Want to knock out an FvS Life (34pts)

[RandomKeypress]

Hi wonderful people. I have a cleric that just won a wooden heart in the lottery. My raid completions look good and my gear is okay so I thought it was about time I TRd this guy and got in a FvS life. Problem is that I have no idea how to build a favored soul.

My cleric play style is that most despised of all - the healbot. I throw down the odd DP, implosion, blade barrier, comet fall etc, but my DCs are too low - if they do any damage I tend to be pleasantly surprised. The less said about my melee skills the better. I hit things, to show willing, but that's about it.

My goal is to get to lev 20 and then TR back into the cleric, which seems to suit my gimpy healbot style better, so I'm not worried about end-game. Ideally, I'd like a character with strong healing abilities with combat casting to back things up. I would expect to heal through raids. Soloability would be a plus, for when I can't be bothered to group.

I have con-op goggles and enough bits and pieces lying around to make any other two GS items whenever I need them; I also have a good crafter - any advice for gear at any level would be appreciated.

I'll swap out the lower level healing spells when the better ones become available.

I drew up a straw-man favored soul - I went human for the extra feat and sovereign host for the why not? Can you help me tune this into something useful? I have access to all races and all packs.

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Luminest Test
Level 20 Lawful Good Human Male
(20 Favored Soul) 
Hit Points: 322
Spell Points: 2009 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 12
Will: 18

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(34 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    24
Dexterity             8                    11
Constitution         14                    17
Intelligence         10                    13
Wisdom               16                    23
Charisma             14                    22

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 Strength used at level 11
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 11
+3 Tome of Constitution used at level 11
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 11
+3 Tome of Wisdom used at level 11
+3 Tome of Charisma used at level 11
+4 Tome of Wisdom used at level 15

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance              -1                     0
Bluff                 2                     6
Concentration         6                    26
Diplomacy             2                     8
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                2                     6
Heal                  3                     8
Hide                 -1                     0
Intimidate            2                     6
Jump                  7                    30
Listen                3                     6
Move Silently        -1                     0
Open Lock            n/a                    n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     1
Search                0                     1
Spot                  3                     6
Swim                  3                     7
Tumble               n/a                    6
Use Magic Device      4                    17

Level 1 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell
Feat: (Deity) Favored by the Sovereign Host
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Cleric
Feat: (Human Bonus) Toughness
Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds
Spell (1): Divine Favor
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness I


Level 2 (Favored Soul)
Spell (1): Remove Fear
Enhancement: Favored Soul Charisma I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wand and Scroll Mastery I


Level 3 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Heighten Spell
Spell (1): Nimbus of Light
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I


Level 4 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: STR
Spell (2): Cure Moderate Wounds
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wisdom I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness II


Level 5 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Fire
Spell (2): Resist Energy
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion II


Level 6 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Spell (3): Cure Serious Wounds
Enhancement: Favored Soul Angel of Vengeance I
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Wisdom I


Level 7 (Favored Soul)
Spell (2): Deific Vengeance
Spell (3): Magic Circle Against Evil
Enhancement: Unyielding Sovereignty (Favored Soul)


Level 8 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: STR
Spell (4): Cure Critical Wounds
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting III


Level 9 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell
Spell (2): Lesser Restoration
Spell (3): Protection From Energy
Spell (4): Divine Power
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion III


Level 10 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Electricity
Spell (5): Divine Punishment


Level 11 (Favored Soul)
Spell (3): Prayer
Spell (4): Freedom of Movement
Spell (5): Mass Cure Light Wounds
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness III


Level 12 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Spell (6): Heal
Enhancement: Favored Soul Angel of Vengeance II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wisdom II


Level 13 (Favored Soul)
Spell (4): Death Ward
Spell (5): Break Enchantment
Spell (6): Blade Barrier
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting IV


Level 14 (Favored Soul)
Spell (7): Resurrection


Level 15 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Sonic
Feat: (Selected) Spell Penetration
Spell (5): Raise Dead
Spell (6): Mass Cure Moderate Wounds
Spell (7): Mass Cure Serious Wounds
Enhancement: Favored Soul Charisma II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness IV


