What options are there for battlemage TWF?

[Fecerak]

I wonder what options I have for decent battlemage esque TWF, and what options I have for TWF in general. The thing is.... I like being a Wizard, very much actually.. And I kinda like my staff rogue... But on the wizard, I just kinda feel that it would be much more fun if I could go in and dispatch the mobs I hold/web/hypno, etc.
And on the rogue, I just feel that it would be more fun if I actually could DO some more in combat, than just standing there, swinging my wep, activating a clicky once in a while, and using dmarks once in a while... It is just not that interesting...

So what I ask for, is a self-sufficient TWF character which possibly can use spells offensively to a decent degree, and also uses his actionbars during combat instead of just standing there. I am open to any suggestions, it would even be very helpful with a quick rushy list about what you can make, something alike:
Barb 20 (FB, dual kopesh)
Fighter 20 (Kensei, dual kopesh, stunning blow)

or something like that...

Another thing I should mention, is that even though I dont require the build to be awesome from the get go, it should possibly be as soon as possible, and preferably before around level 6ish...

[Stonen]

I've been playing such characters from the beginning (allmost from launch on europian server) and it can be a lot of fun. The best options in ddo are in my opinion a battle focused WF wiz 12 /fighter 8 or or a casting focused sorc 18 /paladin 2, any race.
On the battle focussed you invest in strength and twf for damage output and use quickend reconstruct for survivability. Int is only 14, you dont need much. You can use buffs like stoneskin and displacement for meleeing and can use non-dc spells for damage, like scorching ray and firewall. With a concordian opposition item you will regain sp so you can keep casting those quickened reconstructs.
On the casting focused sorc you will want to put max points in charisma to get your dc up and still start with a decent strength, like 16. You dont have enough points for dex needed in twf so I went thf. You loose 2 spell penetration points (dc is the same), but you will gain survivability and the ability to melee over a normal sorc. I ussually provide cc and then add some damage by meleeing with my greataxe.

I had a blast playing these characters, but the strange classcombination sometimes raises an eyebrow.

[Fecerak]

I think I have got an idea of a possible build.

I don't know what level split to use, but here it is:

Using stunning blow, hold person/monster (mass), etc. to generate auto crits with picks. Then I attack with my weakening of enfeebling or wounding of puncturing picks for a massive slaughter. So... how to do that?

The reason for picks is that kopesh would require another feat, which I have really few of (quick draw, TWF x3, possibly finesse, metamagics, stunning blow, Icrit), and I don't think I can afford to spend another feat on just a proficiency :S.

[Gol]

The issue with a typical Battlemage and TWF is that GTWF requires 11 BAB. This is only achieved through heavy splashing of a Melee class (Barb/Fighter/Ranger/Paladin) or by going Fighter 2 and making sure that you take fighter 2 at level 20.

I personally am a fan of the Wiz 18 / Fig 2 build, having played a THF version to cap and TRed him as a TWF type (Paradime, in my sig).

[Fecerak]

What about something like:
WF Wizard 18/Fighter 2

1: TWF
F: Stunning Blow
W: Extend
3: Quick Draw/PA
6: The other of those 2
W: Maximise
9: Idk what to have here.... possibly kopesh, though I think that picks might be better for my needs... idk
W: SF: Necro for PrE
12: ITWF
15: Icrit
W: Quicken, probably
18: Something
F: GTWF

Then it is the stat spread... :/

Possibly 14/16/16/16/6/6 with levelups in int...

The only problem then is that I wont get the stunning blow DC very high :/

22 str is only would only be something like

10+6 (Str) +10 (Weighted)+1 (Rage) = 27ish :/

[Gol]

Then it is the stat spread... :/

Here's your feature list:
1) DPS worth having (ie, high Str)
2) DCs worth having (ie, high Intel)

Pick one of those, not both. If you pick #2, go pure class or splash something else (Rog 2 or Monk 2, typically). If you pick #1, get Khopesh.

Other Recommendations (assuming DPS):
1) Drop Quick Draw.
2) You're missing Empower (intentional?)
3) You need at least 1 Toughness Feat.
4) Yes, you want Quicken.
5) Stunning Blow is good, but I'd personally prefer Oversized TWF.

