VKF Balladeer

[Thoden]

So... I'm looking for a fun melee build that I can take into high-skull reapers and switch to ranged combat (without gimping the toon completely... and I do like trapping, too). This is what I came up with--I'd love some constructive feedback. If this just isn't viable, I'm okay with that, too. Note that this toon has +7 Tomes and 35 Fate Points. He's a Triple Heroic Completionist, with 3 past lives each in PDK and SDK as well.

VKF Balladeer
10/8/2 Fighter/Bard/Rogue
True Neutral Halfling


Level Order

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


Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ----. . .--------
Strength. . . . .6. . . .+7. . . .4: DEX
Dexterity . . . 20. . . .+7. . . .8: DEX
Constitution. . 16. . . .+7. . . 12: DEX
Intelligence. . 16. . . .+7. . . 16: DEX
Wisdom. . . . . .8. . . .+7. . . 20: DEX
Charisma. . . . .8. . . .+7. . . 24: DEX
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: DEX

Skills
. . . . . R .B. B .B. F. F. B .B. F. F. F. B .F .F .F .B. B .F .F .R
. . . . . 1 .2. 3 .4. 5. 6. 7 .8. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Perform . . .2. 3 .2. . . . . .4. . . . . .4. . . . . .4. . . . . .4. 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
Intim . . 4 .1. ½ .1. . . . 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1 .1 .1 .1 .1½ 2. 2. 1. 1 .23
UMD . . . 4 .1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 1 .1 .1 .1. 23
Balance . 4 .1. 1 .1. . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . 11
Jump. . . 3 . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . 1. . . . . .1 .2. 10
Spot. . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Bluff . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Diplo . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Hide. . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Move Si . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Tumble. . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .44 10 10 10 .6 .6 11 11 .7 .7 .7 11 .7 .7 .8 12 12 .8 .8 14


Feats

.1. . . . : Single Weapon Fighting
.3. . . . : Point Blank Shot
.5 Fighter: Dodge
.6. . . . : Precise Shot
.6 Fighter: Shield Mastery
.9. . . . : Rapid Shot
10 Fighter: Improved Single Weapon Fighting
12. . . . : Improved Critical: Piercing
13 Fighter: Improved Critical: Thrown
15. . . . : Greater Single Weapon Fighting
15 Fighter: Improved Precise Shot
18. . . . : Improved Shield Mastery
19 Fighter: Mobility
21 Epic . : Combat Archery
24 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
26 Destiny: Holy Strike
27 Epic . : Blinding Speed
28 Destiny: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
29 Destiny: Dire Charge
30 Epic . : Burst of Glacial Wrath
30 Legend : Scion of: Arborea


Spells

Bard Cure Light Wounds, Expeditious Retreat, Focusing Chant, Feather Fall
Blur, Cure Moderate Wounds, Invisibility, Rage
Cure Serious Wounds, Displacement, Haste

Enhancements (80+12 AP)

Vistani Knife Fighter (41 AP) Knife Expertise, Knife Juggler, Knife Specialist, One With Blades, Vistani Fortune, Knife Master Undead Hunter, Mist Stalker, Acrobatic III, Rapid Attack
Bleeding Cuts, Mist Stalker, Weapon Versatility, Haste Boost
Fan of Knives, Mist Stalker, Deadly Blades, Dexterity
Celerity, Mist Stalker, Dexterity
Whirling Blades, Mist Stalker, Blessed Blades, Vendetta
Stalwart Defender (25 AP) Toughness, Stalwart Defense, Overbalance Item Defense III, Durable Defense III, Stalwart Defensive Mastery III
Resilient Defense III, Stalwart Shield Mastery III
Hardy Defense III
Swift Defense, Tenacious Defense III
Swashbuckler (13 AP) Confidence, Swashbuckling, Uncanny Dodge On Your Toes III, Tavern Shanties I
En Pointe III, Fast Movement
Skirmisher
Halfling (12 AP) Halfling Luck, Dexterity, Halfling Luck II, Dexterity II, Halfling Luck III Bold III
(none)
Skillful Thrower
Assassin (1 AP) Knife in the Darkness

Destiny (24 AP)

Legendary Dreadnought Extra Action Boost III, Constitution
Damage Boost III, Constitution
Critical Damage II, Constitution
Constitution
Advancing Blows, Devastating Critical, Constitution
Master's Blitz
Twists of Fate (35 fate points) Sense Weakness (Tier 4 Fury)
Whirling Wrists (Tier 3 Shiradi)
Legendary Shield Mastery (Tier 2 Sentinel)
Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)
Fast Healing (Tier 1 Fury)

[Thoden]

Bad idea? I know we are supposed to min max but VKF seems suited for hybridization?

[unbongwah]

FYI, IPS seems to still be broken with throwing daggers (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/490593-Throwing-Weapons-and-Improved-Precise-Shot?p=6087133&viewfull=1#post6087133). :(

I don't see what Dodge+Mobility is really for. You don't take the Kensei enhancements which would boost Dodge cap and you don't take Shot on the Run. Did you just have surplus feats to burn?

