Some opinions on a PM Shield Master build

[Reiq]

Hello :)

Just returned to the game after taking a break for maybe a year it seems like.

I had alot of fun with my PM back then, beeing a pure Wizard with Shield Mastery feat on him.
If I remember correctly, it gave around 15% Damage reduction when wielding a Tower Shield?
Anyway, some changes to the game has seemingly made it harder for PM's to turtle behind a shield with the PRR thingy...
But since I've allways loved the idea behind it, I would like to try build again toward a turtling PM Shield Master.
I am currently playing him as a 18/2 Wiz/Rge Drow as hes second life, so this build is something I want to try for hes third.
Also, I tend to allways play solo as much as I can :)
And I dont' plan ahead for lvl 21-25 right now, as its a new thing for me. I'll check it out when reach 20 with my current build

Here's what I've come up with


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.16.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Level 20 Lawful Neutral Warforged Male
(2 Monk \ 18 Wizard)
Hit Points: 325
Spell Points: 1333
BAB: 10\10\15\20
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 18
Will: 13

Starting Ending Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Base Stats Modified Stats
(36 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20) (Level 20)
Strength 10 13 13
Dexterity 10 13 13
Constitution 20 23 25
Intelligence 18 26 29
Wisdom 6 9 9
Charisma 6 9 9

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 11
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 11
+3 Tome of Constitution used at level 11
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 11
+3 Tome of Wisdom used at level 11
+3 Tome of Charisma used at level 11

Starting Ending Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20) (Level 20)
Balance 4 24 22
Bluff -2 -1 -1
Concentration 9 30 31
Diplomacy -2 -1 -1
Disable Device n/a n/a n/a
Haggle -2 -1 -1
Heal -2 -1 -1
Hide 4 12 10
Intimidate -2 -1 -1
Jump 4 5 3
Listen -2 -1 -1
Move Silently 0 1 -1
Open Lock n/a n/a n/a
Perform n/a n/a n/a
Repair 4 9 9
Search 6 11 11
Spot 2 22 22
Swim 0 1 -3
Tumble 4 24 22
Use Magic Device 0 10 10

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Insightful Reflexes
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Wizard
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Wizard
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness


Level 2 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Maximize Spell


Level 3 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Arcane Initiate


Level 4 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: INT


Level 5 (Wizard)


Level 6 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Mithral Body
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Spell Focus: Necromancy


Level 7 (Wizard)


Level 8 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: INT


Level 9 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Shield Proficiency (General)


Level 10 (Wizard)


Level 11 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Quicken Spell


Level 12 (Monk)
Ability Raise: INT
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Dodge
Feat: (Selected) Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy


Level 13 (Wizard)


Level 14 (Wizard)


Level 15 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Shield Mastery


Level 16 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: INT


Level 17 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Heighten Spell


Level 18 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Shield Mastery


Level 19 (Wizard)


Level 20 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: INT
Enhancement: Wizard Improved Heightening I
Enhancement: Wizard Improved Heightening II
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortoise I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Glacial Spellcasting I
Enhancement: Deadly Ice I
Enhancement: Acid Manipulation I
Enhancement: Frost Manipulation I
Enhancement: Force Manipulation I
Enhancement: Wizard Spell Penetration I
Enhancement: Wizard Spell Penetration II
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar I
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar II
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar III
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence I
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence II
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence III
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution I
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution II
Enhancement: Warforged Damage Reduction I
Enhancement: Warforged Damage Reduction II
Enhancement: Warforged Damage Reduction III
Enhancement: Warforged Inscribed Armor I
Enhancement: Warforged Inscribed Armor II
Enhancement: Warforged Inscribed Armor III
Enhancement: Shroud of the Lich
Enhancement: Wizard Pale Master I
Enhancement: Wizard Pale Master II
Enhancement: Wizard Pale Master III




2 lvl's of Monk for Evasion.
10 DEX start with a +3 tome enables me to take Dodge as a bonus feat at lvl 12
Picking MT at lvl 6 as a normal feat to pick up some Archmage enhancements, and then take Wraith at lvl 14. This feat is later swapped for something else.
Mithral Body + Divine Power should give me 10 PRR at lvl 20, and with Inscribed Armor 3 i get no Spell Failiure. Also stacks with Evasion
Improved Shield Mastery for 15 PRR with a Tower Shield


This build grats me exactly the flavor I want for a build, but I want it to be effective in higher lvl content aswell.

