[Build Request] How to most effectively build a halfling FvS?

[Maelodic]

Doesn't matter if it's melee or spell specced. My request is:

-Halfling
-Favored Soul
-Viable
-28 Point
-+2 Tomes only

Do your very best to make the most synergistic halfling favored soul.

[Matuse]

There's no synergy at all between Halflings and FvS.

You can make one, and with any sort of build quality it will be effective, but there is no magical combo that makes halfling a ZOMG option, akin to warforged + greatsword, elf + scimitar, human + human bonus feat.

[Maelodic]

There's no synergy at all between Halflings and FvS.

You can make one, and with any sort of build quality it will be effective, but there is no magical combo that makes halfling a ZOMG option, akin to warforged + greatsword, elf + scimitar, human + human bonus feat.

I understand the lack of synergy, if I wanted to go human/elf/WF it would be easy to build, which is why I'm here. =P

[Polarkin]

18fvs / 2mnk Halfing AC Weapon Finesse
**come on you got to go 32pt minimum on a FVS**

Dex (18 +2enh +2tome +6item +3exc +1litany +2stance +2ship = 36)
Max Wis (18 +2enh +2tome +6item +3exc +1litany +5lvl +2ship = 39... 40 if you get a +3 tome from DDO store)
10 Cha
12 Con
any remainder in Str

Feats (7 +2mnk):
Toughness
(m)Weapon Finesse
(m)TWF
ITWF
GTWF
Maximize
Quicken
Heighten
Stunning Fist

Hitpoints = approx 500 with fvs enhancements & gs
Spellpoints = approximately 2300
DC's: 36 for evocation and necromancy with +2 item equipped
To Hit = approximately 46
Stunning Fist DC = 45 with stunning wraps 50 with challenges belt
Evasion with reflex save around 45 buffed
AC = gear dependant but can cap out over 90 (I think my guy hits 80 self buffed (no cookies, bard, or pally)

You make a great melee based debuffer (destruction, shattermantle, stun) and may even consider dropping toughness (net loss 40hp) and taking improved sunder. 98% of anything that will chase you around a Bladebarrier won't have the evasion high enough to reliably save against a 36dc. The stuff that does + stand-still evasion mobs you stun and beat down doing 50% additional damage. You aren't gonna destruct in epics but most casters in content up to elite (not counting drow) won't be too difficult in general.

[porq]

18 fvs / 2 monk unarmed melee.

It's true, you won't find any synergy between favored weapon religions and halflings, but halflings get something better, in the form of sneak attack enhancements.

As a favored soul you are fairly unlikely to have aggro in groups, so you can almost always count on SA damage and the prerequisite Guile to help your to-hit. Unarmed inherently gets more attacks than the other fighting styles, that helps take advantage of it.

Base stats for a 28pt would be something like 15 dex, 14 con, 10 cha, 15 strength. Numbers may be off a little, but I don't have ddo available for the time being.

There's no synergy at all between Halflings and FvS.

You can make one, and with any sort of build quality it will be effective, but there is no magical combo that makes halfling a ZOMG option, akin to warforged + greatsword, elf + scimitar, human + human bonus feat.

I would consider halfling to be better than some, just for the sneak attack alone. Same reason Half-elf with the rogue dilly is a great choice, but they can also choose scimitar/longsword religions to add on top.

[voodoogroves]

I'd suggest a variant of the Laser build I posted a while back. It works for any race and is great for the FVS on a budget. Lemme find the link - essentially it is a WIS-dumped, direct damage and healing FVS w/ a side order of melee.

It's STR based, but given Halfling AND the current uptick in weapons that can use DEX or other attributes to hit, going DEX based instead is a valid option - though you may have to hunt around a bit.

[voodoogroves]

Here's the link, BTW: http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=324831

I'd probably change it around a bit for current content and game, but the basics are solid.

