The Skilled Swordsman (Fighter 10/Rogue 5/Weapon Master 25)

Playable from level 1-40
PvM or PvP

Race: Human
Alignment: Any

Starting (ending) Stats:

STR: 17 (32)
DEX: 13
CON: 12
WIS: 10
INT: 14
CHA: 8

Leveling:

01: Fighter 1, Weapon Prof Exotic, Weapon Focus (Bastard word), Dodge
02: Fighter 2, Mobility
03: Fighter 3, Expertise
04: Fighter 4, Spring Attack, STR +1 (STR=18)
05: Fighter 5
06: Fighter 6, Whirlwind Attack, Weapon Specialization (Bastard Sword)
07: Rogue 1
08: Weapon Master 1, Weapon of Choice (Bastard Sword), STR +1 (STR=19)
09: Weapon Master 2, Improved Critical (Bastard Sword)
10: Weapon Master 3
11: Weapon Master 4
12: Weapon Master 5, Knockdown, STR +1 (STR=20)
13: Weapon Master 6
14: Weapon Master 7
15: Fighter 7, Improved Knockdown
16: Weapon Master 8, STR +1 (STR=21)
17: Rogue 2
18: Weapon Master 9, Toughness
19: Weapon Master 10
20: Fighter 8, Blind Fight, STR +1 (STR=22)
21: Fighter 9, Epic Prowess
22: Weapon Master 11
23: Weapon Master 12
24: Weapon Master 13, Epic Weapon Focus (Bastard Sword), Great Str I, STR +1 (STR=24)
25: Fighter 10, Epic Weapon Specialization (Bastard Sword)
26: Weapon Master 14
27: Rogue 3, Armor Skin
28: Weapon Master 15, STR +1 (STR=25)
29: Weapon Master 16, Epic Toughness I
30: Weapon Master 17, Great Str II (STR=26)
31: Weapon Master 18
32: Rogue 4, STR +1 (STR=27)
33: Weapon Master 19, Great Str III, Epic Toughness II (STR=28)
34: Weapon Master 20
35: Weapon Master 21
36: Weapon Master 22, Great Str IV, Epic Toughness III, STR +1 (STR=30)
37: Rogue 5
38: Weapon Master 23
39: Weapon Master 24, Great Str V (STR=31)
40: Weapon Master 25, Epic Toughness IV, STR +1 (STR=32)


Equipment (Regular, Non-magical):
Tower Shield, Full Plate
Bastard Sword

AC: 32
HP: 540

AB: +50/+45/+40/+35
Damage: 1-10 + 17 (Critical: 15-20 / x3)

Sneak Attack (+3d6)

Saves:

Fort: 20
Reflex: 23
Will: 15

Skills:

Discipline 54
Tumble 41
UMD 39

The 114 unused skill points can be used for whatever
you think is most needed. I recommend that you put
19 or 20 points each in search, spot, listen,
lore, and open lock. The skill points should be
used when you take Rogue levels, of course.

01: Discipline +4, Heal +4
02: Discipline +1
03: Discipline +1
04: Discipline +1
05: Discipline +1
06: Discipline +1
07: Intimidate +4, Tumble +10, UMD +10 (19 unused skill points)
08: Discipline +2
09: Discipline +1
10: Discipline +1
11: Discipline +1
12: Discipline +1
13: Discipline +1
14: Discipline +1
15: Discipline +1
16: Discipline +1
17: Tumble +10, UMD +10 (45 unused skill points)
18: Discipline +2
19: Discipline +1
20: Discipline +1
21: Discipline +1
22: Discipline +1
23: Discipline +1
24: Discipline +1
25: Discipline +1
26: Discipline +1
27: Tumble +10, UMD +10 (72 unused skill points)
28: Discipline +2
29: Discipline +1
30: Discipline +1
31: Discipline +1
32: Tumble +5, UMD +5 (89 unused skill points)
33: Discipline +2
34: Discipline +1
35: Discipline +1
36: Discipline +1
37: Tumble +5, UMD +5 (103 unused skill points)
38: Discipline +2
39: Discipline +1
40: Discipline +1 (114 unused skill points)


Fixed format - Kail Pendragon

Edited By Kail Pendragon on 06/26/06 19:56

In the future please use the format in the sticky at the top of the forum... or look at most of the other posts here for an example. Leave the skill information out of the build's line-by-line, particularly, it makes it really hard to read

Suggestions -

1 - Be a dwarf. You have extra skillpoints and you don't need charisma. You'll gain hitpoints, saving throw bonuses, and a nice suite of other racial bonuses.

2 - Consider dropping str to 16 at the start. Not critically necessary as raising dex to 14 is wasted in a plate build, but it will give you the chance to raise con by 2 as well. A great strength feat will be freed up, consider putting it towards saving throws (epic fortitude, IMO).

3 - Consider doing other things to make your saves better. Your will save is a lost cause but fort and reflex aren't. If you switch from using an exotic weapon to using a martial weapon (say, scimitar), you'll free up a preepic feat that you can put a saving throw feat into.

