A dwarf FvS build I've been thinking about, need opinions from the experts :D

[zopzop]

Before we start, yes I've based this off Melkor's Warforged FvS that I love and play :)

Race : Dwarf (32 point build)

Deity : The Silver Flame

Stats : 16 STR, 10 DEX, 16 CON, 14 INT, 10 WIS, 12 CHA.

Skills : UMD, Concentration, Balance, Jump

Feats : Toughness, Power Attack, Weapon Proficiency Martial : Great Axe, Maximize, Empower, Empower Healing, Quicken

Enhancements : Dwarf Axe Attack I-II, Dwarf Axe Damage I-II, Dwarven Constitution I-II, Favored Soul Charisma I, Racial Toughness I-IV, Favored Soul Toughness I-IV, Favored Soul Life Magic I-IV, Capstone, Favored Soul Smiting I-IV, Favored Soul Incredible Smiting I-III, Favored Soul Prayer of Incredible Smiting I-III, Dwarven Spell Resistance I-III

I went Dwarf because of the bonus vs spells (up to +5 with enhancements!), the bonus to the Balance skill (+4!), same HP potential as a Warforged but easier to solo since you dont' have the -50% healing penalty, and Dwarven bonus to attacking with Axes.

I went Silver Flame because this is a damage build and unlike the Lord of Blades capstone spell, this spell is actually useful for something :P

The stats are distributed as such because a) I hate taking negatives to saves and b) you can't rely on Tomes (so expensive), I'm a new player.

This is just a skeleton and I'm trying to flesh it out more but I need input from more experienced players. Basically this build fails completely if a) the cooldown on the Silver Flame capstone spell is long and b) the Dwarven racial bonuses to saves don't stack with other save types (resistance, etc...).

Can anyone tell me what kind of damage I'm looking at with Searing Light with all the enhancements I listed above + a 50% light boosting damage item + Empower/Maximize on?

[AylinIsAwesome]

I doubt you'll need Maximize, Empower and Empower Healing.

Drop either Empower or Empower Healing for Improved Critical. Keep Empower Healing if you can't spend the 12 APs to reduce the cost of Empower.

[zopzop]

I wanted to keep all three because I didn't want to sacrifice anything in my ability to heal teams.

Basically wanted : Maximize + Empower + Empower Healing for my Mass Cure X spells. Wanted Maximize + Empower for my FvS capstone spell Searing Light. Wanted Maximize + Empower Healing for my Heal and Mass Heal spells.

The reason why I didn't bother with IC : Slashing is because I heard you can get it off Greensteel items?

[Impatiens]

Wanted Maximize + Empower Healing for my Heal and Mass Heal spells.


Maximize doesn't affect Heal and Mass Heal

[zopzop]

Dang. All the more reason why I can't drop any of the metamagic feats I selected.

Three quick questions :

1) Is my math right? Searing Light with enhancements and a +50% damage boosting item with Empower and Maximize = 228 damage per casting (40*1.9*1.5*2 = 228)? Crit hitting for 513 with the above enhancements?

2) Do items that improve spell chances to crit hit stack with enhancements that improve a spells crit hit chance?

3) Can Improved Crit : Slashing can be gotten from Greensteel weapons?

[Matuse]

2 - Yes, items stack with enhancements stack with feats. However, Light spells have no type specific item, so you have to use Arcane Lore (which works on everything). Arcane Lore items are -not- very common.

3 - Imp Crit is not found on greensteel. Mineral II greensteel weapons have Keen/Impact which duplicates the effect of Imp Crit for THAT weapon. If you want something besides a Mineral weapon, or if you want to use weapons with other effects (like Banishment) that occur on crits, you'll need the feat.

[AylinIsAwesome]

I don't have Empower Healing on my FvS. While I would like to use it on Mass Heal sometimes, I find I often don't need it since Mass Cure Serious and Mass Heal can keep everyone up most of the time.

[Logic]

Dang. All the more reason why I can't drop any of the metamagic feats I selected.

Three quick questions :

1) Is my math right? Searing Light with enhancements and a +50% damage boosting item with Empower and Maximize = 228 damage per casting (40*1.9*1.5*2 = 228)? Crit hitting for 513 with the above enhancements?

2) Do items that improve spell chances to crit hit stack with enhancements that improve a spells crit hit chance?

3) Can Improved Crit : Slashing can be gotten from Greensteel weapons?

