Boosting Will save?

[bhgiant]

So like many Rogues, I've got a pitifully low Will save. To compensate, I've farmed out a PL Ioun Stone and a Jeweled Cloak. However, I'm finding that in the higher content, especially EE, these run out of charges FAST and more than once I've opened a door, been drained of charges, and have been left dancing, stoned, held and drooling while I die. So I'm here at the drawing board looking for ways to boost my Will save. Here's what I have so far.

6 Rogue level 20
2 Epic levels
4 18 Wis (11 base +5 augment +2 ship)
7 Resistance
2 GL
2 Brace for Impact
4 GH
total = 27 (pitiful)

Here's what I think I can do to improve.
2 22 Wis (11 base +7 augment +2 Insightful augment +2 ship)
4 Superior Parrying
4 Resilience Feat
6 Impregnable Mind
6 +6 Crafted Enchantment save
1 Stone Ritual
total = 50 (+23)

Boost Wis = wouldn't be too bad, have to buy Insightful Wisdom from somewhere and use a commendation for the +7 augment
Superior Parrying = I'd have to farm out a Balizard and keep it equipped... yeah...
Resilience Feat = I'd have to give up Precision
Impregnable Mind = have to give up 3% dodge to twist
Crafted Enchantment save = would have to put it on a trinket and give up PLIS (last time I checked this was an enhancement bonus so it should stack with resistance)
Stone Ritual = no downside, I have the plat

From what I've read, you really need to get at least 45 to be effective. I'm not sure if getting there is worth the sacrifices it would take though.

Did I miss anything?? My options are looking pretty bleak atm...

[SableShadow]

What will saves are you failing (that matter)?

Not trying to be smart alec here, I don't seem to have nearly the misfortune you are outlining, and I generally just run your first (~30 save, will have to get in game to get exact figure) example.
Brenna has wis slotted (+6), and carry a pro evil wand for those occasions in which someone doesn't AoE cast it.
She also has some gc/superior parry bracers I swap her into for some content, but that's about it.
I notice a big difference with / without Slippery Mind.

[bhgiant]

What will saves are you failing (that matter)?

Basically any EE content that has a caster with Hold, Dance etc in EGH. EH is less of a problem but he still fails regularly, I'd say ~1/2 the time.

[SableShadow]

Basically any EE content that has a caster with Hold, Dance etc in EGH. EH is less of a problem but he still fails regularly, I'd say ~1/2 the time.

Brenna's Drow, so a slightly higher enchantment save, and some hail mary SR that I don't expect to make a difference in EE. She fails saves (particularly greater command, if I lose track of pro evil), but nothing to the degree you're talking about; she only puts on spell absorb for heavy stuff (FoT lightning, Llolth curses, Disintigrate heavy mobs). Slippery Mind seems to make a bigger difference than I'd think when theorycrafting.

Are you generally the first person through the door? If so, maybe stealth for a second so someone else picks up the sight agro?

I started carrying Gust of Wind for FoT, and use it everywhere I see a dance ball go up.

[Ganolyn]

Protection From Evil should keep you from being affected by any mind controlling effects. Did they ever fix the Fragment of the Silver Flame to work correctly? If so that could be your ticket or as mentioned a PFE wand or scroll.


EDIT: Come to think of it, PFE won't help with Hold or Dance, but I suppose you could get into an ED with a Wisdom buffing line.

[voxson5]

Tr into a WF? (hold spells? What hold spells?)

Grind 3x lives as a bard and come back to rogue as an elf?


Yea I know, not ideal for your situation; but your gear list is pretty optimal afaik

[Mercureal]

I can think of a few additional options, but they may not be worth the trouble/sacrifice.

- Greensteel accessory with Exceptional Will Save +2
- GMOF Destiny Tier 4 ability Perfection of Mind: gives +6 to will save with an additional +6 against enchantment, so +12 altogether for most of the saves you'd care about. It'd be an expensive twist though, if you didn't want to run around with the destiny active.

And one more comment - the Caanith crafted enchantment save bonus doesn't stack with resistance items.

[bhgiant]

Are you generally the first person through the door? If so, maybe stealth for a second so someone else picks up the sight agro?

I am when I'm soloing :). Maybe I should have put that in the OP. When I'm grouping, I'm more than fine. Right now I'm trying to solo/sneak EE content and there are some (not many) unavoidable situations that require a face first battle with casters in the mix.

[old-school]

Farm a Parasitic Breast Plate (In The flesh) - ML16 and considered light armor. You can upgrade it with Xoriat Madness: Alien Mind to get a +10 to your will save.

[voxson5]

I am when I'm soloing :). Maybe I should have put that in the OP. When I'm grouping, I'm more than fine. Right now I'm trying to solo/sneak EE content and there are some (not many) unavoidable situations that require a face first battle with casters in the mix.

Tried using summons to create distractions first? I find that even if they only last a second they still give you the advantage by *not* having everything being dumped on you.

Ghoste has some very good videos from the excellent and still usable 'Shadowmage' build from times long since. He has some excellent techniques, well worth checking out.

[SableShadow]

I am when I'm soloing :). Maybe I should have put that in the OP. When I'm grouping, I'm more than fine. Right now I'm trying to solo/sneak EE content and there are some (not many) unavoidable situations that require a face first battle with casters in the mix.

That would certainly explain it. :)

Maybe get some dragon boots (if you don't have them already) to handle holds, pro evil wands for greater command, gust of wind scrolls to blow out AoE dance/whatever.

Maybe use some noisemakers to break the mob packs up a bit further.

You can snag a couple more cloaks (threnal n' mirror cloak) which would give you a few more spell hits before you run out.

Are you running Shadowdancer w/ Shadow Manipulation? Maybe toss in a Roderick's Hezzy to give the caster something to initially play with?

[judgemonroe]

And one more comment - the Caanith crafted enchantment save bonus doesn't stack with resistance items.

Yes, it does. The effect channel feedback has a typo bug but watch the combat log and the +X adds up.

[Qezuzu]

Resilience would be a bad idea if it meant giving up another feat.

The caster DCs on Epic Elite are so insanely high that you might as well dump will saves. Get a source of Protection from Evil (pots) and Freedom of Movement (some items). That will make you immune to a lot of common spells.