Looking for input to improve my current setup :)

[Stoner81]

OK folks this is my first time posting a build here so kindly be gentle with me

So the situation is that I have capped my Fighter to level 25 as a pure build and I really do enjoy playing him, so why I am posting then? Well simply put I am looking at improving him where possible be it with gear or whatever else really and frankly I don't know where to start since I really like the current set up even if I do double up on things here and there.

So on to the juicy bits... the stats!

General Statistics

The stats include items bonuses, enhancements etc.

Race - Dwarf.
Alignment - Neutral Good.

Strength = 45 (+3 tome used and include STR points from level ups and ED's).
Dexterity = 18 (+2 tome used).
Constitution = 33 (+3 tome used).
Intelligence = 16 (+2 tome used, I like skill points during level up).
Wisdom = 18 (+1 tome used).
Charisma = 14 (+2 tome used).

Total Hit Points = 866 (includes items, enhancements etc).
BAB = 23.
Fortitude = 36.
Reflex = 23.
Will = 23.
Spell Resistance = 0.
Fortification = 110%.
Physical Resistance Rating = 29 (16.43%).
Armor Class = 59.
Damage Reduction = 5/-

Skills

Balance = 32.5
Haggle = 18.5
Intimidate = 53.
Jump = 55.
Swim = 26.

These are the only ones which I have put points in to.

Feats

Power Attack.
Combat Expertise.
Cleave.
Great Cleave.
Two Handed Fighting.
Improved Two Handed Fighting.
Greater Two Handed Fighting.
Epic Toughness.
Coin Lords Finishing School Training.
Improved Trip.
Weapon Focus - Slashing.
Greater Weapon Focus - Slashing.
Superior Weapon Focus - Slashing.
Weapon Specialization - Slashing.
Greater Weapon Specialization - Slashing.
Overwhelming Critical.
Power Critical (wondering if this is rather pointless now).
Toughness x3.

Enhancements

Fighter Attack Boost 3.
Fighter Haste Boost 4.
Fighter Weapon Alacrity.
Dwarven Constitution 2.
Dwarven Spell Resistance 2 (I think will confirm at next login.
Fighter Kensei Signature Weapon - Greatsword 3.
Fighter Critical Accuracy 4.
Fighter Kensei 3.
Fighter Strategy - Trip 3.
Fighter Weapon Mastery Greatsword - Greatsword Specialization 2.
Racial Toughness 3.
Skill - Intimidate 3.
Fighter Stat - Strength 3.
Fighter Toughness 3.

Epic Destinies

Main Destiny - Legendary Dreadnought.

2/3 Legendary Tactics.
1/1 Improved Power Attack.
3/3 Momentum Swing.
1/1 Lay Waste.
1/3 Critical Damage.
1/1 Devastating Critical.
1/1 Masters Blitz.
5/6 Strength (this is included in the main stats).

Twists Of Fate

Healing Spring and Primal Scream.

I am working on unlocking the final twist and looking to upgrade one slot maybe two not sure yet.

Gear

I think it is probably this section that lets me down the most to be honest but anyway see what you think

Eyes = Lenses Of The Woodsman / Undersun Googles.
Armor = Embrace Of The Spider Queen (insightful STR +3, Knights Loyalty).
Wrists = Bracers Of The Sun Soul.
Ring = Eagle +13, Protection +7.
Boots = Cannith Propulsion Boots.
Gloves = PDK.
Ring = Exceptional STR +1, Natural Armor +6.
Cloak = Charismatic +6, Resistance +7 / CHA +5-7 w/ Superior Element Resists.
Trinket = Sustaining Symbiont / Voice Of The Master.
Necklace = Currently empty.
Helmet = PDK / Underwater Action, Haggle +15.

I am working on getting SoS and eventually eSoS for my main weapon, I am also wanting to get a Greensteel HP item so not sure what to do on that. So as you might imagine from this rather lengthy post I am open to suggestions and ideas

Thanks for looking and for any/all advice!

Stoner81.

[count_spicoli]

I'll not looking too bad here.

