LF favoured soul melee build suggestions.

[Estandar]

I am looking for a melee favoured soul build to play on my next tr.

To explain a few things, I need 3 fvs past lives for an arcane build im working on. I have previously played a clonk, and im working in this life as an evoker type soul. (I end up throwing heals because of a paucity of healers, I am not enjoying the evoker either, but im 2 levels shy of getting BB although with SF evocation and GSF evocation and wiz past life feat im hoping life improves)

The crux of the matter is, I dont enjoy healing in DDO, people are always out of los behind a pillar, zerged off to the far reaches of the dungeon or just slightly out of range, I find it a frustrating experience unfortunately. ( I need to work on my positioning also I must admit)

I dont mind throwing down heals when the **** hits the fan on this build, but the idea of nannybotting a pug through an instance just tends to smack of herding cats too much for my liking.

Therefore im looking for a nice melee soul build to play, possibly some sort of 12 fvs, 6 fighter (kensai) 2 monk kind of thing whereby I can self heal, and swing a 2 hander to victory.

A lot of the advice on the forums seems to indicate fvs works best as a pure class, and I totally get and agree with the suppositions made asserting that belief.

However, im not concerned about buff durations, im not concerned about the capstone abilities and im also not concerned with being able to solo heal a raid or other endgame stuff because once I get to 20, its time for me to TR once again.
What I am concerned about is crushing my enemies, seeing them driven before me, and hearing the lamentations of their women.

Seeing as im doing this for the past life feat, I need at least the highest level of the build to be fvs.


I have looked at some of the fvs soul builds here, and ideally im looking at utilising some of the equipment I have accumulated, such as a docent of defiance, and a GS min II greataxe. (in retrospect it should have been made a sword) and some Conc opp SP goggles.


Im just looking for something that mainly hits hard and successfully in melee, and can contribute towards backup healing in a pinch, but will be fun and avoids the stigma of having to be a nanny because people in your group see a pure healing class. Im very partial to evasion as aoe effects seem to be plentiful and dangerous in dungeons.

I realise that this build might well be rejected from groups for not being the quintessential healer because of the level split and im totally down with that.

If anyone be so kind as to point me towards some links I would be eternally grateful.

Other things to note are that I am lawful good which precludes classes that require alignments different to that such as barb.

Thanks in advance for any links to builds or build suggestions.

[Steveohio]

Check out my Golden Roach build

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...13#post3548413

Its 16/2/2 fvs/pal/monk, while it is currently more healer based that you may want (3x mass cures) you can easily swap those spells out for something more solo oriented, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Its able to effectively act as a DPS, tank, healer in all content. The 4 levels of splash are deceiving to some, so it should get you off the hook for being a healer if you'd like, but that option also exists if you would like to raid/pug, as you can easily fill the healer spot.

With evasion, 611hp, 2400sp, and saves over 50, and self healing it may be the hardest toon in the game to kill.
Paladin also opens up the avenues for martial weapons, so you can use your min2 ax, or any other weapon for that matter(esos).

Currently dwarf for axes, but could be modified for warforged, which would then mean you never die with a DoD.
EVER

[Ashbinder]

FvS generally run to some common builds from this forum.

The Soul Survivor - Warforged THF DPS. Not a beginner build, relies heavily on some epic gear to meet full potential.

The Superior Soul - Human TWF Hybrid DPS/Caster. Solid all rounder, not as gear intensive as the above build, far inferior Longsword DPS but with the option to have meaningful spell DCs.

The Really Good FvS - Elf TWF 18/2 Monk Splash Scimitar DPS. Gains evasion, loses two level 9 spells and capstone DR. Decent DPS with crits.

There's also strange hybrid builds like the one from the poster above. Have a read of the build threads, look through the comments, examine the gear and see what you like the idea of best.

[Matuse]

I am not enjoying the evoker either, but im 2 levels shy of getting BB although with SF evocation and GSF evocation and wiz past life feat im hoping life improves)

Really no reason to have those feats for blade barrier. Empower, Maximize, Quicken, Extend are the key BB feats.

[Estandar]

Well I have most of those feats already and by the time I get BB I will have 3/4 of them, with some nice save dcs.
Also the 3 extra dc was useful for throwing soundburst during the lower levels.


But, back to the matter at hand...

I really am quite intrigued by the golden roach build though, and all I would need to do is drop the TWF feats, either replacing them with THF feats or some other feats. Change race to WF, presumably dump dex to 8 and add more to str or cha. Playing with the char generator I can get away with a stat array of. (im a 36 pt toon)

STR 18
DEX 8
CON 16
INT 10
WIS 8
CHA 14

I could take Toughness and Power attack as my monk feats, and Quicken spell, Empower healing, Empower and Maximize as my level feats, leaving 3 up for grabs.

