The Lifeguard: A Swimcleric build

[gerardIII]

Looking at the levels, what I can guess...

Fire Savant, 40 point Fire Resistance
10 Inherent from 5 FvS
15 Exceptional GS
2 Rogue Fire Lore?
No past life, it's a Champion

That's all I could guess, at 67. He might not have the Rogue Fire Lore enhancement and have an additional source of 10 from somewhere. Still, nice Fire Resistance

Yes 67, also a Robe/Outfit with a Large Guild Augment Slot in which you can put +8 Fire resistance for a total of 75

[Oakianus]

I actually remember this conversation in the Marketplace trade channel - I put an FRDS up for auction, and people kept making joke bids. A wand of Merfolk's was put up, and everyone in the conversation started joking about how Merfolk's was OP. Someone made the comment that it was particularly OP for Swimclerics.

It was in the top 10 funniest things I have heard outside of my guild in DDO, so I am very glad to see it in reality. I really, really want to build this cleric now. :P

[Zaal]

meh - no reflex - swimcleric will have a hard time saving lives in the Crucible...

[peetrs]

Imagine how fast you will fly in the Reaver's Fate (Fly is increased by swim speed).

Imagine how fast you could do Crucible swim part!

meh - no reflex - swimcleric will have a hard time saving lives in the Crucible...

Meh, with swim of just 20 or so, u'll able to swim against flow, so no need for save, since u'll never touch any spike.

[Such755]

A cleric swimming faster than a jet ski, what more could anyone wish for in their party?!

[Zaal]

Meh, with swim of just 20 or so, u'll able to swim against flow, so no need for save, since u'll never touch any spike.

Meh - one lag spike on Elite per said spikes, regardsless of your uber ability and SWIMCLERIC is ROTTINGDEADCORPSECLERIC.

[painkiller3]

http://ddowiki.com/page/Update_17_named_items

Aquatic Bracers
◦ ML25: Underwater Action, Swim +20, Sovereign Cold Resistance, Swim like a Fish (gain Evasion while swimming), Yellow Augment Slot, Colorless Augment Slot

[UrbanPyro]

Deleted.

[Ausdoerrt]

This thread is very instructive, but lacks equipment suggestions so far.

Of course the build cant wear armor, but goggles should be ok... a cloak would be useful but has to be unequipped before entering the water.

Newbie question: Is there a Bikini in DDO?

Why, http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Plate_Armor_of_the_Deep is good for low levels.

There's also enough reeeeally tight looking light armors to work as a swimsuit, cosmetically.

[DeathdefyBeta]

Is this build current for U25? Please update OP.

[Ausdoerrt]

Also wondering, can http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Shards_of_Light be used on friendlies? If yes, then a bow variant is in order, to shoot-heal drowning party members.

[Red_Knight]

Thanks alot, I had to carefully pry off the keys of my keyboard and clean it after reading the OP. Root beer and keyboards don't mix well. Nor do preforming a spit take when at the computer.

[UurlockYgmeov]

/necro - but still funny!

[stoerm]

We aren't even pushing the boundaries yet, but I couldn't keep this to myself any longer.

I hope you don't mind the necro.

Build info:
* First life 32pt Human
* cleric 15 fighter 4 wizard 1
* almost all swim-related feats
* trash gear, eg. only +13 swim item
* enhancements tuned for swim score

This was a bank mule sitting on a +20 lesser heart, and I thought I'd have some lulz. And try to find an answer to Geoff's question. It does not match running speed of a stalwart ... yet.

[VinceWhirlwind]

That is so cool, I'm going to make a lifeguard as well.

