YABM - Yet Another Battle Mage

[Gol]

As the old trolls around here know, my MO is to take any class and turn it into a melee/tank. Including wizards.

Warforged Wizard 17 / Monk 2 / Fighter 1

Stat Breakdown (ideal)
Str 17 (13) + 3 tome + 7 item + 2 rage + 3 exc + 3 Abashai = 35
Dex 8 (0) + 4 tome = 12
Con 15 (5) + 1 enh + 3 tome + 7 item + 2 rage = 28
Int 18 (16) + 4 tome + 3 enh + 7 item + 3 exc = 40
Wis 6 + 2 tome + 6 item = 14
Cha 6 + 2 tome = 8

Situational Strength: 35 + 2 ship buff + 4 Madstone + 6 Titan's Grip / Cookie = 47

Feats
1 Toughness
W1 Heighten
3 SF: Ench
6 Maximize
W5 SF: Conj
9 Mental Toughness
W10 Quicken
12 Empower
15 Extend
W15 GSF: Ench
18 Past Life: Wiz
M1 Power Attack
M2 Toughness
F1 Imp Crit

Desired Gear (note, I don't have all this, but this is my goal):
Head: Shroud Conc Opp (+45 HP, +5 Con Skills)
Trinket: Bloodstone
Neck: Torin's Choker / Torc
Belt: Epic Belt of the Mroranon
Cloak: Epic Envenomed Cloak
Gloves: Epic Charged Gauntlets
Goggles: Shroud Lightning Strike Gaurd (Triple +SP, +6 Cha skills)
Wrist: Glacier / DP clicky
Ring 1: Rahkir's Ring (+6 Intel, +1 Exc Int, +2 Exc Int)
Ring 2: Ring of the Ravager (+6 Str, +1 Exc Str, +2 Exc Str)
Boots: Epic Boots of Corrosion
Docent: Epic Diabolist's (+7 Intel)

Spell DC
Enchantment (holds, debuffs)
10 base + 9 spell level + 2 focus feats + 2 archmage + 15 Intel + 1 past life + 2 item = 41 DC with no buffs

Conjuration (web)
10 base + 9 spell level + 1 focus feat + 1 archmage + 15 intel + 1 past life + 3 item = 40

Necromancy
10 base + 9 spell level + 15 intel + 1 past life + 2 item = 37

Enhancements of Note
Archmage IV
Spell Mastery II: Enchantment
Spell Secondary Mastery I: Conjuration
Conjuration I: Grease
Conjuration II: Web
WF Power Attack III

Update 1/18/2011:
Bulid updated to reflect a major build overhaul, Gear updated for my new desired state.

[Gol]

updated through epic von / update 3 gear

And let's not ever call this guy squishy, please.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/n...ishyWizard.jpg

[Gol]

Just to give an update on this build since I've hit 20 with TR and done some more raiding...

The utility of this build (when appropriately equipped) continues to surprise me. I can fill a variety of roles in many raids and carry many parties quasi-solo through quests.

ToD Notes...
- Can solo tank the Orthon in part 1. His slow attack rate means you don't even need Quicken turned on. I was able to intimidate him away from the group and hold him solo until the party was ready.
- Can play the kiter role in part 2. 600 HP and firewalls that do the job (of just holding agro). Meleeing is also an option if you already have a caster dedicated to kiting. I usually play backup in case the main caster goes down.
- In part 3 you can do just about anything. I've played repair monkey, tank, and Sally kiter.

VoD Notes...
- Twice I've been last man standing when completion ticks in this raid, both times as main tank using a Docent of Defiance, Quicken, and Cold Shield to stay alive for the last 3-4% when everybody else is dead.
- Orthon Intimidator if needed. Self repairing so the clerics shouldn't have to burn ANY SP during the rounds of Orthons.
- Repair monkey for a WF main tank, obviously.

