Sword 'n Board 'n Blasting 'n Skullduggery

[zehnvhex]

Giving this a shot I think on my next TR. Not sure how it will work out. I simply can't do without trapping per my insane OCD so artificer seemed best fit (masters touch gives me tower shield prof as well so there is that). I wanted to do a sword and board build of sorts since my last 3 tr's have all been variations of repeater builds (ranger, paladin, barb) and I have a ton of really good bastard swords and shields to go with it. Warlock looks like it's good for burning through Heroics at an insane pace and will do well against 99% of EH content.

Thoughts?

Smash'n'Grab
18/1/1 Warlock/Fighter/Artificer
Lawful Good Human


Level Order

1. Artificer . . . 6. Warlock . . . .11. Warlock . . . .16. Warlock
2. Fighter . . . . 7. Warlock . . . .12. Warlock . . . .17. Warlock
3. Warlock. . . . .8. Warlock. . . . 13. Warlock. . . . 18. Warlock
4. Warlock. . . . .9. Warlock. . . . 14. Warlock. . . . 19. Warlock
5. Warlock. . . . 10. Warlock. . . . 15. Warlock. . . . 20. Warlock


Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ---- . . --------
Strength. . . . 13. . . .+5. . . .4: INT
Dexterity . . . .8. . . .+5. . . .8: INT
Constitution. . 16. . . .+5. . . 12: INT
Intelligence. . 18. . . .+5. . . 16: INT
Wisdom. . . . . .8. . . .+5. . . 20: INT
Charisma. . . . 13. . . .+5. . . 24: INT
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: INT

Skills
. . . . . A .F. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W
. . . . . 1 .2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Spellcr . 4 . . 1. . . . . . . . . . 1. 1. 2. 2. 2. 2. 3. 2. 1. 1. 1. 23
Disable . 4 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Open Lo . 4 . . . .1 .1 .1 .1 .1½ 1½ 1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1½ 1½ 1 .1 .23
Search. . 4 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Spot. . . 4 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Jump. . . 2 .1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 .2 .3 . 9
Perform . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Balance . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Swim. . . 1½. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1½
Tumble. . ½ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .½
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .36 .7. 7. 8. 8. 8. 8. 9. 9. 9. 9 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 12


Feats

.1. . . . : Power Attack
.1 Human. : Maximize Spell
.2 Fighter: Exotic Weapon: Bastard Sword
.3. . . . : Empower Spell
.3 Warlock: Pact: Fey
.6. . . . : Improved Shield Bash
.9. . . . : Shield Mastery
12. . . . : Improved Critical: Slashing
15. . . . : Improved Shield Mastery
18. . . . : Shield Deflection
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic . : Quicken Spell
26 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
27 Epic . : Watchful Eye
28 Destiny: Elusive Target


Spells

Warlock
Jump, Expeditious Retreat
Invisibility, Water Breathing
Dimension Door, Haste
Teleport, Protection from Elements
Mass Protection from Elements, Globe of Invulnerability
Power Word: Stun
Artificer
Master's Touch, Enchant Weapons

Enhancements (80 AP)

Human (3 AP)
Damage Boost
Improved Recovery

Enlightened Spirit (41 AP)
Eldritch Aura
Resilience of Body III, Spiritual Defense III, Resilience of Soul III
Resist Energies I, Spiritual Bastion III, Power of Enlightenment III, Shield
Eldritch Burst III, Spiritual Ward III, Power of Enlightenment III
Spiritual Retribution III, Brilliance
Spirit Blast III, Beacon, Shining Through, Displacement

Soul Eater (8 AP)
Inhuman Understanding
Consume, Hungry for Destruction III
Feeding Frenzy

Harper Agent (12 AP)
Agent of Good I
Strategic Combat, Awareness III
Versatile Adept I, Know the Angles III
Strategic Combat

Kensei (10 AP)
Kensei Focus: Heavy Blades
Extra Action Boost III, Haste Boost III

Vanguard (6 AP)
To the Fore!
Shield Specialization, Shield Smash III

[zehnvhex]

Alternatively I was thinking of taking 3 levels of paladin instead of 1 fighter/2 warlock. A little less passive AE, loss of shield deflection and no kensai haste boost but gain significant tankiness in divine glory, disease immunity, sacred defender tree boosts for even more PRR/MRR and +20% sacred HP.

Hrmnnnn...

