Kensei Warpriest for new players (Human 12/8 Fighter/Cleric)

[mna]

I was just thinking, all the fun with Righteous Weapons going to waste and all... and then some more reflex save would be nice according to some comments...

Would something like this be viable?

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Level 24 True Neutral Elf Male
(10 Fighter \ 2 Rogue \ 8 Cleric \ 4 Epic) 
Hit Points: 295
Spell Points: 545 
BAB: 17\17\22\27\27
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 17
Will: 10

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 24)
Strength             16                    25
Dexterity            16                    18
Constitution         13                    13
Intelligence         12                    12
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma              8                     8

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 23

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 24)
Balance               7                    17
Bluff                 3                     7
Concentration         3                    11
Diplomacy            -1                     3
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -1                     3
Heal                  1                    25
Hide                  3                     8
Intimidate           -1                     3
Jump                  7                    22
Listen               -1                     5
Move Silently         3                     8
Open Lock             7                    12
Perform              n/a                    n/a
Repair                1                     5
Search                1                     7
Spellcraft            1                     5
Spot                  3                     9
Swim                  6                    14
Tumble                4                     9
Use Magic Device      3                    22

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 3 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Feat: (Deity) Follower of the Undying Court


Level 4 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Cleave


Level 5 (Fighter)


Level 6 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 7 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Smite Foe (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Divine Might (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Divine Might (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Divine Might (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Toughness (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Toughness (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Righteous Weapons (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Smite Weakness (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Righteous Weapons (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Kensei Focus: Heavy Blades (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Kensei Weapon Specialization: Heavy Blades (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Haste Boost (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Haste Boost (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Haste Boost (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Tactics (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Tactics (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Tactics (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Kensei Weapon Specialization: Heavy Blades (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Kensei Weapon Specialization: Heavy Blades (Rank 1)


Level 8 (Cleric)


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting


Level 10 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Resilience of Battle (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Toughness (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Wall of Steel (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Wall of Steel (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Wall of Steel (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Righteous Weapons (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Ameliorating Strike (Rank 1)


Level 11 (Fighter)


Level 12 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Fighter)


Level 14 (Cleric)


Level 15 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 16 (Rogue)


Level 17 (Fighter)


Level 18 (Cleric)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell


Level 19 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Great Cleave


Level 20 (Cleric)
Enhancement: Elf - Elven Accuracy (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Elf - Elven Dexterity (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Elf - Elven Accuracy (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Elf - Valenar Weapon Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Elf - Valenar Weapon Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame: Saving Throws (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Righteous Weapons (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Spiritual Bond (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Strike With No Thought (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Weapon Meditation (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Agility (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Agility (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Agility (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Shattering Strike (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Strength (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Kensei Weapon Specialization: Heavy Blades (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Strength (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Keen Edge (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - One With The Blade (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Deadly Strike (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Healing Domain (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Wand Mastery (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Wand Mastery (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Radiant Servant (Clr) - Wand Mastery (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Divine Disciple (Clr) - Divine Emissary of Light (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Divine Disciple (Clr) - Sacred Defense (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Divine Disciple (Clr) - Spellpower: Universal (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Divine Disciple (Clr) - Spell Points (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Divine Disciple (Clr) - Spell Points (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Divine Disciple (Clr) - Spell Points (Rank 3)


Level 21 (Epic)


Level 22 (Epic)


Level 23 (Epic)


Level 24 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Epic: Overwhelming Critical

You'd get Evasion at level 16, and, well, I was thinking about possibly doing 10/7/3 as well but I don't think the 3rd Rogue level is all THAT good for this build - 1d6 sa and +1 saves vs traps, but at the cost of some of the already low sp and 2 spell slots.

I think the +2 str tome at 23 should be feasible for a first life toon, based on the fact that my senior (f2p first life) toon has 1722 favor currently, while at level 22. So, that's just 28 more favor until the guaranteed +2 tome choice. Or if you get that earlier, well, I left the level 21 feat open... (Maximize? Dodge?)

And of course in the new system you're supposedly able to get the 4 extra build points too with your provided +0 LR heart, as well... IF you want to use it.


(And this thing'd let you get out of the Divine sphere in Epic Destinies with comparatively little pain, being able to get centered fairly easily for GMoF.)


Sure, it could be theoretically slightly better as drow, you'd get to start with 14 Con instead of 13 and get +1 more Str while Divine Might is on. Oh, and +1 UMD and some spell resistance. Then again, no Raise Dead feat and 10% less crit range.

[unbongwah]

Not to hijack Ellis's thread, but if you really want to go TWF, I would recommend rgr instead of ftr. That gets you your TWF & ranged feats free; you also don't have to worry as much about your DEX. Plus rgr provides a lot more skill pts to complement your rog splash. Something like rgr 12 / cleric 7 / rog 1, I would think.

[mna]

Not to hijack Ellis's thread, but if you really want to go TWF, I would recommend rgr instead of ftr. That gets you your TWF & ranged feats free; you also don't have to worry as much about your DEX. Plus rgr provides a lot more skill pts to complement your rog splash. Something like rgr 12 / cleric 7 / rog 1, I would think.

