Micro Medic (A build by request)

[sigtrent]

From Sigtrent's Build Request Thread

Build Name: Micro Medic
Author: Sigfried Trent
Requester: Quartzite
Last Updated:06/24/10

Key Words [Healing, Halfling, Dragonmark, Bard, Spellsinger, 28pts]

Objectives
The request was for a 28pt dragonmark Halfling bard that could rival a cleric in healing while maintaining a bard’s inherent versatility.

Design
Dragonmarks really chew up feat slots and bard is not a feat rich class. This narrows the range of what I can do unless I multiclass a fair bit and that slows down level progression and chews away at the already shallow mana pool. Speaking of mana pools, it was something I wanted to expand. Spellsinger was obvious but the single sorcerer level helps quite a bit, especially at the lower levels where it’s adding 200 mana and helps set up spellsinger without using a feat. Getting jump and shield is just a nice bonus. You could do the same with favored soul, and be a bit more in keeping with the theme, but as it’s a 28pt build, I wanted to avoid any use of premium classes and the difference in benefit is small.
In the versatility department, I made sure to take enough strength to put masters touch to decent effect. Inspire courage and greater heroism is often enough to keep a bard’s combat skills in the helpful range and give them some solo-ability. Since charisma is close to maxed out, DC values for control spells are workable until the very high levels at which point you rely much more on fascinate’s monster DCs and immunity to spell resistance. I also threw in a summon and a tiny bit of damage casting to round things out.
I can’t resist Halfling companion on bard builds. It’s really a very powerful buff to throw on a lead tank or DPS character that makes Halfling bards unique and sought after.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Neutral Good Halfling Male
(1 Sorcerer \ 19 Bard) 
Hit Points: 220
Spell Points: 1086 
BAB: 14\14\19\24
Fortitude: 9
Reflex: 13
Will: 13

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             14                    14
Dexterity            12                    12
Constitution         14                    14
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             16                    24

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               5                    11
Bluff                 3                     7
Concentration         6                    29
Diplomacy             3                     7
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle                3                    28
Heal                 -1                     1
Hide                  1                     3
Intimidate            3                     7
Jump                  5                    14
Listen               -1                     1
Move Silently         1                     3
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               7                    31
Repair               -1                    -1
Search               -1                    -1
Spot                 -1                    -1
Swim                  2                     2
Tumble                2                     2
Use Magic Device      7                    32

Level 1 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Jump (+3)
Skill: Perform (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Least Dragonmark of Healing
Spell (1): Master's Touch
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song I
Enhancement: Bard Perform I
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music I


Level 2 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (1): Hypnotism
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use I
Enhancement: Bard Wand Mastery I


Level 3 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell
Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
Enhancement: Halfling Hero's Companion I
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Song I


Level 4 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (2): Blur
Spell (2): Cure Moderate Wounds
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic II
Enhancement: Bard Charisma I


Level 5 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (1): Grease
Spell (2): Invisibility
Enhancement: Halfling Hero's Companion II
Enhancement: Bard Wand Mastery II


Level 6 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Lesser Dragonmark of Healing
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use II


Level 7 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (2): Rage
Spell (3): Haste
Spell (3): Cure Serious Wounds
Enhancement: Bard Charisma II


Level 8 (Sorcerer)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Spell (1): Jump
Spell (1): Shield
Enhancement: Bard Concentration I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music II


Level 9 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Perform (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+2)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Dragonmark of Healing
Spell (3): Displacement
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
Enhancement: Bard Concentration II


Level 10 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Bard Spellsinger I


Level 11 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (3): Remove Curse
Spell (4): Freedom of Movement
Spell (4): Otto's Sphere of Dancing
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use III
Enhancement: Bard Improved Spell Penetration I


Level 12 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Spell (4): Dimension Door
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic III


Level 13 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic IV


Level 14 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (4): Hold Monster
Spell (5): Greater Heroism
Spell (5): Mass Cure Light Wounds
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use IV


Level 15 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell
Spell (5): Summon Monster V
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage III


Level 16 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Bard Charisma III


Level 17 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (1): Detect Secret Doors
Spell (5): Mass Suggestion
Spell (6): Otto's Irresistable Dance
Spell (6): Mass Cure Moderate Wounds
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song III


Level 18 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Spell (6): Greater Shout
Spell (2): Glitterdust
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Song II


Level 19 (Bard)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (3): Crushing Despair
Enhancement: Halfling Hero's Companion III
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Incredible Song I


Level 20 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (4): Neutralize Poison
Spell (6): Mass Charm Monster
Enhancement: Halfling Hero's Companion IV

Play
Micro medic is a great spot healer and makes an excellent companion for a tank. It’s a great duo character of to assign to a raid tank. It is not an especially strong group healer though, and may not be able to keep a group standing that is getting hammered hard and fast. If you include their free heals the micor medic should make a very reasonable cleric substitute in most situations.
In combat you should take a no-agro approach, trying to avoid any unwanted attention and generally going in after throwing down a disco ball or the like to minimize danger. Neither your HP nor AC is capable of withstanding all that much abuse at higher levels.

Variations
A 32pt version is possible and you can certainly play around a bit with the stats. Further multiclassing is also an option, especially at higher levels. You could beef up combat with fighter or grab another 100sp with favored soul.

[Quartzite]

Interesting and definitely close to what I had in mind.