[Red_Knight]

If you go with the great old one pact, you could probably do without the open locks skill. The spell Knock can't get the highest DC chests, but it'd be good enough for most chests and locked doors. Wouldn't be able to be lawful good though. Chaotic good or neutral good would be okay, just not lawful. It'd also let you concentrate skill points a bit more since you wouldn't need preform and could skip open locks.

Question, what tactical feats would you be taking Know the Angles to improve? Can't test it since I haven't unlocked the tree yet, but I'm not sure if it would help with the DC of eldrich blast/aura. They are counting as a spell after all. Also not sure if it'd help the DC on spirit blast and eldrich burst. Let alone any of your other SLA.

[zehnvhex]

I considered that, but the fey zoom ability is too much fun to give up. Hurl through Hell is fun but the cooldown on it blows. I honestly don't know what I'd even put skill points in if not open lock.

KtA is for the slight boost to melee damage. I intended this mostly to be a Sword/Shield build but all the ones I found have typically terrible AE damage until post-20 and even then are boring and terrible. I figured Warlock gives really solid AE for most of the game up through EH (which is all I care about, EE is so tediously boring for no real gain). I can bounce around firing off

On my iconic test I found DC's to not be an issue because the only thing resistible is the sonic damage from fey pact and that's not enough of my overall damage to really gear/feat for. Maybe I'm mistaken but it seems like DC's flat out won't be an issue.

[Red_Knight]

On my iconic test I found DC's to not be an issue because the only thing resistible is the sonic damage from fey pact and that's not enough of my overall damage to really gear/feat for. Maybe I'm mistaken but it seems like DC's flat out won't be an issue.

Before factoring in spell power, your pact damage is about half of the eldrich blast/aura's damage. Thing is, since fey pact is a reflex save evasion negates all the pact damage, not half of it. Which is one reason fey pact may need the most DC of the three pacts. Fiend can use soul eater to lower the enemy's fort save. Great Old One is a will save which is typically an enemy's worst save. Fortunately, sonic is the least resisted of the three damage types.

By the way, hurl through hell is fiend pact. The GOO ability is Create Thrall, a more powerful version of charm spells.

[zehnvhex]

Ah, I mis-read that then. Still going with fey pact since Fey Zoom is stupid amounts of fun.

Thanks for the feedback though. I seriously considered it for the extra damage but I don't think it's enough to offset my love of zooping around like an idiot. It helps when speed running dungeons by an almost absurd amount.

[Red_Knight]

Even with the cooldown? Not sure what it is, think 30 seconds. Maybe a minute. Others could probably say better then me.

[tsteigner]

why take Bastardsword at all, if you don't take the feats that make it viable (no offense meant) ?
if you want to take Bastardsword and do a s&b version, you should take all the THF - feats to get Bastardsword to the lvl of Khopesh // Hvy Pick

probaly would sacrifice : impr. Shield Bash, Shield Deflection and Watchful Eye to get THF, iTHF, gTHF and elusive Target to get Perfect THF

[Red_Knight]

My understanding was that bastard swords only benefit from two handed fighting feats if NOT using a shield or offhand weapon?

[ReaperAlexEU]

My understanding was that bastard swords only benefit from two handed fighting feats if NOT using a shield or offhand weapon?

nope, the glancing blows will work just fine with a shield. it's TWF they didn't want to work with the glancing blows

http://ddowiki.com/page/Two_Handed_Fighting

As of Update 5 This feat will also work with glancing blows caused by Bastard Swords and Dwarven Axes when wielded as a single weapon or weapon and shield combination.

[richieelias27]

Before factoring in spell power, your pact damage is about half of the eldrich blast/aura's damage. Thing is, since fey pact is a reflex save evasion negates all the pact damage, not half of it. Which is one reason fey pact may need the most DC of the three pacts. Fiend can use soul eater to lower the enemy's fort save. Great Old One is a will save which is typically an enemy's worst save. Fortunately, sonic is the least resisted of the three damage types.

By the way, hurl through hell is fiend pact. The GOO ability is Create Thrall, a more powerful version of charm spells.

Since he is going sword and board with aura, the aura ticks account for a very small portion of his damage. Most of it (his eldritch damage) will be coming from his EBCleaves, which are almost entirely light damage and have no save (since max/empower only seems to be working on the light damage). Also, pact damage is closer to 1/4th after factoring in light damage and the fact that pact is d4.

