With 1.66 having been released tonight, I think I'll post a couple of builds I've been saving. With the "fix" to deathless mastery, the palemaster is now immune to sneak attacks. Throw in the insane AC boost the PM gets (It should be getting that AC boost from the bone mail it creates, which means that it should not be able to wear armor and keep the AC bonus), the ability to cast epic spells without meeting the casting prerequisites and the immunity to paralyze, hold and stun and the PM has become a very powerful class. This build is an update to my Skald of Shar build, which was made when PMs were very broken. This build is a melee PM: it has a stellar AC, a good AB thanks to the Bard buffs and epic warding. It is a very powerful melee build and it can cast as a level 16 bard with level 20 bard spell slots. Pretty much this build's only weakness is other casters. This build will probably perform best in a no-magic to mid-magic setting.
Advantages
-Epic Warding. 800 points of 50/+20 damage reduction that lasts 16 rounds. -6 levels of Bard Spells. He has 4/5/5/5/4/4/4 spell castings and with 16 Bard levels a fairly high caster level. He has a low DC on his spells though. -56 Taunt Skill. He has a very good chance of taunting an opponent and lowering his AC by upto 6 points. -Level 16 Bard Song and Curse Song. He can raise his AC by 5 points and his AB by 2 points and he can lower his opponents AC by 5 points and their AB by 2 points. -Immunity to Critical Hits. Combine this with epic warding and you have an opponent that very few opponents could touch without powerful magic equipment. He can cast energy buffer and he has 10 points of fire damage resistance, so darkfire and flame weapon won't be too effective against him. -Devastating Critical. With a (12-20 X2) critical threat range and a 39 DC this is pretty good. -Use Magic Devices. Granted, a low level, but he should still be able to use some equipment from other classes. -Good AB. A 40 unbuffed AB may seem a little low, but with bard song, war cry, GMW and Bull's Strength he can raise that to 51. Throw in the ability to lower an opponents AC by upto 11 points and that's an effective AB of 62 without any magical equipment. His maximum AB is 66 and his maximum effective AB is 77. He should have no trouble hitting hitting his opponents in most settings. -Excellent AC. Thanks to the palemaster AC bonuses and the Bard's tumble skill he has really high AC. Throw in the 50% concealment from improved invisibility and he is really hard to hit. -Immune to hold, paralyze and stun.
Disadvantages
-Low Saving Throws. He has pretty good saving throws vs. spells, but his base saving throws are low. -No Spell Defence. He can probably dispel a multiclassed mage, but a pure mage will wipe the floor with him.
Doom Skald
Race Human
Alignment TN, CN, NE or CE
Base Attributes STR 16 DEX 8 CON 12 WIS 8 INT 14 CHA 16
Feats Level 1: Toughness, Curse Song Level 2: Weapon Focus (Scimitar) Level 3: Power Attack, Knockdown Level 5: Cleave Level 6: Blind-Fight Level 8: Improved Knockdown Level 9: Improved Critical (Scimitar) Level 10: Great Cleave Level 12: Lingering Song Level 15: Still Spell Level 18: Extend Spell Level 21: Epic Weapon Focus (Scimitar) Level 24: Epic Prowess Level 27: Great Strength I Level 30: Overwhelming Critical (Scimitar) Level 33: Devastating Critical (Scimitar) Level 36: Great Strength II, Energy Resistance (Fire) Level 39: Epic Skill Focus (Taunt), Epic Spell (Epic Warding)
Final Attributes STR 28 DEX 8 CON 12 WIS 8 INT 14 CHA 16
Hit Points (max every level) 415
Final Saves (Vs. Spells) Fortitude 21 (30) Reflexes 19 (28) Will 19 (28)
AB and damage (Normal scimitar, no buffs) 40/35/30/25 9+1D6 (15-20 x2) Devastating Critical DC 39
(+12 to STR, +5 keen scimitar, bard song, war cry, haste) 55/50/45/40/55 22+1D6 (+3 bludgeoning) (12-20 x2) Devastating Critical DC 45
AC 38 (normal full plate, tower shield, no buffs) 73 (+5 full plate, +5 tower shield, +5 amulet of natural armor, +5 ring of protection, +3 boots of hardiness, Haste, Mage Armor, +4 Dex [Cat's Grace], Bard Song)
