Xbow Exploit from Rapid Reload and Divine Power. TONS of spells, Improved Combat Casting for no AoO while casting (@ lvl 30). Improved Invis. Large amount of Discipline for a caster.
Cons: lowish hitpoints subject to Dev Crit/sneak
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I took Death Domain because of the automatic Shadow pet. He will tank while spells and bolts fly. It apparently grows stronger as the Cleric levels up. If that Shadow is useless, then you can take the domain of your choice here. You always have the option of using a summon to tank for you.
Trickery was taken for Improved Invisibility.
Bard was taken as a skill point dump and also a +1 AB/Damage for attacks with the xbow.
Druid was taken in order to increase the amount of damage type spells for this character. Call Lightning, Inferno, etc...
This is a good party buffer with very good range support.
I didn't take monk because I plan on using Full Plate.
I wanted a bit more STR than Dex because I have to walk around in Full Plate and carry a Large Xbow. I can always drink a Cat's Grace potion to nullify the -1 ac from low dex.
Combine Divine Might with Owl's Insight and Rapid Reload and you've got a nice xbower on your hands.
Buff up your Shadow pet, sing and let him loose.
AB @ level 20 is 14, but this actually good since you will be using Divine Might.
Low fortitude is an issue, so you will have to address that when it comes up.
Thoughts?
Added playability range - Grim
Edited By Grimnir77 on 03/07/07 19:04
I am curious why you went Bard over Monk, even with your mention of it. You'd net more AC if you dropped STR to 8 and DEX to 12 - and Divine Power would still buff your STR to 18.
Secondly, you mentioned Divine Might though but I assume you mean Divine Power, the spell?
Finally, I think dropping Max/Empower spell for Spell Pen./Greater Spell Pen. pre-epic, then picking up two Great Wisdom feats, or even Epic Fortitude and a skill focus feat would be more favorable.
Quote: Posted 03/02/07 20:56 (GMT) -- mantis3
I am curious why you went Bard over Monk, even with your mention of it. You'd net more AC if you dropped STR to 8 and DEX to 12 - and Divine Power would still buff your STR to 18.
Secondly, you mentioned Divine Might though but I assume you mean Divine Power, the spell?
Finally, I think dropping Max/Empower spell for Spell Pen./Greater Spell Pen. pre-epic, then picking up two Great Wisdom feats, or even Epic Fortitude and a skill focus feat would be more favorable.
poop, Yes, I meant Divine Power. I'm thinking one thing and typing another. blah.
I think Max/Empower are important feats to have since this character will be able to throw stronger damage dealing spells. Call Lightning, Blade Barrier, etc...
Monk is also a good substitute over bard. You gain a few points of AC and Evasion. You loose +1 AB/Damage for your missing song.
Please pm me or any other mod the what you think the playability range for this build is, and we'll do the edit. _________________ We are sons of Odin, and the fire that we burn inside is the legacy of warrior-kings who reign above in the sky I will lead the charge, my sword into the wind Sons of Odin fights to die and live again
Cool. Original.
Quote: Posted 03/02/07 20:03 (GMT) -- Bromium I took Death Domain because of the automatic Shadow pet. He will tank while spells and bolts fly. It apparently grows stronger as the Cleric levels up. If that Shadow is useless, then you can take the domain of your choice here. You always have the option of using a summon to tank for you.
Druids get some cool summons that can tank for you.
Quote: I didn't take monk because I plan on using Full Plate.
Why not use a sling and a tower shield if you're going to go armoured? Or does DP not work with a sling?
Quote: I wanted a bit more STR than Dex because I have to walk around in Full Plate and carry a Large Xbow. I can always drink a Cat's Grace potion to nullify the -1 ac from low dex.
You can cast Cat's Grace as a druid.
Edited By K U R T H on 03/03/07 12:50
Quote: Posted 03/03/07 12:50 (GMT) -- K U R T H
Quote: I wanted a bit more STR than Dex because I have to walk around in Full Plate and carry a Large Xbow. I can always drink a Cat's Grace potion to nullify the -1 ac from low dex.
You can cast Cat's Grace as a druid.
Actually druids don't get to cast cats grace.
But Clerics do.
Interesting, seems quite ok, I suppose you take Druid for Owl's Insight, granted, it's the best WIS buff in the game, but Druid isn't adding much to the build other than that, as for spells you'll need more DC, say, you could take a spell focus instead of Combat Casting, Improved Combat Casting and Epic Skill Focus.
Edited By Thaxll'ssyllia on 03/03/07 16:38
Quote: But Clerics do
My mistake, they don't unless you use Animal Domain.
I didn't take sling because of the Rapid Reload granting an Extra Attack. The whole Divine Power + Rapid Reload + Haste exploit (well kind of an exploit) giving you some greate AB's for your xbow. Read up on the xbow exploit (see Undead Xbow build).
I took wanted this build to have a TON of spells to choose from. As a Cleric AND Druid, with lots of Wisdom, he'she could be able to take a large quantity of damage dealing spells. Imagine how many Call Lightnings that can be taken! Regular, Empowered, Maximized. All that and you still have greate buffing with Cleric. No AoO when you cast either. Can't overcome their SR? Then sniper them with your xbow. Can't hit them with your xbow? Then nuke them with a spell.
