Keith - Newbie Friendly 28pt Dwarven Tempest 2 Assassin 1

[karl_k0ch]

Inspired by the Prodigy build, I wanted to create a build which unifies the versatility of a ranger with the skills and nice sneak attack damage of rogues.

For this build, the main aim is to have a viable and versatile melee character for new, free to play players, which is why this build offers the following:

• 28pt on a f2p race, only with f2p classes
• No Tomes required
• Dwarven Axes, which are considerably cheaper than Rapiers or Khopeshes
• Decent HP, to compensate for initial gear shortages

On a more specific level, this build offers:

• Better melee damage against unfortified mobs than pure/almost pure rangers
• Better melee damage against high-fortified mobs than pure rogues
• Good bursty ranged damage with Manyshot
• Access to healing wands from level 2 on
• Better to-hit than pure rogues, due to OTWF and higher BAB
• Decent self-buffing options through ranger skills
• Maxed trap and lock skills

Without further ado, this is the build:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.7.3 (Pre-Release)
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Dwarf Male
(1 Barbarian \ 7 Rogue \ 12 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 322
Spell Points: 115 
BAB: 18\18\23\28\28
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 16
Will: 6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    21
Dexterity            14                    16
Constitution         16                    18
Intelligence         12                    12
Wisdom               10                    10
Charisma              6                     6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               6                    11
Bluff                 2                     4
Concentration         3                     4
Diplomacy             2                    17
Disable Device        5                    24
Haggle               -2                    -2
Heal                  0                     0
Hide                  2                     7
Intimidate           -2                    -2
Jump                  6                     9
Listen                0                     0
Move Silently         2                     7
Open Lock             6                    26
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                1                     1
Search                5                    26
Spot                  4                    23
Swim                  3                     5
Tumble                3                     4
Use Magic Device      2                    21

Level 1 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Bluff (+4)
Skill: Diplomacy (+4)
Skill: Disable Device (+4)
Skill: Jump (+3)
Skill: Open Lock (+4)
Skill: Search (+4)
Skill: Spot (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 2 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead


Level 3 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge


Level 4 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Diplomacy (+3)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+2)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 5 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 6 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Mobility


Level 7 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Elemental


Level 8 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 9 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack


Level 10 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 11 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 12 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 14 (Barbarian)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 15 (Rogue)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+3)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 16 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Diplomacy (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+4)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 17 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 18 (Rogue)
Skill: Diplomacy (+3)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+2)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting


Level 19 (Rogue)
Skill: Diplomacy (+4)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 20 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Diplomacy (+4)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost III
Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack I
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Attack I
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Attack II
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage I
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage II
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution II
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing I
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Racial Toughness IV
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II
Enhancement: Rogue Assassin I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training III
Enhancement: Improved Hide I
Enhancement: Improved Hide II
Enhancement: Improved Move Silently I
Enhancement: Improved Move Silently II
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
Enhancement: Barbarian Toughness I

Some remarks on playing this build:

This build's idea is to have a rogue-ish build which is less demanding than a pure rogue. You will do more damage if you land your sneak attacks, but you are also somewhat fine without. In fact, the actual rogue levels come rather late.

From level 2 to 6, you should use a Great Axe, benefitting from the Dwarven Enhancement line; beginning with level 7, dual-wielding Dwarven Axes is a good idea.

In order to take care of traps, you should have level-appropriate gear which enhances your disable device skill, and which enhances your search skill. In addition to items with competence skill bonuses (e.g. "Gloves of Disabling"), also items which give morale skill bonuses (Heroism Pots or Clickies, Greater Heroism Clickies), and items which enhance your Intelligence (Fox' Cunning Clickie or Potion) should be used.

If you have 32 build points, there are a number of viable options to spend your extra four build points, such as:
+1 Str, and +1 in Cha (helping with UMD a bit) or
+2 Con or
+2 Dex (for better ranged to-hit and +1 Reflex) or
+1 Str, -1 Dex, +1 Con or
+4 Cha (for a total of +2 UMD).


