Hunter of the Dead

[LookingForABentoBox]

This prestige enhancement line looks a bit weaker than the other 2 paladin options. How about adding curse immunity to it? Maybe that would even it out a bit.

(Holy sword falchions would be nice too but that's not really topical )

[LookingForABentoBox]

BTW anyone know if this PrE blocks from energy drain from demonic bracers?

[binderclip]

BTW anyone know if this PrE blocks from energy drain from demonic bracers?

nope.

[Asketes]

It's most excellent while leveling... not many evil outsiders till vale (some but not prominent)


I'd recommend taking this till you near the vale... There is a ton of necro stuff and deleras where you can take advantage of the free ghost touch and healing amp.

[flynnjsw]

It's most excellent while leveling... not many evil outsiders till vale (some but not prominent)


I'd recommend taking this till you near the vale... There is a ton of necro stuff and deleras where you can take advantage of the free ghost touch and healing amp.

This ^^^ is what I usually suggest as well.

[WeaselKing]

nope.

Nope, it doesn't block it or nope, you don't know.

[Krag]

Hunter of the Dead is really nice if you want to solo Shadow Crypt on a melee...


....wait WHAT?

[azrael4h]

HotD is very nice for the early to mid levels. Delera's, Necro 1-4, Desert, etc... tons and tons of Undead. I think someone even figured on Undead being around 1/3rd of the game, mostly focused in the early to mid levels.

My Paladin is HotD, actually. Works real well, though I plan on going KotC in a level or two, depending on how soon I get irritated at doing nothing but undead quests.

[Daltric]

Considering I'm still running Draculle as a lvl 20 HoTD and enjoying it even with the mass of Evil outsiders in the end stages of the game. I don't tend to find it that weak. It might be slightly downpowered compared to the extra 4d6 damage dished out by KoTC builds but lets face it...how many Chaotic outsiders are in the game to make full use of the stun feature of these builds....?

And remember, when we take the trip to Amrath there are 3 options, one of which is the Plane of the Dead that is currently unavailable.

Possible high level undead questing there.....

Oh yeah, and watch those KoTC builds become HoTD builds cause those bad boys can dish the pain (if they actually felt any) to undead everywhere.

But for mid level questing with the amount of undead quests - very handy

[mehlinda]

I recently tr'd my KotC and am at lvl 18 in life 2. I used HotD until lvl 18 and then I switched. While leveling and getting close to 18 I felt myself enjoying the benefits of HotD to the point that I was contemplating not changing. If you want to reduce everything to pure numbers then HotD is not = to KotC but the benefits are intangible and make up for some of the damage output you lack.

As the post above me mentioned, the Planescaller in The Twelve has other future destinations which leads me to believe there is plenty of upper level undead in our futures. Perhaps HotD will be more than a leveling tool at that time.

[Krag]

I am not sure what makes people think HotD was good against undead. The name?

Let's see what HotD has to offer

- healing amplification --- useful but not a huge benefit as you lack defensive capabilities to tank tough bosses (hard/elite ToD, eDQ). no special anti-undead benefits
- +2 bonus on saving throws against spells and effects produced by undead per tier --- if your paladin does not have enough saves as is you are doing it wrong
- restoration line --- useful. can save you some pots/scrolls
- Ghost Touch --- handy at lower levels when you can't wear Spectral Gloves. however even among undead ghostly creatures are a minority. build value minimal
- Energy Drain Immunity --- I suppose it can replace Silverflame Talisman against beholders if you can fit deathblock item somewhere else. all other situations are covered with a single spell
- Vorpal Undead --- at level 18??? seriously?!! there are no undead around this level except for occasional giant sceleton which is immune anyway.

As shown above all HotD abilities are too little, too narrow or too late. I would have gladly traded them all for a single tier of a Kensai pre.

[nivarch]

- Ghost Touch --- handy at lower levels when you can't wear Spectral Gloves. however even among undead ghostly creatures are a minority. build value minimal

Some people don't have spectral gloves.

[deadkitty]

Don't forget that KoTC extra damage will hit undead due to the "Evil" alignment. Not sure if it was intended but it was hitting undead on my pali before I tr'd him.

[Krag]

Don't forget that KoTC extra damage will hit undead due to the "Evil" alignment. Not sure if it was intended but it was hitting undead on my pali before I tr'd him.

Unfortunately it was fixed in U7. Now we have 2 gimped narrow paladin prestiges instead of only one and a niche S&B intimitank.

[Daltric]

I am not sure what makes people think HotD was good against undead. The name?

