WF 18 Fig/1 Wiz/1 Rog

[khayyin]

I'm trying to create a very solid solo character for a casual player; a character that can manage a bit of everything. I started out wanting a combat casting melee character, but decided that one extra level for rogue gave me the ability to disable traps and open locks. The Wiz level doesn't allow true casting, but if I understand the mechanics right should allow use of all arcane wands and scrolls without a UMD check, leaving a sort of pseudo-caster.

That said, here's my noob build. What could be improved?

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IterationX Mark III
Level 20 Chaotic Neutral Warforged Male
(18 Fighter \ 1 Rogue \ 1 Wizard) 
Hit Points: 270
Spell Points: 140 
BAB: 18\18\23\28\28
Fortitude: 14
Reflex: 13
Will: 6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    20
Dexterity            16                    20
Constitution         14                    16
Intelligence         12                    12
Wisdom                6                     6
Charisma              6                     6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               7                     8
Bluff                -2                    -2
Concentration         2                     3
Diplomacy            -2                    -2
Disable Device        5                    21
Haggle                2                     2
Heal                 -2                    -2
Hide                  3                     4
Intimidate            2                     7
Jump                  7                     8
Listen                0                     0
Move Silently         3                     4
Open Lock             7                    19
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                5                     9
Search                1                     1
Spot                  0                     0
Swim                  3                     3
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device      2                     2

Level 1 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Disable Device (+4)
Skill: Haggle (+4)
Skill: Intimidate (+4)
Skill: Jump (+4)
Skill: Listen (+2)
Skill: Open Lock (+4)
Skill: Repair (+4)
Skill: Spot (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Mithral Body
Feat: (Automatic) Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Composite Plating
Feat: (Automatic) Heroic Durability
Feat: (Automatic) Light Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Light Fortification
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Rapier
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Shortsword
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Shortbow
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Sneak
Feat: (Automatic) Sneak Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Trapfinding
Feat: (Automatic) Warforged Resistances
Enhancement: Warforged Damage Reduction I


Level 2 (Wizard)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Augment Summoning
Feat: (Automatic) Dismiss Charm
Feat: (Automatic) Inscribe Scroll
Feat: (Automatic) Magical Training
Enhancement: Warforged Tactics I


Level 3 (Fighter)
Skill: Intimidate (+2)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Mithral Fluidity
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Defensive Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Heavy Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency (ALL)
Feat: (Automatic) Medium Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Shield Proficiency (General)
Feat: (Automatic) Sunder
Feat: (Automatic) Tower Shield Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Trip
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Class Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Armored Agility I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Warforged Brute Fighting I


Level 4 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Cleave


Level 5 (Fighter)
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Repair (+1)
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Mastery I
Enhancement: Fighter Flanking Mastery I


Level 6 (Fighter)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Dodge
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Class Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II


Level 7 (Fighter)
Skill: Disable Device (+1.5)
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Warforged Tactics II


Level 8 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Disable Device (+1.5)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II


Level 9 (Fighter)
Skill: Disable Device (+1.5)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting


Level 10 (Fighter)
Skill: Disable Device (+1.5)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution I
Enhancement: Warforged Constitution II


Level 11 (Fighter)
Skill: Disable Device (+1.5)
Enhancement: Warforged Damage Reduction II


Level 12 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Disable Device (+1.5)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Damage Reduction
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Fighter)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Enhancement: Warforged Damage Reduction III


Level 14 (Fighter)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Fighter Strength III


Level 15 (Fighter)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Power Critical
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy III


Level 16 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Weapon Defense
Enhancement: Fighter Armored Agility II
Enhancement: Fighter Armored Agility III


Level 17 (Fighter)
Skill: Open Lock (+1.5)
Enhancement: Warforged Tactics III


Level 18 (Fighter)
Skill: Open Lock (+1.5)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Great Cleave
Feat: (Selected) Improved Damage Reduction


Level 19 (Fighter)
Skill: Open Lock (+1.5)
Enhancement: Fighter Flanking Mastery II
Enhancement: Rogue Disable Device I
Enhancement: Rogue Open Lock I


Level 20 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Open Lock (+1.5)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy IV
Enhancement: Warforged Brute Fighting II

[Gnorbert]

you lost me at "Augment Summoning'




(to be constructive, change that for Extend.... 2 minute shield cast from SP is pretty handy)

[theb]

I'm trying to create a very solid solo character for a casual player...

Good.

...a character that can manage a bit of everything.

...and a lot of nothing. Bad.

I started out wanting a combat casting melee character...

Pure WF FvS? Good.

...but decided that one extra level for rogue gave me the ability to disable traps and open locks.

Without spot, how will the new player know where they are? By stepping on them?

The Wiz level doesn't allow true casting

Right.

but if I understand the mechanics right should allow use of all arcane wands and scrolls without a UMD check

You're eschewing the most powerful, useful, and versatile skill in the game? On a solo character?

