Kurzun Xen'Umbra TR1 (A personal build)

[sigtrent]

Note: This is one of my own characters. Its not all that interesting a build being neither very exotic, nor especially powerful, and its TR so not a great template. The goal was an easy and pleasant tour of the FVS class.

Build Name: Kurzun XenUmbra TR1
Author: Sigfried Trent
Requester: Sigfried Trent
Last Updated: 08/06/10

Key Words [Favored Soul, TR]

Objectives
I wanted to have a character to work on completionist with and at the time my Drow finesse battlewizard-rogue was capped but finding life at high levels a challenge. His rogue skills were great but his combat prowess was a bit sketchy as the investments in skirmish fighting near useless, while Shavarath was not kind to casters of any sort, much less multi-talent multi-class builds.

So TR it was. I didn’t have a favored soul other than some lowbie slot fillers so I wanted to do that first off. Also the wizard TR feats are great for favored souls. While I wanted to be mostly pure, a completionist doesn’t much care about endcaps, leveling is harder without a decent AC at low level, and I had stuff like fullplate of the defender and some beefy named shields banked. Thus I felt taking paladin or fighter at level 1 would be a good idea just to make leveling a breeze while my casting developed.

Design
I picked elf partly for RP reasons. I wanted drow, but the builds just weren’t there for it. So I went elf and dressed him up like a drow with white hair and grey skin. I do play up the longsword gig, especially at lower levels where its my only offense. Later on casting takes over the focus and melee is just something to do for fun.

I can’t claim much originality here. The feats are a balance of control casting and damage casting. Arcane Initiate is amazing to have on a favored soul as is Wizard Past life but it does sort of slow down the usual progression of favored soul feats.

I think it fits the request very well offering an easy time leveling and a good taste of the favored soul class as an offensive caster and healer at high levels. Then its on to sorcerer...


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.5.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Level 20 Lawful Good Elf Male
(1 Paladin \ 19 Favored Soul)
Hit Points: 304
Spell Points: 1754
BAB: 14\14\19\24
Fortitude: 17
Reflex: 13
Will: 19

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(34 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 14 16
Dexterity 10 12
Constitution 14 16
Intelligence 10 12
Wisdom 16 25
Charisma 14 17

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)
Balance 2 8
Bluff 2 3
Concentration 6 26
Diplomacy 2 3
Disable Device n/a n/a
Haggle 2 3
Heal 3 7
Hide 0 1
Intimidate 2 3
Jump 2 25
Listen 3 9
Move Silently 0 1
Open Lock n/a n/a
Perform n/a n/a
Repair 0 1
Search 0 3
Spot 3 9
Swim 2 3
Tumble n/a n/a
Use Magic Device n/a n/a

Level 1 (Paladin)
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Wizard
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host


Level 2 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Diety) Favored by the Sovereign Host
Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds
Spell (1): Nightshield
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness I


Level 3 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Arcane Initiate
Spell (1): Command
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Charisma I


Level 4 (Favored Soul)
Spell (1): Divine Favor
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Attack I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Prayer of Smiting I


Level 5 (Favored Soul)
Spell (2): Resist Energy
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wisdom I


Level 6 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Acid
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Spell (2): Deific Vengance
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness II


Level 7 (Favored Soul)
Spell (3): Cure Serious Wounds
Enhancement: Unyielding Sovereignty


Level 8 (Favored Soul)
Spell (3): Searing Light
Spell (2): Bull's Strength
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic III


Level 9 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell
Spell (4): Divine Power
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wisdom II


Level 10 (Favored Soul)
Spell (2): Bear's Endurance
Spell (3): Remove Curse
Spell (4): Panacea
Enhancement: Favored Soul Prayer of Smiting II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Prayer of Incredible Smiting I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Prayer of Incredible Smiting II


Level 11 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Sonic
Spell (5): Raise Dead
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic IV


