Con-based Dwarf Cleric

[Sebastrd]

I need some help fleshing out a build I got from a friend. The general concept is a Dwarf 18 Clr/2 Ftr with max Con and the enhancement Throw Your Weight Around that deals good DPS with a greataxe while being nigh-indestructible due to decent AC and healing aura. I loved the base concept when he told me about. When I started fleshing it out in the character builder, though, I realized there are a few complicated decisions to make when it comes to feats and enhancements. My buddy really likes the THF line, but I'm not interested. The type of mobs that cluster are generally low-reflex, non-evasion types that are perfect for kiting through a blade barrier. I don't see any way to get overwhelming critical without making sacrifices I don't want to make - even with a +5 tome in Str that I don't have just yet.

So, critiques, suggestions, comments?

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 04.19.03
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Level 28 True Neutral Dwarf Female
(2 Fighter \ 18 Cleric \ 8 Epic) 
Hit Points: 727
Spell Points: 1385 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 26
Reflex: 7
Will: 17


                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(36 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 28)
Strength             14                    18
Dexterity             8                    12
Constitution         20                    34
Intelligence         10                    14
Wisdom               14                    22
Charisma             12                    16


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 Constitution used at level 18

Level 1 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell
Feat: (Deity) Follower of the Sovereign Host
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Artificer
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Barbarian
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Favored Soul
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Fighter
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Monk
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Paladin
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Ranger
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Rogue
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Sorcerer
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Wizard




Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Attack




Level 3 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Cleave
Feat: (Selected) Maximize Spell




Level 4 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: CON




Level 5 (Cleric)




Level 6 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Great Cleave




Level 7 (Cleric)




Level 8 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: CON




Level 9 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness




Level 10 (Cleric)




Level 11 (Cleric)




Level 12 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: CON
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons




Level 13 (Cleric)




Level 14 (Cleric)




Level 15 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell




Level 16 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: CON




Level 17 (Cleric)




Level 18 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell




Level 19 (Cleric)




Level 20 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: CON




Level 21 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Epic: Epic Toughness




Level 22 (Epic)




Level 23 (Epic)




Level 24 (Epic)
Ability Raise: CON
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell




Level 25 (Epic)




Level 26 (Epic)
Feat: (Epic Destiny) Epic Destiny: Epic Spell Power: Positive




Level 27 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Epic: Blinding Speed




Level 28 (Epic)
Ability Raise: CON
Feat: (Epic Destiny) Epic Destiny: Elusive Target
Enhancement: Dwarf - Dwarven Toughness (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Dwarven Constitution (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Dwarven Toughness (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Dwarven Constitution (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Dwarven Toughness (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Axe Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Dwarven Armor Mastery (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Dwarven Armor Mastery (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Axe Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Axe Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Axe Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Throw Your Weight Around (Axes) (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Healing Domain (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Pacifism (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Positive Energy Burst (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Extra Turning (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Extra Turning (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Extra Turning (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Wand Mastery (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Divine Cleansing (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Divine Cleansing (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Intense Healing (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Intense Healing (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Intense Healing (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Unyielding Sovereignty (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Wisdom (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Incredible Healing (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Incredible Healing (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Incredible Healing (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Wisdom (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Positive Energy Aura (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Smite Foe (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Resilience of Battle (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Sanctuary (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - War Domain: Blur (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - War Domain: Haste (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Toughness (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Toughness (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Toughness (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Sacred Touch (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Sacred Touch (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Sacred Touch (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Smite Weakness (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Wall of Steel (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Wall of Steel (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Wall of Steel (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame: Saving Throws (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame: Saving Throws (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame: Saving Throws (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame: Energy Absorption (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame: Energy Absorption (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame: Energy Absorption (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Wisdom (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Ameliorating Strike (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Wisdom (Rank 1)

[axel15810]

Doing this on a divine isn't really worth it IMO because Divine Might now works as an insight bonus to STR, no longer to damage. So by going CON based you'll be losing out on the big Divine Might bonus to damage.

But, if you are doing it I'd make these changes -

The THF line adds a lot of DPS because the 30% increase to glancing blows applies to your cleave attacks.

I would fit it in by dropping toughness, epic toughness and extend. None of those are really needed. You will have a ton of hitpoints anyway being CON based dwarf and you'll get more by being in LD, Fury or Sentinel. Having 1000 HP verses 1070 won't matter, and to me 70-ish HP for two feats is not worth it especially being dwarf when you'll have a bunch anyway. Extend isn't worth it on epics since your buffs will last almost 20 minutes anyway, plenty of time. Extend is kinda convienent for divine favor, but not worth the feat.

