Warchanter Build

[jarlaxle_dourden]

Please let me know where I might have gone wrong with this build ... also is there much demand for warchanters?

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stan rogers
Level 16 Neutral Good Dwarf Male
(2 Fighter \ 14 Bard) 
Hit Points: 279
Spell Points: 458 
BAB: 12\12\17\22
Fortitude: 11
Reflex: 12
Will: 8

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 16)
Strength             16                    21
Dexterity            16                    16
Constitution         16                    18
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             12                    13

Tomes Used
+4 Tome of Constitution used at level 20

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 16)
Balance               7                    23
Bluff                 1                     1
Concentration         3                     4
Diplomacy             1                     1
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle                1                     1
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  3                     3
Intimidate            1                     1
Jump                  7                    23
Listen               -1                    -1
Move Silently         3                     3
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               5                    22
Repair               -1                    -1
Search               -1                     1
Spot                 -1                    -1
Swim                  3                     5
Tumble                7                    18
Use Magic Device      5                    20

Level 1 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery I
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Perform I

Level 2 (Bard)
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music I

Level 3 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Dwarven Toughness I

Level 4 (Bard)
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Attack I
Enhancement: Bard Charisma I

Level 5 (Bard)
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery II
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music II

Level 6 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Warchanter I

Level 7 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Handed Fighting
Enhancement: Dwarven Toughness II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I

Level 8 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Two Handed Fighting
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution II
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I

Level 9 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Dwarven Toughness III
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I

Level 10 (Bard)
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack II

Level 11 (Bard)
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Attack II

Level 12 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Dwarven Toughness IV

Level 13 (Bard)
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song I
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song II
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I

Level 14 (Bard)
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II

Level 15 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Handed Fighting
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music III

Level 16 (Bard)
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song III
Enhancement: Bard Perform II

[Gol]

I guess my only question is that since you're not going TWF, why on earth do you want 16 base dex? Put those points somewhere more useful.

[Impaqt]

2 TOughness Feats?

Youd be better off taking only 1 Fighter level for a 15/1 SPlit, Drop the second TOughness. This way you get Inspire Heroics and an exra Bard song.

ALso, I'd take the weapon focus before power attack. Power attack doesnt help much until later levels anyway.

[Inspire]

I guess my only question is that since you're not going TWF, why on earth do you want 16 base dex? Put those points somewhere more useful.

Agree. Like Con Or Str, Even Int For Skills, Or Cha For Sp.

[jarlaxle_dourden]

I guess my only question is that since you're not going TWF, why on earth do you want 16 base dex? Put those points somewhere more useful.

Since I won't be wearing armor shouldn't I try my dex as high as possible so I have some kind of AC?

[Gol]

Since I won't be wearing armor shouldn't I try my dex as high as possible so I have some kind of AC?

AC is 50 or bust. Do your math (because I didn't). If you're not hitting 50 before short-term buffs, wear a Fearsome Robe and dump Dex.

[Impaqt]

Since I won't be wearing armor shouldn't I try my dex as high as possible so I have some kind of AC?

Uh, No. Care about AC or DOnt care about it. Theres no effective "In-Between" in this game.

[jarlaxle_dourden]

AC is 50 or bust. Do your math (because I didn't). If you're not hitting 50 before short-term buffs, wear a Fearsome Robe and dump Dex.

hmmm ... so I guess I would be better off dumping more into con and str and leaving dex at about 10? Or would you dump it all the way to 8?

[WeaselKing]

I would recommend dropping one of the toughness feats for extend, this will help immensly in keeping up the buffs that are all important to the effective DPS of a good warchanter IMO. Especially with the low sp that they usually have. I also think that dropping some of those dex points and putting them into charisma would be good for some of the same reasons (more sp=more self buffing).

I have found that my Warchanter is almost always welcome in a group and when I join I make sure that they know to expect me to be a frontline DPS fighter, I also tell them that if they like buffs stand near me but I am not going out of my way to buff everyone else when I need it now. Also remember not to join the pugs looking for a bard/cleric, they want a healer and you are not one, maybe once you can cast heal scrolls but that just cuts into your killing time.

One more suggestion, go Warforged not Dwarf. They are superior warchanters IMO especially THF, 6 AP gets +3 more damage to power attack which means +6 damage with a two hander. Power attack adds +48 damage on a crit this way combine that with Carnifex or Sword of Shadows and you are one BAMF.

[rimble]

I would recommend dropping one of the toughness feats for extend, this will help immensly in keeping up the buffs that are all important to the effective DPS of a good warchanter IMO. Especially with the low sp that they usually have. I also think that dropping some of those dex points and putting them into charisma would be good for some of the same reasons (more sp=more self buffing).

At Level 14 Bard, each additional point of Charisma bonus (so, generally, two points in Charisma) is only an additional 23 spell points. Putting ability points into Charisma for bonus spell points isn't generally worth it, though of course that depends what you're raising it from/to. I think 12 is perfect for a Warchanter.

I'd take Strength to 18 and then Dex at 12, or Dex at 10 and Int at 10 (depending on your skill point needs).

[Gol]

hmmm ... so I guess I would be better off dumping more into con and str and leaving dex at about 10? Or would you dump it all the way to 8?

Again, AC is all or nothing. 10 is a waste of 2 build points better spent just about anywhere else (unless you plan on getting evasion, which you aren't).

[markymarksta]

Is greater and improved THF really necessary? I would find extend and force of personality more beneficial than glancing damage.

By takng force of personality your wills saves will be high since it will be based on your CHA bonus. Therefore you don't need to worry about a WIS item, opening up a slot. The only problem is you will need to eat a +1 CHA tome to get it since it demands base CHA of 13.

You should depend on displacement for your AC. Therefore having displacement (and other spells) extended is nice.

It's a nice build. I would personally max CON to 18 because I think the second line of defence on a battlebard at end game (tanking Reaver and Pit fiend) is hitpoints. Bards do not get toughness as a class enhancement so I like 18 CON (as long we are talking dwarf and warforge).

Are Battlebards in demand? Be ready to sell yourself and send tells to group leaders that are asking for only tanks asking if they wan't a battlebard. If you are not accepted then you don't wan't to be led by that person, all good players know a battlebard is useful. 99% of players love bards and are happy they are in the group.

Oh and why Neutral good? Why not true neutral? You have UMD!

Just some ideas.
Be ready to have fun playing the battlebard.