1:
Searing light capstone does 5d8. This is 22.5 average damage. However some spell dice are weighted, and 1d8 becomes 1d6+2 or 1d4+4 for 27.5 or 32.5 average damage respectively. I am not sure if the searing light dice are weighted. I am not sure where you got your base of 40 from.

Assuming the dice are weighted (1d8 = 1d4+4), with 40% enhancements, 50% item, maximize, and empower, the capstone will do
32.5*(1+0.4+0.5)*(1+0.5+1.0) = 154 damage (maximize and empower add, not multiply)
It will do 175 average damage if you use a superior 75% clicky/pot instead of a 50% item.

2: Yes items stack with enhancements. With a greater arcane lore item and full enhancements you will crit 18% of the time for x2.5 for an average crit of 437 damage when using a 75% click/pot.

[zopzop]

Thank you so much Logic for the number crunching! Dang, 154 points of damage is trash (and that's using the best case numbers :( ).

Logic, one last question, what's the recharge/cooldown time of the Silver Flame Capstone?

[Logic]

Thank you so much Logic for the number crunching! Dang, 154 points of damage is trash (and that's using the best case numbers :( ).

Logic, one last question, what's the recharge/cooldown time of the Silver Flame Capstone?

I *think* its 6 seconds.

[nayozz]

+75% damage ?
isnt the clicky pot max capped to +50% ?
where can i find +75% clicky pots ?

[sirgog]

+75% damage ?
isnt the clicky pot max capped to +50% ?
where can i find +75% clicky pots ?

Read the Update 3 release notes. The game telling you 50% is a bug, they are 75% now.

[unbongwah]

I know you're after the SF capstone, but this really seems like a build which would benefit from a fighter splash early on: martial weapons + heavy armor + tower shields + extra feat would definitely let you add Imp Crit. Though giving up your other FvS capstone abilities sucks too. *sigh* If only there was a dwarf FvS deity who used axes!

[zopzop]

@unbongwah

Yeah a Dwarven deity would have been awesome especially if it's Capstone spell was worth it.

But regarding the Fighter level and IC : Slashing, I don't think it's worth it. I would lose too much : the DR, spell slots, Capstone spell, and Charisma boost. I believe you can get IC : Slashing off Mineral II Greensteel items (but you can always drop Empower Healing and pick up IC : Slashing even though I don't think you have to and I'd rather not :D).

But after searching the forums I think I'm gonna go ahead and try this build out. Thanks to everyone who provided me with answers and especially Logic (who number crunched the Capstone for me). I mean 150 (400 on crit) damage is a joke but a) it uses no SP and b) Light damage isn't resisted by any enemy in the game.

Comparing this to Melkor's build (which this build is a copy of) -

Both builds have :
a) the same HP potential
b) the same healing/buffing potential

This build has :
a) Better to hit with power attack on (+4)
b) Added damage boost from the Capstone (150-400 every 6 seconds more vs undead and resisted by nothing in game)
c) Better saves
d) Easier to solo early on because of no -50% divine healing penalty

Melkor's has :
a) Better immunities
b) +6 more damage per swing with power attack on
c) +3 better DR
d) Can be healed by either Arcane or Divine casters

[aristarchus1000]

1:
Searing light capstone does 5d8. This is 22.5 average damage. However some spell dice are weighted, and 1d8 becomes 1d6+2 or 1d4+4 for 27.5 or 32.5 average damage respectively. I am not sure if the searing light dice are weighted. I am not sure where you got your base of 40 from.

Assuming the dice are weighted (1d8 = 1d4+4), with 40% enhancements, 50% item, maximize, and empower, the capstone will do
32.5*(1+0.4+0.5)*(1+0.5+1.0) = 154 damage (maximize and empower add, not multiply)
It will do 175 average damage if you use a superior 75% clicky/pot instead of a 50% item.

2: Yes items stack with enhancements. With a greater arcane lore item and full enhancements you will crit 18% of the time for x2.5 for an average crit of 437 damage when using a 75% click/pot.

Items and Enhancements and Feats do stack, but I don't think they multiply (like they should in math, law of association), but add.

For example, my Heal spells does 285 healing.

That is:
150 + 60 (40% from enhancements) + 75 (50% superior potency) = 285.

If they multiplied like you have above, the number would be:
150 * 1.4 * 1.5 = 315... which it is not. My Heal spell does 285 every time (except on crits).

Turbine isn't good at math.