First off we have to work on.enhancements. You most assuredly want haste boost of some sort. Since ypu are ftr i would suggest going ftr haste IV thri enhancements. I prefer this over the destiny one in that you will essentially no cooldown on it as oppossed to the 20 sec you get thru destiny and much more funny goodies to.spend points on in dreadnought. You can get rid of critical accuracy 4 and toughness 4 &to.free up some ap. Also didnt see it in your post but you will also want sig weapon 3 for the +1 to threat range..

On feats you def want imp crit slashing to also improve crit range. Also stunnong blow is great on dwarven ftrs because you will get xtra racial enhancements to boost it up.

As far as gear your not in too bad a shape here. There is some nice.raid gear out there that would help your toon but advise.against it.these days due.to raiding beong mostly dead in.ddo. But the bracers from the high road chain are nice for the except seeker and blurry. Also since i see you trip ypu could also go for the armor out of the deneith quests. +15 vertigo makes your trips inresistable even in epic elites. I slot mine with toughness and except.str.

Well hope this helps.

[Kinerd]

You have to have IC to have OC, so I'll assume you have that somewhere. And you have 19 feats listed, and 11 + 7 + 2 is 20 so that must be the missing one.

You say you've dropped Improved Sunder, how come? It'll do more for you than Power Critical for sure.

The biggest strength of dwarves is Dwarven Spell Defense, and Haste Boost as stated is awesome. Stuff you can easily drop: Crit Acc 4, both Toughness 4s, that's enough for Haste Boost 4 and DSD 1 right off the bat.

[Stoner81]

Thanks for the replies, I have certainly taken Improved Critical - Slashing I do remember that I just don't remember seeing it listed in my feat list though I could have missed it by mistake.

I dropped Improved Sunder because it was never really landing maybe once out of 5 or more so I didn't really see the point to be honest. Does it still do anything if it doesn't land?

I have signature weapon 3 if I remember right but again don't remember seeing it listed, I always carry Haste pots for the 20 second burst so is it really worth taking Fighter Haste Boost?

Next time I log in I will reset my enhancements and jig stuff round looking at what you have both suggested I don't think I have done bad for my first ever & capped toon I just would like to do better

Trip most of the time is only for caster since the damage they output is insane so if I can trip them then they stop hurting people and can be killed quicker due to being prone, against much else it is not much use most of the time though I am spending a lot of time out of LD since capping other ED's for twists.

EDIT - Just been to see Fred to swap a feat and now he wants a Flawless Dragonshard and 100,000 platinum! What the hell is going on, it used to be free for level 25's!

Stoner81.

[Kinerd]

Thanks for the replies, I have certainly taken Improved Critical - Slashing I do remember that I just don't remember seeing it listed in my feat list though I could have missed it by mistake.

I dropped Improved Sunder because it was never really landing maybe once out of 5 or more so I didn't really see the point to be honest. Does it still do anything if it doesn't land?

Yes, it's one of the beauties of it. Every time you hit with Improved Sunder, the target gets Trauma, a -3 to Fort save that stacks up to 5 times. You probably won't be able to land the fortification/AC penalty first try against big bosses, but with an effective +15 to your DC? You'll manage.

I have signature weapon 3 if I remember right but again don't remember seeing it listed, I always carry Haste pots for the 20 second burst so is it really worth taking Fighter Haste Boost?

They stack.

[Stoner81]

Well really! I had no idea that Haste Boost and pots stacked so will certainly have to remember that!

Thanks for the information about Improved Sunder I will swap out Power Critical for it when I can

Stoner81.

[Stoner81]

Quick update on this, I have now got a empty necklace slot so looking in to getting a Greensteel HP necklace for it, if so then the +45 HP would put me at about 890HP without buffs.

Stoner81.

[Nitesco]

Quick update on this, I have no got a empty necklace slot so looking in to getting a Greensteel HP necklace for it, if so then the +45 HP would put me at about 890HP without buffs.

Stoner81.

