First Build Post

[drnknmnky]

Just wanted to post this before I TR to get some feedback on possible mistakes. Thanks for any feedback.



Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 04.23.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Level 20 True Neutral Purple Dragon Knight Male
(4 Fighter \ 15 Bard \ 1 Favored Soul)
Hit Points: 275
Spell Points: 750
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 15
Will: 18

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(36 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 18 28
Dexterity 12 17
Constitution 14 20
Intelligence 8 13
Wisdom 8 13
Charisma 16 23

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 2
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 2
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 2
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 2
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 2
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 2
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 6
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 6
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 6
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 6
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 6
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 6
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 10
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 10
+3 Tome of Constitution used at level 10
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 10
+3 Tome of Wisdom used at level 10
+3 Tome of Charisma used at level 10
+4 Tome of Strength used at level 14
+4 Tome of Dexterity used at level 14
+4 Tome of Constitution used at level 14
+4 Tome of Intelligence used at level 14
+4 Tome of Wisdom used at level 14
+4 Tome of Charisma used at level 14
+5 Tome of Strength used at level 18
+5 Tome of Dexterity used at level 18
+5 Tome of Constitution used at level 18
+5 Tome of Intelligence used at level 18
+5 Tome of Wisdom used at level 18
+5 Tome of Charisma used at level 18

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)
Balance 3 26
Bluff 3 7
Concentration 2 10
Diplomacy 3 6
Disable Device n/a n/a
Haggle 3 6
Heal 1 24
Hide 1 3
Intimidate 3 6
Jump 4 12
Listen -1 1
Move Silently 1 3
Open Lock n/a n/a
Perform n/a 29
Repair -1 1
Search -1 1
Spellcraft -1 2
Spot -1 1
Swim 4 9
Tumble n/a 4
Use Magic Device n/a 29

Level 1 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Force of Personality
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Bard
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Ranger
Feat: (Human Bonus) Shield Mastery
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Single Weapon Fighting


Level 2 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Deity) Favored by Amaunator


Level 3 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell


Level 4 (Bard)


Level 5 (Bard)


Level 6 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Shield Bash


Level 7 (Bard)


Level 8 (Bard)


Level 9 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Single Weapon Fighting


Level 10 (Bard)


Level 11 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons


Level 12 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Shield Mastery


Level 13 (Bard)


Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Precision


Level 15 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Single Weapon Fighting


Level 16 (Bard)


Level 17 (Bard)


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


Level 19 (Bard)


Level 20 (Bard)
Enhancement: Purple Dragon Knight - Human Versatility: Damage Boost (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Purple Dragon Knight - Action Surge: Strength (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Confidence (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Swashbuckling (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Uncanny Dodge (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Panache (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - On Your Toes (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - On Your Toes (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - On Your Toes (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Blow By Blow (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Fast Movement (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Sword Dance (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Action Boost: Doublestrike (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Action Boost: Doublestrike (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Elegant Footwork (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Skirmisher (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Resonant Arms (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Resonant Arms (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Resonant Arms (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Charisma (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Low Blow (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Charisma (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Thread the Needle (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Coupe De Grace (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Exploit Weakness (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Toughness (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Stalwart Defense (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Durable Defense (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Durable Defense (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Durable Defense (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Stalwart Defensive Mastery (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Resilient Defense (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Resilient Defense (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Resilient Defense (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Armor Expertise (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Strong Defense (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Strong Defense (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Strong Defense (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Ftr) - To the Fore! (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Ftr) - Shield Combat (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Ftr) - Shield Specialization I (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Ftr) - No Weakness (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Ftr) - No Weakness (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Ftr) - Stunning Shield (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Ftr) - Stunning Shield (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Ftr) - Stunning Shield (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Ftr) - Missile Shield (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Ftr) - Follow Up (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Ftr) - Follow Up (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Vanguard (Ftr) - Follow Up (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Skaldic Constitution (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Weapon Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - The Poetic Edda (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Rough and Ready (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Rough and Ready (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Rough and Ready (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Iced Edges (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Iced Edges (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Iced Edges (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Action Boost: Sprint (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Ironskin Chant (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Ironskin Chant (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warchanter (Brd) - Ironskin Chant (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Fvs) - Smite Foe (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Fvs) - Divine Might (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Fvs) - Divine Might (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Fvs) - Divine Might (Rank 3)

[Thalone]

I don't like the Heal skill; after your skill buffs, Empower Heal, Devotion equipment, and Heal Amp, the 23 skill points is fairly tiny. Seems those skill points could be spent elsewhere. Balance also seems high to me, far above what's needed to qualify for GSWF. I'm guessing you'll be relying on Cocoon for healing in epics, but a standing Concentration of 10 is very low for higher heroics if you're going to be relying on spells/scrolls for sustenance.