[Thoden]

Now that they have fixed SWF with Skirmisher in 38.1, i thought I would take another crack at this.
I know that IPS may not work with thrown daggers, yet, but I like the concept anyway:

VKF Balladeer
14/3/3 Bard/Fighter/Rogue
True Neutral Halfling


Level Order

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


Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ----. . .--------
Strength. . . . .6. . . .+7. . . .4: DEX
Dexterity . . . 18. . . .+7. . . .8: DEX
Constitution. . 14. . . .+7. . . 12: DEX
Intelligence. . 16. . . .+7. . . 16: DEX
Wisdom. . . . . .8. . . .+7. . . 20: DEX
Charisma. . . . 16. . . .+8. . . 24: DEX
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: DEX

Skills
. . . . . R .B .B .B .F. B. B. F .B .R. B. F .B .B .B .B .B .B .B .R
. . . . . 1 .2 .3 .4 .5. 6. 7. 8 .9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Perform . 2 .3 .1 .1 .1. 1. 1. 1 .1 .1. 1. 1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 23
Disable . 4 . . ½. 1. 1 .1 .1 .1. 1. 2 .1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1½ 1 .1 .1. 23
Search. . 4 . . 1. 1. 1 .1 .1 .1½ 1 .1. 1. 1 .1 .1 .1½ 1. 1. 1. 1. 1 .23
Bluff . . 4 .1 .1 .1 . . 1. 1. . .1 .1. 1. . .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .3. 23
Diplo . . 4 .1 .1 . . . .1 .1 . . 1. 1 .1 . . 1. 1. 1. 2. 1. 1. 2. 3 .23
Hide. . . 4 .1 .1 .1 . . 1. 1. . .1 .2. 1. . .1 .1 .2 .2 .1 .1 .1 .1. 23
Move Si . 4 .1 .1 .1 . . 1. 1. . .1 .1. 2. . .1 .1 .1 .1 .2 .2 .1 .1. 23
UMD . . . 4 .1 .1 .1 . . 1. 2. . .2 .1. 1. . .1 .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 23
Jump. . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . .2. . .1. . . . . . . . .1 .1 .1. 10
Balance . 4 .1 .1 .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Open Lo . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Tumble. . . .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .44 10 10 10. 6 10 11 .7 11 13 11. 7 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 14


Feats

.1. . . . : Single Weapon Fighting
.3. . . . : Shield Mastery
.5 Fighter: Point Blank Shot
.6. . . . : Completionist
.8 Fighter: Precise Shot
.9. . . . : Improved Single Weapon Fighting
12. . . . : Improved Critical: Piercing
15. . . . : Greater Single Weapon Fighting
18. . . . : Improved Shield Mastery
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic . : Improved Precise Shot
26 Destiny: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
27 Epic . : Improved Critical: Ranged
28 Destiny: Holy Strike
29 Destiny: Dire Charge
30 Epic . : Combat Archery
30 Legend : Scion of: Ethereal Plane


Spells

Bard Expeditious Retreat, Focusing Chant, Merfolk's Blessing, Sonic Blast
Blur, Cure Moderate Wounds, Invisibility, Rage
Cure Serious Wounds, Displacement, Good Hope, Haste
Cure Critical Wounds, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Otto's Sphere of Dancing
Greater Dispel Magic, Greater Heroism, Mass Cure Light Wounds

Enhancements (80+12 AP)

Vistani Knife Fighter (41 AP) Knife Expertise, Knife Juggler, Knife Specialist, One With Blades, Vistani Fortune, Knife Master Vistani Knife Training, Undead Hunter, Mist Stalker, Rapid Attack
Bleeding Cuts, Mist Stalker, Weapon Versatility, Haste Boost
Fan of Knives, Mist Stalker, Deadly Blades, Dexterity
Celerity, Mist Stalker, Single Dagger, Dexterity
Whirling Blades, Mist Stalker, Blessed Blades, Vendetta
Stalwart Defender (13 AP) Toughness, Stalwart Defense Item Defense II, Durable Defense III
Resilient Defense III
Tenacious Defense III
Halfling (12 AP) Halfling Luck, Dexterity, Halfling Luck II, Dexterity II, Halfling Luck III Stealthy III
(none)
Skillful Thrower
Swashbuckler (12 AP) Confidence, Swashbuckling On Your Toes III, Tavern Shanties I
En Pointe III, Fast Movement
Skirmisher
Harper Agent (8 AP) Agent of Good I Harper Enchantment, Traveler's Toughness II
Know the Angles III
Assassin (6 AP) Knife in the Darkness, Dagger in the Back Sneak Attack Training, Stealthy II

Destiny (24 AP)

Legendary Dreadnought Legendary Tactics III, Extra Action Boost III, Constitution
Damage Boost III, Constitution
Critical Damage III, Constitution
(none)
Advancing Blows, Devastating Critical
Master's Blitz
Twists of Fate (35 fate points) Sense Weakness (Tier 4 Fury)
Whirling Wrists (Tier 3 Shiradi)
Legendary Shield Mastery (Tier 2 Sentinel)
Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)
Unearthly Reactions (Tier 1 Magister)