FvS Lord of Blades Healer/Buffer/Fighter

[Erekose]

Builds like this seem to be a smoke screen for something else.

[Mellkor]

Builds like this seem to be a smoke screen for something else.

???

[Choopak]

Hey Mellkor

I see you list empower healing in your list of feats... i picked empower instead (for BB, DP, and cure spells wich i use more when i'm meleing)
My question is: why empower healing over empower? EmpH only boost your heal spells and with Amrath's belt, my heals hit for 400 ishhh and 700 on crits. And since the belt's bonus (+75%) dosen't stacks with anything else, what use do you have for EmpH over Empower wich is usefull for much more?
Thanks man

[Mellkor]

It is the only feat that boosts the mass heal spell and the heal spell. (as well as all other healing spells), however I use mass heal and heal better than 90% of the time to do all my healing with. It stacks with the amarath clicky. I feel the boost is needed, especially for end game raids and epic quests. Also the boost is needed for self healing as well. It is sort of a ghetto healing amp!

[PurdueDave]

I dont think this trumps the epic red dragon docents benefits so, no. BUT there may be times when it could be useful, such as that stacking +10 to reflex save you can put on it or when fighting fire immune critters, maybe. But over all the red dragon docent's benefits outweigh these by a mile, IMO.

Though inferior at the top end, the docent upgraded with +10 reflex is comparable to less-than-perfect DT and a pretty good general use docent on the way to better things...and about as hard to get as Trapblast Goggles.

[Choopak]

It is the only feat that boosts the mass heal spell and the heal spell. (as well as all other healing spells), however I use mass heal and heal better than 90% of the time to do all my healing with. It stacks with the amarath clicky. I feel the boost is needed, especially for end game raids and epic quests. Also the boost is needed for self healing as well. It is sort of a ghetto healing amp!

Haaaaaaaa didn't know it's stack with clicky... in that case ya, it's a good healing boost.
What do you suggest to compensate for the lost on DPS for BB and DP? I already have the Maximize feat...

[Mellkor]

Haaaaaaaa didn't know it's stack with clicky... in that case ya, it's a good healing boost.
What do you suggest to compensate for the lost on DPS for BB and DP? I already have the Maximize feat...

You really wont notice the difference in DPS much of those 2 spells at end game on this build. This build is not a max spell DPS build, so maximized or not, you wont notice too much difference. DP is by far, the better of the two spells for this build tho and I use it often. I only really use BB as an aggro management tool. (please note that this build as described in the OP does have maximize as well as empower healing). I could just as easily trade maximize for adamantine body tho. 15 dr vs 11 (as in the OP) is nice to have as well. It all depends on what you deem more important for your playstyle. If you want more DR (a good thing) or more BB, DP DPS, and mass cure boost (also a good thing!). If you tend to melee a lot more than use BB and DP, then take the DR, if not, then maximize makes more sense.

[jandhaer]

Huge mistake IMHO you said it only adds like half the damage of a swing from your sword every 2 seconds thats ALOT of xtra damage ( Lets say it only adds 30 every 2 seconds thats 15 D.P.S. thats a HUGE increase in the scheme of things) that your just dismissing, people make big adjustments to gear and gain past lives to just net +1 or +2 damage. This would be a much larger addition to your DPs then i think you realize. Think of all the time your not swinging your sword because of tossing heals or re-upping a faded buff or running around to reposition yourself, your archon is still pew pewing its little heart out during all that time adding consistent damage that for the most part isn't resisted by anything. And also I can run fairly reckless so charging till the Alert goes red is common ,course I personally wore a Docent of Defiance for maximum damage mitigation, and you would be amazed what you can live through by pulling out your leviks and letting your archon and a lil Divine Punishment clear the room ( have a guildie that soloed ToD this way so ya very affective ) Anyway just my two c.p. , just saying if ya wanna be the ultimate beast of a melee/healer dismissing Tier II is downgrading your overall DPS by a wide margin.

