Help me forge my melee character

[Maelodic]

Before you read this thread you must understand I am a halfling enthusiast. As in every other character I have rolled that isn't a halfling ends up getting deleted and I lose a lot of money because oftentimes you spend so much on pots and stuff. So before you say halfling melee cannot happen

I've finally found which caster-type I enjoy, and my divine is fun too but I cannot seem to get a handle on the melee class. I've made dragonmarked fighters and monks and rangers and bards and paladins and barbarians and rouges and just about everything pure, but I can't seem to find what I'm exactly looking for. Let me tell you about what I like and what I do not like, and maybe you guys can help me out. Naturally they all do not have to be in one character, probably can't fit them all in, but here goes:

General:

What I love:
Self Healing in the middle of battle, not just outside it
*Super Fast Attack Speed*
*Super Fast Move Speed*
Khopesh (They look so darn cool)
Good Buffs
Evasion coupled with a good reflex save
"Coming into it's own" earlier rather than later. I don't want GTWF at level 18, thanks. I also like Khopesh early. Like asap.
High To-Hit

What I like:
Clicky based Abilities that hit a ton
Front lines, in your face
Some form of stun or crowd control
High Saves (I do not care about your ****, I will beat the hell out of you anyway)


Specific Classes Likes:
Fighter: High Damage, Easy to fit in feats
Barbarian: High Damage, Rage GO TIME BABY, +10% move speed
Light Monk: Active Playstyle, Party helper, not-really-heals, fast movement and attack speed, super evasion, healing ki, Frontlines
Dark Monk: Active Playstyle, Fading in and out of invis, fast movement and attack speed, super evasion, high damage, healing ki, Frontlines
Bards: Fascinate, Buffs, Self-Heals, Buffs, Fascinate
Rangers: Used to be fast attack speed, able to pull out a bow, sorta buffs, sorta heals, favorite enemy was awesome, Frontlines
Pally: Lay on hands, Super High Saves, Clicky based ability, destroyed undead, Frontlines
Rouge: High Damage, Super Evasion

Specific Class Dislikes:
Fighter: Lackluster- Pure DPS and nothing else, Mages laugh
Barbarian: Lackluster- Pure DPS and nothing else, Mages laugh
Light Monk: Nothing was reliable, not buffs or heals or anything, lowish damage
Dark Monk: Same kind of issues as light monk, no self-sustain, had to be supported, couldn't kill undead worth balls
Bards: Low DPS, felt like you had to go THF to be successful, stat point allocation difficult. Feat allocation difficult.
Rangers: They can do just about everything but even by level 9 the spells and buffs were pretty lackluster/useless
Pally: Buffs drained your spell bar so fast it wasn't even funny, and in order to maintain high DPS you have to keep those up. Stat point allocation was difficult as well.
Rouge: So **** squishy. Pure DPS and nothing else. Not able to be frontlines.

All builds were basically as cookie cutter as they could get.

I am looking for something with as most of the loves I can get that is also halfling. I need some ingenious builder to come wow the heck out of me.

Restrictions:
28 point, if required make it 32 point as I'm semi-close to that.
Halfling
I have every class except artificer
No +2 tome requirement (I have most +1 tomes)
No heavy equipment requirement
I own Gianthold and Vale, but I have enough to purchase a couple more packs.

[GlorifyQuC]

Halfling exploiter build.

[CodyGenX]

Edit: I saw you said no +2 tomes, if you're not willing to fork out the plat or the TP for them stop reading here.

Has the ability to use wands to heal throughout the lower levels, workable AC for GH w/ minimal gear investment (Around 55) with the only piece of exotic gear being ICY Raiments (If you aren't willing to get a set of these then you may as well stop reading here and stick to arcane/divine). At higher levels you'll be able to stay up easily with Halfling D-marks (Least, Lesser and Greater).

Will Contribute decent DPS it wont be a superstar, but will be ahead of people similarly geared, and it has the ability to have awesome amounts of DPS with proper gear later on in the game (ToD Sets, Shroud Khops, Abashai, Claw set etc...)

Should be at about 460ish HP standing.

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

Level 20 Lawful Neutral Halfling Male 
(12 Fighter / 2 Monk / 6 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 331 
Spell Points: 95 

BAB: 19/19/24/2929 
Fortitude: 23 
Reflex: 20 
Will: 13 

              Starting    Feat/Enhancement 
Abilities    Base Stats    Modified Stats 
(32 Point)    (Level 1)      (Level 20) 
Strength           16                26 
Dexterity          15                18 
Constitution       14                16 
Intelligence        8                10 
Wisdom             13                16 
Charisma            8                10 

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  
 
Notable Equipment  
Minos Legens 
Health Necklace 
Icy Raiment 
Armored Bracers 
Dexterous Ring 
Belt of Greater False Life 
Ogre Power Gloves 
 
Level 1 (Monk) 
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Dodge 
Feat: (Selected) Mobility 
 
Level 2 (Ranger) 
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Construct 
 
Level 3 (Ranger) 
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Khopesh 
 
Level 4 (Ranger) 
 
