Avatar of Eilistraee

[MadCookieQueen]

U23 Update: Post #45


Personally I love the Realms…I especially love the deities in the realms. One of my favorites is Eilistraee (Drow, moon maiden who dances under the moonlight and wields a very large moonblade to smite her foes...go read her story it's very cool). I decided I wanted to play a character in the spirit of her deity stats.


This build is not for the faint of heart....also it is in no way a Nannybot build....and it's full of flavor.

You will kill things.

You will be the CC master...but only because it makes your life better.

You will make the Barbarian jealous with your strength.

You shall smite the wicked and laugh like a maniac when the pile of bodies around you stacks up....oh wait...that's just me.

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Class Split: 18 Bard / 1 Fighter / 1 Cleric (BCBBBBBBBBBBBBBBFBBB)
Race: Drow (remember this is mostly a flavor build...so yeah pick another race if you like)

Abilities:
Str: 49/80(86)-- (17 base + 5 tome +7 lvl +1 GoTIB +10 Item +3 ED +2 ship +2 enh +2 Yugo / +2 Inspire Exec + 5 morale +4 tenser +16 Divine Might +4 Skaldic Rage +6 Titan’s Grip)
Dex: 34 / 40 -- (15 base + 5 tome + 9 item +1 GoTIB +2 ship +2 Yugo / +2 Inspire Exec + 4 tenser)
Con: 31/42 -- (12 base +5 tome +8 item +3 insight +1 GoTIB +2 Ship / +2 Inspire Exec +5 Morale +4 tenser)
Int: 18 / 20-- (10 base +5 tome +1 GoTIB +2 ship /+2 Inspire Exec )
Wis: 16 / 18-- (8 base +5 tome +1 GoTIB +2 ship /+2 Inspire Exec )
Cha: 38 / 42 -- (17 base +5 tome +2 enhancements +9 item +2 insight +1 GoTIB +2 ship / +2 Inspire Exec +2 yugo)

Skills: Max Concentration, Balance, Perform, Heal, UMD, 7 points into bluff, 1 point into tumble

Feats: Passive Past Life: Fighter x3
Base: Maximize (1), Two Weapon Fighting (3), Empower Healing (6), Quicken (9), Improved Two Weapon Fighting (12), Improved Critical: Pierce (15), Stunning Blow (18), Inspire Excellence (21), Exotic Weapon Prof: Bastard Swords (24), Epic DR (27),
Fighter: Greater Two-weapon fighting (16),
Destiny: Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting (26), Tactician (28)

Enhancements:
Spellsinger (36): Spellsinger (1), Music of the Sewers (1), Music of the Dead (1), Music of the Makers (1), Virtuoso (1), Haunting Melody III (3), Musical Studies III (3), Lingering Songs III (3), Sharp Note III (3), Charlatan II (2), Spell Song Trance (2), Charisma II (4), Enthrallment (2), Song of Arcane Might (2), Sustaining Song (2), Song of Capering (2), Spell Song Vigor (2), Advanced Musical Studies I (1)

Warchanter (26): Skaldic Rage (1), Fighting Spirit I (1), Rough and Ready III (3), Poetic Edda III (3), Action Boost: Sprint II (2), Strength II (4), Inspired Bravery III (3), Boast III (3), Ironskin Chant (3), Inspire Recklessness III (3)

Fighter – Kensei (10): Kensei Focus: Light Blades (1), Extra Action Boost III (6), Haste Boost III (3),

Cleric – Warpriest (4): Smite Foe (1), Divine Might III (3)

Cleric – Radiant Servant (4): Healing Domain (1), Wand Mastery III (3)

