ShadowZen Druid lance

[jeremyt]

**note, still working out numbers and editing this post**
6.5(W)1d10 + 43, 14-18 x2/19-20 x4. 10d6 + 50 SA damage.

so thinking about TRing this toon:

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=303464
to this toon:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.14.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Neutral Half-Orc Male
(12 Monk \ 7 Rogue \ 1 Druid) 
Hit Points: 300
Spell Points: 270 
BAB: 14\14\19\24
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 19
Will: 16

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(36 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    21
Dexterity            15                    23
Constitution         15                    17
Intelligence         12                    14
Wisdom               15                    18
Charisma              6                     8

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

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               6                    37
Bluff                -2                     0
Concentration         2                    26
Diplomacy            -2                     0
Disable Device        5                    26
Haggle                2                     6
Heal                  2                     7
Hide                  5                    25
Intimidate           -2                     0
Jump                  7                    14
Listen                2                     5
Move Silently         6                    34
Open Lock             6                    11
Perform              n/a                    n/a
Repair                1                     3
Search                5                    26
Spot                  2                     5
Swim                  3                    11
Tumble                3                    12
Use Magic Device      2                    23

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Fighter
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Fighter
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Fighter
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Paladin
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Paladin
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Paladin
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Rogue
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Blow


Level 2 (Druid)
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Orcish Fury I
Enhancement: Orcish Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Rogue Faster Sneaking I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Druid Energy of the Locus I


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Soldier of the Faith
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness


Level 4 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Dodge


Level 5 (Rogue)


Level 6 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Inevitable Dominion: Fists of Darkness
Feat: (Selected) Precision


Level 7 (Monk)


Level 8 (Rogue)


Level 9 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Sneak of Shadows


Level 10 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Combat Expertise


Level 11 (Rogue)


Level 12 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons


Level 13 (Monk)


Level 14 (Rogue)


Level 15 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Trip


Level 16 (Monk)


Level 17 (Monk)


Level 18 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 19 (Monk)


Level 20 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost III
Enhancement: Orcish Brute Fighting I
Enhancement: Orcish Extra Action Boost I
Enhancement: Orcish Extra Action Boost II
Enhancement: Orcish Melee Damage II
Enhancement: Orcish Strength I
Enhancement: Orcish Strength II
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey I
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey II
Enhancement: Porous Soul
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Monk Ninja Spy I
Enhancement: Monk Ninja Spy II
Enhancement: Adept of Rock
Enhancement: Master of Stone
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Rogue Thief-Acrobat I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training II
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training III
Enhancement: Improved Balance I
Enhancement: Improved Balance II
Enhancement: Improved Jump I
Enhancement: Improved Jump II
Enhancement: Improved Tumble I
Enhancement: Improved Tumble II
Enhancement: Druid Eminence of Life I
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity II
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I
Enhancement: Druid Toughness I
Enhancement: Rogue Improved Trap Sense I
Enhancement: Rogue Wand and Scroll Mastery I

New raid spear + tactical rings from rusty blades = good stuff.
So utilizing this: http://ddowiki.com/page/Sireth,_Spear_of_the_Sky and master of stone monk stance would effectively be 15-18 x2 19-20x3 with 2.5(W)1d10 +7 base dam from weapon.

Add in the level 1 druid spell that adds 1(W) to q-staves and now its rocking 3.5(W)1d10 +7, 15-18x2/19-20 x3 crit range.

Add in tier 1 twist from grandmaster for 1.5(W) bumping base damage to what i feel is an outstanding 5.0(W)1d10 + 7, 15-18x2/19-20 x3.
(other twist slots would be #1: tier 4 standing with stone, and #3 tier 1 unearthly reactions from magister. Making twist goals look like: #1 tier 4, #2 and 3 Tier 1s)

Another 1.0(W) would come from legendary dreadnought's combat brute innate enhancement, leg dread also brings +6 crit damage before multipliers, lightning mace active ability, devastating critical. +4 to base dam from horc racial enh +18 (lightly buffed) str bonus. = 6.0(W)1d10 +29, 15-18x2/19-20 x4 crits.

