First Fighter Build

[Rozata]

Hey hey hey,
I'm making my first fighter and since I'm brand new to the game and don't want to risk a re-roll, i figured maybe I could grab some help from more experienced Fighters. My build is as follows:

Dwarf Fighter
17 str
14 dex
14 con
13 int
8 wis
6 cha

I was wondering if I should make any changes. I want to be able to do a good amount of dps, that's what im looking foward to, but i also want to be able to be group friendly.

Also I was wondering what skills and feats do you think are most important to building a fighter with this build?

Thanks,
Rozata

[sigtrent]

Your stats look pretty good. I'd guess you are looking to take combat expertise and a good dose of armor mastery judging by your stat picks, a pretty nice balance of offense and defense.

Skills are pretty moot for most fighters unless you are an intimitdat tank. Balance is handy and personaly I like to have some jump, and spot has some uses.

Feats wise... well it just depends on how you want to go. A dwarven fighter will want toughness, and usualy slashing bonus feats because you get variuos axe bonuses already. Tactics like trip and stunning blow are great. Lots of good options. Definately take power attack by level 6, its good stuff.

[Rozata]

Thanks for the tips, i appreciate them.

[Borror0]

There are a few way to go on a fighter. Here are the most popular achetypes with a few templates.



Intimitanks, also known as AC Tank - Sword & Board



Borror Z'rro (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=124254) - Dwarven Defender - by Borror0
Kreig the Bold - by Maladini (not reposted)
Riott (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=116482) - Original AC tank - Riot
Selgar (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=116866) - Evasion hybrid - by Talson
The Turtle (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=117844) - Max AX without raid gear - by Malachi Stormlight2



Strategist - Focus on Trip and Stunning Blow - Sword & Board and Two-handed fighting



Strategist Build - by Kraze Nightwielder

Sadly got nuked from the forums and wasn't reposted.
Hopefuly, maybe the founder who I cannot remember his name will post it.
Think his name start by V. I know he went blunt instead of slashing (the original build was slashing).

EDIT: Posted what I think it was like a bit further in the thread.



DPS build - Two-handed fighting or Two-weapon fithing.



Akeeles (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=117936) - Elven TWF - by Riott
Pure DPS Build (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=115847&highlight=blugeoning) - by Maldini
Tesyus Build (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=70407) - 40 unbuffed AC TWF - by Malachi Stormlight2


These are templates, look at bit at them and try to see what fits you the best.

From what I can tell, it'd be the strategist. Sadly, I don't have a list of feats. I'll try to remember what it was and I'll post it.

[Snike]

Stats look great. Well balanced and easily changable to what style / feats you end up going with.

[Litz]

Be sure to specialize in "Pointy Stick" it will be your best wepon in the best of times and your best friend in the worst of times..

[Borror0]

Be sure to specialize in "Pointy Stick" it will be your best wepon in the best of times and your best friend in the worst of times..

Dude, he's talking about the game. He doesn't want a build to survive on the forums.

If he'd want so, he'd build a paladin for Resist Energy: Fire, high saves and AC. (Nerds don't have a really good to-hit overall.)

Also, his high Charisma would be a dangerous weapon on these forums. ;)

[Borror0]

Strategist by Kraze - Rebuilt by Borror0

Race: Dwarf

Abilities:

Str 18
Dex 10
Con 14
Int 14
Wis 8
Cha 6

If you'd have 32 pt, I'd tell you to buff up Con.

Feats:

1. Toughness, Power Attack
2. Stunning blow
3. Combat Expertise
4. Improved Trip
6. Weapon Focus: Slashing/Bludgeoning, Weapon Specialisation: Slashing/Bludgeoning
8. Improved Critical: Slashing/Bludgeoning
9. Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing/Bludgeoning
10. Cleave
12. Greater Weapon Specialisation: Slashing/Bludgeoning, Great Cleave
14. Quickdraw

The order is probably not the best, but that's pretty much it.

You'll have to decide between Bludgeoning or Slashing, both have advantages as a Strategist.

Slashing:



Better critical range
As a dwarf you get to use Dwarven axes which are the second best DPS one-handed weapon in game (tie with Bastard Sword, beaten by Khopesh) in game.
As a dwarf you got enhancements to improve your damage with dwarven axes/great axes/battle axes damage.