Core Stats:
HP: 720 Standing / 846 Boosted (126 levels +80 epic +294/420 con +25 heroic +10 draconic +50 False Life +15 auto grants +100 Fury +10 Shroud +10 Warchanter)
Double Strike: 15/23% (8%/15% Item + 5% Perfect TWF + 3% Draconic Ferocity +5 Inspire Recklessness)
Stunning Blow DC: 71/74 (73/76 with shaken) – (10 base + 35/38 Str +5 exc combat mastery +10 stunning +2 feat +6 legendary tactics +3 Ftr PL / +2 injury [shaken])
Fascinate DC: 82 (23 ranks + 8 epic +15 Cha +4 Exceptional +2 luck +4 morale +1 profane +1 ship +20 item +4 bard)
Positive Spell Power: 229/454 (138 Devotion +24 implement +25 heal skill +6 RS +36 SS / +150 Maximize +75 Empower Heal)
PRR: 32 (10 Epic Feat + 16 Augment +6 PRR)
UMD: 62 -- (23 ranks +8 epic +15 Cha +4 exceptional +2 luck +4 morale +1 profane +1 ship +4 SS)

Saves:
Fort: 44/48 – (10 base +4 epic +16 con +4 morale +10 resistance +2 luck +1 competence +1 Ship/ +4 insightful -4 yugo)
Ref: 51/55 – (11 base +4 epic +15 dex +4 morale +10 resistance +2 luck +1 competence +1 Ship +1 haste /+4 insightful)
Will: 35/39 – (13 base +4 epic +4 wis +4 morale +10 resistance +2 luck +1 competence +1 Ship -4 Yugo /+4 Insightful)

Epic Destiny – Fury of the Wild:
Damage Reduction III (3), Primal Scream III (3), Injury (1), Acute Instincts III (3), Sense Weakness III (3), Strength III (6), Overwhelming Force III (3), Fury Eternal (2), Unbridled Fury (2)
Twists: Fatesinger: Reign (3), Legendary Dreadnought: Legendary Tactics (1), Cocoon (1)

Gear:
Trinket: Planar Focus: Prowess +8 Con/ PLIS
Head: Black dragon +3 insightful Con, (Green: Good Luck, Yellow: Spell points)
Neck: Epic Shimmering (yellow: +2i Cha)
Goggles: Deadly 10, Resistance 10
Bracers: Skirmishers or Superior Parry of Greater Convo
Body: Black Dragon (Blue: Fortification)
Cloak: Ghost Waking
Ring: Consuming Darkenss (Green: +16 PRR)
Ring: Seal of Dun’Ro’Bar +7 con, Stunning 10
Boots: Rad II (+150 sp,+10 hp, + 2 dex, +4 cha, +6 int)
Gloves: EE Backstabbers (Yellow: Globe)
Belt: Str 10, False Life 50
Weapons: Celestia (boss beaters only...one proc and your enthralled masses are coming for you) / Nightmare (Devotion slotted) / First Blood

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Public Service Announcement:

Please be kind if you have a Bard in the party turn off IPS and watch the Cleaves...otherwise I am NOT responsible for when the hellish mob I just froze for you comes alive and kills you. If you can't kill an entire group in 3 seconds or less don't break the song. And yes, that applies to me too...hence the lack of cleave and why I don't use Celestias all the time.


I've been playing her for quite a while now...thought I'd be nice and share the love. (Special thanks to Ash for helping me clean up and tweak this build)

[Andoris]

Just need to find you that eSoS shard now so we can really see what you can do with all the Str.

[Teh_Troll]

Just need to find you that eSoS shard now so we can really see what you can do with all the Str.

On a drow? I'd stick with the Balizardes.

Especially if you're intending your primary ED to be FoTW. TWFing recharges adrenalines twice as fast.

[MadCookieQueen]

On a drow? I'd stick with the Balizardes.

Especially if you're intending your primary ED to be FoTW. TWFing recharges adrenalines twice as fast.

I'm really certain is we went massive greatsword of doom, death, and destruction....she wouldn't be a Drow and probably a blitzer...which would make me not want to play her...seriously don't get me started on my annoyances with doing the blitz thing.

[Andoris]

On a drow? I'd stick with the Balizardes.

Especially if you're intending your primary ED to be FoTW. TWFing recharges adrenalines twice as fast.

True -- but Bali's are even farther from moon blades than the SoS is (trying to somewhat stick with the flavor) and while a powerful weapon.. they are boring. Really wish nightmare didn't get nerfed as bad as it did -- still not a bad weapon, but the nerf hurt quite a bit.

