The Cannon Fodder Tank, The Kensai/Stalwart Build

[MrWizard]

Well, finally got a group and did my first Vision of Destruction raid elite last night, really late.

Two regular clerics, one caster, one rogue, one ranger, one bard, one barbarian (that DC'd really early), me, and 3 more fighters (1 a hybrid). Full pug, a few first timers, lots of old timers.
No pots used for clerics.


I did the intim. And I actually died once. When the barbarian DC'd he was standing next to me...ANd then 'BAM' from full health to death in less than a second.

Other than that, it was a very easy run. I think a lot of mana was spent recouping from that lag and the ensuing pain.

I intimidated the boss, moved out to intim the devils and orthons, and we just beat him down.

I did notice my ac at 85 and was pretty untouchable. Little damage from AoE. I could definitely self heal through it.
WHen he did hit me, it was for 13 to 26....that was with 45 DR going on.

After I died my ac was at 81 and I did notice getting hit a few more times.

I did not fight him, first time and did not want to fail this.
If I did fight I think he would be hitting me for 60-70 points a swing and probably a few times for sure.

All in all, barring the DC problem and loss of our main DPS player, it was just like a normal run.

Loot= one pair of bracers. Reward loot = junk.

scaling to elite did nothing for elite in there for anyone.
But it was fun to finally get to do it.

[Zarcoo]

str 15
dex 15
con 15
int 12
wis 8
cha 12

Combat Expert
Dodge
Shield Mastery
Improved Shield Mastery
Toughness
Force of Personality
Skill Focus Intimidate
Skill Focus UMD
Two Weapon Fighting
Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Proficiency: Khopesh
Weapon Focus: Slashing
Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing
Weapon Specialization: Slashing
Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing
Bullheaded

Fighter Armor Boost III
Fighter Weapn Alacrity
Fighter Armor Mastery III
Fighter Armored Agility II
Stalwart Defender III
Khoseph Spec II
Human Adaptability STR
Improved Recovery II
Human Versatility IV
Fighter Item Defense II
Racial Toughness II
Intimidate III
Fighter Strength II
Fighter Toughness IV

I want to include Bullheaded. What feats should i drop from your list?

I was thinking Improved Crit Pierce but what else? Improved Crit Slash or Khoseph?

If I drop Koseph should I use the enhancement points from Khoseph Spec II on a differnet weapon? and if so which? or should I try and raise Fighter Armored Agility, Improved Recovery oe something else?

Thanks in advance

[MrWizard]

well, i had heard about the rabbit hat but never really researched it.

tried it out today and it did add 3 to my UMD while using wands/scrolls.

This is great news to go around the bug that makes the stalwart necklace useless.

I am going to switch out my;

draconic necklace for a planar gird for Greater heroism
Golden cartouche for rabbit hat (on top of any hat, +5 jump, +3 UMD)
All other necklaces for rings of the same (swimming, etc).

This will only leave the optic nerves and my stalwart...allowing me to not have to switch out and lose all of my action boosts just to cast a scroll.

I also hear they are aware of combat expertise turning off on the casting of clickies and such, not working as intended...and should be fixed soon.

whoo hoo..

[Quikster]

well, i had heard about the rabbit hat but never really researched it.

tried it out today and it did add 3 to my UMD while using wands/scrolls.

This is great news to go around the bug that makes the stalwart necklace useless.

I am going to switch out my;

draconic necklace for a planar gird for Greater heroism
Golden cartouche for rabbit hat (on top of any hat, +5 jump, +3 UMD)
All other necklaces for rings of the same (swimming, etc).

This will only leave the optic nerves and my stalwart...allowing me to not have to switch out and lose all of my action boosts just to cast a scroll.

I also hear they are aware of combat expertise turning off on the casting of clickies and such, not working as intended...and should be fixed soon.

whoo hoo..

AFAIK CE is working as intended.

[MrWizard]

AFAIK CE is working as intended.

gotta find link, but i meant things like lesser rez pots and such....at work, will fix.

that is not wai as far as things like that

[Quikster]

gotta find link, but i meant things like lesser rez pots and such....at work, will fix.

that is not wai as far as things like that

Thats an issue with the pots themselves that has been going on for a while. Players have been clamoring for a fix for a while now, mostly in relation to rage.

[vyvy3369]

gotta find link, but i meant things like lesser rez pots and such....at work, will fix.

that is not wai as far as things like that

Yeah, that happened when they added funnels to certain potions. While it's nice to be able to use them on other players, I'd rather have them remain self-targeted instead.

[Rydlic]

Two things:
Went wondering through Sins on normal, that was fun, got a bit hairy when a couple buddies dropped in but still we 3 manned it with a sorc has the main healer.


