown, in order of preference, with Weapon Focus at 15 or 18.

Epic Feats: Epic Prowess, Great Strength (VI) 

DD Bonus Feats: 
Epic Damage Reduction (III), Epic Weapon Focus. 

Exact feat order won't be too critical beyond the Toughness and Dodge feats absolutely must be taken by level 12 to be there for DD to start and most of the others have BAB requirements pushing them into later levels.

Skills: 
Spellcraft: 21 ranks. Start at level 1, max until the final PM level, mop up in the higher epic levels. 
Taunt: 21 ranks. Start at level 1, max all the way. 
Listen: 43 ranks. Start at level 5 (first PM), max through end. 
Discipline: 43 ranks. Start at level 15 (first DD), max through end. 

Listen was chosen specifically to synch with Blind-Fight; it might not be as important overall however, so some of those skill points could be redistributed. Taunt helps minutely make up for the lower BAB.

This leaves 19 ranks left by default, for either earlier Discipline (eat them as cross-class ranks to get it earlier), Concentration (spellcasting, Taunt resist, should get Combat Casting), Heal (even harder for poison/disease to stick), or Tumble (steal a Listen rank for better AC). I would probably go Concentration route myself.... Protection From Elements is very useful for this guy. 

Max HP: 646
Saves (Fort/Will/Ref): 28/25/18
Bonus vs: Spells +6, Traps +1, Poison +2
Note: These assume no Spellcraft, INT, or other bonus in effect and is not considering the variable 1-6 feat choice. 
AB: +36 favored melee, +26 ranged, +1 vs goblins or orcs
AC: 18 naked, 28 mundane plate/tower shield.
DR: 27/-
Immunities: Critical Hits, Sneak Attacks, Stun, Hold, Paralyzation.

Weapon Focus: I advise Halberd, to bypass at least some damage immunities and resists while getting the 2H STR bonus. Morningstar if you want a shield.... Which if you do get a shield, a Chaos Shield might be the best option. Otherwise, some might prefer to choose the biggest weapon available and stick with that. Either way works. If enchanted, max out your enhancement and maybe get some energy damage. 

Gear: Improved Evasion and Energy Resist/Immunity preferred above all else, especially if you can actually find resist against Magic damage. Universal Saves and immunities against effects stand next in line. Prefer Dodge and Deflect AC over armor/natural armor to protect against touch attacks. 

Pros: Ridiculous against mundane martial opponents, melee or ranged. It would take a dedicated build (like fighter/ranger or pally/cot/monk), awesome equipment, and/or an epic Shifter form to do enough raw physical damage to hurt him. Weapon masters and assassins are crippled against this guy, at a minimum. If such cannon fodder is your enemy, you might as well charge them in the buff for all the good it'll do them. 

Cons: Spellcasters can often get him through his weakened Reflex save, and anyone with a flaming sword can almost ignore his DR. Granted, if he can get his hand on one single scroll of Protection From Elements at some point during his career and spend 5 minutes learning it and memorizing the spell he can mitigate this somewhat, but that won't do everything.

Variant: Swap anywhere from some to all of the epic feats (strong advise to keep Epic Damage Reduction, but ultimately your call) for Epic Energy Resistance and get 10-20 resist on each energy type; maybe focus the resist more if you know in advance which energies your opponent will focus on. Variant primarily trades offense for defense.

Whaddaya think? 
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_WhiZard]

               Get rid of two great strengths for fire and acid elemental resistance (spells like flame arrow and Melf's become reduced to the point that they will have minimal effect on your elemental buffs, and damage shields will deal you less damage); or take four more wizard levels and four less DwD (turning that bonus feat to a general feat), and drop two great strengths adding armor skin, and ICC (as the wiz 5 bonus feat taken at epic level), this would give you the ability to memorize the shadow shield spell for protection from death magic and negative energy.

EDIT: For the second option, your int would need to get to 17.  Thus don't take ICC as I had suggested, but Great Int instead, and start with intelligence two higher and strength two lower.  The net effect on your build for the second option would be -4 strength (-2 initial, -2 feats), -3/- DR (from 4 less DwD levels), +3 spell levels.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par WhiZard, 07 novembre 2012 - 03:58 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Shadooow]

               DD/PM sucks in any serious modules especially lvl 40 based, and as you said till 40 its even worse

if you built this as a specific build for some purpose into somewhere, then you dont ask us about anything - you know its playable there - and for that purpose

but generally, this is really bad, nice defensive but no AC so that makes this defensive useless in any serious lvl 40 module, and absolutely no offensive abilities, this cant hit even goblin
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Aelis Eine]

               The potential for AC in a PM/DD build is there - PM AC is enough to offset the -4AC from no Tumble as a class skill. Just have to adjust it a bit.

Make it Dex-based instead of Str-based, so start with 16 dex/18 con/16 int.

After that, swap 8 DD levels for 6 PM and 2 Wiz, so that it ends Wiz 6/PM 16/ DD 18.

For feats 1-18, Imp Expertise is missing, and it's quite important for tanks. I'd change it to Dodge, Weapon Finesse, Toughness, Blind Fight, Expertise, Imp Expertise, Weapon Focus: Rapier.

Change Epic feats to 6x Dex and Warding. Warding and EDR don't stack so it's really an either/or scenario, and between spending 1 feat on Warding or 6 on 3x Con 3x EDR, Warding is more practical on this build, even if it doesn't last forever.

DD feats go to Epic Weapon Focus and Armor Skin. Pick up EMA and Epic Fire Resist with the 2 PM feats and Great Int with the Wiz feat. This will expand your spellbook and give better defense against magic attacks by unlocking Shadow Shield, Lesser Mind Blank, Elemental Shield and Lesser Spell Mantle.

All levelup points go to Dex.

Final stats should be 8 / 32 / 18 / 17 / 8 / 6, just enough to cast level 7 spells.

Buffed AC should be:

10 Base
13 Dex (Including 2 from Cat's)
4 Tumble
4 Haste
4 DD Stance
20 EMA
1 Mage Armor
10 Imp Expertise
10 PM
1 Small Shield (Low spell failure is important for popping mantles)
2 Armor Skin
= 78AC. Not too shabby for cross classed Tumble, and 12/- or 50/+20 DR to cover the hits that do get through anyway. With Dodge boots, an enchanted shield and more Dex on items, it can go up further.

Of course, offense totally goes down the drain with 8 str. Maybe Flame Weapon can save you somewhat, and modded Tenser's if the server has it. But with a build called The Wall, I figure damage is optional.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Aelis Eine, 07 novembre 2012 - 05:51 .