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databass
05-06-2012, 04:19 AM
Gommora the Faithless - Pure Paladin Tank

I made this toon to tank raids for my guild (The Order of Cannith). In the process she has managed to gain a bit of recognition on the Cannith server. Some of you reading this guide may have grouped with her or heard of her. I get a lot of questions about the build and the gear, so I thought I would post it here on the forums for anyone who might be interested. There are other tank builds that can achieve higher AC than this build and/or that have evasion/improved evasion. That being said, those builds are generally mixed class and multiple TR. In most cases, I prefer single class builds for the capstone enhancement. This toon is a first life 32 point human build and there may be things I've missed or haven't thought to add to it or to this guide. Any suggestions for improvement are welcome as long as they pertain to the build as a single class first life paladin tank.

As for tanking ability, this build has very high AC, saves, threat generation, and intimidate, as well as good hp and DR. However, it is very gear dependent, is a 32 point build, and requires a lot of farming and therefore is not suited to the newish player. This build also attains unbuffed UMD of 36.

I chose scimitars as the primary weapon type because of their critical threat range and because this build doesn't have enough feats to spend one on Exotic Weapon Proficiency.

Gommora has tanked raids quite easily on hard difficulty, and some on elite with no more trouble than on hard. In addition, she has tanked both Horoth and Suulomades at the same time in hard ToD when Horoth was at 50% health (caster dots could not pull Suulomades away, even though I didn't use intimi after he zeroed in on me), she rabbits eVoN6 successfully and easily, and she stays in the inferno in hard Ascension Chamber.

This build has quite a bit of self-healing as well, 5 LoH's, Unyielding Sovereignty, Cure Serious Wounds, and scroll healing. Enough self-healing to survive in most cases. This build also can solo most quests on elite with a healer hireling when leveling. Gommora does an average of 56 damage per swing with Epic Kron'Zek's Cruelty (per damage calculator from DDO Forums), not accounting for DR, Lightning Strike procs, or damage buffs.

With the proper gear and the right feats/enhancements this build can achieve:

Unbuffed

79 AC
58/46/56 saves
75 intimidate
175% threat
+30/+31 attack bonus (sword and board)
84 AC/24 DR blocking
DR 5/Chaotic 5/Good
802 hp
647 sp
36 UMD

Hit Points: 200 Base + 220 Constitution Bonus + 144 Feat Bonus + 105 Enchanted Bonus
+ 133 Defender of Siberys stance (a bug causes this to display as "Negative
Level Penalty") = 802 Total

Spell Points: 260 Base + 87 Ability Bonus + 300 Enchanted Bonus = 647 Total

Armor Class: 10 Base + 5 Dexterity Bonus + 16 Armor Bonus + 9 Shield Bonus + 5 Natural Armor
Bonus + 6 Deflection Bonus + 11 Dodge Bonus + 12 Misc Bonus + 5 Feat Bonus = 79
Total

Blocking Armor Bonus: 2 Base + 3 Feat Bonus = 5 Total

Fortitude Save: 12 Base + 11 Constitution Mod + 15 Feat Bonus + 20 Enchanted Bonus = 58 Total

Reflex Save: 6 Base + 5 Dexterity Mod + 15 Feat Bonus + 20 Enchanted Bonus = 46 Total

Will Save: 6 Base + 15 Charisma Mod + 15 Feat Bonus + 20 Enchanted Bonus = 56 Total



With ship buffs (+2 shrines, Dhakaani Vigor, etc.)

83 AC
60/48/58 saves
175% threat
77 intimidate
+37/+38 attack bonus (sword and board)
88 AC/24 DR blocking
DR 5/Chaotic 5/Good
826 hp
676 sp
37 UMD



With potions, self buffs, and buffs from other characters


Long buffs (> 5 minutes)


Greater Heroism (caster buff/clickie) - +4 morale bonus to attacks, saves, and skill checks

Inspire Competence (Bard song) - +2 untyped bonus to all skills

Inspire Greatness (Bard song) - +2 competence bonus to Fortitude saves and attack, and 20
temporary hp

Inspire Heroics (Bard song) - +4 Dodge bonus to AC

Enchant Armor (Artificer buff) - +1 to AC

Hero's Companion (Halfling buff) - +3 miscellaneous bonus to AC, +4 to attack, and +5 to damage
and saves

Virtue (self buff) - 20 temporary hp @ caster level 20

Yugoloth Essence of Seduction - +2 stacking Charisma, -4 Fortitude save, +8 Fortitude save vs.
poison

Yugoloth Essence of Desire - +2 stacking Constitution, +20 hp (+40hp with added Con), -5% melee
speed

