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  1. #1
    Community Member JanusZeal95's Avatar
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    Default Help with couple builds (shadowdancer or ranger/bard)

    I started playing DDO a few months ago, with a Spellsinger haggle-bard which was kind of a jack-of-all trades. Got it to level 8 (done korthos/harbor/mp and some of the houses quests).

    Now, some friends will start playing the game, and i'm planning on creating a new toon to play with them (don't know if i'll switch to the bard when they get to lvl8 or stick with this new one, i gues it will depend of the one i get the most fun from). PS: We will be 4 atm, one of them being a bs twf warrior, and the other two haven't build the toon yet, and have no preferences.

    Before starting to discuss a build, i'd like to say that i'm looking for a f2p build with no use of tomes, and i doubt i'll have the time (or patience) to grind various times for the best gear at endgme, if i get there. That should be taken into account. I also try to avoid playing a "standart" build, and although i want the toon to be at least resonably good, the more unique it is, the better. for the sake of RP, i'm choosing a drow for this toon.

    That being said, they're two builds i've been eager to try, both of them primarly Ranger builds:

    - The first one would be a Ranger 12 / Bard 8 Tempest Virtuoso, a sneaky twf toon able to go ahead of the team and do heavy CC through songs while keeping healing/buffing support (thourhg spells/umd) and good dps once the heads start flying. This would be my preferred build, but i'm not sure i could make it work without tomes/respec (if viable, i'd love to use it though, and will be my focus in that case);

    - The second one (the one i'm working on right now) would be a kind of high-bab shadowdancer with trap skills (which can't be made 100%, since there's no shadowdancer here in DDO). I haven't played past the level my bard was, and i'm having some issues while planning it.

    Code:
    Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.5.1
    DDO Character Planner Home Page
    
    Eyrynnhv 
    Level 20 Chaotic Good Drow Male
    (7 Fighter \ 1 Rogue \ 12 Ranger) 
    Hit Points: 304
    Spell Points: 135 
    BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
    Fortitude: 15
    Reflex: 19
    Will: 6
    
                      Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
    Abilities        Base Stats         Base Stats         Modified Stats
    (28 Point)       (Level 1)          (Level 20)           (Level 20)
    Strength             14                 14                   16
    Dexterity            16                 21                   24
    Constitution         14                 14                   14
    Intelligence         14                 14                   14
    Wisdom               10                 10                   10
    Charisma             10                 10                   10
    
                      Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                     Base Skills         Modified Skills
    Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
    Balance               7                    11
    Bluff                 0                     1
    Concentration         2                     3
    Diplomacy             0                     1
    Disable Device        6                    25
    Haggle                0                     0
    Heal                  0                     0
    Hide                  7                    14
    Intimidate            0                     1
    Jump                  5                     6
    Listen                4                     8
    Move Silently         7                    14
    Open Lock             7                    16
    Perform               n/a                   n/a
    Repair                2                     2
    Search                6                    27
    Spot                  4                    17
    Swim                  2                     3
    Tumble                4                     8
    Use Magic Device      4                    26
    
    Level 1 (Rogue)
    Feat: (Selected) Toughness
    Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost I
    Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage I
    Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
    
    
    Level 2 (Ranger)
    Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost I
    Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
    Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
    
    
    Level 3 (Ranger)
    Feat: (Selected) Weapon Finesse
    Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
    Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
    Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
    
    
    Level 4 (Ranger)
    Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack I
    
    
    Level 5 (Ranger)
    Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost II
    Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild I
    
    
    Level 6 (Fighter)
    Feat: (Selected) Dodge
    Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Mobility
    Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
    Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
    Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
    Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
    
    
    Level 7 (Fighter)
    Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Spring Attack
    
    
    Level 8 (Ranger)
    Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant
    
    
    Level 9 (Ranger)
    Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons
    
    
    Level 10 (Ranger)
    
    
    Level 11 (Ranger)
    
    
    Level 12 (Ranger)
    Feat: (Selected) Skill Focus: Use Magic Device
    
    
    Level 13 (Fighter)
    
    
    Level 14 (Fighter)
    Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Piercing Weapons
    
    
    Level 15 (Fighter)
    Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
    
    
    Level 16 (Fighter)
    Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Piercing Weapons
    
    
    Level 17 (Fighter)
    
    
    Level 18 (Ranger)
    Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
    Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting
    