Well yeah, but I figured that Kensei was the thing for THIS thread.


I'm actually planning to do this as a second or third life myself, for getting through GMoF and a fighter past life.

[EllisDee37]

I don't see any reason that couldn't work well.

One thing ranger is missing is the +3 tactical feats and +3 action boosts. (Not to mention +1 crit range.) Having run through two lives of the build in the OP so far, I'm addicted to action boosts. And I lurve Power Surge, which is (for my THF) an additional +6 damage and +4 stun DC, 11 times per rest. Your TWF ameliorating strike would be epic, though.

Not sure what you meant about "get out of the divine sphere." I started in LD on my first life.

EDIT: So apparently Devastating Critical (LD, tier 5) is +1 crit range, not multiplier. Combined with Kensei's keen edge and improved critical, my eAGA crits on a 15-20x3, with 19-20x5 thanks to OC and headman's chop.

[mna]

I don't see any reason that couldn't work well.

One thing ranger is missing is the +3 tactical feats and +3 action boosts. (Not to mention +1 crit range.) Having run through two lives of the build in the OP so far, I'm addicted to action boosts. And I lurve Power Surge, which is (for my THF) an additional +6 damage and +4 stun DC, 11 times per rest. Your TWF ameliorating strike would be epic, though.

Oh yes, TWF AS is nice. Been doing plenty of that on my cleric/ranger/rogue recently. Especially nice with the Smite Weakness stacks when you have a Blade Barrier and/or Divine Punishment going too...

Too bad AS seems to not get any benefit from metamagics.

Not sure what you meant about "get out of the divine sphere." I started in LD on my first life.

Well yeah, I was planning my ED route the other day (there's another thread on that somewhere), and then there was a thread on the usefulness or lack thereof of GMoF if you don't have monk and/or are incompatible with getting centered, and... well, start in divine and want to get to anything else or the other way 'round, you need to go through GMoF somehow. Kensei can get centered with scimitars or whatever.

(Really should've had that for deity-favored weapons in Warpriest too. Would make more sense that way. Reminds me of the army chaplain that was the local pistol champion for a long time...)

[Choopak]

Not to hijack Ellis's thread, but if you really want to go TWF, I would recommend rgr instead of ftr. That gets you your TWF & ranged feats free; you also don't have to worry as much about your DEX. Plus rgr provides a lot more skill pts to complement your rog splash. Something like rgr 12 / cleric 7 / rog 1, I would think.

Going ranger is great if you want a meaningful range option, aka: manyshot! Not only do you get all the feat for free (you get the TWF line also as a bonus), you can forget about requirements...
Split wise: rgr12/cle7/wiz1 is also good, gives you a metafeat for free (quicken?), more SP, also open the eldritch knight tree...
One last thing, on a ranger variant, i'll go half-elf and snag the pally dilettante for saves (really the only major flaw of the OP build)

Ellis's build is really all about ease of use and efficiency, that's why it works so good, lots of synergy between the classes and the THF line.
I'm leveling one now, level 15... Ameliorating Strike is awesome! Get it, use it, love it!

[mna]

Going ranger is great if you want a meaningful range option, aka: manyshot! Not only do you get all the feat for free (you get the TWF line also as a bonus), you can forget about requirements...
Split wise: rgr12/cle7/wiz1 is also good, gives you a metafeat for free (quicken?), more SP, also open the eldritch knight tree...

I think we need another thread for ranger/warpriest variants. I can think of several interesting possiblities easily.

[Choopak]

I think we need another thread for ranger/warpriest variants. I can think of several interesting possiblities easily.

Indeed!!!, i would not want to rain on EllisDee37's thread...

[Crann]

How effective have you found your FOM and DW with only 8 cleric levels. I am interested in a build like this, but am leaning towards only 4 levels of cleric.

I have noticed on a build that I run with 13 FvS levels, that my DW and FOM get dispelled alot. This was particularly irritating in an EH Tor at the end fight when those dispells were invariably followed each time by a hold and then a ding. I know I need to farm a bit more for a Pale Lavender, and a few other spell blocking items, but if I have them, then why care about self casts?

I have also noticed effects from scrolls getting dispelled faster than they do on my higher level casters, due to a lower DC check on the dispel cast.

Has this been an issue, and can others weigh in on how much more of an issue it will be in EE content?

I hate to think that the only solution to level drain and hold immunity (not to mention Flesh to stone) is to stop playing fleshies, but it really seems to be the way they are forcing it.

I have a 12f/6monk/2pally bladeforged that is likely as, if not more, self reliant and better dps than this build based partly on immunities, umd, and a Reconstruct SLA.

That should not be. Having more Cleric levels should really get you a great deal more than it does.

[EllisDee37]

I have a 12f/6monk/2pally bladeforged that is likely as, if not more, self reliant and better dps than this build based partly on immunities, umd, and a Reconstruct SLA.

That should not be.

Yes it should; that's the "I win" build.

[Stormraiser]

If the last cleric lvl isnt important why not make it Wizard and pick up Quicken? Plus a couple of other not important things.

Why not take the last class as druid? Level 1 druid spells, + some random enchantments.

