Playable from level 1 - 40 ..PvM Build

This is a variant on the classic bard/rdd/ftr, except this goes for a few more bard lvls to gain lasting inspiration.

Human
Str 16+8 rdd+6 from lvls = 30 str base
dex 8
con 15+2 rdd+4 from lvls= 21 con base
wis 8
int 14+2 rdd = 16 int base
cha 14+2 rdd = 16 cha base

pre-epic lvling: Bard 7/ftr 5/rdd 8

Pre epic feats (8 human, 3 ftr): toughness, curse song, knockdown, improved knockdown, called shot, focus weapon, specialized weapon, improved crit weapon, blind fighting, extend spell, resistance sonic.

epic: rdd 10 -> ftr 9 -> bard 20 -> ftr 10

Ftr 6/8/10 feats: epic focus, epic prowess, epic specialization.

7 general: 3 damage reduction, lasting inspiration. 3 of your choice (I picked acid resistance x3, for acid sheathes that can get pesky on the PW i play on).

Optionally, I usually drop epic prowess to gain damage reduction faster, and save a feat for another acid resistance.

Edit: Or if there isnt much elemental damage to worry about, you can pump up great strength as well, or optionally not go for damage reduction. But that was already discussed in other threads.
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Edited By griphook on 04/30/05 16:53

Sounds interesting; what kinda ac/bab/saves you get when buffed/unbuffed? I always thought Lasting Inspiration requires 21 levels of bard. Maybe I was just wrong then. Thanks for the new knowledge! Take 8bard/8rdd/4ftr before turning lvl 21. It will give you +1 reflex save with no loss.
Quote: Posted 03/30/05 20:42:39 (GMT) -- Kalmar_Oxin

Take 8bard/8rdd/4ftr before turning lvl 21. It will give you +1 reflex save with no loss.

But it will put off getting an Epic feat for another lvl. I would most likely go 8 bard/7 RDD/5 fighter.
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Click Here 26 base attack
+10 str (30 str base)
+3 epic focus weapon
+1 epic prowess
+2 bardsong
+5 gmw
---
47 AB non-dispellable

+2 bull's (assuming +4 bull's spell)
+2 warcry
---
51 AB

+5 curse song (assuming you apply it)
---
56 AB

+6 taunt
---
62 AB

+4 from +8 str items.
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66 AB

Depending on the PW gear, it can get a bit higher, as well drinking potions or whatever else. But from self cast buffs you can reach pretty high ABs, which in turn allows you to use power attack on top of the normal brutal hits. (assuming you swap one of the feats for power attack like I did after looking at it).

Damage
2d6 greatsword
+15 str 2 handed
+6 epic specialization
+3 bardsong
+2 warcry
+5 gmw
+3 bull's
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36 to 46 dmg from self cast buffs

+6 from +8 str items
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42 to 52 dmg

One thing I like about this is that it's all physical damage, meaning even with a 30 soak item, you can still potentially damage a foe for 22 damage over it. Not to mention, wounding whispers, improved invis, keen edge, gust of wind, etc, can all be very useful as a meleer type.

Unlike clerics, you don't suffer too much from dispels (bard songs cant be dispelled).

AC is potentially 5 dodge AC over most builds along with rdd lvls providing a little more (though most ftr builds now have rdd lvls), due to bardsong. As well as 8 from tumble skill at 40.

Hope that helps, there's a few more specifics, but this build tends to be pretty strong in most PWs short of the melee life being so woefully underpowered mages are the only way to go. Even then, this build can be quite good vs enemy mages and such, as well as damage heavily.
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Quote: Posted 03/30/05 20:17:41 (GMT) -- Aligory

I always thought Lasting Inspiration requires 21 levels of bard. Maybe I was just wrong then. Thanks for the new knowledge!

No, it's available at Bard 20. If you look in the list of builds under my name you'll see a couple of Epic Bard builds that get Lasting Inspiration at Bard level 20 (usually character level 39 I believe).

K.
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