Let's see what HotD has to offer

- healing amplification --- useful but not a huge benefit as you lack defensive capabilities to tank tough bosses (hard/elite ToD, eDQ). no special anti-undead benefits
- +2 bonus on saving throws against spells and effects produced by undead per tier --- if your paladin does not have enough saves as is you are doing it wrong
- restoration line --- useful. can save you some pots/scrolls
- Ghost Touch --- handy at lower levels when you can't wear Spectral Gloves. however even among undead ghostly creatures are a minority. build value minimal
- Energy Drain Immunity --- I suppose it can replace Silverflame Talisman against beholders if you can fit deathblock item somewhere else. all other situations are covered with a single spell
- Vorpal Undead --- at level 18??? seriously?!! there are no undead around this level except for occasional giant sceleton which is immune anyway.

As shown above all HotD abilities are too little, too narrow or too late. I would have gladly traded them all for a single tier of a Kensai pre.

In reply

1. OK. Having 22+ Divine light IIIs is always handy no matter where you are - specially if you are continuously spamming them while in melee - remember doing that once and someone said 'you cant turn them. undead are immune to turning in this game'

2. Energy drain immunity always handy. Dont need to worry about the Talisman. It also helps protect from the spell that various nasties cast on you at various times when you arent wearing your Talisman

3. Vorpal undead - true doesnt really help vs named and immune undead (ie skeles in the SubT) but it is supposed to do additional damage to these.

4. Ghost touch - it also works vs the dreaming dark critters. And i get to use my gloves and/or bracers slot for something else. And lets face it. Not everyone farms one quest over and over and over and over and over and over....you get my drift.

5. What do you mean - not tank. Any toon can tank if it has the right gear, support and player skill. If a warforged wizzie can tank Sulomides (and ive seen that happen a few times) then why not a dps pally with the ability to smite massive evil or an intim pally if thats your build. Granted not the best option but it can be done.

6. And yeah the HoTD is VERY useful vs undead at the medium level. Try soloing any other melee class through elite undead quests at or below the required level BEFORE the change of dungeon scaling. Now with dungeon scaling - ultra easy.

Maybe its just me but I do have a soft spot for the old HoTD build. I also have a KoTC going as well and I enjoy playing them both. For different reasons. But they are also my only TRUE builds - ie lvl 20 in the one class.

oh yeah, Drac was running The Hound at level 9 till they put the level requirement on the Sub T

[nibelung]

i use HotD for situational purposes, specifically for soloing Cholthulzz in Litany (he has a ton of HP and will far outlast a Silverflame Talisman) plus he will dispell you every few seconds. its cool to have the option at least, what other fleshies can be completely immune to neg levels?

But after TR'ing into a WF ill stop using it and just stay KotC

[Krag]

1. You mean you actually have action points to spend on DL 3?
2. Deathward.
3. Like I said, it's useless.
4. Spectral Gloves are not raid loot and are neither extremely rare nor extremely expensive. Might be a little bit of an issue for a newer player but any vet can easily have it.
5. You roll 1 on a disintegrate - you die. It's as simple as that. You can't get enough hp on a HotR without gimping yourself.
6. Any class without firewall makes me want to ragequit undead heavy quests.

[Daltric]

1. You mean you actually have action points to spend on DL 3?
2. Deathward.
3. Like I said, it's useless.
4. Spectral Gloves are not raid loot and are neither extremely rare nor extremely expensive. Might be a little bit of an issue for a newer player but any vet can easily have it.
5. You roll 1 on a disintegrate - you die. It's as simple as that. You can't get enough hp on a HotR without gimping yourself.
6. Any class without firewall makes me want to ragequit undead heavy quests.

Maybe we're getting to spoilt and seem to forget that spells do uber damage in this game. Makes me want to just ragequit running with casters who all they want to do is throw out their damage spells and then complain when they get cut up by all the agro (unless you're a trained caster who know their job and how to avoid aformentioned downside of uber casting).

As a melee player, I enjoy hitting things. I makes me happy (how childish am I ) And yeah. I figure that if youre going HoTD then you really want to maximise your damage potential and usefullness vs those deathwarded undead/named undead.

Most toons that roll a 1 on disintegrate die. Those that don't need heals quick. And since i'm at the 575 hp mark then....I'm not really hp gimped.

And the Bloodstone isnt raid loot either but does it drop for me....no of course not. Same as the Gloves. Just the luck of the dice so to speak. And if they don't drop....get Tharnes.

But that is your opinion, and although I respect it, I have mine and the fact that I have so much fun with Drac...well thats the name of the game isn't it.

Enjoy