Character Builds

[Mozenwrathe]

okay, as I made mention in the Drow Proving Grounds posts:

- crossbow specialist build
- pure gnomish sorcerer build

what would be my best options for each? equipment is (relatively) easy in terms of what to use (powerful mage staff for the sorcerer so far, light drow crossbow for the specialist), so I am not that worried in that respect. still, with the chaotic evil gnome, I managed to finally put the Belt Of The Evil to good use (figuratively speaking). I was hoping to go pure sorcerer just to see if there are any other items for sorcerers (or gnomes) to pick up. I know as a fact, however, I will also need to make a revised build with sorcerer/rogue for the gnome to maximize his spellcasting ability via scrolls. (clerics can't use druid scrolls as far as I know.)

oh, and has anyone attempted a halfling monk build yet? or come to think of it a half-orc monk build? I think I have one on the go now... no, that's the dwarf lawful-evil evil monk with the Imaskari Kama and the Suni gloves. my mistake. (not turning out too well, but I still have another 30 levels to see what I can do with her.)

one last thing: how the heck DO I use that Death Attack that assassins are supposed to get? I create a character with assassin levels, and I have yet to see her deliver one of those death attacks. I go to the Trollbark Dungeons and everyone AND their mother (yes, I checked) delivers death attacks on a semiregular basis. It is frustrating. I may never play with assassin levels again at this rate. At least not for THIS module. Blackguard still looks cool to me, though.

[ 04-08-2006, 08:48 AM: Message edited by: Mozenwrathe ]

[robertthebard]

Death attacks, like sneak attacks are automatic. If you are fighting something that is immune to sneaks, it will also be immune to death attacks. The primary, and possibly only difference between them is the Fort save vs paralysis. If the paralysis works though, you can change targets, and taunt the paralyzed creature...One of my favorite things to do, they are totally helpless, and have to stand there and watch you slay their friends, knowing they are next, and that they are powerless to do anything about it. Hahahahahahahahaaaa

[Mozenwrathe]

couple of questions:

- for the crossbow build, is it possible to get Weaponmaster levels for a crossbow, or should I stick with straight fighter for that character?

- for a gnomish sorcerer, what weapons (if any) should I get proficiency in? daggers? kukri? (that wind fire wheel looks cool, but you can't get weapon foci in CEP weapons sadly.)

- for a paladin build, I am trying one pure paladin, and the other paladin with other stuff. what things should I be aiming for with the pure paladin, as opposed to the paladin with prestige class levels? (combat oriented both times. specializing in longsword as there are no Holy Avenger broadswords currently available.) I should also note this is going to be based on Aribeth from the original campaign.

- for an avenging ranger build, I am going with the Aribeth before Neverwinter thematic. knowing that she never got levels in Arcane Archer, what would be the best way to set up this character? probably going with the broadsword for this version of Aribeth and specializing with the longbow. problem once again is how to boost up her slaying power with the longbow without Arcane Archer levels? perhaps a few level in sorcerer or rogue? (this one will have a Neutral Good alignment)

[ 04-14-2006, 10:00 AM: Message edited by: Mozenwrathe ]

[robertthebard]

Weapon master is strictly melee. And I'd check the base item type before you assume that. Some, not all, but some of the weapons can be focused in. The Chakram, for example, is a throwing axe.
As to the pally, I won't run a pure class one, saving throw bonuses aren't worth it better to take some CoT

[Dace De'Briago]

OK, here's another one I cooked up.

Fighter/Wizard(Divination)/Arcane Archer



This is an Elven Arcane Archer who finishes up with a decent Melee fighting ability, and an obscene Longbow BAB because of a dex (with goodies on) of 50.

Start Stats:

STR: 14
DEX: 18
CON: 12
WIS: 10
INT: 14
CHA: 8

1F: Luck of Heros, Power Attack
2F: Weapon Focus: Longbow
3F: Toughness
4F: DEX + 1, Weapon Specialisation: Longbow
5F:
6F: Cleave, Point Blank Shot
7W: Specialise in DIVINATION (2 castings of True Strike rather than one...). True Strike, Endure Elements, Idenfity, Shield and Magic Weapon all have their uses.
8AA: DEX + 1
9AA: Improved Critical: Longbow
10AA:
11AA:
12AA: DEX +1, Weapon Finesse
13AA:
14AA:
15AA: Dodge
16AA: DEX + 1
17AA:
18F: Mobility
19F: Spring Attack
20F: DEX + 1
21F: Epic Weapon Focus: Longbow, Epic Weapon Specialisation: Longbow
22AA:
23AA:
24AA: DEX + 1, Great Dexterity
25AA: Great Dexterity
26AA:
27AA: Great Dexterity
28AA: DEX +1
29AA: Great Dexterity
30AA: Great Dexterity
31AA:
32AA: DEX + 1
33AA: Great Dexterity, Great Dexterity
34AA:
35AA:
36AA: DEX + 1, Great Dexterity
37AA: Great Dexterity
38AA:
39AA: Great Dexterity
40AA: DEX + 1

End Stats:

STR: 14
DEX: 38
CON: 12
WIS: 10
INT: 14
CHA: 8

Build Notes:

This character is more of a support character than a front-line fighter, though that said, there is absolutely nothing he can't hit - a bab of +78 is bordering on insane. It gets slightly more insane if you use a scroll (or cast) True Strike in order to get an extra +20 to this for nine seconds... BAB of 98 won't leave you missing much...

