Permadeath BattleMage (A build by request)

[sigtrent]

From Sigtrent's Build Request Thread (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=117232)

Build Name: Mithral War Mage
Author: Sigfried Trent
Requester: Vindacaon
Last Updated: 07/08/10

Key Words [Wizard, Battlemage, Warfoged, Bastard Sword]

Objectives
The request was for a 28pt battle wizard that did decent area damage spells, wielding a bastards sword and absolutely not using a shield. This character would be used in permadeath play which means it needs to start out survivable and continue that way as it levels and it shouldn’t need any specific gear to work.

Design
Because its permadeath this build needs to have some decent AC and hit points, two things hard to do with an arcane caster. Certainly warforged answers a number of challenges. Primarily it offers critical self healing but it also has some nice immunities that make gear less of an issue and built in armor with a strong AC to Dex allowance ratio.

We need dex on the build for TWF, which if you are forgoing a shield, is simply a good idea. If the request wanted only one sword, they can play that way but the option for better DPS is there.

Because the swords and TWF and casting are all feat dependent I went with a Fighter Wizard mix. I take fighter early and late where the most feats are needed or qualified for. I went for a very even split of magic and combat focused build features although wizard gets the lions share of levels.

Skills are mostly just default, although repair is a bit unusual. That is there because permadeath is resource light and getting the extra shrine HP can be a boon, especially early on.

I think this build works, but its a challenge. Saves are only so-so even at high levels, and so are HP and SP. Trying to do at level elite difficulty, raids, or epics is likely to get you killed, but on normal or hard I think this build can play well in a party and solo pretty solidly when played well.


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Level 20 Neutral Good Warforged Male
(6 Fighter \ 14 Wizard)
Hit Points: 268
Spell Points: 904
BAB: 13\13\18\23
Fortitude: 12
Reflex: 9
Will: 9

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(28 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 15 20
Dexterity 15 17
Constitution 16 17
Intelligence 14 16
Wisdom 6 6
Charisma 6 6

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)
Balance 4 11
Bluff -2 -1
Concentration 5 27
Diplomacy -2 -1
Disable Device n/a n/a
Haggle -2 -2
Heal -2 -2
Hide 2 1
Intimidate -2 -1
Jump 6 15
Listen -2 -2
Move Silently 2 1
Open Lock n/a n/a
Perform n/a n/a
Repair 6 26
Search 2 3
Spot -2 -2
Swim 2 1
Tumble n/a 2
Use Magic Device n/a n/a

Level 1 (Fighter)
Skill: Balance (+2)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Jump (+4)
Skill: Repair (+4)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Bastard Sword
Feat: (Selected) Mithral Body
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Warforged Damage Reduction I


Level 2 (Wizard)
Skill: Concentration (+3)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Extend Spell
Enhancement: Wizard Elemental Manipulation I
Enhancement: Wizard Force Manipulation I
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar I
Enhancement: Warforged Inscribed Armor I


Level 3 (Fighter)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+2)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution I


Level 4 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence I
Enhancement: Wizard Wand Mastery I


Level 5 (Wizard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Enhancement: Wizard Lineage of Elements I
Enhancement: Wizard Lineage of Force I
Enhancement: Warforged Healer's Friend I


Level 6 (Wizard)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Repair (+2)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Wizard Force Manipulation II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I


Level 7 (Wizard)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+0.5)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Empower Spell
Enhancement: Wizard Elemental Manipulation II
Enhancement: Warforged Inscribed Armor II


Level 8 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+0.5)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence II


Level 9 (Wizard)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+0.5)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Maximize Spell
Enhancement: Wizard Elemental Manipulation III


Level 10 (Wizard)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+0.5)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Enhancement: Wizard Lineage of Elements II
Enhancement: Warforged Inscribed Armor III


Level 11 (Wizard)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+0.5)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar II
Enhancement: Wizard Wand Mastery II


