Shield Tank (Help me decide!)

[Maxson]

Hello!

I'm currently getting close to level 20 on my 36 point double TR fighter.

I originally rolled the character to two man with a friend so I've gimped it somewhat t be able to do rogue skills well enough for 99% of traps while levelling but will be LRing it into a shield tank with the ability to also do good DPS (so that it may gain aggro with big hits then switch to shield, or just maintain solid damage when tanking is not required).

I've based it on this:
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=245032 (QuikNdirty, Quikster's shield tank from a good while back) The twist is that I am currently using parasitic breastplate and will be using Light and Darkness so will not need any enhancements to increase Max Dex Bonus.

In both my builds, should I ever attain heavier armour/tower shields which are an improvement over my current gear, then I will switch out a feat for Mobility (which has recently been substantially improved to give Max Dex Bonus increases +2 for armour and shields).

I have two variations, one that keeps my current two rogue levels (for evasion, better UMD and more skill points all around).

I welcome any and all criticism and freely admit to being a total n00b (I've been away from the game for about a year) and I do not have even close to optimal gear. I was also considering following Quikster's above build but changing only minor items (such as going HElf) as I already have greensteel Khopeshes, however, in the two below I would be using bastard sword with a shield and greatsword otherwise (using THF). Please note that as these builds are going to be used on an LR'd character the order in which feats are taken are likely stupid.

If I'm totally on the wrong track, I'd appreciate an interesting build.

2/18 Rogue/Fighter Variation

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

Asbo Zapruda
Level 20 True Neutral Half-Elf Male
(18 Fighter \ 2 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 374
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 17
Reflex: 15
Will: 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(36 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    25
Dexterity            16                    18
Constitution         15                    18
Intelligence         11                    14
Wisdom                8                    10
Charisma             13                    16

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 3
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 3
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 3
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 3
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 3
+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
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               7                    14
Bluff                 1                     3
Concentration         2                     4
Diplomacy             1                     3
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                1                     3
Heal                 -1                     0
Hide                  3                     4
Intimidate            5                    40
Jump                  7                    20
Listen               -1                     0
Move Silently         3                     4
Open Lock             7                     8
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     2
Search                0                     2
Spot                  3                     4
Swim                  7                    11
Tumble                7                     8
Use Magic Device      5                    29

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Force of Personality
Feat: (Half-Elf Dilettante) Half-Elf Dilettante: Paladin
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Fighter
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Fighter


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Dodge


Level 3 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Student of the Sword
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Handed Fighting


Level 4 (Fighter)


Level 5 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 6 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 7 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Two Handed Fighting


Level 8 (Rogue)


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Skill Focus: Intimidate


Level 10 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons


Level 11 (Fighter)


Level 12 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Handed Fighting
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Fighter)


Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 15 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 16 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons


Level 17 (Fighter)


Level 18 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Combat Expertise
Feat: (Selected) Skill Focus: Use Magic Device


Level 19 (Fighter)


Level 20 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Shield Mastery
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Class Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Class Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Class 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: Fighter Stalwart Defender I
Enhancement: Fighter Stalwart Defender II
Enhancement: Fighter Stalwart Defender III
Enhancement: Fighter Bastard Sword Specialization I
Enhancement: Fighter Bastard Sword Specialization II
Enhancement: Fighter Greatsword Specialization I
Enhancement: Fighter Greatsword Specialization II
Enhancement: Improved Paladin Dilettante I
Enhancement: Improved Paladin Dilettante II
Enhancement: Improved Paladin Dilettante III
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Constitution I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Human Versatility I
Enhancement: Fighter Item Defense I
Enhancement: Fighter Item Defense II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Improved Intimidate I
Enhancement: Improved Intimidate II
Enhancement: Improved Intimidate III
Enhancement: Half-Elf Paladin Charisma I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness III

Pure Fighter Variation

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

Asbo Zapruda
Level 20 True Neutral Half-Elf Male
(20 Fighter) 
Hit Points: 392
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 18
Reflex: 12
Will: 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(36 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    25
Dexterity            16                    18
Constitution         15                    18
Intelligence         11                    14
Wisdom                8                    10
Charisma             13                    16

