The Black Blades of Moradin are a clandestine but powerful group whose origin, motives and members are largely unknown. Some suspect they are a new offshoot of the Zhentarim, while others believe they are a renegade group of Dwarves who monitor the movements of the Harpers. So nebulous they are, that it is not clear whose side they are on. In a recent Council, Khelben Arunsun noted that it is possible that "they are not on anybody's side, and may have their own agenda." Whatever the case, Harper Scouts report that they are some kind of phantom-warrior. _________
This build is proof positive that Dwarves make the best SC V Rogues. This scoundrel not only gets Epic Dodge and SC V, but is healthy as an ox with his 500 natural hit points. There are few, if any, builds out there that achieve this(without resorting to a Bard/RDD/Rogue hybrid). He is not going to go gently into that good night, I assure you. Combined with his 310 skill points and Hide in Plain Sight, the ability to attack ranged or melee and to lay Deadly Traps, he can be the kind of opponent that some players whine and complain about, particulary from 24th level and beyond.
Note: Thanks to Pulse Cap’s search engine, I insured that this build is the first of its kind (and probably the last).
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The Black Blade of Moradin Rogue20/Fighter10/ShadowDancer10 Playable 1-40, PvM, PvP Lite Alignment: Any
Dwarf
Str10 Int14 Wis8 Dex18(30) Con16(18) Chr6
1Rogue, Knockdown 2Fighter, Weapon Finesse 3Rogue, Weapon Focus (rapier or shortsword) 4Fighter, Dodge, Dex19 5Fighter3 6Fighter4, Weapon Specialization, Mobility 7Rogue3 8Shadowdancer1, Dex20 9Rogue4, Improved Knockdown 10Rogue5 11Rogue6 12Rogue7, Improved Criticals, Dex21 13Shadowdancer2 14Shadowdancer3 15Shadowdancer4, Blindfighting 16Shadowdancer5, Dex22 17Shadowdancer6 18Rogue8, Toughness 19Shadowdancer7 20Shadowdancer8 21Shadowdancer9, Great Dex I 22Shadowdancer10 23Rogue9 24Rogue10, Great Dex II, Dex26, Epic Dodge 25Fighter5 26Fighter6, Epic WF 27Rogue11, Great Dex III 28Fighter7, Dex28 29Fighter8, Epic WS 30Fighter9, Great Dex IV 31Rogue12, 32Rogue13, Dex30, Self-Conceal I 33Rogue14, Self-Conceal II 34Rogue15 35Rogue16, Self-Conceal III 36Rogue17, Self-Conceal IV, Con17 37Rogue18 38Rogue19, Self-Conceal V 39Fighter10, Epic Prowess, Armor Skin 40Rogue20, Con18
AB: 40/35/30/25 Max AB: 66/61/56/51/66 AC Naked: 30(31) Max AC w/ +8 Items: 82 Hit Points: 500 HP w/+12 Items: 740 Skill points: 310
Strengths Permanent 50% Concealment Epic Dodge at 24,SC IV by Lvl36 He can achieve a significantly high AC if he goes to shield mode Can deliver quick, precise strikes at 10d6sneak High hitpoints (500 raw max) combined with Epic Dodge/SC V allow him to stay in combat for quite some time Hide in Plain Sight, Summon Shadow, and IKD insure Sneak Attacks at 10d6. Tremendous Skill Set
Weaknesses Will Save: in testing, that was the most glaring flaw in the build. This can be easily remedied with PfA scrolls, Clarity scrolls and potions, Amulets of Will, and anything that improves saving throws in general.
Low Strength: this will be most noticable at Level 1. With no AB to speak of, you'll have to go old school and rely on the roll of the dice. Stealth will be the key to survival at level 1. Stealth, and using a ranged weapon to harness your 18Dex and landing 1d6 sneak.
Low Damage Output: with a 10 Strength, he must rely on Sneaks to generate the bulk of his damage. He has WS/EWS to help mitigate this. Against PvP palemasters and other crit immune creatures or DR creatures, he will have some trouble. Get your hands on some Traps to help even the score. UMD can also help you buff. Strength-enhancing items should be sought. And remember, don't take on high level PMs without back-up!