Two:
TOD FLAGGED!! About time, i just could not get a group for A new Invasion.

I enjoy this build so much, but it does get annoying when i get into a group and they don't seem to understand that when I say I'm and Intimi-tank that does not mean I turtle up and never swing. Just means I keep most agro on me.

[txpoodoo]

With the changes to bastard sword in update 5, any thoughts on changing out kopesh with it? or dwarf axe? you could pick up the thf feats, for good splash damage/aggro control.

[MrWizard]

Two things:
Went wondering through Sins on normal, that was fun, got a bit hairy when a couple buddies dropped in but still we 3 manned it with a sorc has the main healer.

once you can stay at about 68-70 ac consistently it gets much easier. when with others, I always use a shield (leviks) for the extra heal now and then... Vorpals can always be used to if one has too.
More people means things are harder. Red alert on norm with just you is a lot different than with 3 other people (as are the traps).

The only buffs I usually use are bark, blur, stoneskin, and sonic (except for those special battles with the casters.) Sometimes a recitation scroll or a displace scroll if I want to go hog wild twf for a minute on red alert...


Two:
TOD FLAGGED!! About time, i just could not get a group for A new Invasion.

now you ready to go man!!

I enjoy this build so much, but it does get annoying when i get into a group and they don't seem to understand that when I say I'm and Intimi-tank that does not mean I turtle up and never swing. Just means I keep most agro on me.

Yea, it is a bummer. But I have been in groups where someone came in as the tank and that is exactly what they did. I think some may not have enough ac to survive the attacks if they fought...
But if I am intimming and fighting, don't re-intim and shield block..sigh.

There will be times when a raid is going south and you can step right in with a good DR and intim to just calm it all down. Throw in some extra healing amp and the cleric in the group will say 'let Rydlic tank now'... It feels good to be able to be a big part of a raid.

With the changes to bastard sword in update 5, any thoughts on changing out kopesh with it? or dwarf axe? you could pick up the thf feats, for good splash damage/aggro control.

Naw, staying with khopesh and twf. I will eventually redo my dwarf with a d-axe and thf. I seriously doubt the d-axe or b-sword will outdo the dps of khopesh, at best equal it.

[Rydlic]

With the changes to bastard sword in update 5, any thoughts on changing out kopesh with it? or dwarf axe? you could pick up the thf feats, for good splash damage/aggro control.

I am B-Sword right now, and plan to change out the TWF feats for THF line. Right now the only time I really use TWF if for portals of Harry beating, and good Greatsword/Falchion will do just as much (if not more with power attack). This lead WF into a better place as they have a Glancing Blow line I think it will work as a Human. When the update goes live and I get the change out, I'll update.

[worthful]

would you say its worthwhile to buy a +2 int and eat it at level 7 so you can have the extra skill point the rest of the way?

[Quikster]

I am B-Sword right now, and plan to change out the TWF feats for THF line. Right now the only time I really use TWF if for portals of Harry beating, and good Greatsword/Falchion will do just as much (if not more with power attack). This lead WF into a better place as they have a Glancing Blow line I think it will work as a Human. When the update goes live and I get the change out, I'll update.

I'm pretty much the opposite. I only pull my shield out every once in a long while. I dunno if I'm sold on the bs/da changes. Da makes more sense if a dwarf, but bs you still need to spend a feat on. What does it really get you over khopesh ?

[MrWizard]

would you say its worthwhile to buy a +2 int and eat it at level 7 so you can have the extra skill point the rest of the way?

yes, 100%. Should definitely do that.

I'm pretty much the opposite. I only pull my shield out every once in a long while. I dunno if I'm sold on the bs/da changes. Da makes more sense if a dwarf, but bs you still need to spend a feat on. What does it really get you over khopesh ?

I am hoping if I can get the chattering ring before 2015....that I can get close to dropping the shield a lot too... But I usually keep it on
1) during the start of a boss fight (just to make sure)
2) if heavy lag is happening (so I can connect back alive)
3) when damage reduction or self healing is needed
4) and when using scrolls in combat

But I usually keep it on.


The idea of the BS and DA is the THF feats magical affects + glancing blow chances/damage adding to the items when using the sword and board.

I think we will have to wait and see what the end result of the update will be though.


hoping for an epic leviks shield one day



on a side note, do you use concordant opposition on your fighter?

[Quikster]

yes, 100%. Should definitely do that.



I am hoping if I can get the chattering ring before 2015....that I can get close to dropping the shield a lot too... But I usually keep it on
1) during the start of a boss fight (just to make sure)
2) if heavy lag is happening (so I can connect back alive)
3) when damage reduction or self healing is needed
4) and when using scrolls in combat

But I usually keep it on.