Possibly Stunning blow, weapon focus to offset wf pa attack

Skills will just be balance and concentration, no need for intimidate because i have never played a tank and never will want to in any mmo I have ever played.

Looks nice so far.

[tgu]

I got two suggestions:

Pure Half-Orc FvS

Sov. Host for healing
DR 10
High Str
Nice healing amp
I have decent wisdom/str

I also saw a 17/2/1 (FvS, Monk, Fighter):

They can argue all they want. this looks like a fun build to me.



34str at lvl 4 with str shrine and rage pot.

Can you imagine what kind of dmg monster he will be? It is a completionist build (+2 stats)...but break down the numbers real quick even for a non-completionist.

20 starting str
+1 at level 4
+1 enhance (feat)
+1-2 airship
+2 rage
+4 enhanced
------
(29-30)

So at level 4, 29-30 str isn't too hard. Factor in +2 monk stance or +1 tome and it only gets better (32-33)

[Steveohio]

I've played a 17/2monk/1rog FVS also. It was pretty meh compared to the 16/2/2

The pure FVS half orc is pretty nice also with STR/WIS based, not so sure it would really be that great as a wis dumped pure STR build, I think WF would probably be abit better with the DR/HP/immunities/etc over 6 effective damage per hit and a weapon feat.

+2str from monk stance would only be valid on crappy weapons, maybe a rahl's might or epic souleater as the best possible, certainly not worth it IMO.

[tgu]

I've played a 17/2monk/1rog FVS also. It was pretty meh compared to the 16/2/2

The pure FVS half orc is pretty nice also with STR/WIS based, not so sure it would really be that great as a wis dumped pure STR build, I think WF would probably be abit better with the DR/HP/immunities/etc over 6 effective damage per hit and a weapon feat.

+2str from monk stance would only be valid on crappy weapons, maybe a rahl's might or epic souleater as the best possible, certainly not worth it IMO.

He was one level fighter, not rogue. I also think 16/2/2 is worse, giving up wings = cardinal sin.

I was goig to be a pure Str/Wis H-Orc, but after all the debate I just believe wisdom is not up to par yet due to lack of spell selection to make it useful.

I would honestly say WF and H-Orc are the melee kings. DR is usually close (13 vs 10), HP is only about 80 (tanking is a risky business), and immunities mean little when almost all things can be cleansed or slotted for. The one ace in the whole is WF Greatsword. I have to take -4 to hit on my H-orc, while they are are +5 to hit, +1 to dmg.

I just wanted to be a strong melee race that got high str, decent DR, Sov. Host, and didn't have to duel wield to stand a chance. Pure Half-Orc and 17/2/1 are really nice alternatives, as WF is losing it's "end all, be all".

[treas7]

I did a TR recently in which I went half elf. I chose the rogue dilettante and took all the enhancements for the extra sneak attack damage. Plus I had a few greensteel scims and a lit 2 offhand weapon left over from past lives. My main tactic is to Holy Aura my opponents and then melee them getting the most of my sneak attack while they are blinded. I had a leftover +4 DEX tome from the previous life so getting the minimum DEX of 17 for ITWF was no problem. I started with a minimum Charisma and maxed Strength and Constitution. At level 20 i'm sitting on a 32 Strength and 577 hit points now. I honestly don't think a Favored Soul needs evasion. There's plenty of opportunity for ample hit points and the ability to self heal. Plus you'd be giving up the capstone.

Feats chosen (pure 20 FVS):
Maximize
Empower
Extend
Quicken
TWF
ITWF
Toughness

Had a lot of fun leveling this toon.

[Steveohio]

Without GTWF, Power attack and improved critical, your build really doesn't qualify as a melee dps build at all.

Secondly evasion + 2 feats VS capstone DR will be an eternal battle of opinions, the OP specifically asked for evasion as a prerequisite.

Third, if you don't have ESOS, TWF DPS will be higher than THF, half orc or not, provided you take the required feats.

17/2/1 or 16/2/2 are both good. Half orc wasn't an option at the time so WF with 1/rogue for full intim/UMD.

1 Fighter would be for the weapon prof on orcs obviously.
Wings are hardly needed, and are more of a cool/luxury thing to have. If you take 2 paladin instead you'd get +8 to all saves along with the weapon profs.

With WF DoD, capstone DR is not needed, especially if you plan on TR'ing quick again, its almost a waste. DoD gets you better DR, at lower levels which the OP on a completionist will obviously be at the majority of the toons life.