Back from the Wilderness, I come bearing gifts. Here is what I would call my iconic dragon bard.

Dragon Skald with Elf Ears

Bard20/CoT10/Red Dragon Disciple10
Elf
Alignment: Non-Evil, Non-Lawful
Playable PvM and PvP 1-40

S: 18 to 38
D: 10
C: 8 to 10
I: 14 to 16
W: 8
CH: 14 to 16


1Bard1, Heavy Armor Prof
2Bard2,
3Bard3, Weapon Focus (Rapier)
4Bard4, Str19
5Bard5
6RDD 1 Extend Spell
7RDD2 RDD Str 21
8RDD3 Str22
9Bard 6 Curse Song
10RDD4 RDD Str 24
11CoT1
12CoT2 Knockdown, Imp Crit (Rapier) Str25
13Bard7
14CoT3
15CoT4 Power Attack; Cleave
16CoT5 Str26
17Bard8
18CoT6 SF: Discipline OR Still Spell; IKD
19CoT7
20CoT8 Str27 GrCleave
21RDD5, OverCrit (Rapier)
22RDD6
23RDD7 RDD Con 10
24RDD 8 Dev Crit (Rapier) Str 28
25RDD 9 RDD Int 16
26RDD 10 EWF (Rapier); RDD Str 32 Ch 16
27Bard9 Epic Prowess
28Bard10, Str33
29Bard11
30Bard12 Epic Discipline
31Bard13
32Bard14 Str34
33Bard15 GrSTR (35)
34Bard16
35Bard 17
36Bard18 GrSTR (36), Str 37
37Bard 19
38CoT9
39Bard20 Lasting Inspiration*
40CoT10 CoT Feat: Armor Skin, Str38

* Requires 25 Perform

AC 10 + 8 (tumble) +4 (draconic) + 8 [plate] + 2 (armor skin) = 32 (37 with bardsong)

AB: 27 + 14 Strength + 3 EWF = 44 (46 with bardsong)
Damage: 1d6 + 14 (critical 17-20)

HP: 306

Fortitude: 27 (33 v. spell)
Reflex: 28 (34 v. spell)
Will: 26 (32 v. spell)

Skills (233 points to allocate):

Discipline: 43
Perform: 41 (+ 3 Cha + 6 buff) (50 needed for Level 20 BS]
Spellcraft: 27
Tumble: 40
Lore: 8
O/L: 1(2)
Disable: 1(2)
Set Traps: 1(2)
UMD: 27
Listen: 41

RDD Special Abilities & Feats
Level 1 Draconic Armor
Hit Die Increase (d6)
Level 2 Draconic Abilities
Level 3 Dragon Breath
Level 4 Hit Die Increase (d8)
Level 6 Hit Die Increase (d10)
Level 9 Wings
Level 10 Half-Dragon
Darkvison
Immune to Fire
Immune to Paralysis
Immune to Sleep

With +5 equipment and gear adding a +6 bonus to your strength ability, this build has a DC of 50 on its Dev Crit, effectively 52 if you curse the opponent. With the Elf active detect, it should be effective against H.I.P.S., which is the only point of going Elf with this build. No experience penalty, though, and if you are content to use a rapier, really no harm other than the loss of skill points (44). With Bard Song and appropriate equipment (see above) this build gets its discipline to 80 (+8 to all skills), which is very helpful if you have a nice sword and want to hold onto it. Or if you don't like being knocked down (which is generally the end of the fight). Likewise, your cursed opponent will be that much more susceptible to knockdown.

Bard Song
Saving Throws
Bard Perform
Level Skill Att Dmg W F R HP AC Skill
1 3 +1 +1 - - - - - -
2 6 +1 +1 +1 - - - - -
3 9 +1 +2 +1 +1 - - - -
6 12 +1 +2 +1 +1 +1 - - +1
8 15 +2 +2 +1 +1 +1 +8 - +1
11 18 +2 +2 +1 +1 +1 +8 +2 +2
14 21 +2 +3 +1 +1 +1 +16 +3 +2
15 24 +2 +3 +2 +2 +2 +16 +4 +3
16 30 +2 +3 +3 +2 +2 +20 +5 +4
17 35 +2 +3 +3 +2 +2 +22 +5 +5
18 40 +2 +3 +3 +2 +2 +24 +5 +6
19 45 +2 +3 +3 +2 +2 +26 +5 +7
20 50 +2 +3 +3 +2 +2 +28 + 5 +8
21 55 +2 +3 +3 +2 +2 +30 +5 +9
22 60 +2 +3 +3 +2 +2 +32 +5 +11
23 65 +2 +3 +3 +2 +2 +34 +5 +12

Good hunting.

