Gangster Rapper Template

[geezee]

This is the guy your mama warned you about. He plays that violent music that the old people hate because it gets the youngsters so fired up (warchant). He will spit game to your sister and to your auntie as well (pretty decent charisma). He was not always a musician. Like all interesting characters, he has a sordid past. Early in life he was a scrapper (2 levels of fighter), and when things go bad he goes back to what he knows. Then he became a thief (rogue) for a few years. Not the burgling type, but more of a highwayman, running stickups. Before he got into the rap game, he had to put some scratch together by dealing dope and selling stolen property. (This character needs a +1 DEX tome by level 8 to advance up the TWF tree.) In fact, he keeps all the thugs and killers in his 'hood geeked out on his steroids (rage spell) and crack (haste). He spits a couple funky rhymes, casts a couple spells, stabs you in the back, stabs you in the front...He's just an all around nasty dude! I can't tell why all the ladies are after him?

I had some minor screwups in the character planner. I can prolly end up with a couple more points in my skills if I work it right. And definitely get rid of a couple of those useless enhancements and take some better ones. Maybe change out a spell or 2. Rogue levels just for sneak damage,evasion, and skill boost. The character could easily be tweaked to disable, but I'm not into all that. This guy is a highwayman, not a burglar. Watch out for this guy on Argo. Just rolled him last night, so hide your woman. If they ever raise the cap to 20, I will prolly take 6 more bard levels, unless they give me a great reason not to.

Questions/comments welcome! But if you talk too much smack, he might have to bust a cap...


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 2.70
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Yohoho and a Bottle of Rum
Level 14 Chaotic Good Drow Male
(2 Fighter / 4 Rogue / 8 Bard)
Hit Points: 126
Spell Points: 408

BAB: 11/11/16/21
Fortitude: 7
Reflex: 14
Will: 6

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Stats Modified Stats
Abilities (Level 1) (Level 14)
Strength 16 22
Dexterity 16 19
Constitution 12 12
Intelligence 10 10
Wisdom 8 8
Charisma 16 18

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 1
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 14

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 14)
Balance 7 20
Bluff 3 4
Concentration 5 14
Diplomacy 3 4
Disable Device n/a n/a
Haggle 7 21
Heal -1 -1
Hide 3 4
Intimidate 3 4
Jump 6 24
Listen -1 1
Move Silently 3 4
Open Lock n/a n/a
Perform 7 20
Repair 0 0
Search 0 2
Spot -1 1
Swim 3 6
Tumble 4 5
Use Magic Device 7 20

Level 1 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness
Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song I
Enhancement: Elven Enchantment Resistance I
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music I

Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Improved Drow Spell Resistence I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Fighter Item Defense I
Enhancement: Bard Haggle I

Level 3 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Spell (1): Expeditious Retreat
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
Enhancement: Bard Charisma I

Level 4 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Spell (1): Focusing Chant
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery I
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Bard Wand Mastery I

Level 5 (Bard)
Spell (2): Blur
Spell (2): Rage
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I

Level 6 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Piercing Weapons
Spell (1): Feather Fall
Spell (2): Heroism
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery II
Enhancement: Improved Drow Spell Resistence II

Level 7 (Bard)
Enhancement: Warchanter I

Level 8 (Bardd)
Ability Raise: STR
Spell (2): Cure Moderate Wounds
Spell (3): Displacement
Spell (3): Haste
Enhancement: Bard Charisma II

Level 9 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Spell (3): Fear
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack II

Level 10 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II

Level 11 (Rogue)

Level 12 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I

Level 13 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost II

Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Fighter Jump I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music II
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I

[CSFurious]

i think the 2 levels of rogue are good because they give you some basic evasion in your light armor

however, bard 9 is important for inspire greatness

i think you need that "fo sho"

[geezee]

Fo shizzle I'll take bard 9 at level 15 when they raise the cap. As it is I'm spread thin for songs anyhow. By keeping the 3/4 classes at multiples of 4, I get back 1 BAB so it's not so bad. If I had gone 9/3/2 I would get IG but lose 1 BAB, plus lose a rank of sneak damage and skill boost. Not such a bad tradeoff IMO considering I will need songs for ironskin, IC, and fascinate.