If possible, I would recommend putting enough points into Soul Eater to get stricken form. that 20% vulnerability works on everything, and is a damage multiplier for you that is probably more effective than any other single enhancement you can get (yes I'm talking about pulling all your points out of Kensai and Vanguard despite the stacking haste boost... Or find the points elsewhere and keep haste).

edit: Just pull everything out of Vanguard and improved recovery and lose Extra action boost (keep haste). 20% vulnerability is better.

[giftie]

You haven't taken any cores beyond first in Enlightened Spirit. Unless that's an error in the builder, it's an error in your build. =)

[zehnvhex]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the feedback. Decided to go with 2hf as per suggested so that my melee cleaves synergize well with the blasts.

Does the vulnerability from stricken form stack with vulnerability from weapon effects? If not I think I'm going to go 1 rog/3 paladin so I can grab +25 prr and +20% hp.

This is my revamped version after fixing some of the errors I made in the builder.


Smash'n'Grab
16/3/1 Warlock/Paladin/Artificer
Lawful Good Human


Level Order

1. Artificer . . . 6. Paladin. . . . 11. Warlock. . . . 16. Warlock
2. Paladin . . . . 7. Paladin. . . . 12. Warlock. . . . 17. Warlock
3. Warlock. . . . .8. Warlock. . . . 13. Warlock. . . . 18. Warlock
4. Warlock. . . . .9. Warlock. . . . 14. Warlock. . . . 19. Warlock
5. Warlock. . . . 10. Warlock. . . . 15. Warlock. . . . 20. Warlock


Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ---- . . --------
Strength. . . . 13. . . .+5. . . .4: INT
Dexterity . . . .8. . . .+5. . . .8: INT
Constitution. . 16. . . .+5. . . 12: INT
Intelligence. . 18. . . .+5. . . 16: INT
Wisdom. . . . . .8. . . .+5. . . 20: INT
Charisma. . . . 13. . . .+5. . . 24: INT
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: INT

Skills
. . . . . A .P. W. W. W. P .P. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W
. . . . . 1 .2. 3. 4. 5. 6 .7. 8. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Spellcr . 4 . . 1. . . . . . . . . . 1. 1. 2. 2. 2. 2. 3. 2. 1. 1. 1. 23
Disable . 4 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Search. . 4 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Spot. . . 4 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Open Lo . 4 . . . . . ½. ½ .½. 1. ½. ½. ½. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1½ 2 .2 .2½ 21
Jump. . . 2 .½. . .2 .1 .½. ½ .1 .1 .1 .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10½
Perform . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Balance . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Swim. . . 1½. . . . . . . . . . . ½. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Tumble. . ½ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .½
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .36 .7. 7. 8. 8. 8 .8. 9. 9. 9. 9 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 12


Feats

.1. . . . : Power Attack
.1 Human. : Maximize Spell
.2 Deity. : Follower of: Sovereign Host
.3. . . . : Exotic Weapon: Bastard Sword
.3 Warlock: Pact: Fey
.6. . . . : Empower Spell
.9. . . . : Two Handed Fighting
12. . . . : Improved Critical: Slashing
15. . . . : Improved Two Handed Fighting
18. . . . : Greater Two Handed Fighting
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic . : Quicken Spell (or Extend?)
26 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
27 Epic . : Watchful Eye
28 Destiny: Perfect Two Handed Fighting


Spells

Warlock
Jump, Expeditious Retreat
Invisibility, Water Breathing
Dimension Door, Haste
Teleport, Protection from Elements
Globe of Invulnerability
Power Word: Stun
Artificer
Master's Touch, Enchant Weapons

Enhancements (80 AP)

Human (3 AP)
Damage Boost
Improved Recovery

Enlightened Spirit (41 AP)
Eldritch Aura, Aura of Courage, Shape Vestments, Aura of Menace
Resilience of Body III, Spiritual Defense III, Resilience of Soul I
Resist Energies I, Spiritual Bastion III, Power of Enlightenment III, Shield
Eldritch Burst III, Spiritual Ward III, Power of Enlightenment II
Spiritual Retribution III, Brilliance
Spirit Blast III, Beacon, Shining Through, Displacement

Soul Eater (10 AP)
Inhuman Understanding, Inhuman Nature
Consume, Hungry for Destruction III
Hungry for Destruction III

Harper Agent (12 AP)
Agent of Good I
Strategic Combat, Awareness III
Versatile Adept I, Know the Angles III
Strategic Combat

Sacred Defender (13 AP)
Holy Bastion, Sacred Defense
Extra Lay On Hands II, Durable Defense III
Resilient Defense III
Tenacious Defense III

Knight of the Chalice (1 AP)
Slayer of Evil

[Rhysem]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the feedback. Decided to go with 2hf as per suggested so that my melee cleaves synergize well with the blasts.