Epic VoN 6...
- Madstone for Melee job. Power attack, full BAB, 36 sustained Strength. Not barb-like, but still a significant contributor. Personally swinging a pair of +5 Icy Burst of Greater Dragon Bane sticks.
- Repair monkey on a WF tank when extra spawns are up
- Can CC bases with Otto's Irresistible (any base) or with Firewall + Kiting (2nd and 3rd)

Epic DQ2...
- High HP and Evasion make this guy an excellent agro holder / kiter. I've done it 3 times now, and find that holding all the gnolls and djinns the entire time take a lot of pressure off the rest of the party allowing them to take care of business.

Abbott...
- I confess, this build is not much help in the Abbott. He dispells a lot, and cleric BBs are a more effective means of killing off trash. However, most people contribute the most by what they bring to the party in terms of puzzle solving, which has absolutely nothing to do with your build. I feel like a piker most of the time in this raid.

In summary, this character is by far the most fun to play of any I have, mostly due to the ability to contribute in a variety of roles, especially in raids. I find that it is extremely gear dependent, though, and skimping on your plat/raiding investment on this build will severely hamper it's ability to perform well.

[ddoer]

Epic VoN 6...
- Madstone for Melee job. Power attack, full BAB, 36 sustained Strength. Not barb-like, but still a significant contributor. Personally swinging a pair of +5 Icy Burst of Greater Dragon Bane sticks.

Abbott...
- I confess, this build is not much help in the Abbott. He dispells a lot, and cleric BBs are a more effective means of killing off trash. However, most people contribute the most by what they bring to the party in terms of puzzle solving, which has absolutely nothing to do with your build. I feel like a piker most of the time in this raid.

just curious what's the front number of your melee damage you get on crit against velah? (i know it's hard to see... )

for abbot, you have wiz16 and can do disintegrate and DBF. couldn't you switch back to a normal wiz when needed, could you? do you have enough action points for all fire/cold enhancement?

[Gol]

just curious what's the front number of your melee damage you get on crit against velah? (i know it's hard to see... )

Crits topping off around 120-130 with a GDB Falchion, about the same with GDB khopeshes. However, due to DPS lag issues, the guys I usually run with usually ask all the melees to go 2 handed to prevent lag wipes. I need to respec my enhancements to get WF Power Attack, though. Couldn't afford the hit to attack until just recently, so that will push 12 more on the Falchion crits and 9 on the khopeshes.

for abbot, you have wiz16 and can do disintegrate and DBF. couldn't you switch back to a normal wiz when needed, could you? do you have enough action points for all fire/cold enhancement?

Unfortunately, though, both Dis and DBF have saves, and I usually have my +6 intel item off by then, and I don't have heighten. With a 20 operating intel, that puts the DCs in "only fails on a 1" land. I usually do a lot better just beating on him with a Holy GUB Maul. I do have all the fire/cold enhancements, though.

[gott_ist_tot]

Any idea how this build would do with handwraps for melee? Have you tried it?
(I'm a bit tempted to go 1ftr/3mnk for 1/4 SP cost reduction finisher)

[Crazyfruit]

Looks like a very fun character to play

How do you feel about the multiple toughness feats after doing all that with him?

[Gol]

How do you feel about the multiple toughness feats after doing all that with him?

Excellent, so far. Sure, I have 3 extras right now, but there's not much worth taking for a build like this that has 15 total feats to spend without branching myself into caring about DCs. The only thing I'd be tempted to substitute for 1 of them is Stunning Blow or Imp Crit Pierce for stat damagers.

[phalaeo]

*blink*

That's....really freaking cool....

[Qzipoun]

Excellent, so far. Sure, I have 3 extras right now, but there's not much worth taking for a build like this that has 15 total feats to spend without branching myself into caring about DCs. The only thing I'd be tempted to substitute for 1 of them is Stunning Blow or Imp Crit Pierce for stat damagers.

Thoughts on going rogue instead of monk? Taking 2 less toughness to compensate for monk feats and boost various skills?

[Gol]

Thoughts on going rogue instead of monk? Taking 2 less toughness to compensate for monk feats and boost various skills?

