Shadow Guard

Bard 11/Blackguard 16/Shadowdancer 13

Playable from 1 to 40, PvM
You may find it tough in the teens, will probably play better in a party (like most Bards). The idea was based around getting both the Epic Vrock and Shadowlord pets.

Human, Non-Lawful and Evil.

STR: 13
DEX: 15 (28)
CON: 14
WIS: 10
INT: 12
CHA: 13 (14)

01: Ba(1): Dodge, Mobility
02: Ba(2)
03: Ba(3): Weapon Finesse
04: Ba(4): DEX+1, (DEX=16)
05: Ba(5)
06: Ba(6): Power Attack
07: Ba(7)
08: SD(1): DEX+1, {Hide in Plain Sight}, (DEX=17)
09: SD(2): Cleave, {Darkvision, Evasion, Uncanny Dodge I}
10: BG(1)
11: BG(2): {Smite Good}
12: SD(3): DEX+1, Weapon Focus: Rapier, (DEX=18)
13: BG(3)
14: BG(4)
15: Ba(8): Curse Song
16: BG(5): DEX+1, (DEX=19)
17: SD(4)
18: BG(6): Improved Critical: Rapier
19: BG(7)
20: BG(8): DEX+1, (DEX=20)

21: BG(9): Great Dexterity I, (DEX=21)
22: SD(5): {Defensive Roll}
23: BG(10)
24: SD(6): DEX+1, Great Dexterity II, (DEX=23)
25: BG(11)
26: SD(7): {Slippery Mind}
27: BG(12): Great Dexterity III, (DEX=24)
28: SD(8): DEX+1, (DEX=25)
29: SD(9)
30: SD(10): Epic Dodge, {Improved Evasion}
31: BG(13): Epic Weapon Focus: Rapier
32: SD(11): CHA+1, (CHA=14)
33: BG(14): Epic Prowess
34: BG(15)
35: BG(16): Epic Fiendish Servant*
36: Ba(9): DEX+1, Armor Skin, (DEX=26)
37: SD(12)
38: SD(13): Epic Shadowlord
39: Ba(10): Great Dexterity IV, (DEX=27)
40: Ba(11): DEX+1, (DEX=28)

*You may feel free to swap this feat for something else as the Epic version is actaully a little weaker. The lack of concealment bug will hopefully get fixed one day.

Attack Bonus:
Plain Melee: 40/35/30/25
Plain Ranged: 37/32/27/22
+2 Bard Song
+2 min from BG&Bard Bulls Str (+5 max)
+3 from GMW
Buffed: 47 to 50.
Curse song effictively ups this by 2 as well.

Damage:
1d6 (16-20/x2) +1 +5d6 sneak attack.
+2 Bard Song
+2 min from BG&Bard Bulls Str (+5 max)
+3 from GMW.
1d6 +7 (+10 max) +5d6 sneak

If you ever get a chance to use it.
Smite good is +3 attack (when Splendor cast), +16 damage and once per day.

AC:
Naked: 29
With Shield: 32
+1 from Cats grace.
+2 from Bard song.
+4 Mage Armor
Buffed with shield: 39
Can caste Imp Invis once per day, and has Epic Dodge.

Hitpoints:
Base 410
+8 from Bard song

Saving Throws:
Fort: 23
Will: 21
Reflex: 33
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +8, Traps: +2
+1 min from Dark Blessing and Eagles Splendor.

Skillpoints: 252
Discipline 43(44)
Hide 43(52)
Lore 2(14)
Move Silently 43(52)
Perform 19(21)
Spellcraft 39(40)
Tumble 40(49)
UMD 23(25)

Spell Casting:
Bard cantrips know 5 cast 3
Bard Level 1 know 4 cast 4
Bard Level 2 know 4 cast 4
Bard Level 3 know 4 cast 3
Bard Level 4 know 3 cast 1

Other information....

Pets so that you can get your sneak attacks in ...
Epic Fiendish Servant (Epic Vrock)
Epic Shadowlord
Create Undead (Doom Knight)

Turn Undead:
HD Sum: 16+2d6
Min HD: 11
Avg HD: 14.5
Max HD: 18

Epic Dodge & Improved Invis.
HiPS.
Improved Evasion.

Edited By mphacon on 03/14/06 21:28

I think this is a finely done build!

But, since I never use summons, is it worth it to have these 2? Can you use them at the same time? IMO both feats are a waste of time since the non epic shadowlord is stronger in melee than the epic shadowlord. Neither pet has enough levels to make any real difference in battle.

Syrath
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It's SHADOWDANCER, dammit, shadowdancer!!!
Quote: Posted 03/15/06 18:35:47 (GMT) -- syrath1001

IMO both feats are a waste of time since the non epic shadowlord is stronger in melee than the epic shadowlord. Neither pet has enough levels to make any real difference in battle.

Syrath

My thought as well. It's probably better to have one high in levels, than two weak to mediocre ones. This would also translate into having a stronger Bard, with stronger buffs, more buffs, longer lasting, and a better Bard/Curse Song. You might consider going more Bard and SD, drop BG altogether(and perhaps replace with Ftr or CoT), and then buff your Epic Shadowlord with Improved Invis spells you gain from from Bard.

Also, it might be wiser to start with an 8 Wis and put those two points into Chr and Str.

But a dex-based Bard/SD is going to need to find a way to generate damage from somewhere. It makes for a good defensive build, but it might be more useful to take Fighter over BG since you gain about 5 feats, increase damage output, and allows you faster progression for your Bard levels. The only thing the BG is really contributing in this scenario is a stacking Bull's, and that ability is limited. At least weapon specialization would be on all the time.
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Ariel, Ookla, RIDE! actually bard sds get very low saves , so bg is a good choice to boost up saves especially fort.
the extra divine dmg is more worth it imo since divine can rarley be resisted.another point is that bg gets sneaks what s great if combined with sd.

i would cahnge to 19bg and 10 sd only , going wihtout the epic summon and get 1d6more sneaks.