Level 16 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: STR
Spell (8): Mass Death Ward
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic II


Level 17 (Favored Soul)
Spell (7): Mass Protection From Elements
Spell (8): Mass Cure Critical Wounds
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Charisma I


Level 18 (Favored Soul)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell
Spell (9): Mass Heal
Enhancement: Favored Soul Spell Penetration I


Level 19 (Favored Soul)
Spell (8): Symbol of Death
Spell (9): Implosion
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic III
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic IV


Level 20 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Deity) Favored Soul Damage Reduction: Cold Iron
Spell (9): True Resurrection
Enhancement: Favored Soul Ascendency: Sovereign Host
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wand and Scroll Mastery II

Thanks

[erikbozelie]

if you just want the past life feat( so dont keep this life)
i would suggest splashing because your not going to play keepers with capstone for long anyway.

1 level of barb would be a great help zerging through quests. +10% pasive and sprint boost for some quick get arounds.

id also wouldnt go caster focus, id go melee. but thats just me.

just go 1/19(taking 1 barb at first level) horc with max str, con and dump remaining points into charisma.

getting zerging wings ability at 18.

[Seamonkeysix]

if you just want the past life feat( so dont keep this life)
i would suggest splashing because your not going to play keepers with capstone for long anyway.

1 level of barb would be a great help zerging through quests. +10% pasive and sprint boost for some quick get arounds.

id also wouldnt go caster focus, id go melee. but thats just me.

just go 1/19(taking 1 barb at first level) horc with max str, con and dump remaining points into charisma.

getting zerging wings ability at 18.

I would definitely say that adding one level of barbarian is not even remotely worth losing the FvS capstone. 10 DR and unlimited free CLW vs running around a little quicker?

On the other hand, 2 levels of monk can be very tempting. Evasion + 2 extra feats make a decent argument for splashing 2 levels of monk.

You really can't mess an FvS up too badly.

[WruntJunior]

I would definitely say that adding one level of barbarian is not even remotely worth losing the FvS capstone. 10 DR and unlimited free CLW vs running around a little quicker?

On the other hand, 2 levels of monk can be very tempting. Evasion + 2 extra feats make a decent argument for splashing 2 levels of monk.

You really can't mess an FvS up too badly.

Erm, read his post again.

If you're just doing past life, 17 FvS/1 Barb with melee is a good build. If you prefer the casting route for leveling, pure is better. Depending on which you do, the build I'd recommend is either 18/8/16/12/8/12 or 8/8/16/12/18/12, with all level-up points in the relevant stat (str for melee, wis for caster). This lets you to get nice leveling skills as well (such as bluff, intim, and diplo), while keeping your concentration maxed and otherwise keeping your character well-built. Feats for melee: Power Attack, Toughness, Maximize, Empower, Quicken, Improved Crit, and possibly Empower Healing. Feats for caster: Toughness, Maximize, Empower, Quicken, Spell Pen, Greater Spell Pen, and whatever you want for the last feat (empower healing or toughness would be best...I used to put shield mastery here, but with it getting nerfed in the update, I don't think I'll bother).

Other than that, it's just having gear.

For low level gear, make sure you have the general twinking gear (stat items, vibrant purple ioun stone, etc), along with a concentration item - it really helps until you get quicken. Try and get heavy fort as early as possible, as well as false life and other useful pieces of gear. Also get clickies/pots/other items that boost your spells to high amounts at low levels...makes low levels easier when you can get good results from searing light, glyph of warding, holy smite, and other such useful spells. Also make sure you have your necessities covered through pots and clickies - not having to buff yourself with SP means you have more SP for killing, making soloing much more efficient. Items such as several copies of visors of the fleshrender guard (deathward clickie) are almost a necessity for TRing.

[RandomKeypress]

Thanks guys. I like the idea of one level of barbarian for the speed, but I'm not sure I'm going to be too comfortable with such a heavy melee focus. I think I'll take WruntJunior's suggestion and go 8/8/16/12/18/12 with the caster feats.

