This is basically a build that takes advantage of the 16th Bard level song, the 10 SD levels required for Epic Dodge, and the nice bonus feats from Fighter.

It did well in melee, and was nearly unbeatable by the typical strength based WM when buffed, and still won 7/10 unbuffed (singing after the start/shadow evade.) Here goes:

Elf, Any non-Lawful
Playable PvP/PvM 1-40

Strength 10
Dexterity 18(32)
Constitution 12
Intelligence 14
Wisdom 8
Charisma 14


1 Bard 1: Curse Song
2 Fighter 1: Weapon Finesse
3 Fighter 2: Weapon Focus: Rapier, Toughness
4 Fighter 3: DEX 19
5 Fighter 4: Weapon Specialization: Rapier
6 Bard 2: Lingering Song
7 Bard 3:
8 Bard 4: DEX 20
9 Bard 5: Still Spell
10 Bard 6:
11 Bard 7:
12 Bard 8: DEX 21, Mobility
13 Fighter 5:
14 Fighter 6: Improved Criticals: Rapier
15 Fighter 7: Knockdown
16 Bard 9: DEX 22
17 Bard 10:
18 Fighter 8: Dodge, Great Fortitude
19 Bard 11:
20 Bard 12: DEX 23
21 SD 1: Great DEX I
22 SD 2:
23 SD 3:
24 SD 4: DEX 25, Great DEX II
25 SD 5:
26 SD 6:
27 SD 7: Epic Fortitude (could be replaced on a non-dev crit server)
28 SD 8: DEX 27
29 SD 9:
30 SD 10: Epic Dodge
31 Fighter 9:
32 Fighter 10: DEX 28, Epic Weapon Focus: Rapier
33 Fighter 11: Great DEX III
34 Fighter 12: Armor Skin
35 Fighter 13:
36 Fighter 14: DEX 30, Epic Weapon Spec.: Rapier, Epic Prowess
37: Bard 13:
38: Bard 14:
39: Bard 15: Great DEX IV
40: Bard 16: DEX 32

Skill Points:
Concentration: 43(44)
Discipline: 43
Hide: 10(21)
Listen: 40(39)
Move Silently: 8(19)
Perform: 25(27)
Taunt: 43(45)
Tumble: 40(51)

Bard Spells Known:
0-4
1-5
2-4
3-4
4-4
5-0
6-0

Spells Per Day:
0-4
1-5
2-5
3-3
4-3

Combat Vitals:
AC Naked: 31
AB Naked: 39, Mundane Rapier: 42/37/32/27
With Bard Song:
35 AC naked, + Shadow Evade(for 4 more)
44 AB with mundane Rapier, +2 from Warcry, +5 from GMW.

AC with +5 gear, maxed Dexterity, Bard Song, Mage Armor, Haste and Shadow Evade: 78 (+ Epic Dodge)
AB with +5 Rapier, maxed Dexterity, Bard Song, and War Cry: 57(Plus Curse Song and Taunt, for essentially 68)

Damage:
1-6 + 12(with maxed STR)
+3 Bludgeoning(Bard Song)
+5 Piercing(GMW)
+2 Slashing(War Cry)
Plus any Elemental damage/bonus damage from Rapier.

Saves, mundane with Bard Song:
Fortitude: 29
Reflex: 33
Will: 21(plus Slippery Mind)

HPs:
14x12:168
16x8:128
10x10:100
=
396 base HPs, + Bard Song

Pros:
High AC
Epic Dodge
Good Saves, Improved Evasion, and Slippery Mind
Good AB
Good Damage for a Dex-based Melee
Level 4 Bard Buffs (Improved Invisibilty, etc.)

Cons:
Lowish HPs
Low Discipline
Low Hide/Move Silently does not take advantage of HiPS
Short Duration on buffs

Critics welcome and encouraged

P.S., sorry for the sloppy formatting, it's late here and don't feel like perfecting it.

Edited By Kail Pendragon on 10/10/07 14:29

I'd trade 4 levels of Fighter for 4 of Bard, then drop Epic Fortitude and a pair Great Dex feats and pick up Lasting Inspiration. Bard/Curse Song lasting 10 times longer is invaluable.
Quote: Posted 01/02/07 07:33 (GMT) -- Nimueh_Leafbow

I'd trade 4 levels of Fighter for 4 of Bard, then drop Epic Fortitude and a pair Great Dex feats and pick up Lasting Inspiration. Bard/Curse Song lasting 10 times longer is invaluable.

Epic Fortitude was needed, because I play on a server with devastating criticals. I'd consider it, but can normally beat most but dexxers before the song ends - and my AC was high enough that singing those extra times didn't give them any chance to hit me, for the most part. Granted, Lasting Inspiration is great for partying.

That said, I'll likely mess around with that suggestion, and see if I can come up with good enough AB/AC still. Why not get 30 Perform to gain the benefits of lvl16 Bard Song
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Quote: Posted 01/02/07 14:17 (GMT) -- FinneousPJ

Why not get 30 Perform to gain the benefits of lvl16 Bard Song

Because as far as I know, it's only 25 but I might have read wrong. The manual lies. It's 30.
Quote: Posted 01/02/07 21:22 (GMT) -- Nimueh_Leafbow

The manual lies. It's 30.

Ahh, okay. This explains much

Thanks for the replies. If you're so concerned about your Fort save then change race for Halfing and drop STR (or even maybe INT) for CON.

You get 20% XP penalty at most levels btw, but you can't get rid of it in epic levels since you try to get Epic Dodge soon.

Interesting, it seems preety nice, although it doesn't fits in my brain to consider that as a good damage output.