Newbie seeking build advice

[Konata]

The title says it all. I've only been playing for a week or two, mostly messing around with builds and eventually throwing away those characters. The 'Request A Build' thread isn't creating builds anymore, so I thought some fellow elves would help me out.

I'm looking for a melee or caster dps build. I don't have any of the unlockable races/classes and I only start with 28pts.

I'd like to have decent survivability, while still dealing good damage (capable of soloing normal difficulty or higher). I'll probably get some +1 tomes later on, but I can't afford any fancy gear atm. Suggesting some armor/weapons to aim for would be a big help also.

Thanks for any help! ^^

[spifflove]

The title says it all. I've only been playing for a week or two, mostly messing around with builds and eventually throwing away those characters. The 'Request A Build' thread isn't creating builds anymore, so I thought some fellow elves would help me out.

I'm looking for a melee or caster dps build. I don't have any of the unlockable races/classes and I only start with 28pts.

I'd like to have decent survivability, while still dealing good damage (capable of soloing normal difficulty or higher). I'll probably get some +1 tomes later on, but I can't afford any fancy gear atm. Suggesting some armor/weapons to aim for would be a big help also.

Thanks for any help! ^^

Ranger 28 point elf

18
14
12
08
10 + 4 item
08

1) dodge
3) mobility
6) spring attack
9) ic slash
12) otwf
15) power attack
18) extend, maximize or ic ranged

enhancements
tempest line
scimitar (or rapier acceptable)

optional: one level of monk and take toughness

skills:
1)spot
1)jump
1/2)balance
1/2)umd
1) Move silently or anything

[Konata]

Thanks, I'll try this out in a few minutes. I guess questions like mine are pretty simple to answer, just don't know what's good for what yet since I'm new. xD

[Cuth]

I'm guessing you are FTP which means you do not have monk or WF. (A new account wouldn't have unlocked drow / fvs, but would have monk & wf which would change my suggestions.)

I'm guessing you want an elf since you're in the elf forum.

It hard to build a non-WF caster that has a lot of soloability (at the low levels especially), unless you can afford lots of pots for them. However, if you wanted to try:

Elf Wizard
Str: 14
Con: 12
Int: 18

Take Master's Touch as a spell to start with and choose the Great Axe as your Korthos weapon. Melee thru the lower levels and then start shifting over to a caster as your spells get more powerful.

The Melee DPS is easier. You could be almost any class, but if you're new and self sufficiency is key, here are two options:

Elf Paladin (THF)
Str: 16
Con: 14
Wis: 10
Chr: 14

Take the Two Handed Fighting Feats, Power Attack and Toughness.

Elf Paladin (TWF)
Str: 15
Dex: 16
Con: 12
Wis: 10
Chr: 14

Take the Two Weapon Fighting Feats, and Toughness. I would recommend long swords / rapiers here as elves get a racial bonus.

Elf Cleric (THF)
Str: 16
Dex: 12
Con: 12
Wis: 16

This will give you self-healing right away. Feats you can salt to taste. I would take Extend at least for the early going to make your self buffs last longer.

These are all pretty basic frameworks but should get you where you want to go. There are definitely more exotic builds, but I've found it best to play up as a pure class to get a feel for what splashes would best supplement your character.

Best of Luck.

Cuth

[Konata]

@spifflove You said to choose enhancements for the tempest line, but you need certain feats for Ranger Tempest, not certain enhancements.

@Cuth What's the difference between THF & TWF? Is each better at certain things than the other?

[Konata]

I'm going to try the suggested ranger build first, but is there a certain alignment I should choose?

I know how they work, but I don't how I'd figure out what alignment specific weapons/armor I'd need later on.

[spifflove]

I'm going to try the suggested ranger build first, but is there a certain alignment I should choose?

I know how they work, but I don't how I'd figure out what alignment specific weapons/armor I'd need later on.

If you don't take lg you will be locked out of monk. Take tempest I, II, III the requisit feats are in the build. UMD will help with alignement weapons somewhat but most of the good ones will work fine with LG.

[Konata]

I don't have monk, so I'm just going Ranger 20 I guess. Thanks.

[spifflove]

I don't have monk, so I'm just going Ranger 20 I guess. Thanks.

Well you may get monk later but if you do not you might want to go with 16 dex and 08 wisdom and hold out for a +6 wis item. These are not uncommon at very high level the tradeoff is the wait.

[Konata]

If I unlock monk, at what level(s) would I be a monk, and what would I get besides Toughness?

[spifflove]

If I unlock monk, at what level(s) would I be a monk, and what would I get besides Toughness?

You would have to purchase it with the favor you earn and you would get +1 to ac when not using a shield for every 2 points of wisdom above 10. This stacks with your dex bonus and can get very high with tomes, etc.