On a Fighter, a HP item is only really required when tanking. You can make your HP item your goggles and they won't conflict with wearing Tharne's while not taking aggro. I have a similar build to this, but with more tactics. For gear, you could go something like:

Head: Purple Dragon Helm
Eyes: Tharne's/+45 HP Smoke
Neck: Epic Grim's Bracelet (Good Luck +2)
Trinket: Litany of the Dead/Epic Brawn's Spirits/Greater Bold Trinket/Greater Nimble Trinket/Pale Lavender Ioun Stone
Back: Epic Cloak of Night
Belt: Epic Spare Hand (Heavy Fortification, Exceptional Str +1)
Wrists: Convalescent of Superior Parrying
Hands: Purple Dragon Gauntlets/Epic Gloves of the Claw
Ring: Seal of House Dun'Robar (Con +7, Vertigo +10)
Ring: Epic Ring of the Stalker (Greater False Life, Dex +6)
Body: Terrorweb Chitin Breastplate (+3 Str)
Feet: Striding 30% of Balance +15/Epic Rock Boots/Kundarak Delving Boots

Or you could use a Vertigo weapon like a Drow Greataxe or Duergar Waraxe and replace the cloak with an Adamantine Cloak of the Wolf and the ring with Cinder's Band or something else while tanking.

[Stoner81]

The Terrorweb Chitin Breastplate is worst than my current armor since it's lower AC and my Dexterity bonus is only +4 so the AC would max out at 25 and in my current one I have 28 or 29 (not sure which) from Embrace Of The Spider Queen. It's also part of the Knights Loyalty set so I get the set bonus.

I would not mind getting hold of Litany though for the trinket slot just need to get all the sigil pieces which is a right PITA!

Tharnes goggles give True Seeing which I already have and the other stuff on it is of no real use since I can sneak as well as a hungry elephant. Due to swap rounds I am sat at about 821 HP without buffs (give or take a bit, I will update when I log in again).

Really going to have to spend a lot of time looking at all the epic items I think and seeing what I can fit where, this toon is basically "see a bad guy, kill it fast" pure out and out DPS is the name of the game with this chappy, the faster I can kill stuff the less hurt it can dish out (well that's the idea anyway )

Thanks for the input!

Stoner81.

[Zarquine]

My 2 cents:

Skills:

- Jump has a hard cap of 40 and you can usually do most stuff with a Jump potion or even better with the help of a friendly Arcane. Most people say that 10 points in Jump are enough.

- Swim: Useless skill. Probably the most useless skill in the game.

- Intimidate: 53 isn't that great, maybe drop the Intimidate Enhancements for something else.


Feats:

- Power Critical: Drop it for Improved Sunder.

- Toughness x3: Maybe drop one and get Stunning Blow instead.


Epic Destinies:

- As long as you don't have / use an eSoS maybe use a Greataxe and drop some STR stuff for Headman's Chop? That means resetting the Kensai enhancements, too.

- Tunnel Vision and Sense Weakness from Fury of the Wild are great twists, too...


Enhancements:

- Dwarven Spell Resistance: Kinda useless at higher lvls.

Gear:

- +45 HP GS Goggles of Smoke are great (Perma-Blur, Displacement x2 clicky) (http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/~delalle...&weapon=weapon)

- GS Haste clicky?

- GS Stoneskin clicky?

[Nitesco]

The Terrorweb Chitin Breastplate is worst than my current armor since it's lower AC and my Dexterity bonus is only +4 so the AC would max out at 25 and in my current one I have 28 or 29 (not sure which) from Embrace Of The Spider Queen. It's also part of the Knights Loyalty set so I get the set bonus.

What is your AC? I doubt it constitutes enough of your defece for you to worry about. Terrorweb Chitin Breastplate is an all around good defensive armor. With Resistance +6 stacking with Superior Parrying for a total of +10 to saves. It also has Toughness, stacking elemental resistance and most importantly a high MDB for maximum dodge/PRR ratio.

Tharnes goggles give True Seeing which I already have and the other stuff on it is of no real use since I can sneak as well as a hungry elephant. Due to swap rounds I am sat at about 821 HP without buffs (give or take a bit, I will update when I log in again).

