Critique request for my current build idea

[azrael4h]

Just a quick check to see how well this stacks up. Feel free to tear it apart.

Female Human TN

Starting stats, any not listed were dumped:
STR 14
CON 14
WIS 18 - All level up points put here
CHA 12

Feats:
Falchion, Toughness, Empower, Extend, Maximize, Heighten, Spell Penetration, Improved Spell Penetration

Spell list will change as I level up, right now I'm level 4 (vet build), and have Command, Cure Light and Moderate, and Divine Favor as my main spells. I also have Nimbus of Light for things that are unhandy to reach with melee, and resistant to arrows. I'll eventually swap Nimbus out (in about two levels).

Taking Falchion was for some melee dps ability, and the Human extra feat helped there. I usually run Elf, but couldn't hit 14 CON without sacrificing too much elsewhere. And I don't like running without a minimum of 14 CON. The goal is a FvS capable of casting primarily, but able to fight in melee and contribute meaningful damage. I haven't ran anything noteworthy with this build yet, but so far it seems capable. I went Silver Flame for the Longbow feat, so I'm not stuck with a crossbow if I need to go ranged.

[lemonarian]

It can work, definitely. Melee capabilities will suffer without feats like power attack and improve crit, but if you just want to whack at a few mobs once in a while this can work.

When I TR my fvs I'll be doing something similar (except I'll take greataxe so I can use carnifex) - up to level 12 where you get blade barrier. Then LR into pure caster.

Anyhow, speaking of Blade Barrier... you really, really need quicken spell. For obvious reasons.

Empower healing is IMO a must have as well if you're planning on raid healing etc.

[Darkrok]

Swap the Falchion feat out when you get take Blade Barrier to pick up Quicken. The stats you used are identical to my FvS and work well, though I've always just used a longsword.

[Matuse]

You do not need empower heal to raid heal. I don't have it, and it has NEVER been an issue (and no, I do not have the sovereign host capstone either).

You will want Quicken. Concentration stops being a useful skill in the mid-teens, and even if that were not true, trying to get off blade barriers and mass heals without Quicken is like trying to pedal the bike portion of a triathlon on a child-sized tricycle.

[lemonarian]

Note: "IMO"

No, I agree, it's not 100% required. I ran without it for a very long time (instead having greater evocation focus) and I've healed just about everything without the feat.

However, since I did pick it up, I've not looked back. I wouldn't even think of dropping it again. As this is the only feat that boosts up your Heal and Heal, Mass it's really a big help, especially healing WF barbarians (without all the healing amp gear) through intense fights etc. I also use the sovereign host capstone a lot (yes, I did even before the update) and the extra boost to free heals is very nice, especially when using it to heal yourself when soloing etc.

[azrael4h]

Actually, I was thinking of swapping Extend out for Quicken around that time. It's mostly for the earlier levels, when my buffs' duration is short enough that I'll need to keep recasting them. By level 9 or so, it's no longer as useful, and becomes a candidate for swap. I'd like to keep a two handed weapon around though, for effective backup. My cleric is a bit painful to fight with, using a Longsword and shield. I may not take extend at all though, and just deal without for a few levels. I may reroll for Greataxe though, should be more common to find at any rate, and I'd forgotten about Carnifex.

Unfortunately, while I was typing earlier, I glanced at the time, and realized it was getting late. So thoughts like that were forgotten.

I despise healing pugs with the sort of scorn normally reserved for war criminals and members of congress, so raid healing wf isn't an issue. I'll be raiding with my guild, and I'm the only one with WF. No one else will pay for them. As it is, I'm not sure how well we'll handle raids, since we're about 4 short, if the entire guild shows up.

[Angelus_dead]

I went Silver Flame for the Longbow feat, so I'm not stuck with a crossbow if I need to go ranged.
That's a pretty poor decision, because:
1. Ranged combat is of hardly any importance
2. A longbow really isn't any better than a crossbow (unless you spent a lot of feats on it)

Since you're already learning a different martial weapon, your choice between Sovereign Host and Silver Flame should be done by comparing the two capstone spells: Cure Light Wounds of Searing Light.

[Illiain]

If you really want to use a two hander, why not go WF Lord of Blades, and get all the free class feats that enhance it. You can still get all your meta magic feats and you don't need the bonus human feat for Falchion.

[azrael4h]

If you really want to use a two hander, why not go WF Lord of Blades, and get all the free class feats that enhance it. You can still get all your meta magic feats and you don't need the bonus human feat for Falchion.

Because if I'm staring at something's butt for hours upon hours, I want it to be attractive. I prefer Elf for that sole reason, but Humans (and now Halflings) are acceptable. I don't play Dwarves for much the same reason, and probably won't bother with Half Orcs either (though they also don't provide anything to most of the classes I play generally). :P I thought about WF, but I like high-DC casters, and they take a double hit in exchange for the axe feat.

If only elves in this game were some variant that took another stat for the penalty instead of the standard -2 CON.

As far as ranged combat, I tried a crossbow once, with my sorcerer. Quickly ran Sharn shortly after to get a nicked longbow to replace my flaming crossbow. It is slow compared to the long bow.

I don't use ranged much, most trying to draw isolated enemies towards me, or tackling a critter that is either unreachable with melee or unhandy to reach, and I don't want to waste sp/don't have offensive spells.

Capstone isn't a big issue, since I'll spend a lot more time at levels 1-19 than 20. I'll either TR, or roll a different character from scratch and try another build. Or leave DDO entirely by that point, whichever. Unless Turbine pushes cap up to real epic levels, which I doubt will happen any time soon. Regardless, a free damage spell is more useful to me than a weak, single target heal that I don't hardly use past level 7 anyway. At level 9, it goes off my Hotbar, as I'll just hit the mass version instead.

At any rate, I think I'm going to respec for Great Axe, and not bother taking Extend to swap out later. I may consider taking the Host; depends on my mood and what the other enhancements that come with it are. I didn't have the builder handy before. Thanks all, and happy questing.

[Wildseed]

I just use a returning throwing dagger, easy, fast and no problem