Feedback is much appreciated, but keep in mind that this build is aimed at new players, which is why Wis is not left at 8, and Open Locks is not left at 4 ranks.

I am aware of the fact that this build is of very similar flavor as an Exploiter or Tempest Trapmonkey build.

[karl_k0ch]

Updated the threat - threw out Fighter (with quick draw) in favor of Barb (with rage!). Any feedback is still appreciated.

[Lobster5]

A minor alteration, I'd lose the barbarian power attack enhancement (there may be some problems with to-hit already) and swap in barbarian damage reduction boost I - situational DR 6 is really useful even in late game (archers, blades etc)

[Asmodeus451]

i would throw out the barb and drop 1 level of rogue in favor of 2 levels of fighter. heavy armor prof and an extra feat. you only need 6 rogue for Assasin anyway

[karl_k0ch]

i would throw out the barb and drop 1 level of rogue in favor of 2 levels of fighter. heavy armor prof and an extra feat. you only need 6 rogue for Assasin anyway

This is a bad suggestion, imho.
Heavy Armor Prof. is really not important: Evasion will only work when in light or no armor. Tower shield prof. could have been an alternative, pre-U9, especially on a Dwarf. Now it don't see too much viability in that.

Going 6 Rog instead of 7 Rog loses 1d6 (level) + 3 (enhancement) SA damage. This is more loss of damage than going mechanic or TA instead of Assassin.

Which two extra feats would you consider to be a better choice than casual raging and faster movement speed?

[defen]

Looks fine. I'd dump wisdom and 2 int for more con though. Never hurts to have more health.

[Asmodeus451]

point well taken. was not aware Evasion doesnt work in heavy armor. and the loss of damage would be a problem as well. but let me ask you another question: why take Barb at all? why not 8 rogue? i know that having the rages available for boss fights is great, but as far as i know thats the only real benefit you get from the barb level. wouldn't the extra SA damage from another level of rogue mitigate that? and an extra rogue level means more skill points for rogue skills, not to metion that you yourself said this is a build for new players, and removing the barb level simplifies it somewhat, making more newbie-friendly

[DragonTroy]

you only get rogue sneak attack damage at odd levels(1,3,5,7, etc). thats 2 for 2

[karl_k0ch]

point well taken. was not aware Evasion doesnt work in heavy armor. and the loss of damage would be a problem as well. but let me ask you another question: why take Barb at all? why not 8 rogue? i know that having the rages available for boss fights is great, but as far as i know thats the only real benefit you get from the barb level. wouldn't the extra SA damage from another level of rogue mitigate that? and an extra rogue level means more skill points for rogue skills, not to metion that you yourself said this is a build for new players, and removing the barb level simplifies it somewhat, making more newbie-friendly

While I have to admit that a pure build is more simple than 3-class split in some sense, I do not think that it is a difficulty problem for new players to play a build which consists of three classes. Especially Barb is an interesting thing, since, even if you do not rage, it provides a reasonable amount of passive bonuses (movement speed, Toughness Enhancements).

All in all, Rogue 8 grants +1 BAB, +1 Reflex save and Improved Uncanny Dodge. Ranger 12 grants +1 BAB and some SP. 1 Barb gets +1 BAB, +2 Fort, Fast Movement, Rage and 12+ HP by a higher hit die and Toughness enhancement.

[Cynicide]

Just wondering as a newb how you're using Great Axes with this build, you don't seem to have the martial weapon prof, don't you get a -4 for that?

[NaturalHazard]

Just wondering as a newb how you're using Great Axes with this build, you don't seem to have the martial weapon prof, don't you get a -4 for that?

for the first level?

because he said use a great axe from level 2-6 level 2 you take ranger which gives the martial weap feat.

[Cynicide]

for the first level?

because he said use a great axe from level 2-6 level 2 you take ranger which gives the martial weap feat.

Thanks for that.

I'm revisiting a rogue that I mucked up and as a result I don't have ranger yet. I'll take it next level.

[Cynicide]

Thanks karl_k0ch, this kicks ass. I was pretty ineffective in a duo with a monk friend prior to using this build. Now I have more HP and and do more damage.