Tharne's Goggles give +8 damage to your attacks (via Sneak Attack) when you don't have aggro. They also have True Seeing which means you won't roll misses against concealed targets or miss important secret doors.

[Stoner81]

My 2 cents:

Skills:

- Jump has a hard cap of 40 and you can usually do most stuff with a Jump potion or even better with the help of a friendly Arcane. Most people say that 10 points in Jump are enough.

- Swim: Useless skill. Probably the most useless skill in the game.

- Intimidate: 53 isn't that great, maybe drop the Intimidate Enhancements for something else.


Feats:

- Power Critical: Drop it for Improved Sunder.

- Toughness x3: Maybe drop one and get Stunning Blow instead.


Epic Destinies:

- As long as you don't have / use an eSoS maybe use a Greataxe and drop some STR stuff for Headman's Chop? That means resetting the Kensai enhancements, too.

- Tunnel Vision and Sense Weakness from Fury of the Wild are great twists, too...


Enhancements:

- Dwarven Spell Resistance: Kinda useless at higher lvls.

Gear:

- +45 HP GS Goggles of Smoke are great (Perma-Blur, Displacement x2 clicky) (http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/~delalle...&weapon=weapon)

- GS Haste clicky?

- GS Stoneskin clicky?

Intimidate is as high as I can seem to get it, maxed it out at creation and a point every level up. I have a +15 Intimidate item too not sure what else to do in order to increase it. I know about jump now though I didn't when I capped this toon it is something I plan on fixing at some point.

That shroud planner gives me headache to say the least! I have looked at it a few times and always end up with headache will get my head round it one day. I certainly want the +45 HP and perma blur item I hope it can go on a necklace slot though since that is what I have open at the moment.

As for swim I didn't think to what else to spend it on but hey ho

I am currently working on my Twists Of Fate and certainly want Sense Weakness for sure it's just awesome! Going to keep Primal Scream since it stacks with Kensei STR boost which when both are running and I am on LD puts me at STR 58 (hoping for a +5 STR tome at some point... hey I can dream can't I ). Not sure what to do with the last slot though yet and I have a looooong way to go yet before even getting close to that set up

What is your AC? I doubt it constitutes enough of your defece for you to worry about. Terrorweb Chitin Breastplate is an all around good defensive armor. With Resistance +6 stacking with Superior Parrying for a total of +10 to saves. It also has Toughness, stacking elemental resistance and most importantly a high MDB for maximum dodge/PRR ratio.

Tharne's Goggles give +8 damage to your attacks (via Sneak Attack) when you don't have aggro. They also have True Seeing which means you won't roll misses against concealed targets or miss important secret doors.

Current AC sits at 59 without buffs. EotSQ gives me Heavy Fort, 10% Exceptional Fort, Knights Loyalty, +3 Insight STR, Toughness, Poison Resist and DR /5- (think that covers everything). I have resistance +7 on a cloak atm and my bracers have Superior Parrying so I am at +11 there , the armour is also bound and attuned so I have added the +1 AC ritual too.

As for goggles I use Lenses of the Woodsman which give True Seeing so I never miss secret doors, they also give Seeker +6 and +3 to attack rolls so I only miss on a roll of a 1 more or less all the time I think (could be wrong though)

Thanks for the input chaps it's all appreciated

Stoner81.

[Kinerd]

- Swim: Useless skill. Probably the most useless skill in the game.

Swimming and flying faster isn't amazing but I wouldn't say it's useless. With Intim and Balance maxed and Jump hard capped, what else would you spend on?

- Dwarven Spell Resistance: Kinda useless at higher lvls.

Strongly disagree. There's more than enough saves gear running around to get above the save only on a 20 line, and at that point every +1 to saves is worthwhile.

[Nitesco]

Current AC sits at 59 without buffs. EotSQ gives me Heavy Fort, 10% Exceptional Fort, Knights Loyalty, +3 Insight STR, Toughness, Poison Resist and DR /5- (think that covers everything). I have resistance +7 on a cloak atm and my bracers have Superior Parrying so I am at +11 there , the armour is also bound and attuned so I have added the +1 AC ritual too.

