Alright, I’m back again. This time with a build that is a cross between my Artemis Entreri build posted a couple of days ago, and Kaliban’s Death becomes you build.
I made it a halfling, but for no specific reason. In fact, there are a number of races that would be more suited to this (practically all of them except gnome). I really just chose halfling because it’s my favourite race (and don’t try and tell me that there isn’t a race that you favour over the rest).
It’s still a dexterity based assassin/weapon master that gets the majority of it’s damage through the combination of death attack and criticals, but (thanks to the advice of grizzled_dwarflord - who suggested taking significantly less levels in WM) this time it also has Improved knockdown to give it a hand.
Also, it’s death attack causes more damage, and has a higher DC (thanks to the extra 5 assassin levels) and the added bonus of WS AND EWS to make those criticals just a little bit more painful. Here it is!
*Use any of the following feats, depending on your playing preference(no specific order is necessary): •Improved Critical: Kukri •Knockdown •Epic Weapon Focus: Kukri •Blind Fight
Note: Great Dexterity III & IV (levels 35 & 36) can be swapped for epic reflexes, and your choice of Improved Initiative, Toughness, Epic Prowess, or Armour skin
AB - While holding 2 Kukri’s - +41/+36/+31/+26 (add +6 to each when buffed)
Saves (buffed) Fort - 22 Reflex - 34 (40) Will - 16
The equipment I’d suggest is a pair of Keen Kukri’s, like “Messenger Blades” (+3 enhancement, keen). Also, considering it’s low will save, try and get something that gives “Immunity: Mind-affecting spells”. After that, just buff it's dexterity (higher priority) and intelligence as much as possible.
Strengths: -Can dish out healthy amounts of damage with both improved criticals and Death attack combined - average 45.5 Sneak + 25.5 Critical from a mundane Kukri.
-Using Keen weapons - has a critical percentage of 55% (assuming you hit them).
-High AC possibility with the right equipment (best I could get was 71 in HotU), Hide, Move Silently, UMD, Search, and Discipline skills.
-Total Initiative bonus of +17
-Moderate amount of HP for an assassin build
Weaknesses: -Will save is terrible.
-Has an almost impossible time against constructs, pale masters (undead as a whole), a handful of demons, and anything else with critical immunity.
-Has no ability to detect hidden enemies.
-Lacks evasion, improved evasion, epic dodge, and Hide in plain cheese that most assassin builds are renowned for.
-Due to size, the largest thing it can knock over is a Grey Render.
Any comments? Suggestions?
Edited at builders request. Grim
Edited By Grimnir77 on 06/15/06 01:54
Get's an okay dual-wielding AB and doable Death attack DC. The weapon master do still cause it to be majorly feat-starved, but since you want Weapon master in it, there's not much to do about that, except giving up a few Assassin levels.
As for your trouble's vs sneak/crit immune, that's what UMD and trap-setting skills(Which you do not have) are for. To get IKD, you must take KD as feat from among the feats listed at lvl 21 and 24. That means you can choose 1 of 3 feats at the other lvl.
All in all a nice build, though a bit feat-starved and it lacks trap-skills. _________________ 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.
Quote: Posted 06/15/06 02:22:30 (GMT) -- Grimnir77 To get IKD, you must take KD as feat from among the feats listed at lvl 21 and 24. That means you can choose 1 of 3 feats at the other lvl.
When I said
Quote: *Use any of the following feats, depending on your playing preference(no specific order is necessary):
I actually meant "Pick one of the following feats:" with the intention that the build would have all 4 of those feats before level 33.
As for things immune to crits, I find that my best bet is to have good weapons (preferably with an elemental damage), cast darkness (so that I theoretically have an advantage), and keep knocking them down.
I'll agree with you about it being feat starved though. considering it only has room for 1-2 extra feats at most (3 if you don't mind losing improved critical - reducing your crit % to 40%).
EDIT: Spelling.
Edited By Big Meph on 06/15/06 02:34
Interesting build Meph. I'd highly recommend dumping the exotic feat and going with daggers though. I realize your crit range will be narrower, but you'll open a pre-epic feat and you're using 3 of your epic choices for pre-epic feats, which is a shame, as there are a number of useful epic feats you could use in this build:
Epic Prowess Epic Will Armor Skin
You could also then move Finesse a bit earlier, which would give you a much better AB (it's rather gimped until level 9 as the build stands now).
Quote: Posted 06/15/06 03:20:09 (GMT) -- Cinnabar Din
Interesting build Meph. I'd highly recommend dumping the exotic feat and going with daggers though. I realize your crit range will be narrower, but you'll open a pre-epic feat and you're using 3 of your epic choices for pre-epic feats, which is a shame, as there are a number of useful epic feats you could use in this build:
Epic Prowess Epic Will Armor Skin
You could also then move Finesse a bit earlier, which would give you a much better AB (it's rather gimped until level 9 as the build stands now).
Gimped... now THAT's a word I haven't heard in a while (although no less accurate). Originally when considering this build, I chose Kukri's purely for the crit. range (and size).
Theoretically, not taking Improved critical: Kukri, would have the same effect as using regular daggers (same damage, threat range, and same no. of spare feats). The only exception being that the extra feat could be taken earlier.
In most respects, he'd probably be better off being a human instead (although doing that would have almost made this build an EXACT copy of Death Becomes you). More skill points could be used to actually have spot/listen, knockdown size, the extra feat would have made it more playable (especially near the start)...
I've forgotten what my point was , but thanks for the advice none the less.
Quote: Posted 06/15/06 02:33:09 (GMT) -- Big Meph
When I said
Quote: *Use any of the following feats, depending on your playing preference(no specific order is necessary):
I actually meant "Pick one of the following feats:" with the intention that the build would have all 4 of those feats before level 33.
Sorry, didn't read thorough enough, I saw only two slots.
Quote: Posted 06/15/06 03:20:09 (GMT) -- Cinnabar Din
Interesting build Meph. I'd highly recommend dumping the exotic feat and going with daggers though. I realize your crit range will be narrower, but you'll open a pre-epic feat and you're using 3 of your epic choices for pre-epic feats, which is a shame
Actually, he is using 5 epic for pre-epics. WS and IKD.
Quote: Posted 06/15/06 11:19:03 (GMT) -- Big Meph
Theoretically, not taking Improved critical: Kukri, would have the same effect as using regular daggers (same damage, threat range, and same no. of spare feats). The only exception being that the extra feat could be taken earlier.
Only if you can find keen weapons. If not, dagger with imp crit actually beat kukri's. _________________ Dragonlance ROH is back, better than before! and I spend a little time here WoG
Theoretically, not taking Improved critical: Kukri, would have the same effect as using regular daggers (same damage, threat range, and same no. of spare feats). The only exception being that the extra feat could be taken earlier.
Only if you can find keen weapons. If not, dagger with imp crit actually beat kukri's.
Ahhh! I can't believe I forgot that! I've been playing HotU for so long, I work under the assumption that I always have keen weapons.
, but thanks for the advice none the less.
