The Ex wife

[kemetka]

She'll yell at ya all day and take yer stuff, looking for ways i can improve this 18/2 build, specifically for just sonic damage, stun would be nice, but not necessary.
Ex Wife
18/2 Bard/Rogue
True Neutral Human


Level Order

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


Stats
. . . . . . . .28pt. . .32pt. . .34pt. . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .----. . .----. . .----. . .---- . . ---- . . --------
Strength. . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . .8. . . .+5. . . .4: CHA
Dexterity . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . .8. . . .+5. . . .8: CHA
Constitution. . .8 . . . 12 . . . 12 . . . 14. . . .+5. . . 12: CHA
Intelligence. . 16 . . . 16 . . . 16 . . . 16. . . .+5. . . 16: CHA
Wisdom. . . . . 10 . . . 10 . . . 12 . . . 12. . . .+5. . . 20: CHA
Charisma. . . . 18 . . . 18 . . . 18 . . . 18. . . .+5. . .


Skills
. . . . . B. R. R. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B
. . . . . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Disable . 2. 2. 2. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . .22
Search. . 2. 1. 3. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . .22
Spot. . . 2. 1. 3. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . .22
Diplo . . 4. 1. . . . . .1 .2 .2 .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 . . 22
Swim. . . 4. 1. . . . . . . . . . . .1 .1 .1 .2 .2 .3 .3 .2 .1 .1 . . 22
UMD . . . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . .22
Perform . . . . 1½ 3 .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 . . 20½
Bluff . . 4. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 2. 2. . .10
Open Lo . 2. 1. . . . ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Jump. . . 4. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Tumble. . 4. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Intim . . . .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .40 12 12 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 12. 0
. . . . .40 12 12 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 12


Feats

.1. . . . : Quicken Spell
.1 Human. : Maximize Spell
.3. . . . : Completionist
.6. . . . : Empower Spell
.9. . . . : Mental Toughness
12. . . . : Improved Mental Toughness
15. . . . : Spell Focus: Evocation
18. . . . : Greater Spell Focus: Evocation


Spells

Cure Light Wounds, Merfolk's Blessing, Sonic Blast, Detect Secret Doors, Feather Fall
Invisibility, Soundburst, Rage, Glitterdust, Blur
Displacement, Haste, Crushing Despair, Dispel Magic, Cure Serious Wounds
Shout, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Break Enchantment
Greater Dispel Magic, Mind Fog, Mass Cure Light Wounds, Greater Heroism
Greater Shout, Heroes' Feast, Otto's Irresistible Dance

Enhancements (80 AP)

Spellsinger (42 AP)
Spellsinger, Music of the Sewers, Music of the Dead, Music of the Makers, Virtuoso
Studies: Magical III, Lingering Songs III, Sonic Blast III, Charlatan III
Reverberate III
Enthrallment, Shout III, Spell Song Trance
Sustaining Song, Song of Arcane Might
Advanced Studies: Magical III, Spell Song Vigor, Horn of Thunder III

Swashbuckler (7 AP)
Confidence
On Your Toes III, Tavern Shanties I
Fast Movement

Harper Agent (31 AP)
Agent of Good I, Charisma, Agent of Good II, Charisma, Agent of Good III
Harper Enchantment, Traveler's Toughness II
Magical Endurance III, Versatile Adept III
Highly Skilled III, Versatile Adept III
Throat Dagger III, Vigor of Life, Versatile Adept III


Destiny (24 AP)

Fatesinger
Allure III, Music of the Spider Queen, Dirge III
Lucidity III, Masked Ball II
Siren's Song III, Aria III
Chord of Disruption III
Fragment of Clarity II, Masquerade

Twists of Fate (30 fate points)
School Familiarity (Tier 4 Magister)
School Augmentation (Tier 3 Magister)
Fey Form (Tier 2 Shiradi)
Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)

[Hobgoblin]

She'll yell at ya all day and take yer stuff, looking for ways i can improve this 18/2 build, specifically for just sonic damage, stun would be nice, but not necessary.
Ex Wife
18/2 Bard/Rogue
True Neutral Human


