Comparison 36-Point 18/1/1 Khopesh Build

[Hadrian]

After it became clear that my other build thread about a finesse ranger was going to talk mostly about the pros and cons of strength- vs. dex-based builds, I decided to make a strength version to make it easier to compare numbers directly.

This build is almost identical, however it replaces weapon finesse with exotic weapon proficiency: khopesh and changes the starting attributes to favor strength. The original thread lists some additional details and the gear that I plan to use.

This build is not meant to be rolled. It's just for a comparison of DPS potential. Based on this build I did a damage comparison to show exactly how much DPS I am giving up by going with the finesse build against a full DPS 18/1/1.

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Level 20 Lawful Neutral Human Male
(1 Monk \ 1 Rogue \ 18 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 260
Spell Points: 353 
BAB: 18\18\23\28\28
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 21
Will: 12

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(36 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             18                    26
Dexterity            16                    23
Constitution         12                    15
Intelligence          8                    11
Wisdom               14                    18
Charisma              8                    10

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 3
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 3
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 3
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 3
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 3
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 13
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 13
+3 Tome of Constitution used at level 13
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 13
+3 Tome of Wisdom used at level 13

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               5                    23
Bluff                -1                     0
Concentration         5                    25
Diplomacy            -1                     0
Disable Device       n/a                    n/a
Haggle               -1                     0
Heal                  2                     4
Hide                  3                     6
Intimidate           -1                     0
Jump                  8                    28
Listen                2                     4
Move Silently         3                     6
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                    n/a
Repair               -1                     0
Search               -1                     0
Spot                  6                    23
Swim                  4                     8
Tumble                5                    16
Use Magic Device      1                    23

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge
Feat: (Human Bonus) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Khopesh
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Paladin
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Ranger


Level 2 (Ranger)


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Mobility
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Soldier of the Faith


Level 4 (Ranger)


Level 5 (Ranger)


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Elemental
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack


Level 7 (Ranger)


Level 8 (Ranger)


Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons


Level 10 (Ranger)


Level 11 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Construct


Level 12 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 13 (Rogue)


Level 14 (Ranger)


Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 16 (Ranger)


Level 17 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider


Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Defense


Level 19 (Ranger)


Level 20 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Dexterity I
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Wisdom I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery III
Enhancement: Human Versatility I
Enhancement: Human Versatility II
Enhancement: Human Versatility III
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage IV
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense III
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest III
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion II
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion III
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion IV
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild I
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild II
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity III
Enhancement: Rogue Improved Trap Sense I

Str 18 (+1 human+1 exceptional +5 levels +3 tome +6 item +2 ram’s) = 36
Dex 16 (+3 ranger +3 tome +6 item) = 28
Con 12 (+2 tome +6 item) = 20
Int 8 +2 tome = 10
Wis 14 (+1 human +3 tome +6 item) = 24(26)*
Cha 8 +2 tome = 10
*+2 exceptional wisdom when using mineral 2

All feats would remain the same except that weapon finesse would be replaced by EWP: Khopesh.

Typical combat AC with power attack
10 base
9 dex
8 armor
8 wis*
5 deflection
5 barkskin
4 raiment (dodge)
4 insight
4 tempest III
3 chattering (dodge)
1 dodge feat
1 TW defense
1 ritual
1 haste
(3 favored enemy)
________-
64(67)
+2 recitation
+5 paladin
+4 bard
______-
75(78)
+2 defensive stance
77(80)
+1 DoS paladin
78(81)

This ends up exactly 5 AC lower than the finesse build with 5 more strength mod. Of course, the dex mod would also mean -4 reflex saves for the strength build. That is probably only significant against elite traps.

Below is a damage comparison GS mineral 2 khopesh vs. rapier as holy/acid burst/+2 exceptional wisdom. The build on this post wields the khopesh and the build in my other thread (linked at the top) holds the rapier.

Ratio of Mineral 2 DPS 26-strength rapier/36-strength khopesh


Fortification || Self Buffed || Bard Buffed (+9 base damage - not sure if that's accurate. let me know)
0% ||||||||| 0.824 ||||||| 0.839

25% |||||||| 0.836 ||||||| 0.851

50% |||||||| 0.849 ||||||| 0.865

75% |||||||| 0.866 ||||||| 0.88

100% |||||||| 0.881 ||||||| 0.898

To get these numbers I used an old excel sheet that I had used to calculate the differences between the weapons in the past. I just plugged in the specific numbers for these two builds.

[Aaxeyu]

Certainly a better build IMO.
Dropping str to 16 or 17 should be considered though, paying 3 for 1 is alot even for a 36 pt build, especially when many stats are important.

One way to go could be: 16 str 14 con and 16 wisdom, drop toughness and pick up maximize. Thoughts?

[Hadrian]

Certainly a better build IMO.
Dropping str to 16 or 17 should be considered though, paying 3 for 1 is alot even for a 36 pt build, especially when many stats are important.

One way to go could be: 16 str 14 con and 16 wisdom, drop toughness and pick up maximize. Thoughts?

I am not building this character. I am simply posting it as a basis for the damage output comparison. That is why I maxed out the strength - to give it as much damage as possible.

Also, it's obviously a fairly good build and it's nice to have it saved here as a reference.

[Quikster]

Certainly a better build IMO.
Dropping str to 16 or 17 should be considered though, paying 3 for 1 is alot even for a 36 pt build, especially when many stats are important.

One way to go could be: 16 str 14 con and 16 wisdom, drop toughness and pick up maximize. Thoughts?

I would prolly keep toughness over max on an 18/1/1 build, though I think a case could be made for either. If I wanted to go the self healing w/mana route I would prolly go 18/2 and forget the rog levels. IMO the best thing about rog levels on this build is the ability to use heal scrolls. The 18/1/1 build is a little feat starved with the prereq for tempest III imo, and toughness is just worth too many hp for me to pass up.

I agree that 16 str would help balance a build like this out. I have rarely maxed str on any build because as you said its simply too expensive for my tastes.