(this is when he's fully equiped with the bestest stuff )

His AC isn't bad with light armour on, getting your tumble up to 40 (including the dexterity modifier) by the end of the game will add an extra 8 onto his AC. A monk version of this character would be virtually impossible to hit and I'm considering this build as my next project.

This character had absolutely zero problems hitting the DPG enemies, even our favourite poison-based adversary who is notoriously hard-to-hit.

Ideal equipment is a top-notch longbow (ancient longbow of divine power gets my vote) and some decently enchanted arrows. You can use more-or-less any armour you choose in order to keep the AC high, but you'd best stick with something light to get your full dexterity bonus once your dexterity starts getting up there.

Always keep a blunt melee weapon handy (preferably small, so your weapon finesse comes into play) for undead with resistances.

Aside from that... its all good.

For ultimate fun go down to L12 and use hail of arrows... your party will love you for that

[ 04-15-2006, 06:40 AM: Message edited by: Dace De'Briago ]

[robertthebard]

Party, what party...??? There are some places where Hail of Arrows is not advisable, and I'd say that's one of them. However, there are other places where it is just great. I have a screen of an accidental HoA up on the NWN's page of my site. I wasn't paying attention, just tooling around, and mistook it for rapid shot. Er, can you say, oops???
Nice looking build, if a little cheesey re the mage lvl...However, it does live up to your sig... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Dace De'Briago]

Originally posted by robertthebard: Nice looking build, if a little cheesey re the mage lvl...However, it does live up to your sig... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Not as cheesy as you might think young man, a level of Arcane Spellcaster is actually required to be able to select the Arcane Archer kit. It's also worth bearing in mind that you *have* to be an elf. Forgot to mention that one [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ 04-15-2006, 06:49 AM: Message edited by: Dace De'Briago ]

[robertthebard]

Yes sir, I am quite familiar with the AA specs. One of my favorite classes. The cheesey comment, while in jest, was referring to the only one lvl of wizard. While just enough to get the AA class, that is also the source of the cheese. The just enough to get it.
Side note, while I didn't keep track of the feats/skills, etc, I went into Chewie's mod, and built a Bard 10/AA 30, just to see what I could get. With a non magical long bow, and poison arrows, she was +62 on AB, with a 56 or 58 ac, wearing out of the box magical gear from the stores. Bindings of Blood, Haste, Freedom, + 3 to ac, with no dex limit, and a +3 bonus to saves. Bracers of dex +10, Greater Swordsman's belt, Ring of Power, Ring of protection +10, Dragon Slippers, and +5 Nymph cloak. With Bard Song, Bless, and Aid from the scabbard of blessing, got her ab to 68, 72 with Forever.

[Greything]

ABs to die for. Often.

[Mozenwrathe]

Working on a build right now, mostly taking the feats at "random," meaning "will I need this sooner or later? yes? then take it while it is available." One of these days I may actually sit down and try to plot something out, but the way I am working on this build is as follows: for every three levels of rogue, I take one in fighter. (id est: every fourth character level (4, 8, 12, et cetera) is a fighter level). when I hit twenty character levels, I'll take whatever prestige class is available to me for about six to eight levels (especially if I can get Shadowdancer by that time), and then go back to the original pattern for the rest of the character's creation. what I am hoping for is a character whose sneak attacks will dole out enought damage to take out the above average foe without needing spells. everything else I fully intend to crush with magic (maybe even getting a few scrolls of Flesh To Stone or Hold Monster) and then finish the job with Hide In Plain Sight and more sneak attacks.

Now, the questions are:

- do I max out Dexterity or put more points into the Sneak Attacks?
- since my character isn't lawful, monk is out. if Shadowdancer isn't available at twenty levels, what should I be looking for to boost this character's abilities?
- if I am operation with kukri, what magical spells should I be buying in order to keep my halfling thief alive and kicking? (yes, this is my Tomi Undergallows the Second build, a distant cousin of the (semi)legendary thief of Neverwinter.)
- aside from the Gauntlets of Lloth, what kind of equipment would people advise (in this module)?