[CSFurious]

who knows? but your plan is good anyway, those extra points from inspire greatness are good, but not absolutely essential

hopefully, the cap goes up by december

[geezee]

No idea when the cap goes up. Meanwhile, I get GTWF at lvl 14 with my bab of 11, which I couldnt get if I took 9 bard levels.

[EinarMal]

Looks good, this is really close to my original pirate bard build posting. I had 14 int and 12 cha for more skills/disable and the same level split and also warchanter. I believe the feats were also mostly the same I had something else besides MT.

I ended up changing it to 10/4 and dropped the fighter levels. It is a tough call on whether to go like you did for GTWF at the current cap or just wait for level 15. I wanted to end up 16/4 or 12/8 so decided to wait.

I am currently at level 6 for what it's worth and Bard 4/Rogue 2 and it is working out great so far. I can disable traps without fail and often outkill most people in the group.

[Ganak]

LOL pretty creative:)

[Impaqt]

I would spread the rogue levels out more. I dislike Power attack in this build.. But the trend today sems to be power Attack w/ Two Weapon Fighting.. I simply dont see the benefit of reducing TO Hit another 5 points for 5 points of Damage. Its just not gonna add up. I'd rather Hit 25% more of the time with my Backstab Damage than Miss.


Good luck, Looks fun to play.

[geezee]

Ya, Einar, I checked out your build when I was putting this together because I remember you had some nice TWF hybrids on your thread. All these after you used to call me an idiot for saying finesse builds are weak lol. You've come a long way, my son.

I was actually going to go barbarian instead of fighter, originally. Partially for the DR boost, partially for the rage, and because I'm so impatient I love the barbarian's fast run.

But I decided that the iron skin would suffice for DR and I could use an attack boost or haste boost instead. The STR enhancement puts me at an even 28 unbuffed, which is nice until they screw me up by raising the cap. Besides, this guy's downfall is the low mana pool. So I chose fighter for the feats, which will both be used for MT and IMT at level 15. This way I can keep my h**s on crackrock, enough o the backtalk, froggy m**********s read my Nikes on the blacktop.

[EinarMal]

Ya, Einar, I checked out your build when I was putting this together because I remember you had some nice TWF hybrids on your thread. All these after you used to call me an idiot for saying finesse builds are weak lol. You've come a long way, my son.

I was actually going to go barbarian instead of fighter, originally. Partially for the DR boost, partially for the rage, and because I'm so impatient I love the barbarian's fast run.

But I decided that the iron skin would suffice for DR and I could use an attack boost or haste boost instead. The STR enhancement puts me at an even 28 unbuffed, which is nice until they screw me up by raising the cap. Besides, this guy's downfall is the low mana pool. So I chose fighter for the feats, which will both be used for MT and IMT at level 15. This way I can keep my h**s on crackrock, enough o the backtalk, froggy m**********s read my Nikes on the blacktop.

Yeah, well I thought it was funny with the last TWF build you posted asking for feat advice that started with 14 strength (you just didn't take weapon finesse!!) That was really close to my original TWF build that we were arguing about so maybe I wasn't that stupid either :D I never advocated going with 8 str pure finesse build, I've always had 14+ strength on every build.

Anyway, nice build and again that is the best part about this game. There are a lot of ways to do things and almost any reasonable thing ends up working out pretty well. Eventually people are going to come around to the fact that TWF Bards are a lot of fun to play and work out well.

[geezee]

Power attack is required for warchant. Actually, this guy should have a very nice buffed attack roll in the end. With warchant, the song gives me +5/+6. Of course, if I start to miss with power attack I can always turn it off.

[EinarMal]

Power attack is required for warchant. Actually, this guy should have a very nice buffed attack roll in the end. With warchant the song gives me +5/+6. Of course, if I start to miss with power attack I can always turn it off.