Level 5 (Ranger) 
 
Level 6 (Ranger) 
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider 
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack 
 
Level 7 (Ranger) 
 
Level 8 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Attack 
 
Level 9 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Selected) Least Dragonmark of Healing 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons 
 
Level 10 (Fighter) 
 
Level 11 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons 
 
Level 12 (Monk) 
Feat: (Selected) Lesser Dragonmark of Healing 
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness 
 
Level 13 (Fighter) 
 
Level 14 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Two Weapon Fighting 
 
Level 15 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Selected) Greater Dragonmark of Healing 
 
Level 16 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus)) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons 
 
Level 17 (Fighter) 
 
Level 18 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons 
Feat: (Selected) Quick Draw 
 
Level 19 (Fighter) 
 
Level 20 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons 
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I 
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II 
Enhancement: Fighter Attack 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: Extra Dragonmark Use I 
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use II 
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use III 
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use IV 
Enhancement: Kensei Khopesh Mastery I 
Enhancement: Kensei Khopesh Mastery II 
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I 
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II 
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy III 
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I 
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei II 
Enhancement: Fighter Khopesh Specialization I 
Enhancement: Halfling Cunning I 
Enhancement: Halfling Guile I 
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortoise I 
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I 
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II 
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I 
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I 
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II 
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I 
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion I 
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion II 
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I 
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I 
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II 
Enhancement: Fighter Strength III 
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I 
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I 
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II

16 STR
5 levels
2 tome
3 fighter enhancements
--------
26 STR
6 Item
--------
32 STR
8 Kensai Power Surge
2 Rage
2 Rams
--------
44 STR
2 Ship
2 Yugo
--------
48 STR

W/ Minimal Gear investment.

48 str + 1 exceptional(ToD Ring, I like Ravager set for fast attacking TWFs like this) +2 Exceptional(ToD Ring Upgrade)= 51 str + 3 (Abashai set)=54 Str +7 item (Epic Brawlers) +1 (+3 Str tome)= 56

56 str (48 Without kensai boosts) and you got one mean lil mofo.

[Maelodic]

Edit: I saw you said no +2 tomes, if you're not willing to fork out the plat or the TP for them stop reading here.

Has the ability to use wands to heal throughout the lower levels, workable AC for GH w/ minimal gear investment (Around 55) with the only piece of exotic gear being ICY Raiments (If you aren't willing to get a set of these then you may as well stop reading here and stick to arcane/divine). At higher levels you'll be able to stay up easily with Halfling D-marks (Least, Lesser and Greater).

Will Contribute decent DPS it wont be a superstar, but will be ahead of people similarly geared, and it has the ability to have awesome amounts of DPS with proper gear later on in the game (ToD Sets, Shroud Khops, Abashai, Claw set etc...)

Should be at about 460ish HP standing.

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

Level 20 Lawful Neutral Halfling Male 
(12 Fighter / 2 Monk / 6 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 331 
Spell Points: 95 

BAB: 19/19/24/2929 
Fortitude: 23 
Reflex: 20 
Will: 13 

              Starting    Feat/Enhancement 
Abilities    Base Stats    Modified Stats 
(32 Point)    (Level 1)      (Level 20) 
Strength           16                26 
Dexterity          15                18 
Constitution       14                16 
Intelligence        8                10 
Wisdom             13                16 
Charisma            8                10 

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  
 
Notable Equipment  
Minos Legens 
Health Necklace 
Icy Raiment 
Armored Bracers 
Dexterous Ring 
Belt of Greater False Life 
Ogre Power Gloves 
 
Level 1 (Monk) 
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Dodge 
Feat: (Selected) Mobility 
 
Level 2 (Ranger) 
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Construct 
 
Level 3 (Ranger) 
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Khopesh 
 
Level 4 (Ranger) 
 
Level 5 (Ranger) 
 
Level 6 (Ranger) 
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider 
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack 
 
Level 7 (Ranger) 
 
Level 8 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Attack 
 
Level 9 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Selected) Least Dragonmark of Healing 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons 
 
Level 10 (Fighter) 
 
Level 11 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons 
 
Level 12 (Monk) 
Feat: (Selected) Lesser Dragonmark of Healing 
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness 
 
Level 13 (Fighter) 
 
Level 14 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Two Weapon Fighting 
 
Level 15 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Selected) Greater Dragonmark of Healing 
 
Level 16 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus)) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons 
 
Level 17 (Fighter) 
 
Level 18 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons 
Feat: (Selected) Quick Draw 
 
Level 19 (Fighter) 
 
Level 20 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons 
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I 
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II 
Enhancement: Fighter Attack 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: Extra Dragonmark Use I 
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use II 
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use III 
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use IV 
Enhancement: Kensei Khopesh Mastery I 
Enhancement: Kensei Khopesh Mastery II 
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I 
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II 
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy III 
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I 
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei II 
Enhancement: Fighter Khopesh Specialization I 
Enhancement: Halfling Cunning I 
Enhancement: Halfling Guile I 
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortoise I 
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I 
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II 
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I 
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I 
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II 
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I 
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion I 
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion II 
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I 
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I 
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II 
Enhancement: Fighter Strength III 
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I 
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I 
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II

16 STR
5 levels
2 tome
3 fighter enhancements
--------
26 STR
6 Item
--------
32 STR
8 Kensai Power Surge
2 Rage
2 Rams
--------
44 STR
2 Ship
2 Yugo
--------
48 STR

W/ Minimal Gear investment.