[Teh_Troll]

True -- but Bali's are even farther from moon blades than the SoS is (trying to somewhat stick with the flavor) and while a powerful weapon.. they are boring. Really wish nightmare didn't get nerfed as bad as it did -- still not a bad weapon, but the nerf hurt quite a bit.

They still look great, but yeah that nerf has made them a lot less sexy. Make the case for a repeal of the nerf on the council.

[Wipey]

Cool build.
Unlucky with dex Prowess or just a typo ?
I would think 30 amp bracers non negotiable and you got DS on First Blood so Skirmish bracers not much use ?
Devotion in Nightmare ?
If yes, do you swap something to make up for the loss of devo or just live with it ?

Nice stun, even though Adrenalines with good Double strike and twf recharges super fast, another cc doesn't hurt.

[MadCookieQueen]

Cool build.

Thanks and she's fun as all heck.

Unlucky with dex Prowess or just a typo ?

No...I need a con item in there...and I had one...so easy peasy.

I would think 30 amp bracers non negotiable and you got DS on First Blood so Skirmish bracers not much use ?

I run with the superior perry bracers...the skirmishers was originally in there for the double strike...but the +15% double strike on the first blood is pretty hefty to play with.

Devotion in Nightmare ?
If yes, do you swap something to make up for the loss of devo or just live with it ?

I KNEW I forgot to do something! Devotion should be in there...will update the build.

Nice stun, even though Adrenalines with good Double strike and twf recharges super fast, another cc doesn't hurt.

I use Stunning and Song of Capering to clean up stragglers and shut down archers...since they usually annoy me the most. Also Shadovar's in EE WGU look awesome dancing ^^

Yeah the CC options are very VERY nice and extremely effective...it's part of the overall Bard charm.

[MadCookieQueen]

Let's talk gear. I recieved a couple questions on this and thought it was better to be public with more of the answers.So we can discuss things a bit and you can see the why's and how's and all that. Also for any new player it might give you a bit more information.



Trinket: Planar Focus: Prowess +8 Con / PLIS
Why Prowess? "Set Bonus: +4 to attack and damage, +15 Physical Resistance Rating (all artifact bonus)" It goes with Nightmare and Celestia.

The Con +8 is to bring it more in alignment with having an even Con stat....see stat when fully pumped up. Yes, you could go with a different Prowess trinket here...but the goal is to have the Prowess set bonus.

PLIS: Pale Lavendar Ioun Stone (for those not familiar with it)



Head: Black dragon +3 insightful Con, (Green: Good Luck, Yellow: Spell points)
Draconic Ferocity: +3% artifact bonus to melee Doublestrike chance...it stacks and more doublestrike is awesome.
the +3 insightful Con...because...even stat is the goal.

Ideally go EE for the helm only because the upgraded slots give you more options.



Neck: Epic Shimmering (yellow: +2i Cha)
+20 perform and yellow slot.. need my perform jacked and the yellow slot gives me insightful charisma...it's not about the +7 Charisma (it was at level 20 but not end game). So why not Ring of Deceit...when you look at my rings you'll understand why.



Goggles: Deadly 10, Resistance 10
I think it speaks for itself...nothing more see here...



Bracers: Skirmishers or Superior Parry of Greater Convo
If you do not have a First Blood you'll want the Skirmishers for the doublestrike. The Superior Parry of Greater Convo is the better item and it's what I use all the time.

The problem is that you can't get Superior of Parry of Convo anymore. So the Skirmishers is a nice fall back item for those that don't' have the SPoC or a First Blood for doublestrike or are VERY concerned about needing Dex.


Body: Black Dragon (Blue: Fortification)
Draconic Ferocity (see helm), Haste Guard, Armor-Piercing - 15%, Relentless Fury and Superior Acid Resistance (okay maybe not that so much) and the Blue slot for...Heavy Fort



Cloak: Ghost Waking
It's not here for the resistance (I have more in my goggles)...it has +8 Cha...also GHOSTLY and DR...I'd prefer not to get hit as often



Ring: Consuming Darkenss (Green: +16 PRR)
Seeker XII, Combat Mastery +5, Green slot for PRR...hey a girl has got to have PRR somewhere in there right?



