Looking for advice on a dwarven warhammer build.

[sumnz]

I know it will by default have far less dps than a dwarven waraxe, or kopesh 2wf builds, but I would like to have a themed dwarf warrior and dont know much about them. Any advice you can offer would be apreciated.

Was thinking 18ftr/2 rogue and getting my stunning blow up there with warhammers with +10 stun, having max str and just adding enough dex to be good enough, rest into con. Dwarven tactics would boost stunning blow up more, and give me a trip option too.

Would this build be viable. Its not going to have good ac, the dps from warhammers is lackluster, but easier to get nice ones than say kopeshes. Would a triple earth greensteel work fine?

Anything someone that has rolled a build similar could offer in advice would be apreciated.

[unbongwah]

Do you have 32-pt builds unlocked and any tomes or twink gear you can throw at this?

[sumnz]

Do you have 32-pt builds unlocked and any tomes or twink gear you can throw at this?

32 point builds, and I have basics, +5 mith fullplate, lots of shroud ingredients to put together a greensteel warhammer when available, bloodstones, basic stuff. Nothing super rare or game changing at low levels. He is 9th level and I have a LR heart I can use to fix him. I have a 2 str con and dex tome so good on those 3.

[unbongwah]

Here's a quick-n-dirty attempt at a tactics-oriented TWF warhammer build. I took as many debuff feats as I could: not just Stunning Blow, but also Hamstring, Imp Sunder (which is now more useful), and Imp Trip. The idea is what you lack in raw DPS you make up for in softening up your foes for others (in theory).

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.09.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Dwarf Female
(18 Fighter \ 2 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 374
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 12
Will: 5

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    26
Dexterity            15                    17
Constitution         18                    20
Intelligence         12                    14
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma              6                     6

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

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 3 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Blow
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons


Level 4 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR


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


Level 6 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Hamstring


Level 7 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Attack


Level 8 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR


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


Level 10 (Rogue)


Level 11 (Fighter)


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


Level 13 (Fighter)


Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Bludgeoning Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
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: Kensei Warhammer Mastery I
Enhancement: Kensei Warhammer 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 Warhammer Specialization I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II
Enhancement: Fighter Strength III
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II


Level 15 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Combat Expertise


Level 16 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Trip


Level 17 (Fighter)


Level 18 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons
Feat: (Selected) Quick Draw


Level 19 (Fighter)


Level 20 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Superior Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost III
Enhancement: Fighter Extra Action Boost II
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics III
Enhancement: Kensei Warhammer Mastery III
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy III
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei III
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Stunning Blow) III
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Trip) I
Enhancement: Fighter Warhammer Specialization II

Pure fighter would have higher DPS & 1 more feat, but lose Evasion & UMD. You could also start 18 / 15 / 16 / 10 / 8 / 6, except you won't have enough INT for Combat Expertise that way, which means no Imp Trip. Enhs can be tweaked as you see fit: e.g., drop some DC boosts for more HPs.

Unfortunately, there aren't many named warhammers in DDO; the only interesting one IMHO is Earthshatter. Fortunately, Greater Stone Prison fits in with the theme of immobilizing your foes before you destroy them; and Imp Sunder now procs -3 Fortitude, which softens them up for GSP.

Now, hopefully someone will point out if I've made any glaring errors.

[BossOfEarth]

My similar build is a 18 ranger / 2 fighter. For quite a while I was using my pos/pos GS warhammers because they were better than my unfinished Dwarf Axes. So in my experience, warhammers don't feel as unfun as some people say.

Oh, and don't forget banishing. Bludgeoning weapons can have banishing, which is really nice for some of the vale quests.

[sumnz]

Thanks for your advice, mabye I could start at 17 str and have enough for int. Would my stuns and trips really hit high enough dcs tho without the benefit of tr gear. Might be hard to be useful. Couple more questions, wouldnt hamstring need a slashing weapon, and is there a feat I could dump to get another toughness, mabye quickdraw? Never had it not sure how much it adds to your character.

Is combat expertise a prereq for improved trip, not sure why its there as its not really an ac build.

[RenigadeWolf]

My pure Kensai Fighter trips things in Epics, and even Orthons and bigger things with no improved Trip. non-TRed, geared pretty well. Trip is your best friend

[sumnz]

Do you switch to a vertigo weapon quick when you do that? I dont know if it could be done without a vertigo weapon, and I havent seen vertigo on hammers.

[Ap0k]

Is combat expertise a prereq for improved trip, not sure why its there as its not really an ac build.

Yes Combat Expertise is needed to be able to take Improved Trip. CE requires 13 Int.