As for goggles I use Lenses of the Woodsman which give True Seeing so I never miss secret doors, they also give Seeker +6 and +3 to attack rolls so I only miss on a roll of a 1 more or less all the time I think (could be wrong though)

Your AC is too low to care about, as is the value of the PDK set bonus. Get some ghostly and dodge items, they don't scale into uselessness in content where it matters most. Unless your building to be an uber raid tank, AC is something 'nice' to have a 'bit' of, once the important forms of defence are covered. Where is your Vertigo item slotted and why don't you have Stunning Blow?

[Stoner81]

I don't have a Vertigo item atm and Stunning Blow was never going off so I dumped it around level 10 I think. I am after the GS item to give perma Blur so hopefully that will help.

Stoner81.

[Zarquine]

Swimming and flying faster isn't amazing but I wouldn't say it's useless. With Intim and Balance maxed and Jump hard capped, what else would you spend on?

I would put points into Haggle, some in Tumble and UMD (no specific order).

Strongly disagree. There's more than enough saves gear running around to get above the save only on a 20 line, and at that point every +1 to saves is worthwhile.

Six AP for a +3 to saves against spells? Sorry, seems to be too expensive to me.

[Stoner81]

Haggle I have maxed out and not put anything in to Tumble or UMD. Might have to LR him and shift some points round.

Stoner81.

[Nitesco]

I would put points into Haggle, some in Tumble and UMD (no specific order).

I would never put points into Haggle and 1 rank in Tumble is all you need. You will probably need a stupid amount of almost unattainable UMD gear to get your UMD to a Heal scroll viable level (39 for no fail IIRC). Max Balance and Intimidate, 1 rank in Tumble, no more than 9 ranks in Jump and the rest into Spot unless you KNOW you can hit 39 UMD with gear you can farm within say the next 6 months.

Six AP for a +3 to saves against spells? Sorry, seems to be too expensive to me.

I never go past +2 on my Dwarves, but remember Dwarves are already getting +2 to saves against magic and poison anyway. Having +4-5 to saves on top of all the regular sources is VERY GOOD. The only annoying thing is that not all of it shows on up the character sheet.

Have a look at the wiki entry: http://ddowiki.com/page/Dwarf

[Zarquine]

I would never put points into Haggle and 1 rank in Tumble is all you need. You will probably need a stupid amount of almost unattainable UMD gear to get your UMD to a Heal scroll viable level (39 for no fail IIRC). Max Balance and Intimidate, 1 rank in Tumble, no more than 9 ranks in Jump and the rest into Spot unless you KNOW you can hit 39 UMD with gear you can farm within say the next 6 months.

Heal Scrolls aren't all that UMD is good for. 20 UMD (or is it 26?) to use items with a different Alignment is the first "milestone" to hit.

And I have to admit, at the moment I am heavily biased towards UMD. I have my first char with a high UMD and enjoy it very much.

I never go past +2 on my Dwarves, but remember Dwarves are already getting +2 to saves against magic and poison anyway. Having +4-5 to saves on top of all the regular sources is VERY GOOD. The only annoying thing is that not all of it shows on up the character sheet.

Regarding saves I think either I get high saves or I don't bother with them, mediocre saves are kinda wasted...

[Nitesco]

Heal Scrolls aren't all that UMD is good for. 20 UMD (or is it 26?) to use items with a different Alignment is the first "milestone" to hit.

I don't think anyone cares about this anymore. What items that matter are you talking about?

And I have to admit, at the moment I am heavily biased towards UMD. I have my first char with a high UMD and enjoy it very much.

If you can't UMD Heal scrolls, about the only reason to have it is for Raise Dead scrolls. Take my advice and dump UMD, it's useless on your build.

Regarding saves I think either I get high saves or I don't bother with them, mediocre saves are kinda wasted...

Well not really, in the gear layout I described, you are getting +6 Resistance, +4 Insight and +2 Luck to saves. As a Dwarf with Dwarven Spell Resistance II, you are getting around +16 to saves just through gear and race. If that brings your Reflex save into the 50% range, then those enhacements are worth taking.