Lasting Elixir of Supreme Ability - +2 stacking all stats (stacks with all other bonuses)

Spider Cult Mask - +1 to Charisma skills

91 AC
77/59/69 saves
175% threat
86 intimidate
+47/+48 attack bonus (sword and board)
96 AC/24 DR blocking
DR 5/Chaotic 5/Good
906 hp
705 sp
46 UMD



Short buffs (< 5 minutes)


Haste (caster buff/clickie) - +1 enhancement bonus to attack rolls, +1 dodge bonus to AC and
reflex saves

Recitation (scroll/cleric/FvS buff) - +2 luck bonus to attack and AC

Prayer (self/cleric/FvS buff) - +1 luck bonus to attack

Potion of Influence +2/+3 - +2/+3 alchemical bonus to Charisma

Potion of Eagle's Skill +2/+3 - +2/+3 alchemical bonus to Charisma skills

Potion of Health +2/+3 - +2/+3 alchemical bonus to Constitution

Potion of Reason +2/+3 - +2/+3 alchemical bonus to Wisdom

Divine Righteousness (self buff) - 100% bonus to threat (overrides but does not stack with stance)

Paladin AC Boost I - +2 action boost to AC for 20 sec.

Glorious Stand (self buff) - 20 DR/epic, immune to secondary weapon effects, reduced damage
from elemental/negative energy, double healing from positive energy

96 AC
82/65/74 saves
200% threat
91 intimidate
+51/+52 attack bonus (sword and board)
101 AC/24 DR blocking
DR 5/Chaotic 5/Good 20/Epic
926 hp
763 sp
51 UMD

Granted the last set of numbers depends on a few VERY temporary buffs (20 seconds to 5 minutes
duration) one of which can only be used once every 5 minutes (Glorious Stand), but these are legitimate numbers. Additionally, Gommora can munch a full set of Abishai cookies for +4 to INT/WIS/CHA which will boost save, intimidate, sp, and UMD numbers for 10 minutes to:

84/67/76 saves
93 intimidate
792 sp
53 UMD



STATS

End game unbuffed stats are as follows (+3 Supreme Ability Tome):

STR 28 - 12 Base + 3 Inherent + 13 Enchanted
DEX 20 - 9 Base + 3 Inherent + 8 Enchanted
CON 32 - 14 Base + 3 Inherent + 1 Feat Bonus + 14 Enchanted
INT 15 - 13 Base + 3 Inherent - 1 Enchanted
WIS 16 - 8 Base + 3 Inherent + 5 Enchanted
CHA 40 - 23 Base + 3 Inherent + 4 Feat Bonus + 10 Enchanted

Base is starting number for the stat at character creation, except for Charisma stat which was 18 at creation with 5 Charisma points added at level ups.



SKILL POINTS (spent by level)

Level 1 - Intimidate 4, Balance* 2, Jump* 2, Tumble* 1, UMD* 1
Level 2 - Diplomacy 1, Intimidate 5, Jump* 2.5, Balance* 2.5
Level 3 - Intimidate 6, Jump* 3, Balance* 3, UMD* 2
Level 4 - Intimidate 7, Balance* 3.5, Jump* 3.5, UMD* 3
Level 5 - Intimidate 8, Balance* 4, Jump* 4, UMD* 4
Level 6 - Diplomacy 3, Intimidate 9, Balance* 4.5, Jump* 4.5
Level 7 - Intimidate 10, Balance* 5, Jump* 5, UMD* 5
Level 8 - Diplomacy 5, Intimidate 11, Balance* 5.5, Jump* 5.5
Level 9 - Intimidate 12, Balance* 6, Jump* 6, UMD* 6
Level 10 - Diplomacy 7, Intimidate 13, Balance* 6.5, Jump* 6.5
Level 11 - Diplomacy 8, Intimidate 14, Balance* 7, Jump* 7, UMD* 7
Level 12 - Diplomacy 11, Intimidate 15, Balance* 7.5, Jump* 7.5
Level 13 - Diplomacy 12, Intimidate 16, Balance* 8, Jump* 8, UMD* 8
Level 14 - Diplomacy 15, Intimidate 17, Balance* 8.5, Jump* 8.5
Level 15 - Diplomacy 16, Intimidate 18, Balance* 9, Jump* 9, UMD* 9
Level 16 - Diplomacy 19, Intimidate 19, Balance* 9.5, Jump* 9.5
Level 17 - Diplomacy 20, Intimidate 20, Balance* 10, Jump* 10, UMD* 10
Level 18 - Diplomacy 21, Intimidate 21, Balance* 10.5, Jump* 10.5, Tumble* 2
Level 19 - Diplomacy 22, Intimidate 22, Balance* 11, Jump* 11, UMD* 11
Level 20 - Diplomacy 23, Intimidate 23, Tumble* 4

Totals - Diplomacy 23, Intimidate 23, Balance* 11, Jump* 11, Tumble* 4, UMD* 11
Totals with end game gear (unbuffed) - Diplomacy 50, Intimidate 75, Balance* 18, Jump* 37, Tumble* 11, UMD* 36

*Cross-class skills cost twice as much to train.