Improved martial arts 0.5(W). trink/spear set +5, claw set +4, +2 ram's might, +3 pal PL = 6.5(W)1d10 + 43, 14-18 x2/19-20 x4 (then add on the effects, cloudburst, lightning strike, greater good, sneak attack dam, other leg dread damage enhancements, +3% doublestrike (http://ddowiki.com/page/Epic_Spare_Hand_%28Tier_3%29) .

269.5 min damage on a non crit. 328 max on a non crit. figuring +12 total seeker that would make the crits in the 14-18 range hit for a min of 563 and a max of 680. 19 - 20 crit would have min damage of 1126 and a max damage of 1360. Thats before prone damage bonuses (and extra damage bonuses for dreadn), weapon effects, ki strikes, outside buffs (at all really)

Str: 21 +2 rams + 2 ring, +1 aug slot + 7 neck (http://ddowiki.com/page/Epic_Grim%27s_Bracelet) +4 leg dreadn = 37 unbuffed. 5 primal, 2 rage, 2 boat = 46 buffed
Dex: 23 - 2 earth stance + 7 ring (http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Seal_of_House_Avithoul) +1 exc slot +3 (http://ddowiki.com/page/Planar_Focus_of_Prowess) +2 epic stats =32, ship 34, boost 38.
Wis: 20 + 3 spidersilk + 6 +1 epic lev = 30

AC: 10 base + 2 monk levs + 10 wis +7 prot + 6 nat + 14 dex + +1 alch craft + 8 armor + 4 shield + 1 haste +2 ship +5 combat exp = 70 * 15% mt stance bonus * 10% combat exp = roughly 87-88 AC (havent really delved into exact maths with new % bonuses and destiny bonuses. so AC calc is rough.)
PRR 15 monk twist + 20 leg dread enh + 12 stance +15 trink/weap= 63 PRR + 25% damage reduc thick skinned action boosts + ninja spy incorp 25% + 16% base dodge bonus.

Sneak attack damage: 3d6 epic improved SA feat + 3d6 ninja spy II + 4d6 rogue levels + 14 dex bonus+ 8 goggles + 8 weap/trink + 9 rogue enh +10 rogue active PL +1 rogue passive PL = 10d6 + 50 SA damage.

Stunning blow DC: 10 base + 18 str + 5 spare hand + 10 ring + 1 fighter PL +6 leg dreadn = 50 = disappointing w/ no fighter levels but still feel worth a feat slot.

Other notables and future things I will work out: Full trapping with solid reflex score. Both combat exp and precision feats. Solidish tactical DCs from PL/leg dread. Full UMD with solid base for heal amp and 1st tier scroll mastery.

Overall I think the toon would play well. Solo well with scroll healing/some CC tactics/solid defensive aspects/outstanding crit performance and intense base damage to work from.

[whomhead]

I like the quarterstaff-wielding druid splash idea. I have a 32-point character that I am thinking of swapping over to building as this type of character, but there are a few things I might change. The major change would be to go 12/6/2 monk/rogue/druid. The second druid level gives you the ability to take animal shape - I would go wolf for increased attack speed and at least as much sneak attack as you get from that 7th rogue level. I think animal form would also allow you to use stunning fist and ToD.

For feats I think power attack would be really good to have on this character. I would also consider taking either the THF feats for extra glancing blows, or all of the pre-reqs for overwhelming critical. Not sure which one is better damage (I'd lean towards OC), but it seems to me that the extra damage from either one would more than outweigh things like an extra toughness, combat expertise, or improved trip. What I don't know is if the THF feats work while in animal form? Probably you don't get glancing blows much in wolf form, so would most likely be better to go with OC.

The other big problem I foresee is stealing aggro. With all that sneak attack and earth stance you will need to find yourself some aggro-reduction items. Unless your plan is to tank, which I doubt very much.