My experience is the blasts are sufficient AoE (esp with aura ticking, evard's, and epic twisted blasts). Glancing blows doesn't add a lot to it. I'm building a (pure) warlock along the SWF line, celestia + orb combo instead, since where the AoE falls down is in single target damage (ie: bosses). You can switch from aura to straight blast (+ kite if solo) but you lose the temp HP, aura buffs, etc. I prefer swinging a sword.

If you want to do a pla/fighter mix, I'd consider that and key off the med armor instead of the shield. My warlock pursuing SWF doesn't have that option (thus pure) because he's warforged and can't have medium armor, and can't zero-out the ASF of heavy.

[richieelias27]

I do not know if the vulerable from stricken stacks with weapons, but I can tell you that stricken stacks significantly faster.

[zehnvhex]

My experience is the blasts are sufficient AoE (esp with aura ticking, evard's, and epic twisted blasts). Glancing blows doesn't add a lot to it. I'm building a (pure) warlock along the SWF line, celestia + orb combo instead, since where the AoE falls down is in single target damage (ie: bosses). You can switch from aura to straight blast (+ kite if solo) but you lose the temp HP, aura buffs, etc. I prefer swinging a sword.

If you want to do a pla/fighter mix, I'd consider that and key off the med armor instead of the shield. My warlock pursuing SWF doesn't have that option (thus pure) because he's warforged and can't have medium armor, and can't zero-out the ASF of heavy.

I've been torn between swf and using an orb as well. The idea ultimately was that I wanted to make use of the shields I've accumulated. The group I play with basically relies on me to do all the trapping when we play so going pure is never really an option for me. The past few lives were all 14 whatever/6 rogue repeater builds. The orb is thematic enough that I suppose I can pretend it's a shield. ^^

[Rhysem]

As a melee build you have the always-on shield spell as a talent available to you. While a real shield is better than the +4 / mm-immunity (well... maybe not depends where you are and if those are being spammed), is it better than +4 / mm-immunity and the orb you're holding? Probably not...?

The cove buckler is probably the best all-around melee shield anyway, so if your set of shields isn't that, um, think twice about them. Hint: guardbreaking. Especially with swashbuckler from bard or anything else that boosts crits.

[zehnvhex]

As a melee build you have the always-on shield spell as a talent available to you. While a real shield is better than the +4 / mm-immunity (well... maybe not depends where you are and if those are being spammed), is it better than +4 / mm-immunity and the orb you're holding? Probably not...?

The cove buckler is probably the best all-around melee shield anyway, so if your set of shields isn't that, um, think twice about them. Hint: guardbreaking. Especially with swashbuckler from bard or anything else that boosts crits.

Only thing I don't like about orbs is you don't get many until epic content so that's a large chunk of what I enjoy just free handing it. I enjoyed playing my PM where I'd round up 40+ mobs, hit firewall and then stand in the fire with the highest DR shield I could find. I'm finding Warlock to be 10x more survivable though and half the mobs die just from me spamming cleaves as I run around gathering them up so maybe the shield isn't as necessary.

Some of the late game orbs look really nice though and I have a nether orb or something sitting somewhere in my bank.

Thanks again all for the feedback. I've been waffling like crazy on my build but so far I'm enjoying it.

[Lorianna]

Alternatively I was thinking of taking 3 levels of paladin instead of 1 fighter/2 warlock. A little less passive AE, loss of shield deflection and no kensai haste boost but gain significant tankiness in divine glory, disease immunity, sacred defender tree boosts for even more PRR/MRR and +20% sacred HP.

Hrmnnnn...

My main warlock is 14/3/3 warlock/paladin/rogue, as kind of a thematic "fey knight" concept (paladin for the knight aspect, rogue for the tricksy fey sneakiness, and warlock for the actual fey powers). She's a blast to play. Does a lot of damage, has ridiculous saving throws (unbuffed she's at 60-70 vs everything, with no twists), maxed out trap skills, something like 75 UMD, has around 1000 hp (without adding in the shining through +500), has enough PRR/MRR to have something like 55% mitigation, and can just hack her way through quests with impunity on EH. Normally I don't run EE solo, but I've been poking my head into a few of them to try her out against them, and she's held her own quite well.