[SocialRipple]

This is my first character (well, first serious one) and I've enjoyed things up to level 9 so far. I have decent gear (full set from Chronoscope, +5 greatsword, etc.) but my damage seems to be falling behind, and in large rush-happy groups I have mana issues as a pure healer. It's not the end of the world but I don't feel like an unstoppable force anymore. Any advice on what to do until I get Blade Barrier? It feels like the next 3 levels are going to take forever.

I'm a VIP and have access to a lot of content, but it seems like every chain is too difficult to solo or requires a good group plus a pretty serious time commitment. What should I be doing now to power through to level 12?

Thanks!
-Zabandazar (Khyber)

[jandhaer]

This is my first character (well, first serious one) and I've enjoyed things up to level 9 so far. I have decent gear (full set from Chronoscope, +5 greatsword, etc.) but my damage seems to be falling behind, and in large rush-happy groups I have mana issues as a pure healer. It's not the end of the world but I don't feel like an unstoppable force anymore. Any advice on what to do until I get Blade Barrier? It feels like the next 3 levels are going to take forever.

I'm a VIP and have access to a lot of content, but it seems like every chain is too difficult to solo or requires a good group plus a pretty serious time commitment. What should I be doing now to power through to level 12?

Thanks!
-Zabandazar (Khyber)

FvS can be a lil rough to level up on a first life at least at low levels until you get your mass cures and blade barrier trust me after that its a whole new world so just stick it out and remember when pugging and your the main healer YOU are in charge doesn't matter who has the star tell em what you need them to do if your havin problems keepin up with the heals (esp when you only have single target cures and everyone is taking damage) can probs get mass cure scrolls to help out till you get the actual spells, good way to top off the group after fights too save your blue bar for when you gotta have it. Good luck.

[Exar_Jun]

I do not know about painful leveling on first life for a build like this one. I am leveling too fast to allow some others to keep up with me. Get into runs of VON, Shadow Crypt, WizKing, and Finish off Delera and you XP will go very quick.

[aristarchus1000]

Favored Souls do fall a little bit behind the healing curve (as do Clerics, although a bit less so) around level 8-9. Make sure you have ardor clickies and devotion item as appropriate, and be prepared to use wands and/or scrolls. Once you get Heal (level 13 usually), and couple Mass Cures it gets much better. Clerics start to shine more than you since they get Heal at level 11, and, or course, Radiant Burst at 12.

When you get to 20, and get your full complement of spells, things balance out.

[zwiebelring]

I'm a VIP and have access to a lot of content, but it seems like every chain is too difficult to solo or requires a good group plus a pretty serious time commitment. What should I be doing now to power through to level 12?

Out of my experience it is the total attack bonus which is significantly behind a full bab class till level 8 and frequently between level 7 to 12. So I think you should think about lowering the AC of mobs or rely persistantly on high to hit bonuses over aditional dmg. like elemental burst. If you can get a weapon with comparable high to hit bonus and Destruction, perfect. Otherwise net for every bonus to attack you can get:

- Haste clickies

- Aid clicky from Korthos (a few, I kept 4 till I got Divine Power)

- Heroism clickies/pots

- Rage clickies/pots

Survivability is the key, while other ideas burn bright but fast you burn slow but can heal yourself and last till the end. After you get Divine Power (lvl. 8) you will even a full bab class. Beholders and Dispel spammers are your only Nemesis from then on.

Till Divine Power I had a golfbag syndrome of numerous clickies and useful weapons.

I used to run the usual high exp content, Gwylans, farming Tangleroot, Tear, Necro2, Deleras, VON, whereas I had to learn playing differently in there since the Beholders freaked me out. Good for you if you are a WF.

[Mellkor]

Huge mistake IMHO you said it only adds like half the damage of a swing from your sword every 2 seconds ......

I respectfully disagree. In my experience tier II of the PrE is just not worth it for me. That said, if it works for you, great! As for me I have tried it and like my current configuration better for my play style. I am saving my cookies for the melee PrE tho, *crosses fingers*

[SocialRipple]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! Hope you don't mind a couple more questions.

When I get my next spell should I take Mass Cure Light, or Raise Dead? They both seem like must-have spells. I'm thinking Mass Cure because I won't need Raise Dead if I can keep people alive.