Level 12 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Maximize Spell
Spell (5): Greater Command
Spell (4): Holy Smite
Spell (3): Prayer
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting III


Level 13 (Favored Soul)
Spell (6): Blade Barrier
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting IV


Level 14 (Favored Soul)
Spell (4): Freedom of Movement
Spell (5): True Seeing
Spell (6): Heal
Enhancement: Favored Soul Prayer of Smiting III


Level 15 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell
Spell (7): Destruction
Enhancement: Favored Soul Prayer of Incredible Smiting III
Enhancement: Favored Soul Spell Penetration I


Level 16 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Electricity
Spell (5): Symbol of Pain
Spell (6): Banishment
Spell (7): Greater Restoration
Enhancement: Favored Soul Longsword Specialization I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Spell Penetration II


Level 17 (Favored Soul)
Spell (8): Mass Death Ward
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Damage II


Level 18 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Spell Penetration
Spell (8): Death Pact
Spell (7): Protection From Elements, Mass
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion II


Level 19 (Favored Soul)
Spell (9): Implosion
Enhancement: Favored Soul Spell Penetration III


Level 20 (Favored Soul)
Spell (8): Mass Cure Critical Wounds
Spell (9): True Resurrection
Enhancement: Favored Soul Longsword Specialization II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wand and Scroll Mastery I




Play
I’m only at level 3 at the moment all through solo only play. I did get killed on my first quest guarding the canith crystal. I was going un-twinked and forgot that without any healing at all... well bad things can happen. But after hitting level 2 and twinking out he was pretty much indestructable. Adamantine fullplate is great at that level as it negates all the many grazing hits you take. Kurzun just kind of plows through quests at a steady but inevitable pace chewing steadily through monsters with a longsword and healing the occasional bit of damage that gets through his defenses. The magic missiles are fun and handy for picking of targets that don’t like to stand still.

Variations
I did a fighter version of this as well but decided in the end I liked paladin for the extra attack bonus on longswords and the bonus to saves and ac at low level. I couldn’t find any really good use for the fighter bonus feat at first level and paladin also offers a small sp boost.

[Goldeneye]

Would you like a build critique or a pat on the back? :)

Edit: critique:

1 paladin = more FvS spells/sp
2 paladin = Adds your CHA to your saves. Also gives mini-lay on hands :P

10 DEX / 10 INT don't provide much, You could drop INT to 8, use a INT tome at lvl 7, and put those points into jump. w/ jump pots, and casters who have the spell, jump isn't all that important.

Without any melee feats, using a melee weapon is only going to be useful until level 8 at most. You would almost be better off with a THF weapon at low levels... and going Human or Warforged. Elfs aren't bad.. but unless your getting a benefit from the longsword damage or dex bonus, there are better races.

Feats are pretty standard. If you are TR'ing immediately, spell penetration won't be used as often as if you were staying lvl 20. ... though your next best option is mental toughness.

Personally, I would make a melee FvS (twf, pa, imp crit) for low/mid levels, then Lesser Reincarnate to a Caster-specced favored soul at levels 14+ where they become powerful.

Just a few nit-picky things... overall seems like a pretty good fvs

[sigtrent]

Would you like a build critique or a pat on the back? :)

I like both. In this case the critique is mostly for learning or folks that may see the build and want to try it. I already rolled the character up so its only for my benefit if you teach me something.

Pats on the back... hey, everyone likes those. :) But that's not the goal here. There is nothing I'd call brilliant or innovative about this build so I'm not sure it warrants much kudos unless you like my characters name a lot. :)

I have a selection on my build index for my own characters so I figured I'd put it there. I do think its kind of interesting to see the effect on a build of not planning to play at level 20. The moment this hits 20, it goes to a level 1 sorc. Ease of leveling is more critical to play satisfaction than the end game strength of the character... which is often the opposite of what most builds do, sacrificing early game play for end game play.

[sigtrent]

Just a quick play update.

