Bastard sword builds.

[spume74]

Ok, for some ungodly reason I've always loved bastard swords. I know they aren't the sexy exotic pick when you can get a kopesh, but I've hoarded some very nice bastards swords and I want to make use of them. I've thought about a sword and shield paladin, going HOTD till 14ish then switching it up, but I have been unable to find a good BS build that doesn't include a tower shield. The other though was making a TWF fighter with bastard swords and just going as bonkers as i can with it. Any thoughts or suggestions would be great, or even links to builds that I haven't been able to unearth with my search-fu.

[Feithlin]

Ok, for some ungodly reason I've always loved bastard swords. I know they aren't the sexy exotic pick when you can get a kopesh, but I've hoarded some very nice bastards swords and I want to make use of them. I've thought about a sword and shield paladin, going HOTD till 14ish then switching it up, but I have been unable to find a good BS build that doesn't include a tower shield. The other though was making a TWF fighter with bastard swords and just going as bonkers as i can with it. Any thoughts or suggestions would be great, or even links to builds that I haven't been able to unearth with my search-fu.

TWF with BS is not efficient at all. BS are acceptable for a S&B tank, because of the glancing blows. This could change if Turbine implements the changes to epic Chimera's Fang. If they do, you will probably see more TWF dragonmarked humans (and in this case, they would be better take khop proficiency for when using weapons other than the Fang).

[TheDearLeader]

Aneist, found in my signature.

TWF Bastard Sword KotC. Epic Chimera's Fangs, Silver Slotted.

Has successfully hate tanked Horoth on Elite, post U9.

Build it right, gear it right, and even with only a x2 Crit Multiplier, tasty sexy things happen.

[guyge1]

What is the deal with TWF & Bastard Swords?
Do the Glancing blown not matter/proc with the off hand?
What about TWF with Kukri or Sickle in off hand & save the Oversized feat for a THW feat for improved glancing blows?
I rolled a BasTower of Hate build with the builder but still debating on rolling it, or waiting until I have a 36point build on its 3rd Paladin life.

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=326031
If you don't want to use tower shields then maybe Shield Bash for the 20% chance to bash while in melee.
Can always UMD Skill for Masters touch for Tower Shields later on.

[TheDearLeader]

What is the deal with TWF & Bastard Swords?
Do the Glancing blown not matter/proc with the off hand?


They only proc with Sword & Board.

[Kinerd]

Bastard swords are not as far behind khopeshes as sword and shield builds are behind TWF, especially on a paladin. A sword and shield build of any kind is going to really struggle with DPS. If you have your heart set on a bastard sword user, a TWF paladin is probably one of your best options.

[unbongwah]

Seems to me the best bastard sword in DDO is the epic Chimera Fang, especially if it gets the proposed upgrades (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3807136&postcount=52) (slot it w/good & you've got a nice LE DR breaker); but you need the Sentinel DMs to take full advantage of it. So I've messed with Sentinel-based builds before; you can see the Sentinel Squire in my sig for a couple of examples.

Here's another idea I've been toying with:


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.9.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Level 20 Lawful Good Human Female
(12 Fighter \ 6 Paladin \ 2 Monk)
Hit Points: 343
Spell Points: 50
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 24
Reflex: 17
Will: 17

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(32 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 16 26
Dexterity 14 16
Constitution 14 16
Intelligence 12 14
Wisdom 8 8
Charisma 14 16

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 Charisma used at level 7

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Force of Personality
Feat: (Human Bonus) Least Dragonmark of Sentinel
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness


Level 2 (Paladin)


Level 3 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Bastard Sword


Level 4 (Monk)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Power Attack


Level 5 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Handed Fighting


Level 6 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Lesser Dragonmark of Sentinel
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 7 (Fighter)


Level 8 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 10 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Two Handed Fighting


Level 11 (Fighter)


Level 12 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Greater Dragonmark of Sentinel
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Two Handed Fighting


Level 13 (Fighter)


Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Shield Mastery


Level 15 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Combat Expertise


Level 16 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons


Level 17 (Paladin)


Level 18 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Shield Bash


Level 19 (Paladin)