Bludgeoning:



Less popular/cheaper to get
Weighted is a Blunt-only enhancement, meaning that you cannot have it on slashing weapons.

Weighted increase your Stunning Blows DCs by 2-10 (only even numbers) and gives a percentage (1-5%) to trigger a Stunning Blow.
This is an great incresase in DPs when it triggers by itself.

Percentage is equal to half the DC increase. So, if the Weighted bonus to DC is +2, the percentage to landing a random stunning blow is of 1%.
Hammer of Leaden Clouds (http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s220/jgould2005/DDO/Items/HammeroftheLeadenClouds.jpg) and Tenderiser (http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s220/jgould2005/DDO/Items/Tenderizer.jpg) are amazing weapon for a Strategist.
You still get access to vertigo which gives an enhancement bonus to the DC to resist the character's Trip and Improved Trip attempts. (Also available in Slashing.)



Skills:

You'll get a bunch of skill points. I'd say Jump and Balance are the must have for any tank.
Spot could be useful too.
You could take Intimidate to pull aggro from squishies in critical situations.

[Taerdra]

I would take Quick Draw anyway, but you can't get Dodge with a DEX 10.

Also, I think if you do go Strategist it is worthwhile to think of a 2-Weapon Fighter build before you make your final decision. 2WF will allow for more chances for your automatics to hit as well as allow you to share weapon specs between both weapons (quirk of the DDO implementation, but it is there...). Not saying I would advocate a 2WF build, but it definitely has some advantages that are very helpful on a Strategist build.

[Rozata]

I trained my second lvl feat before reading these replys. I trained in dodge, was that a bad move? If so i can reroll, im only lvl 2, however, since i used a feat on dodge, which feat from that list you just posted should disregaurd? Anyones suggestions would be nice.

Thanks,
Rozata

[Borror0]

I trained my second lvl feat before reading these replys. I trained in dodge, was that a bad move? If so i can reroll, im only lvl 2, however, since i used a feat on dodge, which feat from that list you just posted should disregaurd? Anyones suggestions would be nice.

Thanks,
Rozata

It depends on what you want to do... :p Which builds fits you best? :confused:

You didn't say it. I assume the strategist, but...

PS: Taerdra, thanks for correcting me.:o

[ShadowFox1978]

Hello all. I have just returned to the game. I saw this post and the mention of Kraze's strat build. He, his wife and I are the ones who did most of the test running of the build. If there is interest in it, I will be happy to repost as best I can remember(including most of the thought that went into build decisions.)

The original build did not have G cleave. It included sunder. It was created at a time when Drow blackgaurds in Tempest were the hardest to hit mobs. When mob AC's were lowered and the new enhancement system was announced, we decided it was best to drop sunder and focus on the other two strats. My build was blunt focused and I replaced Quick draw with Im. crit slashing. This combined with dwarven axe enhanc. made me equally adept with blunt weapons and axes. Allowing for weapon versatility that can not be matched by any other race or class.(Given the fact that axe enhanc. are essentially 4 free feats that no other race can make up without sacraficing something else.)

If you are interested, I will repost.

[Borror0]

If you are interested, I will repost.

Yuo should, I looked you up and when I saw your lasty activity I guessed it wasn't worth to send you a PM.. ;)

[Hadrian]

I think the strategist makes for a great first build. It's workable without the best items but benefits from them as much as anyone later.

I'd avoid the complicated hybrid builds as a first fighter unless you've been playing as a different class and saved up some items. They're usually a lot more gear dependent so that if you really are just starting out in DDO, you might find they do not perform well. That is something to build as a second character after you have had a couple of months to store up better items and learn what makes you enjoy the game.

[Borror0]

I'd avoid the complicated hybrid builds as a first fighter unless you've been playing as a different class and saved up some items. They're usually a lot more gear dependent so that if you really are just starting out in DDO, you might find they do not perform well. That is something to build as a second character after you have had a couple of months to store up better items and learn what makes you enjoy the game.

Whiuch is why I'd never really advise a new player to roll an intimitank is the current metagame. They should roll a barbarian or a junkman. Not an AC build.

[ShadowFox1978]

I will post the build as soon as I get time to write it down. I used to have it saved, but it appears to also be a casualty of the break up with the fiancee. ( Women!!!!) Anyway, I will try to get it posted this week/weekend.