Neverwinter Nights - Character Build - OC, SOU, HOTU

[Legacy_Proto]

               

I recently had the urge to finally finish the Official Campaign, Shadows of the Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark. 

 

Before firing up the play-through I wanted to make sure I had a semi-decent character build planned out. Unfortunately, I had a really hard time finding any build guides for the campaigns. Almost all the builds I could find were focused on the finished product at level 40.

 

You reach level 17 in the Official Campaign.

 

You reach level 13 in Shadows of Undrentide.

 

Because SoU and HoTU were intended to be played with the same character I have extended this build through level 28. That is the level I expect to reach before finishing HoTU.

 

This character was inspired by the Reaver class which is playable within Dragon Age Inquisition Multiplayer.

 

Tamar is a fearsome warrior. She developed her abilities by consuming dragon blood. Her only desire is the thrill of battle; the blood of her enemies on her sword and a warcry on her lips.

 

Race: Human

Alignment: Any Non-Lawful

Fighter(14), Bard(3), Red Dragon Disciple(10), Human

 

I chose to use a Greatsword out of preference. If you want to use a shield, Longsword and Scimitar would be solid choices. If you want to use an exotic weapon, such as a Scythe or Bastard Sword, swap out Exotic Weapon Proficiency for Luck of Heroes. 

 

Abilities:

 

STR: 17 (32)

DEX: 13

CON: 14 (16)

WIS: 8

INT: 14 (16)

CHA: 8 (10)

 

 

1. Fighter(1): Luck of Heroes, Power Attack, Cleave

2. Fighter(2): Weapon Focus: Greatsword

3. Fighter(3): Knockdown

4. Fighter(4): STR+1, Weapon Specialization: Greatsword, (STR=18)

5. Fighter(5)

6. Fighter(6): Dodge, Great Cleave

7. Bard(1)

8. Fighter(7): STR+1, (STR=19)

9. Fighter(: Improved Knockdown, Improved Critical: Greatsword

10. Red Dragon Disciple(1)

11. Red Dragon Disciple(2): (STR=21)

12. Red Dragon Disciple(3): STR+1, Mobility, (STR=22)

13. Red Dragon Disciple(4): (STR=24)

14. Red Dragon Disciple(5)

15. Red Dragon Disciple(6): Blind Fight

16. Red Dragon Disciple(7): STR+1, (STR=25), (CON=16)

17. Red Dragon Disciple(

18. Red Dragon Disciple(9): Toughness, (INT=16)

19. Red Dragon Disciple(10): {Darkvision}, (STR=29), (CHA=10)

20. Fighter(9): STR+1, (STR=30)

21. Fighter(10): Overwhelming Critical: Greatsword, Devastating Critical: Greatsword

22. Bard(2)

23. Fighter(11)

24. Fighter(12): STR+1, Epic Weapon Focus: Greatsword, Epic Weapon Specialization: Greatsword, (STR=31)

25. Fighter(13)

26. Fighter(14): Armor Skin

27. Bard(3): Epic Prowess

28. Fighter(15): STR+1, (STR=32)

 

 

Hitpoints: 364

Skillpoints: 171

Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 21/16/14

Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +6

BAB: 20

AB (max, naked): 35 (melee), 22 (ranged)

AC (naked/mundane armor/shield only): 23/34

Spell Casting: Bard(0)

Alignment Changes: 0


Skills Discipline 31(42), Lore 8(14), Persuade 30(30), Spellcraft 30(33), Tumble 30(31), UMD 30(30), remaining skillpoints 12



