This build began with my desire to create a dual-wielding warrior who focuses on offense to a very large degree. Originally, I wanted him to be dex-based, using light, accurate attacks to bleed an enemy to death very quickly. My first horrible attempt at that concept was the Twinblade build, which was not only impracticable, but impossible to create. I got some expert advice from folks here (thanks!) and started over. In experimenting with how to fix the Twinblade, I realized that, in the NWN setup, the dex-based idea conflicted with the original offensive/defensive mix I envisioned. Then, exploring a suggestion from grizzled_dwarflord and looking at Mithdradates’s Pillager build, I rebuilt him as a str-based fighter/wm. This came MUCH closer to what I’d originally intended. In fact, in reviewing the build, I realized that I’d gone too far… there was no way that build would survive any combat involving an enemy caster or a large group of enemy melee types (though it was awesome in the AoC). So I backed off of the 100% offensive f/wm (who had 53AB while dual-wielding, but zero defensive capacity… I’ll post it if anyone wants to see it), and I threw in some Bard levels based on responses to Kaliban99’s Two-Fisted Weaponmaster build. Along the way, the build acquired a bit of personality. Thus, I give you
The Humming Hurricane of Horror Fighter 10/Weapon Master 28/Bard 2 Playable from level 1 to 40, PVM Human, Any non-lawful alignment
The Humming Hurricane of Horror (aka “Triple H” or “huhh?”) is a member of a distant and very solitary society of fighters. Their training regimen ignores all external considerations to focus on mastery of their unique two-weapon fighting style. They are characterized by their disturbing tendency to hum merrily while hacking multiple opponents into small pieces. They wield short swords shaped almost like cleavers and use their great strength to simply dismember any opponents in their way. A long-forgotten bard watching a Hurricane fight a group of his enemies from outside his ‘splatter range’ gave the society its memorable name.
Arranging the skills properly takes some planning, but isn’t too hard.
Final Saves (vs. Spells): Fortitude 22 (30) Reflex 22 (30) Will 15 (23)
BAB (plain short sword, dual-wielding): 50 Base AC: 22 Max HP: 552
Damage Bonus per-hit: 13 Crit Threat Range (plain short sword): 15-20 Crit Multiplier: x3 Crit Dmg Bonus: 2d6
This build has a TON of offensive melee power, but retains moderate saves (except will), moderate AC, and good hp. Bard Song adds another 1AB, +1 dmg, and +1 will, twice per day. UMD lets him buff himself and use a variety of magical toys. He’ll need resistance/immunity buffs and/or gear to take on magic-heavy opponents, and killing crit-immune creatures will take longer than most. But other than that, he should mow through most anything you might throw at him.
If Dev Crit is allowed, you can put that in place of one of the Epic Toughness feats. You can also replace Toughness (at level 39) with Epic Will if you choose, though I think I’d probably seek mind-immunity items instead. If you don’t like the Heal skill or it’s not usable on your PW, you can put in any other skill you like.
I welcome any comments, criticism, or catcalls.
Edited By Cinnabar Din on 02/25/08 02:52
Only thing I would suggest is maybe replacing some of those Great Str feats you take after you get Overwhelming Critical. After all you aren't going for the higher DC for Dev Crit. That might open some slots for utility like blind fighting and knockdown. _________________ Come visit the Epic Builders Guild for all the character info you could ever want or need: Click Here
Quote: Posted 08/02/05 14:07:54 (GMT) -- Emrill
Only thing I would suggest is maybe replacing some of those Great Str feats you take after you get Overwhelming Critical. After all you aren't going for the higher DC for Dev Crit. That might open some slots for utility like blind fighting and knockdown.
I picked up the extra STR to increase AB and damage. The build is going to need every scrap of damage it can find, especially against crit-immune targets. Still, depending on environment and preference, it might be worth dropping 2 Great Strength feats to pick up BF and Knockdown. You'd lose 1dmg and 1AB, but that could be worth it.
Nice build.
If you're not going for Dev Crit, I'd say that Pwr Attack and Cleave are questionable (I'd take Knockdown, Imp. Knockdown), and that Great Cleave and Over. Crit should be tossed (I'd opt for more Great Strength feats).
I'd say go Ftr 11/WM 28/Bard 1, taking Epic Wpn Spec with your 11th level of Fighter, then taking Bard 1 at level 38 to max Spellcraft, Tumble and UMD.
On a minor note, methinks you could take Wpn Spec at level 4 instead of 6 (always a plus).
One last thought - perhaps you could take Exotic Weapons and specialize in Kukri rather than shortswords? You would have a wicked Crit Range with all of your WM levels.
Nice build!
Kaliban. _________________ "Where there is life, there is hope." - Grover
I'd say go Ftr 11/WM 28/Bard 1, taking Epic Wpn Spec with your 11th level of Fighter, then taking Bard 1 at level 38 to max Spellcraft, Tumble and UMD.