[garzan123]

Can the builder gods reco a warlock/bard/fvs...or a warlock/bard/arti build..love the warlock burst dmge with skirmishers.or the rune arm bard..I have all races except wf..a few tomes..spells for buff..traps b nice..Ty everyone

[Rhysem]

Can the builder gods reco a warlock/bard/fvs...or a warlock/bard/arti build..love the warlock burst dmge with skirmishers.or the rune arm bard..I have all races except wf..a few tomes..spells for buff..traps b nice..Ty everyone

You don't need bard to SWF. You can SWF with an orb already. I have a gimpforged warlock 20 who does that plan with ES bursts, general self buffs (+ evard's for more AoE damage), etc. Works fine.

If you want traps I might rogue 2/warlock 18 to nab evasion and just stick to light armor. If you want to layer defense on it, rogue 1/ftr 3 or rogue 1/pal 3 is probably the way to go, not bard/swashbuckler.

If you really want to swash your buckles and have the ES cleaves, I might go something like Warlock 5 / Bard 12 / Ftr 3. Feat up the SWFx3, IC, Precision, Shield Mastery x2, Empower, Maximize, Quicken (@21?). Your EB damage won't amount to a lot so don't worry about spellpower for it, just light (+emp, +max, +quicken) for the bursts. Warlock T5, Swash T4 (sword & board), Stalwart T3. Run in defensive stance + precision and melee single targets, bursting to take down crowds. Displacement SLA at level 12 if you took your 5 warlock by then.

[garzan123]

Swf with skirmisher doesn't give better attack..than swf with non bard?

[tsteigner]

Smash'n'Grab
16/3/1 Warlock/Paladin/Artificer
Lawful Good Human

Skills

a couple of tips on the new build, which imho would still be better :)
Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ---- . . --------
Strength. . . . 13. . . .+5. . . .4: INT
Dexterity . . . .8. . . .+5. . . .8: INT
Constitution. . 16. . . .+5. . . 12: INT
Intelligence. . 18. . . .+5. . . 16: INT
Wisdom. . . . . .8. . . .+5. . . 20: INT
Charisma. . . . 13. . . .+5. . . 24: INT
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: INT

swap Int with Charisma (so int:13, chr: 18 all lvl-ups to charisma)
reason with 3 lvls of Paladin you get your charisma - bonus to saves, more spellpoints with higher charisma, better DC with high charisma
together with that scrap Harper Agent (you don't need kta when you have 3 lvl's of Paladin); intead get Divine Might + Cleave from KotC - Tree

Skill's :
Jump : 10 1/2
Tumble : 1/2
i think that is a misplaced point there :) 10 1/2 = 10 & 1/2 = 0 :) so guessing you meant Jump 10 + Tumble 1 :)
but Jump > 1 is a waste when you have Jump Spell, with your lvl Jump spell will give you +30 to jump skill
Jump = 1 +5 (item) +1 (ship buff) +2 (tome) +8 (epic) +30 (spell) = 47 (jump caped at 40) and thats not even an item in it

Spells

Warlock
Jump, Expeditious Retreat (Nightshield would be better here imo, but both would work)
Invisibility, Water Breathing
Dimension Door, Haste
Teleport, Protection from Elements
Globe of Invulnerability (could take Finger of Dead here when you go chr-based)
Power Word: Stun (could take wailing spirit here when you go chr-based)

[Vanhooger]

masters touch gives me tower shield prof )

You got 1 lvl of fighter listed so you will have tower shield prof

[richieelias27]

Skill's :
Jump : 10 1/2
Tumble : 1/2
i think that is a misplaced point there :) 10 1/2 = 10 & 1/2 = 0 :) so guessing you meant Jump 10 + Tumble 1 :)
but Jump > 1 is a waste when you have Jump Spell, with your lvl Jump spell will give you +30 to jump skill
Jump = 1 +5 (item) +1 (ship buff) +2 (tome) +8 (epic) +30 (spell) = 47 (jump caped at 40) and thats not even an item in it


Jump greater than 0 is a waste, unless you want dispel proof jumping ability. Not sure why you'd need that though. Unlike tumble and perform, you do not need a single point in jump to improve it via items/buffs.