Skill Increases Level 1: C 4, D 4, P 4, S 4, Ta 4, Tu 4, U 4 Level 2: C 1, D 1, Save 3 Level 3: C 1, D 1, Save 6 Level 4: C 1, D 1, Save 9 Level 5: C 1, D 1, Save 12 Level 6: C 1, D 1, P 4, S 4, Ta 4, Tu 4, U 1 Level 7: C 1, D 1, Save 3 Level 8: C 1, D 1, Save 6 Level 9: C 1, D 1, Save 9 Level 10: C 1, D 1, Save 12 Level 11: C 1, D 1, P 4, S 4, Ta 4, Tu 4, U 1 Level 12: C 1, D 1, P 1, S 1, Ta 1, Tu 1, U 1 Level 13: C 1, D 1, P 1, S 1, Ta 1, Tu 1, U 1 Level 14: C 1, D 1, P 1, S 1, Ta 1, Tu 1, U 1 Level 15: C 1, D 1, P 1, S 1, Ta 1, Tu 1, U 1 Level 16: C 1, D 1, P 1, S 1, Ta 1, Tu 1, U 1 Level 17: C 1, D 1, P 1, S 1, Ta 1, Tu 1, U 1 Level 18: C 1, D 1, P 1, S 1, Ta 1, Tu 1, U 1 Level 19: C 1, D 1, P 1, S 1, Ta 1, Tu 1, U 1 Level 20: C 1, D 1, P 1, S 1, Ta 2, Tu 1 Level 21: C 1, D 1, P 1, S 1, Ta 2, Tu 1 Level 24: C 1, S 1, Save 3 Level 25: C 1, S 1, Save 6 Level 22: C 1, S 1, Save 9 Level 23: C 1, S 1, Save 12 Level 26: C 1, S 1, Save 15 Level 27: C 1, S 1, Save 18 Level 28: C 1, D 7, P 1, S 1, Ta 7, Tu 8 Level 29: C 1, S 1, Save 3 Level 30: C 1, S 1, Save 6 Level 31: C 1, S 1, Save 9 Level 32: C 1, S 1, Save 12 Level 33: C 1, S 1, Save 15 Level 34: C 1, D 6, P 1, S 1, Ta 6, Tu 7 Level 35: C 1, S 3, Save 1 Level 36: C 1, S 1, Save 4 Level 37: C 1, S 1, Save 7 Level 38: C 1, S 1, Save 10 Level 39: C 1, S 1, Save 13 Level 40: C 1, D 6, P 3, S 1, Ta 6, Tu 3
Spells
Level 0: Cure Minor Wounds, Daze, Flare, Light, Resistance
Level 1: Balgaran's Iron Horn, Expeditious Retreat, Grease, Mage Armor, Protection from Alignment
Level 4: Dismissal, Dominate Person, Improved Invisibility, War Cry
Level 5: Ethereal Visage, Greater Dispelling, Healing Circle, Mind Fog
Level 6: Energy Buffer, Mass Haste _________________ Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.
Edited By Mithdradates on 06/15/05 05:47
This is a build I'm going to try. I really like this kind of characters, both the mechanics of your build and the RPing possibilities.
You have chosen to take neither Epic Weapon Specialization nor Lasting Impression. I see that with 8 fighter lvls EWS will cost you 1 BAB, ending at 16. Likewise will a Bard 20/ Fighter 4/ PM 16 build (to get LI) end up with only 16 BAB . A fighter 4 build will also cost you 2 bonus feats. I understand that AB is important for landing hits and Dev Crits. I wonder if that's why you have chosen not to take EWS and LI.
What are your thoughts on this? _________________ I generally avoid temptation, unless I can't resist it...
This is a build I'm going to try. I really like this kind of characters, both the mechanics of your build and the RPing possibilities.
Thanks, I aim to please.
Quote: You have chosen to take neither Epic Weapon Specialization nor Lasting Impression. I see that with 8 fighter lvls EWS will cost you 1 BAB, ending at 16. Likewise will a Bard 20/ Fighter 4/ PM 16 build (to get LI) end up with only 16 BAB . A fighter 4 build will also cost you 2 bonus feats. I understand that AB is important for landing hits and Dev Crits. I wonder if that's why you have chosen not to take EWS and LI.
What are your thoughts on this?
I had different reasons for not taking EWS and lasting inspiration.
I would have liked to take WS and EWS (Who would say no to 6 extra points of damage per hit?) but this build was a little straped for feats. I wanted 16 levels of bard and PM; Bard for the spells and full strength bard song, PM for the epic spell and 2 points of AC. That left 8 levels of fighter, so getting EWS would result in a loss of AB. When I compared the loss of AB and two feats, to 6 extra points of damage, I chose the former. If this was a DEX build, I probably would have squeezed them in. However, this build with a 28 STR, GMW, Bull's Strength, War Cry and Bard Song does 20-21 points of damage before the base damage is inflicted. While it would still benefit from WS and EWS, it isn't in dire need of them. If you want WS and EWS, I suggest you drop improved knockdown and either extend spell or blind-fight and shift two fighter levels to epic levels and two PM levels pre-epic.
I didn't take Lasting Inspiration for two reasons. Firstly, I would need 20 uses of bard song per day, so I would have to drop lingering song for extra music and drop an epic feat for Lasting Inspiration. Secondly, it just lasts too long. With 16 bard songs or curse songs, it lasts long enough that I typically don't run out of songs between rests. There also aren't too many battles that last for over 11 rounds, and after 11 rounds, it is usually time to cast improved invisibility, or use a scroll of GS, to take a breather to recast buffs and use healing material. In those cases, remember that Bard Song heals damage and Curse Song inflicts damage. It can be nice to poke an opponent again when you hit them again with curse song or heal some damage with a song. If after 11 rounds you're still going strong, you probably don't need bard song or curse song to win anyway or you can use them in combat with no real loss. _________________ Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.