    
    Level 19 (Ranger)
    
    
    Level 20 (Ranger)
    Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
    Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
    Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost II
    Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost III
    Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack II
    Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage II
    Enhancement: Kensei Rapier Mastery I
    Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II
    Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy III
    Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I
    Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
    Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack II
    Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
    Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III
    Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
    Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II
    Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
    Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
    Enhancement: Fighter Strength II
    Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II
    Enhancement: Fighter Toughness III
    Level progression: i'm having a hard time figuring out how to order the classes. Until lvl9 it's easy enough, rgr6/fit2/rog1 gives me feats and some really useful enhancements (tempest I among them). Then the problems start: i want kensai as soon as possible, but i need evasion (and i really want fighter 7, haste and class thoughness are a very nice thing to have in my drow). tempest II may come into play too late, but if i put it earlier (and reach it by lvl15) the bonus feats from fighter will only be gained past that level, which i think is too late too. Comments on the order posted above would be good.

    Weapon finesse: this feat makes stat managing easier, improves some rogue skills and contributes to AC and reflex save for evasion. The problem is that i don't know if this won't make my dps too low to mean something (by not going STR-based), or if the extra AC will be useful at all (since no uber-gear nor extra tomes to play with).

    Enhancements: Don't know if the fighter strength enhancements are worth it in this case, and i'm also having doubts about the order of the enhancements i should choose after level 7 (which is why they're all chosen at lvl20, after that level).

    Other thing that may be a problem is the weak will save stat (no Slippery Mind makes it worst), although i'm not sure how to boost it (maybe put Iron Will feat somewhere?). In the rogue department, i'm not sure how much is enough to open everything at least in all f2p quests in each skill (i'm aware this is due to lack of more experience at latter levels from my part).

    Any help/guidance with this (or hopefully the Virt Rangard i talked) build would be deeply appreciated.

    PS: Didn't know where to post (f2p? multiclass?), but since both my ideas were primarly rangers i decided to post here, for more chance of feedback.

    (EDIT: Ranger/bard build scrap below)
    Last edited by JanusZeal95; 07-24-2010 at 08:50 PM. Reason: Title change

  2. #2
    Community Member JanusZeal95's Avatar
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    desperate bump

  3. #3
    Build Constructionist unbongwah's Avatar
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    Since I like your Tempest Virtuoso idea better too, so that's the one I worked on. I don't consider this any sort of minmaxed build, but a novel hybrid for your (and my) own amusement.

    First question is leveling order. I chose to focus on bard first, then switch to ranger. IMHO the bard buffs & songs are more useful so I tried to get those ASAP.
    Code:
    Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.5.1
    DDO Character Planner Home Page
    
    Level 20 True Neutral Drow Female
    (12 Ranger \ 8 Bard) 
    Hit Points: 246
    Spell Points: 374 
    BAB: 18\18\23\28\28
    Fortitude: 12
    Reflex: 19
    Will: 9
    
                      Starting          Feat/Enhancement
    Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
    (28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
    Strength             15                    20
    Dexterity            16                    20
    Constitution         14                    14
    Intelligence         12                    12
    Wisdom                8                     8
    Charisma             12                    14
    
                      Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                     Base Skills         Modified Skills
    Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
    Balance               7                    15
    Bluff                 1                     2
    Concentration         4                    25
    Diplomacy             1                     4
    Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
    Haggle                1                     2
    Heal                 -1                    -1
    Hide                  7                    28
    Intimidate            1                     2
    Jump                  6                    13
    Listen               -1                     3
    Move Silently         7                    28
    Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
    Perform               5                    32
    Repair                1                     1
    Search                1                     3
    Spot                 -1                     7
    Swim                  2                     5
    Tumble                5                     7
    Use Magic Device      5                    25
    
    Level 1 (Bard)
    Skill: Balance (+4)
    Skill: Concentration (+2)
    Skill: Hide (+4)
    Skill: Jump (+4)
    Skill: Move Silently (+4)
    Skill: Perform (+4)
    Skill: Tumble (+2)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
    Feat: (Selected) Toughness
    Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds
    
    
    Level 2 (Ranger)
    Skill: Concentration (+2)
    Skill: Spot (+5)
    Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
    
    
    Level 3 (Ranger)
    Skill: Concentration (+2)
    Skill: Hide (+2)
    Skill: Move Silently (+2)
    Skill: Spot (+1)
    Feat: (Selected) Dodge
    
