Graceful smasher - feedback requested

[Marthesis]

Working out possible options for my 2nd TR, and I'm beginning to like the look of this Tempest/Frenzied Berserker build, but I'm having some issues with it.


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.12.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Level 20 True Neutral Half-Orc Male
(6 Barbarian \ 2 Rogue \ 12 Ranger)
Hit Points: 280
Spell Points: 140
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 17
Reflex: 15
Will: 5

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(36 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 20 29
Dexterity 12 15
Constitution 16 18
Intelligence 12 14
Wisdom 8 8
Charisma 6 6

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 3
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)
Balance 5 6
Bluff -2 -2
Concentration 3 4
Diplomacy -2 -2
Disable Device 5 25
Haggle 2 2
Heal -1 -1
Hide 1 2
Intimidate -2 -2
Jump 9 13
Listen -1 -1
Move Silently 1 2
Open Lock 5 21
Perform n/a n/a
Repair 1 2
Search 5 25
Spot 3 22
Swim 8 12
Tumble 2 3
Use Magic Device 2 21

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Cleric
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Monk
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


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


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave


Level 4 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 5 (Ranger)


Level 6 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge


Level 7 (Barbarian)


Level 8 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider


Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Mobility


Level 10 (Barbarian)


Level 11 (Barbarian)


Level 12 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack


Level 13 (Barbarian)


Level 14 (Barbarian)


Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 16 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 17 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Construct


Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Blow


Level 19 (Ranger)


Level 20 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost II
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Frenzied Berserker I
Enhancement: Orcish Fury I
Enhancement: Orcish Power Attack I
Enhancement: Orcish Power Attack II
Enhancement: Orcish Power Attack III
Enhancement: Orcish Power Rage I
Enhancement: Orcish Strength I
Enhancement: Orcish Strength II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance II
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution I
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution II
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
Enhancement: Barbarian Improved Trap Sense I
Enhancement: Barbarian Improved Trap Sense II
Enhancement: Rogue Wand and Scroll Mastery I




Tempest attack speed weapons with Frenzy's viciousness and 40 STR before equipment or raid buffs is applied (29 + 7Rage + 2Frenzy + 2Ram's Might), Power attack giving +10 damage, Stunning blow with a very solid DC, level 12 Ranger spells for utility, trapmonkey, and a basic UMD.

Some obvious problems though: Feat starvation. I can't afford Toughness without giving up Stunning blow or improved critical, all the other feats are requirements for the prestige enhancements, which leaves me at horrible hp for the self-damage I'll be taking. I'll be using Scimitars as well, since there's certainly no room for Kopeshes in the current build.

So I come to the internet for help. Is there any way to change things to fix this? Can the hp weakness be compensated for with equipment? (When raged, I do have 340 hp pre-equipment...) How much am I hurting myself abandoning the kopesh as opposed to, say, IC:Slashing?

Worst comes to worst, I can salvage the build by sacrificing UMD, trapmonkey, 1d6+3 SA, and skills in general and replacing the 2 Rogue levels with 2 Fighter levels, getting the oh so useful +2 feats.

[Marthesis]

For reference, comparison, the build I'd try if going 2 Fighter instead:


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.12.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Level 20 True Neutral Half-Orc Male
(2 Fighter \ 6 Barbarian \ 12 Ranger)
Hit Points: 370
Spell Points: 140
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 21
Reflex: 12
Will: 5

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(36 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 20 30
Dexterity 12 15
Constitution 18 20
Intelligence 6 8
Wisdom 8 8
Charisma 6 6

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 3
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)
Balance 1 2
Bluff -2 -2
Concentration 4 5
Diplomacy -2 -2
Disable Device n/a n/a
Haggle -2 -2
Heal -1 -1
Hide 5 21
Intimidate -2 -2
Jump 9 27
Listen -1 -1
Move Silently 5 25
Open Lock n/a n/a
Perform n/a n/a
Repair -2 -1
Search -2 -1
Spot 3 22
Swim 5 10
Tumble n/a n/a
Use Magic Device n/a n/a

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Cleric
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Monk
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 2 (Ranger)


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 4 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Dodge


Level 5 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Mobility


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack


Level 7 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider


Level 8 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 9 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Khopesh