48 str + 1 exceptional(ToD Ring, I like Ravager set for fast attacking TWFs like this) +2 Exceptional(ToD Ring Upgrade)= 51 str + 3 (Abashai set)=54 Str +7 item (Epic Brawlers) +1 (+3 Str tome)= 56

56 str (48 Without kensai boosts) and you got one mean lil mofo.

I actually like that a lot, thanks.

If you could replace the dragonmarks with any feats, what would you do?

[unbongwah]

I'm not sure how I would adapt this to 28 pts with no +2 tomes, but here's a halfling build I did way back when: monk 2 / pally 6 / ftr 12 with Dragonmarks. TWF w/khopeshes, Evasion, good saves, self-healing thru Cure wands & healing DMs, some pally buffs. Main drawbacks are having to backload the metamagics (which boost your DMs) and feat shortage means no room for tactics feats.

[Kmnh]

Most melee characters only "come to life" after grinding out some raid/epic gear and green steel clickies. There is no lower-level substitute for an epic sirroco.

On elite quests, I feel naked without the ability to keep gh, haste and displacement going in between shrines. That's likely to be what you are mising on your melees. A hasted/displaced melee is so much more powerful than an unbuffed one.


Go with any class except for barbarian and grind out your green steel clickies and epic khopeshes of water ASAP. Get a pair of alchemical khopeshes with earthgrab from LoB/MA and you will be set.

[CodyGenX]

If I were to drop the three Dragonmarks I would take Improved Sunder, Stunning Blow and maybe another Toughness.

"Note these DC's are with Vanilla +6's and no exotic gear."

Improved Sunder DC= 14+19 (Str Modifier)+2Kensai +2Enhancements (With AP Saved from Extra D.marks)=37 Not great but with the stacking -3 Fort debuff you'll get them off (eventually :P) and help out your groups as a whole.

Stunning Blow DC =10+19 (Str modifer)+2 Kensai +2 enhancements= 33 Again not great

An Alchemical Air Khopesh would give you another +10 to stunning Blow, bringing it up to a respectable 43 DC (with the BASE str this char would have)

Epic Spare Hand would also add another 5 DC to each of these.





When it come to melees you get out of them what you put into them.

[wax_on_wax_off]

I'd suggest an unarmed variation of one sort or another.

The Prodigy is an unarmed 12 ranger/7 rogue/1 monk that has the highest sustained attack speed in the game - about 4.5 attacks/second when boosted iirc; this makes for very high DPS when gear is attained and good survivability from ranger buffs.

Alternatively, at the moment I'm enjoying a variation on the Black Lotus build. This is another high attack speed, high DPS build with a surprising amount of versatility and survivability while leveling and top tier DPS at cap (versatility is an option at cap with acrobat but DPS suffers).

[Maelodic]

I'd suggest an unarmed variation of one sort or another.

The Prodigy is an unarmed 12 ranger/7 rogue/1 monk that has the highest sustained attack speed in the game - about 4.5 attacks/second when boosted iirc; this makes for very high DPS when gear is attained and good survivability from ranger buffs.

Alternatively, at the moment I'm enjoying a variation on the Black Lotus build. This is another high attack speed, high DPS build with a surprising amount of versatility and survivability while leveling and top tier DPS at cap (versatility is an option at cap with acrobat but DPS suffers).

I like that prodigy quite a lot. If I ever get to the point where I have gear to back it up, I will do so.

[unbongwah]

If you're looking at unarmed builds now, also have a look at Thanimal's Quad-H.

[PolarisNC]

If you're looking at unarmed builds now, also have a look at Thanimal's Quad-H.

This.

I had one of these a while back, and it was a blast to play. Under no circumstances should you skip the wizard level.

[axel15810]

halfling clonk might be a good choice for you.

[Kinerd]

Boo, necro. But I missed the thread the first time around, so I'll chime in anyway:

Pure ranger, or 18 ranger splash 2 levels at the end (makes exploiter pointless, but could do 2 fighter for moar feats). Deep splashes are hugely prone to "coming into their own later" syndrome. Rangers are ideal for low point builds and no tome builds. Nobody gets GTWF faster than pure rangers.

Ram's Might is a good buff from the time you get it until the end of the world.
If soloing is ever a concern, you will greatly enjoy having FoM, Neutralize Poison, Resists.
Cure Serious Wounds + Maximize + Devotion enhancements + Ardor potion + healing amp is an enormous amount of healing. Cure Serious Wounds + nothing is poor healing. You get what you pay for.

Halfling doesn't add much to the build, and rangers have more AP than they know what to do with anyway, but who cares.