Review this Pure nuke/heal FvS Please

[SensaiRyu]

I've been scouring the forum for FvS builds... Evoke or nuke/heal builds are what I'm looking for. I've seen a few started in '09 and at least one upgraded for U11.

Most are DPS/... builds. I'm not looking for this. I found one Evoker build.

Goal: I want a high enuf DC to drop, hold, shread and with significant healing at high end content. I don't want to end up fighting hand to hand.

This is my first real attempt at a caster - I played with a vamp-or-zombie form monk. Eh... don't think I'm above lvl 6... But she's a good mule for essences.

I calculate my DC to be around 48 = 10 + 20lvl + 11wis mod (6base +1ship +4item) + 4Feat + 3Enh

Is that overkill on the spell DC? I'm assuming I'm calculating DC correctly per the DDOWiki.

Looking for help with what I'm overlooking... all of my builds are melee and I'm trying to not go melee with this build. Standing back and lobbing spells and arrows is fine. Took a shield feat to mitigate close range dmg when it occurs.

I've tried to follow some of the suggestions I've seen in the posts I've looked at - heighten at lvl 18, shield mastery, some initial stats.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.11.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Good Human Female
(20 Favored Soul) 
Hit Points: 322
Spell Points: 1991 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 12
Will: 18

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             12                    14
Dexterity             8                    10
Constitution         16                    18
Intelligence         10                    12
Wisdom               16                    23
Charisma             14                    18

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Stuff at level 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Concentration         7                    27
Jump                  1                    12
Use Magic Device      4                    15


Level 1 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Deity) Favored by the Silver Flame
Feat: (Human Bonus) Shield Mastery
Feat: (Selected) Toughness

Level 3 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell

Level 4 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: WIS

Level 5 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Fire

Level 6 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Spell Penetration

Level 8 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: WIS

Level 9 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Spell Penetration

Level 10 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Electricity

Level 12 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: WIS
Feat: (Selected) Spell Focus: Evocation

Level 15 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Sonic
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell

Level 16 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: WIS

Level 18 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Heighten Spell

Level 20 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: WIS
Feat: (Deity) Favored Soul Damage Reduction: Silver
Enhancement: Favored Soul Ascendency: Silver Flame
Enhancement: Silver Flame Exorcism (Favored Soul)
Enhancement: Favored Soul Angel of Vengeance I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Angel of Vengeance II
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Improved Empowering I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Improved Empowering II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Improved Empowering III
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Prayer of Smiting I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Prayer of Smiting II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Prayer of Smiting III
Enhancement: Favored Soul Prayer of Incredible Smiting I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Prayer of Incredible Smiting II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Prayer of Incredible Smiting III
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting III
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting IV
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Spell Penetration I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Spell Penetration II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Spell Penetration III
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion III
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion IV
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wand and Scroll Mastery I

[mute_mayhem]

I calculate my DC to be around 48 = 10 + 20lvl + 11wis mod (6base +1ship +4item) + 4Feat + 3Enh

Is that overkill on the spell DC? I'm assuming I'm calculating DC correctly per the DDOWiki.

O.o

A 48 DC would be godly on a FvS....but you're calculating it completely wrong. 20lvl should be 9lvl, it refers to the spell level, as in casting a level 9 spell with heighten on, not your caster level. Assuming the rest of your numbers are right, your dc's would be roughly 37, which is alright for blade barrier, but not so great for dc based casting in epics.

Max your starting wisdom and take the human adaptability wisdom enhancement.

[darkniteyogi]

I calculate my DC to be around 48 = 10 + 20lvl + 11wis mod (6base +1ship +4item) + 4Feat + 3Enh

I think your feats only give 1, and no Enhancements increase Spell DC.
So your Spell DC should be 35? if im not mistaken..
10 base
9 spell level
11 (32 Wis =16+5 level ups, + 6 item + 3 exceptional item + 2 enhancements)
1 Evocation spell focus feat
1 Ship Buff Lore of the 12
1 Ship Buff +2 Wis
2 Evocation Item
= 35

or 36 if you start 18 Wis.



useful feats are:
Maximize. (for a caster, Maximize and empower both would be better)

I went with 10 Charisma, 8 Int, 18 Wis, 14 Str.
FVS with their Melee Buffs though can do Ok Melee especially when hitting Archers or soloing to save SP. The wrath of Sora Kell set helps.

[Mrmorphling]

MAX DC route isn't easy for a FvS; you'll achieve meaningfull DC for your BB but only soso for your insta kills.
If you really want that route a wizard past life would be extremely usefull (both the +2spell pen and the active +1DC)

What you can realistically achieve:

WIS 18+5(lvl ups)+2(tome)+2(enhancmens)+6(item)+3(exceptional)+ 2(ship) = 38 (+14 mod) 'further improvements area litany of the dead and tome +3 or item +7)
Spell focus and greater spell focus or wiz PL (+2) even if you have to decide between necro and evo
Another +2 from an iten (greater xxx focus)
This break down will give you 19+14+2+2 = 37 DC which coupled with your aura of menace will result in an effective 39 closerange which is ok in a lot of content.