In playtesting, I always like to challenge the 40th lvl fighter in my leveller Mod, as he usually just rips my head off. He always buffs with potions, goes for Knockdown, and always drinks his Heals at 25% hitpoints, and is decked with decent equipment. During this duel, however, he went straight down. An IKD hit him from the Shadows, and then it was sneak upon sneak upon sneak upon IKD, and he was gone. He never even got to drink his Heals. Against the Dracolich, who is usually a real bugger, I never died, but he never did either. I didn't have Fear Immunity, and his Fear DC was 35, IIRC, and my pidley 14 Will +1d20 roll couldn't cut the mustard. So, he ran around, the dracolich tried to kill him, couldn't touch him, I fell asleep, woke up about 5 minutes later, Dracolich still trying to kill him, and just couldn't follow through. Result, stalemate.
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griphook ..level 31 typo corrected _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Edited By Kail Pendragon on 10/12/07 16:14
Now this is what I am talking about grizz. Not only a nifty RP character, but also pretty amazing in terms of playability. Very cool.
One little teensy point I saw, and got a bit confused on. Probably just a typo, but...
Quote: 29Fighter8, Epic WS 30Fighter9, Great Dex IV 31Rogue12, Epic WS
You take Epic Weapon Specialization twice, and the second time it is on a Rogue level, which I think is not even possible. Besides that though, everything else seems solid.
Back into the shadows...
-C
btw, what leveler mod do you use? been looking for a good one. thnx _________________ "Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger."
btw, what leveler mod do you use? been looking for a good one. thnx
Hmm. I'd say a leveler that permits you to take Epic Weapon Spec on a Rogue level is not a good one
Many of us like the Novice to Epic Character Builder mod, available in plain vanilla flavor as well as enhanced CEP flavor... Vanilla: Click Here CEP: Click Here
Kaliban. _________________ "Where there is life, there is hope." - Grover
Nice build, I'd be a little worried about the AB, which is okay but you don't have any innate spell casting or Taunt to raise it. I'd take the two CON increases and put them towards DEX instead for a +1 to AB and AC. Also, while the Rogue 20/Ftr 10/SD 10 is the way to go if you are forced to take multiple SD levels, Rogue 29/Ftr 10/SD 1 might be a bit stronger overall.
You can write your own leveling module pretty easily. I like doing it this way as I can customize equipment and opposition very easily to find the strengths and weaknesses of a build. Personally, I like using 6 levers:
Now this is what I am talking about grizz. Not only a nifty RP character, but also pretty amazing in terms of playability. Very cool.
Thank you, sir. Nothing beats Epic Dodging Dwarves with SC V, in my book. Take that you, Elf-huggers!
Quote: One little teensy point I saw, and got a bit confused on. Probably just a typo, but...
Quote: 29Fighter8, Epic WS 30Fighter9, Great Dex IV 31Rogue12, Epic WS
You take Epic Weapon Specialization twice, and the second time it is on a Rogue level, which I think is not even possible. Besides that though, everything else seems solid.
That is a special Dwarven feat, called Epic Typo. That shouldn't be there, actually, as it is some kind of residdue left over from a previous draft of the character. Has absolutely no bearing on the build whatsoever.
Quote: btw, what leveler mod do you use? been looking for a good one. thnx
I use the Halls of Advanced Training from Novice to Epic, or something like that, and I have some enhanced AI scripts thrown in with it. Even the friggin kobolds kick my butt. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Nice build, I'd be a little worried about the AB, which is okay but you don't have any innate spell casting or Taunt to raise it. I'd take the two CON increases and put them towards DEX instead for a +1 to AB and AC.
This is true, Mith, but then he wouldn't be an Epic-Dodging SC V Dwarf with 500 raw hitpoints, would he? But yes, in a contest between 1AB and 40 hitpoints, I'd usually pick the AB, though certain environments may call for the hit points. But 40AB vs 41? Eh, I wouldn't sweat it. They can't all be Arcane Archer and Weapon Master ABs.
Quote: Also, while the Rogue 20/Ftr 10/SD 10 is the way to go if you are forced to take multiple SD levels, Rogue 29/Ftr 10/SD 1 might be a bit stronger overall.
