Musical Dragonkin V2 – Bard 20/RDD 10/CoT10

Well I posted this build in the main forums so some of you may have seen it, this is version 2 after some feedback and advice.

Original thread was here Click Here

The basic idea was for a Halfling with a huge sword and pretty much full bard song. I had thought of Blackguard but 10 levels of blackguard just didn’t really add enough to the build to make it worthwhile IMO.

So I was left with fighter for feats and weapon specialisation or for CoT for a few extra feats and some saves – in the end I chose CoT, mainly for the boost to all the saves.

As a Halfling I couldn’t use a greatsword so I thought Bastard sword – as several people pointed out in the other thread on the main forums – rapier, scimitar and longsword would all count as two handed – but there’s just something about a Halfling wielding a bastard sword that I find funny! So sorry to those that suggested otherwise but I think I’m sticking with the bastard sword.

I didn’t go for heavy armour as I prefer to avoid too many arcane spellcasting failures – though most of the spells will be for buffing and used out of combat where I can strip.

Anyway – the all new tweaked build – no doubt more tweaking can and will be done.

Playable 1 – 40 PvM (don’t play pvp and odds are it would never work)

Race Halfling
Alignment Any non-evil ( I went Chaotic good)

Starting

Str 12
Dex 14
Con 14
Wis 10
Int 14
Cha 14


Leveling

1 Bard 1 – Lingering song
2 Bard 2
3 Bard 3 – Weapon Proficiency: Exotic
4 Bard 4 - +1 Con
5 Bard 5
6 RDD 1 – Weapon Focus: Bastard Sword
7 RDD 2
8 RDD 3 - +1 Con
9 Bard 6 – Curse song
10 RDD 4
11 CoT 1
12 CoT 2 – Blind fight, Improved Critical: Bastard Sword, +1 Dex
13 CoT 3
14 CoT 4 - Knockdown
15 Bard 7 – Extend spell
16 RDD 5 - +1 Dex
17 RDD 6
18 RDD 7 - Toughness
19 RDD 8
20 Bard 8 - +1 Str
21 RDD 9 – Armour skin
22 RDD 10
23 CoT 5
24 Cot 6 – Epic weapon focus: Bastard Sword, Improved Knockdown, +1 Str
25 Bard 9
26 Bard 10
27 Bard 11 – Great Strength I
28 Bard 12 - +1 Str
29 CoT 7
30 CoT 8 – Epic Will, Epic Prowess
31 Bard 13
32 Bard 14 - +1 Str
33 Bard 15 – Expertise
34 Bard 16
35 Bard 17
36 Bard 18 – Great Strength II, +1 Cha
37 CoT 9
38 CoT 10 – Improved expertise
39 Bard 19 – Epic Toughness I
40 Bard 20 - +1 Cha


Ending

Str 24
Dex 16
Con 18
Wis 10
Int 16
Cha 18


Skills

1 Discipline 2, Lore 4, Perform 4, Spellcraft 2, Tumble 4, UMD 4, Taunt 4
2 Lore 1, Perform 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
3 Discipline 1, Lore 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
4 Lore 1, Perform 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
5 Discipline 1, Lore 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
6 save
7 save
8 save
9 Discipline 1, Perform 4, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 4, UMD 4, Taunt 4
10 save
11 save
12 save
13 save
14 save
15 Discipline 1, Perform 6, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 6, UMD 6, Taunt 6
16 save
17 save
18 save
19 save
20 Discipline 1, Perform 5, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 5, UMD 5, Taunt 5
21 save
22 save
23 save
24 save
25 Discipline 3, Perform 5, Spellcraft 3, Tumble 5, UMD 5, Taunt 5
26 Discipline 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
27 Discipline 2, Perform 1, Spellcraft 2, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
28 Discipline 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
29 save
30 save
31 Discipline 3, Perform 3, Spellcraft 3, Tumble 3, UMD 3, Taunt 3
32 Discipline 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
33 Discipline 2, Perform 1, Spellcraft 2, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
34 Discipline 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
35 Discipline 2, Perform 1, Spellcraft 2, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
36 Discipline 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
37 save
38 save
39 Discipline 5, Perform 3, Spellcraft 3, Tumble 1, UMD 3, Taunt 3
40 Discipline 4, Perform 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1



HP - 452


AC – naked 27


AB – Unarmed: 35/30/25/20. Normal Bastard Sword: 38/33/28/23


Saves

Fort 32
Reflex 31
Will 33

So there we go, version two of my first ever character build – well first ever planned build anyway. I’ve taken some of the advice in the other thread but could let go of the bastard sword. I also forgot to mention that I wanted to avoid the whole dev crit thing which so many bard/RDD builds seem to aim for.