What do you think about the build?
Is there any special gear that I should aim for? (I'll write the suggestions down at the bottom of this post)
I would like to hear from you what you think :)


Here's some gear suggestions I've found:

Threads:
https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/394332-Pale-Trapper-for-new-players-%28Human-18-2-Wizard-Rogue%29?highlight=

Head
Helm of the Blue Dragon
Darkstorm Helm
Epic Elder's Cap

Eyes
Intricate Field Optics
Magewright's Spectacles
Epic Spectacles of Spirit Sight

Neck
Torc of Prince Raiyum-de II
War Wizard's Amulet
Iron Beads
Epic Shaman's Beads
Epic Elder's Focus

Back
Stormreaver's Tablecloth
Adamantine Cloak of the Dragon
Ghost-Waking Cloak (ghostly)
Cloak of Night (ghostly)
Epic Phiarlan Mirror Cloak
Magewright's Cloak

Wrist
Bracers of the Demon's Consort
War Wizard's Bracers
Bracers of the Glacier
Manacles of Ceaseless Toil

Hands
Gloves of the Glacier
Bramble-Casters

Waist
Belt of the Seven Ideals
Epic Lion-headed Belt Buckle
Rahkir's Sash
Eerie Belt
Kormor's Belt

Feet
Spiked Boots
Halcyon Boots
Epic Rock Boots
Treads of Falling Shadow (ghostly)
Cannith Boots of Propulsion

Ring:
Ring of the Djinn
Ring of Shadows (ghostly)
Epic Ring of the Stalker (ghostly)
Epic Ring of Elemental Essence
Epic Shaman's Band
Seal of House Szind
Cannith Crafted: Greater Spell Focus (any one school, can be made unbound for you)
Epic Ring of the Mire
Rahkir's Ring
Sanura's Band
Kormor's Ring

Trinket
Litany of the Dead (item)
Planar Focus: Erudition
Epic Treasure Hunter's Spyglass, Tier 3 (crystal cove)
Shard of Xoriat
Mindfury Symbiont
Vibrant Purple Ioun Stone

Body (Robes)
Epic Robe of Shadow
Flawless Blue Dragonscale Robe
Spidersilk Robes
War Wizard's Robe
Epic Frozen Tunic

Body (Docent)
Docent of Shadow
Flawless Blue Dragonscale Docent
Titanic Docent

Weapon
Twilight, Element of Magic
Alchemical weapons
Staff of the Necromancer
Greenblade
Skiver
Pale Rod
Alarphon's Staff
ML16 Ornamented Dagger, Tier 3 (crystal cove)
Epic Ornamented Dagger, Tier 3 (crystal cove)

[EllisDee37]

How's your spell pen?

On my pale master, who has no shield feats, I turtle up behind a tower shield all the time. I just don't cast spells with it equipped. So it's dot-dot-equip shield-shield block-unequip shield-dot-dot-etc...

Well, it's more of a leveling tactic. I don't tend to do this much past level 20. So really, most of the time I'm shield blocking it's in the middle of a webby firewall or dancing ice storm. With bonus acid rain if I'm in a hurry. heh.

[FestusHood]

I was always using a shield on my PM. The light and darkness shield can be very useful if you are true neutral. You might also consider the buckler from cove, which has 0% asf.

Unlike Ellis, i can't handle the swapping off and on thing. I gotta have 0% asf. The light and darkness shield has 5% asf, and it made me grind out a tier 3 cloak of fire just to have a blue slot to put a -5% asf crystal into.

Speaking specifically to prr, outisde of epic elite i think it is overrated. An increase of 10 prr is likely only going to result in a reduction of about 5% damage for most builds. So unless stuff is routinely swatting you for 100 or more damage per hit, it's not going to make that much difference. Shield blocking on the other hand gives some pretty significant dr, which is pretty useful at any level.

[Reiq]

I've been thinking alot about this build and what it will do for me, and I think you guys are right.
The shield feat is not worth it anymore, as far as I can see.
Thanks for the opinions :)