Revenge of the Scythe: Fighter(16), Weapon Master(22), Bard(2)

Playable 1-40 PvM, ...PvP maybe

Inspired by:
Master of Melee v2

This build is designed to integrate the power of the Scythe with the high AB and crit bonuses of Weapon Master. The build is heavy on STR with a two-handed weapon for extra damage even with normal attacks. The combination of Great Cleave, Overwhelming Crit, and a 5x crit multiplier can help you make fast work of a mob of enemies. Even without criticals your damage output is fairly high, and you have the AB to be able to use abilities like Improved Knockdown, Improved Expertise, and Power Attack.

I do not include Devastating Crit in this build as a personal choice, as I am not a big fan of the feat, and I know there are lots of places where it is banned. But there is room in the build to add it in.

Bard levels are chosen for the skilldumps in UMD, Tumble, and Spellcraft. Had I chosen to take more than 2 levels of this, I would probably have taken Rogue instead for the sneak attack, but at only 2 levels I felt that the spell saves from spellcraft would be most beneficial to this build.

Advantages
+ High Damage, Amazing Crits
+ High AB (max 77 AB buffed)
+ lots of feats
+ room for Dev Crit if desired
+ UMD, Tumble and Spellcraft

Disadvantages
- Low saves
- Low health for a melee build
- Only skill dumps are at 22 and 40




Fighter(16), Weapon Master(22), Bard(2)
Human, any non lawful



ABILITIES (ending)
STR: 17 (34)
DEX: 13
CON: 14
WIS: 8
INT: 14
CHA: 8


BASIC STATS
Hitpoints: 472
Skillpoints: 219

Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 22/15/21
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +9

BAB: 30
AB (max, naked): 51 (melee), 32 (ranged)

AC (naked/full plate): 21/29


SKILLS
Discipline 43(55), Intimidate 4(3), Perform 7(6), Spellcraft 43(45), Tumble 40(41), UMD 41(40), remaining skillpoints 37


LEVELING GUIDE
Human: (Quick to Master)
01: Fighter(1): Blind Fight, Dodge, Weapon Proficiency Exotic
02: Fighter(2): Expertise
03: Fighter(3): Weapon Focus: Scythe
04: Fighter(4): STR+1, Mobility, (STR=18)
05: Fighter(5)
06: Fighter(6): Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack
07: Weapon Master(1): Weapon of Choice: Scythe
08: Fighter(7): STR+1, (STR=19)
09: Fighter(8): Weapon Specialization: Scythe, Improved Critical: Scythe
10: Weapon Master(2)
11: Weapon Master(3)
12: Weapon Master(4): STR+1, Knockdown, (STR=20)
13: Weapon Master(5): {Increased Multiplier, Superior Weapon Focus}
14: Weapon Master(6)
15: Weapon Master(7): Improved Knockdown, {KI Critical}
16: Fighter(9): STR+1, (STR=21)
17: Fighter(10): Power Attack
18: Fighter(11): Cleave
19: Fighter(12): Great Cleave
20: Weapon Master(8): STR+1, (STR=22)
21: Weapon Master(9): Great Strength I, (STR=23)
22: Bard(1): {Bard Song, Bardic Knowledge}
23: Weapon Master(10)
24: Weapon Master(11): STR+1, Great Strength II, (STR=25)
25: Weapon Master(12)
26: Weapon Master(13): Epic Weapon Focus: Scythe, {Epic Superior Weapon Focus}
27: Fighter(13): Great Strength III, (STR=26)
28: Fighter(14): STR+1, Epic Weapon Specialization: Scythe, (STR=27)
29: Weapon Master(14)
30: Weapon Master(15): Great Strength IV, (STR=28)
31: Weapon Master(16): Overwhelming Critical: Scythe
32: Weapon Master(17): STR+1, (STR=29)
33: Weapon Master(18): Great Strength V, (STR=30)
34: Weapon Master(19): Epic Prowess
35: Weapon Master(20)
36: Weapon Master(21): STR+1, Great Strength VI, (STR=32)
37: Weapon Master(22): Armor Skin
38: Fighter(15)
39: Fighter(16): Great Strength VII, Improved Expertise*, (STR=33)
40: Bard(2): STR+1, (STR=34)

