Graceful smasher - feedback requested

[Marthesis]

Working out possible options for my 2nd TR, and I'm beginning to like the look of this Tempest/Frenzied Berserker build, but I'm having some issues with it.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.12.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Half-Orc Male
(6 Barbarian \ 2 Rogue \ 12 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 280
Spell Points: 140 
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 17
Reflex: 15
Will: 5

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(36 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             20                    29
Dexterity            12                    15
Constitution         16                    18
Intelligence         12                    14
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma              6                     6

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

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               5                     6
Bluff                -2                    -2
Concentration         3                     4
Diplomacy            -2                    -2
Disable Device        5                    25
Haggle                2                     2
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  1                     2
Intimidate           -2                    -2
Jump                  9                    13
Listen               -1                    -1
Move Silently         1                     2
Open Lock             5                    21
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                1                     2
Search                5                    25
Spot                  3                    22
Swim                  8                    12
Tumble                2                     3
Use Magic Device      2                    21

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


Level 2 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave


Level 4 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 5 (Ranger)


Level 6 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge


Level 7 (Barbarian)


Level 8 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider


Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Mobility


Level 10 (Barbarian)


Level 11 (Barbarian)


Level 12 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack


Level 13 (Barbarian)


Level 14 (Barbarian)


Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 16 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 17 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Construct


Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Blow


Level 19 (Ranger)


Level 20 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost II
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Frenzied Berserker I
Enhancement: Orcish Fury I
Enhancement: Orcish Power Attack I
Enhancement: Orcish Power Attack II
Enhancement: Orcish Power Attack III
Enhancement: Orcish Power Rage I
Enhancement: Orcish Strength I
Enhancement: Orcish Strength II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance II
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution I
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution II
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
Enhancement: Barbarian Improved Trap Sense I
Enhancement: Barbarian Improved Trap Sense II
Enhancement: Rogue Wand and Scroll Mastery I

Tempest attack speed weapons with Frenzy's viciousness and 40 STR before equipment or raid buffs is applied (29 + 7Rage + 2Frenzy + 2Ram's Might), Power attack giving +10 damage, Stunning blow with a very solid DC, level 12 Ranger spells for utility, trapmonkey, and a basic UMD.

Some obvious problems though: Feat starvation. I can't afford Toughness without giving up Stunning blow or improved critical, all the other feats are requirements for the prestige enhancements, which leaves me at horrible hp for the self-damage I'll be taking. I'll be using Scimitars as well, since there's certainly no room for Kopeshes in the current build.

So I come to the internet for help. Is there any way to change things to fix this? Can the hp weakness be compensated for with equipment? (When raged, I do have 340 hp pre-equipment...) How much am I hurting myself abandoning the kopesh as opposed to, say, IC:Slashing?

Worst comes to worst, I can salvage the build by sacrificing UMD, trapmonkey, 1d6+3 SA, and skills in general and replacing the 2 Rogue levels with 2 Fighter levels, getting the oh so useful +2 feats.

[Marthesis]

For reference, comparison, the build I'd try if going 2 Fighter instead:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.12.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Half-Orc Male
(2 Fighter \ 6 Barbarian \ 12 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 370
Spell Points: 140 
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 21
Reflex: 12
Will: 5

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(36 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             20                    30
Dexterity            12                    15
Constitution         18                    20
Intelligence          6                     8
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma              6                     6

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

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               1                     2
Bluff                -2                    -2
Concentration         4                     5
Diplomacy            -2                    -2
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -2                    -2
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  5                    21
Intimidate           -2                    -2
Jump                  9                    27
Listen               -1                    -1
Move Silently         5                    25
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair               -2                    -1
Search               -2                    -1
Spot                  3                    22
Swim                  5                    10
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device     n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Cleric
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Monk
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 2 (Ranger)


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 4 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Dodge


Level 5 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Mobility


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack


Level 7 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider


Level 8 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 9 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Khopesh


Level 10 (Barbarian)


Level 11 (Barbarian)


Level 12 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Cleave


Level 13 (Barbarian)