I'm currently doing a heroic Bard past life; Swashbuckling with Power Attack and normal Cleave (couldn't fit in Greater Cleave). I'm pretty happy with having a cleave attack; with Kensai expanded crit range and increased crit multiplier from Swashbuckling, there's lots of increased DPS as well as Guardbreaking CC going off on packs.

[Rull]

I regard the order of importance of skills to be perform>heal>balance>umd>jump>concentration so you got that about right. (23 ranks is still a 7% increase in healing power. Cure crits of 295 instead of 275. And a likewise increase to cocoon)

Force of personality is the only huge mistake here imo, it does almost nothing that freedom of movement, which you can cast, doesn't also.
The other thing I find quite absurd is not putting in 2 points in PDK to get that healing amp 10%. I often put in 10 more to get that 20%, but the first one is almost free.

Personally, if I went 4 fighter I would pick up PA + Cleave + gCleave instead of shield bashing, stunning blow and force of personality.

I also think quicken is more important than those feats.

[drnknmnky]

I don't like the Heal skill; after your skill buffs, Empower Heal, Devotion equipment, and Heal Amp, the 23 skill points is fairly tiny. Seems those skill points could be spent elsewhere. Balance also seems high to me, far above what's needed to qualify for GSWF. I'm guessing you'll be relying on Cocoon for healing in epics, but a standing Concentration of 10 is very low for higher heroics if you're going to be relying on spells/scrolls for sustenance.

I'm currently doing a heroic Bard past life; Swashbuckling with Power Attack and normal Cleave (couldn't fit in Greater Cleave). I'm pretty happy with having a cleave attack; with Kensai expanded crit range and increased crit multiplier from Swashbuckling, there's lots of increased DPS as well as Guardbreaking CC going off on packs.

Thanks thalone. I really am kind of lost on understanding most skill points, up to now my builds have always had trap skills so I was pretty much invested in those. Not sure if its bad but without quicken or concentration I have always just jumped and hit a heal then jumped and hit a different heal and been ok. I havn't ever really relied on using scrolls during battle but I am sure this would be a HUGE issue if I grouped more often. I have probably picked up some bad habits from just playing badly and not knowing any better.

[drnknmnky]

I regard the order of importance of skills to be perform>heal>balance>umd>jump>concentration so you got that about right. (23 ranks is still a 7% increase in healing power. Cure crits of 295 instead of 275. And a likewise increase to cocoon)

Force of personality is the only huge mistake here imo, it does almost nothing that freedom of movement, which you can cast, doesn't also.
The other thing I find quite absurd is not putting in 2 points in PDK to get that healing amp 10%. I often put in 10 more to get that 20%, but the first one is almost free.

Personally, if I went 4 fighter I would pick up PA + Cleave + gCleave instead of shield bashing, stunning blow and force of personality.

I also think quicken is more important than those feats.

Thanks Rull. I think I was just very paranoid after my first toon (tempest trapmonkey) spent his entire heroic life constantly CCd. Once I was able to put on the boots with constant FOM it did get better but his second life as a charisma based bard with force of personalty it was not really an issue and I usually forgot to cast FOM.

I am not a great player, I would say I am probably not even a good player. I come to the forums to try to get as much knowledge as I can. When I was a horrible player with horrible builds I quit the game. I am now enjoying the game and getting better.

As far as the feats go, here is what I was thinking and I was probably wrong. With hasted SWF +45% attack speed and 30% auto bash I would be getting some free dmg pretty often for just one feat. I guess I wont know how often or if its worth it until I try it. I also wanted to try "follow up". Stunning shield seems cool but 30 second cool down seems really slow. With stunning blow the +9 melee power could be up almost all the time. Maybe just being able to rotate between cleave and great cleave constantly is way more powerful than any of what I just listed. I wanted to be able to use Precision and then to have power attack, cleave, and great cleave seemed like a lot of feats.

Thanks for pointing out the healing amp. It would have been stupid not to fit it in.