Starting Stats: 16/15/16/15/6/6. You'll need a +2 Dex tome before level 12, obviously, but if you don't find one until later you can respec into ITWF after the fact. Put level up stat points in Strength.



If you want good DCs, I highly recommend not picking up TWF feats. Dump Dex, pump Intel, and use two-handers when you must. With the lower Str score, you're not going to hit much when DP isn't active and even less if PA is active.

[Impaqt]

Heres my latest project. Made level 8 Yesterday and having a blast with him. Melee is a bit rough right now(BAB is low.. +3), but I picked up FIrewall so while I start to build through my "Melee Phase" I have that for DPS.

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...29#post2596129

Its been a lot of fun so far. I expect it to continue.'

[Fecerak]

The only problem is that I want to focus on doing high dps via autocrits, I think :/

But well... I'll look into the build...

[Valiance]

I had a 13wiz/6ranger/1 fighter that had good stunning blow dcs using the WF enhancements and fighter enhancements. Was str based. Loved having the spells as well....couldn't stand not having evasion so I reincarnated him.

12wiz/6rng-6pali-6fghtr/2monk would be the way I would go.

If you really jsut want auto crit goodness go pure WF wizard with high DC's on spells and dual wield lightpicks of puncturing when they're held. With those crits anything will drop fast.

V

[binnsr]

Have a look-see at this thread: http://housetharashk.net/htforum/sho...9794#post39794

Halfling 12Wizard / 6 Ranger / 2 Monk

tempest, gtwf, evasion, self healing via max/emp dragonmarks, tier II wizard PrE probably..

I've got her at level 10 so far and she's been a real blast to play.

[Monkey_Archer]

Sounds alot like an idea i was working on, but never followed through...

WF 16Wiz/2Monk/2Fighter
Max intel + Greater enchantment focus
GTWF Heavy picks with around 28 unbuffed strength endgame
50+ intimidate


Could never decide whether the evasion and monk feats were worth giving up mass hold monster for

Ah well.. GL to you

[Monkey_Archer]

(double post)

[Fecerak]

Ok, I think I'll go with khopesh then. I am still not willing to totally give up the casting, tho, but melee will be the main feature. What I am hoping for right now is:

- Solid dps and survivability (Hoping for at least as good as pure class warchanters, if not better)
- Some serious casting dps options
- Some casting CC options, for when I am soloing/playing at normal and possibly hard... Possibly get the DC high enough so endgame mobs won't always save except for on an 1)
- Very good solo/duo ability

So now that the requests are nailed more down a bit... And made a little more possible to make... How would you do it? (and I would also prefer to start with 16 Dex BTW, so I won't have to use +2 tome, though if that will gimp the build VERY much, use 15)

[Twerpp]

Do you really even need strength? Assume youre using greensteel bursting/blasting light picks and only fighting autocrit mobs. Invest in max int, high enough dex, some con. Also you dont need gtwf. A max dc 18th level wiz will easily make up that minute shortfall in dps. The worst thing about this build concept is that enchanting needs great spell pen and the more you splash the worse off you are.

[Fecerak]

Well, I think I want to be primarily melee dps, but I still want to maintain decent casting, so yeah...

[kingfisher]

lots of great options in here already, but i am throwin mine in for shiggles. heavily melee focused, casting for quickened self healing and buffing mostly but will have a nice fw, coc, etc. just posting a outline here.

wf 12wiz/6ranger/2monk

str - 15 + 5 lvls + 3 tome + 3 exp + 6 item = 32 unbuffd +2 rams +2 rage = 36 str
dex - 16 + 2 tome + 2 enh + 6 item = 26 dex
con - 14 + 2 tome + 2 enh + 2 exp + 6 item = 26 con
int - 13 + 3 tome + 2 enh + 6 item = 24 int (item dumped after sp burned)
wis - 11 + 2 tome + 1 enh + 6 item = 20 wis
cha - 6 + 2 tome + 6 item = 14 cha (if needed)

int, dex and wis can be pushed higher but i am not sure its necessary.