Anyway, the premise of the build is essentially this ...
- FVS are very strong in and of themselves; a pure FVS could probably get to cap wielding a ham sandwich for most of the game
- You can build a FVS that has a strong DPS casting component that doesn't require good DCs
- Melee is only important up to 12th (when you get Blade Barrie); after that most of your DPS is casting
- Any pure FVS can raid heal
- WF FVS with greatswords aren't that much ahead of anyone else as far as melee - plenty of folks have been running pure or slight-dipped FVS to reasonable success, so using something that isn't your favored weapon isn't horrible


So, 28 points and a halfling

6 points CON 14 ... you still won't be hurting for HP; FVS get solid HP
16 points STR 16 ... wee-hulk smash ... levels here
4 points CHA 12 ... for casting
2 points INT ... for some skills, yo

Feats
(1) Toughness
(3) Weapon Proficiency feat
(6) Maximize
(9) Empower
(12) Quicken
(15) Improved Crit
(18) Shield Mastery

For Weapon Proficiency I'd go Greataxe early if you had twink like Carnifex / Maelstrom. I'd consider using Fred to remove it later. You can debuff well enough in the late game with quarterstaves if you wanted an extra feat (like Extend) or swap it to Greatsword if you've got a spare Terror hanging around and use it for trash. I'd go Silver Flame personally, though Sov. Host for the longsword prof and healing capstone is an option.

Enhancements
Also a very simple plan. Mandatory:
- The light/good smiting line.
- At least some of the healing line (don't bother with heal crit)
- The Angel of Vengeance (this PRE was made for you) + prereqs
- Scroll Mastery

Optional, fill to taste:
- FVS Toughness
- Racial APs that apply (but only up until they are too expensive - Cunning for you)
- FVS CHA to hit targets you like


......................................


If you have some BTA twink items that let you use DEX for hit (the new Envenomed Blade, etc.) those may be an option. Otherwise, you're STR based. Being 28 points I wasn't sure what you had.

[Matuse]

I'm hoping that as a part of the fill-out-the-PrEs for the expansion, they will include racial deity choices for dwarves and halflings.

Or...give access to Faerun deities available to all races. Yum.

[Maelodic]

Here's the link, BTW: http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=324831

I'd probably change it around a bit for current content and game, but the basics are solid.

Anyway, the premise of the build is essentially this ...
- FVS are very strong in and of themselves; a pure FVS could probably get to cap wielding a ham sandwich for most of the game
- You can build a FVS that has a strong DPS casting component that doesn't require good DCs
- Melee is only important up to 12th (when you get Blade Barrie); after that most of your DPS is casting
- Any pure FVS can raid heal
- WF FVS with greatswords aren't that much ahead of anyone else as far as melee - plenty of folks have been running pure or slight-dipped FVS to reasonable success, so using something that isn't your favored weapon isn't horrible


So, 28 points and a halfling

6 points CON 14 ... you still won't be hurting for HP; FVS get solid HP
16 points STR 16 ... wee-hulk smash ... levels here
4 points CHA 12 ... for casting
2 points INT ... for some skills, yo

Feats
(1) Toughness
(3) Weapon Proficiency feat
(6) Maximize
(9) Empower
(12) Quicken
(15) Improved Crit
(18) Shield Mastery

For Weapon Proficiency I'd go Greataxe early if you had twink like Carnifex / Maelstrom. I'd consider using Fred to remove it later. You can debuff well enough in the late game with quarterstaves if you wanted an extra feat (like Extend) or swap it to Greatsword if you've got a spare Terror hanging around and use it for trash. I'd go Silver Flame personally, though Sov. Host for the longsword prof and healing capstone is an option.

Enhancements
Also a very simple plan. Mandatory:
- The light/good smiting line.
- At least some of the healing line (don't bother with heal crit)
- The Angel of Vengeance (this PRE was made for you) + prereqs
- Scroll Mastery

Optional, fill to taste:
- FVS Toughness
- Racial APs that apply (but only up until they are too expensive - Cunning for you)
- FVS CHA to hit targets you like


......................................


If you have some BTA twink items that let you use DEX for hit (the new Envenomed Blade, etc.) those may be an option. Otherwise, you're STR based. Being 28 points I wasn't sure what you had.