Ring: Seal of Dun’Ro’Bar +7 con, Stunning 10
Ignore the +7 con...in fact get whatever you want for a stat...Stunning +10 and 8% Dodge are a necessity...especially the Stunning +10. I just happened to have a Con version of the ring.



Boots: Rad II (+150 sp,+10 hp, + 2 dex, +4 cha, +6 int)
Spell Points (I do actually like my blue bar...you know healing and emergency D-Door) and a bit of HP...the kick tail part of this is the Radiance Guard...hello blinded NPC morons who now I shall inflict more damage on as you miss me.

Why not Treads?...don't need the Dex and I have ghostly in my cloak..and I have a quiver (striding). But...if the cloak, quiver or the GS isn't your thing and the lack of Dex is eating your brain away then by all means, they are a nice pair of boots.

Why not Goatskins? I have Haste...they don't' stack...without that Goatskins aren't as nifty for this build.

Also I have Cannith (for the clickie) and Anchoring...for those rare ToD runs.



Gloves: EE Backstabbers (Yellow: Globe)
Improved Deception... a pile of Sneak Attack....the yellow slot was screaming for a Globe of Imperial True Blood



Belt: Str 10, False Life 50
I'm a strength build and I like hit points...it's a win-win here.



Weapons: Celestia (boss beaters only...one proc and your enthralled masses are coming for you) / Nightmare (Devotion slotted) / First Blood
Without weapons I'm not killing much...I know odd isn't it?




So that is the gear selection....hope it helps answer questions.

[maddmatt70]

I am kind of partial to the 12% damage for grim fate for fatesinger if we ever do fight a raid boss again someday, but I hear yeah fury of wild likely way to go. You prefer full base attack bonus from victory song vs. a deeper splash? I have a 16 bard 3 ranger 1 cleric who dual wields a balazarde and Rebellion or two balizards depending. What can you get your stun blow up to? I have not played my bards much the last few months because not real inspired by them but what have you.

[MadCookieQueen]

I am kind of partial to the 12% damage for grim fate for fatesinger if we ever do fight a raid boss again someday, but I hear yeah fury of wild likely way to go. You prefer full base attack bonus from victory song vs. a deeper splash? I have a 16 bard 3 ranger 1 cleric who dual wields a balazarde and Rebellion or two balizards depending. What can you get your stun blow up to? I have not played my bards much the last few months because not real inspired by them but what have you.

You get more damage boosting from Fury than 12% (overall...there's math to back me up...somewhere...but I think I lost my wallet)..also for the most part if you want to do a full kick-in-the-junk melee bard..fatesinger (IMHO) doesn't make a lot of sense.

The "full BAB" bonus from victory song is really at best a +5. Also note the ability toggle is bugged. So I wouldn't rely on it to save my life. Also by endcap you're pretty close if not fully there to max BAB..it's kind of a meh for me.

Stunning Blow DC: 71/74 (73/76 with shaken) – (10 base + 35/38 Str +5 exc combat mastery +10 stunning +2 feat +6 legendary tactics +3 Ftr PL / +2 injury [shaken])

[Aerendil]

I am kind of partial to the 12% damage for grim fate for fatesinger if we ever do fight a raid boss again someday, but I hear yeah fury of wild likely way to go. You prefer full base attack bonus from victory song vs. a deeper splash? I have a 16 bard 3 ranger 1 cleric who dual wields a balazarde and Rebellion or two balizards depending. What can you get your stun blow up to? I have not played my bards much the last few months because not real inspired by them but what have you.

The interesting thing about Fatesinger is you can debuff so much more than just 12% damage. That same buff is also 12% magical damage and -12 SR. Combined with the passive Harmonic Resonance and a pair of Frostbite blades, you're looking at self-debuffing an enemy to 32% extra damage, and 62% sonic vulnerability. Nice for the melee damage, but unfortunately Bards don't have fantastic sonic damage options. If only the capstone for SS was a massive sonic DD instead of Wail, or more Cacophony named weapons were available.

Anyways, back on topic, I like the concept. I was always a fan of Eilistraee in the Realms as well. Fits very well with the concept of Bard as well, as she favoured song and dance by moonlight.