[good_ole_corwin]

What you can realistically achieve:

WIS 18+5(lvl ups)+2(tome)+2(enhancmens)+6(item)+3(exceptional)+ 2(ship) = 38 (+14 mod) 'further improvements area litany of the dead and tome +3 or item +7)
Spell focus and greater spell focus or wiz PL (+2) even if you have to decide between necro and evo
Another +2 from an iten (greater xxx focus)
This break down will give you 19+14+2+2 = 37 DC which coupled with your aura of menace will result in an effective 39 closerange which is ok in a lot of content.

Let me do a slightly different breakdown:
WIS 18 + 5 lvl ups + 2 tome + 2 enhancements + 6 item + 3 exceptional + 2 ship + 2 yugo pots = 40 (+15 mod)
IF well geared (litany or +7 item or +3 tome), slap on human adaptability for a +3 from enhancements = 42 (+16)
IF uber geared (litany and +7 item and +3 tome), again + enhancement = 44 (+17)
lets be realistic and assume the "well geared" scenario, add a greater focus item, we are at 37 DC (10 base + 16 wis + 9 spell lvl + 2 greater focus item) without feats, effective 39 with the aura with not too much effort (1 raid loot or 1 epic or a +3 tome)

8 feat slots (talking human here), 5 are "mandatory" toughness, empower, maximize, heighten, quicken, leaving 3 to play with. If we are assuming a wiz past life, then you could take that, focus + greater focus for a total effective 42 DC, 43 if youre "uber geared". Honestly I would rather take just 1 DC feat and 2 spell pen, but it also depends on the TR and other equipment of course.
This is just to show that 40 DC (with aura) is not that hard to achieve, reacting to

MAX DC route isn't easy for a FvS; you'll achieve meaningfull DC for your BB but only soso for your insta kills.

And honestly, 1 DC more or less is being overrated (Oh noes, that mob has 25% chance to save instead of 20%, Im DOOOOOOMED!!!!!), Ive seen a 37 DC (without aura, so 39 total) FvS imploding epic wiz king trash like crazy. A capped, well built and equipped FvS has the SP and spell selection to cast something else if that greater command, destruction or implosion failed.

[WielderofGigantus]

I calculate my DC to be around 48 = 10 + 20lvl + 11wis mod (6base +1ship +4item) + 4Feat + 3Enh

Looking at your feats and enhancements, it looks like you've combined the formula with calculating spell penetration with the formula for calculating DC.

Now your Spell Pen would be lvl 20 + 4 Feat + 3 Enh + 1 Ship = 28

[SirValentine]

1 Ship Buff Lore of the 12
<snip>
2 Evocation Item

These don't stack. Ship buff DC and Spell Pen don't stack with item DC and Spell Pen. (House P ship buff bonus to skills doesn't stack with Luck item, either.)

[darkniteyogi]

Thanks for the info Sir Valentine

[SensaiRyu]

Thanks all for the corrections and suggestions! I really appreciate them.

A 48 DC would be godly on a FvS....but [Snip]

Yea I thought my calculation was wrong. I see LFM's up for a 40+ CC and was wondering why so low...

I finally got 2500 fav on my main and unlocked an FvS. Rolled a human - eh - I prefer HElves but took the extra feat instead. With the enhancements I've taken, I wouldn't have room for any dilly enhancements anyway. Just taking the pally dilly feat's +2 to saves, while nice, doesn't justify choosing the race.

I'm lvl 8 and am pretty close to my build specs. I didn't start with 18 wisdom I started with 16. In case this is a really bad idea I took advantage of the 20% off hearts of wood for any possible lvl 16+ rebuilding. I'm also considering TR'ing another toon I have into an FvS and going with the wiz past life (but this would be costly since the other toon is a lvl 18 fighter and I'd have to get a +5, +3 heart for it).

Haven't found any, what I'd consider, definitive FvS spell suggestions. I've found 2 good lists and I take it I can't change out spells that often -or- more than once per level (haven't really looked into this much but I remember some). I do have 2 demon's blood (ok, it's not demon's blood but I can't find the name atm) or whatever it's called that allows me to re-spec spells for an hour that I've saved from my other toons.

My equips are still poorer than I'd like at the moment, but I do pretty well in quests. Chalk that up to experience.

I'll probably drop my shield master feat for a Bow-related feat or should I grab a spell casting one instead?

My current feat selections are:
1) Toughness
1) Shield Mastery (Human Bonus)
3) Empower
6) Spell Penetration
9) Greater Spell Penetration
12) Maximize (ty for the suggestion)
15) Quicken Spell
18) Heighten Spell

Is Mobile Spellcasting worth it? Does it work with wands? (I can find this out on my own.) Would Mental Toughness be a better choice for the +105 spell points?

[Jsbeer]

Thanks all for the corrections and suggestions! I really appreciate them.

...

Is Mobile Spellcasting worth it? Does it work with wands? (I can find this out on my own.) Would Mental Toughness be a better choice for the +105 spell points?

Not really, you need the other feats and Mobile and Mental Toughness (~100ish SP only) add very little comparatively.