To Hit @14:
BAB 11
Str 9
Weapon 5
Song 5
Haste 1
Chant 1
TWF -2
PA -5

+30 (25 PA)

[geezee]

probably a rank or 2 of Drow melee attack and another 1 from perma-rage spell gives me as high as 28 with power attack. DP clicky for tough fights gives me another 3. Then there's madstone boots, Divine Favor, etc etc. I just call it a nice attack roll.

[EinarMal]

probably a rank or 2 of Drow melee attack and another 1 from perma-rage spell gives me as high as 28 with power attack. DP clicky for tough fights gives me another 3.

Yeah I didn't see those in your enhancements so didn't put the Drow stuff in there. I would definitely recommend those btw that is three free feats weapon spec plus double weapon focus.

To Hit @14:
BAB 11
Str 9
Weapon 5
Song 5
Haste 1
Chant 1
Racial 2
Rage 1
TWF -2
PA -5

+33 (28 PA) or 36(31 PA) with DP clickie

You do have to watch power attack and turn it off when you start to miss, but it will definitely be usable.

[geezee]

What would I get for spreading out the rogue levels? The 6 skills I want to max are all bard, only 4 are rogue also.

[Impaqt]

What would I get for spreading out the rogue levels? The 6 skills I want to max are all bard, only 4 are rogue also.

Thnk about how you use your skill points.. FOr those 4 Rogue Levels... In a Row..... COncentrationa nd Perform Cost you DOuble those levels to keep up on.. THats 8 Points that you could Spread out into something like Open Lock... WHich, by the way is More than Useful Endgame with a base of just 10 or so

8Ranks +6DEX +11Item+4 Greater Heroism +7 Tools = 36

A 36 gets you 95% of the locked doors/Chests int he game at least...

[geezee]

Excellent point! Now we're getting somewhere.

[geezee]

I never played a rogue before, but dont I also need search or spot to make disable work? Which maybe why Einarmal took the 14 INT?

[Impaqt]

Search, Yes, You need to be able to Find the Box.. SPot.. You can get away without having it. If your not afraid to Find traps by Feel....

THat being said, Getting Search and Disapble both up to a useable level in this build would be dificult to say the least. Stick with Open Lock...

EDIT: Ok, I worked up what could be done if you wanted to do Traps as well.. You'd have to drop Haggle.. Or make some sacrifices in a couple other skills, but it can be done... I'll post in a little bit.. Cleaning it up now.

ALso.... WHy are you adding your Level points at 4/8/12 to STR? Your a FInesse Build.. They should be going into Dex. the xtra point of damage isnt gonna help you all that much.

EDIT Again: Whoops.. Guess I got this buld mixed up with another I was commenting on.. No FInesse inhere.. Gotta rework some stuff....

[EinarMal]

I never played a rogue before, but dont I also need search or spot to make disable work? Which maybe why Einarmal took the 14 INT?

Yeah it gets you more skill points and int gives a bonus to disable/search. Spot will be a handy skill to have after the next mod as well as you can no longer "see" hidden creatures by tabbing through them.

This is what I am ending up with. Again I am waiting until 15 for GTWF.

BlackBard The Pirate (Revised)

Goals:
This is a TWF DPS with rogue skills build. I've decided to delay GTWF until level 15 so have edited the build.

(Drow Male Neutral Warchanter Bard 10/Rogue 4)

Stats:
Str 16 (28 =16 +3 Levels +1 Tome +6 Item +2 Rage)
Dex 16 (24 =16 +1 Tome +1 Enh +6 Item)
Con 12 (22 =12 +2 Favor Tome +6 Item +2 Rage)
Int 14 (20 =14 +6 Item)
Wis 8 8
Cha 12 (20 =12 +2 Enh. +6 Item)

Level Progression:
1-Rogue
2 thru 5-Bard
6-Rogue
7 thru 12-Bard
13 thru 14-Rogue

Skills:
Disable Device-17 Ranks
Search-17 Ranks
UMD-17 Ranks
Spot-17 Ranks
Perform-15 Ranks
Diplomacy-15 Ranks
Open Lock-13 Ranks

