Angel of Redemption
Bard(26), Champion of Torm(10), Blackguard(4)
Human
1-40 PvM

One Alignment Change required during the life of the build
Starting Chaotic Evil and changing to Chaotic Neutral during 11th level

Surprisingly a unique mix in the guild, probably down to the alignment shift, but not unachievable.

Main aims were a meleer with very good saves, whilst sacrificing nothing from the usual melee and bard presence that is required (ie. KD/ IKD/ Blind Fight/ Metamagic, etc.). Whilst trying to activate Lasting Inspiration as early as possible.

Abilities:
STR: 16 (28)
DEX: 8
CON: 14
WIS: 8
INT: 14
CHA: 15 (16)

01: Bard(1): Power Attack, Luck of Heros
02: Bard(2)
03: Bard(3): Cleave
04: Bard(4): STR+1, (STR=17)
05: Bard(5)
06: Bard(6): Curse Song
07: Bard(7)
08: Bard(8): STR+1, (STR=18)
09: Blackguard(1): Extend Spell
10: Blackguard(2): {Smite Good}
11: Blackguard(3)
12: Blackguard(4): STR+1, Weapon Focus: Longsword, (STR=19)
13: Champion of Torm(1): *Alignment Change*
14: Champion of Torm(2): Knockdown
15: Champion of Torm(3): Still Spell, {Smite Evil}
16: Champion of Torm(4): STR+1, Improved Critical: Longsword, (STR=20)
17: Champion of Torm(5)
18: Champion of Torm(6): Toughness, Blind Fight
19: Champion of Torm(7)
20: Champion of Torm(8): STR+1, Improved Knockdown, (STR=21)
21: Champion of Torm(9): Epic Weapon Focus: Longsword
22: Bard(9)
23: Bard(10)
24: Bard(11): STR+1, Great Strength I, (STR=23)
25: Bard(12)
26: Bard(13)
27: Bard(14): Great Strength II, (STR=24)
28: Bard(15): CHA+1, (CHA=16)
29: Bard(16)
30: Bard(17): Epic Skill Focus: Perform
31: Bard(18)
32: Bard(19): STR+1, (STR=25)
33: Bard(20): Lasting Inspiration
34: Champion of Torm(10): Epic Prowess
35: Bard(21)
36: Bard(22): STR+1, Armor Skin, (STR=26)
37: Bard(23): Epic Will
38: Bard(24)
39: Bard(25): Great Strength III, (STR=27)
40: Bard(26): STR+1, Epic Skill Focus: Taunt, (STR=28)

Hitpoints: 416
Skillpoints: 273
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 33/31/31
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +9
BAB: 28
AB (max, naked): 41 (melee), 28 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane armor/shield only): 19/30

Skillset:
Concentration 43(45)
Discipline 43(52)
Hide 5(4)
Lore 1(29)
Perform 43(56)
Spellcraft 43(45)
Taunt 43(56)
Tumble 40(39)
UMD 14(17)

Very playable build throughout its life, but remains a little difficult during its early levels (1-8).

AB Calculation
28 BAB
1 Weapon Focus
2 Epic Weapon Focus
1 Epic Prowess
9 STR (Base)
6 STR (Capped)
2 Bard Song
2 War Cry
5 Greater Magic Weapon
56 Sub-Total

Not forgetting of course:
2 Curse Song
6 Taunt
come into play as well.

Lasting Inspiration reached by 33rd level
Acutal Perform ranks 56, required ranks 85 (difference of 29).
Unbuffed Bard Song is equivalent to that of a 21st level song.
Curse Song will hit 23rd level if sung whilst Bard song is underway
Major investment in Perform items is required here to maximise its potential.

One alignment change from evil to neutral required once reaching 11th level.

Unbuffed AB isn't bad at 41 with 4 APR and the ability to cast Haste to get 5 APR.
Effective AB (when including Bard/ Curse Song/ Taunt, etc.) is 64

Opted for longsword, primarily due to the increased base damage, and often better weapon choices available. Scimitar could be taken, but am a bit bored of that currently!

In a +5 environment AC should reach 68 fully buffed

Save Calculation

Base Save 33 F, 31 W, 31 R
Bard Song +2 F, +3 W, +2 R
War Cry +2 F, +2 W, +2 R
vs Spells +9 F, +9 W, +9 R
Divine Wrath (1x/ day) +5 F, +5 W, +5 R
Totals 51 F, 50 W, 50 R

Without items this char should save against any spell.

Some UMD ranks available late in the life of the build, this can be swapped with Concentration.

Dev Crit can be taken only at the loss of 1 AB/ 1 damage (ie. 2 x Great Strength Feats and dropping Luck of Heros for Great Cleave - albeit a bit of shifting of feats pre-epic to accommodate that, but doable)

As usual feedback is appreciated.