While I saw your build, I didn't think it could be adapted in that way, and I always thought any casting damage required max WIS.

JKLOL, I'll roll this. Thanks a bunch.

Also shield mastery? Why is this?

[MRMechMan]

While I saw your build, I didn't think it could be adapted in that way, and I always thought any casting damage required max WIS.

JKLOL, I'll roll this. Thanks a bunch.

Also shield mastery? Why is this?

1 feat for 20% damage mitigation when using a tower shield. It's incredible.

I know some sorcs and wizards that splash fighter or burn 2 feats to get 15% damage reduction.

You only need to spent 1 feat for 20%. It's situational but any FVS can tank a lot of bosses with just that and DP if needed.

I would consider it required on any divine build-feats aren't that tight generally and it gives a TON of survivability particularly in epics.

[SirValentine]

DC's: 36 for evocation and necromancy with +2 item equipped
<snip>
You aren't gonna destruct in epics

Why ever not? DC 36 is workable. Low fort save mobs are no problem, and medium-high fort save mobs no problem if you lead it with an Energy Drain.

[Maelodic]

1 feat for 20% damage mitigation when using a tower shield. It's incredible.

I know some sorcs and wizards that splash fighter or burn 2 feats to get 15% damage reduction.

You only need to spent 1 feat for 20%. It's situational but any FVS can tank a lot of bosses with just that and DP if needed.

I would consider it required on any divine build-feats aren't that tight generally and it gives a TON of survivability particularly in epics.

Awesome, I will keep that in mind.


And little Luett is performing quite admirably. Thanks a ton for reminding me that the laser build exists.

[voodoogroves]

Awesome, I will keep that in mind.


And little Luett is performing quite admirably. Thanks a ton for reminding me that the laser build exists.

I know it's low rent, but FVS can work with pretty minimal resources. I had a blast with mine ... once the update is done I'm going to TR that one a bit and head for DCs, but with minimal stats and gear I didn't feel I could succeed doing what I wanted to do in that realm to my level of satisfaction. At the core, the Laser is a WF FVS who isn't WF ... not many of those are WIS-based DC specialists on their first life. You miss out on some weapon synergy, but you get better starting healing amp. When you think about it that way, it makes a ton of sense.


Shield Mastery is a great feat to mitigate some damage when you've got tons incoming. That won't be most of the time, but when you're sitting in eDQ or something, the extra reduction is super nifty.

[Maelodic]

I know it's low rent, but FVS can work with pretty minimal resources. I had a blast with mine ... once the update is done I'm going to TR that one a bit and head for DCs, but with minimal stats and gear I didn't feel I could succeed doing what I wanted to do in that realm to my level of satisfaction. At the core, the Laser is a WF FVS who isn't WF ... not many of those are WIS-based DC specialists on their first life. You miss out on some weapon synergy, but you get better starting healing amp. When you think about it that way, it makes a ton of sense.


Shield Mastery is a great feat to mitigate some damage when you've got tons incoming. That won't be most of the time, but when you're sitting in eDQ or something, the extra reduction is super nifty.

Well, the best part is you can do whatever the heck you want as well, as long as you're healing you can herpderp around otherwise. While I do my best to contribute most-times, sometimes I just will like, do random stuff in the back if my party is doing everything great.

[Polarkin]

Why ever not? DC 36 is workable. Low fort save mobs are no problem, and medium-high fort save mobs no problem if you lead it with an Energy Drain.

You have a 36 necro DC and a total of 1 nineth level spell on this build. Are you going to use that one spell on energy drain or on mass heal?

I would contend that going into an epic with the plan/intention to destruct your way thru it would make for a difficult time of things with a 36 dc. That doesn't mean you won't occassionally use it on an annoying caster or ranger or other low fort mob but it's probably not going to be your bread-n-butter spell.

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To OP: Good luck on your build... I'm not sure how a THF str based build plays to a halfings strengths/effectiveness but it should work.