[unbongwah]

Domains are Coming:

• Water Domain
  
  • Level 2:
    
    • You gain Water Breathing.
    • You gain +1 to Swimming and +2 Cold Spell Power (Glaciation) per Cleric level.
    • Your cold spells will use Positive Spell Power if it is higher.
    • Your healing spells will use Cold Spell Power if it is higher.
    • Your Turn Undead works on Elementals
    • When you use Turn Undead your party gains a bonus to Will saving throws equal to half you Cleric level, and points of Cold Resistance equal to twice your Cleric level for 20 seconds
    
    
  • Level 5: You gain Solid Fog as an SLA
  • Level 9: You gain Cone of Cold as an SLA
  • Level 14: You gain Greater Creeping Cold as an SLA

So obviously it's time to dust off an old classic to prepare.



The original Lifeguard is a STR-based battlecleric. This version dumps melee entirely to focus on spellcasting - and of course that sweet sweet Swim skill. CHA-based means lower STR overall but higher DCs to ED abilities (and Turn Undead) plus more radiant bursts.

Build goals: near-max Swim skill; party healer; modest caster DPS with some CC (BoGW).

Olladra Lifeguard
18/1/1 Cleric/Barbarian/Bard
True Neutral Human


Level Order

1. Bard            6. Cleric         11. Cleric         16. Cleric
2. Cleric          7. Cleric         12. Cleric         17. Cleric
3. Cleric          8. Cleric         13. Cleric         18. Cleric
4. Cleric          9. Cleric         14. Cleric         19. Cleric
5. Cleric         10. Cleric         15. Barbarian      20. Cleric


Stats
               36pt     Tome     Level Up
               ----     ----     --------
Strength        14       +4       4: CHA
Dexterity        8       +4       8: CHA
Constitution    16       +4      12: CHA
Intelligence    12       +4      16: CHA
Wisdom           8       +4      20: CHA
Charisma        18       +4      24: CHA
                                 28: CHA

Skills
         Bd Cl Cl Cl Cl Cl Cl Cl Cl Cl Cl Cl Cl Cl Bn Cl Cl Cl Cl Cl
          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
         ------------------------------------------------------------
Spellcr   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1     1     2  2  1  23
Swim      4                       1  1  1  1  1  1  8  1  1  1  1  1  23
UMD       4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1     1  2  1  1  1  23
Concent   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1                       1           1  13
Diplo     4                 1  1                                       6
Balance   4                                                            4
Tumble    4                                                            4
Haggle    4                                                            4
         ------------------------------------------------------------
         32  4  4  4  4  4  5  5  5  5  5  5  5  5  8  6  6  6  6  6


Feats

 1        : Maximize Spell
 1 Human  : Empower Healing Spell
 2 Deity  : Follower of: Olladra
 3        : Empower Spell
 3 Domain : Water
 6        : Quicken Spell
 7 Deity  : Luck of Olladra
 9        : Extend Spell OR Completionist
12        : Spell Focus: Evocation OR Past Life: Wizard
15        : Mental Toughness OR Skill Focus: Swim
18        : Improved Mental Toughness OR Athletic
21 Epic   : Epic Mental Toughness OR Wellspring of Power
24 Epic   : Burst of Glacial Wrath
26 Destiny: Epic Spell Power: Cold OR Epic Skill Focus: Swim
27 Epic   : Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Elusive Target OR Epic Skill Focus: Swim
29 Destiny: Deific Warding
30 Epic   : Intensify Spell
30 Legend : Scion of: Plane of Fire OR Celestia


Enhancements (80 AP)

Radiant Servant (35 AP)
Healing Domain, Pacifism, Positive Energy Burst, Improved Empower Healing, Positive Energy Shield
Extra Turning III, Altruism II
Improved Turning III, Mighty Turning
Intense Healing III, Unyielding Sovereignty
Endless Turning II, Incredible Healing II
Positive Energy Aura, Cure Focus

Divine Disciple (24 AP)
Emissary: Light, Sacred Defense
Nimbus of Light III, Spell Critical: Universal
Spellpower: Universal III, Spell Critical: Universal
Searing Light III, Spellpower: Universal III, Spell Critical: Universal
Universal Spellpower, Spell Critical: Universal