As for him being a mainline tank with few hitpoints and AC and the like, spells and buffs can help to some extent along with equipment, but for the main part I will be playing on a server and in a party – I’ll be more support/secondary tank type figure – and with the high tumble and a decent haste im sure I can outrun at least some of the party if things go wrong

Cheers for any and all replies and advice.

Fixed typo in the leveling guide - Kail Pendragon

Edited By Kail Pendragon on 04/18/06 18:54

A couple of suggestions:
At level 39, drop Epic Toughness and take Lasting Inspiration - makes your bard song last for 105 rounds. That's long enough so you can use Bard Song after rest, and again whenever it runs out, and only have to use Curse Song when you see enemies (instead of needing to do both at the start of the battle).

I would definitely get EWF before taking Armor Skin.

I would probably drop Epic Will and IE for 2 more Great Str. You have spells to protect you from mind effects, and as a str-based char you will benefit more from higher AB and more damage than from IE. If you want to keep IE, I would drop the exotic weaps and use one of the weapons discussed before, and take Expertise earlier to free up another epic feat.

You don't have Power Attack or Cleave, those would be nice to add in.

TM Check these for other Bard/RDD/CoT builds.

Results from pulse cap's build searcher:
Holy Dragon /Bard 12/RDD 10/CoT 18 by arvut
Celestial Champion (Cot 14 /Bard 16 /RDD 10) by Fallout386
The Avatar Of Torm,s Righteous Strength /Bard 16/CoT 14/RDD 10 + (No Dev Crit Version) by Herbie Shimmer
Dragon Skald with Elf Ears /Bard 20/CoT 10/RDD 10 by Ithacan
True Dragon Knight Herald /Bard 22/CoT 8/RDD 10 by Ithacan
Draconic Champion Bard /Bard 20/RDD 10/CoT 10 by Kaliban99
The Baron /Bard 6/RDD 20/CoT 14 by krsboss
Dance the Jig of Death /Bard 20/RDD 10/CoT 10 by SomeElvenDude
Bard 20/RDD 10/CoT 10 by Yar StarDawg
_________________
"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!" Can a halfling use Large wpns? Nope, but bastard sword is medium size. A halfling uses it two handed.
Quote: At level 39, drop Epic Toughness and take Lasting Inspiration - makes your bard song last for 105 rounds. That's long enough so you can use Bard Song after rest, and again whenever it runs out, and only have to use Curse Song when you see enemies (instead of needing to do both at the start of the battle).

Thought Lasting Inspiration was level 21 bard? so if i drop a level of RDD i lose stats and immunities, if i drop a level of CoT I lose a feat and some save bonus.

If I am wrong and its level 20 then i guess i can swap CoT 10 to level 40, take bard 20 on level 39 and take Lasting Inspiration - it will impact my skills slightly, Taunt, UMD and perform will lose one point of each, though I doubt that will have that great an effect.

Quote: I would definitely get EWF before taking Armor Skin.

Probably right, I was thinking more on better AC over hitting them, but I guess that boost to AB will be handier when i have buffs, scrolls and armour etc. to protect me.

Quote: I would probably drop Epic Will and IE for 2 more Great Str. You have spells to protect you from mind effects, and as a str-based char you will benefit more from higher AB and more damage than from IE. If you want to keep IE, I would drop the exotic weaps and use one of the weapons discussed before, and take Expertise earlier to free up another epic feat.

Again probably a good idea, i was thinking IE for the bonus AC if buffs wore off, but thinking about it the lack of concentration means trying to cast spells will probably fail anyway when theres enemies around - +5 ac or +10 ac...i guess i could lose expertise as well..hmmmmm

Quote: You don't have Power Attack or Cleave, those would be nice to add in.

nice to have but really only in the early game, one extra attack is nice and all but later on im not sure it makes that great a difference.

thanks for all teh advice though - I'll have a play around and may back with a version 3! Bard 20 is enough for LI.

I have a similar build in my directory, same lvl split but human and going full STR route but no dev crit, getting ESF: perform and taunt. A nasty build indeed

Nice little bugger you've got there!

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

Edited By Kail Pendragon on 04/19/06 21:16

you can get LI at bard 20? hmmmm?

back in a sec just off to the character leveller






right then - version 3!

