Playable from level 1-40 .. PvM Build

I really liked grizzled_dwarflord's Dwarven Warmonger build, but I thought I'd do things differently if I built it myself. Here is the resulting build.

dwarf, neutral good -> lawful good -> neutral good

bard 16/rdd 10/dd 14

str 14
dex 13
con 18
int 12
wis 8
cha 11

1. bard: toughness
2. bard
3. bard: dodge
4. bard: +cha
5. bard
6. rdd: still spell
7. rdd
8. rdd: +cha
9. rdd: knockdown
10. bard
11. bard
12. bard: blind-fight, +str (shift alignment to lawful)
13. dd
14. dd
15. dd: weapon focus (greatsword)
16. dd: +str
17. dd
18. dd: improved critical (greatsword)
19. dd
20. dd: +str
21. rdd: epic weapon focus (greatsword)
22. rdd
23. rdd
24. rdd: epic dr 1, +con
25. rdd
26. rdd
27. dd: epic dr 2
28. dd: +str
29. dd
30. dd: great str 1
31. dd
32. dd: epic dr 3, +str (shift alignment to neutral)
33. bard: curse song
34. bard
35. bard
36. bard: great str 2, +str
37. bard
38. bard
39. bard: great str 3
40. bard: +str

str 32
dex 13
con 21
int 14
wis 8
cha 15

ab
27 base
17 strength
3 epic weapon focus
5 gmw
2 bard song
2 war cry
5 curse song
6 taunt
------------
67 (56 without enemy effects)

ac
10 base
4 rdd
4 defensive stance
1 dex
8 fullplate
8 tumble
5 bardsong
4 mage armor
----------
44

skills:
20 lvl 1
35 bard 12 int
24 dd 12 int
24 rdd 12 int
8 rdd 14 int
48 bard 14 int
24 dd 14 int
------------
183

40 tumble
28 perform
18 umd
43 taunt
41 discipline
8 lore
5 spellcraft

dr
9 dd levels
9 dr feats
----
18

maxed hps
96 bard
18 rdd d6
24 rdd d8
50 rdd d10
168 dd
200 con
40 toughness
-----------
596

Recommended spells:
mage armor
protection from alignment
bull's strength
ghostly visage
keen edge
greater magic weapon
improved invisiblity
war cry

He's got a pretty good bardsong and spells when he's lvl 40. Unforuntately, he stays at lvl 8 bard for a long time.

Also the alignment changes are annoying. I planned the levels to minimize them while maximizing the utility of the build. The first alignment change is the hard one. It is easy to steal stuff throughout his career to bring the chaos back into his life.

I played this char through HOTU (cheated alignment change by leveling to 15 in a trainer mod before starting HOTU). I'm continuing on with the Sands of Fate 1 module, which appears to have good stealing penalties, so I'll be able to take bard levels again when the time comes.

Edited By griphook on 06/09/05 18:43

Good build. I would offer one change: drop two great strength feats, and replace with a Great Con and Epic Prowess. Your AB will remain the same, you gain 40 more hitpoints, and a higher Fort Save. The only thing you'll lose is +1 Damage.
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Ariel, Ookla, RIDE! aha. thanks for that. I agree, that +1 damage can be given up.

corrections:

switch lvl 30 feat to epic dr 3
switch lvl 32 dd feat to epic prowess
switch lvl 36 feat to great con 1

now we can get 3 dr earlier too going from lawful good to neutral good is easy but neutral to lawful is tricky. i love the concept but that kind of cheezes the build.
Quote: Posted 06/08/05 22:05:19 (GMT) -- Ithacan

going from lawful good to neutral good is easy but neutral to lawful is tricky. i love the concept but that kind of cheezes the build.

I've heard that many action/PvP servers make alignment changes easy for these purposes, so on those at least it would be a problem. Not sure how many RP worlds have lots of shifts to lawful though.

Steve
Quote: Posted 06/08/05 22:19:24 (GMT) -- Stravinsky00

Quote: Posted 06/08/05 22:05:19 (GMT) -- Ithacan

going from lawful good to neutral good is easy but neutral to lawful is tricky. i love the concept but that kind of cheezes the build.

I've heard that many action/PvP servers make alignment changes easy for these purposes, so on those at least it would be a problem. Not sure how many RP worlds have lots of shifts to lawful though.

Steve

That is definitely true.