Ithacan


Fixed weapon feats - Kail Pendragon

Edited By Kail Pendragon on 04/13/06 13:07

So uhh... is this a level 40 build? It's hard to believe anything with 8 starting CON is playable 1 to 40.
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"And one calculates time from the dies nefastus on which this fatality arose – from the first day of Christianity! – Why not rather from its last? – From today? – Revaluation of all values!"
Quote: Posted 04/12/06 16:12:10 (GMT) -- FinneousPJ

So uhh... is this a level 40 build? It's hard to believe anything with 8 starting CON is playable 1 to 40.

thanks Finn, it's good to be back.

Yes, it's playable 1-40 with its AB and damage output and the ability to wear platemail starting at Level 1. By the time you hit your fourth level of RDD you are rocking right along. I view damage output as the flip side of CON. And AC as making CON hopefully a minimal factor. Unless you are a HP/DR-Acid Sheath mage.

Cheers.
_________________
We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender - Winston Churchill
Quote: Posted 04/12/06 16:18:34 (GMT) -- Ithacan

thanks Finn, it's good to be back.
Yes, you're welcome.

Seriously though, by dropping starting STR to 16, you could start with 14 CON and 10 WIS. That's a mere loss of 1 AB/damage, for the gain of 120 HP, +3 on Fortitude saves and +1 on Will saves. Hardly a bad trade
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"And one calculates time from the dies nefastus on which this fatality arose – from the first day of Christianity! – Why not rather from its last? – From today? – Revaluation of all values!" That is fair enough, but it is fair to say this build, while playable 1-40 (at least in my opinion) would be easier to level and more well rounded without maxing out its strength as you suggest, it won't be as effective in combat as a level 40. And it is fair to say that I try to build to dominate at 40 now rather than playability up to 40.

btw, reducing Str doesn't just affect your AB, it affects your damage (well, not much), your discipline save check (real important in a harsh environment), and the DC on your Dev Crit, which can be a big deal.

Thanks for the feedback, Finn. I said AB/damage, though Fair enough, Discipline I forgot, but I didn't even consider the Devastating Critical DC because I despise the feat; IMO, it spoils the game. Each to his own. Also, do you not think +120 HP, +3 Fortitude saves and +1 Will saves are valuable at level 40? Even if you're losing one point of AB, damage, Discipline and Devastating DC.
_________________
"And one calculates time from the dies nefastus on which this fatality arose – from the first day of Christianity! – Why not rather from its last? – From today? – Revaluation of all values!"

Edited By FinneousPJ on 04/12/06 17:00

Nice ears. Note these builds:

Results from pulse cap's build searcher:

Draconic Champion Bard /Bard 20/RDD 10/CoT 10 by Kaliban99
Dance the Jig of Death /Bard 20/RDD 10/CoT 10 by SomeElvenDude
Bard 20/RDD 10/CoT 10 by Yar StarDawg
Quote: Posted 04/12/06 18:06:29 (GMT) -- Ubernachtung

Nice ears. Note these builds:

Results from pulse cap's build searcher:

Draconic Champion Bard /Bard 20/RDD 10/CoT 10 by Kaliban99
Dance the Jig of Death /Bard 20/RDD 10/CoT 10 by SomeElvenDude
Bard 20/RDD 10/CoT 10 by Yar StarDawg

If you did that search, then you also noted a few similar builds by me. This is a variant but an important one: the elf ears remove what can be a fatal shortcoming in PvP, the vulnerability to HIPS. Other than being stunned, which I also have a build for, nothing is more annoying than being picked apart by a foe who you cannot see. Unless you are Finneous, who'd prefer that to being dev critted. Which, admittedly, does tend to frustrate if you were otherwise winning. But it does take five feats and an unhealthy devotion to your strength to use effectively. Damn, Ith, thought you were lost forever. Welcome around. Okay build, but even PvP it would definitely be better if you drop starting strength by 2 points. Dev is dev is lame but 1 DC vs +2 to fort save (Finn doesn't remember elves -2 CON ) Odds scale in your favour.
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I will hunt you down and tear you limb from limb.