Kaliban.
Yes, I'm playing that exact charcter. The 4 extra points of damage are a help and I definitely have blindfight.
Quote: Posted 08/02/05 16:15:39 (GMT) -- Kaliban99 If you're not going for Dev Crit, I'd say that Pwr Attack and Cleave are questionable (I'd take Knockdown, Imp. Knockdown), and that Great Cleave and Over. Crit should be tossed (I'd opt for more Great Strength feats).
This is a preference thing, more than anything else. I really enjoy Cleave and, especially, Great Cleave, while I've never been overly thrilled by Knockdown. I know KD is more effective as a combat move... I just don't enjoy it as much. Over Crit is certainly optional; originally I had Dev Crit (much <3 for Dev Crit!), but then I found myself on a PW that doesn't allow it, so I ditched it but left the option open. The 2d6 dmg bonus is nice, given how often crits hit, but it's not vital. If you chose to give up Cleave (and thus Great Cleave and Power Attack) it would probably make sense to also drop OCrit in favor of Great Str.
Quote: I'd say go Ftr 11/WM 28/Bard 1, taking Epic Wpn Spec with your 11th level of Fighter, then taking Bard 1 at level 38 to max Spellcraft, Tumble and UMD.
The only way to take EWS is with an epic fighter bonus feat, right? So I'd need an even-numbered fighter level after level 20, meaning I'd have to go fighter 12. Since I'm limited to 10 levels of WM pre-epic, I'd have to take some other class (in this case, bard) pre-epic, which would lower the resulting AB. I decided that 1 AB was worth losing EWS, especially since I didn't lose the feat slot.(/quote-incomplete)
Quote: On a minor note, methinks you could take Wpn Spec at level 4 instead of 6 (always a plus).
That's an excellent point. I'll make the change.
Quote: One last thought - perhaps you could take Exotic Weapons and specialize in Kukri rather than shortswords? You would have a wicked Crit Range with all of your WM levels.
I started with shortswords because it fit the image I was pursuing. So, again, it's mostly just preference. However, taking Exotic Weapons would push the feat progression back, such that you wouldn't have the full set of TWF feats until level 15. Alternatively, you could push the WM levels back (taking all 10 fighter levels in a row), but that would, again, delay the benefits of WM levels.
On the other hand, you would get a bit more damage (about 4.5%) from the kukris, and a bit more still if you keep OCrit.
Thanks for the feedback, everyone.
Here's a Kukri version, keeping the Cleave/Critical feats as above (rearranging to get KD/IKD is still an option, as is taking Blind Fight if needed). Taking Kukri ends up costing you the Toughness feat, which is not necessarily a huge loss.
The Humming Hurricane of Horror (Kukri) Fighter 10/Weapon Master 28/Bard 2 Playable from level 1 to 40, PVM Human, Any non-lawful alignment
Quote: Posted 08/02/05 16:55:06 (GMT) -- SovranSpecific The only way to take EWS is with an epic fighter bonus feat, right? So I'd need an even-numbered fighter level after level 20, meaning I'd have to go fighter 12.
You can take EWS as a regular feat, as long as you already have WS and you're taking a fighter (or CoT) level. It does not have to be taken as a fighter bonus feat.
I think if you were to delay WM for two levels and take 10 fighter levels straight up, you could get your dual-wielding feats earlier:
You can take EWS as a regular feat, as long as you already have WS and you're taking a fighter (or CoT) level. It does not have to be taken as a fighter bonus feat.
Well heck, that changes everything. In that case, I would do exactly that... go 28/11/1, pick up EWS, dump two Great STR feats, and grab blind fight, toughness, KD, or whatever seems most suitable to the environment. The resulting char would have to wait a very long time to get UMD, Tumble, and Spellcraft, but would remain playable in the interim.
I won't bother with a repost, since Kaliban basically just did it. =:)
You can take EWS as a regular feat, as long as you already have WS and you're taking a fighter (or CoT) level. It does not have to be taken as a fighter bonus feat.
Well heck, that changes everything. In that case, I would do exactly that... go 28/11/1, pick up EWS, dump two Great STR feats, and grab blind fight, toughness, KD, or whatever seems most suitable to the environment. The resulting char would have to wait a very long time to get UMD, Tumble, and Spellcraft, but would remain playable in the interim.
I won't bother with a repost, since Kaliban basically just did it. =:)
Don't let me steal your thunder! It was your idea, the others and I just poked it a bit
Post the revised, tested, finalized build (complete with stats) in a new thread and post a link to it from here. What others have done (ahem, myself for example) is ask griphook to lock this thread after you post the link to the revised, improved build.
Kaliban. _________________ "Where there is life, there is hope." - Grover
Alrighty then. A corrected version of this build has been posted Here Thanks to everyone for their vital input. Griphook, please lock this thread.
