Theorybuild - The Whirling Dervish
It's tough being Melee DPS these days. I've had my eyes opened on Epic Elite difficulties, and the days of Dumping AC, having a moderate amount of HP and killing stuff before it kills you are far and away over.
So I started wanting more for my money. How can build a character capable of taking on packs of Mobs or doing good single target DPS? I wanted said build to have great defenses, a stack of HP and not have to be reliant on a healer for emergency or out of combat healing. I also wanted some extras - toys such as Teleport and Displacements.
So this theory build really, really, REALLY strives to make the complete package for me. The build goals are:
1. Very good DPS vs. Trash Mob Packs
2. Very good Melee DPS vs. Single Target / Boss / Raid Boss
3. Good Defenses across the board, without major DPS sacrifices
4. Good Self-Healing, guaranteed delivery and for large amounts
5. Some measure of Versatility for interest and ease of play
As a Theorybuild, the number detail is lacking in this post on purpose, as no one likes reading through a wall of text and I can really get carried away with waxing lyrical about my latest great idea.
Core Build
Class Split: Ranger 14 ~ Fighter 4 ~ Monk 2
Race: Half-Elf
Starting / Finishing Stats (34pt Life)
Str 16 / 40 - (+3 Tome needed)
Dex 16 / 42 - (+4 Tome needed)
Con 16 / 34 - (+3 Tome needed)
Int 10 / 15 - (+3 Tome needed)
Wis 10 / 22 - (+3 Tome needed)
Cha 08 / 20 - (+3 Tome needed)
Feat List
- 7 Standard +3 Fighter +2 Monk +2 Epic = 14 Chosen Feats
Chosen Feats
- Dilletante: Rogue
- Power Attack, Precision, Combat Expertise
- Cleave, Great Cleave, Whirlwind
- Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack
- Improved Critical, Overwhelming Critical
- Toughness, Quicken,
- One of: Ex: Khopesh/Ex: Bastard Sword/Empower Heal (I chose Khopesh due to my Greensteel availability).
Ranger Free Feats
TWF, ITWF, GTWF, Diehard, Evasion, Favoured Enemies x3
Bow Strength, Rapid Shot, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot,
Enhancement List
Ranger Tempest 2, Ranger Dexterity 3, Human Adaptability 2, Fighter Strength 1,
Fighter Haste Boost 2, Human Versatility 2, Improved Dilletante 3, FE: Damage 4,
Racial Toughness 3, Fighter Toughness 2, Human Improved Recovery 2, Ranger Devotion 4, Ranger Sprint Boost 1, Ranger Energy Resistance Boost 1
Epic Destiny - Shadow Dancer
+1 Dexterity x2, Acrobatic 2, Lithe 3, Shrouding Strike 3, Grim Precision 3,
Improved Invisibility 1, Sealed Soul, Untouchable, Executioners Strike 3, Shadow Form
Twists
EN/EH - DPS - Lay Waste, Momentum Swing, Rejuvenation Cocoon
EE - Defense - Improved Combat Expertise, Rejuvenation Cocoon, Unearthly Reactions
So how does it all of the build goals? I'll comment on points above:
1. High Melee DPS vs. Trash Mob Packs
- Power Attack as combat stance
- Full TWF Feat Line
- Ranger 12 & Tempest 2 for full 100% Offhand attacks
- Cleave, Great Cleave and *Whirlwind* as AoE Attack Specials
- Lay Waste & Momentum Swing for Additional AoE Attack Specials
This gives the Whirling Dervish its name, really. The ability to continually spin attacks across
multiple mobs as well, as well as giving the optimum number of attacks for TWF before any
Doublestrike.
2. Very good Melee DPS vs. Single Target / Boss / Raid Boss
- Precision as Combat Stance
- 3D6 Sneak Damage: Rogue Dilletante
- 6D6 Sneak Damage: ShadowDancer Core destiny
- Stacking Seeker Critical Damage (+15 from Items)
- Khopeshes & Overwhelming Critical for high Crit Multi
- Grim Precision Rank 3 to give 40% Personal Fort Bypass
- DC55 Executioners strike for mob instant Kills
The build delivers 9D6+13 Sneak Damage and x4 Crits, as well as the noted 40% Fort Bypass. The Lord of Blades can be reduced to a much easier to manage 20% Fortification with the addition of a simple Blasting Chime. Improved deception is a requirement in the build, so a Seal of Avithoul or the new Epic Backstabbers Gloves are very desirable. For myself, I also have a pair of GS Radiance Khopeshes banked on this TR.
Interestingly, with Half-Elf and Ranger making up the core components of the build, it becomes very easy to build a very High Dex for the purposes of Reflex Save, Ac and Executioners Strike DC. Despite the horrible 35% Activation chance, DC55 should work very well for popping off troublesome mage mobs in high diffuclty content.
3. Good Defenses across the board, without major DPS sacrifices
- 756 Hit Points
- 80AC standing in Light Armour, rising to around 100AC in CE mode with Buffs
- 57 PRR while in TWF Mode, 77 PRR in CE Mode
- F50/R57/W36 Self-Buffed Saves
- 24% Dodge - MDB 25 with Flawless White Dragonscale Hide and ShadowDancer's Lithe Rank 3
- 20% Static / 50% Buffed Concealment with Smoke 2 Item, Displacement Scrolls / Blind Procs
- 10% Static / 25% Buffed Incorporeal with Treads and ShadowDancer's Shadow Form
- For Epic Elites: Combat Expertise as a Combat Stance
- Adds 20 PRR through Improved Combat Expertise
4. Self-Healing
- 215% Healing Amplification
- 140 Devotion Spell Power Minimum
- Quickened Rejuvenation
- Quickened Cure Serious Wounds
- Empower Heal at Epic levels
- CSW Avg: ((3D6+6+12)*2.4)*2.15 = ((28.5)*2.4)*2.15 = 147HP Per cast Avg
- RjC Avg: ((5D6)*2.4)*2.15 = ((17.5)*2.4)*2.15 = 90.3 per tick(4) = 361HP Per cast Avg
Note that I expect to change out of GS Khopeshes when I get into Epic levels, looking at perhaps a pair of Celestia's or Balizarde's for the Planar Conflux set bonus and the improvement in DPS output. This will free up the Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat choice and allow me to instead take Empower Heal.
5. Versatility
- Full Ranger Bow Feats
- UMD at Half Ranks
Add a Pinion from CitW, and Manyshot/IPS DPS is relevant and available at the touch of a button.With Epic level skills a ~30ish UMD should be feasible to get Displacements
running as needed and other toys such as Teleport.
Ermm, thats it. Comments and suggested improvements welcome.