What would you say to taking a level of Cleric instead of Sorc? It would allow a few small DVs, access to lower-level Cleric wands and spells without UMD at the expense of some SP. If that were the direction I probably would lower Str and Dex to raise Wis some more, maybe even consider 18 Cha. It's definitely a good template, I'm just interested in some potential tweaks.

How do you think Maximise/ Empower would go as an alternative to Empowered Healing? It is less SP efficient than Emp Healing for SP based heals- but for Dragonmarked Heals it gives a "Free" boost. With Extra Dragonmark IV, that's a lot of heals able to be used for free before even needing to touch the SP pool. Just my ideas...

[spifflove]

I love the build idea. In practice though I think stacks of heal and mass cure mod scrolls are the way to go.

A healing barb could rock the house. Very fascinating.

[Freeman]

Your leveling guide lists Extend as your level 12 feat, but the feat list has Mental Toughness instead, so you should clarify which is correct.(I can see either one being used) I would take the sorc level earlier, probably second level. That way, you get the benefit of the extra spell points as soon as possible. Also, you could use some offensive sorc spells for a level or two at that point.

[geezee]

Dont you get more mana if you take sorc at level 1?

[Taerdra]

The sorcerer level is a waste IMO. You gain only SPs, but lose 1 BAB, an extra spell slot, and the next level of Inspire Courage.

Go Bard 14 and take Spellsinger.

[sigtrent]

Your leveling guide lists Extend as your level 12 feat, but the feat list has Mental Toughness instead, so you should clarify which is correct.(I can see either one being used) I would take the sorc level earlier, probably second level. That way, you get the benefit of the extra spell points as soon as possible. Also, you could use some offensive sorc spells for a level or two at that point.

I always make some kind of error.. lol. I was indecisive as to which and made the switch to extend towards the end.

Taking Socr early is definately a viable option. I don't think offensive spells would be usefull though.. I've had level 1 sorcereres and I usualy end up using crossbows for damage until I get to level 2 or 3 as it does more damage than their spells do.

[Freeman]

I always make some kind of error.. lol. I was indecisive as to which and made the switch to extend towards the end.

Taking Socr early is definately a viable option. I don't think offensive spells would be usefull though.. I've had level 1 sorcereres and I usualy end up using crossbows for damage until I get to level 2 or 3 as it does more damage than their spells do.

If you took Sorc at second level, then Niac's would still be a decent spell until level 3-4. At that point, it would start to lose it usefulness, and it could be easily switched out for something more utility-oriented.

As for your feat selection, I don't think I'd recommend Empower Healing. First, without any enhancements to reduce the cost, empowered cure spells will burn through your spellpoints far too quickly to make it useful for most situations. At laster levels, your best burst healing will most likely be from Heal scrolls, so the feat won't help with that. Instead, I'd recommend picking either the Spell Focus: Enchantment to help you CC, or perhaps Skill Focus: UMD, to reduce the failure rate of Heal scrolls when you need them. They are DC 40, so it would reduce your failure rate from 20% to 5% of the time when using them.

Oh, and Inspire Courage gains +1/+1 at level 14. But if you don't have the enhancements for the song either, then it obviously isn't that important for this build. Although I would try to work some of the attack enhancements in if you can. Those are the most beneficial.

For those who are saying it is a waste, the level of sorc can be very beneficial for a bard focusing on healing. The additional spellpoints are a significant bonus if you are healing with your own power instead of wands and scrolls. Yes, there are drawbacks, but you have to focus on the purpose of the character, not solely the gains and losses.

[sigtrent]

What would you say to taking a level of Cleric instead of Sorc? It would allow a few small DVs, access to lower-level Cleric wands and spells without UMD at the expense of some SP. If that were the direction I probably would lower Str and Dex to raise Wis some more, maybe even consider 18 Cha. It's definitely a good template, I'm just interested in some potential tweaks.

Ya, I played around with some of those options.. I actualy almost made this character for another request, but it just didn't quite "work" the way I wanted. The need to have a decent wisdom really killed any possibility of doing any kind of combat and I always hate doing that, especialy with a bard and you had mentioned being able to do bard things. Being able to focus less on healing and freed up the build a bit to make it more well rounded.

So the thing is, cleric doesn't add nearly the SP that sorcerer does. If you don't mind that it works fine, and if takign cleric, I'd take that early. Generaly speaking cleric doesn't have a lot of wand access that bard doesn't already have. Lesser restore is the most noteable but you can UMD that one fairly easily and there are potions for it as well.

I think't its certainly a viable way to go. Don't be tempted to try both though, that really didn't work out well when I tried it.

How do you think Maximise/ Empower would go as an alternative to Empowered Healing? It is less SP efficient than Emp Healing for SP based heals- but for Dragonmarked Heals it gives a "Free" boost. With Extra Dragonmark IV, that's a lot of heals able to be used for free before even needing to touch the SP pool. Just my ideas...

I was thinking that Empower Healing worked with the dragon marks. If not.. then I'd probably go with empower... I think. I havn't actualy played with the marks of healing so my knowledge is just based on what I have read about them. I have played a WF who uses empower for repair spells (and everything else). That works pretty well for self healing, and with the new Meta magic system incoming it may be pretty decent with high level spells but less so with low level ones. Fortunately you could freely re-spec it so long as you have a shard depending on if it works or not. I wish I knew for sure. If EH doesn't work.. I might start with it anyhow, and then swap it for empower or maximize once you get the greater dragon marks.