Level 12 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+0.5)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Mental Toughness
Enhancement: Wizard Elemental Manipulation IV


Level 13 (Fighter)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Mastery I
Enhancement: Wizard Lineage of Deadly Elements I


Level 14 (Fighter)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II


Level 15 (Fighter)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Wizard Lineage of Deadly Elements II


Level 16 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II


Level 17 (Wizard)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Repair (+2)
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I


Level 18 (Wizard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Kensei Bastard Sword Mastery I
Enhancement: Wizard Force Manipulation III


Level 19 (Wizard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Enhancement: Wizard Lineage of Elements III


Level 20 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Enhancement: Wizard Lineage of Deadly Force I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II




Play
Playing solo you just need to be smart and dilligent. Use your spells wisely, don’t charge in without a plan, use wands for healing whenever possible, save SP for bosses, and so on. For group play, try to be supportive with haste and firewall and avoid agro when you can while still getting in as much damage as possible. In a group you are not so much DPS as DPS support. If there are other Warforged, be sure to heal them as well.

Variations
You could shift the focus more to fighting or to casting as this one is right about in the middle. A fighter heavy self healer is good, say F12/W8. And so is a mostly wizard with a splash of fighter.

[Sydril]

someone actually requested a warforged battlemage that would burn a feat on bastard sword and not take advantage of using a two handed weapon with the shield spell?

What kind of psychos are requesting these builds?

I request an elven barbarian with a 6 con and an 8 strength that only uses masterwork kamas.

[teddok]

someone actually requested a warforged battlemage that would burn a feat on bastard sword and not take advantage of using a two handed weapon with the shield spell?

What kind of psychos are requesting these builds?

I request an elven barbarian with a 6 con and an 8 strength that only uses masterwork kamas.

Done. Here is your build.

Uhh ok just a sec.
(looks behind self)
Uhh should be here any sec
(call's into mike where is it)
Sorry we regrete to inform you that it died as it left the Char Generator.

[moorewr]

someone actually requested a warforged battlemage that would burn a feat on bastard sword and not take advantage of using a two handed weapon with the shield spell?

What kind of psychos are requesting these builds?

I request an elven barbarian with a 6 con and an 8 strength that only uses masterwork kamas.

I read that as "..masterwork llamas." I must need more coffee.

[sigtrent]

someone actually requested a warforged battlemage that would burn a feat on bastard sword and not take advantage of using a two handed weapon with the shield spell?

Yep. They wanted bastard sword and no shields, with the no shield in capital letters. While not the world's most optimal weapon choice, I'm sure it will work fine, and doing things that are sometimes less that optimal will open up new ideas.

Going sword and scepter really isn't all that bad an idea. I end up that way on accident a lot with my own battle mage and planning for it has a certain elegance.

[Kalanth]

I, personally, like the idea. But then, I will sing the praises of anything that is not the norm.

[RemoJr]

maybe the requester has a large collection of powerful bastard swords. i know i'd go for bastard sword over greatsword if i have a vorpal, paralyzer, and a few other choice bastard swords.

[RemoJr]

another idea of why. if he's a permadeath player, purhapes he's also a roleplayer from pnp. Well, in pnp, you need 1 hand free to cast spells. Also in ebberon, WF have a special bastard sword available to them called arm-blades. Maybe he wants to roleplay an arm-bladed caster.

[Ghoste]

One would assume not wanting a shield would be to avoid arcane spell failure...of course you could always equip the shield after casting, or use a 2 hander.

Only 2 reasons I could think of for that particular point:
1. has some great bastard swords lined up for this build.
2. has a very specific role playing idea.

[Kalanth]

One would assume not wanting a shield would be to avoid arcane spell failure...of course you could always equip the shield after casting, or use a 2 hander.

Only 2 reasons I could think of for that particular point:
1. has some great bastard swords lined up for this build.
2. has a very specific role playing idea.

3. Complete lack of Mithrail Shields, but is hoping with fingers crossed.