Edited By Mithdradates on 06/15/05 20:13
If it's possible is it worth losing the 2 Great Strength feats, for Epic Mage Armor and Armor Skin? You lose 1 AB and damage but gain even more defensively.
In a no magic setting it would probably be worth it. If you have +5 equipment, your AC is high enough that probably only WMs and AAs can hit you regularly. I tested against a max AB WM with +5 equipment which was immune to knockdown and critical hits and I got hit twice. Really, I feel an extra 7 AC would be overkill when your AC is higher than most monks. I personally feel that the AB is probably the weakest point of this build as it has no offensive spells to speak of and wizard spells can be expensive (those scrolls cost a lotta gold). _________________ Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.
Edited By Mithdradates on 06/15/05 21:30
Is it possible to rearrange the leveling order and replace Ftr with CoT? that would mean a boost to the saving throws at the sacrifice of weapon spec, but it could be worth it.
It isn't worth it. You lose one feat and you can't focus in a martial weapon. You also don't get the heavy armor proficiency. _________________ Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.
Edited By Mithdradates on 06/15/05 22:21
Fair enough, thought as much.
Just a note Mith: you won't be able to cast your level 6 spells unless you boost your CHA to 22+ with items. A level 16 Bard knows 2 spells, but gets 0 castings per day.
Nice build, though. _________________ It's rogue, dammit, ROGUE!!!
The PM levels give you level 6 spell slots, though they don't increase your known spells. He has level 20 bard spell slots. _________________ Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.
The PM levels give you level 6 spell slots, though they don't increase your known spells. He has level 20 bard spell slots.
Ah, cool. Forgot about that. _________________ It's rogue, dammit, ROGUE!!!
can anyone provide a non-dev crit version? thanks
Because I'm in a good mood... I didn't bother to redo the skillpoint distribution and I decided to fit in EWS as, without devastating critical, the build needs a hard punch more than before. Since the AC is pretty high, you could do away with the shield and use a two-handed weapon.
Doom Skald (Non devastating critical)
Race Human
Alignment TN, CN, NE or CE
Base Attributes STR 16 DEX 8 CON 12 WIS 8 INT 14 CHA 16
Feats Level 1: Toughness, Curse Song Level 2: Weapon Focus (Scimitar) Level 3: Knockdown, Iron Will Level 5: Weapon Specialization (Scimitar) Level 6: Blind-Fight Level 8: Improved Knockdown Level 9: Improved Critical (Scimitar) Level 12: Lingering Song Level 15: Still Spell Level 18: Extend Spell Level 21: Epic Weapon Focus (Scimitar) Level 23: Epic Weapon Specialization (Scimitar) Level 24: Epic Prowess Level 27: Great Strength I Level 30: Great Strength II Level 33: Great Strength III Level 36: Great Strength IV, Energy Resistance (Fire) Level 39: Epic Skill Focus (Taunt), Epic Spell (Epic Warding)
Final Attributes STR 30 DEX 8 CON 12 WIS 8 INT 14 CHA 16
Hit Points (max every level) 415
Final Saves (Vs. Spells) Fortitude 23 (32) Reflexes 19 (28) Will 24 (33)
AB and damage (Normal scimitar, no buffs) 40/35/30/25 16+1D6 (15-20 x2)
(+12 to STR, +5 keen scimitar, bard song, war cry, haste) 55/50/45/40/55 29+1D6 (+3 bludgeoning) (12-20 x2)
AC 38 (normal full plate, tower shield, no buffs) 73 (+5 full plate, +5 tower shield, +5 amulet of natural armor, +5 ring of protection, +3 boots of hardiness, Haste, Mage Armor, +4 Dex [Cat's Grace], Bard Song)
Level 4: Dismissal, Dominate Person, Improved Invisibility, War Cry
Level 5: Ethereal Visage, Greater Dispelling, Healing Circle, Mind Fog
Level 6: Energy Buffer, Mass Haste _________________ Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.
Edited By Mithdradates on 06/17/05 08:00
thanks alot Mithdradates !
Once again, Mith, hard to find fault in your builds. Polished as usual. I suspect that we'll see more builds like this to come. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Great job !!!!! I really like this build alot and looking forward to trying it. I think it would fit in good as a pirate type build for the new premium module coming out soon. Think of the Undead pirates in the curse of the black pool lol.
Thanks, Mano _________________ A Man of War who treads the world's roads alone, as I do, must be quick. Long ago I learned to strike swiftly and without scruple. I trouble no man without cause, but one who attacks me had best resolve himself to die!
The PM levels give you level 6 spell slots, though they don't increase your known spells. He has level 20 bard spell slots.
Once again, Mith, hard to find fault in your builds. Polished as usual. I suspect that we'll see more builds like this to come.