Undead Wall (Bard 10/Dwarven Defender 14/Pale Master 16)

This combo of classes is rare but interresting. It requries alignment change between neutral and lawful and back. I found only one build posted with this combo, Pale Defender /Bard 8/Palemaster 10/Dwarven Defender 22 by aardnebby. Undead Wall has many tactical differences so it is worth a post I think.

Undead Wall has more defenses at the cost of some base damage, and is using more spell buffs. This is a Dwarven Defender with epic spells and level 4 bard spells. He has epic taunt skill, maxed discipline and spellcraft and some UMD.

Race: Dwarf
Alignment: TN or NE
Starting Stats:

Str 15 (18)
Dex 12 (13)
Con 16 (21)
Wis 8
Int 14
Cha 12 (14)

Leveling:

01: Bard(1): Toughness
02: Bard(2)
03: Bard(3): Power Attack
04: Bard(4): DEX+1, (DEX=13)
05: Bard(5)
06: Bard(6): Dodge
07: Bard(7)
08: Pale Master(1): STR+1, (STR=16)
09: Bard(8): Cleave
10: Pale Master(2)
11: Dwarven Defender(1): {Defensive Stance}, *Alignment Change*
12: Dwarven Defender(2): CON+1, Weapon Proficiency Exotic, {Defensive Awareness I}, (CON=17)
13: Dwarven Defender(3)
14: Dwarven Defender(4)
15: Dwarven Defender(5): Weapon Focus: Dwarven Waraxe
16: Dwarven Defender(6): CON+1, (CON=18)
17: Dwarven Defender(7)
18: Dwarven Defender(8): Improved Critical: Dwarven Waraxe
19: Dwarven Defender(9)
20: Dwarven Defender(10): CON+1, (CON=19)
21: Pale Master(3): Epic Weapon Focus: Dwarven Waraxe
22: Pale Master(4)
23: Pale Master(5)
24: Pale Master(6): CON+1, Epic Prowess, (CON=20)
25: Pale Master(7)
26: Pale Master(8)
27: Pale Master(9): Great Strength I, (STR=17)
28: Pale Master(10): CON+1, (CON=21)
29: Pale Master(11)
30: Pale Master(12): Epic Damage Reduction I
31: Pale Master(13): Epic Energy Resistance: Fire I
32: Pale Master(14): CHA+1, (CHA=13)
33: Pale Master(15): Epic Damage Reduction II
34: Dwarven Defender(11)
35: Dwarven Defender(12)
36: Pale Master(16): CHA+1, Epic Spell: Epic Mage Armor, Epic Spell: Epic Warding, (CHA=14)
37: Dwarven Defender(13)
38: Dwarven Defender(14): Epic Damage Reduction III
39: Bard(9): Epic Skill Focus: Taunt, *Alignment Change*
40: Bard(10): STR+1, (STR=18)

* option: Replace epic skill focus: Taunt with another CON+ for 40 more HP, But I think a more reliable taunt is all over the best choise.

Skillpoints 198:
Base (modified)
Discipline 43 (47)
Perform 13 (15)
Spellcraft 40 (42)
Taunt 43 (55)
Tumble 40 (41)
UMD 19 (21)

01: Discipline(4), Perform(4), Spellcraft(4), Taunt(4), UMD(4), Save(4),
02: Discipline(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Taunt(1), Tumble(5), UMD(1),
03: Discipline(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Taunt(1), UMD(1), Save(1),
04: Discipline(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Taunt(1), UMD(1), Save(2),
05: Discipline(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Taunt(1), UMD(1), Save(3),
06: Discipline(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Taunt(1), UMD(1), Save(4),
07: Discipline(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Taunt(1), Tumble(5), UMD(1),
08: Spellcraft(1), Save(3),
09: Discipline(2), Perform(2), Spellcraft(1), Taunt(2), UMD(2),
10: Spellcraft(1), Save(3),
11: Discipline(2), Save(5),
12: Discipline(1), Save(8),
13: Discipline(1), Save(11),
14: Discipline(1), Save(14),
15: Discipline(1), Save(17),
16: Discipline(1), Save(20),
17: Discipline(1), Save(23),
18: Discipline(1), Save(26),
19: Discipline(1), Save(29),
20: Discipline(1), Save(32),
21: Spellcraft(11), Save(25),
22: Spellcraft(1), Save(28),
23: Spellcraft(1), Save(31),
24: Spellcraft(1), Save(34),
25: Spellcraft(1), Save(37),
26: Spellcraft(1), Save(40),
27: Spellcraft(1), Save(43),
28: Spellcraft(1), Save(46),
29: Spellcraft(1), Save(49),
30: Spellcraft(1), Save(52),
31: Spellcraft(1), Save(55),
32: Spellcraft(1), Save(58),
33: Spellcraft(1), Save(61),
34: Discipline(14), Save(51),
35: Discipline(1), Save(54),
36: Spellcraft(3), Save(55),
37: Save(59),
38: Discipline(3), Save(60),
39: Discipline(1), Perform(1), Spellcraft(1), Taunt(30), Tumble(30), UMD(3),
40: Discipline(1), Taunt(1), UMD(4),

Equipment: Dwarven Waraxe, Full Plate, Tower shield

Offense:
BAB: 27
Base AB and DMG:
+35/+30/+25/+20 1d10 +4 (19-20 x3)
Use taunt DC 55, bard song, war cry, bull's strength, keen edge and greater magic weapon to buff.
Max AB/DAM: 35 + 6(taunt) + 2(Song) + 2(War cry) + 2(Bull's) + 3 (GWM) =
+50/+45/+40/+35 1d10 + 13 (17-20 x3)

Summons: 1 Ghoul King, 1 Skeletal Chieftain, 2 Wraiths
5 undead grafts DC 22 aginst will, and 1 death touch DC 20 against fortitude

Defense:
AC with mundane full plate and tower shield: 40
Buffed to 60 with epic mage armor for 10 hours.
Epic warding
Palemaster immunities
Damage reduction: 18/-
Fire resistance: 10/-
HP: 587 (maxed)
Cast improved invisibility, ghostly visage as defensive buffs.

Saves (fort/will/refl): 27/25/20
+10 vs spells, +1 vs traps, +2 vs poison
Buff with bard song and resistance cantrip. Saves are the weakest on this build so get a cloak of fortification and a ring of resistance

Any comments / suggestions to improve are as always welcome.


Added link - Kail Pendragon

Edited By Kail Pendragon on 09/17/06 07:00

I have been testing this guy for a while, and in my opinion he is overdefended. It seems that epic warding is not needed. I dont say epic warding is bad, but with 60 AC, critical and sneak immunity and 18/- DR, the epic warding for a few rounds is not improving him so much.

What he really need is some extra damage potensial, so taking an offensive epic spell instead is better I think. I have replaced epic warding with Hellball. Hellball can also be cast in full armor and shield. Another option is Greater Ruin.

Edited By blixen71 on 09/17/06 18:25

The only problem with hellball is, since you dont have alot of HP and if you dont have something equiped that gives you bonus's to repel Fire/sonic damage you will take a crapload of dammage, otherwize, I would take greater Ruin His charisma is too low to consider offensive spells. I like the combo, it is rather unique. The only draw back is the damage dealt, however using scrolls and a powerful magic weapon should prove enough. Exchange epic warding for Armour Skin for more ac, as you already have a high DR.

Edited By Jehoshua on 10/15/06 20:30