So Druid was not taken just for insight. It was taken for Lots of spells that benefit from this high wisdom.
I didn't take sling because of the Rapid Reload granting an Extra Attack. The whole Divine Power + Rapid Reload + Haste exploit (well kind of an exploit) giving you some greate AB's for your xbow. Read up on the xbow exploit (see Undead Xbow build).
I took wanted this build to have a TON of spells to choose from. As a Cleric AND Druid, with lots of Wisdom, he'she could be able to take a large quantity of damage dealing spells. Imagine how many Call Lightnings that can be taken! Regular, Empowered, Maximized. All that and you still have greate buffing with Cleric. No AoO when you cast either. Can't overcome their SR? Then sniper them with your xbow. Can't hit them with your xbow? Then nuke them with a spell.
So Druid was not taken just for insight. It was taken for Lots of spells that benefit from this high wisdom.
Huh, you're overestimating Call Lighting, I've used dozens of Druids, and true spellpower isn't on that spell, the thing is, hipothetically, if you don't take Druid and go all Cleric you get bonus feats for spell focus feats or/and Great WIS, your Ice Storm will be stronger and you can focus for Implosion, Fire Storm or Storm of Vengeance (or any other, I like those spells), only 15 Druid won't get you spells that match in power, although it does gives a good amount of slots to last longer without rest. I'm not saying it's wrong to take Druid, and Owl's Insight is still awesome by itself, what I see is your crossbow will actually deal very low damage, you could take Fighter for EWS, and Druid isn't adding that much in this case... on another side, Bard could be changed for Fighter as well for damage, drop som Cleric or Druid for Fighter 4 or 6 and your xbow will deal much more.
Quote: Posted 03/04/07 13:19 (GMT) -- Bromium
I didn't take sling because of the Rapid Reload granting an Extra Attack. The whole Divine Power + Rapid Reload + Haste exploit (well kind of an exploit) giving you some greate AB's for your xbow. Read up on the xbow exploit (see Undead Xbow build).
Your (unbuffed?) ranged AB is 35. What attack table (AB/AB/AB...) did you get when you tested your build with all buffs up?
Do you have a link to the "Undead Xbow build"? _________________ The curve is more powerful than the sword -- BG courtesan
I don't have the stats of the ingame buffed build, I'll try to get those to you when I have some game time.
Here is that link
Undead Xploit Xbow (Wizard 15/Palemaster 16/Cleric 9) It's a build by Volcano.
Click Here
Another reason for taking Bard that nobody's brought up yet... Use Magic Device. A powerhouse by itself, allowing the use of some nifty arcane scrolls, I do believe. Mage Armor anyone?
Also, someone mentioned that Monk adds a few AC due to the WIS bonus... with only 26 base WIS, it seems to me a Full Plate is the better option, especially in light of Use Magic Device.
People don't usually cross Cleric and Druid because of the spell overlap, but you seem to have capitalized on the strengths such a combo offers - many more spell slots and WIS synergy. Casterlevels aren't so incredibly important, since you plan on flinging tons of basic damage spells willy-nilly. Seems like a fun build to play, and the large amount of buffs it offers will be a great boon to any party.
A few last little suggestions. Swap ESP for ESF: Evocation. You want to beat saves, not SR, with that many Cleric levels. Take Extra Music instead of the epic skill focus - discipline is high enough and your 1-song-a-day is a very shallow and short-lasting AB buff; 5x/day is way better. Finally, some domain tweaks: Cat's Grace will not help you in a Full Plate, so take Magic domain over Death Domain, for Mage Armor and Ice Storm. With Ice Storm, you could even leave ESP in if you want, since you can max it with no save!
Also, someone mentioned that Monk adds a few AC due to the WIS bonus... with only 26 base WIS, it seems to me a Full Plate is the better option, especially in light of Use Magic Device.
A few last little suggestions. Swap ESP for ESF: Evocation. You want to beat saves, not SR, with that many Cleric levels. Take Extra Music instead of the epic skill focus - discipline is high enough and your 1-song-a-day is a very shallow and short-lasting AB buff; 5x/day is way better. Finally, some domain tweaks: Cat's Grace will not help you in a Full Plate, so take Magic domain over Death Domain, for Mage Armor and Ice Storm. With Ice Storm, you could even leave ESP in if you want, since you can max it with no save!
The monk would add evasion, and with a +8 base wisdom mod, that's quite a bit of AC. Not to mention, empowered Owl's Wisdom would help some, and if you figure on wearing a wisdom amulet (since barskin is an available buff), it adds up. UMD is far less important IMO than AC + evasion.
Dropping extra music for ESF: Discipline is a bad idea, as +1 AB for 10 rounds 5x per day isn't too helpful won't help against opponents who can KD you left and right.
And I'd keep ESP as 24 Cleric levels won't beat any high level monk's SR(even with ESP, beating SR tuned monks is out of the question).
Edit: I now realize that he does not have Spell Pen./Greater Spell Pen. (as I suggested in my first post), so ESP is out of the question, anyways.