4 - You're taking epic toughnesses that you shouldn't. You can get a bit more out of your build if you change Epic Prowess and Armor Skin from character feat levels to WM bonus feat levels and take Great Strength in their place. Anywhere you see an epic toughness you should look for a way to replace it with something better.

Overall a good WM build. With a little tuning like this he'll be quite fearsome.
_________________
Experience is the mother of good judgement; bad judgement is the father of experience.
Quote: Posted 06/26/06 17:54:23 (GMT) -- Xylophone

1 - Be a dwarf.

Best advice you've ever given. I think I'll sig it.
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Quote: Posted 06/26/06 18:27:45 (GMT) -- grizzled_dwarflord

Quote: Posted 06/26/06 17:54:23 (GMT) -- Xylophone

1 - Be a dwarf.

Best advice you've ever given. I think I'll sig it.

It'd be an honor to be sigged by the Dwarflord himself!
_________________
Experience is the mother of good judgement; bad judgement is the father of experience. Format was fixed for readability issues. Please keep the skill by lvl listing separate from the general leveling guide (the one with classes, feats and stat bumps). To get an idea of what I mean take a look at the posts of our most experienced builders.

I'd actually go with WM 28/Rogue 2 and get a second weapon of choice probably. Bastard sword (style issues apart for some) is no big improvement on longsword and the latter are more common/better usually. I'd probably go with battleaxe or warhammer though, for the higher crit multiplier. Heavy flail as a second weapon of choice wouldn't be a bad idea either.


Cheers,
Kail Drop WIS to 8 and get yourself 40 hitpoints, lad.
_________________
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: 
I'd actually go with WM 28/Rogue 2 and get a second weapon of choice probably. Bastard sword (style issues apart for some) is no big improvement on longsword and the latter are more common/better usually. I'd probably go with battleaxe or warhammer though, for the higher crit multiplier. Heavy flail as a second weapon of choice wouldn't be a bad idea either.

I went with more than 2 levels of Rogue because this build is playable from levels 1-40. You get +2 AC each time you take a Rogue level and add +10 to Tumble. Besides, someone already posted a Fighter 10/WM 28/Rogue 2.

The Bastard Sword is the best one-handed weapon for this build. A Bastard Sword does an average of 5.5 damage per non-critical hit. Compare that to the Longsword, Battleaxe, and Warhammer which all do an average of 4.5. If you include critical threat range, the Bastard Sword does an average of 8.8 damage per hit (threat range 15-20), while the Battleaxe and Warhammer average 7.2 (threat range 17-20).
Quote: Posted 06/28/06 00:08:47 (GMT) -- NolDrek

The Bastard Sword is the best one-handed weapon for this build. A Bastard Sword does an average of 5.5 damage per non-critical hit. Compare that to the Longsword, Battleaxe, and Warhammer which all do an average of 4.5. If you include critical threat range, the Bastard Sword does an average of 8.8 damage per hit (threat range 15-20), while the Battleaxe and Warhammer average 7.2 (threat range 17-20).

Are you serious? You truly argue that an average of one point more damage is worth getting Exotic Profiency for the Bastard Sword?
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Quote: Posted 06/28/06 00:18:04 (GMT) -- FinneousPJ

Quote: Posted 06/28/06 00:08:47 (GMT) -- NolDrek

The Bastard Sword is the best one-handed weapon for this build. A Bastard Sword does an average of 5.5 damage per non-critical hit. Compare that to the Longsword, Battleaxe, and Warhammer which all do an average of 4.5. If you include critical threat range, the Bastard Sword does an average of 8.8 damage per hit (threat range 15-20), while the Battleaxe and Warhammer average 7.2 (threat range 17-20).

Are you serious? You truly argue that an average of one point more damage is worth getting Exotic Profiency for the Bastard Sword?

Let's see, if I hit with all 4 attacks in a round (unbuffed, not hasted, no magic weapons) then with a Bastard Sword I can expect to do 35.2 points of damage. With the Battleaxe, I can expect to do 28.8 points of damage per round.

Am I serious? Yes. On a normal hit, no crit, it averages 1 more damage pr blow. Less than WS. Your calculations assume you crit on all your threats. You won't. They also assume you fight only low AC opponents. You won't. They also assume you are never fighting anyone with any DR, or ever get elemental damage in the weapon. These things all tip the scales in favour of the battleaxe. That aside, all you do is spend 1 feat for more 1 more average damage than the longsword. Might be worth it, might not. If you want it for style, that's fine. If you have nothing better to spend a feat for, thats fine too. But I will agree it's not worth it for power.
_________________
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. Is that AB naked or with a mundane bastard?
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"He was happily married.. but his wife wasn't"-Victor Borge
Quote: Posted 05/24/08 17:15 (GMT) -- Honer Nerd

Is that AB naked or with a mundane bastard?

That is with a mundane Bastard Sword equipped.