Feats:
TWF
WF Piercing
Power Attack
ITWF
IC Piercing

HP:
84(Levels) +20(Hero) +10(Draco) +30(GFL) +84(Con) = 228(Raged)

SP:
275(10 Bard) +95(Cha) +100(Magi) +40(EOM II) = 510

Enhancements:
Drow Melee Attack II
Drow Melee Damage II
Bard Inspired Damage II
Bard Inspired Attack II
Bard Charisma II
Bard EOM II
Bard Inspired Bravery II
Warchanter
Rogue Disable Device II
Lingering Song II
Rogue Dex I
Rogue Sneak Attack Training II
Rogue Subtle Backstabbing I
Rogue Haste Boost II
Rogue Skill Boost II
Bard Extra Song I

Spells:
1-Exp. Retreat, Remove Fear, Cure Light, Focusing Chant
2-Blur, Glitterdust, Rage, Cure Moderate
3-Displacement, Good Hope, Haste, Cure Serious
4-Freedom of Movement, Dimension Door

To Hit:
BAB 10
Racial 2
Str 9
Weapon 5
Song 7
WF 1
Focusing Chant 1
Haste 1
TWF -2
PA -5
34 (29 PA)

Damage:
Weapon 5
Str 9
Song 6
PA 5
Racial 2
27 (22 Offhand)

DPS Calculation:
+5 Holy Rapier/Treason

Rapier = 1d6 + 27 +2d6(Holy) +2d6(Sneak) + 9(Sneak Bonus) = 30.5 + 23 (61 + 23 Critical) = 87.96
Shortsword = 1d6 + 22 +2d6(Sneak) +9(Sneak Bonus) = 25.5 + 16 (51 + 16 Critical) = 32.65
Total: 120.61

Level 14 Skills:
Search:
17(Ranks) +5(Int) +4(GH) +2(Drow) +3(Boost) +13(Item) +2(Luck)= 46

Disable:
17(Ranks) +5(Int) +4(GH) +3(Boost) +11(Item) +7(Tools) +2(Luck) +2 (Enh) = 51

Open Lock:
13(Ranks) +7(Dex) +4(GH) +3(Boost) +11(Item) +7(Tools) +2(Luck) = 47

Spot:
17(Ranks) -1(Wis) +4(GH) +2(Drow)+13(Item) +2(Luck) = 37

UMD:
17(Ranks) +5(Cha) +4(GH) +5(7 Fingered) +3(Boost) +2(Luck)= 36

[geezee]

After thinking about it, I definitely am not willing to make the investment or tradeoffs needed to have usable rogue skills.

However, I will take Impaqt's advice and spread out the rogue levels, netting me 5 points of balance and concentration. Plus another 1 point, which I will probably put into tumble, for lack of a better idea. This means delaying haste til level 11, but it's bearable.

Alternatively I could give up 3 points of concentration and the 2nd point of tumble for 7 points of spot, while still increasing my balance by 2 over the original level progression. Is 7 points of spot useful for anything?

Thanks for the input!

[EinarMal]

After thinking about it, I definitely am not willing to make the investment or tradeoffs needed to have usable rogue skills.

However, I will take Impaqt's advice and spread out the rogue levels, netting me 5 points of balance and concentration. Plus another 1 point, which I will probably put into tumble, for lack of a better idea. This means delaying haste til level 11, but it's bearable.

Thanks for the input!

I would consider open lock, it really doesn't take much to make it usable with items. If you start at level 1 with 4 points in it, and then get it up to 8 or so you can actually unlock a lot of chests that way. I think it would be handy especially if you like to solo.

[A_Sheep]

I agree with EinarMal that 4 levels of rogue definitely sets you up to get at least some additional skill usage. If you were willing to neglect your other skills, then you could end up with 16 ranks in Disable and Search!