    
    Level 4 (Bard)
    Ability Raise: STR
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+3)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+3)
    Spell (1): Expeditious Retreat
    
    
    Level 5 (Bard)
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+2)
    Skill: Move Silently (+2)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    Spell (1): Focusing Chant
    
    
    Level 6 (Bard)
    Skill: Balance (+2)
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    Feat: (Selected) Skill Focus: Perform
    Spell (2): Blur
    Spell (2): Cure Moderate Wounds
    
    
    Level 7 (Bard)
    Skill: Balance (+2)
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    Spell (1): Feather Fall
    Spell (2): Rage
    
    
    Level 8 (Bard)
    Ability Raise: STR
    Skill: Balance (+2)
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    Enhancement: Ranger Energy Resistence Boost I
    Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost I
    Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
    Enhancement: Bard Extra Song I
    Enhancement: Bard Extra Song II
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
    Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
    Enhancement: Bard Music of the Dead
    Enhancement: Bard Virtuoso I
    Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack I
    Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage I
    Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
    Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
    Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
    Enhancement: Bard Perform I
    Enhancement: Bard Perform II
    Enhancement: Bard Charisma I
    Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
    
    
    Level 9 (Bard)
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Jump (+2)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    Feat: (Selected) Mobility
    Spell (3): Displacement
    Spell (3): Haste
    Spell (2): Heroism
    
    
    Level 10 (Bard)
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Jump (+2)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    Spell (3): Cure Serious Wounds
    
    
    Level 11 (Ranger)
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    
    
    Level 12 (Ranger)
    Ability Raise: STR
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons
    Spell (1): Camouflage
    Spell (1): Jump
    Spell (1): Longstrider
    Spell (1): Merfolk's Blessing
    Spell (1): Ram's Might
    Spell (1): Resist Energy
    Spell (1): Summon Nature's Ally I
    Spell (1): Tumble
    
    
    Level 13 (Ranger)
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant
    
    
    Level 14 (Ranger)
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    
    
    Level 15 (Ranger)
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack II
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
    Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II
    Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack II
    Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage II
    Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II
    Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
    Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
    
    
    Level 16 (Ranger)
    Ability Raise: STR
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    Spell (2): Barkskin
    Spell (2): Bear's Endurance
    Spell (2): Cat's Grace
    Spell (2): Hold Animal
    Spell (2): Mass Camouflage
    Spell (2): Owl's Wisdom
    Spell (2): Protection From Energy
    Spell (2): Snare
    Spell (2): Spike Growth
    Spell (2): Summon Nature's Ally II
    
    
    Level 17 (Ranger)
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    
    
    Level 18 (Ranger)
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
    Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
    
    
    Level 19 (Ranger)
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    Spell (3): Neutralize Poison
    Spell (3): Remove Disease
    Spell (3): Summon Nature's Ally III
    Spell (3): Wild Instincts
    
    
    Level 20 (Ranger)
    Ability Raise: STR
    Skill: Concentration (+1)
    Skill: Hide (+1)
    Skill: Move Silently (+1)
    Skill: Perform (+1)
    Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery I
    Enhancement: Ranger Item Defense I
    Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II
    Enhancement: Ranger Devotion I
    Enhancement: Ranger Devotion II
    Enhancement: Ranger Devotion III
    Enhancement: Bard Charisma II
    Enhancement: Bard Wand Mastery I
    Enhancement: Bard Wand Mastery II
    Enhancement: Bard Wand Mastery III
    Max ranks in Concentration, Hide, MS, Perform, UMD; some points in Balance, Jump, and Spot as well.
    Last edited by unbongwah; 07-23-2010 at 03:42 PM. Reason: slight change to spell list

  4. #4
    Community Member JanusZeal95's Avatar
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    Thank you very much for your work and reply, unbongwah (i've heard of your bard/fighter/rogue when i came to DDO, really good that someone with your knowledge always takes the time to help newbs like me )

    Based on the build you posted here, i made some personal changes, and came up with a similar build, but changes some feats, spells and the levelling order:

    Code:
    Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.5.1
    DDO Character Planner Home Page
    