The idea of the BS and DA is the THF feats magical affects + glancing blow chances/damage adding to the items when using the sword and board.

I think we will have to wait and see what the end result of the update will be though.


hoping for an epic leviks shield one day



on a side note, do you use concordant opposition on your fighter?

No i dont have any room for it or i might consider it. I have several alts that do however.

I dont usually wear the chattering ring unless im tanking a boss and need the ac for whatever reason. I try to find the lowest ac I can get for most bosses however. For something like shroud, I never worry about ac'ing up. There will always be mass heals coming in, I go for as much dps as I can and dont worry too much about not getting hit.

I am to the point now that there are only a few raids I run with this alt however. Reaver (easy chance at tomes) shroud (always need ingredients, and easy chance at tomes) Tod (tomes) DQ(tomes) Von (need helm and tomes) and abbot(need lotd and tomes) Titan (need gloves still) other than that Im doing epic quests only with this alt anymore.

[Rydlic]

I'm pretty much the opposite. I only pull my shield out every once in a long while. I dunno if I'm sold on the bs/da changes. Da makes more sense if a dwarf, but bs you still need to spend a feat on. What does it really get you over khopesh ?

What I get over kopesh is 4 years of BS collecting. I have many good and worth while BS, 2 +5 Metaline of PG. Also, if I'm more likely to find a BS for an affordable price on the AH.

The concept is still in the air, and if I were to go without Sheild i would end up with either a falchion or great sword. Power attack will be +10 damage (more through certian DR that cannot bypass) and glancing blows.

Don't know how this will work, don't know if it will be worth it, don't know if it will ruin what little rep this character has earned.

[MrWizard]

What I get over kopesh is 4 years of BS collecting. I have many good and worth while BS, 2 +5 Metaline of PG. Also, if I'm more likely to find a BS for an affordable price on the AH.

The concept is still in the air, and if I were to go without Sheild i would end up with either a falchion or great sword. Power attack will be +10 damage (more through certian DR that cannot bypass) and glancing blows.

Don't know how this will work, don't know if it will be worth it, don't know if it will ruin what little rep this character has earned.

I wish I had not sold my 4 year collection on the AH either of bastard swords (maybe you bought some of mine).

I think BS and D-axe do more base damage right? So the extra damage on glance and all that may help get it closer to khopesh. Even without that new stuff, it is still just as powerful.

You are not gonna do kensai or barbarian damage.

On a side note: I tried Power attack and some other feats for imp crit peirce and found them sorely lacking in use. I decided to go back to imp crit and am going to start pulling out my set of rapiers/scimmies for one hand and two hand fighting.

These are excellent for lowering ac via dex, dam and hit via str, ac via imp destruction, etc etc etc...and I love throwing out the imp shattermantle if I see a caster doing something other than firewall. I like crippling teleporting monsters too, it makes a big difference with devils.

So I went back to something I will use a lot versus the other feats that I just did not use that much.


I think Power attack is awesome for someone with a bit higher ac that can lose that 5 from combat expertise....or a THF spec fighter with the update 5 bonuses. Other than that I just did not find it that useful.

(tried out shield bash....it was awesome, ac stayed, awesome. However, Shield bash is pretty much broken. Most of the procs/extras on the shields tested never worked at all.....Numbers possible in the 100s, but without the shield extras it is useless and will never get that high.)

[Quikster]

What I get over kopesh is 4 years of BS collecting. I have many good and worth while BS, 2 +5 Metaline of PG. Also, if I'm more likely to find a BS for an affordable price on the AH.

The concept is still in the air, and if I were to go without Sheild i would end up with either a falchion or great sword. Power attack will be +10 damage (more through certian DR that cannot bypass) and glancing blows.

Don't know how this will work, don't know if it will be worth it, don't know if it will ruin what little rep this character has earned.

If you have a huge collection I guess it could be useful for a while. The only non gs weapons I really use are vorpals, and say 1 or 2 debuffers, and weighted. I guess it depends what content you are playing. Im not sold that bs will pull ahead at this point.

[Rydlic]

If you have a huge collection I guess it could be useful for a while. The only non gs weapons I really use are vorpals, and say 1 or 2 debuffers, and weighted. I guess it depends what content you are playing. Im not sold that bs will pull ahead at this point.

I have sever alt-itis... if it were not for the spreading of my stuff all over my alts it would have more.. but... well.. I can't stop using them on my alts.. lol...

[worthful]

I have sever alt-itis... if it were not for the spreading of my stuff all over my alts it would have more.. but... well.. I can't stop using them on my alts.. lol...

I'm the same way with alts...except i change because i get worried about usefulness late game. does my build justify a raid spot etc etc...barb? do i take too much damage? tank? do i do enough dps? on and on....