Level 10 (Barbarian)


Level 11 (Barbarian)


Level 12 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Cleave


Level 13 (Barbarian)


Level 14 (Barbarian)


Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 16 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 17 (Ranger)


Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Construct
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Blow


Level 19 (Ranger)


Level 20 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Frenzied Berserker I
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Stunning Blow) I
Enhancement: Orcish Fury I
Enhancement: Orcish Power Attack I
Enhancement: Orcish Power Attack II
Enhancement: Orcish Power Attack III
Enhancement: Orcish Power Rage I
Enhancement: Orcish Strength I
Enhancement: Orcish Strength II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance II
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution I
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution II
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Barbarian Toughness I
Enhancement: Barbarian Toughness II

[Kinerd]

I think a bigger problem than the low health will be the low to-hit, especially in the first build. -10 PA is no joke. Epic Malicia is a bit of a silly, pointless example, but still: 68 AC. You're looking at:
19 BAB
-4 TWF
-10 PA
+2 favored enemy
+1 Tempest 2
+15 Str bonus
+5 enhancement
+2 competence
=
30
You'll probably have more, for instance 3 from 6 Str item, 3 from ship buffs, but we're talking about small increments here that are not going to get anywhere close to 68. Especially for a build with Frenzy vicious and sneak attack dice, trading 1 to hit for 1 damage might not be a good idea. Of course you'd turn PA off for high-AC mobs, but I don't think you'd be very happy spending 9 AP on something you're going to have turned off so much.

I also think you would get a lot more use out of Improved Sunder than Stunning Blow. For the 15 seconds of cooldown on SB you'll either be using a weak weapon or hemorrhaging DPS swapping weapons at 1.2 seconds a pop. Especially with two sets of boosts, Improved Sunder can very easily increase your overall attack rate, reduce enemy AC and fort, and with Tempest 2 you're very likely to get double Traumas on every press. Best of all it works on bosses.

[Marthesis]

I think a bigger problem than the low health will be the low to-hit, especially in the first build. -10 PA is no joke. Epic Malicia is a bit of a silly, pointless example, but still: 68 AC. You're looking at:
19 BAB
-4 TWF
-10 PA
+2 favored enemy
+1 Tempest 2
+15 Str bonus
+5 enhancement
+2 competence
=
30
You'll probably have more, for instance 3 from 6 Str item, 3 from ship buffs, but we're talking about small increments here that are not going to get anywhere close to 68. Especially for a build with Frenzy vicious and sneak attack dice, trading 1 to hit for 1 damage might not be a good idea. Of course you'd turn PA off for high-AC mobs, but I don't think you'd be very happy spending 9 AP on something you're going to have turned off so much.

I also think you would get a lot more use out of Improved Sunder than Stunning Blow. For the 15 seconds of cooldown on SB you'll either be using a weak weapon or hemorrhaging DPS swapping weapons at 1.2 seconds a pop. Especially with two sets of boosts, Improved Sunder can very easily increase your overall attack rate, reduce enemy AC and fort, and with Tempest 2 you're very likely to get double Traumas on every press. Best of all it works on bosses.

Well, with 12 levels of ranger, my favored enemy bonus would be +8 to hit (becomes +6 at level 10 instead of +2, and I have two enhancements for another +2), and yeah, I don't think anyone would use PA on her (+10 more), +3 from +6STR item, +3 from ship buffs, +2 heroism potion, +1 haste, +2 flanking, so I'd expect to have at least a 57 to-hit vs her, hitting on a 11+ without any exceptional STR, epic/bane weapons, madstone, or external buffs (bard song, recitation, greater heroism, sunders, destruction). Not good, but that's still hitting half the time on the highest ac-mob around before taking into account other party members or epic equipment.

That being said, yeah +10 PA might be a little overkill sometimes, but I'm hoping once geared up, I'll be using it more often than not (and the enhancement points aren't a concern at all, this build is not even close to starved on points. I don't know what I'd take in its place). Also, dropping stunning blow for improved sunder (which I'm a fan of when I have the feats for it) would definitely help on bosses, but I feel that would mean I wouldn't be able to help much at all on epic trash, which I'm not sure I'd like.