I have lost expertise altogether, added some strength and swapped a few of the levellings - lost a few points from the skills at higher levels but not enough to impact the build imo

so here we go

Playable 1 – 40 PvM (don’t play pvp and odds are it would never work)

Race Halfling
Alignment Any non-evil ( I went Chaotic good)

Starting

Str 12
Dex 14
Con 14
Wis 10
Int 14
Cha 14


Leveling

1 Bard 1 – Lingering song
2 Bard 2
3 Bard 3 – Weapon Proficiency: Exotic
4 Bard 4 - +1 Con
5 Bard 5
6 RDD 1 – Weapon Focus: Bastard Sword
7 RDD 2
8 RDD 3 - +1 Con
9 Bard 6 – Curse song
10 RDD 4
11 CoT 1
12 CoT 2 – Blind fight, Improved Critical: Bastard Sword, +1 Dex
13 CoT 3
14 CoT 4 - Knockdown
15 Bard 7 – Extend spell
16 RDD 5 - +1 Dex
17 RDD 6
18 RDD 7 - Toughness
19 RDD 8
20 Bard 8 - +1 Str
21 RDD 9 – Epic Weapon Focus: Bastard Sword
22 RDD 10
23 CoT 5
24 Cot 6 – Armour Skin, Improved Knockdown, +1 Str
25 Bard 9
26 Bard 10
27 Bard 11 – Great Strength I
28 Bard 12 - +1 Str
29 CoT 7
30 CoT 8 – Great Strength II, Epic Prowess
31 Bard 13
32 Bard 14 - +1 Str
33 Bard 15 – Great Strength III
34 Bard 16
35 Bard 17
36 Bard 18 – Great Strength IV, +1 Cha
37 CoT 9
38 Bard 19
39 Bard 20 – Lasting Inspiration
40 CoT 10 - Epic Toughness I, +1 Cha


Ending

Str 28
Dex 16
Con 18
Wis 10
Int 16
Cha 18


Skills

1 Discipline 2, Lore 4, Perform 4, Spellcraft 2, Tumble 4, UMD 4, Taunt 4
2 Lore 1, Perform 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
3 Discipline 1, Lore 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
4 Lore 1, Perform 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
5 Discipline 1, Lore 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
6 save
7 save
8 save
9 Discipline 1, Perform 4, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 4, UMD 4, Taunt 4
10 save
11 save
12 save
13 save
14 save
15 Discipline 1, Perform 6, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 6, UMD 6, Taunt 6
16 save
17 save
18 save
19 save
20 Discipline 1, Perform 5, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 5, UMD 5, Taunt 5
21 save
22 save
23 save
24 save
25 Discipline 3, Perform 5, Spellcraft 3, Tumble 5, UMD 5, Taunt 5
26 Discipline 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
27 Discipline 2, Perform 1, Spellcraft 2, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
28 Discipline 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
29 save
30 save
31 Discipline 3, Perform 3, Spellcraft 3, Tumble 3, UMD 3, Taunt 3
32 Discipline 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
33 Discipline 2, Perform 1, Spellcraft 2, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
34 Discipline 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
35 Discipline 2, Perform 1, Spellcraft 2, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
36 Discipline 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
37 save
38 Discipline 3, Perform 2, Spellcraft 3, Tumble 1, UMD 2, Taunt 2
39 Discipline 4, Perform 1, UMD 1, Taunt 1
40 Discipline 5

Final Total skills (with stat bonus)
Discipline - 36 (45)
Lore - 8 (31)
Perform - 42 (46)
Spellcraft 27 (30)
Tumble - 40 (43)
UMD - 42 (46)
Taunt - 42 (46)

HP - 442


AC – naked 27


AB – Unarmed: 36/31/26/21. Normal Bastard Sword: 39/34/29/24


Saves

Fort 32 (37 vs spells)
Reflex 31 (36 vs spells)
Will 29 (34 vs spells)

So he gains damage and AB, bard song that will pretty much last forever and is the max for his level. Loses a couple of points of skill his will save goes down and he no longer has expertise for the added AC.

I forgot to get the AB and AC when he was fully buffed but with decent equipment and his spells to buff with I'd say he should be able to cope fairly well - especially as I'm intending more party play than solo. You could shuffle feats so as to get all of EWF, AS and EP as CoT bonus feats dropping Epic toughness and getting in something else of your preference instead of it (ESF: perform maybe).

A question: which armor do you plan to be using?

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 Medium according to the original post. That means AC5.

His AC 27 naked:
10 base
+1 size
+2 Dex
+8 tumble
+4 RDD
+2 Armor skin.

Add +5 for medium armor. You should try to include still spell, but you describe why not in the original post. But to those that wonder: still spell can, in some cases, be a life-saver.
_________________
I see the fear you have inside, you can run but never hide.
I will hunt you down and tear you limb from limb.

I run the Pre-Epic Builders guild. Join and share your experience. Yeah - any armour up to medium.

At the moment I am running around in monks robes for the haste (still only low level) but its going well. theres some pretty good robes and light armours on the server i play on though so pretty much anything up to medium that will add to my AC and give me some extra abilities I feel may be useful.