Human (8 AP)
Skills Boost, Charisma
Improved Recovery
Traditionalist Caster III

Warpriest (4 AP)
Smite Foe
Divine Might III

Frenzied Berserker (4 AP)
Die Hard
Athletics III

Swashbuckler (4 AP)
Confidence
Limber Up III

Warchanter (1 AP)
Skaldic: Rage


Destiny (24 AP)

Exalted Angel
Avenging Light, Radiant Power III, Charisma
Soundburst III, Charisma
(none)
Rebuke Foe, Blood and Radiance III, Excoriate
Leap of Faith
Sun Bolt, Divine Wrath

Twists of Fate (35 fate points)
Energy Burst: Cold (Tier 4 Draconic)
Empyrean Magic (Tier 3 Crusader)
School Specialist: Evocation (Tier 2 Magister)
Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)
Brace for Impact (Tier 1 Sentinel) OR Primal Scream (Tier 1 Fury of the Wild)

Olladra for the Luck bonus to stats from the lvl 6 active feat. Bard splash is for class skills (namely Swim + UMD), +3 Swim from Limber Up (T1 SB), and Skaldic Rage (+4 STR, doesn't block spellcasting like barb Rage). Barb splash is for +10% run speed and another +3 Swim from Athletics (T1 FB). I delayed barb to max out pts of Swim and get lvl 7 cleric spells first; but it can be taken a lot sooner.

It probably looks funny NOT to be taking Scion of Plane of Water, but I think the spell crit bonuses from either Fire or Celestia will be more useful to this gimp build.

Enhancements: apart from Swim bonuses, primarily RS for healing of course but also with heavy investment in DiDi for extra Universal Spellpower, crit chance, and the first two light SLAs, which have no save and are mostly just for charging up Empyrean Magic + Endless Ardor.

Your epic rotation of SLAs will look something like this:

• healing: RS aura, RS burst, MCMW from EA
• cold: Gtr Creeping Cold, Energy Burst Cold, Burst of Glacial Wrath
• light: Nimbus of Light, Searing Light, Avenging Light, Sun Bolt, Divine Wrath

Skills: max Swim, Spellcraft, and UMD - leftover pts can go into whatever you want. [Bump up Balance instead of Concentration & Diplomacy if you prefer.] "Wait, you forgot Heal!" you cry. Not so! For the Lifeguard takes advantage of this aspect of Water Domain: "Your healing spells will use Cold Spell Power if it is higher." Which I am presuming also applies to RS bursts and auras or this build is SOL. But it means you only care about two Spellpowers: Cold for heals and ice spells, Light for DiDi and EA SLAs. Both of which are driven by Spellcraft.

Swim
23 ranks
18 cleric lvls (Water domain)
10 epic skills
+3 FB Athletics
+3 SB Limber Up
57 base Swim skill @ lvl 30
10 from Skill Focus + Athletic feats
67 Swim skill for the true Lifeguard

Note that's what you have before including STR bonus, buffs, gear, etc. The modern Lifeguard can hit Swimming heights the original could only dare to dream! I'm not sure if human racial Athletics stacks with barb FB Athletics; if so, you can redo those APs for another +3 Swim.

Don't forget to pack your swim trunks!

EDIT: I'd also considered cleric 18 / barb 2 - drop the bard splash so you can take Sprint Boost + extra Action Boost from FB. That also means giving up UMD + Skaldic Rage, though. You could do cleric 17 / barb 2 / bard 1, of course, but I wanted to keep Pos Energy Shield (lvl 18 RS core) since at the end of the day this is still primarily a healer build.

[Makdar]

For build name, Lifeguard is ok, would have gone with Aquaman myself. And the fact that this toon can not charm Sahuagin on-demand makes the build a non-starter personally.

Shouldn't there also be a spell, 'Call Monstrous Algae'?

[FAQ]

Domains are Coming:

So obviously it's time to dust off an old classic to prepare.

Sweet.

[Cordovan]

Welcome to the Hall of Fame.

[cru121]

Can devs add Merfolk's Blessing SLA as level 2 Water domain cleric SLA - please.