As for gear, having already farmed two purple ions and three pale lavendars, I'm not sure I can be bothered to get another purple. I do have an supressed wis ioun stone - I think I'll stick with that at low levels rather than spend another day in DD. I shouldn't have too much of a problem with the rest of the twink gear and clickies.

[WruntJunior]

Thanks guys. I like the idea of one level of barbarian for the speed, but I'm not sure I'm going to be too comfortable with such a heavy melee focus. I think I'll take WruntJunior's suggestion and go 8/8/16/12/18/12 with the caster feats.

As for gear, having already farmed two purple ions and three pale lavendars, I'm not sure I can be bothered to get another purple. I do have an supressed wis ioun stone - I think I'll stick with that at low levels rather than spend another day in DD. I shouldn't have too much of a problem with the rest of the twink gear and clickies.

As a note, that build is nearly identical to the build I used for Wruntjunior for a long time while capped (over a year since I LRed into it until I started TRing). It's definitely a good healer, and you may find you like it more than cleric.

The ioun stone isn't a necessity, but it does make low levels easier. Failing that, cannith-crafted wizardry items will fit your bill fine.

[Myrrae]

12 int and 8 str? Why not reverse? I know you're a little skill point light here, but other than concentration and maybe balance what would you really need from the 12 int?

I say that only because being helpless due to ray of enfeeblement can really suck.

[DarkForte]

Having leveled a melee fvs (soul survivor style) and a caster fvs (the latter in progress), I'd say that the melee one is much easier to level to 12. After that, there's the point where BB shreds everything to pieces (since mob hp and saves are low enough for the wis-dumped melee to shred them), and both have pretty much equal usefulness. For content with highly inflated mob HP (Inspired quarter and cannith come to mind), energy drain and high dc destruction is invaluable.

[WruntJunior]

12 int and 8 str? Why not reverse? I know you're a little skill point light here, but other than concentration and maybe balance what would you really need from the 12 int?

I say that only because being helpless due to ray of enfeeblement can really suck.

Skill points are much more important than str. Considering you can get a 12 str just with a +1 tome and a +3 item by level 5...and on a character that can CAST lesser restoration, skill points are more important. On a final life, UMD is amazing for a FvS, and on a leveling life, social skills are very nice for extra xp in several quests.

[Chette]

Why on earth are you TRing to a FvS, just to TR back into a cleric? The FvS past life is not particularly overwhelming, and based on your description of your play style, will not really help you.

If you were planning on eventually becoming an offensive caster, then a wizard past life would help you much more. If you would rather stay as a healbot then a cleric past life will help you more, due to the increase in your number of turn undeads (extra bursts/auras).

If all you want to do is "play" a favoured soul, because you haven't before and you want to mess around with it, then make another character. Don't waste your time getting a past life you won't use. If you want to TR for extra build points, just TR to another cleric once or twice.

[RandomKeypress]

Why on earth are you TRing to a FvS, just to TR back into a cleric? The FvS past life is not particularly overwhelming, and based on your description of your play style, will not really help you.

If you were planning on eventually becoming an offensive caster, then a wizard past life would help you much more. If you would rather stay as a healbot then a cleric past life will help you more, due to the increase in your number of turn undeads (extra bursts/auras).

If all you want to do is "play" a favoured soul, because you haven't before and you want to mess around with it, then make another character. Don't waste your time getting a past life you won't use. If you want to TR for extra build points, just TR to another cleric once or twice.

Eh - it's a combination of things. I don't want another alt - I have too many already. I want to give a FvS a fair shake and I want to upgrade my cleric a touch.

[Matuse]

I would definitely say that adding one level of barbarian is not even remotely worth losing the FvS capstone. 10 DR and unlimited free CLW vs running around a little quicker?

All he wants is the FvS past life, so he'll be TRing almost the instant he hits 20 anyway. Since the capstone is moot, there's no harm in splashing. A level of barb gives the runspeed, access to the runspeed action boost, and martial weapons so he can hit stuff decently early on before blade barrier kicks in.