The Paladin that went singing - 12/6/2 Brd/Ft/Rog

[Reivaxx]

The time has come for my gimp Drow Paladin to TR, though I enjoyed some aspects of paladin it’s really not my style of Play I enjoy more versatility. So for TR I thought of the chaotic paladin concept. This for me is a good melee dps character with some casting and versatility.
Probably there is a build like this out there but it didn’t show on my searches. The chosen split is 12bard/6 fighter/2rogue. Bard lvl for WCII, casting and buffing, also core for versatility, fighter for kensai and feats and rogue for evasion and sneak. The paladin flavor comes from 2 past life feats and dilettante that has enormous synergy with evasion
The main goal on this character will be dps slot in any party, sure it will not be max dps or will it do much singing if another more heavy bard toon is in the party, nevertheless it will still be quite good dps and considering that there are so many partys with no bard at all, the buffs will add just fine. I do belive it will became pretty potent in offense with great saves, self healing and buffs.
I sure would appreciate some feedback since I take my time to lvl a toon and equip it I need it to be as polished as I can get it to be for it will take me at least 3 or 4 months to cap.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.8.2
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Ellirc bard 
Level 20 True Neutral Half-Elf Male
(6 Fighter \ 2 Rogue \ 12 Bard) 
Hit Points: 316
Spell Points: 367 
BAB: 16\16\21\26\26
Fortitude: 14
Reflex: 18
Will: 12

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(34 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             18                    28
Dexterity            15                    17
Constitution         14                    17
Intelligence          8                    10
Wisdom                8                    10
Charisma             12                    15

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               6                    17
Bluff                 1                     3
Concentration         4                    24
Diplomacy             5                     7
Disable Device       n/a                    n/a
Haggle                1                     2
Heal                 -1                     2
Hide                  2                     3
Intimidate            5                    11
Jump                  4                    20
Listen               -1                     0
Move Silently         2                     3
Open Lock             6                     7
Perform               n/a                  25
Repair               -1                     0
Search               -1                     0
Spot                 -1                     0
Swim                  4                     9
Tumble                6                    10
Use Magic Device      5                    25

{\b {\ul Notable Equipment }} \par Knost's Belt \par Katra's Razor Wit \par  \par Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Half-Elf Dilettante) Half-Elf Dilettante: Paladin
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Paladin
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 2 (Bard)


Level 3 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 4 (Bard)


Level 5 (Bard)


Level 6 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 7 (Bard)


Level 8 (Bard)


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 10 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Two Weapon Fighting


Level 11 (Fighter)


Level 12 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Khopesh
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Fighter)


Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 15 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Soldier of the Faith


Level 16 (Bard)


Level 17 (Bard)


Level 18 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons


Level 19 (Bard)


Level 20 (Bard)
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery III
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage III
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II
Enhancement: Bard Warchanter I
Enhancement: Bard Warchanter II
Enhancement: Kensei Khopesh Mastery I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I
Enhancement: Improved Paladin Dilettante I
Enhancement: Improved Paladin Dilettante II
Enhancement: Improved Paladin Dilettante III
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Constitution I
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic I
Enhancement: Bard Charisma I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II
Enhancement: Bard Wand and Scroll Mastery I

The ehancements might be changed a bit since they are flexible, as for skills, should be max out UMD, concentration and perform, the rest will spread some to tumble, jump, balance and maybe diplo though I'm still not sure about it this skills besides the 3 main.
As one can see i start with 12 CHA wich is unsuficient for pala dil but I will change feat later when I can eat a +1 one tome I present like that because it's easier and clearer.
So what do you guys think? Can it make a fun and eficent toon for all lvls including epic run?

[kmau]

I was going to jump into this thread and proclaim "HAHA, alignment restrictions!" but..

[Blank_Zero]

*points to sig*

Switch Barb lvls for Rogue, switch a few toughness feats for TWF chain and Pally PLF.

Enjoy.

[Reivaxx]

*points to sig*

Switch Barb lvls for Rogue, switch a few toughness feats for TWF chain and Pally PLF.

Enjoy.

Well I would lose evasion and sneak, granted that I would have some more hp, as for TWF and PLF i think I would lose quite a bit on DPS wich is quite important in the build.
Still, thanks for the feedback

[Blank_Zero]

Well I would lose evasion and sneak, granted that I would have some more hp, as for TWF and PLF i think I would lose quite a bit on DPS wich is quite important in the build.
Still, thanks for the feedback

Heh, I meant modifying my build. Remove the Barb lvls I have for Rogue lvls, then switch the abundance of Toughness feats I have for the TWF chain and the Paladin PLF.