Level 20 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Paladin Armor Class Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Extra Action Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost III
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost IV
Enhancement: Kensei Greatsword Mastery I
Enhancement: Kensei Greatsword Mastery II
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei II
Enhancement: Fighter Bastard Sword Specialization I
Enhancement: Fighter Greatsword Specialization I
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery III
Enhancement: Deneith Intimidation I
Enhancement: Deneith Intimidation II
Enhancement: Deneith Intimidation III
Enhancement: Deneith Intimidation IV
Enhancement: Human Versatility I
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortoise I
Enhancement: Paladin Courage of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Bulwark of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Focus of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Resistance of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Righteousness I
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Sacrifice I
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil II
Enhancement: Paladin Defender of Siberys I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Improved Intimidate I
Enhancement: Improved Intimidate II
Enhancement: Improved Intimidate III
Enhancement: Improved Intimidate IV
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Might I




Monk splash is for feats & Evasion (not AC as this is a S&B build); paladin boosts saves & hate-tanking. Alternatively go Stalwart Defender II / KotC I. Idea is to use epic Sword of Shadow for primary DPS (except when you need something else for DR breaking); epic Chimera Fang for S&B tanking. [Bsword prof. can be swapped out if & when use epic Chimera Fang exclusively for, say, Quick Draw or extra Toughness.]

[ThePrincipal]

i have a twf bastard sword build, and the greatest benefit to this weapon is that availability of amazing weapons on the market for cheap

if you're comparing +5 met pure good khops to bswords, ok khops win, but if youre comparing your +5 met pure good bsword to that +2 flaming khop of shattermantle then obviously bsword is going to put out more dps.

the fact that bswords are about 1/10 the price of khops for 95% of the damage should be very appealing to anyone who hasnt hit their plat limit.

[Feithlin]

Seems to me the best bastard sword in DDO is the epic Chimera Fang, especially if it gets the proposed upgrades (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3807136&postcount=52) (slot it w/good & you've got a nice LE DR breaker); but you need the Sentinel DMs to take full advantage of it. So I've messed with Sentinel-based builds before; you can see the Sentinel Squire in my sig for a couple of examples.


I've started almost the same build, with the only differences being: Dex 12, Cha 12 and Con 16 ; and Dodge instead of Force of personnality. :)

[SensaiRyu]

I too like bastard swords. THF build and enjoy using Insanity when I'm not S&B.

Last my-sword-is-better-than-ur-sword thread and THF-is-better-than-TWF-no-it's-not thread, they both came out pretty close.

I like the whooshing sound when I get glances. I like the look of bastard swords. I like the prices - but which is lower is probably debatable. I've found met/good greatswords and short swords pretty cheap in the AH. Just got to keep looking. Someone's bound to put a met/good bastard sword out there for 50kpp buyout. I figure even a met/good khop could be found at a low price if you looked long enuf.

I was advised that if I wanted bastard swords to go THF for glancing blows. For an S&B intimitank after U9, I'm still happy. I did my first vision of destruction run since U9 just last night. I've been kinda tentative about whether or not I could successfully hold aggro after intim. It wasn't as hard as I expected. I kept aggro almost 100% of the time with my bastard sword.

Without intim I doubt I'd ever be able to S&B aggro.

[Dartwick]

I too like bastard swords. THF build and enjoy using Insanity when I'm not S&B.

Last my-sword-is-better-than-ur-sword thread and THF-is-better-than-TWF-no-it's-not thread, they both came out pretty close.

I like the whooshing sound when I get glances. I like the look of bastard swords. I like the prices - but which is lower is probably debatable. I've found met/good greatswords and short swords pretty cheap in the AH. Just got to keep looking. Someone's bound to put a met/good bastard sword out there for 50kpp buyout. I figure even a met/good khop could be found at a low price if you looked long enuf.

I was advised that if I wanted bastard swords to go THF for glancing blows. For an S&B intimitank after U9, I'm still happy. I did my first vision of destruction run since U9 just last night. I've been kinda tentative about whether or not I could successfully hold aggro after intim. It wasn't as hard as I expected. I kept aggro almost 100% of the time with my bastard sword.

Without intim I doubt I'd ever be able to S&B aggro.

Pure fighters easily have enough feats to afford the Bastard Sword, especially if they use a shield. Or if they are primarily a 2 hand user who occasionally picks up a shield.