LEVELING GUIDE 01: Fighter(1): Weapon Proficiency Exotic, Ambidexterity 02: Bard(1) 03: Fighter(2): Weapon Finesse, Two-Weapon Fighting 04: Fighter(3): DEX+1, (DEX=19) XP PENALTY 20% from now on 05: Fighter(4): Weapon Focus: Kukri 06: Fighter(5): Weapon Specialization: Kukri 07: Bard(2) 08: Fighter(6): DEX+1, Knockdown, (DEX=20) 09: Fighter(7): Improved Critical: Kukri 10: Fighter(8): Improved Two-Weapon Fighting 11: Fighter(9) 12: Bard(3): DEX+1, Improved Knockdown, (DEX=21) 13: Pale Master(1) 14: Pale Master(2) 15: Fighter(10): Blind Fight, Dodge 16: Pale Master(3): DEX+1, {Darkvision}, (DEX=22) 17: Pale Master(4) 18: Fighter(11): Expertise 19: Fighter(12): Improved Expertise 20: Pale Master(5): DEX+1, (DEX=23) 21: Pale Master(6): Epic Weapon Focus: Kukri 22: Pale Master(7) 23: Pale Master(8) 24: Pale Master(9): DEX+1, Epic Prowess, (DEX=24) 25: Pale Master(10) 26: Pale Master(11) 27: Pale Master(12): Great Dexterity I, (DEX=25) 28: Pale Master(13): DEX+1, Epic Energy Resistance: Fire I, (DEX=26) 29: Pale Master(14) 30: Pale Master(15): Epic Spell: Epic Mage Armor 31: Pale Master(16): Epic Spell: Epic Warding 32: Pale Master(17): DEX+1, (DEX=27) 33: Pale Master(18): Great Dexterity II, (DEX=28) 34: Pale Master(19): Epic Spell: Hellball 35: Pale Master(20) 36: Pale Master(21): DEX+1, Great Dexterity III, (DEX=30) 37: Pale Master(22): Epic Energy Resistance: Acid I 38: Pale Master(23) 39: Pale Master(24): Great Dexterity IV, (DEX=31) 40: Bard(4): DEX+1, (DEX=32)
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AC
AC naked: 43
Add Epic Mage Armor to that for 63, then a full dex boost for 69, a pair of +5 Sun Souls for 74, and a suit of +5 Shining Hand robes for 79. Then throw on Improved Expertise and Mage Armor from a scroll for a blistering 90 AC at the cost of some AB.
AB
AB 1st hand: 39/34/29/34 AB 2nd hand: 39/34
With max dex boost, and a +5 Kukri in each hand, this would be:
AB 1st hand: 50/45/40/45 AB 2nd hand: 50/45
Which isn't too shabby for dual-wielding, especially for a corner sneaker, and it could be made even higher with spells from scrolls (bless, aid, battletide, for example), or by cutting down on the PM levels and going for more fighter levels pre-epic. To be honest, his AB could be better, but it's tough when dealing with two classes that aren't in the 1st BAB tier, and an entire character that doesn't have access to some of the AB enhancing spells (like clerics or paladins do, for example)
SKILLS
Heal 3(2), Hide 43(54), Move Silently 43(54), Perform 14(12), Spellcraft 40(43), Tumble 40(51), UMD 41(40) (I know I bumped up UMD to 40 which isn't really necessary, but you never know.)
I've seen plenty of PM builds that are completely useless AB wise. They stand at the front lines, swinging away hopelessly. While they don't get hit thanks to their ridiculous AC, they don't do much good in battle either. How to remedy this? I made a dex based PM, dual-kukri user for more crits = damage. While he doesn't have any form of sneak attack, I designed him for corner sneaking anyway, as he'll technically do more damage that way, since he'll be working against mostly flat footed opponents, which means he'll hit more = do more damage. I debated going the strength route with him and aiming for Dev Crit, but from what I've gathered that's a rather common build, so I stuck with this guy. Tell me what you think.
Bromium: Edited title to include Class and Level layout)
Edited By Kail Pendragon on 11/30/07 13:49
Quote: I've seen plenty of PM builds that are completely useless AB wise. They stand at the front lines, swinging away hopelessly. While they don't get hit thanks to their ridiculous AC, they don't do much good in battle either. How to remedy this? I made a dex based PM, dual-kukri user for more crits = damage.
Uhmm, yeah, but how much damage are you actually going to deal with a crit? Weapon Specialization is effectively reduced to +1 damage only since you have negative STR modifier, and you didn't even take EWS. How will you deal with crit immune enemies?
And you also didn't mention the Exp penalty at level 4 onwards.
Quote: AB 1st hand: 39/34/29/34 AB 2nd hand: 39/34/29/34
That's two excess offhand attacks there. You only get 2 offhand tops.
STR route PMs were done because STR gives damage and PM levels already give AC. Think of it like this:
STR = damage + AB DEX = AB + AC (and you have too much of this two)
P.S. I'd take Wiz over Bard; you get better mileage from the heavy Palemaster investment.