FEATS

Trained feats (in the order they were taken)

Combat Expertise (used 100% of the time, prerequisite for Defender of Siberys)

Force of Personality (adds Charisma modifier to Will saves instead of Wisdom modifier)

Toughness (acquired 2 times)

Skill Focus: Intimidate (grants a +3 bonus to all intimidate skill checks)

Shield Mastery (adds DR when using a shield)

Improved Shield Mastery (adds more DR when using a shield)

Improved Shield Bash (keep shield AC bonus while bashing and gain a 20% chance to make a
secondary shield bash while attacking)


Granted feats

Attack

Defensive Fighting

Aura of Good

Heroic Durability

Smite Evil

Religious Lore

Divine Grace (adds Charisma modifier to all saving throws)

Lay on Hands (heals for [10 + paladin level] x Charisma modifier)

Aura of Courage

Divine Health (disease immunity)

Fear Immunity

Turn Undead

Remove Disease

Light/Medium/Heavy Armor Proficiency

Shield Proficiency (General)

Simple/Martial Weapon Proficiency

Sneak (used rarely)

Sunder

Trip


Feats earned through favor

Coin Lord Finishing School Training - Grants +2 to Diplomacy and Intimidate skills.

Draconic Vitality - Increases maximum hit points by 10.



ACTION POINTS/ENHANCEMENTS (by level)

Level 1
Paladin Armor Class Boost I
Follower of the Sovereign Host
Improved Intimidate I

Level 2
Paladin Focus of Good I
Paladin Charisma I
Paladin Toughness I

Level 3
Paladin Courage of Good I
Paladin Bulwark of Good I
Paladin Resistance of Good I
Paladin Extra Lay on Hands I

Level 4
Racial Toughness I
Improved Intimidate II
Paladin Toughness II

Level 5
Human Adaptability: Constitution

Level 6
Unyielding Sovereinty
Paladin Divine Righteousness I

Level 7
Paladin Defender of Siberys I

Level 8
Paladin Bulwark of Good II
Paladin Resistance of Good II
Improved Intimidate III

Level 9
Paladin Extra Lay on Hands II
Racial Toughness II

Level 10
Paladin Charisma II

Level 11
Paladin Toughness III

Level 12
Paladin Bulward of Good III
Paladin Defender of Siberys II

Level 13
Paladin Resistance of Good III
Improved Intimidate IV

Level 14
Paladin Toughness IV

Level 15
Paladin Extra Lay on Hands III

Level 16
Racial Toughness III

Level 17
Paladin Charisma III

Level 18
Paladin Defender of Siberys III

Level 19
Paladin Bulwark of Good IV

Level 20
Paladin Weapons of Good
Human Greater Adaptability: Charisma



EQUIPMENT (end game)

Epic Cavalry Plate Tier 3 (Alchemical Armor Defense added @ Stone of Change and slotted with
Blue Augment Crystal of Nimble Moves @ Altar of Epic Rituals)

Epic Chimera's Crown (slotted with Colorless Augment Crystal of Enhanced Wisdom and Colorless
Augment Crystal of Enhanced Dexterity @ Altar of Epic Rituals)

Epic Grim's Bracelet (slotted with Blue Augment Crystal of Durability @ Altar of Epic Rituals)

Epic Brawn's Spirits (slotted with Blue Augment Crystal of Fatespinning @ Altar of Epic Rituals)

Epic Cloak of Night

Epic Ring of the Silver Concord (slotted with Yellow Augment Crystal of the Sea @ Altar of Epic
Rituals)

Belt of the Defenders of Siberys

Band of Siberys (+2 Exceptional Charisma added @ Altar of Subjugation and Eldritch Resistance
added @ Stone of Change)

Cannith Boots of Propulsion

Supreme Tyrant Green Steel Goggles of Air (SP version, +6 Charisma skills, 3 Haste clickies)

Supreme Tyrant Green Steel Bracers of Mineral II (HP version, cleansed, Heavy Fortification, 2
Stoneskin clickies)

