Adventures in Theorycrafting - Tempest Warpriests

[unbongwah]

Recently there have been a number of melee-focused builds based on exploiting Warpriest goodies with a heavy cleric or FvS splash (e.g., maddmatt70's Battleragers, EllisDee37's Kensei Warpriest); in particular, Ameliorating Strike, which is a free AoE heal every time you use Smite Foe (15 sec. cooldown). This thread is my attempt at hopping on that bandwagon, using ranger instead.

Rgr has several advantages, but the key one here is higher offhand proc chance from Tempest; Ameliorating Strike procs on offhands and doublestrikes, so a TWF Warpriest could get up to 3 procs per Smite.

Fresh Off the Korthos Boat (28-pt F2P build) - Ranger 12 / Cleric 7

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 04.19.03
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Level 28 True Neutral Human Female
(1 Rogue \ 12 Ranger \ 7 Cleric \ 8 Epic) 
Hit Points: 367
Spell Points: 895 
BAB: 17\17\22\27\27
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 14
Will: 8

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 28)
Strength             16                    27
Dexterity            12                    14
Constitution         14                    16
Intelligence         12                    12
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             12                    14

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 20
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 20
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 20
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 20

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 28)
Balance               5                    14
Bluff                 1                    10
Concentration         4                    34
Diplomacy             1                    10
Disable Device        5                    27
Haggle                5                    14
Heal                  1                    30
Hide                  1                    10
Intimidate            1                    10
Jump                  6                    19
Listen               -1                     7
Move Silently         1                    10
Open Lock             5                    14
Perform               n/a                  n/a
Repair                1                     9
Search                5                    29
Spellcraft            1                     9
Spot                  3                    11
Swim                  3                    16
Tumble                2                    11
Use Magic Device      5                    33

Level 1 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Disable Device (+4)
Skill: Haggle (+4)
Skill: Heal (+2)
Skill: Jump (+3)
Skill: Open Lock (+4)
Skill: Search (+4)
Skill: Spot (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Human Bonus) Cleave
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 2 (Ranger)
Skill: Concentration (+3)
Skill: Heal (+3)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead


Level 3 (Ranger)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Khopesh


Level 4 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+2)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 5 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 6 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Great Cleave


Level 7 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 8 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Human - Human Versatility: Damage Boost (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Improved Recovery (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Shield of Whirling Steel (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Tempest (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Improved Defense (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Whirling Blades (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Smite Foe (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Resilience of Battle (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) - Smite Weakness (Rank 1)
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) - Inflame (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame: Saving Throws (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame: Saving Throws (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame: Saving Throws (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame: Energy Absorption (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame: Energy Absorption (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Inflame: Energy Absorption (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Ameliorating Strike (Rank 1)


Level 9 (Ranger)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot


Level 10 (Ranger)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant


Level 11 (Ranger)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+2)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 12 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Ranger)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+2)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 14 (Ranger)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 15 (Ranger)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons


Level 16 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 17 (Ranger)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 18 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell


Level 19 (Cleric)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 20 (Cleric)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Human - Human Adaptability: Strength (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Human Versatility: Skill Boost (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Sniper (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Sniper (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Human - Improved Recovery (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Graceful Death (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Deflect Arrows (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Improved Parry (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Improved Parry (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Improved Parry (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Whirling Blades (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Haste Boost (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Haste Boost (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Haste Boost (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Whirling Blades (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Strength (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Elaborate Parry (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Elaborate Parry (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Elaborate Parry (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Whirling Blades (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Evasive Dance (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Evasive Dance (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Evasive Dance (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Warpriest (Clr) - Sanctuary (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Arcane Archer (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Morphic Arrows (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Conjure Arrows (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Arcane Archer (Rgr) - Corrosive Arrows (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Deepwood Stalker (Rgr) - Far Shot (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)


Level 21 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Epic: Overwhelming Critical


Level 22 (Epic)


Level 23 (Epic)


Level 24 (Epic)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell


Level 25 (Epic)


Level 26 (Epic)
Feat: (Epic Destiny) Epic Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting


Level 27 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Epic: Blinding Speed


Level 28 (Epic)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Epic Destiny) Epic Destiny: Elusive Target

Leveling order: I started rogue to max out skill pts and open UMD & trap skills right off the bat; then did rgr 1-3 to get Tempest core enh for the first +10% offhand proc (50% until rgr 6); then cleric 1-4 to get Ameliorating Strike; then rgr 4-12 before finishing with cleric 5-7. Another option would be rog 1, rgr 1, cleric 1-7, rgr 2-12; this gets you AS by lvl 6 and lvl 4 spells by lvl 9, but backloads all of your rgr feats & enhs. In which case, I would use 2H weapons for the first several levels before switching to TWF in the teen lvls.

Feats: the must-haves are the Power Atk/Cleave/GC/Imp Crit/Overwhelming Crit chain and PTWF. Khopeshes aren't must-haves, but they're still your best overall choice for TWF while heroic leveling (apart from maybe Deathnips); in epics you can respec for different weapons depending on what you pull or grind out. I used the remaining feats to round out her ranged DPS (PBS & IC:Ranged) and healing (Emp Heal+Quicken, mostly for Rejuv Cocoon).

Enhancements: the must-haves are 21 APs into Tempest for lvl 12 core enh (full 100% offhand procs) and 22 APs into Warpriest for Ameliorating Strike. That leaves 37 APs to spread around; you can see I went for Evasive Dance in Tempest (Reflex saves are a bit low, so having Imp Evasion is nice), some human enhs (+20% heal amp, action boosts, +2d6 ranged SAs), and a few odds & ends. I could've squeezed in Radiant bursts, but with only 7 cleric lvls and 1 metamagic, it wouldn't be very powerful; still, it is an option, esp. if you're looking for something to spend your TUs on. Another option would be Divine Vitality from Divine Disciple; make the other casters in your party happy.

Splashing: the rogue splash opens up UMD and trap skills; I also could move some APs into first-tier enhs if I wanted (e.g., +1d6 SA from Assassin). Other options include: ftr (Haste Boost + Extra Action Boost), barb (+3 Power Atk, +10% run speed, up to 4 uses of Rage), or pally (switch to LG and 12/6/2 split for Divine Grace).