Is there any "must have" gear in the 9-12 range? At earlier levels Delera's Tomb was a "must run" for the trinket. I've been trying to do my homework on other quests and chains with important rewards (via DDO Wiki) but I don't want to miss anything.

Thanks!
-Zabandazar (Khyber)

[PurdueDave]

This is my first character (well, first serious one) and I've enjoyed things up to level 9 so far. I have decent gear (full set from Chronoscope, +5 greatsword, etc.) but my damage seems to be falling behind, and in large rush-happy groups I have mana issues as a pure healer. It's not the end of the world but I don't feel like an unstoppable force anymore. Any advice on what to do until I get Blade Barrier? It feels like the next 3 levels are going to take forever.

I'm a VIP and have access to a lot of content, but it seems like every chain is too difficult to solo or requires a good group plus a pretty serious time commitment. What should I be doing now to power through to level 12?

Thanks!
-Zabandazar (Khyber)

You should be able to solo Ataraxia's and Co6 pretty easily. Once you have heal and DP you become a destroyer of content again.

[Sircowdog]

Just wanted to chime in on this build.

I'm primarily a solo player focused on levelling, and so far this has been the most powerful build I've tried as far as survivability and utility combined with very good DPS output. I'm a VIP with a 32pt build, but no real high level gear. The best items I have are a +3 shocking Greatsword of Pure Good and a couple of planar girds(lucky drops!).

Just to give an idea of builds I've tried:

Tukaw
Exploiter
Pale Master+2rogue(evasion)
WF Archmage
Pure Monk

Now granted I'm only level 10 at the moment, and things may get tougher later on, but with BB on the horizon I have a hard time seeing it. Normal content at 1 level below me I blow through without even using half a mana bar most times. I don't run hard or elite til -2 or -3 respectively, but since my focus is on levelling up and not being some kind of solo god who takes on raids, I don't see this as a problem. With the first time completion bonus cancelling out the negatives for being over-level things have progressed at a very good pace.

Mostly, tho, this build has outperformed any of the others I've tried. Granted firewall would have been a bit faster in some cases, but between power attack and all the other buffs, things drop VERY quickly. And when they do actually hit me, the DR from Adamantite Body really cuts the incoming damage.

If this build continues to perform like this into higher levels, I will be VERY pleased. I'm very curious to see the build with heal, BB, and the epic DR!

[Synnestar35791]

I just became a FvS class owner,
I suppose I could use a summary of the updates and modifications to the original.
Tips, & Tricks, & Warning would be appreciated also:
Thanks in advance....

[Mellkor]

1. Well the biggest thing is the wing nerf. I absolutely hate it. That was one of biggest fun factor abilities for this class (at least for me). 15 second cooldown between leaps in quests is just too darn long to be of much use. I still do not understand why they felt it was necessary to do this. I wont go into that discussion here, as it has already been discussed elsewhere Ad Nauseum. And then they add insult to the injury by doubling its cost to 10 sp from 5!

2. On the other hand, I can go places I could not go before via those new boots with jet propulsion on them (they drop in Schemes of the Enemy). Hit leap of faith and then jet propulsion. You can go almost, but not quite, double the distance! I can see that having uses here and there maybe. Only downside is a 10 min cool down timer on the jet propulsion clickie.

3. You get to fight your own god in the Lord of Blades quest!

4. Dont bother with the new meta magic settings yet. They are bugged. I have noticed that after setting them, in particular quicken, that it doesn't always apply it to a spell if you have it set to always on. I have noticed this mostly with the mass heal spell suddenly not being quickened despite having it set to always on. I am not sure what triggers it to do this, but it happened to me after zoning into a quest a few times and after turning quicken feat on and off.

5. Looks like the new alchemical weapons will beat out the epic SoS. and so begins the grind.....

I like the new quests, having a decent DR is nice in here, it just about negates all incoming arrow/bolt damage, nice considering all the Pew Pew Pew that goes in in there.

[Donovitch]

So the original build you have is still viable with the flavor you spoke of? Very much interested in what you described.