A valid option, but I'm not interested in more skills than I already have. Plus, Monk nets +4 HP (hit die size), +3 Fort, +3 Will, +10 HP enhancement, and I get the only skill I care about, Balance. IMO, the +44 HP from Toughness x 2 on top of that removes any consideration of Rogue for me. I have max Balance, Intimidate, and Concentration ranks, and I'm just slightly short of max in Jump. I haven't once in the process of leveling wish I had more skill points to throw around.

If you want to do traps, sure, completely viable. I'd much prefer the +58 Hit Points for tanking and survivability purposes, though.

[Qzipoun]

A valid option, but I'm not interested in more skills than I already have. Plus, Monk nets +4 HP (hit die size), +3 Fort, +3 Will, +10 HP enhancement, and I get the only skill I care about, Balance. IMO, the +44 HP from Toughness x 2 on top of that removes any consideration of Rogue for me. I have max Balance, Intimidate, and Concentration ranks, and I'm just slightly short of max in Jump. I haven't once in the process of leveling wish I had more skill points to throw around.

If you want to do traps, sure, completely viable. I'd much prefer the +58 Hit Points for tanking and survivability purposes, though.

Fair, the reason I was asking is I've been debating whether to go monk or rogue for a similar build. My initial approach to it was maxing diplo instead of intim (using rogue to be able to pump other skills including UMD), but it seems that you're doing much better WITH aggro, had not thought of going that path.

Great build as always, will probably use it as a base for mine

[prototype327]

thx for the reply gol. i've got 2 more questions, how does this build perform/what role does it play in epic content? (von 1-4, wiz king, tide etc) and for a 36 pt build do you think i should just bump con to 17?

[Gol]

thx for the reply gol. i've got 2 more questions, how does this build perform/what role does it play in epic content? (von 1-4, wiz king, tide etc) and for a 36 pt build do you think i should just bump con to 17?

I honestly haven't done a lot of epics aside from ADQ2 and VoN 6. I have 1 epic dungeon token from joining a group at the last fight of VoN 2 and that's it. In EADQ2, even with Divine Power up, I have trouble hitting the efreeti with melee. In EV6, I have Power Attack is on if we have a bard but off otherwise.

For 36 points, probably Con to 17, yeah. If you can bank a +3 dex tome from a prior life, you can push Con to 18 and drop Dex to 14 as well. I'm going to LR if I ever pull a +3/4 Dex tome, myself.

[Crazyfruit]

how does this build perform/what role does it play in epic content? (von 1-4, wiz king, tide etc)

I had a similar character, it works extremely well in them if you're a good player. You can even solo quite a few epics

[Musashiclaw]

Thank you for the equipment update. Its easy to see what you want end game but from level 8-16ish its tough to pick the best items for this build. Now i have some idea.

[Musashiclaw]

31 AC on this build. Is it really enough to stay alive tanking raid encounters?

I have had fun playing this build but at times I still feel squishy...
I will post my enhancements and items later to get some feedback.

[Gol]

31 AC on this build. Is it really enough to stay alive tanking raid encounters?

I have had fun playing this build but at times I still feel squishy...
I will post my enhancements and items later to get some feedback.

AC is irrelevant to raid tanking, I'm not sure I understand your question...

I'm up to 578 unbuffed HP, but I've invested a lot into Con/HP items.

+3 Con Tome, +3 Exceptional Con, +2 Con Enhancements, +6 item
Superior False Life (40), Toughness (20), Shroud Crafted (45)

It all adds up, but I admit, you have to be willing to invest. Level 13-15 is where you feel it the most because you're still catching up on gear unless you're TRing.

[Gol]

Updated to be epic-relevant.

[Truhls]

Updated to be epic-relevant.

Hello gol, this is a very nice guide. I was hoping you could help me out, i like your build and i kind of want to do something similar, but i was looking at more of a 2handed build before. But apparently 2handed got nerfed pretty hard? Is it still viable? Also ive seen a few builds are are closer to fighter 12/ 8wizard, are those any good?