F 01: Discipline(4), Lore(4), Save(12),

F 02: Discipline(1), Lore(1), Save(15),

F 03: Discipline(1), Lore(1), Save(18),

F 04: Discipline(1), Lore(1), Save(21),

F 05: Discipline(1), Lore(1), Save(24),

F 06: Discipline(1), Save(28),

Ba 07: Discipline(1), Persuade(4), Spellcraft(10), Tumble(10), UMD(10),

F 08: Discipline(1), Save(4),

F 09: Discipline(1), Save(,

RDD 10: Discipline(1), Persuade(9), Save(3),

RDD 11: Discipline(1), Persuade(1), Save(6),

RDD 12: Discipline(1), Persuade(1), Spellcraft(5), Save(4),

RDD 13: Discipline(1), Persuade(1), Save(7),

RDD 14: Discipline(1), Persuade(1), Save(10),

RDD 15: Discipline(1), Persuade(1), Save(13),

RDD 16: Discipline(1), Persuade(1), Save(16),

RDD 17: Discipline(1), Persuade(1), Save(19),

RDD 18: Discipline(1), Persuade(1), Save(22),

RDD 19: Discipline(1), Persuade(1), Save(26),

F 20: Discipline(1), Save(31),

F 21: Discipline(1), Save(36),

Ba 22: Discipline(1), Persuade(3), Spellcraft(10), Tumble(15), UMD(15),

F 23: Discipline(1), Save(5),

F 24: Discipline(1), Save(10),

F 25: Discipline(1), Save(15),

F 26: Discipline(1), Save(20),

Ba 27: Discipline(1), Persuade(5), Spellcraft(5), Tumble(5), UMD(5), Save(7),

F 28: Discipline(1), Save(12),

 

 

Spoiler Free Tip:

 

Haste Items are your best friend. Make sure to pick them up as soon as possible. Make use of your UMD. You can use most scrolls and magical items. Prioritize immunity and freedom when making gear choices due to low saves.

 

Boots of Speed are available in Chapter 3 of the OC. 

 

Boots of Shifting Sands available in Interlude of SoU.

 

I am aware that the campaigns are quite easy in the grand scheme of things. Please feel free to critique the build above and improve upon it if you see any glaring deficiencies. I will gladly update this post. 

 

Update: 10/22/2015

 

Increased strength to 17 from 16. Dropped constitution from 16 to 14. Increased dexterity from 12 to 13.

 

Because of these changes the build picks Dodge and Mobility instead of Iron Will and Lightning Reflexes. In epic levels Armor Skin replaces Great Strength.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_MagicalMaster]

               I don't really see a point in starting with 16 Con, especially in the OCs. Since healing isn't percentage based, a higher raw HP count rarely matters (and if you're in a situation where you can freely chug full Heal potions then having 5% more HP won't matter). I'd drop that down to 14 at a minimum and boost Str to 17 and Dex to 13, which allows you to pick up Dodge (1 more AC versus your current target, a 10-15% effective health increase against that target)/Mobility (4 more AC against AoO...like drinking a potion) at the "cost" of two saving throw feats probably.

If you start at an odd amount of strength that also clears you up to take Armor Skin in epic levels, a flat 2 AC increase (which is like 20-30% more effective health).

I'd probably take Great Cleave at level 4 and Weapon Spec at level 6 -- that's the point at which you'll actually *be* Great Cleaving the most. Alternatively, just delay Great Cleave until higher level still if you're not making good use of it (compared to regular Cleave).

For a level 40 build I'm wincing at losing 2 BAB (one from bard level pre-epic, second from RDD 9 and 10 pre-epic)...but given that it's meant to be a campaign build and ending at level 28, I think it's probably actually for the best in your situation (normally I'd try to reduce that BAB loss to 1 at most, it's a 10-15% DPS increase per AB against most enemies).

As an alternative idea, picking up (Improved) Expertise might be useful for when you need the extra AC but not the AB.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Proto]

               

I don't really see a point in starting with 16 Con, especially in the OCs. Since healing isn't percentage based, a higher raw HP count rarely matters (and if you're in a situation where you can freely chug full Heal potions then having 5% more HP won't matter). I'd drop that down to 14 at a minimum and boost Str to 17 and Dex to 13, which allows you to pick up Dodge (1 more AC versus your current target, a 10-15% effective health increase against that target)/Mobility (4 more AC against AoO...like drinking a potion) at the "cost" of two saving throw feats probably.