    Level 20 Chaotic Good Drow Female
    (12 Ranger \ 8 Bard) 
    Hit Points: 246
    Spell Points: 374 
    BAB: 18\18\23\28\28
    Fortitude: 12
    Reflex: 19
    Will: 9
    
                      Starting          Feat/Enhancement
    Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
    (28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
    Strength             15                    20
    Dexterity            16                    20
    Constitution         14                    14
    Intelligence         12                    12
    Wisdom                8                     8
    Charisma             12                    14
    
                      Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                     Base Skills         Modified Skills
    Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
    Balance               7                    21
    Concentration         6                    25
    Hide                  7                    28
    Jump                  5                    10
    Move Silently         7                    28
    Perform               5                    32
    Tumble                4                     6
    Use Magic Device      5                    25
    
    Level 1 (Bard)
    Feat: (Selected) Toughness
    Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds
    
    
    Level 2 (Ranger)
    Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
    
    
    Level 3 (Bard)
    Feat: (Selected) Dodge
    Spell (1): Summon Monster I
    
    
    Level 4 (Bard)
    Ability Raise: STR
    Spell (1): Focusing Chant
    
    
    Level 5 (Ranger)
    
    
    Level 6 (Bard)
    Feat: (Selected) Skill Focus: Perform
    Spell (2): Cure Moderate Wounds
    Spell (2): Blur
    
    
    Level 7 (Bard)
    Spell (2): Rage
    Spell (1): Detect Secret Doors
    
    
    Level 8 (Ranger)
    Ability Raise: STR
    
    
    Level 9 (Bard)
    Feat: (Selected) Mobility
    
    
    Level 10 (Ranger)
    Spell (1): Camouflage
    Spell (1): Jump
    Spell (1): Longstrider
    Spell (1): Merfolk's Blessing
    Spell (1): Ram's Might
    Spell (1): Resist Energy
    Spell (1): Summon Nature's Ally I
    Spell (1): Tumble
    
    
    Level 11 (Ranger)
    Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant
    
    
    Level 12 (Ranger)
    Ability Raise: STR
    Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack
    
    
    Level 13 (Bard)
    Spell (2): Invisibility
    Spell (3): Haste
    Spell (3): Displacement
    
    
    Level 14 (Ranger)
    
    
    Level 15 (Ranger)
    Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
    Spell (2): Barkskin
    Spell (2): Bear's Endurance
    Spell (2): Cat's Grace
    Spell (2): Hold Animal
    Spell (2): Mass Camouflage
    Spell (2): Owl's Wisdom
    Spell (2): Protection From Energy
    Spell (2): Snare
    Spell (2): Spike Growth
    Spell (2): Summon Nature's Ally II
    
    
    Level 16 (Bard)
    Ability Raise: STR
    Spell (3): Cure Serious Wounds
    
    
    Level 17 (Ranger)
    
    
    Level 18 (Ranger)
    Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
    Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
    
    
    Level 19 (Ranger)
    Spell (3): Neutralize Poison
    Spell (3): Remove Disease
    Spell (3): Summon Nature's Ally III
    Spell (3): Wild Instincts
    
    
    Level 20 (Ranger)
    Ability Raise: STR
    Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost I
    Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost II
    Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
    Enhancement: Bard Extra Song I
    Enhancement: Bard Extra Song II
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack II
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
    Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
    Enhancement: Bard Music of the Dead
    Enhancement: Bard Virtuoso I
    Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack I
    Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack II
    Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage I
    Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage II
    Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
    Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II
    Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
    Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
    Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
    Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack II
    Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
    Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
    Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III
    Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
    Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II
    Enhancement: Bard Perform I
    Enhancement: Bard Perform II
    Enhancement: Bard Charisma I
    Enhancement: Bard Charisma II
    Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
    Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
    Enhancement: Bard Wand Mastery I
    Enhancement: Bard Wand Mastery II
    From what i can see:

    + Higher BAB than pure bard
    + Access to both bard & ranger buffs (haste/rage/blur/displacement + ram's/energy_prot/barkskin[+5])
    + Hopefully can CC well with songs (fascinate/suggestion/enthrallment) and make use of Wild Empathy (no idea if it's worth something, but seems nice RP-wise))
    + Ability to heal (wands/scrolls and bard spells)
    + If it isn't too gimped, will be awesome to play it.

