Sword Golem: Kensai Evasion Juggernaut

[Tanka]

Here comes a noob question (this is not just my first WF it is also my first real pally) do paladins apply CHA bonus to all saves? I can't find anything like this in the Compendium but I may be just looking in the wrong place.

They do. L2 granted ability: Divine Grace.

[EinarMal]

Yes it is really low. In Jay's workup it is 32 but he is including 6 for CHA.

Here comes a noob question (this is not just my first WF it is also my first real pally) do paladins apply CHA bonus to all saves? I can't find anything like this in the Compendium but I may be just looking in the wrong place.

Yes look for divine grace (level 2 paladin feat granted). It adds your charisma bonus to all saves, you also get +1 from your paladin aura, and another +1 from enhancements if you take it for your 6 Paladin levels.

With a +5 resistance item (common) and GH (common) you should end up fine on your reflex save.

[geoffhanna]

LOL so if I take Force of Personality I double dip my CHA bonus for Will saves?

cool.

[Tanka]

LOL so if I take Force of Personality I double dip my CHA bonus for Will saves?

cool.

Well, not precisely. With FoP, you exchange your Wisdom bonus for your Cha bonus to modify your Wil save, then with Pal2 you add your Cha bonus again. It isn't as simple as "add 2x Cha bonus to Wil, 1x Cha bonus to Fort/Ref".

[Jay203]

well, the stats are actually gonna be a bit higher since i never factored in the 5th lvl up stat and the tomes, it should be higher =)

[geoffhanna]

I've updated the first post by reducing WIS, adding it to CHA, swapping Mithirl Body for Force of Personality, and then reworking the saves part.

I think the saves are pretty decent now. Here's a repeat from the edited first post:

 F   R   W
 0 - 3 - 0   rogue   2
 5 - 2 - 2   paladin 6
 8 - 4 - 4   fighter 12
 2 - 2 - 2   aura
 6 - 6 - 6   CHA
 0 - 4 - 0   DEX
 5 - 0 - 0   CON
 0 - 0 - 6   force of personality
 5 - 5 - 5   resistance item
31  26  25   beholder saves

And a HUGE thanks to jay for providing the template for the saves breakdown.

I feel like the selected enhancements are still a little squidgy and kind of all over the place. My THF barb is much more focused, has half as many enhancements but each at greater levels. On the other hand this is a more complex build.

[Tanka]

Drop Rogue Dex 1, get a +1 Dex tome. Voila, 12 Dex. And frees up 2AP for anything else.

If you're THF, your AC isn't gonna be worth a hoot. Why Armor Mastery?

[Jay203]

i wouldn't completely plan out the APs until the PrEs are finalized
just make sure you have the feats required to take the PrEs, everything else can wait
one thing is for sure though, make sure you work Exhalted smite and divine sacrifice into your build
+1 to crit multiplier is just plain out awsome =)

[Jay203]

oh, and drop the dex and pump more into con
if you're not gonna have high ac, you gotta have more hp to make up for it =P

[Tanka]

I make do with 430 on Tanka. Dex is important for Ref saves, which you want to be making. 12 Dex is minimum there.

[TreknaQudane]

Don't be afraid to start with a 16 STR if you need more points, though I'd not go lower than that. Due to your plans take Weapon Focus, I will safely say, you're not going to miss the possible 1 to hit. It also gives you the option to shore up dex and con. Even though you will be getting your charisma bonus to saves, you will want a decent reflex if you want evasion to be worth it, and hit points is never bad for a melee that fights next to naked.

You could end up with something like..

STR: 16
DEX: 12
CON: 14
INT: 12
WIS: 6
CHA: 14

[geoffhanna]

I don't think I want to drop the DEX any further and I am certain I don't want to drop STR. I can add a +2 CON tome right away though. I can also swap the 20th level feat for another Toughness if I am having HP troubles. If it is a hitpoint emergency I can put the 20th level powerup point into CON and grind for a +3 CON tome (unless you can just buy them at that point)

I see the point about waiting to get the APs exactly right when we don't have visibility to the finished versions. For now, it is enough I think to have a plan. So here is my enhancement plan:

Must Have
I need all of the focus and specializations to be Kensai
I need the faith enhancements because they are core to this build
I need everything that increases damage, crit damage, crit range, or HP

Should Always Have
I always take all of the enhancements that increase stats. Too effective to consider skimping.