Fabricator's Gauntlets (there are other options for the gloves slot, I use them for the 10% melee
alacrity)

Epic Swashbuckler Tier 3 (Alchemical Shield Defense added @ Stone of Change and slotted with
Blue Augment Crystal of Extreme Power @ Altar of Epic Rituals)

Epic Kron'zek's Cruelty (slotted with Red Augment Crystal of Vampire's Vulnerability @ Altar of Epic
Rituals)


Alternate/Situational Equipment

Trinket of Fire Absorption, 33% (crafted)

Trinket of Electrical Absorption, 33% (crafted)

Cloak of Ice (Fire Shield, Cold Version, 3 clickies)

Blue Fire Necklace (Fire Shield, Fire Version, 3 clickies)

Silver Flame Talisman (Negative Energy Absorption, 10 charges)

Pale Lavender Ioun Stone (upgraded, 50 levels of Spell Absorption)

Draconic Necklace (1 GH clickie)

Nyoko's Necklace (Invisibility, 3 clickies)

Golden Guile (Bluff/Diplomacy +15, +20 epic)

Necklace of Haggling +15

Ring of Solid Fog (3 or 5 clickies for HoX)

Kundarak Delving Boots (FoM)

Purging the Pantheon (Quell, 3 clickies)

Quiver of Alacrity (30% Increased Run Speed, 10% Ranged Alacrity, upgraded)

Spider Cult Mask (most importantly adds +1 intimidate)

Phiarlan Pendant of Time

Epic Cloak of Flames Tier 2 (10 Inherent Fire Resistance and 20% Fire Absorption)

Divine Vengeance

Enduring Conviction (upgraded)

Epic Brigand's Cutlass Tier 3 (slotted with Red Augment Crystal of Vampire's Vulnerability @ Altar of
Epic Rituals)

Epic Calomel Scimitar Tier 3 (slotted with Red Augment Crystal of Extreme Power @ Altar of Epic
Rituals)

Cruel Nobility (great for Eladrin in "Running with the Devils")

+1 Paralyzing Scimitar of Everbright with Festival Icy Burst (ooze/rusty killer)

+5 Holy Burst Adamantine Scimitar of Greater Construct Bane (LoB beater, crafted)

+5 Holy Burst Cold Iron Returning Throwing Axe of Greater Chaotic Outsider Bane (for ADQ2,
crafted)

+5 Supreme Tyrant Green Steel Warhammer of Positive Energy (skele/lich beater with 1 Raise Dead
clickie)

Epic Mournlode Warhammer Tier 3 (better skele/lich beater, slotted with Red Augment Crystal of
Extreme Power @ Altar of Epic Rituals)

Earthshatter Warhammer (quite effective on Earth Elementals and Gargoyles, even in Epic quests)

Epic Antique Greataxe (mainly to switch to if not tanking, slotted with Red Augment Crystal of
Extreme Power @ Altar of Epic Rituals)



As you can see from the above equipment list, a lot of farming is required to outfit this build, It requires 210 Epic Tokens, 60 Epic Raid Tokens, 2 Marks of the Abbot, materials from the Cannith Challenges adventure pack, a high level Cannith crafter, and some hard to find non-epic/epic gear as well.

I won't bother to post strategies, as there are plenty of "How to tank such and such" guides out there.

MeatSheild
05-06-2012, 02:48 PM
hmmm.... I dont realy have the time to suggest everything that I have in mind so more on that later, but as a starter I drop skill focus intim, force personality (your saves would be fine without this feat), and toughness, and I'd trade them all for sentimal dragonmarks. You loose 2hp (because of you helm) and 1 intim, but gain the ability to pick up the Efang and as your a pure pali you canslot the puppy with adda or cold iron and have a BB for more than one raid. Will talk about more stuff when I get some more time.

wax_on_wax_off
05-06-2012, 05:35 PM
hmmm.... I dont realy have the time to suggest everything that I have in mind so more on that later, but as a starter I drop skill focus intim, force personality (your saves would be fine without this feat), and toughness, and I'd trade them all for sentimal dragonmarks. You loose 2hp (because of you helm) and 1 intim, but gain the ability to pick up the Efang and as your a pure pali you canslot the puppy with adda or cold iron and have a BB for more than one raid. Will talk about more stuff when I get some more time.

Agreed.

Why 18 base charisma and 12 strength? In more difficult raids I think you will have AB issues (in fact I know that you will). I'd swap to something like 16/16 and level ups in strength.

Goob
05-07-2012, 07:36 AM
For starters your charisma is way to high and strength way to low. With saves like that though you might benefit from a 2 monk splash.