Level Order

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


Stats
. . . . . . . .28pt. . .32pt. . .34pt. . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .----. . .----. . .----. . .---- . . ---- . . --------
Strength. . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . .8. . . .+5. . . .4: CHA
Dexterity . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . .8. . . .+5. . . .8: CHA
Constitution. . .8 . . . 12 . . . 12 . . . 14. . . .+5. . . 12: CHA
Intelligence. . 16 . . . 16 . . . 16 . . . 16. . . .+5. . . 16: CHA
Wisdom. . . . . 10 . . . 10 . . . 12 . . . 12. . . .+5. . . 20: CHA
Charisma. . . . 18 . . . 18 . . . 18 . . . 18. . . .+5. . .


Skills
. . . . . B. R. R. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B. B
. . . . . 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Disable . 2. 2. 2. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . .22
Search. . 2. 1. 3. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . .22
Spot. . . 2. 1. 3. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . .22
Diplo . . 4. 1. . . . . .1 .2 .2 .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 . . 22
Swim. . . 4. 1. . . . . . . . . . . .1 .1 .1 .2 .2 .3 .3 .2 .1 .1 . . 22
UMD . . . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . .22
Perform . . . . 1½ 3 .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 . . 20½
Bluff . . 4. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 2. 2. . .10
Open Lo . 2. 1. . . . ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Jump. . . 4. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Tumble. . 4. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Intim . . . .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .40 12 12 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 12. 0
. . . . .40 12 12 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 12


Feats

.1. . . . : Quicken Spell
.1 Human. : Maximize Spell
.3. . . . : Completionist
.6. . . . : Empower Spell
.9. . . . : Mental Toughness
12. . . . : Improved Mental Toughness
15. . . . : Spell Focus: Evocation
18. . . . : Greater Spell Focus: Evocation


Spells

Cure Light Wounds, Merfolk's Blessing, Sonic Blast, Detect Secret Doors, Feather Fall
Invisibility, Soundburst, Rage, Glitterdust, Blur
Displacement, Haste, Crushing Despair, Dispel Magic, Cure Serious Wounds
Shout, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Break Enchantment
Greater Dispel Magic, Mind Fog, Mass Cure Light Wounds, Greater Heroism
Greater Shout, Heroes' Feast, Otto's Irresistible Dance

Enhancements (80 AP)

Spellsinger (42 AP)
Spellsinger, Music of the Sewers, Music of the Dead, Music of the Makers, Virtuoso
Studies: Magical III, Lingering Songs III, Sonic Blast III, Charlatan III
Reverberate III
Enthrallment, Shout III, Spell Song Trance
Sustaining Song, Song of Arcane Might
Advanced Studies: Magical III, Spell Song Vigor, Horn of Thunder III

Swashbuckler (7 AP)
Confidence
On Your Toes III, Tavern Shanties I
Fast Movement

Harper Agent (31 AP)
Agent of Good I, Charisma, Agent of Good II, Charisma, Agent of Good III
Harper Enchantment, Traveler's Toughness II
Magical Endurance III, Versatile Adept III
Highly Skilled III, Versatile Adept III
Throat Dagger III, Vigor of Life, Versatile Adept III


Destiny (24 AP)

Fatesinger
Allure III, Music of the Spider Queen, Dirge III
Lucidity III, Masked Ball II
Siren's Song III, Aria III
Chord of Disruption III
Fragment of Clarity II, Masquerade

Twists of Fate (30 fate points)
School Familiarity (Tier 4 Magister)
School Augmentation (Tier 3 Magister)
Fey Form (Tier 2 Shiradi)
Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)


2 things stand out to me.

take a rogue level first.

you get a more skill points.

2nd - take insightful reflexes

[EllisDee37]

take a rogue level first.All his feats are caster feats; none of them can be taken at level 1 as a rogue. Thus starting rogue at 1 would cost him two feats.

(Completionist isn't a caster feat, but it can't be taken at 1 either.)

[kemetka]

2 things stand out to me.

take a rogue level first.

you get a more skill points.

