I wanted to see if I could get epic dodge into my Lethal Mercenary build. I decided to go Ranger/Shadowdancer/Assassin. This build is very similar to Syrsuro's Dark Stalker, hence I chose a similar name. Personally, I feel that this build is better, but I have to give credit to Syrsuro. This build will do best in a +5 to +10 equipment setting, where immunity items and true sight items are rare or banned. It is not an uber build but it should be fun to play for the assassin fans.
Advantages
-Good AB. This character has a 41 AB while dual wielding, which is good for character that is most 3/4 AB classes. -Good AC. Only a monk or a PM would have much higher. -Epic Dodge. -Hide in Plain Sight. This is useful for getting more death attacks. -10D6 Death Attack with a 32 DC. Even with the immunity to mind spells fix, this ability still isn't that great, but it will work sometimes. With improved knockdown and HiPS, he can get a fair bit of damage from sneak attacks. -Improved Evasion and a high reflex save. He should make most of his saves against traps and evocations. -High Use Magic Devices. He can use magical equipment from other classes and scrolls. -Assassin Spells. Darkness with blind-fight can be useful, but the real gem is improved invisibility which confers a 50% concealment bonus. -Level 2 Ranger spells. He gets 2 level 1 spells and 1 level 2 spell. Cat's Grace and Ultravision are very useful. Particularly if the latter is coupled with Darkness. -Uncanny Dodge.
Disadvantages
-Low fortitude and will saves. He is susceptible to death magic and enchantment spells, Slippery mind will help a little. This renders him quite weak against mages and clerics. -Low damage. Without sneak attacks he doesn't do much damage. The favored enemy bonuses will help against undead and outsiders.
Comparison to Dark Stalker
Dark Stalker > Dark Slayer -Death Attack- The Dark Stalker has 4D6 more of death attack and a 4 point higher DC. -Initiative- The Dark Stalker has a 8 point higher initiative. -Skill Points- The Dark Stalker has 54 more skill points, he also has a better hide and move silently total. -Blinding Speed- The Dark Stalker has haste for 1 turn. -Posted First- The Dark Stalker was posted first.
Dark Slayer > Dark Stalker -AB- The Dark Slayer has a 5 point higher AB. -AC- The Dark Slayer has a 6 point higher AC. -Attacks- The Dark Slayer has an extra attack with his off-hand. -Hit Points- The Dark Slayer has 54 more hitpoints. -Ranger Spells- The Dark Slayer has an extra level 1 and level 2 spell. -Knockdown and Improved Knockdown- The Dark Slayer has these feats, the Dark Stalker doesn't.
Dark Slayer
Race Elf
Alignment any evil
Base Attributes STR 12 DEX 18 CON 12 WIS 12 INT 14 CHA 8
Final Level Distribution Assassin 20 Ranger 10 Shadowdancer 10
Attribute Bonuses All 10 go to DEX
Feats Level 1: Weapon Finesse, Favored Enemy (Undead) Level 3: Weapon Focus (mace) Level 5: Favored Enemy (Outsider) Level 6: Knockdown Level 9: Dodge Level 12: Mobility Level 15: Improved Knockdown Level 18: Blind-Fight Level 21: Epic Weapon Focus (mace) Level 24: Armor Skin Level 27: Great Dexterity I Level 30: Epic Dodge Level 33: Great Dexterity II, Great Dexterity III Level 36: Great Dexterity IV Level 37: Great Dexterity V Level 39: Great Dexterity VI, Epic Prowess
Final Attributes STR 12 DEX 34 CON 12 WIS 12 INT 14 CHA 8
Final Saves (vs. spells) Fortitude 20 (24) Reflexes 34 (38) Will 17 (21)
AB and Damage (No buffs, 2 mundane maces) 41/36/31/26 1+1D6 (+10D6 Death Attack) (+3 Vs. FEs) (20 X2) 41/36 1D6 (+10D6 Death Attack) (+3 Vs. FEs) (20 x2) Death Attack DC 32
(+12 DEX, +5 maces) 52/47/42/37 6+1D6 (+10D6 Death Attack) (+3 Vs. FEs) (20 X2) 52/47 5+1D6 (+10D6 Death Attack) (+3 Vs. FEs) (20 x2) Death Attack DC 32
AC
32 (33) (No buffs, no armor) 35 (36) (No buffs, and tower shield) 57 (58) (+12 to Dexterity, Boots of Speed, +5 Robes, +5 ring of protection, +5 amulet of natural armor) 65 (66) (As above but with +5 tower shield)