hp:
430ish unbuffed

sp:
1100+
lets face it i will drink a lot of pots, and i dont mind it at all, what else is there to spend points or plat on that is better than endless sp?

ac:
55ish self 70ish raid

saves:
good enough - upper 20's - low 30's (with resist 5 and gh)

feats:
khopesh
(m)dodge
(m)mobility
toughness
(w)extend
spring attack
oversize TWF (swap for PA at end game)
imp crit slash
(w)maximize
empower
gtwf
(w)quicken

enhancements:
max repair/force and fire/cold lines as best you can, racial toughness IV, stats, fe dam and att, temp I, energy of scholar II, etc. room to wiggle here if wanted.

skills:
balance, concentration, umd, lil jump, hide, ms, whatever you want

i play this more like a ranger than anything else, just with some really good spells and full self healing. bab is an issue, but load up on dp clickies in the goggle slot. 20 clicks is enough for almost anything. tensors scrolls and/or madstone for raids (when your just a melee that is), end fights or when low on sp. best thing about this build imo is its survivability. very very hard to kill.

[Fecerak]

Just wondering... What TWF characters would include a lot of button mashing anyways? (I know about pallys, but other than that? I like buttons ^^ )

[Narzic]

I've been playing such characters from the beginning (allmost from launch on europian server) and it can be a lot of fun. The best options in ddo are in my opinion a battle focused WF wiz 12 /fighter 8 or or a casting focused sorc 18 /paladin 2, any race.
On the battle focussed you invest in strength and twf for damage output and use quickend reconstruct for survivability. Int is only 14, you dont need much. You can use buffs like stoneskin and displacement for meleeing and can use non-dc spells for damage, like scorching ray and firewall. With a concordian opposition item you will regain sp so you can keep casting those quickened reconstructs.
On the casting focused sorc you will want to put max points in charisma to get your dc up and still start with a decent strength, like 16. You dont have enough points for dex needed in twf so I went thf. You loose 2 spell penetration points (dc is the same), but you will gain survivability and the ability to melee over a normal sorc. I ussually provide cc and then add some damage by meleeing with my greataxe.

I had a blast playing these characters, but the strange classcombination sometimes raises an eyebrow.

hmm could you provide more details on the 18 sorc/ 2 pally? i'm looking at making something similar to what you described it as.

[Therigar]

Clearly the choice is warforged the only question is the character class(es), amount of splash(es) and stat distribution.

Something to consider: If you don't get GTWF until L20 is it really all that useful or important to the build? Won't you have done virtually all the content (the important content anyway) by the time the GTWF kicks in? If you didn't need GTWF then why would you all of a sudden need it at L20?

If GTWF is really that important then you have to splash more deeply with your BAB class(es). Because PrEs are based on 6/12/18 there are few reasons to go much beyond L12 in the arcane class. The same sort of logic applies here. While going with more levels will get you higher level spells, more mana and more spells, if you've lived without it then why do you suddenly need it?

Lastly, if OP is looking to swing away while mobs are on autocrit then does he really need much skill with TWF at all? What he needs, it seems to me, is high attack rate at full BAB (haste + Tenser's?) and a high crit multiplier weapon bypassing any DR plus whatever STR can be mustered (rage?).

For this, it seems that ITWF will be sufficient and ITWF can be obtained without splashing any BAB class at all. So, IMO the best choice is pure WF wizard with no splash at all and stat distribution set to lowest possible DEX to still reach 17 after tome use and before L12 (which is when ITWF will be available).

In a practical sense I'd be looking at DEX 16 and INT either 17 or 18 with remaining points going into STR and CON. My personal leaning would be towards 13/16/14/17/6/6 with plans to eat +1 tomes in STR, DEX and INT. Wizard gives enough feats that OP can afford khopesh as all the key metamagic feats are covered by class feats. TWF, ITWF, EW:K, OTWF still leaves 3 feats free for spell pen, improved spell pen and toughness. OTWF might not be necessary. OP might want one or both of the mental toughness feats. Pure wizard to L20 should accommodate all those needs.