The Tactician

[Feithlin]

Background
Some time ago, I made a build using tactics as a possible TR for my fighter, but it was annulated by the elimination of autocrits against helpless ennemies. Meanwhile, I was (and still am) leveling a barbarian, with the perspective of TRing him into a Blitz. But this kind of build is a lot less appealing since the recent fix of barb PL. So I decided to take a new look at a tactical build for him. Here it is.


THE TACTICIAN
Dwarf Fighter 12 Rogue 7 Monk 1


Class split and race choice
Obviously, I chose the dwarf race for its bonuses with tactical attacks. Other choices are although as good. I simply didn't take them because I don't have these races: WF gets the same bonuses and nice immunities, and while Horc don't have the tactical enhancements, they have a super high strength which compensates.

The level split was chosen to keep a high dps (Kensei II, SA rogue damage), broaden the choice of tactical feats (fighter levels give many feats, rogue levels open the use of Hamstring and Wrack construct) and allowing to increase them as much as possible (fighter levels, even if I ran low on AP).

The build
In the builder, the active Barb PL doesn't unlock toughness enhancements, so I took Toughness instead of it. On live, I will take PL: Berserker's Fury (resulting in -2 HP, +2 Intimidate and a near useless clickie).

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.9.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Neutral Dwarf Male
(12 Fighter \ 1 Monk \ 7 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 342
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 17\17\22\27\27
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 14
Will: 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(34 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             18                    28
Dexterity            15                    17
Constitution         16                    18
Intelligence         12                    14
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma              6                     6

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 20
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 20

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               5                    17
Bluff                -2                     0
Concentration         3                     6
Diplomacy            -2                     0
Disable Device        5                    27
Haggle               -2                    -2
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  6                     7
Intimidate            2                    23
Jump                  4                    15
Listen               -1                    -1
Move Silently         6                     7
Open Lock             6                     8
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                1                     2
Search                5                    27
Spot                  3                     9
Swim                  4                     9
Tumble                3                     4
Use Magic Device      2                    21

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Barbarian
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 3 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 4 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 5 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons


Level 6 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Blow


Level 7 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Combat Expertise


Level 8 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting


Level 10 (Fighter)


Level 11 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Hamstring


Level 12 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 13 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons


Level 14 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Improved Trip


Level 15 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Sunder


Level 16 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 17 (Rogue)


Level 18 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Khopesh


Level 19 (Rogue)


Level 20 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost III
Enhancement: Fighter Extra Action Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost III
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost IV
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics I
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics II
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics III
Enhancement: Kensei Khopesh Mastery I
Enhancement: Kensei Khopesh Mastery II
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei II
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Stunning Blow) I
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Stunning Blow) II
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Sunder) I
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Trip) I
Enhancement: Fighter Khopesh Specialization I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
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: Rogue Wrack Construct I
Enhancement: Rogue Wrack Construct II
Enhancement: Improved Disable Device I
Enhancement: Improved Disable Device II
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II
Enhancement: Fighter Strength III
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II

There are possibilities for the last feat: I took Khopesh prof. for dps purpose, but other options could be Sap. Or maybe eliminate CE + Imp. Trip and instead get Sap and Quickdraw (especially because I'll have to switch a lot between weapon sets). I'm still hesitating.
I may make some modifications to include ranks in Scroll mastery for even more utility.

Tactical attacks
The build has many tacticals attacks to contribute to the group, in addition to his dps.
The DCs will be based on this basic Strength value:
46 (+18 mod.) = 18 base + 5 level + 2 tome + 3 enh. + 6 item + 2 rage spell + 8 power surge + 2 ship

Stunning blow
DC: 45 = 10 base + 18 str + 7 enh. (2 kensei / 3 dwarf / 2 fighter) + 10 item
Should be good enough for most epic ennemies. I hope I'll be able to succeed reliably against casters without having to swap weapons (35 DC).
I took it early, because it can be of great help while leveling.

Trip
DC: 48 = 14 base + 18 str + 6 enh. + 10 item
Very efficient, since most ennemies have relatively low Ref saves.

Sunder
DC: 48 = 14 base + 18 str + 6 enh. + 10 item
Mainly used for boss fights, this will help all the raid's melees by reducing fort by 10%. Even if it doesn't succeed, it will still reduce the Fort save of the boss.

Wrack construct
Now that the application of this attack doesn't require a save, it's much more attractive. Wrack contruct II will allow to further reduce fort by 20%.

Hamstring
Against bosses mainly, this debuff is one of the few that applies to them.

DPS
I don't know the dps of the build, but it should be very decent, with:
Regular damage bonuses: +3 Kensei/Fighter enh., +4 WS feats, +33.5 SA (without item).
Burst dps: +8 Str from power surge, Haste boosts IV, Damage boosts III (I won't be able to use them at the same time though).

Conclusion
Overall, this build should be very fun to play: good damage, a lot of tactical possibilities, a good autonomy (full search/disable device, full UMD).
The most difficult was the AP management: it's very tight. Hopefully, changing them only requires a bit of pp and waiting 3 days. Any advices are welcomed to make him better.

[ThePrisoner]

This is a nice build. It will out dps a blitz as long as you are getting sneak attack damage, but will have slightly lower tactical DCs. Of course, with the numbers that you expect to hit, the extra strength for the DCs will not be missed.

I assume that khopesh was taken because using the dwarven waraxe would require an additional investment of AP points which aren't available. Or come to think of it, you probably have khopeshs left over from your past life. Since you are taking khopesh anyway, you might want to consider doing this with a WF to enable the use of the epic blademark docent (+15 vertigo). The docent would save you from some annoying weapon switching and give you an additional +5 to your trip DC. I know dwarf was the race of choice because you don't have WF. Just putting the blademark docent out there for your consideration. The blademark chain, which has the same abilities, would obviously eliminate your evasion.

If you decide to stick with dwarf, the dwarven spell defense enhancements might be worth a look. If you are going to have evasion, might as well make it as good as possible. You might have to sacrifice a tiny bit of damage when you rearrange the APs, but there is no shortage of DPS here. This build will still hit like a ton of bricks.

Anyway, I like the build, and the world will be a slightly better place with one less Blitz running around in it.