    - Squishy (less than 250HP unbuffed)
    - SP seams to be a little too low, even for a "defensive caster" (should i spend AP on Energy enh.?)
    - Very weak bard buffs (as expected, not the focus of the build, so i was aware it would be like that)
    - Too feat-starved (can only chose 1: PA or IC:Pierce or OTWF. Maybe i should only try this once i can create 32pt humans...)


    Knowing it won't be optimal by any means, is it viable?

    If someone has any input about any of the 2 builds, i'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance
    Last edited by JanusZeal95; 07-24-2010 at 08:51 PM.

  5. #5
    Founder Sani_Medicor's Avatar
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    Here's my 12/7/1 Drow Tempest Kensai. I really wanted evasion sooner, but I couldn't see taking another level of rogue when I was going to get it free from ranger though. In the end, I decided to put off kensai and get the ranger levels first.
    http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=261059

    If you want a really tough bard, check out my newest build! For a 28pt version, just go with 14 con and 10 cha. You can put a point into dex at level 8, instead of using a tome.
    http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=263307
    Last edited by Sani_Medicor; 07-24-2010 at 09:41 PM.

  6. #6
    Community Member JanusZeal95's Avatar
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    Thanks for the reply, i actually saw your Percussionist build before doing my post, vey cool concepts

    -> About your Tempest Kensai build, it is very similar to what i had in mind, and it looks good. There's only one slight mistake there (probably happened when you changed the levelling order): your last 5 feats in your post are at lvls 11-12-13-15-18, which would be really good imo, but unfortunately if we leave kensai to the end, they will be at (according to the planner) 12-15-17-18-19. While in the 1st case, we would be missing just OTWF at level 15, in the 2nd case, there's still three feats yet to be unlocked, and we only get them by endgame, which MAY be problematic, especially as i'm f2p, at least for now.

    (i'd like to hear if this difference in feat levels actually makes the toon weaker / harder to play before cap or not).


    -> As for the bardic toon, i really like its concept, and the fact that it's 12 bard makes bard PrE II's available in the future (if they ever come up), and i think i would be able to afford one +1 tome. As you well said, it's a though battlebard, which has more feats to work with.

    From what i can analyse (and i can be completely wrong in this one), that build would, unfortunately, loose most of its potential when "translated" to a drow virt: i'd lose buffed dps of WC and give away 80hp compared to the dwarf version (sitting at 266HP), and would loose the ranger buffs and (to some extent) the stealth skills of the Rgr/Bard route.

    I'd win +1toHit/dmg & +20HP (fighter AP), plus access to OTWF & IC, and +1 dmg from song too (which would still be a gimped song). Despite the fact that it's going a little away from my initial idea, is it worth it over 12Rgr/8Brd for the "pointy ear"ers?

  7. #7
    Founder Sani_Medicor's Avatar
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    I'll go back and take another look at the tempest kensai build and give you some feedback in a bit.

    My original build idea was for dex based drow bard, but then I decided I couldn't afford the rapiers. This doesn't reflect any of the changes I made on the dwarven build.
    http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=262142

    p.s. I really wanted a ranger bard a few years back, but ended up making a pure bard that felt like a ranger. It was a dex based drow that fought twf and felt like you were playing a ranger...it had lots of balance, jump, and tumble...enough to do flips! lol Anyway, I never could make the multiclass build without gimping the character. I've noticed quite a few 12/8 builds posted since I've come back to the game though.
    Last edited by Sani_Medicor; 07-25-2010 at 01:51 AM.

  8. #8
    Founder Sani_Medicor's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JanusZeal95 View Post
    There's only one slight mistake there (probably happened when you changed the levelling order): your last 5 feats in your post are at lvls 11-12-13-15-18, which would be really good imo, but unfortunately if we leave kensai to the end, they will be at (according to the planner) 12-15-17-18-19. While in the 1st case, we would be missing just OTWF at level 15, in the 2nd case, there's still three feats yet to be unlocked, and we only get them by endgame, which MAY be problematic, especially as i'm f2p, at least for now.
    The weapon focus and specialization are prereqs for kensai, so it's not a big deal to put them off till the end. If you find yourself with two good weapons at level 12, you could always take OTWF before power attack.