Skillpoint Distribution Level 1: C 4, D 4, H 4, M 4, ST 4, SC 2 Level 2: C 1, D 1, H 1, M 1, ST 1, Save 1 Level 3: C 1, D 1, H 1, M 1, ST 1, SC 1 Level 4: C 1, D 1, H 1, M 1, ST 1, Save 1 Level 5: C 1, D 1, H 1, M 1, ST 1, SC 1 Level 6: H 1, M 1, T 2, U 1, Save 1 Level 7: H 1, M 1, SC 1, T 2, U 1 Level 8: H 1, M 1, T 1, U 1, Save 2 Level 9: D 4, H 1, M 1, SC 1 Level 10: H 1, M 1, T 2, U 1, Save 1 Level 11: H 1, M 1, SC 1, T 2, U 1 Level 12: H 1, M 1, T 1, U 1, Save 2 Level 13: D 4, H 1, M 1, SC 1 Level 14: H 1, M 1, T 6 Level 15: H 1, M 1, SC 1, T 2, Save 2 Level 16: D 3, H 1, M 1, ST 3 Level 17: H 1, M 1, SC 1, T 2, Save 2 Level 18: H 1, M 1, T 1, Save 7 Level 19: C 5, H 1, M 1, SC 1, T 1, U 3 Level 20: D 4, H 1, M 1 Level 21: H 1, M 1, SC 1, T 2, Save 2 Level 22: H 1, M 1, T 1, Save 7 Level 23: H 1, M 1, SC 1, T 1, U 8 Level 24: H 1, M 1, T 1, Save 5 Level 25: H 1, M 1, SC 1, T 1, Save 8 Level 26: H 1, M 1, T 1, U 11 Level 27: H 1, M 1, SC 1, T 1, Save 3 Level 28: H 1, M 1, T 1, Save 8 Level 29: H 1, M 1, ST 5, SC 1, T 1, U 4 Level 30: H 1, M 1, ST 2, T 1, U 1 Level 31: H 1, M 1, SC 1, T 1, U 1 Level 32: H 1, M 1, T 1, U 1, Save 2 Level 33: H 1, M 1, SC 1, T 1, U 1, Save 2 Level 34: H 1, M 1, T 1, U 1, Save 4 Level 35: H 1, M 1, T 1, U 1, Save 6 Level 36: H 1, M 1, T 1, U 1, Save 8 Level 37: H 1, M 1, T 1, U 1, Save 10 Level 38: H 1, M 1, U 1, Save 13 Level 39: D 19 Level 40: H 2, M 2, ST 2 _________________ Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.
Looks good, but I have one question, is it possible to re-arrange the pre epic split to an 8/8/4 and end up as Ranger 9/ Assassin 21/ SD 10? This would give another D6 of sneak damage and still retain the dual weilding feats, albeit with the obvious loss of the third favoured enemy.
Quote: Posted 06/19/05 09:22:25 (GMT) -- M1ke47
Looks good, but I have one question, is it possible to re-arrange the pre epic split to an 8/8/4 and end up as Ranger 9/ Assassin 21/ SD 10? This would give another D6 of sneak damage and still retain the dual weilding feats, albeit with the obvious loss of the third favoured enemy.
I used the 10th ranger level for an epic prowess instead of a favored enemy. _________________ Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.
Ah...I suppose thats a fair tradeoff then.
Looks good, but I have one question, is it possible to re-arrange the pre epic split to an 8/8/4 and end up as Ranger 9/ Assassin 21/ SD 10? This would give another D6 of sneak damage and still retain the dual weilding feats, albeit with the obvious loss of the third favoured enemy.
I used the 10th ranger level for an epic prowess instead of a favored enemy.
Hey Mith, could you have done that with the 5th Ranger level as well?(dark slayer buid aside) In other words, could you have just taken 4 Ranger pre-epic, and then take 5th and 10 in Epic to swap FE for something else? _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Edited By grizzled_dwarflord on 06/19/05 12:04
You need 5 levels of ranger to get the skill requirements of assasin.
You need 5 levels of ranger to get the skill requirements of assasin.
Yes, but I'm talking with the build aside and just in general. Can one take a 5th level Ranger in Epic and get a bonus feat other than FE. I guess yes since he could do it with the 10th. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Yes. You can do it with the first level feat as well. Unfortunately the Ranger feat list isn't as good as the Harper Scout feat list. Still, if you're in need of an extra feat, and have a free class, a level of Ranger in epic levels can be a way to get it. _________________ Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.
MY Question, why the Mace _________________ "Ïf thê øñlÿ wäÿ før mê tø bê wïth ÿøù ïs ïñ ä drêäm thêñ lêt mê drêäm førêvêr"
"Habits are like a comfy chair easy to get in to and hard to get out of"
Quote: Posted 07/14/07 01:15 (GMT) -- Aiki_Angel
MY Question, why the Mace
This build is 2 years old. I know mith is around, but my guess is STYLE!
Obviously, you can use any weapon you like. _________________
I think avado answered your question like no other could...
The build doesn't get very high damage per hit against the sneak attack immune, and bludgeoning damage is the least resisted damage type. Hence the mace. _________________ Mithdradates' Hall of Training: Build and test your characters against simulated PvP opponents with custom AI.
Quote: Posted 07/14/07 01:15 (GMT) -- Aiki_Angel
MY Question, why the Mace
I think he means why Mace and not Warhammer... _________________
Quote: Posted 12/19/06 19:54 (GMT) -- FinneousPJ
Thax the Shadow Dragon sez: MONKS USE KAMAS. Just ask him.
Because Warhammer is not finessable?
Good reason... forget I said anything.
Can you post the build in the normal format please