I run the Pre-Epic Builders guild. Join and share your experience.
Quote: Posted 04/12/06 16:18:34 (GMT) -- Ithacan

Quote: Posted 04/12/06 16:12:10 (GMT) -- FinneousPJ

So uhh... is this a level 40 build? It's hard to believe anything with 8 starting CON is playable 1 to 40.

Yes, it's playable 1-40 with its AB and damage output and the ability to wear platemail starting at Level 1.

Well, I'm not so sure about that. I haven't played a mod or a PW yet where I could afford heavy armor. In most cases, I can barely afford a chain shirt. What this means is that you have a 1st level Bard running around with 5 hit points at first level. Most mages have more than that. It's not even going to take a lucky critical for him to fall. Just an average shot is going to wipe him out. Heck, even a cantrip such as Ray of Frost will be more than he can bear.

But you are right in thinking that time is the great equalizer, and that he can hold his own later in his career. Still, I would consider at least a 12 Con.
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Ariel, Ookla, RIDE! I'm for a higher starting CON either. At the cost of 1 BAB I'd maybe get 8 RDD lvls preepic too. Those are some nice boni to have and the earlier the better.

A nice build overall.

BTW, is it intentional to have weapon foci in rapier and crit feats with GSword or is it a typo? If you wanna land crits you'll need the +3 AB you can get from WF/EWF.

Cheers,
Kail
_________________
To hear the sound of Freedom, many gave their lives
They fought for you and me
Those memories will always live inside us, and now it's our time to be free Can Bards use Greatswords? I think he took rapier to qualify for CoT and then changed weapon, anyway, you're taking Epic Prowess and Epic Skill Focus: Discipline when you could take WF and EWF Greatsword, or better: take WF Greatsword at level 18, still spell won't be so great considering you're actually a melee and non-epic skill focus is quite weak. Some will remember when all of my builds had greatswords, heh, bit of an addict. It is meant to use a rapier, economy of feats and all. Sorry for the confusion.

Is my favorite Welshman still roaming these halls? GRipHooK!!!!

Cheers.
Quote: Posted 04/13/06 12:03:04 (GMT) -- Ithacan

Is my favorite Welshman still roaming these halls? GRipHooK!!!!

Cheers.

Actually, Grip is lost in the wilds, and Master Pendragon is Moderator in absentia. I'm not sure what kind of offerings please him, but since he's new I would start with a plate of hot steaming gorgon dung and some pickled mephit toes.
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Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server
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Ariel, Ookla, RIDE! I don't see WF: Greatsword anywhere.
_________________
"And one calculates time from the dies nefastus on which this fatality arose – from the first day of Christianity! – Why not rather from its last? – From today? – Revaluation of all values!"
Quote: Posted 04/12/06 20:45:34 (GMT) -- Grimnir77

Dev is dev is lame but 1 DC vs +2 to fort save (Finn doesn't remember elves -2 CON )

Ah indeed, you're right!
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"And one calculates time from the dies nefastus on which this fatality arose – from the first day of Christianity! – Why not rather from its last? – From today? – Revaluation of all values!" Kail Pendragon = fast and efficient.

Cheers and many thanks.

Ithacan
Quote: Posted 04/13/06 13:48:51 (GMT) -- Ithacan

Kail Pendragon = fast and efficient.

Cheers and many thanks.

Ithacan

Indeed, he's like the Duracell Bunny, Superman and Bob the Builder all in one.
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"And one calculates time from the dies nefastus on which this fatality arose – from the first day of Christianity! – Why not rather from its last? – From today? – Revaluation of all values!" With the change to Rapier seems it now works ok.