Dwarven Kensai/Bard

[Godslayersinc]

had a Dwarf warchanter/Barb back when the Warchanter first came out and ive desided to make a new one. Orginally i was going to go back Bard/Barb build and was thinking 12 Barb/8 Bard however after about 6 levels in i discovered that between solo play or with unreliable healers i was next to never able to use my rages. So back to the drawing board i went and the thought hit me on Kensai, Sure i dont get the extra con which i figured i would need with next to no AC but power surge lets me zerk out and still heal if i need it. So i made my orginal idea and ive gotten it up to 13 now and im looking for some ideas on finishing touches. I see some people have some simular splits and im not very familiar with THF ins and outs so looking for some suggestions.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.5.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Neutral Good Dwarf Male
(12 Fighter \ 8 Bard) 
Hit Points: 390
Spell Points: 276 
BAB: 18\18\23\28\28
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 10
Will: 9

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             17                    27
Dexterity             9                    10
Constitution         18                    22
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             13                    16

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 20
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 20
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 20
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 20

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

Level 1 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Stunning Blow


Level 3 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 4 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 5 (Bard)


Level 6 (Bard)


Level 7 (Bard)


Level 8 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 9 (Bard)


Level 10 (Fighter)


Level 11 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Bludgeoning Weapons


Level 12 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 13 (Fighter)


Level 14 (Fighter)


Level 15 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons


Level 16 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 17 (Fighter)


Level 18 (Fighter)


Level 19 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Bludgeoning Weapons


Level 20 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
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 Warchanter I
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution II
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics I
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics II
Enhancement: Kensei Maul Mastery I
Enhancement: Kensei Maul Mastery II
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei II
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Stunning Blow) I
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Stunning Blow) II
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Stunning Blow) III
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Stunning Blow) IV
Enhancement: Fighter Maul Specialization I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Bard Charisma I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II
Enhancement: Fighter Strength III
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness III

NOTABLE ITEMS

Head - Minos Legens - Helm: Toughness (+20 stacking HP), Heavy Fortification

Neck -Verik's Necklace - Necklace: Constitution +6Constitution +6: Grants +6 enhancement bonus to Constitution., Lesser Action Boost Enhancement, Kensai Set Bonus

Ring- Verik's Band +6 Str, +1 Exceptional con, 20% Healing Amp, Kensai Set

Ring- Knost's Band +6 Str , +1Exception Str, +2 Exceptional Str, Frenzied Berserker set

Belt- Knost's Belt +6 con, Great False life, Frenzied berserk set

Trinket- Shimmering Arrowhead - Trinket: Crippling, Seeker +4, Attack Bonus +2

FEATS

Here is where i need some imput.
Level1Ftr Toughness, WF( Slash)
Level2 Ftr PA
Level3 Bard Extend
Level4Bard
Level5Bard
Level6Bard Toughness
Level7Bard
Level8Bard
Level9Bard Toughness
Level10 Ftr
Level11 Ftr Stunning Blow
Level12 Ftr Open
Level13 Ftr Weapon Special(Slash)
Level14 Ftr
Level15 Ftr GWF(Slash), Open
Level16 Ftr
Level17 Ftr Imp Crit(Slash)
Level18 Ftr Open
Level19 Ftr GWeapon Special(Slash)
Level20 Ftr

Ive got 3 Feats open and they are base Feats so they can be anything. One option im looking at is 3 more toughness feats to get me over 600 HP's . The other Viable option im looking at is the THF Lines How effect are these as a DPS Boost, I see the uses on Trash what does it do for me on Single target bosses?

HIT POINTS

Heroic +20
Bard +48
Fighter +120
False Life +30
Rep +10
Con +180
Toughnessx3 +66
Enhancement +60
Rage +20

Total 554

I was really wanting to be above 600 here. I feel like i have to take a Cha skill/Power Item as my first Shroud item however i still have 3 feats floating 3 more toughness is a potential option.

COMBAT

Here is the fun stuff. Sustained Str would be at 38 and then Power Surge putting me up to 46. This is going to give me pretty decent melee skills.

HIT / Power Surge

BA +18
Str +13 /+4
GS +5
WF(Slash) +1
GWF(slash) +1
Kensai 1 +1
Kensai 2 +1
Bard (Mine)+5
Arrowhead +2
Kensai Set +2
Rage Spell +1

Total +50 / +54

DAMAGE
GS Greataxe +5
Frenzied Set +2
Str(raged) +21 / +6
WSpec(Slash) +2
GWSpec(Slash) +2
Kensai 1 +1
Kensai 2 +1
WMastery(GA) +1
Bard(Mine) +6
PA +10

Total +51 / +57

[hydra_ex]

Do you want to play a bard? If you do, then you're a pretty substandard one with only 8 lvls. Take at least 14, and preferably 16 or more.