I'd take a wizard level instead of an 18th cleric level because 18th cleric level gets you very little....basically just a spell slot. 1 Wizard is a better option. It will give you an extra metamagic feat and as a bonus let you use blur and stoneskin wands. You could use that extra feat slot to fit in Overwhelming Critical at level 21....it's practically a must have feat for melee characters. Also, losing lvl 18 warpriest haste won't matter since you are taking Blinding Speed anyway.

Take Perfect THF and Perfect TWF for your epic destiny feats. They are just flat out the best DPS increases as far as epic destiny feats go. 20 POS spellpower is very subpar for a feat. Your healing power will already be more than adequate if you fit in, say, a 114 devotion item on a weapon augment slot or use the Shamanic Fetish trinket from Gianthold. Elusive Target is ok, but I think having more DPS will be far more useful on a regular basis to your character.

On your starting stats WIS is a little high, I'd adjust it so my final number is 19. That's all you need to cast lvl 9 spells since you aren't a DC divine caster. Everything else is just you spending a lot of build points for a tiny bit of SP. Since you are using CON for damage you should probably only take enough STR to qualify for your feats, so adjust that accordingly if it is not already adjusted.

Good luck, have fun with your build.

Edit - Forgot about the 24 STR requirement for Overwhelming Crit. That will be tough to get if going CON based and taking more STR will defeat the purpose of the build. You could go ahead and take Epic Toughness/ Toughness instead since there won't be much else to take. Empower spell can be dropped as well to fit them both in. Or if you really want empower for your bursts you could take it and then another feat of your choice and forget about epic tough. Or you could give up 2 feats to add your CHA bonus to saves by going 2 pally/ 1 fighter instead. Lots of things you could do.

[unbongwah]

Doing this on a divine isn't really worth it IMO because Divine Might now works as an insight bonus to STR, no longer to damage. So by going CON based you'll be losing out on the big Divine Might bonus to damage.

Between Div Might and the AP cost for TYWA, I'd do a CHA-based cleric 18 / pal 2 build before I did a CON-based battlecleric; at least that way CHA boosts your saves, # of TUs, and DPS, rather than just your DPS, HPs, and Fort saves.

[Sebastrd]

Doing this on a divine isn't really worth it IMO because Divine Might now works as an insight bonus to STR, no longer to damage. So by going CON based you'll be losing out on the big Divine Might bonus to damage.

We'll see. I don't think I even had Divine Might in there, but if it feels under powered I can always heroic TR at 20 instead of playing through epic levels.

The THF line adds a lot of DPS because the 30% increase to glancing blows applies to your cleave attacks.

I would fit it in by dropping toughness, epic toughness and extend. None of those are really needed. You will have a ton of hitpoints anyway being CON based dwarf and you'll get more by being in LD, Fury or Sentinel. Having 1000 HP verses 1070 won't matter, and to me 70-ish HP for two feats is not worth it especially being dwarf when you'll have a bunch anyway. Extend isn't worth it on epics since your buffs will last almost 20 minutes anyway, plenty of time. Extend is kinda convienent for divine favor, but not worth the feat.

I seriously misunderstood what glancing blows are, so I agree. Definitely going to pick up the THF line.

I'd take a wizard level instead of an 18th cleric level because 18th cleric level gets you very little....basically just a spell slot. 1 Wizard is a better option. It will give you an extra metamagic feat and as a bonus let you use blur and stoneskin wands. You could use that extra feat slot to fit in Overwhelming Critical at level 21....it's practically a must have feat for melee characters. Also, losing lvl 18 warpriest haste won't matter since you are taking Blinding Speed anyway.

Take Perfect THF and Perfect TWF for your epic destiny feats. They are just flat out the best DPS increases as far as epic destiny feats go. 20 POS spellpower is very subpar for a feat. Your healing power will already be more than adequate if you fit in, say, a 114 devotion item on a weapon augment slot or use the Shamanic Fetish trinket from Gianthold. Elusive Target is ok, but I think having more DPS will be far more useful on a regular basis to your character.

On your starting stats WIS is a little high, I'd adjust it so my final number is 19. That's all you need to cast lvl 9 spells since you aren't a DC divine caster. Everything else is just you spending a lot of build points for a tiny bit of SP. Since you are using CON for damage you should probably only take enough STR to qualify for your feats, so adjust that accordingly if it is not already adjusted.

I'm definitely going to consider all of this, as well.