[MadCookieQueen]

Anyways, back on topic, I like the concept. I was always a fan of Eilistraee in the Realms as well. Fits very well with the concept of Bard as well, as she favoured song and dance by moonlight.

Thanks! As I said she's a lot of fun to play and if you run around with the glowly lich eyes cosmetic she looks even more awesome ^^


If you're a Realms fan...I'm working on a Solonor Thelandira Avatar ^^

[flaggson]

Really dig the build, looks really solid. However, I have a question. No power attack.... is this something we don't really consider a necessity anymore? Once upon a time almost every character had it but maybe I'm living in the past. Thoughts?

[MadCookieQueen]

Really dig the build, looks really solid. However, I have a question. No power attack.... is this something we don't really consider a necessity anymore? Once upon a time almost every character had it but maybe I'm living in the past. Thoughts?

Couple reasons:

1. the build is pretty feat tight...least for how I play and to go with the flavor...so no standing room ^^.
2. With the way Fascinate and Enthrall works the Cleave chain would have been counterproductive and if I'm not going cleave then there isn't a point really.
3. Her to hit is a little lighter than a traditional DPS mad machine so having every little to hit actually matters.

That all being said...let's say I had an open feat...I would have taken Precision over PA. The bonus to hit is good but the reduction to the enemy Fort is some sweet loving.

Hope that helps.

[flaggson]

Couple reasons:

1. the build is pretty feat tight...least for how I play and to go with the flavor...so no standing room ^^.
2. With the way Fascinate and Enthrall works the Cleave chain would have been counterproductive and if I'm not going cleave then there isn't a point really.
3. Her to hit is a little lighter than a traditional DPS mad machine so having every little to hit actually matters.

That all being said...let's say I had an open feat...I would have taken Precision over PA. The bonus to hit is good but the reduction to the enemy Fort is some sweet loving.

Hope that helps.

Sure does, thank you.

[Aerendil]

Sure does, thank you.

Yeah, you could easily adapt the original build to throw in PA or Precision if inclined. If you're not going the route of Stunning Blow (i.e. OPs past lives help immensely in this regard), that would be a perfect replacement. Alternatively, you could probably also do away with Maximize (since Emp Heal + Cocoon is usually enough healing) and throw in, say, Force of Personality to shore up the will saves. But it's up to you.

[flaggson]

Yeah, you could easily adapt the original build to throw in PA or Precision if inclined. If you're not going the route of Stunning Blow (i.e. OPs past lives help immensely in this regard), that would be a perfect replacement. Alternatively, you could probably also do away with Maximize (since Emp Heal + Cocoon is usually enough healing) and throw in, say, Force of Personality to shore up the will saves. But it's up to you.

That was pretty much where my thought process went.

[fool101]

I really like this build. It gave me the inspiration for a similar one with rogue (for traps in a static group) instead of fighter.

I am looking for some clarification on general game mechanics though. I was discussing the build with a guildmate when I was informed that by taking a cleric level, I would actually be making it almost impossible to use a heal scroll. This is due to having to make a caster level check (10 + spell level, with a cleric level) vs a UMD check (without cleric levels). I checked the wiki but couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. So basically, is the described scenario correct or are you able to use heal scrolls with UMD, or is there something else I'm missing?

Thanks in advance

[MadCookieQueen]

I really like this build. It gave me the inspiration for a similar one with rogue (for traps in a static group) instead of fighter.

I am looking for some clarification on general game mechanics though. I was discussing the build with a guildmate when I was informed that by taking a cleric level, I would actually be making it almost impossible to use a heal scroll. This is due to having to make a caster level check (10 + spell level, with a cleric level) vs a UMD check (without cleric levels). I checked the wiki but couldn't find exactly what I was looking for. So basically, is the described scenario correct or are you able to use heal scrolls with UMD, or is there something else I'm missing?

Thanks in advance

I've not had any issues with using a Heal scroll based on my UMD. UMD option overrides the class/race/alignment/etc. restrictions on items/wands/scrolls/etc.

Hope that helps and good luck!