I think this holds true with a level 40 build, but not necessarily with one from the ground up. Those 8 pre-epic shadowdancer levels give the build more defensive capability with both shadow evade and summon shadow and shadow daze, and give him more options during pre-epic environments, which are the environments I tend to play most often. The only thing that more Rogue brings to the table would be the sneak dice. While this isn't a bad thing, I tend to find that 19 Rogue levels provide enough sneak dice to do most jobs. In situations where 10d6 sneak aren't enough, the sneaks aren't working anyways, and so we are resorting to stand and deliver tactics, traps, UMD scrolls, etc. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
How is the "Max AB' of 66 achieved on this character? I can't seem to figure out how that is possible. Also, I do not see Slippery Mind listed as a feat in the build, but it is mentioned in the Will Saves portion.
How is the "Max AB' of 66 achieved on this character? I can't seem to figure out how that is possible. Also, I do not see Slippery Mind listed as a feat in the build, but it is mentioned in the Will Saves portion.
He will need umd for it, or maybe not. Say he can max DEX from items, then all he needs on top of that is a potion of True Strike. _________________ We are sons of Odin, and the fire that we burn inside is the legacy of warrior-kings who reign above in the sky I will lead the charge, my sword into the wind Sons of Odin fights to die and live again
How is the "Max AB' of 66 achieved on this character? I can't seem to figure out how that is possible. Also, I do not see Slippery Mind listed as a feat in the build, but it is mentioned in the Will Saves portion.
It's the maximum possible if he has his ability score boosted to the cap of +12 over base, and his AB maxed (through spells, scrolls, enhancements, etc.) by +20 over base.
Slippery Mind is a free feat obtained at SD level 7. _________________ It's rogue, dammit, ROGUE!!!
Wow. 500 hit points. You've sold me, dwarves are the best race. _________________ CATS!
This is one of my early builds, and not my best offering. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Then what is your best offering? _________________ Valkos clueless
He has a few offerings
This one, a dwarven stalker "epic dwarven special typo feat" aside (too funny ) looks like fun, a highly playable RP'er with good hps for sure, and the AB is okay; a little low for my tastes but you've UMD upped plus traps, etc. so it's okay; overall, nicely done, GD.
This build reminds us why skills are so darn important, doesn't it? UMD really helps, of that I am convinced and triply echo (I rarely take any character out without loading up on it, even with the new NWN2, x-class still worth it as it opens up so many scolls at least, and with a sneaker, that's especially helpful particularly where, as here, it's loaded to the max).
Way to go re: Sticking up for 'dem dwarves, GD (this, from a human and/or half-elf hugger, but I love 'em all - dwarves, those beards I tells ya, what's not to love
Love the RP factor here, and so highly versatile!
ps and thanks for the code Mith (btw, like your nwn2 hall, which I'm checking out now-looks really good so far, and thanks!!!!
As to nwn1 halls, another mod/trainer I like to use is the arena of champions by commche - it's an uber magic place, and what I like to do is take characters in with mundane stuff, test 'em against the nasties (who are uber buffed, etc.). But for sure there are quite a few other good halls out there. Just thought I'd mention this one, too
Sneak On!
Tyr
Edited By TyrTemplar on 01/24/07 23:57
I have a question
In this build, do you have to use only one weapon? (Because using a shield, will low your hide check)
Please tell me how it works, in battle
Yes... Use a large shield and the penalty is much lower.
Quote: Posted 04/24/07 22:43 (GMT) -- Restos del Juicio
I have a question
In this build, do you have to use only one weapon? (Because using a shield, will low your hide check)
If you prefer you could drop Improved Crit, Improved KD and Toughness for the 2 weapon fighting feats. And not worry about shields. Just an option.
I know, but I was thinking by using dual weapons (with a tiny weapon in the off hand...)
Or a better usage of this build...
Quote: Posted 04/25/07 00:20 (GMT) -- galelabriel
Quote: Posted 04/24/07 22:43 (GMT) -- Restos del Juicio
I have a question
In this build, do you have to use only one weapon? (Because using a shield, will low your hide check)
If you prefer you could drop Improved Crit, Improved KD and Toughness for the 2 weapon fighting feats. And not worry about shields. Just an option.
I must say... That's it's a very nice idea, thank you
I'm sorry if this seems odd.. but how can you not see a dwarf? It's like a moving brick...
Quote: Posted 06/21/07 04:04 (GMT) -- Elee_Alera
I'm sorry if this seems odd.. but how can you not see a dwarf? It's like a moving brick...
I'm sorry, but we dont speak ill words towards Dwarves around these parts. Especially not ones created by the Dwarflord himself!
Very cool.
Wow. 500 hit points. You've sold me, dwarves are the best race.
