Dark Dancer (A build by request)

[sigtrent]

From Sigtrent's Build Request Thread

Build Name: Dark Dancer
Author: Sigfried Trent
Requester: Jules921
Last Updated: 05/27/10

Key Words [Drow, Warchanter, TWF, Bard]

Objectives
The requester wanted a pure warchanter, one that was more about beefing up the party than themselves, but could still do some fighting.

Design
The original really marginalized its combat with only two weapon fighting, although this was at a lower level cap. I didn't change much here. Drow was used due to the strong charisma and dex, both needed for the build, and because of the weapon synergy with a bards better TWF weapons. While this is definately a casting bard, feats are used to amplify combat, and some enhancement points do the same. While not maxed out on DC and Spell Pen, its still very respectable. On the combat side the build does not have massive strength, although its enough to have a respectable to hit and add some extra damage. In some ways that may be best for a build with modest con and final hit points. Pulling to much agro would be a problem. Agro and hit points are why diplomacy was taken as a skill. If the build does pull agro it has a mechanism to shed it long enough to throw up more defenses. Healing is only so-so, mostly useful for topping off and keeping a party going through fairly average encounters. As a primary healer it just can't crank out the numbers needed which is fine since its more a CC and fighting character during a fight.

I build this one without tomes so that it could be a starting build, although if you have them you can eek out strength by taking dex down a bit and using a +2 tome to hit the prerequisites you need at level 15. Many would say the build has too few HP and not enough DPS and sacrifices too much to get what DPS it does have. I agree to some extent but if you really want a caster warchanter, thats what you end up with, the feats needed more or less demand further investment in melee and that conflicts directly on feats and ability scores with the casting side of the build. Its not a bad character at all, great utility for any party, but as an individual character its not a superstar in any single way and depends on a party to make what it does specialize in (helping others) to work well.

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

Level 20 True Neutral Drow Male
(20 Bard) 
Hit Points: 160
Spell Points: 826 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 7
Reflex: 15
Will: 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             14                    14
Dexterity            17                    17
Constitution         12                    12
Intelligence         10                    10
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             17                    27

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               7                    25
Bluff                 4                     9
Concentration         5                    24
Diplomacy             8                    32
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                4                     9
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  3                     3
Intimidate            4                     9
Jump                  4                    24
Listen               -1                     1
Move Silently         3                     3
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               8                    32
Repair                0                     0
Search                0                     2
Spot                 -1                     1
Swim                  1                     1
Tumble                4                     4
Use Magic Device      8                    32

Level 1 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Diplomacy (+4)
Skill: Jump (+3)
Skill: Perform (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting
Spell (1): Hypnotism
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery I
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music I


Level 2 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic I
Enhancement: Bard Charisma I


Level 3 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Piercing Weapons
Spell (1): Remove Fear
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
Enhancement: Bard Wand Mastery I


Level 4 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (2): Blur
Spell (2): Rage
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack I
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic II


Level 5 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (1): Master's Touch
Spell (2): Cure Moderate Wounds
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery II


Level 6 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II
Enhancement: Bard Warchanter I


Level 7 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (2): Soundburst
Spell (3): Displacement
Spell (3): Haste
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
Enhancement: Bard Improved Spell Penetration I


Level 8 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+2)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (3): Cure Serious Wounds
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack II


Level 9 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Enhancement: Bard Charisma II


Level 10 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (3): Charm Monster
Spell (4): Otto's Sphere of Dancing
Spell (4): Freedom of Movement
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage II


Level 11 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (4): Dimension Door
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack II


Level 12 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage III


Level 13 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (4): Neutralize Poison
Spell (5): Greater Heroism
Spell (5): Summon Monster V
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic III


Level 14 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (5): Mind Fog
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack III


Level 15 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic IV


Level 16 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (1): Focusing Chant
Spell (5): Greater Dispel Magic
Spell (6): Mass Cure Moderate Wounds
Spell (6): Otto's Irresistable Dance
Enhancement: Bard Improved Spell Penetration II


Level 17 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (2): Glitterdust
Spell (6): Greater Shout
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Song I
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Song II
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Incredible Song I


Level 18 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Spell (3): Remove Curse
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Incredible Song II


Level 19 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (4): Hold Monster
Spell (6): Mass Charm Monster
Enhancement: Bard Charisma III


Level 20 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (5): Mass Suggestion
Enhancement: Bard Musical Prodigy
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music II

Play
Avoid playing hero. Stick with a partner in melee, one that can pull agro from you. Jump in after the fight starts. Use CC to good effect but watch out for the agro it can generate. Keep that diplomacy button handy and say mobile.

Variations
Feats are where you can shift things around. If you want more of a caster, loose the later combat feats. If you want more of a fighter, drop a spell feat for toughness and move charisma points into strength.