    Feats
    Level 1 - Toughness
    Level 3 - Weapon Finesse
    Level 6 - Dodge, Mobility
    Level 7 - Spring Attack
    Level 9 - Imp Crit Piercing
    Level 12 - Power Attack
    Level 15 - OTWF
    Level 17 - Weapon Focus Piercing
    Level 18 - Skill Focus UMD
    Level 19 - Weapon Spec Piercing

  9. #9
    Community Member JanusZeal95's Avatar
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    Thanks for the detailed list . lol, i've yet to see those tumbling flips in-game, can't wait to party with someone using them xD.

    You touched a really good point which i'd forgotten: affordance/availability of rapiers. if i had 32pts, i could make an elf with the same stats and boosts to longsword alongside rapier, and use those instead if there was no better option (although i'd lose the boost to shortsword, which was important since i couldn't put OTWF in the bard).

    It's a shame if the rgr/brd build i posted isn't viable, because as i look at it in the planner, it seems the funniest and more RP-likeable toon i could ever play, really a "dream-toon" :P. We're starting tomorrow or the day after, i think i'll start with the Rgr/Fig/Rog one (or maybe with something like your Percussionist if you don't mind, the idea of a dwarf... bard, is certainly uncommon ), and maybe in the future (when i've become rich in-game and won/bought enough points for using 32pts builds and tomes, and when my playing skill is considerably higher then now... :P), i'll try the one i'm really after.

  10. #10
    Founder Sani_Medicor's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JanusZeal95 View Post
    Thanks for the detailed list . lol, i've yet to see those tumbling flips in-game, can't wait to party with someone using them xD.

    You touched a really good point which i'd forgotten: affordance/availability of rapiers. if i had 32pts, i could make an elf with the same stats and boosts to longsword alongside rapier, and use those instead if there was no better option (although i'd lose the boost to shortsword, which was important since i couldn't put OTWF in the bard).
    My first character on my new server was supposed to be a twf khopesh bard. Since I was doing slashing, I started out with scimitars (another decent crit weapon) and kupris, but I couldn't find any decent khopesh. I kept finding tons of great bastards swords though, so I ended up going with those (I can always swap for the khopesh feat later). That's what made me think to go with the dwarven axes. I just kept finding great ones in the vendor shop and auction house for a little bit of nothing.

    The level cap was a lot lower when I tried to make my bard/ranger. The 12/8 split should definitely be viable. I'll play around with it and see if I can come up with anything interesting.

  11. #11
    Community Member Symar-FangofLloth's Avatar
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    I know a couple people who've done a 12/8 ranger bard and they come out pretty good.
    Former Xoriat-er. Embrace the Madness.

  12. #12
    Community Member honkuimushi's Avatar
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    The 12/8 Ranger/Bards work, but they tend to be very back loaded. Warchanter works best, but takes a lot of feats. At low levels, it's fine-- the addition of cure spells and a song makes it a very survivable TWF melee.

    But once you start getting to mid levels, as other people are getting ITWF, you're stuck with TWF. You probably won't get 2nd level Bard spells 'til 10th level or so and your song is way behind. Evasion is still a long ways off.

    But once you get to level 16 or so, things start to come together. You've got Evasion and GTWF. You have enough UMD to use almost any item in game. You can self Displace and Haste, plus some other buffs. You'r song isn't as strong as a pure bard, but it's still pretty good, espcially if you went Warchanter. In that case, you're only a point or 2 behind a Spellsinger or Virtuoso.

    So, if you can get through the low levels, you can end up with a very powerful character, but it's a long road.

  13. #13
    Founder Sani_Medicor's Avatar
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    This would be a long road and you'd have a hard time finding a group! lol You would have Tempest I and Warchanter I. You could cast both haste and barkskin. You would have enough ranger levels to get evasion. The fighter levels give you the tempest feats and the haste I, strength I, and toughness I enhancements. If you don't feel like you need extend spell, you could swap it out for OTWF.