If you want to play a fighter, then play a fighter, not something with 8 bard levels.

[Godslayersinc]

Thanks for the thoughts but not the question at hand. 16/2/2 bard build gets you +7/+8 Song with this i get +5/+6 not a huge Difference in my eyes. However thats not what im looking at either Its something that i find fun to play. Its a THFing character with the ability to scroll heal , Rez, buff and respectable damage. Everyone is entitled to there thoughts about builds but im asking for alittle bit of help and more importantly discussion very little in DDO is Black and White IMHO. Anyway i hope i get some more feed back

[BoBoDaClown]

-You could drop cha and raise str to 18.
-You could pick up the THF lines
-You could grab SF: UMD until you can hit 40.

But really, on the whole looks good.

No interest in TWF? I think you could leave all your stats unchanged, switch the charisma points for dex (+2 tome) = two weapon fighting with dwarven axes.

I believe this will net you more dps, adding the bard songs to both weapons. Just a thought.

[Godslayersinc]

The original reason for THF was fear of a low hit mod. However as the build comes together im seeing that that is not going to be an issue I do like the aesthetics of two handers though but by the rarity of THF Vs TWF i assume its still no where close to balanced? Ive been playing again for about a month but before that i was gone for 8 months i know they reworked how THF works(Aswell as TWFing) I understand the proc chances and the increased glancing blows and it looks great on paper how much of a Dps increase its it really? Is it a DPS increase at all on single target? Worth the 3 feats? As soon as i get my shroud item i should hit the UMD marker so not to worried on that front.

[BoBoDaClown]

The original reason for THF was fear of a low hit mod. However as the build comes together im seeing that that is not going to be an issue I do like the aesthetics of two handers though but by the rarity of THF Vs TWF i assume its still no where close to balanced? Ive been playing again for about a month but before that i was gone for 8 months i know they reworked how THF works(Aswell as TWFing) I understand the proc chances and the increased glancing blows and it looks great on paper how much of a Dps increase its it really? Is it a DPS increase at all on single target? Worth the 3 feats? As soon as i get my shroud item i should hit the UMD marker so not to worried on that front.

I have never played a THF character - all mine are TWF. Here is a thread I found on the THF feats:

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...55#post3126755

A quick read suggests to me that glancing blows have a chance to proc on all foes in front of you, including a single target.

TWF is often recommended for a bard because the damage is applied to both hands - however, there is nothing wrong with a THer.

[Godslayersinc]

Yeah i read that one this morning i think im gonna take up the THF feats and skimp alittle on my hoped HP's. 550 HP is still pretty good. If i dont have the enhance points available for Dwarven Axe damage am i going to feel overly gimp kensai 2 speced Mauls .Same crit same mod ,2 less top end but i dont have to switch back and forth for stunning. Any opinions here?

[Partydeluxe]

We had a similar discussiong going in this thread, might wanna check it out.

[unbongwah]

THF vs TWF is like some kinda holy war `round here. My gut instinct is that TWF is higher overall DPS for a bard WC, but there are so many variables at play that it boils down to "it depends." My advice would be to go with the fighting style you most enjoy. If it's THF, I'd go base stats 18 / 8 / 18 / 8 / 8 / 12. Oh, and I think your first lvl should be bard for max skill points and to unlock UMD right off the bat.

[ThePrincipal]

I have a 6kensei/6tempest/8warchanter dwarf build that is currently lvl 16 (6/6/4).

I didnt go the UMD route because I dumped Int and needed those meager pts for balance, perform, and concentration.

This is very fun and offers a lot to the player and group. Don't underestimate Fascinate. Chances are theres another full bard in the group for buff songs, save ur songs for the best CC in the game. Blur, Rams, Jump, Heorism, Focusing Chant extended on at all times. TWF damage is very good in this build with high str, buffs, weapon specializations, and haste boost. I carry a host of wands like detect doors, invisibility, cures, and resis energy. Clickies like Shield, Haste, Solid Fog, and others round out the build.

If you like melee power but get bored holding down the swing button, this is a great build option.

PS on the TWF vs. THF debate, I prefer TWF. I like having complimentary affects that two weapons offer such as paralyers/improvedcurse, stat damagers, vorpals... etc