TWF: Barbarian, Monk, Fighter, Paladin?

[mimneotic]

I need a decent build for a TWF character, 32 pt build. Can probably get one or two +2 tomes, but not immediately, so if possible I'd like to save those for as late as is possible in the build if they are necessary.

Any weapon / race is fine. The higher DPS, the better. I do not want this character to be meant as an off-tank of any sort. Just pure DPS.

Woo.


*edit

Also, I'll be soloing a lot with a hireling cleric on my side probably, and occasionally group up with others, if that changes anything.

[Ape_Man]

. . . Just pure DPS . . .

There are a plethora of posts as to why at this point in the game this is a bad idea. What's your reason for wanting this?

The answer is fighter or rogue.

[mimneotic]

I like to deal damage. I guess if I had to do something on the side though, it'd be tanking. What's your suggestion?

[DrakHar]

I need a decent build for a TWF character, 32 pt build. Can probably get one or two +2 tomes, but not immediately, so if possible I'd like to save those for as late as is possible in the build if they are necessary.

Any weapon / race is fine. The higher DPS, the better. I do not want this character to be meant as an off-tank of any sort. Just pure DPS.

Woo.


*edit

Also, I'll be soloing a lot with a hireling cleric on my side probably, and occasionally group up with others, if that changes anything.

He means you should be able to take care of yourself - self heal, etc.

[Ape_Man]

I like to deal damage.

We all do, it's the job of any melee. But building for 100% damage dealing with no defense or self-healing will end you up as a soul-stone for often than not at end-game in anything difficult.

it's just a caution, everyone I know who has a robust stable of toons leaves there 100% "full-******" melee DPS toon parked most of the time.

I guess if I had to do something on the side though, it'd be tanking. What's your suggestion?

A pure 20 fighter Kensai, helf with Cleric dilly (for heal scrolls) at start, switch to Rogue Dilly at cap once you get silverflame pots. You'll be able to heal yourself decent and there isn't a DPS loss (though you have to look like a helf but that's cured with /showhelmet on).

Regarding weapons . . . kensai get huge bonuses with a specific weapon type. Right now the best one-handers are the Balizarde (a rapier) and the Nightmare (a Bastard Sword). Building for that is fine as are the perennial Khopeshs.

[maddmatt70]

We all do, it's the job of any melee. But building for 100% damage dealing with no defense or self-healing will end you up as a soul-stone for often than not at end-game in anything difficult.

it's just a caution, everyone I know who has a robust stable of toons leaves there 100% "full-******" melee DPS toon parked most of the time.



A pure 20 fighter Kensai, helf with Cleric dilly (for heal scrolls) at start, switch to Rogue Dilly at cap once you get silverflame pots. You'll be able to heal yourself decent and there isn't a DPS loss (though you have to look like a helf but that's cured with /showhelmet on).

This is a very good suggestion for a newer player. Heal scrolls are not cheap for a newer player, but they are much cheaper then silver flame pots and a great way to be somewhat self sufficient without requiring heavy investments in charisma and the use magic device skill in terms of gear and build. It is also a good way to learn the ropes. Looking at the lfms in game you can see alot of lfms that advertise for elite or bravery bonus on elite which are dicey for the newer player. The cleric dill will allow a newer player to use cure serious wands, raise dead scrolls, and heal scrolls which are all great for a newer player in terms of cost and effectiveness for these difficulties.

[Purkilius]

Well imo a twf paladin with maybe a 2 levels of monk is best for a new player, take monk levels early to evade traps and use wraps to level 12 then grind out the water khopeshes.

In a middle of a fight is not easy to change weapons to heal scrolls then back to weapons again instead of lay on hands for a non interrupted heal.

[Ellihor]

12 fig/6 rgr/2 rog kensei II tempest I, max burst dps when manyshot is up. If you dont like using bows and really want full damage, do human barb 20 (will be less dps than figther while lvling because you want to go twf but at cap when you get haste boost its going to be better).

[Bacab]

I kinda think with FB...you should THF...

But long time ago in a land far away...when cap was 16 and Shroud was completed on Elite with level 16s...

I had a Crit-Rage Barb Friend that used 2 Deathnips and he tore stuff up.

Anyway...


If you solo a lot (even if with a Hireling)...

That 18PLD/2MNK may be really nice. Your DPS will be fine for Hard content.

Your Saves will be godly for all content.

And once you hit 20 or 20+ and you decide to TR...you have the BEST Melee Past life in the game.

Also...Lay on Hands is awesome when your Hireling Cleric decides to stand in a trap and die...or decides that breaking a barrel is more important than healing you...

Easy Wand usage is nice also.

Also with Paladin devotion and Human Healing amp (heck if you plan to solo a lot take a few levels of Monk) and Monk Healing amp...you can self-heal really well.

Another option...
2 ROG over 2 MNK...less feats but you can stack your UMD easier for random scrollage.

[Dace]

Personally for your solo past life, I'd be inclined to look strongly at two options:

* A Phoenix variant Paladin/Monk/Fighter with 15/4/1 or 15/3/2 split.
* A monk Omnimonk variant Monk/Fighter/Rogue with a 12/6/2 split.

The Phoenix has some of the best survivability in any character. From personal experience, DPS is subpar though.

The Omnimonk will let you solo EH content without a hireling. For low level content I'd maximise search and modify the levelling order/feats so you qualify for light monk/Fists of Light instead of the dark path. Switch to dark path again nearer L20.

[Kinerd]

With the emphasis on soloing with a hire, I would go pure fighter.

Human
16 Str, 16 Dex, 16 Con, 10 Wis
If you don't think you'll have a +1 Dex tome by 6, put your first level-up there, everything else in Strength.

Feats
1: TWF, Exotic Weapon Khopseh, Dodge
2: WF: Slash
3: Toughness
4: WS: Slash
6: Toughness and ITWF
8: Improved Critical
9: Toughness
10: Power Attack
12: GTWF and GWF: Slash
14: Improved Sunder
15: Toughness
16: Mobility
18: Toughness and GWS: Slash
20: Cleave
21: Great Cleave
24: Overwhelming Critical
(If you want any other particular feat, swap out some Toughnesses. Can also go half-elf if you can tolerate the ugly.)

Key Enhancements
Stalwart Defender
Haste Boost
Human Versatility
Improved Recovery
Khopesh Specialization
Capstone

While having no self-sufficiency, it's very easy to solo with a hireling with this build and it contributes very well in a group. Having reasonable defense doesn't mean you have to (or can) tank.