Swash + Supreme Cleave -- crazy?

[Rhysem]

I'm running up a Rogue 2/Bard X (traps, UMD, conc/perf/spellcraft) Swashy build right now duoed with a friend.

X could be 18, grabbing all that swashy love. And that'd be fine. The tiefling blade is my friend, and while I'm missing anything good and named in the middle, I do already have the T3 cove blade and a T1 cove buckler waiting at 20 for me. If they re-open the cove, I could buy a T3 blade at 12 right now, or a T2@12 and T3@16 with fairly minimal farming dragonshards needed, which should suffice to tool through epics to 28.

That said I like to look at other options. Fighter 3 is obvious for feats, but getting to cleave would be a trick, and since I have precision, PA is just a wasted feat. I looked for other ways to pick up cleave, and Sorc/Wiz 1 EK is an option. I also spotted supreme cleave on Barb FB, plus the enhancement to take it down to 0 HP cost. And with a 3 sec cooldown.

That seems crazy good. Is it crazy good? If it is why aren't there more FOTM builds doing it? In my case with Rogue 2, I can't do all that and Otto's, but non-trapper Bards could at a 17/3 split.

Said friend and I plan on picking up some more EPLs and TRing again sooner or later -- I'm not looking for 'must run EEs solo.' Is Barb 3 just going to be good to grind out EPLs but 'stay away from EE you just be pikin'?

Thanks in advance for keeping me crazy

[cru121]

it's an option. costs quite a bit of AP.

as you mentioned fighter levels are another option. for similar AP cost, you could get +25 PRR/MRR, +3 saves, +20% HP

[unbongwah]

as you mentioned fighter levels are another option. for similar AP cost, you could get +25 PRR/MRR, +3 saves, +20% HP

This: Supreme Cleave is nice, but you get a lot more bang for your APs & lvls thru ftr 3 splash; don't forget Vanguard bonuses, too. Plus the two extra feats give you more build flexibility; you could even take PA/CL/GC chain if you wanted. The only downside to defensive stance is Skaldic Rage and Rage spell / Primal Scream don't work while it's active.