For Vertigo I would recommend the Epic Deneith Armor, it has Vertigo 15. Its probably hard to get ( I dont know :P ) but thats what I would strive for for my dwarven tactician.

So lets assume a 40 Str =15 Str mod
Imp Trip = DC 14 +15 Str mod+15 Epic Deneith Armor+ 6 enhancements (dwarven and fighter)= DC 50 on trip.
I'm pretty sure that will floor even epic mobs reliably.
Apparently Cannith crafting will give you the option to add +10 to Stunning Blow DCs on any weapon on tier 1, so that would be a longterm perspective.

A quick personal note on Stunning Blow: My TWF Barb18/Fighter2 had it and even with 2 enhancements and the hammer of the leaden clouds (stunning +8)I couldnt stun a lot on epic.

[unbongwah]

wouldnt hamstring need a slashing weapon

Nothing in the description says it does, but I haven't tested it with a blunt weapon.

[sumnz]

Yes Combat Expertise is needed to be able to take Improved Trip. CE requires 13 Int.

For Vertigo I would recommend the Epic Deneith Armor, it has Vertigo 15. Its probably hard to get ( I dont know :P ) but thats what I would strive for for my dwarven tactician.

So lets assume a 40 Str =15 Str mod
Imp Trip = DC 14 +15 Str mod+15 Epic Deneith Armor+ 6 enhancements (dwarven and fighter)= DC 50 on trip.
I'm pretty sure that will floor even epic mobs reliably.
Apparently Cannith crafting will give you the option to add +10 to Stunning Blow DCs on any weapon on tier 1, so that would be a longterm perspective.

A quick personal note on Stunning Blow: My TWF Barb18/Fighter2 had it and even with 2 enhancements and the hammer of the leaden clouds (stunning +8)I couldnt stun a lot on epic.

I dont think I could get 40 str, if i start at 16, add 5 levels, a 2 str tome, a 6 str item, and 3 fighter level ups its still only 32. Unless kensei power surge lasts longer than I think.

[Therigar]

Looking for advice on a dwarven warhammer build.

The only advice worth giving -- Don't do it!

[sumnz]

Got it up to level 9 today, dont have many good warhammers, so still using the dwarven axe enhancements along with warhammers for one in each hand. The only thing I changed out was hamstring which dosent work with blunt aparently, to oversized two weapon fighting which i can change out later, but for now I need all the help to hit I can get.

[sumnz]

one last bump to see if anyone has done a similar build with any advice to offer.

[Artos_Fabril]

one last bump to see if anyone has done a similar build with any advice to offer.

Take a look at this one, It might have some ideas you can incorporate to increase your utility without diluting the flavor of a hammer wielder.

[Jiirix]

I have started a dwarfen warhammer build and it works quite good. Max STR + racial tactic enhancements + fighter stunn enhancement + stunnig warhammer +10 = stunned mobs all over the place. Stunning only comes on blunt weapons, so I recommend making good use of it on a hammer build. Have fun (And dont't listen to the "dont make it, it will be gimp" thing. A 100% DPS focus is one option, but not the only one.)

[sumnz]

Take a look at this one, It might have some ideas you can incorporate to increase your utility without diluting the flavor of a hammer wielder.

OH i get it, you linked it to a class build thats intentionally bad, because your comparing the whole concept to it as if its bad. Thats funny. Your funny.

[Rusty_Can]

I dont think I could get 40 str, if i start at 16, add 5 levels, a 2 str tome, a 6 str item, and 3 fighter level ups its still only 32. Unless kensei power surge lasts longer than I think.

Power Surge lasts 1 minute and, at cap, you should have 8 - 10 uses/rest.

Furthermore, you can also factor in
- Rage spell (friendly arcane caster or bard, potions, clickies);
- Madstone Rage (Reaver's Fate);
- exceptional bonuses to STR (you will eventually loot and craft some ToD rings).

[lazlow]

Nothing in the description says it does, but I haven't tested it with a blunt weapon.

it works with blunt

[sumnz]

So update on the build:

Had a bunch of points and am having a blast so far, so went crazy and lesser reincarnated to rework stats and feats to use a supreme +3 tome. Started with

18 str
14 dex
17 con
10 int
8 wis
6 chr

and so far its been a blast. Only level 12 (10 fighter 2 rogue) but with an unbuffed 32 strength, dwarven tactics and fighter stun, a +8 stun warmammer with another in the other hand, stun rarely fails, trip is decent too. He out performs my 19th paladin in dps already, and the extra stuff he can do is fun too. May not be the best tank end game, but its fun.