I also sugest trading force of personality for power attack. with your to-hit being so low due to lack of strength this may not be a good idea.

databass
05-14-2012, 02:47 AM
To Meatshield - Intimidation is the main focus of this toon, she has beaters for any situation, and dropping Force of Personality would drop the reflex save to the low 30's, not enough to no-fail save on anything except a 1.

To Wax On Wax Off - Again, Intimidation is the main focus. I assure you, this toon doesn't have AB issues.

To Goob - How would a monk splash (or a rogue splash for that matter) benefit a toon that uses med/heavy armor? The armor completely negates evasion! If you read the post, this is a PURE build! PA would only lower AC by not using CE. AC is the second most important aspect of this toon. She doesn't have much trouble connecting as it is and doesn't rely on damage to hold aggro. It's all about Intimi/AC/saves!

Once aggro is established, you would find it extremely difficult to pull it away from her if you could do it at all! Of course there is always some numbskull barbarian who will come in before aggro is fully established with rage and frenzy and try to pull aggro, but that is NOT smart play! I usually let them take the aggro and die, then just re-establish it.

Lustrum
05-14-2012, 03:41 AM
To Meatshield - Intimidation is the main focus of this toon, she has beaters for any situation, and dropping Force of Personality would drop the reflex save to the low 30's, not enough to no-fail save on anything except a 1.

To Wax On Wax Off - Again, Intimidation is the main focus. I assure you, this toon doesn't have AB issues.

To Goob - How would a monk splash (or a rogue splash for that matter) benefit a toon that uses med/heavy armor? The armor completely negates evasion! If you read the post, this is a PURE build! PA would only lower AC by not using CE. AC is the second most important aspect of this toon. She doesn't have much trouble connecting as it is and doesn't rely on damage to hold aggro. It's all about Intimi/AC/saves!

Once aggro is established, you would find it extremely difficult to pull it away from her if you could do it at all! Of course there is always some numbskull barbarian who will come in before aggro is fully established with rage and frenzy and try to pull aggro, but that is NOT smart play! I usually let them take the aggro and die, then just re-establish it.

From what I'm aware of, doesn't Force of Personality only drop the charisma mod to will saves? Divine grace miiight be what you're thinking of which adds the charisma mod to ALL saves, while Force just changes will save bonuses from a wisdom to charisma modifier.

And.... theres that foolish sorcerer gone wizard that can steal aggro from that 6 armed woman in the challenges :D

wax_on_wax_off
05-14-2012, 05:15 AM
To Meatshield - Intimidation is the main focus of this toon, she has beaters for any situation, and dropping Force of Personality would drop the reflex save to the low 30's, not enough to no-fail save on anything except a 1.

To Wax On Wax Off - Again, Intimidation is the main focus. I assure you, this toon doesn't have AB issues.

To Goob - How would a monk splash (or a rogue splash for that matter) benefit a toon that uses med/heavy armor? The armor completely negates evasion! If you read the post, this is a PURE build! PA would only lower AC by not using CE. AC is the second most important aspect of this toon. She doesn't have much trouble connecting as it is and doesn't rely on damage to hold aggro. It's all about Intimi/AC/saves!

Once aggro is established, you would find it extremely difficult to pull it away from her if you could do it at all! Of course there is always some numbskull barbarian who will come in before aggro is fully established with rage and frenzy and try to pull aggro, but that is NOT smart play! I usually let them take the aggro and die, then just re-establish it.

Intimitanks were great back in the day before they changed the intimidate mechanic. Now you can't get enough lead from a successful intimidate to maintain aggro through an entire 15 second cooldown without decent DPS/hate to go along with it. You need AB to hit, without AB you can't connect (in moderately challenging content) to generate hate.

Force of Personality doesn't affect reflex saves at all.

An evasion character has the option to equip a certain armour depending on the situation (med/heavy armour for AC situations, other armour for evasion situations).

Intimidate is either giving you a boost (if you have aggro) or it's putting you in front with a margin if you don't have aggro (on a successful intim). If you aren't generating your own aggro then you're relying on people not doing damage for some portion of the intim cooldown or not doing much for the whole thing (a properly built toon should steal aggro from you after 6 seconds if you aren't attacking at all).

Teharahma
05-14-2012, 05:23 AM
Fail.

Not hitting means no aggro.

Dieterstrife
05-14-2012, 06:19 AM
Use either the Epic Elyd's Edge or the Epic Dynastica Falcata. Cha to hit and damage. To hit problems.....most really solved but not as bad. And yes, if you aren't hitting the enemy you won't keep aggro.