    Code:
    Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
    DDO Character Planner Home Page
    
    Level 20 Neutral Good Dwarf Male
    (2 Fighter \ 9 Ranger \ 9 Bard) 
    Hit Points: 338
    Spell Points: 356 
    BAB: 17\17\22\27\27
    Fortitude: 17
    Reflex: 17
    Will: 8
    
                      Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
    Abilities        Base Stats         Base Stats         Modified Stats
    (32 Point)       (Level 1)          (Level 20)           (Level 20)
    Strength             16                 23                   24
    Dexterity            16                 18                   20
    Constitution         16                 18                   20
    Intelligence          8                  8                    8
    Wisdom                8                  8                    8
    Charisma             12                 14                   16
    
    Tomes Used
    +1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 17
    +2 Tome of Strength used at level 20
    +2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 20
    +2 Tome of Constitution used at level 20
    +2 Tome of Charisma used at level 20
    
                      Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
                     Base Skills        Base Skills        Modified Skills
    Skills           (Level 1)          (Level 20)          (Level 20)
    Balance               5                 10                   14
    Bluff                 1                  3                    3
    Concentration         3                 16                   16
    Diplomacy             1                  3                    3
    Disable Device       n/a               n/a                   n/a
    Haggle                1                  3                    3
    Heal                 -1                 -1                   -1
    Hide                  7                 15                   15
    Intimidate            1                  3                    3
    Jump                  5                 17                   17
    Listen               -1                  9                    9
    Move Silently         7                 15                   15
    Open Lock             n/a               n/a                   n/a
    Perform               n/a               20                   20
    Repair               -1                 -1                   -1
    Search               -1                 -1                    1
    Spot                  3                  9                    9
    Swim                  3                  7                    7
    Tumble                4                  6                    6
    Use Magic Device      n/a               20                   20
    
    Level 1 (Ranger)
    Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
    Feat: (Selected) Toughness
    
    
    Level 2 (Ranger)
    
    
    Level 3 (Bard)
    Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
    Spell (1): Expeditious Retreat
    
    
    Level 4 (Bard)
    Ability Raise: STR
    Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds
    
    
    Level 5 (Bard)
    Spell (1): Remove Fear
    
    
    Level 6 (Bard)
    Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
    Spell (2): Blur
    Spell (2): Heroism
    
    
    Level 7 (Bard)
    Spell (1): Detect Secret Doors
    Spell (2): Cure Moderate Wounds
    
    
    Level 8 (Bard)
    Ability Raise: STR
    
    
    Level 9 (Bard)
    Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
    Spell (2): Rage
    Spell (3): Good Hope
    Spell (3): Haste
    
    
    Level 10 (Ranger)
    
    
    Level 11 (Ranger)
    Spell (1): Camouflage
    Spell (1): Jump
    Spell (1): Longstrider
    Spell (1): Merfolk's Blessing
    Spell (1): Ram's Might
    Spell (1): Resist Energy
    Spell (1): Summon Nature's Ally I
    Spell (1): Tumble
    
    
    Level 12 (Ranger)
    Ability Raise: STR
    Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
    Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
    
    
    Level 13 (Ranger)
    
    
    Level 14 (Fighter)
    Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Dodge
    
    
    Level 15 (Fighter)
    Feat: (Selected) Mobility
    Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Spring Attack
    
    
    Level 16 (Ranger)
    Ability Raise: STR
    
    
    Level 17 (Ranger)
    Spell (2): Barkskin
    Spell (2): Bear's Endurance
    Spell (2): Cat's Grace
    Spell (2): Hold Animal
    Spell (2): Mass Camouflage
    Spell (2): Owl's Wisdom
    Spell (2): Protection From Energy
    Spell (2): Snare
    Spell (2): Spike Growth
    Spell (2): Summon Nature's Ally II
    
    
    Level 18 (Ranger)
    Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
    
    
    Level 19 (Bard)
    
    
    Level 20 (Bard)
    Ability Raise: STR
    Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
    Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack II
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery I
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery II
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
    Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
    Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
    Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II
    Enhancement: Bard Warchanter I
    Enhancement: Dwarven Armor Mastery I
    Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Attack I
    Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Attack II
    Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage I
    Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage II
    Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
    Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution II
    Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense I
    Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense II
    Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
    Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
    Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
    Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
    Enhancement: Racial Toughness IV
    Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
    Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
    Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
    Enhancement: Bard Charisma I
    Enhancement: Bard Charisma II
    Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
    Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
    Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
    Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
    Enhancement: Bard Wand Mastery I
    Enhancement: Bard Wand Mastery II
    Last edited by Sani_Medicor; 07-25-2010 at 02:35 PM.

  14. #14
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    Had an Elf 8 Bard, 3 Ranger for awhile but kept questioning the toons purpose. Playing at the higher end of the game on my dps monk, it was clear to me that while an 8 bard is novel, it really doesn't help your groups performance.

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