[jeremyt]

As far as threat reducing gear: yes you can go that route, some semi easy to attain very effective threat reduction items out there. Generally things Im hitting I really want either CCed or if not, why am i hitting them first? (or if its a boss, then sure i dont mind aggro swappin to me if the situation warrants it. 63PR and other defensive stacking goodies this toon brings to table listed in orig post, they are exceptionally nice. A solid portion of the defensive attributes come from combat, exp, including the sole reason for a tier 3 twist

Personally I see this toon playing like an acrobat or monk (or monk acrobat, all of which ive played a few). Im CCing things then killing them. Solid defensive stats keep me pretty durable aided by playing reactively and proactively IE moving to have things only have access to you one at a time and not flanked. Also running around and using features ect, if you can slow the time it takes for different targets to reach you to = your ability to CC them = you win. Trip = twice as much CC than just stunning blow= something i find useful.

Granted if i went wolf form and used stunning fist thats a 6 second cooldown in one tidy feat so obviously not an issue like stunning blow, so would ditch trip if going wolf form. I will tell you straight up I havent spent any time running quests in wolf form. I rolled up a str/dex/wis human druid with my new shiny lev 7 vet thing. and running around and attacking felt clunky and glitchy while in wolf form. Also issue with run bonuses not stacking. Acrobat + wolf = not stacking i hear. Also acrobat staff attack speed + wolf attack speed = not stacking. So acrobat pretty much = wolf form - tod and stunning fist accessibility. Which obv puts wolf way ahead, but off of my limited exposure to wolf form, i got a sour taste of it..more testing required i guess? And even so, wolf form does only use its own base damage for its melee attacks. giving it same 1d10 as base dice. losing the 2.5 base dice from the epic spear (as far as im aware this is how this functions?) but for sure loses the 18 roll as crit, which compounds when you factor in imp crit feat. making wolf form lose a total of 2 to its crit range. the spear swinging toon ends up with a crit range all way down to 14. wolf form would be 16 with this setup.

As far as THF feats and wolf form, last i saw I read wolf form/bear form dont get bonuses from TWF feats (so prob same for thf?) and even if so: I also tend to move around alot and since THF feats only bonus damage while remaining absolutely still i find them less useful.

overwhelming crit was on the table 3 separate times. And your right, its math might be better than extra SA damage + improved martial +0.5 base damage bonus. **edit wups i misread wiki and epic improved SA feat requires 12 rogue levels, my bad.

[jeremyt]

after relooking at feats and by sage advice going to drop trip + extra toughness for clea/great cleave and attain overhwleming crit. This will req a shift in 2 points of str from 2 dex. new damage math = 6.5(W)1d10 + 43, 14-18 x2/19-20 x5. 7d6 + 50 SA damage

[kaipan]

Shillelagh only works (as by description) on wooden weapons: all the quarterstaves made of something else (like the epic staff of nat gann or sireth) are unaffected by the spell.

[jeremyt]

Shillelagh only works (as by description) on wooden weapons: all the quarterstaves made of something else (like the epic staff of nat gann or sireth) are unaffected by the spell.

are you absolutely sure? I tested this on non-named metal q-staves and it worked fine. It changed their material type back to wood, but otherwise worked as intended. was unable to test on named metal staves yet though

[kaipan]

are you absolutely sure? I tested this on non-named metal q-staves and it worked fine. It changed their material type back to wood, but otherwise worked as intended. was unable to test on named metal staves yet though

I just tried it again with both named and non-named metal staves and it does NOT work... not sure how you got it working on yours.

At least for me, it works only on wooden staves.

Spell description indeed says: "Enchants your WOODEN melee weapons to..."

[jeremyt]

I just tried it again with both named and non-named metal staves and it does NOT work... not sure how you got it working on yours.

At least for me, it works only on wooden staves.

Spell description indeed says: "Enchants your WOODEN melee weapons to..."

toon i would be TRing has a GS q-staff as well as an alchemical one he could fiddle around with but sadly no druid level to check it with. only thing ive been able to check are the random gen metal typed staves. You have obviously had much more direct testing so I will have to say you got the better info as far as named sticks go (metal named sticks).

Bummer. Hard to weigh something as better for a single level than druid still since it offers up vigor and ram's might as well as ability to beef any future wooden staves that might come along. Fighter level would be closest bet I think.

[tanzer]

your SA formula is busted... you wont be able to take improved sneak attack at all.. requires level 12+ rogue AND 21 dex... so drop 3d6 from your calc