how to optimize late-decision splashes

[walkin_dude]

I have a FvS with level 14 banked, and I just LR'ed him yesterday.

The trouble has been figuring out what type of build to go with, and as a result poor Daaghda was trying to do everything. It wasn't working out terribly, but then again he also hasn't reached the epic content yet.

So I knuckled down and made a choice, largely based on numerous forum posts. The original plan was to do evoker, but it seems like that isn't such a good idea for divines that don't have a few past life feats under their belts. Melee/healer seemed like the way to go for a first lifer.

I didn't have a lesser heart with any pluses, so the LR was strictly to re-spec for melee instead of hodge-podge. But he will still need two levels of rogue and a level of fighter in order to fulfill the plan.

My question, then, is where in the 14-20 range is the best place to take the rogue and fighter levels.

Any other random advice is also more than welcome. I made this guy because I unlocked the class on Sarlona, and he is turning out to be pretty fun (though admittedly I have a lot to learn about the best methods for healing).

Thanks in advance,

Shaun

[Hobgoblin]

I have a FvS with level 14 banked, and I just LR'ed him yesterday.

The trouble has been figuring out what type of build to go with, and as a result poor Daaghda was trying to do everything. It wasn't working out terribly, but then again he also hasn't reached the epic content yet.

So I knuckled down and made a choice, largely based on numerous forum posts. The original plan was to do evoker, but it seems like that isn't such a good idea for divines that don't have a few past life feats under their belts. Melee/healer seemed like the way to go for a first lifer.

I didn't have a lesser heart with any pluses, so the LR was strictly to re-spec for melee instead of hodge-podge. But he will still need two levels of rogue and a level of fighter in order to fulfill the plan.

My question, then, is where in the 14-20 range is the best place to take the rogue and fighter levels.

Any other random advice is also more than welcome. I made this guy because I unlocked the class on Sarlona, and he is turning out to be pretty fun (though admittedly I have a lot to learn about the best methods for healing).

Thanks in advance,

Shaun

Well, just in general - taking rogue levels is best done at level 1 - for skill points

but you dont have that option.

if it were me - i would go up to level 18 fvs at this point and get your level 9 spells then rogue, then your epic levels.

if you go less then 18 levels of fvs - you lose your level 9 spells. possibly not a big deal - but needs to be considered.

Why do you need the fighter levels? feats? weapon pros?

some things to be considered.

hob

[Hobgoblin]

another thing - are you dead set on rogue levels? what are you wanting them for? evasion, umd, trap skills?

if its just evasion - try monk instead.

hob

[walkin_dude]

The main reason I was thinking the fighter level would be good idea was because a guy I grouped with the other day was saying it would basically get me two free feats. I wasn't thinking about the level 9 spell, though, that's a good point.

edit: rogue is good for all of the reasons you mentioned. Monk, on the other hand, seems very restrictive in the weapon and armor areas.

[Hobgoblin]

The main reason I was thinking the fighter level would be good idea was because a guy I grouped with the other day was saying it would basically get me two free feats. I wasn't thinking about the level 9 spell, though, that's a good point.

edit: rogue is good for all of the reasons you mentioned. Monk, on the other hand, seems very restrictive in the weapon and armor areas.

rogue gives you 3 main things. 1. umd. 2. evasion. 3. Traps skills
monk gives you some other things. no umd, no traps but you get regardless of your weapons evasion and 2 feats.
If you are centered, you also get the base stances. so +2 dex wis str or con. but the weapon and armor limitations come into play there.

I would honestly go monk with that build

hob

[Kmnh]

I don't see 17/2/1 fvs as a good splash. Missing out on Mass Heal will be costly. It's doable with good gear and a good destiny/twists setup but it shouldn't be your first fvs.

I would skip one of the rogue levels, take the 18th fvs level for mass heal and use HP and spells to protect against evadable stuff.

[Kylric]

I have a level 9 FVS, and honestly he frustrates me. I'm not great at anything at this point, but I have decided to get him to level 12 and see what happens.

I've thought a lot about adding 2 levels of monk. If you have a high wisdom the monk levels will boost your AC and stunning fists, IMO two more great reasons for monk levels. I'm new to DDO, but 18/2 FvS/Monk seems like a good combo.

Good luck on your decision.

[DarkForte]

Rogue levels are a bad idea on a fvs. A 2 monk splash gets you more. You get two feats with that: go with something on the twf line and stunning fist.

[PurpleTimb]

You didn't mention your character's race or alignment and those may effect what the best option is for you.

There are a lot of different ways to build a favored soul. If you want to melee, elf or half-elf dual wielding scimitars is my prefered choice; 18 fvs/2 monk for evasion and the two free feats gives you enough feats to take full TWF as well as quicken and maximize for blade barriers and mass cures. Also, a warforged pure Lord of Blades is viable and fun to play. There's not much love for meleeing warforged at the moment, but a self-healing SoS wielder with 2,500 SPs worth of divine punishment can do just fine.

I concur with the other posters that recommend monk over rogue. All favored souls are feat starved so those 2 free feats are valuable.

[walkin_dude]

You didn't mention your character's race or alignment and those may effect what the best option is for you.

Human, neutral good.

It definitely sounds like monk is the preferred way. I appreciate all of the advice.

[Matuse]

Can't be a monk as Neutral Good, unless you are willing to spring for an alignment change token.

[Habreno]

Monks need to be Lawful Good or Lawful Neutral.


If you're of any race but Half Elf, I would simply cap to 20 then TR to a HElf. If you don't want to TR, then an 18/2 Favored Soul/Fighter would be okay, though a pure 20 would also work (taking a single proficiency feat for some THF weapon; Warforged would skip this feat with the Lord of Blades line and go with Greatswords; for non-WF I would recommend Great Axes unless you have an ESOS)

I wouldn't go with Rogue; if you want traps you need Rogue at level 1 for skill points and access to skills; this late it's a poor choice. Monk is also poor as you need too many things for that to work; ironically, if you went caster based, a 1 monk splash would get you an extra DC through water stance, though most would go with 2 monk for Evasion.

[walkin_dude]

Can't be a monk as Neutral Good, unless you are willing to spring for an alignment change token.

Ack, I totally didn't even think of that part. So that puts me back to a rogue splash or pure fvs, unless I pull a greater heart sometime. :P