[SocialRipple]

I'm intrigued but I have a couple of questions. My highest character is only 13 (repeater pure artificer) so I am still learning and I have no endgame experience.

1. How does the 12/8 Fighter/Cleric compare to a pure Favored Soul (warpriest)? What are the differences?

2. How do you survive traps when soloing? It feels like more than half the quests I run are full of traps and a lot of them would flat-out kill me if I didn't know where they were. What's the secret?

Thanks!

[EllisDee37]

1. How does the 12/8 Fighter/Cleric compare to a pure Favored Soul (warpriest)? What are the differences?

The fighter brings more melee dps and viable stunning fist. Heck, even my guy's native trip (not improved; no feats) reliably works in EH.

For specifics on the fighter dps over pure warpriest: +1 crit range (+2 with improved crit), +damage from kensei weapon focus enhancements, +damage from fighter weapon specialization feats, 11 30% haste boosts, 11 1-minute power surges (+8 strength), and +2 strength enhancements.

The kensei focus enhancements are a wash with warpriest favored weapons, but the rest puts kensei dps ahead of a pure warpriest in terms of melee. Also, kensei gets +8 tactics DCs more than warpriest.

That said, a warpriest dual-wielding scimitars as favored weapons does have its appeal.

2. How do you survive traps when soloing? It feels like more than half the quests I run are full of traps and a lot of them would flat-out kill me if I didn't know where they were. What's the secret?

Most traps have safe spots you can navigate through if you're careful.

[thouston]

I can start scrolling teleport with reasonable success at 11 when I equip greensteel:

7 ranks
7 cha (14 base +6 item +2 tome +2 ship = 24 cha)
4 GH
4 human vers: skill boost
3 persuasion (ring swap)
6 greensteel cha skills
---
31 umd (80% success)

for your greensteel, what item slot are you using, and what features are on it?

[silasjakob]

I'm a new player with a 32 pt build. Can someone explain why I should go 12 INT and 8 Wis? Seems like a newb like me should go 10 in each.
Thanks in advance.

[Lycurgus]

Ellis, have you considered 10/7/3 fighter/cleric/monk and using the ninja spy core to go dex-based? I've been playing around with a variant of that and there seems to be a lot of synergy in the enhancements.

[EllisDee37]

I'm a new player with a 32 pt build. Can someone explain why I should go 12 INT and 8 Wis? Seems like a newb like me should go 10 in each.

You can use wisdom items to qualify for casting all your spells; a single +6 item gets you the 14 wisdom needed to cast level 4 spells. The extra skill points from int are helpful.

Ellis, have you considered 10/7/3 fighter/cleric/monk and using the ninja spy core to go dex-based? I've been playing around with a variant of that and there seems to be a lot of synergy in the enhancements.

As soon as you introduce monk into the equation, every cleric level is of questionable value. Start with the concept of 12/6 fighter/monk and go from there. Maybe toss in a couple pally levels for saves and you're good to go. Or maybe 12/4/4 to get native turn undead.

Dex for damage is mostly a trap. It's much easier to boost strength than dex.

[stabbert]

Going ranger is great if you want a meaningful range option, aka: manyshot! Not only do you get all the feat for free (you get the TWF line also as a bonus), you can forget about requirements...
Split wise: rgr12/cle7/wiz1 is also good, gives you a metafeat for free (quicken?), more SP, also open the eldritch knight tree...
One last thing, on a ranger variant, i'll go half-elf and snag the pally dilettante for saves (really the only major flaw of the OP build)

Ellis's build is really all about ease of use and efficiency, that's why it works so good, lots of synergy between the classes and the THF line.
I'm leveling one now, level 15... Ameliorating Strike is awesome! Get it, use it, love it!

I want to do this but with rog instead of wiz, can anyone suggest a template with skills and enhancements so I wont mess up my build? Thanks!

What I want is 12RNG/7CLR/1ROG. Do I need to eve put points into UMD if I take that 1 level of rogue?

[unbongwah]

See my Tempest Warpriest thread.

[Nodoze]

This is a better split 12F/5C/3M IF you go WF or BF.
Bladeforged really shine here, no pen to CHA, reconstruct as a SLA, good enhancements.
5 cleric open 3rd level spells and all the warpriest enhancements (including weapon of faith)
3 monk is enough for evasion, earth stance, and 2 feats! (level 4 give you what? slow fall?)
You'll loose some healing amp, but gain reconstruct to compensate.
One more thing: one a WF/BF platform, i'll go TWF, cost more feat, but the double proc of ameliorating strike fills your health bar even faster

...

Not to hijack Ellis's thread, but if you really want to go...

...

Indeed!!!, i would not want to rain on EllisDee37's thread...

I was going to reply to Choopak's reply to early ideas from LaryTrueman about changing the build to be a BladeForged but felt like it would be further hi-jacking the thread.

To not hi-jack this really good thread and to keep it focused on a "Kensei Warpriest for new players" I started the new thread:

Best Righteous-Focused options

My reply to Choopak's reply to Larry's & Ellis's replies are in that thread... Thanks Ellis for this really good thread that is spawning other threads... I am going to go try to read the ranger warpriest thread next...