Whirlwind of Rock: Tempest Warchanter

[dormetheus]

Just like the title says. Any suggestions?


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.10
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Level 20 Chaotic Good Human Male
(6 Ranger \ 14 Bard)
Hit Points: 304
Spell Points: 534
BAB: 16\16\21\26\26
Fortitude: 14
Reflex: 18
Will: 10

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(32 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 16 26
Dexterity 15 18
Constitution 16 21
Intelligence 8 8
Wisdom 8 8
Charisma 12 17

Tomes Used
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 14
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 14
+3 Tome of Constitution used at level 14
+3 Tome of Charisma used at level 14
+4 Tome of Strength used at level 20
+4 Tome of Constitution used at level 20

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)
Balance 6 27
Bluff 1 3
Concentration 3 5
Diplomacy 1 3
Disable Device n/a n/a
Haggle 1 4
Heal -1 -1
Hide 2 4
Intimidate 1 3
Jump 7 28
Listen -1 -1
Move Silently 2 4
Open Lock n/a n/a
Perform 5 26
Repair -1 -1
Search -1 -1
Spot -1 15
Swim 3 8
Tumble n/a 5
Use Magic Device 5 26

Level 1 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Feat: (Human Bonus) Toughness


Level 2 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 4 (Bard)


Level 5 (Bard)


Level 6 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge


Level 7 (Bard)


Level 8 (Bard)


Level 9 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Mobility


Level 10 (Bard)


Level 11 (Bard)


Level 12 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack


Level 13 (Ranger)


Level 14 (Ranger)


Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant


Level 16 (Ranger)


Level 17 (Bard)


Level 18 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 19 (Bard)


Level 20 (Bard)

[maddmatt70]

Nice build and execution with the human, stat distribution, and feat selection. This is one of the bard builds I like for this mod.

[dormetheus]

Yeah. I saw someone talking about their build, but they didn't post any specs.

I really think there is a better way to optimize class/level progression. Also, it might be possible to drop Toughness or Extend for Khopesh, for an extra kick.

This build looks good in the end, but tough to level, perhaps.

Edit: I also just realized the builder didn't post spell selection.

Standard must have spells for warchanter though:

Focus Chant, Exped Retreat
Blur, Rage
Displace, Haste
Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement
Greater Hero, ????

The rest is up to personal choice

[BLAKROC]

i had one and deleted it imo wasn't a very good build to much was lacking on songs. but that was just me. I would forgo the tempest and go two barb and two rogue for evasion. 16 lvls of bard is much stonger and over all the toon will be more survivable. just my 2cps.

[dormetheus]

i had one and deleted it imo wasn't a very good build to much was lacking on songs. but that was just me. I would forgo the tempest and go two barb and two rogue for evasion. 16 lvls of bard is much stonger and over all the toon will be more survivable. just my 2cps.

Did you cap the toon to 20? I think this build doesn't come into its own until late levels. Mid levels could be a real struggle.

I'm not convinced that 16 levels of bard is any stronger than 14 for a warchanter. IDK, I could be missing something. It just doesn't seem very compelling.

I have several barbs, so I can agree with the temptation of getting a few small rages (for mini/bosses) AND get evasion. But that's not really the idea behind this build. I already have a bardbarian, and I had to think long and hard about the evasion/non-evasion route.

AFAIK, tempest is the best dps/level investment in the game. I'd rather have dps vs. defense vs. nukes for this build (in my mind). But maybe that's just me....

[maddmatt70]

i had one and deleted it imo wasn't a very good build to much was lacking on songs. but that was just me. I would forgo the tempest and go two barb and two rogue for evasion. 16 lvls of bard is much stonger and over all the toon will be more survivable. just my 2cps.

Level 15 bard gives you IH and level 16 bard level 6 spells. Neither of these features are that useful in the current mod especially for a bard which does not plan to heal. The dps of this build far outpaces your 2 barb 2 rogue build with the favored enemies and 10% tempest attack speed. There is no difference with inspire courage between a level 16 bard and a level 14 bard. If you want the best songs roll a level 20 pure bard warchanter..

[giveuptg]

Just wanted to bump this with a little first-hand experience post, as I used this build as the guideline for my newest (and most favorite!) character yet.

I'm currently level 10, so 2 Ranger/8 Bard.

I'm not one to follow builds by-the-book, so I changed some things. I made a few alterations to this build:
- Focused wholly on melee DPS. I took Khopesh proficiency, Oversized Two Weapon Fighting, Toughness, and Extend Spell.
- Dropped Dex and Con a few points in order to raise Cha. My current Strength is 24 and my Charisma is 18. These numbers are with enhancements and enchantments. (I believe Dex and Con are both at 16.)
- Didn't take Dodge or Mobility, as I've never been big on tumbling.

I'm not sure what remaining Feats I'll end up taking. Possibly Weapon Focus: Slashing, for one, as I still haven't taken that. I do have Power Attack and absolutely love it; wouldn't trade it for the world. Maybe another combat-focused Feat?

I love the character overall. I rank in the Top 2 of the kill charts on nearly every quest. Using two +3 Holy Khopesh, my damage is just flat-out ridiculous.

With extended Haste and Displacement, I feel invincible, despite my abysmally low AC and relatively weak Will Saves. (Which reminds me, Force of Personality might be a nice Feat addition.)

The Ranger elemental resists/boosts are really cool too.

My only gripe with the build is the lack of SP, but that's more a Bard thing than a build flaw. I considered throwing in a level of Sorceror for the mana boost, but I really don't think it's necessary. (I used Soundburst and the other Sonic damage Bard spells frequently on my previous character and miss them like crazy!)

I've also gotten in more than one party and had someone say disparaging things about my build and Bards in general, since people obviously only see the Bard icon, not the Ranger portion, and assume I'll put out terrible DPS. Normally the kill charts can shut them up pretty quickly though.

:)

[aristarchus1000]

Be aware that Dodge/Mobility/Spring Attack are for Tempest I requirements, not for the benefit of the feats themselves.

[z0mbyjr]

Yeah... you can't exactly be a Tempest Warchanter without being, you know, a Tempest. If you drop DEX too much, you won't qualify for GTWF. You will need weapon focus slashing to get Warchanter... For this build, I think OTWF is useless. You only gain 2 points of attack bonus on each hand... the feats are better spent somewhere else, especially due to the feat starved-ness. You'll want extend spell later, but Tempest first is more useful in this case. You can get away with getting Extend at 6, since you won't actually need Tempest until 16, which extend is 15. (Dodge, Mobility, and SA are kinda useless till then.)