I'm level 9 and I'd rate the character as very middle of the road so far.

Its definitely solid and very hard to kill if you are paying attention. So far I've been able to keep his AC at a very respectable level and he is rarely hit in melee combat. I think I can hold onto this up until level 12 or so, perhaps a bit beyond.

The sword and shield DPS is obviously slow so this is a slow, methodical character that trudges through dungeons (when solo) methodically beating down enemies and throwing the occasional heal, rarely if ever in fear for its life.

Hitting level 9, I can now heal a bit better with quicken. I'm a poor healer player and tend to throw heals a bit late and expect others to top themselves off. Quicken lets me react faster when I realize I should have been helping someone :) I expect my healing role to grow more and more now.

The Magic Missiles are handy, mostly for shooting down enemies that like to jump and run away after you rush in and beat on them. Especially nice when fighting kobolds that throw out globes of darkness. I really have it for the +DC, but the missiles are just plain fun.

Summary: It ain't awesome, but it sure doesn't suck.

[DrNuegebauer]

I'm level 9 and I'd rate the character as very middle of the road so far.


Hate to say it - but you kinda pigeonholed yourself that way with the build setup! Taking 18 starting wisdom would've been a bit better - you could've done that with just 2 less in dex, int and chr (basically no loss at all).

I'd ditch the pally level too - it does nothing for you except drop your spell pen a point (may not be an issue with the wiz PL I guess) - but why 1 pally, why not either 2 pally or 2 monk?

Anyway - you'll find it easy enough to be 'healer' and DCs will be decent enough

[sigtrent]

Hate to say it - but you kinda pigeonholed yourself that way with the build setup! Taking 18 starting wisdom would've been a bit better - you could've done that with just 2 less in dex, int and chr (basically no loss at all).

I was looking more for an easy character than an exceptional character. This is my "compeltionist" toon so its more focused on leveling than end game competence. I may LR at some point though just to focus on casting in late game. I am not fond of Sorcs and FS sue to how long it takes their casting and overall build to ramp up. Awesome classes, but I'm impatient I suppose.


I'd ditch the pally level too - it does nothing for you except drop your spell pen a point (may not be an issue with the wiz PL I guess) - but why 1 pally, why not either 2 pally or 2 monk?

It was partly an error in judgement to be honest. I mostly wanted access to weapons and armor, but I forgot that FS had medium armor (and thus mithral FP use). I realy wanted to run a high AC at lower/mid levels so I could solo easily and with little resources. It also turns out I have enough longswords I didn't really need other weapons. Not worth the LR at the moment but I may do that anyhow. Also, minor as it seems the extra 12 hp are nice starting out (toughness and 10 vs 8 from class).

[QuantumFX]

Hey Sig,

Just wanted to share a couple thoughts on the build and the thought process behind it. None of this is meant to be a put-down and all of it is meant to be food for thought.

The biggest problem I have with this build is that you compromised too much of what you wanted for a percived perk. I think you could have gotten more of what you wanted by simply going with what you wanted.

In this specific example: If you ever need to worry about “Boss DPS” you’re probably going to want a rapier over a longsword anyway. (You get that proficency for free anyway.) In the few cases where a slashing weapon is better, you’re probably going to enjoy a Sunblade rather than a generic longsword. And if you went with Soverign Host for the mega heal clickie you’ll still do fine in the few situations where a longsword is an OK DPS option. Also, as a FvS, the innate SR is a nice perk over the elf.

Generically: I think that if you really want to hit completionist with a Drow you should go for it. While not every race is going to be “the best” for a specific class you will find that you can make a kick ass character of any race that will qualify you for the PL feat you want.

Also, while a “transient TR build” doesn’t need to worry about level 20 it does need to think about levels 1-19. In some cases this can hamstring you, in other cases it can open up build ideas you would have never considered with a level 20 character. I think you already realized all the issues with the paladin splash so I won’t go there.