Edited By Grimnir77 on 05/17/09 15:02

Quote: Posted 09/27/06 20:48:37 (GMT) -- I...Samphus

AB Calculation
28 BAB
1 Weapon Focus
2 Epic Weapon Focus
1 Epic Prowess
9 STR (Base)
6 STR (Capped)
2 Bard Song
2 War Cry
5 Greater Magic Weapon
56 Sub-Total

Not forgetting of course:
2 Curse Song
6 Taunt
come into play as well.

Effective AB (when including Bard/ Curse Song/ Taunt, etc.) is 64


Actually the curse song effect would be -5 to AC not -2 making effective AB 67.

Well done melee bard. Saves are incredible. My only recommendation would be to increase UMD to get at least 25 ranks. This guy is just dying to use a holy avenger!
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answer the &%$#@& question. There seems to be an influx of things that are even more uber than normal builds.
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CATS! Thanks Highlander.. I should know better by now as well!

Nice catch anyway.

Another edit needed please with regard to the alignment change being required on 12th level, not as 11th as I stated in the intro. I like it, especially since I am revisiting my excessively lame Bard build to make it better. Mine probably won't look anything like this, but it's good to get ideas for common traits like the combat ability and spellcasting stuff. The alignment shift from CE to CN is entertaining.

Angel of Redemption: "I am EVIL!!!! I am the Archangel of death and destruction! I am the personification of evil! Oh, wait. Torm? Well, OK. I can take it or leave it then."


Just kidding. If you're going to change alignments it should be the shortest path possible, and Good/Evil is generally more shifty in mods than Law/Chaos. This is nice, and I like the subtlety that goes unheralded in the build. Namely, what is the drawback of the Bard class? Weapon choices. What fulfills that need? Blackguard. What is the drawback of CoT? No heavy armor. Again resolved by Blackguard.

Good synergy here that goes beyond Charisma. And one alignment change is gives him depth. Well done.
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Ariel, Ookla, RIDE! Well spotted Grizz, I had been wondering if that would be flagged or not.

I have been looking at the saves a bit more in depth and come up with some more interesting reading:

Save Calculation (VS. Spells)
(inc. Sacred Defense)
F. W. R.
33 31 31 Base Saves
06 06 06 Capped CHA (item/ spell)
02 03 02 Bard Song
02 02 02 War Cry
09 09 09 vs. Spells
03 03 03 vs Spells (Bard Song)
-- -- 01 Cats Grace (min)
55 54 54 TOTALS
05 05 05 Divine Wrath (1x/ day)
60 59 59 TOTALS

21 22 22 Total Buffed points (inc Sac Def and no Div Wr)
20 20 20 Actual additional limit

54 52 52 Final Totals (without Div Wr)

As you can see, self buffed this build far exceeds any spell dc requiring a save.

Save Calculation (VS. Non-Spells) (inc Sacred Defense)
F. W. R.
33 31 31 Base Saves
06 06 06 Capped CHA (item/ spell)
02 03 02 Bard Song
02 02 02 War Cry
-- -- 01 Cats Grace (min)
43 42 42 TOTALS
05 05 05 Divine Wrath (1x/ day)
48 47 47 TOTALS

With an item or two this could safely become 'immune' to situations with Dev Crit, Death Attack, etc. apart from the autofail on 1. Only a small bump is needed really.

So much so that there is merit in the idea for dropping Luck of Heros from the build.

Advantages

Sneak Attack 1d6
Stackable Bulls Strength (Bard and BG innate ability)
Blind Fight/ KD/ IKD
Smite Good (1x day) & Evil (1 x day)
High Bard Song (Base 20th level Bard, 23rd Curse Song - when Bard Song precedes it)
Potential of 26th level Bard & Curse Song
High Taunt DC (including CHA cap and Bard Song)
Lasting Inspiration
AB 41 unbuffed - Potential to hit 67 (when including Taunt and Curse Song)
Good saves and superb when self buffed
Divine Wrath (3 - 9 rounds duration)
Heavy Armor and Martial Weapon Proficiencies are free from BG (see Grizz's point)

Possible change:

1st Level: Change Luck of Heros for Cleave
3rd Level: Change Cleave for Extend Spell
9th Level: Change Extend Spell for Weapon Focus: Longsword
12th Level: Change Weapon Focus: Longsword for Divine Might

A fully buffed CHA gives a Divine Might value of +9, which can't hurt your damage output at all, considering you can get about 12 uses a day fully buffed of Turn Undead.

Thanks for the comments so far.

Edited By I...Samphus on 09/30/06 05:56