Little Lady Luck (A build by request)

[sigtrent]

From Sigtrent's Build Request Thread

Build Name: Lady Luck
Author: Sigfried Trent
Requester: Irreversible
Last Updated: 07/27/10

Key Words [Rogue, Kensei, Assassin, Traps, TWF, Halfling, Finesse, UMD]

Objectives
The requester wanted a female halfling with weapon finesse, good UMD, and strong rogue skills. They wanted a mix of rogue and fighter but to be primarily a fighter based build. Rogue and fighter are a tricky mix when you have the majority in fighter because everything is a cross class skill and you have few skill points to work with. They asked for 28pts so this one is tome free which makes it more of a challenge to assemble.

Design
The only way I could get the skills to work and still keep a focus on fighter is to alternate levels. This means you get your prestige enhancements more later than sooner, but it does make for a fairly smooth level progression. Spot and UMD tend to cycle up and down a bit which can make for a kind of choppy experience and a long wait for the next bump.

I went with Kensei as the DPS advantage pairs well with Rogue sneak attack DPS and to offer good damage on a finesse character. Finesse makes good sense on halfling rogues as you are playing to its strengths rather than its weaknesses in all cases. Still, you want enough strength on the build to offer damage bonuses and 13 is needed for power attack. Along with assassin to boost sneak attack damage and some amount of halfling guile the DPS is pretty decent overall and it develops pretty quickly.

On the skills side things were tight. More Int would have helped as would more charisma. They wanted “great” UMD but a high charisma just doesn’t make a lot of sense here. A 32pt, tomed version would improve on the skills profile. It does work in skill focus UMD and has full ranks as well as a modest skill boost. It should be plenty for solid UMD use so long as you item up for it a bit. Rogue skills are just fine here.

Defenses are pretty good. Hit points are very solid for a rogue like character and AC is pretty reasonable most of the time. Saves are strong except for Will which is a weak point many DPS characters suffer from.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.5.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Halfling Female
(12 Fighter \ 8 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 322
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 18\18\23\28\28
Fortitude: 13
Reflex: 18
Will: 6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             13                    14
Dexterity            16                    25
Constitution         14                    14
Intelligence         14                    14
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             10                    10

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               7                    11
Bluff                 0                     6
Concentration         2                     4
Diplomacy             0                     2
Disable Device        6                    26
Haggle                0                     0
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  7                    19
Intimidate            0                     2
Jump                  5                     8
Listen               -1                     1
Move Silently         7                    17
Open Lock             7                    29
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                2                     2
Search                6                    27
Spot                  3                    22
Swim                  1                     2
Tumble                7                    11
Use Magic Device      4                    26

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Rogue Improved Trap Sense I


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Finesse
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Disable Device I
Enhancement: Rogue Search I


Level 3 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Piercing Weapons
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I


Level 4 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Halfling Dexterity I
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I


Level 5 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Halfling Cunning I
Enhancement: Halfling Guile I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I


Level 6 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Piercing Weapons
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II


Level 7 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Halfling Cunning II
Enhancement: Halfling Guile II


Level 8 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I


Level 10 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Kensei Rapier Mastery I
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training II


Level 11 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Halfling Dexterity II


Level 12 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Feat: (Selected) Skill Focus: Use Magic Device
Enhancement: Fighter Rapier Specialization I
Enhancement: Rogue Faster Sneaking I
Enhancement: Rogue Hide I
Enhancement: Rogue Move Silently I


Level 13 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost II


Level 14 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Hide II


Level 15 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Piercing Weapons
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Enhancement: Rogue Move Silently II


Level 16 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Assassin I


Level 17 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity II


Level 18 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Piercing Weapons
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Kensei Rapier Mastery II
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness III


Level 19 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing II


Level 20 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training III
Enhancement: Rogue Search II

Play
This is not a tank, more a durable rogue that relies less on sneak attack for it’s DPS than most. You still want to maximize DPS by not having agro whenever possible. Be diligent with traps and equip your search and disable items unless you know you are no fail.

Variations
32pts and tomes can really help this build fit into its shoes better. You can do a smoother skill progression and fill out balance and jump to decent levels as well as all around topping off its combat prowess.

[Geonis]

Looks good. Only thing I'd change is the armor, the Armor bracers from WW and your full dex would be the same as +5 padded. Go with the robes, and you get a quick change. Robes are also extremely cheap.

[sigtrent]

Looks good. Only thing I'd change is the armor, the Armor bracers from WW and your full dex would be the same as +5 padded. Go with the robes, and you get a quick change. Robes are also extremely cheap.

Good thinking! I'll adjust that, and it gives you more room to grow since it isn't too hard to get +5 or more bracers later on.

[Girevik]

Rogue Skills (Boosted*, Heroism Potion, +13 item, +5 tools, ): Disable Device* 50, Open Lock* 55, Search* 44, Spot 36, UMD (Inc Command Item and Golden Cartuche) 34

You lost me on the UMD calculations (and/or explanation).

17 Base Ranks
+4 Bonus from final 18 Charisma stat
+2 Heroism
+3 Golden Cartuche
+3 Rogue Skill Boost II
---
29

I am pretty sure Command provides the same kind of boost as the Golden Cartuche, so won't stack. Has this changed? I know I've looked at this with Haggle in the past and it didn't stack then.

Where am I missing the other 5 points?

[sigtrent]

You lost me on the UMD calculations (and/or explanation)

I am pretty sure Command provides the same kind of boost as the Golden Cartuche, so won't stack. Has this changed? I know I've looked at this with Haggle in the past and it didn't stack then.

Where am I missing the other 5 points?

I'm not entirely certain that command and the Cartuche work together, you may well be correct about that. I know haggle items and command do not work togetehr so you are likely correct!

The bonus you were missing was Skill Focus UMD and me stacking command and cartuche. I'll adjust the total in the build. THANKS!

Ranks 17
Charisma 4
Cartuche 3
Heroism 2
Skill Focus 3
Skill Boost 3

Total: 32

[spifflove]

She won't be so lucky on her saving throws. Changing out fighter for paladin would correct this.

[sigtrent]

She won't be so lucky on her saving throws. Changing out fighter for paladin would correct this.

Messes up the feat selection though.

[spifflove]

No it just slows it down. Its worth the trade off imho.

[FluffyDucky]

Messes up the feat selection though.

This seems inconsistent. In your commentary you said you went with the dragonmarks because "I had two open feats at 6 and 12 and no great feat choices"

Swapping out the Fighter levels for Paladin would effectively be of trading your not-so-great dragonmarks for better saves. This would also free up action points for better boosts, improved subtle backstabber, or improving any number of other enhancements.

Alternately you could go Ranger 6/Rogue 8. This would bump your sneak attack to 4d6, get you improved uncanny dodge, and free up the action points spent to improve the dragonmarks. This option may not jibe with original request to be 'mostly fighter'.