Which quest in the game can this character do better for a player of any skill/experience level than any of 18 wizard/2 rogue, 17 wizard/2 rogue/1 barbarian, 20 Wizard, 20 sorcerer, 20 favored soul (melee warforged or caster), 18 favored soul/2 monk (elf melee or caster), 18 cleric/2 monk (or rogue), 20 cleric, 18 Ranger/1 monk/1 rogue, 20 monk, 12 monk/6 paladin/2 fighter, 18 paladin/2 monk, 18 fighter/2 rogue, etc.

[MrWizard]

The Wiz level doesn't allow true casting, but if I understand the mechanics right should allow use of all arcane wands and scrolls without a UMD check, leaving a sort of pseudo-caster.

uesless I believe..It will allow you to use wands but scrolls will be a caster check based on your caster level....so you will never get them off except for the 1-3 level scrolls.

better to do umd.

[khayyin]

you lost me at "Augment Summoning'

At least at the lower levels, it really helps give the hirelings more oomph. I was guessing that kept up all the way through? Having a cleric to auto-heal me seems to work out the best on my rogue, while my wizzy prefers the barbarian.

Pure WF FvS? Good.

I don't have FvS unlocked, and anyway wanted to cast arcane spells (particularly detect secret doors and knock).

You're eschewing the most powerful, useful, and versatile skill in the game? On a solo character?

Which quest in the game can this character do better for a player of any skill/experience level than any of 18 wizard/2 rogue, 17 wizard/2 rogue/1 barbarian, 20 Wizard, 20 sorcerer, 20 favored soul (melee warforged or caster), 18 favored soul/2 monk (elf melee or caster), 18 cleric/2 monk (or rogue), 20 cleric, 18 Ranger/1 monk/1 rogue, 20 monk, 12 monk/6 paladin/2 fighter, 18 paladin/2 monk, 18 fighter/2 rogue, etc.

I was only eschewing it because my understanding was that the 1 level of Wiz would allow me to use wands at -character level-, which is apparently wrong (I'll defer to Mr. Wizard there.)

I don't have monk unlocked either (I went WF instead with the few points I have), which cuts out a number of the builds you listed. I have a pure wizzy already, so don't want to go too far into the Wiz line. Ditto for rogue. 18 fighter/ 2 rogue looks like the best option in that case, but when would you suggest I pick up the two levels of rogue? The fighter skill points per level seemed to be my biggest hindrance, and I'm not sure how to get UMD, Disable Device, Spot, and Open Lock high enough to matter on a largely fighter character. If I take Rogue 1st level I'll get the benefit of a lot of skill points, but won't have much option to spend them well due to the skill points / level cap. If I take rogue at lvl 20, I can top off some skills but won't have much more than maybe 7 skill points to spend at the last possible moment.

[TheBroken_JPK]

At least at the lower levels, it really helps give the hirelings more oomph. I was guessing that kept up all the way through? Having a cleric to auto-heal me seems to work out the best on my rogue, while my wizzy prefers the barbarian.



I don't have FvS unlocked, and anyway wanted to cast arcane spells (particularly detect secret doors and knock).



I was only eschewing it because my understanding was that the 1 level of Wiz would allow me to use wands at -character level-, which is apparently wrong (I'll defer to Mr. Wizard there.)

I don't have monk unlocked either (I went WF instead with the few points I have), which cuts out a number of the builds you listed. I have a pure wizzy already, so don't want to go too far into the Wiz line. Ditto for rogue. 18 fighter/ 2 rogue looks like the best option in that case, but when would you suggest I pick up the two levels of rogue? The fighter skill points per level seemed to be my biggest hindrance, and I'm not sure how to get UMD, Disable Device, Spot, and Open Lock high enough to matter on a largely fighter character. If I take Rogue 1st level I'll get the benefit of a lot of skill points, but won't have much option to spend them well due to the skill points / level cap. If I take rogue at lvl 20, I can top off some skills but won't have much more than maybe 7 skill points to spend at the last possible moment.

Mr. Wizard specifically said you can use wands, but not scrolls. There is no way you can train spot, search, disable, pick lock, and UMD. You will need to give up something. Personally, I gave up spot and pick lock on my fighter/rogue. No need for spot on normal. I run right through traps and take the hit. Not a big deal. Then just remember where it is for the future. Open lock, you can use dex enhancements items or pots, open lock bonus items, Heroism/GH and rely on skill boost. Or just use a knock wand if able. Disable device can lag back a few points, too. Disable device bonus items, Hero/GH, +5 tools(gives a +7 bonus), int pot or item, and boost is more than enough to never fail. The most important is search if you care about traps. If you're just doing normal missions I've yet to see a trap that can't be negated through proper planning(protection pots/wands, and resist gear). In the case of physical traps you can carry jump potions, or just eat the damage. You're a fighter. A trap on normal isn't going to one shot you.

Going human gives 1 more skill point per level. Going 14 int(over the 16dex) gives one more skill pt. Don't train in repair. There is no point in it. I personally, train in search, intim, and UMD. Sometimes I throw in a disable device instead of search. I also plan to take the UMD skill focus feat at a later level.