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 3
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 3
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 3
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 3
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 3
+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
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               3                    15
Bluff                 1                     3
Concentration         2                     4
Diplomacy             1                     3
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                1                     3
Heal                 -1                     0
Hide                  3                     4
Intimidate            5                    39
Jump                  3                    12
Listen               -1                     0
Move Silently         3                     4
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     2
Search                0                     2
Spot                 -1                     0
Swim                  3                     7
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device      3                    17

Level 1 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Force of Personality
Feat: (Half-Elf Dilettante) Half-Elf Dilettante: Paladin
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Fighter
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Fighter
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Handed Fighting


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Dodge


Level 3 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Student of the Sword


Level 4 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 5 (Fighter)


Level 6 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Two Handed Fighting
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 7 (Fighter)


Level 8 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Shield Mastery


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Skill Focus: Intimidate


Level 10 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 11 (Fighter)


Level 12 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Two Handed Fighting
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Fighter)


Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons


Level 15 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 16 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 17 (Fighter)


Level 18 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Combat Expertise
Feat: (Selected) Skill Focus: Use Magic Device


Level 19 (Fighter)


Level 20 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Shield Mastery
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Class Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Class Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Class 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: Fighter Weapon Alacrity
Enhancement: Fighter Stalwart Defender I
Enhancement: Fighter Stalwart Defender II
Enhancement: Fighter Stalwart Defender III
Enhancement: Fighter Bastard Sword Specialization I
Enhancement: Fighter Bastard Sword Specialization II
Enhancement: Fighter Greatsword Specialization I
Enhancement: Fighter Greatsword Specialization II
Enhancement: Improved Paladin Dilettante I
Enhancement: Improved Paladin Dilettante II
Enhancement: Improved Paladin Dilettante III
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Constitution I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Human Versatility I
Enhancement: Fighter Item Defense I
Enhancement: Fighter Item Defense II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Improved Intimidate I
Enhancement: Improved Intimidate II
Enhancement: Half-Elf Paladin Charisma I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness III
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness IV

[Feithlin]

F18/Ro2 is what I chose for my tank and I'm very happy with it: full UMD and evasion are very nice to have.
I made it slightly before the changes to BS so I chose TWF khopesh for my dps.

About your build, I would change this:
* Drop Force of personality. IMO it isn't worth it.
* You will easily reach 39 UMD without SF:UMD, so you may drop this feat too.

Some nice options:
* Get Hamstring, very nice debuff against the bosses whose attack swing speed is linked to their movement.
* and/or Imp. sunder, because you will be the only one who stays all the time on the boss, thus maintaining the full fort. debuff.
* and/or Imp. shield bash, because being able to generate threat while shield blocking is very nice against the LoB.

*Edit: I don't think you need to be LG to take the pal dilly, so going True neutral would probably be better.

[Maxson]

F18/Ro2 is what I chose for my tank and I'm very happy with it: full UMD and evasion are very nice to have.
I made it slightly before the changes to BS so I chose TWF khopesh for my dps.

About your build, I would change this:
* Drop Force of personality. IMO it isn't worth it.
* You will easily reach 39 UMD without SF:UMD, so you may drop this feat too.

Some nice options:
* Get Hamstring, very nice debuff against the bosses whose attack swing speed is linked to their movement.
* and/or Imp. sunder, because you will be the only one who stays all the time on the boss, thus maintaining the full fort. debuff.
* and/or Imp. shield bash, because being able to generate threat while shield blocking is very nice against the LoB.

*Edit: I don't think you need to be LG to take the pal dilly, so going True neutral would probably be better.

Thanks for the help, as for the alignment, yes that should be true neutral must have forgotten to set it.

[Arshan]

Monk dilly is 20% additional heal amp, while on a stalwart a save bonus is kinda overkilled imo.
You can swap a dilly anytime as any feat, you just must match the requirement with the associated stat when you swap the feat.

Basically, 11 base wisdom, +2 tome => swap to monk dilly at lvl 7.

Personnal tast of course but makes sense on a tank imo