2nd - take insightful reflexes

yea i wish i could have more skills, but it doesnt work unfortunately
and insightful reflexes would be nice, but likely will not be needed much if ever, with the run speed, invis blur / displacement, and my shadow walk clicky most things will probably be sitting around drooling till they die anyways, the only save ive had issues with so far is will, but those could just be crappy rolls.

[Xandez]

Nice, would like to see this in action :D

Dunno if worth it but you could try to twist in soundburst SLA instead of fey form... maybe you have tried it already?

++Xan

[kemetka]

not made it into epics yet, in heroic content it devastates most things though, one shotting most things with a crit from the shout sla, and the stun chance from sonic blast so far is working fairly well, landing id guess roughly 70 - 75% of the time at level 13.
I'd forgotten about the sound burst sla somehow, thanks for that, and figure taking heighten would be a better choice of a feat than spell focus at level 15 so theres another adjustment, but so far im quite pleased.

probably test out swapping cacoon for endless faith for more sp as well, unsure of if that would be worth it though.

[kemetka]

so at level 20 with current epic system, its kinda underwelming...ish

while i figured this would be something that was considerably behind thepower curve in epics I must say that I'm dramatically underhelmed by a couple of things, namely dire and the soundburst SLA from exalted angel.

standing sonic spell power 314, dirge will hit for 70ish sonic damage, and 50ish negative damage.

horn of thunder and shout sla's are my big damage dealing abilities, and they are so far, not terrible in epics considering they are heroic abilities.

horn of thunder will hit for 1-1.7k total, and shout is around 400+.

what is odd is that greater shout, and the regular shout spells, even if max /empowered tend to do less damage than the shout sla, at least from my experience.

the greatest hinderence to this build in epics is the lack of actual sonic support abilities, and teh fact that everything breaks out of enthralment just as if i'd used regular fascinate, which is a huge let down.

synopsis so far : not super great for EE material. EH remains untested, as with all things, probably fine on EN.

can only hope that the level 30 feat would make this truly worth the hassel.

side note >> this steamrolls heroics faster than a warlock, who knew..

[kryscendo]

so at level 20 with current epic system, its kinda underwelming...ish

while i figured this would be something that was considerably behind thepower curve in epics I must say that I'm dramatically underhelmed by a couple of things, namely dire and the soundburst SLA from exalted angel.

standing sonic spell power 314, dirge will hit for 70ish sonic damage, and 50ish negative damage.

horn of thunder and shout sla's are my big damage dealing abilities, and they are so far, not terrible in epics considering they are heroic abilities.

horn of thunder will hit for 1-1.7k total, and shout is around 400+.

what is odd is that greater shout, and the regular shout spells, even if max /empowered tend to do less damage than the shout sla, at least from my experience.

the greatest hinderence to this build in epics is the lack of actual sonic support abilities, and teh fact that everything breaks out of enthralment just as if i'd used regular fascinate, which is a huge let down.

synopsis so far : not super great for EE material. EH remains untested, as with all things, probably fine on EN.

can only hope that the level 30 feat would make this truly worth the hassel.

side note >> this steamrolls heroics faster than a warlock, who knew..

I'm not so smart at reading some of this data you posted ... I couldn't figure out what your end perform skill was ... specifically because sonic spells are based on your perform skill which is based on your charisma. Also - I was wondering about the levels of rogue - are you using as mechanic or assassin? I have 10+ bards and don't use the SLAs. I tested the SLAs vs actual spells, and for me, the spells do way more damage. And surprisingly, the sonic blast spell works better than shout which I rarely use. Greater shout is my go-to for sonic spells. Are you using a sonic lore or resonance items?

Thing about enthrallment vs fascinate is that even if the badguy breaks enthrallment, they still take -2 to their saves and such. Enthrallment has always worked better than fascinate IMO. But now that fascinate is combined with music of dead/sewers/makers/etc., I tend to use that first to thin out mobs. Enthrallment doesn't work on all badguys.

I am going to check my stats to see if I give better info about the sonic spells.