You went backwards from what I was saying :P

Also, unless you're using Kensei 1 as a bridge for Kensei 2, it's nothing but an AP sink.

[Reivaxx]

[quote]Heh, I meant modifying my build. Remove the Barb lvls I have for Rogue lvls, then switch the abundance of Toughness feats I have for the TWF chain and the Paladin PLF.

You went backwards from what I was saying :P

Also, unless you're using Kensei 1 as a bridge for Kensei 2, it's nothing but an AP sink. [quote]

My bad sorry

[Reivaxx]

Blamk_zero i forgot to ask what would you do with the AP from kensai? Kensai bonus to the build is the +1/+1 to chosen weapon wich is apeling to me specially because of to hit bonus that might be the hardest thing considering the epic raise requirements on that particular point.

[Blank_Zero]

Blamk_zero i forgot to ask what would you do with the AP from kensai? Kensai bonus to the build is the +1/+1 to chosen weapon wich is apeling to me specially because of to hit bonus that might be the hardest thing considering the epic raise requirements on that particular point.

The +1/+1 is nice, but frankly not worth all the ap investment for it. On my build, I took 2 barbarian for rage, which is +2/+2 with ALL weapon types. Also, because I did thf, it does more dmg as well.

With rogue lvls, you could put more focus into sneak attack. It might also help to go halfling, as they gain a ton of to-hit with halfling cunning and guile lines.

Helf here is nice for the +5 to all saves, but its really not the best thing either.

[Blank_Zero]

As far as using thf vs. Twf:

I personally chose thf because of 2 reasons.

1.Twf is more expensive in terms of gear, feats, ap, stat points, etc.

2. Twf doesn't have a +10 sword to help with to-hit. Most people who claim to hit on a 2 in every quest are probably esos users too. If you're worried about your bard not having enough to-hit, its wise to go thf.

[karl_k0ch]

The +1/+1 is nice, but frankly not worth all the ap investment for it. On my build, I took 2 barbarian for rage, which is +2/+2 with ALL weapon types. Also, because I did thf, it does more dmg as well.

With rogue lvls, you could put more focus into sneak attack. It might also help to go halfling, as they gain a ton of to-hit with halfling cunning and guile lines.

Helf here is nice for the +5 to all saves, but its really not the best thing either.

Speaking of +1/+1. Going 14 Bard grants Improved Inspire Courage, which also grants +1/+1 - to the whole party.

If you want to stick to the PL and TWF, I guess that throwing the fighter levels out in favor of barbarian is not an option due to the lack of feats.
My approach would be probably 14 bard/ 4 fighter/2 rog, skipping the weapon specialization.

[Reivaxx]

Ty guys for the input. The build really needs the PL and TWF for the flavor wich for me is as important as being competitive in end game. Though you got me thinking if I could drop 2 lvl of fighter adn still keep the flavor and be better build.
As fot THF I do have another build that splashes a bit of fighter and a bit of barb and swings a 2 hander, it's very cool build but it's a diferent beast alltogether.
With this one i want a full evasion twf toon that can survive good, deliver nice dps and still contribute to the party.
And it will my calculation on a GS kopesh is that it will deliver about 55 base damage per swing, not uber but quite nice if you consider that it will be allways hasted by spell and action boost more so if you add the crit damage and effects the average of damage per swing with all things considered will be over 100..(still a bit newb on damage calculation but i think I got it close to the truth )

[Valindria]

Speaking of +1/+1. Going 14 Bard grants Improved Inspire Courage, which also grants +1/+1 - to the whole party.

If you want to stick to the PL and TWF, I guess that throwing the fighter levels out in favor of barbarian is not an option due to the lack of feats.

My approach would be probably 14 bard/ 4 fighter/2 rog, skipping the weapon specialization.

I was going to type something pretty much identical to this (14 bard).

[Teharahma]

14bard 4fighter 2rogue

Exactly the same build as in my sig, just not 20 yet.
Bards get improved inspire courage +2 at lvl 14, so thats +1dmg and +1 tohit.
Byebye kensei.
4 Fighter will give you 2 toughness enhancements and haste boost 2 and +2 slashing/whatever dmg.

14bard will also give you the 3rd rank of the attack enhancement for inspire courage. Which can be totally worthwhile in epics, increasing dps by 0-5%

Edit; doh too slow.

[Reivaxx]

TY guys for the input, really doesn't cut it kensai after the point made for bard 14.
Just a question how do you guys think this toon will stand as DPS goes?