If you take rogue at 1st level and your other rogue levels later, then you could end up with something like this:

1 - Rogue: 4 UMD, 4 OL, 4 Disable, 4 Search, 2 Concentration, 4 Balance, 4 Jump, 4 Haggle.
2 - Bard: 4 Perform, 1 UMD, 1 of Haggle/concentration/balance/jump
3 - Fighter: 1 UMD
4 - Bard: 1 Perform, 1 UMD, 1 Disable, 1 Search
5 - Bard: 1 Perform, 1 UMD, 1 Disable, 1 Search
6 - Bard: 1 Perform, 1 UMD, 1 Disable, 1 Search
7 - Bard: 1 Perform, 1 UMD, 1 Disable, 1 Search
8 - Rogue: 3 Disable, 3 Search, 2 Open Lock
9 - Bard: 1 Perform, 2 UMD, 1 Disable, 0.5 Search
10 - Bard: 1 Perform, 1 UMD, 1 Disable, 0.5 Search, 0.5 Open Lock
11 - Rogue: 1 Disable, 2 Search, 5 Open Lock
12 - Bard: 1 Perform, 2 UMD, 1 Disable, 0.5 Open Lock
13 - Rogue: 1 UMD, 1 Disable, 1 Search, 5 Open Lock
14 - Fighter: 1 UMD.

So, this kinda blows your other skills out of the picture, but you've got 16 ranks in disable, search, and open lock. With all the buffs (,the skill boost you already plan on taking,) and items you can pile up, you could actually be a somewhat functional rogue! Search will be your worst category.

Search
16
+2 Intelligence (Fox's Cunning Wand/+4 Int Item)
+13 Item
+2 Drow freebee
+4 Greater Heroism (Scroll or Friendly Caster)
+3 Skill Boost
===
+40 Search

On the other hand, if you want to keep your other skills, then you could drop search and disable and stick with Open Lock.

Personally, I would prefer to have the rogue abilities over the other skills, but if that's not your thing, then so be it :).

You just won't be sportin so much bling bling as you cruise the hood and get stopped by the locked treasure chest.

[geezee]

lol stopped by the locked chest as if it was the popo...But you know I be packin' much UMD. I could use a knock scroll if the need be. And I would hate to give up those sweet combat skillz. Would open lock really be of any use to this type of gangsta?

[DaveyCrockett]

lol stopped by the locked chest as if it was the popo...But you know I be packin' much UMD. I could use a knock scroll if the need be. And I would hate to give up those sweet combat skillz. Would open lock really be of any use to this type of gangsta?

I don't know many gangstas that can't get past a lock, personally.

[EinarMal]

lol stopped by the locked chest as if it was the popo...But you know I be packin' much UMD. I could use a knock scroll if the need be. And I would hate to give up those sweet combat skillz. Would open lock really be of any use to this type of gangsta?

Knock scrolls are pretty useless beyond the early levels.

The formula for knock is 1d20 + Caster Level + Stat Bonus when it's cast. The scroll is usually a low caster level, 3 I think and you don't get the stat bonus.

So at best a knock scroll would be something like 20 + 3 = 23 open lock. That is if you keep using scrolls until you roll a 20.

Even 4 skill points in open lock at level 1 (rogue) give you something like:

Open Lock:
4(Ranks) +6(Dex) +4(GH) +13(Item) +7(Tools) = 34 + 1d20

The thing I worry about is finding groups. With your level split you aren't going to get many caster/Bard slots and you cannot fill the rogue slot either. You will do very good DPS, but are too squishy to be a true "tank". I am not saying it isn't a cool character, but without the ability to do the rogue stuff it might be hard to find a group unless you are in a guild or have regular people you group with, aka don't PUG all the time.

If you go with less Cha and more Int that would help in the skill department. That is why I ended up with 14 Int and 12 Cha. High charisma really doesn't help you that much since you aren't going to be a CC caster. You do lose some bonus spell points but that doesn't amount to a huge amount, something like 30 spell points difference for a level 8 Bard between starting with 12 Cha versus 16.

[A_Sheep]

I'm less worried about finding groups, especially after the server merge. Any group with 1 or 2 melees already will probably jump all over a bard merely for the buffs+haste. And in a really small group, the versatility of the bard with healing + combat + buffs will make him useful. I just hate to see the levels of rogue go to 'waste'.