Level 14 (Barbarian)


Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 16 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 17 (Ranger)


Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Construct
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Blow


Level 19 (Ranger)


Level 20 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Frenzied Berserker I
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Stunning Blow) I
Enhancement: Orcish Fury I
Enhancement: Orcish Power Attack I
Enhancement: Orcish Power Attack II
Enhancement: Orcish Power Attack III
Enhancement: Orcish Power Rage I
Enhancement: Orcish Strength I
Enhancement: Orcish Strength II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance II
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution I
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution II
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Barbarian Toughness I
Enhancement: Barbarian Toughness II

[Kinerd]

I think a bigger problem than the low health will be the low to-hit, especially in the first build. -10 PA is no joke. Epic Malicia is a bit of a silly, pointless example, but still: 68 AC. You're looking at:
19 BAB
-4 TWF
-10 PA
+2 favored enemy
+1 Tempest 2
+15 Str bonus
+5 enhancement
+2 competence
=
30
You'll probably have more, for instance 3 from 6 Str item, 3 from ship buffs, but we're talking about small increments here that are not going to get anywhere close to 68. Especially for a build with Frenzy vicious and sneak attack dice, trading 1 to hit for 1 damage might not be a good idea. Of course you'd turn PA off for high-AC mobs, but I don't think you'd be very happy spending 9 AP on something you're going to have turned off so much.

I also think you would get a lot more use out of Improved Sunder than Stunning Blow. For the 15 seconds of cooldown on SB you'll either be using a weak weapon or hemorrhaging DPS swapping weapons at 1.2 seconds a pop. Especially with two sets of boosts, Improved Sunder can very easily increase your overall attack rate, reduce enemy AC and fort, and with Tempest 2 you're very likely to get double Traumas on every press. Best of all it works on bosses.

[Marthesis]

I think a bigger problem than the low health will be the low to-hit, especially in the first build. -10 PA is no joke. Epic Malicia is a bit of a silly, pointless example, but still: 68 AC. You're looking at:
19 BAB
-4 TWF
-10 PA
+2 favored enemy
+1 Tempest 2
+15 Str bonus
+5 enhancement
+2 competence
=
30
You'll probably have more, for instance 3 from 6 Str item, 3 from ship buffs, but we're talking about small increments here that are not going to get anywhere close to 68. Especially for a build with Frenzy vicious and sneak attack dice, trading 1 to hit for 1 damage might not be a good idea. Of course you'd turn PA off for high-AC mobs, but I don't think you'd be very happy spending 9 AP on something you're going to have turned off so much.

I also think you would get a lot more use out of Improved Sunder than Stunning Blow. For the 15 seconds of cooldown on SB you'll either be using a weak weapon or hemorrhaging DPS swapping weapons at 1.2 seconds a pop. Especially with two sets of boosts, Improved Sunder can very easily increase your overall attack rate, reduce enemy AC and fort, and with Tempest 2 you're very likely to get double Traumas on every press. Best of all it works on bosses.

Well, with 12 levels of ranger, my favored enemy bonus would be +8 to hit (becomes +6 at level 10 instead of +2, and I have two enhancements for another +2), and yeah, I don't think anyone would use PA on her (+10 more), +3 from +6STR item, +3 from ship buffs, +2 heroism potion, +1 haste, +2 flanking, so I'd expect to have at least a 57 to-hit vs her, hitting on a 11+ without any exceptional STR, epic/bane weapons, madstone, or external buffs (bard song, recitation, greater heroism, sunders, destruction). Not good, but that's still hitting half the time on the highest ac-mob around before taking into account other party members or epic equipment.

That being said, yeah +10 PA might be a little overkill sometimes, but I'm hoping once geared up, I'll be using it more often than not (and the enhancement points aren't a concern at all, this build is not even close to starved on points. I don't know what I'd take in its place). Also, dropping stunning blow for improved sunder (which I'm a fan of when I have the feats for it) would definitely help on bosses, but I feel that would mean I wouldn't be able to help much at all on epic trash, which I'm not sure I'd like.