* Optional feat choice


SKILLS BY LEVEL GUIDE
01: Discipline(4), Intimidate(2), Save(12),
02: Discipline(1), Save(16),
03: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Save(18),
04: Discipline(1), Save(22),
05: Discipline(1), Intimidate(1), Save(24),
06: Discipline(1), Save(28),
07: Discipline(1), Save(32),
08: Discipline(1), Save(36),
09: Discipline(1), Save(40),
10: Discipline(1), Save(44),
11: Discipline(1), Save(48),
12: Discipline(1), Save(52),
13: Discipline(1), Save(56),
14: Discipline(1), Save(60),
15: Discipline(1), Save(64),
16: Discipline(1), Save(68),
17: Discipline(1), Save(72),
18: Discipline(1), Save(76),
19: Discipline(1), Save(80),
20: Discipline(1), Save(84),
21: Discipline(1), Save(88),
22: Discipline(1), Perform(4), Spellcraft(25), Tumble(25), UMD(25), Save(15),
23: Discipline(1), Save(19),
24: Discipline(1), Save(23),
25: Discipline(1), Save(27),
26: Discipline(1), Save(31),
27: Discipline(1), Save(35),
28: Discipline(1), Save(39),
29: Discipline(1), Save(43),
30: Discipline(1), Save(47),
31: Discipline(1), Save(51),
32: Discipline(1), Save(55),
33: Discipline(1), Save(59),
34: Discipline(1), Save(63),
35: Discipline(1), Save(67),
36: Discipline(1), Save(71),
37: Discipline(1), Save(75),
38: Discipline(1), Save(79),
39: Discipline(1), Save(83),
40: Discipline(1), Perform(3), Spellcraft(18), Tumble(15), UMD(16), Save(37),



Mundane Scythe [critical]
Damage: 2-8 [10-40]
+ 18 [90] STR mod
+ 2 [10] WS mod
+ 4 [20] EWS mod
+ [4-24] OC mod
------------
= 26-32 [134-184]


Attack Bonus: 30 BAB
+ 12 STR mod
+ 1 WF
+ 2 EWF
+ 5 ESWF
+ 1 EP
------------
= 51


Mundane Scythe + 12 ability STR [critical]
Damage: 2-8 [10-40]
+ 27 [135] STR mod
+ 2 [10] WS mod
+ 4 [20] EWS mod
+ [4-24] OC mod
------------
= 35-41 [179-229]

Attack Bonus: 30 BAB
+ 18 STR mod
+ 1 WF
+ 2 EWF
+ 5 ESWF
+ 1 EP
------------
= 57

+ 20 Truestrike scroll
------------
= 77 Max AB


Armor Class:
+ 10 Base
+ 8 Full Plate
+ 8 Tumble
+ 1 DEX mod
+ 2 Armor Skin
------------
= 29



COMMENTS

- Damage can be futher increased by Bard Song and scrolls such as Divine Favor and Darkfire Weapon

- A Keen scythe is extremely vauluable for this build bringing the critical threat range to 16-20/x5.

- With your high AB, make use of Expertise or Improved Expertise to augment your shield-less AC on hard hitting opponents. Use Power Attack to clear out weaker enemies even faster!

- The final Fighter bonus feat is an entirely optional choice. I chose Improved Expertise here, but you could also go with Toughness, Disarm, Dev Crit, Improved Power Attack, or even Epic Skill Focus.


Format tweaking and AC correction - Kail Pendragon

Edited By Kail Pendragon on 08/14/08 20:14

Quote: Posted 08/13/08 21:23 (GMT) -- Scargoth

- The final Fighter bonus feat is an entirely optional choice. I chose Improved Expertise here, but you could also go with Toughness, Disarm, Dev Crit, Improved Power Attack, or even Epic Skill Focus.

Why go for Overwhelming Critical and not take Devastating as well? Disabled on your server?

I'm pretty sure that you cannot select Toughness or Epic Skill Focus as a Fighter bonus feat.

Nice build.
Quote: Posted 08/13/08 21:23 (GMT) -- Scargoth

I do not include Devastating Crit in this build as a personal choice, as I am not a big fan of the feat, and I know there are lots of places where it is banned. But there is room in the build to add it in.

Nevermind my first question. I remembered seeing this after I posted my comment. Good write up on your build. A strong damage dealer with high enough AB for effective use of power attack and expertise!

You list AC 32 with shield. IMO it should be 29 and without shield in a scythe build, but the AC is still ok with the high tumble you get from bard, once you get it.

The low will save will kill the character unless you find some protection, but you already listed low saves as a weakness.

Bottom line: I like the build.
_________________
I generally avoid temptation, unless I can't resist it...
Quote: Posted 08/13/08 21:23 (GMT) -- Scargoth

Armor Class:
+ 10 Base
+ 8 Full Plate
+ 8 Tumble
+ 1 DEX mod
+ 2 Armor Skin
------------
= 29


You are correct the 32 AC listed above that was from the spreadsheet output and I missed that. I had the correct AC numbers down at the bottom. Nicely balanced pure meele scythe build!


I always end up missing the feat I lose for exotic but you squeezed in everything I want!

I will switch cleave/great cleave with KD/IKD just because with the giant dmg per swing I find great cleave a little bit more useful for quickly clearing groups.

There may be a reason for it the way you have it though, I'll see when I get to those levels if it messes anything up.