 

Great stuff. I did 12 Dex for the AC. Forgot about Dodge/Mobility with 13 Dex. Those two saving throw feats were throw-ins anyway. 

 

I considered going for (improved) Expertise. I even took basic expertise during my playthrough and messed around with it. But, I ended up reloading and deciding against it.

 

Dodge/Mobility route sounds most appealing, personally.

 

 

If you start at an odd amount of strength that also clears you up to take Armor Skin in epic levels, a flat 2 AC increase (which is like 20-30% more effective health).

 

Are you taking Armor Skin instead of the Great Strength at level 27?

 

I'd probably take Great Cleave at level 4 and Weapon Spec at level 6 -- that's the point at which you'll actually *be* Great Cleaving the most. Alternatively, just delay Great Cleave until higher level still if you're not making good use of it (compared to regular Cleave).

 

Hah, I tried taking Great Cleave at level 3, realized I didn't meet requirements. Didn't think to skip Weapon Specialization for it at level 4. But, after playing through I don't think Great Cleave was really worth it till later on when my damage increased. 

 

 

For a level 40 build I'm wincing at losing 2 BAB (one from bard level pre-epic, second from RDD 9 and 10 pre-epic)...but given that it's meant to be a campaign build and ending at level 28, I think it's probably actually for the best in your situation (normally I'd try to reduce that BAB loss to 1 at most, it's a 10-15% DPS increase per AB against most enemies).

 

Agreed completely on the bolded part. I felt like this spread was the best for level by level efficiency. I spent some time learning the BAB mechanics again. Ultimately, I decided the BAB hit was worth the early epic feats as well as early RDD benefits. When I tried to min/max BAB I never ended up feeling like I got the core benefits of the build till I was nearly 28.

 

I will update the build with the above recommendations. Thanks.

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_allen179gmail]

               

So far so good. Starting Ch 1 final at lv Fighter 7/Bard 1. He soloed at the start of ch 1. I had a few problems because I really don't know fighter that well. But I am learning. '>

               
               

               
            

[Legacy_MagicalMaster]

               

Great stuff. I did 12 Dex for the AC. Forgot about Dodge/Mobility with 13 Dex. Those two saving throw feats were throw-ins anyway. 

 

I considered going for (improved) Expertise. I even took basic expertise during my playthrough and messed around with it. But, I ended up reloading and deciding against it.

 

Even regular Expertise can be godly in many situations.  Imagine, for example, that you have a 75% chance of hitting an enemy and they have a 50% chance of hitting you (fairly common for your AB to be higher relative to their AC).  This means, all else equal, you deal 50% more damage to them than they do to you.  Now pop Expertise and that becomes 50% and 25% respectively -- so now you're dealing 100% more damage to them.

 

It gets even "worse" if there's a lot of weaker enemies who only have like a 30% chance of hitting you (say, 5 AB versus 20 AC) while you might have an 80% chance of hitting them.  You deal 167% more to them.  Pop Expertise, you hit 55% to their 5%.  You deal 1000% more to them.

 

Are you taking Armor Skin instead of the Great Strength at level 27?

 

Could take it earlier too, doesn't hugely matter when.  Just a far more efficient feat than Epic Prowess or Great Strength.

 

Hah, I tried taking Great Cleave at level 3, realized I didn't meet requirements. Didn't think to skip Weapon Specialization for it at level 4. But, after playing through I don't think Great Cleave was really worth it till later on when my damage increased.

 

When you're level 4-5 and fighting mobs with like 10-15ish HP, being able to chain Great Cleaves at 14ish damage per swing (with a +1 Greatsword) can wipe out massive packs.  It really comes down to "How many swings does it take to kill this enemy?"

 

When I tried to min/max BAB I never ended up feeling like I got the core benefits of the build till I was nearly 28.

 

You could still have Dev Crit and all RDD bonuses by level 23, but I know what you mean overall -- then pushing back +2 AB/4 damage for another 2 levels in exchange for 1 AB a bit sooner.