Drow Spellsinger, CC-focused

[Yuniq]

Here's my attempt at my bard build. The goals/immutables: I wanted to play as Drow, I intended to grab the Spellsinger enhancement, and while I would like to smack the occasional enemy in early-level combat, I expected my late-game contribution to be through bardic song, crowd control spells, and the occasional backup emergency healing.

I'd love some feedback on this build. To head off some of the most likely comments: I'm sticking with Drow, and I prefer not to dump any stat but Wisdom, particularly if my current stats aren't making my endgame goals unfeasible. I'm interested in small changes on a drow-spellsinger-cc build.


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.00
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Level 16 Neutral Good Drow Female
(16 Bard)
Hit Points: 170
Spell Points: 845
BAB: 12\12\17\22
Fortitude: 6
Reflex: 13
Will: 9

Starting Ending Feat/Enhancement
Base Stats Base Stats Modified Stats
Abilities (Level 1) (Level 16) (Level 16)
Strength 14 14 14
Dexterity 16 16 16
Constitution 12 12 12
Intelligence 10 10 10
Wisdom 8 8 8
Charisma 18 22 24

Starting Ending Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 16) (Level 16)
Balance 7 22 22
Bluff 4 7 7
Concentration 5 20 24
Diplomacy 7 25 25
Disable Device n/a n/a n/a
Haggle 4 7 7
Heal -1 -1 -1
Hide 3 3 3
Intimidate 4 7 7
Jump 6 21 21
Listen -1 -1 1
Move Silently 3 3 3
Open Lock n/a n/a n/a
Perform 8 26 26
Repair 0 0 0
Search 0 0 2
Spot -1 -1 1
Swim 2 2 2
Tumble 4 4 4
Use Magic Device 8 26 28

Level 1 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Diplomacy (+3)
Skill: Jump (+4)
Skill: Perform (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness


Level 2 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 3 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell


Level 4 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 5 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 6 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 7 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 8 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 9 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Spell Focus: Enchantment


Level 10 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 11 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 12 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment


Level 13 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 14 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 15 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Heighten Spell


Level 16 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song I
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack III
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage III
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song III
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song IV
Enhancement: Spellsinger I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Bard Concentration I
Enhancement: Bard Concentration II
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Song I
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic I
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic II
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic III
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic IV
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music II
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music III
Enhancement: Bard Charisma I
Enhancement: Bard Charisma II

[Lorien_the_First_One]

In my opinion, your CON is a bit too low, you will be a tad squishy. I'd recommend starting with a 14. You can prob steal that from DEX unless you plan to get the equipment to get your AC up into the 70range. I know con is expensive on a drow, but with less than that you end up just a tiny bit too squishy and counting on a +4 at L20 means you won't be reducing the squish until the char is almost done. At the very least consider 13 with a +1 tome at birth.

[Yuniq]

The character builder added that +4 tome line for reasons I don't understand, since it won't let me build characters that high anyway. :) I'm not against getting a +2 tome around level 7 when (by my understanding) it'll be available in the Store.

I'd have to take Dex to 12 to get Con to 14, or perhaps take Str to 10. I'm not completely against the idea, but is the single hit point per level that significant later on, or can it be mitigated a bit by playing smart?

[Lorien_the_First_One]

The character builder added that +4 tome line for reasons I don't understand, since it won't let me build characters that high anyway. :) I'm not against getting a +2 tome around level 7 when (by my understanding) it'll be available in the Store.

I'd have to take Dex to 12 to get Con to 14, or perhaps take Str to 10. I'm not completely against the idea, but is the single hit point per level that significant later on, or can it be mitigated a bit by playing smart?

Maybe I don't play smart enough, but I find those few points do put you on the bubble a bit. Now you did say you didn't plan to engage in melee at higher level so that helps, but a DB fireball or a swing from an Orthon who just popped in behind you can do a lot of damage in one shot.

I don't believe there has been any indication of +2 tomes in the store, they sure aren't there on the current build.

I guess the question is why the DEX? If you are going high AC, it makes sense. If not, you really have to balance the 2 reflex save against the 20 HP. I'm sure some would argue for each option.

The nice thing is we are playing on the edges of the build, the core spellsinger option looks fine. Go pure, high CHR, as you have.

[Freeman]

Personally, I would try to find a way to fit at least one Spell Pen feat into your build, although I'm not sure what you would swap out for it. Also, I would drop Inspired Attack III and take some of the Spell Pen enhancements as well. If you plan on doing much CC at end game, you'll need all the help with spell penetration that you can get.

[Lorien_the_First_One]

Personally, I would try to find a way to fit at least one Spell Pen feat into your build, although I'm not sure what you would swap out for it. Also, I would drop Inspired Attack III and take some of the Spell Pen enhancements as well. If you plan on doing much CC at end game, you'll need all the help with spell penetration that you can get.

That's a very good point.

[Yuniq]

I don't believe there has been any indication of +2 tomes in the store, they sure aren't there on the current build.

That's unfortunate... I found +1 tomes for my Level 3+ characters in the beta Store, and had read that the tomes were appearing at levels 3,7,11,and 15 respectively. It's not nearly as big of a deal for this character, but I had built a wizard14/rogue2 around the idea of being able to purchase a tome every four levels... that build may require some reworking if this is the case.

...And a quick Google search shows people this week mentioning that +2 tomes aren't in the Store (though the first several posts assume there are, same as I did). I'll have to ponder this one.