I want ( in order)
I want enhancements that help me manage agro (brute fighting, WF great weapon aptitude)
I want more and better smites
I want to increase my aura

On the off chance anything remains
I will spend the rest on cost effective tweaks here and there

[Jay203]

I don't think I want to drop the DEX any further and I am certain I don't want to drop STR. I can add a +2 CON tome right away though. I can also swap the 20th level feat for another Toughness if I am having HP troubles. If it is a hitpoint emergency I can put the 20th level powerup point into CON and grind for a +3 CON tome (unless you can just buy them at that point)

I see the point about waiting to get the APs exactly right when we don't have visibility to the finished versions. For now, it is enough I think to have a plan. So here is my enhancement plan:

Must Have
I need all of the focus and specializations to be Kensai
I need the faith enhancements because they are core to this build
I need everything that increases damage, crit damage, crit range, or HP

Should Always Have
I always take all of the enhancements that increase stats. Too effective to consider skimping.

I want ( in order)
I want enhancements that help me manage agro (brute fighting, WF great weapon aptitude)
I want more and better smites
I want to increase my aura

On the off chance anything remains
I will spend the rest on cost effective tweaks here and there

well, seeing how you have 6 lvls of paladin, you might wanna consider taking hunter of the dead as well, automatically granting ghost-touched to all your attack is well worth the investment, just toss a point into divine righteousness and you have like what, 8~9 clickies of 1 min 200% aggro buff per rest =P
the thing you have to watch out for is the 1 min transformed time where you can't be healed by divine and can't cast spell

[binnsr]

Bah! I say. Bah!

While waiting to find out if I have a job this morning, I had a thought about how fun a Kensai Juggernaut might be.. I just finished writing it up and posting it over on House T, then hop over here to see if Eladrin has made his weekly stop and find this post.

Nearly Identical, if I read your build right..

[EinarMal]

Bah! I say. Bah!

While waiting to find out if I have a job this morning, I had a thought about how fun a Kensai Juggernaut might be.. I just finished writing it up and posting it over on House T, then hop over here to see if Eladrin has made his weekly stop and find this post.

Nearly Identical, if I read your build right..

Yeah it is a good combination, I posted a TWF halfling version a bit ago 12 Ftr/6 Pally/2 Rogue.

I second the exalted smite/sacrifice comment it is awesome for burst DPS when you want something to go down fast.

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=168761

[geoffhanna]

Bah! I say. Bah!

While waiting to find out if I have a job this morning, I had a thought about how fun a Kensai Juggernaut might be.. I just finished writing it up and posting it over on House T, then hop over here to see if Eladrin has made his weekly stop and find this post.

Nearly Identical, if I read your build right..

Hey maybe I finally got one right

[Jay203]

[code][center]

Rogue Enhancements
Rogue Dexterity I

Warforged Enhancements
Warforged Damage Reduction I
Warforged Brute Fighting II
Warforged Healer's Friend II
Warforged Power Attack I
Warforged Constitution II

Paladin Enhancements
Follower of the Lord of Blades
Bladesworn Transformation
Paladin Courage of Good I
Paladin Bulwark of Good I
Paladin Resistance of Good I
Paladin Divine Righteousness I
Paladin Exalted Smite I
Paladin Extra Lay on Hands I
Paladin Extra Smite Evil II
Paladin Charisma II

Fighter Enhancements
Fighter Attack Boost III
Fighter Critical Accuracy III
Fighter Kensai II
Fighter Greatsword Master II
Fighter Armor Mastery I
Fighter Greatsword Specialization II
Fighter Toughness III
Fighter Strength III

I wonder if I spent too many enhancements screwing around with paladin auras instead of drilling into more toughness and intimidate. OTOH they are also the only thing I can change so I don't really care if I get them perfect the first time.

i'd take out damage reduct I, courage of good I, healer's friend II, bulwark of good I, and Armor mastery I and take rogue improved trap sense I, Divine Sacrifice I, Warforged Construct Thinking I and II, more WF Power attack, and also racial toughness!

[Tanka]

i'd take out damage reduct I, courage of good I, healer's friend II, bulwark of good I, and Armor mastery I and take rogue improved trap sense I, Divine Sacrifice I, Warforged Construct Thinking I and II, more WF Power attack, and also racial toughness!

With both Cha 22 (with a +6 item) and FoP, he won't need Construct Thinking.

And Trap Sense? Really? Waste of a point.

[Jay203]

With both Cha 22 (with a +6 item) and FoP, he won't need Construct Thinking.

And Trap Sense? Really? Waste of a point.

more useful than 1/adamantine, +1 will save vs fear, +1 max dex on composite plating, and +1 ac to his not-worth-mentioning-ac

[Tanka]

more useful than 1/adamantine, +1 will save vs fear, +1 max dex on composite plating, and +1 ac to his not-worth-mentioning-ac

Less useful than HF2, IMO.