Fighter Stalwart Defender Preview

[eonfreon]

Yeah. It's proof DDO developers hate all S&B characters, no matter our race. Ever noticed they never gave us a starter shield?

What is this S&B you speak of?
I thought S&B was just a TWFer or THFer that happened to need to Shield Block.

[Deathseeker]

Yeah. It's proof DDO developers hate all S&B characters, no matter our race. Ever noticed they never gave us a starter shield?

Silly Borror0. You just dont realize that the devs actually prefer S&B. Its obvious, and here's why....

The new mod takes the game further down the path of the easy button. More xp bonuses, more player power, more named loot, easier quests when short manned, etc. Its getting to the point that anyone could solo or shortman almost any non-raid. Well...anyone, EXCEPT S&B. S&B are the only style that will still be difficult to play. Without WoP's now, and with no DPS, S&B will have to group to have fun. They'll have to rely on a team.

Therefore, S&B is the only style left that wont be too easy to play solo or short manned, and thus will be the most fun and challenging!

You've been looking at the glass as half empty. Look at it as half-full...Gimped is Good!

[Shade]

[I]The Stalwart Defender is based on the Dwarven Defender prestige class from pen and paper, and may end up available to dwarves (similar to how elves can acquire the Arcane Archer prestige enhancement line). The various Defender prestige classes require a Lawful alignment - a restriction we've waived in DDO.

This. Implement it please.

I want my Dwarf Barbarian Defender! That would rock.

[Asketes]

Fighter Stalwart Defender I

Benefit:......increases your maximum dexterity bonus allowed by shields,



Fighter Stalwart Defender II

Benefit: ... increases your maximum dexterity bonus allowed by heavy armor and shields.

Fighter Stalwart Defender III

Benefit:.. increases your maximum dexterity bonus allowed by medium or heavy armor and shields

Not to beat a dead horse, but is this assume to work on BOTH normal shields and tower shields? (seeing as there are different feats I would like to make sure)

thanks for the info

[Borror0]

Not to beat a dead horse, but is this assume to work on BOTH normal shields and tower shields? (seeing as there are different feats I would like to make sure)

Do you know any non-tower shield with a MDB?

[Asketes]

soo mean!

I didn't know normal shields don't have a max dex bonus

thanks borro0

[Shade]

This PRC should grant tower shield proficency, so Dwarven Defenders that aren't fighters like paladins, rangers and barbs can make use of the extra dex on the insanely overpowerd hound shield.

Edit: I realise non-proficency on shields has little effect in DDO. But I still don't like that red ! up in the corner heh.

[Borror0]

This PRC should grant tower shield proficency, so Dwarven Defenders

It's a fighter PrE, not a dwarf PrE.

I realise non-proficency on shields has little effect in DDO. But I still don't like that red ! up in the corner heh.

You can a -9 penalty a little effect?

[llevenbaxx]

Sorry if its been covered but will the HV armor bonus cover the AC boost?

If not, shouldnt it? Why make us take 100% redundant APs?

[Tanka]

Sorry if its been covered but will the HV armor bonus cover the AC boost?

If not, shouldnt it? Why make us take 100% redundant APs?

It isn't listed, so, no, it won't work.

Mechanic requires Skill Boost, Assassin requires Damage Boost. Neither function if you only have HV.

[Shade]

It's a fighter PrE, not a dwarf PrE.

You can a -9 penalty a little effect?

No it's actually a Dwarven one. Stolen from the Dwarves, slightly modified and tossed to the fighters as bone.
It is based on this class from pen and paper as Eladrin said:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/prestigeCl...enDefender.htm

It's called Dwarven Defender, the requirement is being a Dwarf, don't matter if your a fighter, barb, paladin or what. Only requirements are almost exactly the same as this version: Toughness, Dodge, and Endurance (Diehard is Endurance replacement in DDO)

Per Eladrins post, it willl be implemented for any Dwarf, exactly the same as Arcane Archer is available to any Elf.

And yea -9 to hit is pretty small. My standard DPS mode includes a -12 to hit penalty and I hit everything in the game 100% of the time. (-8 power attack, -4 for moving) When your just tanking, the dps don't matter so much, so drop the power attack, sit still, and you have infact a higher attack bonus, and generate more agro thanks to the 200% hate feature.

[Shade]

And as much as you may not like it Borror0, Barbarians will be better Stalwart Defenders then fighters.

As the ultimate defender has to have incredible hitpoints, and enough DPS to hold the agro. Barbarians are better in both of those categories.

Won't be able to rage while tanking, but the versatility of having an actual DPS worth taking along in a raid, while also being able to withstand the toughess raid boss will make them a much more valuable and wanted party member.

And ofcourse having superior hitpoints even unraged due to their higher Con bonuses from enhancements and D12 hitdice vs D10.

On the dps side while tanking, no stalwart fighter could ever hope to match the dps of a frenzied berserker stalwart defender. And don't talk about the self dmg - it's a non-issue for a character with 800-1000 hitpoints.

The only disadvantage to the barbarian is less feats, none of which will matter at level20 being they get enough for the main tanking stuff anyways.

[Borror0]

No it's actually a Dwarven one.

Wrong:

The Stalwart Defender is based on the Dwarven Defender prestige class from pen and paper, and may end up available to dwarves (similar to how elves can acquire the Arcane Archer prestige enhancement line).

As you can see, it is not intended to be a dwarf PrE.

PS: Emphasis mine.

And yea -9 to hit is pretty small.

Don't forget you lose all to-hit gain from Rage, as well.

And as much as you may not like it Borror0, Barbarians will be better Stalwart Defenders then fighters.

I know. Barbarians also deal ten time more DPS than rogues.

[Shade]

I know. Barbarians also deal ten time more DPS than rogues.

So true. Well rogues with agro anyways hehe.

Glad we agree on something.

[Riekan]

Is there any chance of adding Human Versatility to qualify for the AC boost qualifications? Can a dev chime in on whether it's even being discussed?

Thanks.

[Tanka]

Is there any chance of adding Human Versatility to qualify for the AC boost qualifications? Can a dev chime in on whether it's even being discussed?

Thanks.

I concur, but only if it also qualifies for Kensai's Attack Boost, Assassin's Damage Boost or Mechanic's Skill Boost.

[Roman]

Does the stance work in TwF mode or must a shield be equiped to use it?

Stalwart Defender I: Defensive Stance
You may expend a Fighter armor boost to become a bastion of defense, gaining a +2 Competence bonus to Strength and Constitution, a +1 Competence bonus on all saves, a +2 Dodge bonus to Armor Class, and produce 50% more hate with your melee attacks. While in this stance, you move at one quarter speed.

[Borror0]

Does the stance work in TwF mode or must a shield be equiped to use it?

Works with TWF.

[Comfortably]

So true. Well rogues with agro anyways hehe.

Glad we agree on something.

Ummm you ever heard of RadII?

[Gorby]

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