The bodybuilder: Fury, 8 fighter / 9 monk / 3 ranger, TWF CON-based dwarf

[Rull]

Advantages:
-ridiculous HP
-25% incorporeal
-Improved Evasion
-20 x6 / 19 x6 / 18 x4 / 17 x4 crit profile, with dragonforged heavy picks.
-100% offhand attack
-racial damage bonusses
-retain bonuses with bludgeoning damage
-cocoon-powered

The idea of this build is to make use of all the synergy that comes with con-based fighting.
-No str means no stunning bow. Means Fury of the wild as stun option (you basically NEED some stun as melee in EE imo, even more so than selfheal). Means twf to fuel Adrenaline regeneration.
-No str means you don't need 12 fighter. No str also means no need for CHA and divine might. So no need for paladin. This means enough levels to go deep in monk and still pick up ranger for more twf.
-No str but CON means dwarf. this means axes, hammers or picks.
-Best weapon in the game -probably- is conveniently not a sos/sireth/balizarde anymore, but crafted dragonforged. So any type is viable again.
-Also coincidentally, heavy picks are now par with the old king in crafted weapons, khopeshes, in terms of crit profile, thanks to Keen Edge (19/x4 base equals 18/x3 and both beat all other weapon types). With monk earth stance, this adds up to a 180% crit profile.
-Fury means relative benefit from a high crit multiplier/low crit range weapons because of the autocrit on 400% swings, so Heavy Picks has even more synergy.

Starting stats would look like:
18 con (+2 racial) +6 level
17 str +1 level
14 dex
9 wis
8 int
8 cha (-2 racial)

-master earth stance (for crit, but also +3 con, yay)
-cleave/greatcleave/overwhelming critical (thats why you still start with 17+1 str, too bad you are 1 short of max con)
-especially the improved evasion is something I am looking forward to. I'm getting sick of dying to 1200 point damage spells so instead of needing to have the reflex to save you just at LEAST 'autosave' for half.
-manyshot is easy to pick up for furyshotting.
-Alternatively, since dwarfs get you bonuses on 'picks and hammers', and for kensai focus the group is also 'picks and hammers', you might as well spend a feat on IC: bludgeoning and be good with warhammers as well.


To love this build, you do have to like Fury of the Wild. I think they play so much different from dreadnoughts that the two are hard to compare.

I'm leveling a bodybuilder soon, but I love him on paper already. Anyone else excited yet?

-edit: For the 5 spare feats (see below), I am now leveling with the ranged feat package to see how I like that. I will update the build with my experiences when I hit 21.

[Blackheartox]

Advantages:
-ridiculous HP
-25% incorporeal
-Improved Evasion
20 x6 / 19 x6 / 18 x4 / 17 x4 crit profile, with dragonforged heavy picks.
-100% offhand attack
-racial damage bonusses
-piercing as well as bludgeoning damage
-some healing amp and Devotion for cocoon

The idea of this build is to make use of all the synergy that comes with con-based fighting.
-No str means no stunning bow. Means Fury of the wild as stun option. Means twf to fuel.
-No str means you don't need 12 fighter. No str also means no need for CHA and divine might. Both mean enough levels to go deep in monk and still pick up ranger for more twf.
-No str but CON means dwarf. this means axes, hammers or picks.
-Best weapon in the game -probably- is conveniently not a sos/sireth/(balizarde) anymore, but dragonforged so any type is viable again.
-Also coincidentally, heavy picks are now par with the old king in crafted weapons, khopeshes, in terms of crit profile, thanks to Keen Edge (19/x4 base equals 18/x3 and both beat all other weapon types).
-Fury means relative benefit from a high crit multiplier (low crit range) weapon because of the autocrit on 400% swings, so Heavy Picks has even more synergy.

Starting stats would look like:
18 con +2 racial +7 level
18 str
12 dex
8 int
8 wis
8 cha

-master earth stance (for crit, but also +3 con yay)
-equally proficient in warhammers_ since you get you bonusses on 'picks and hammers' and for kensai focus tge group is also picks and hammers, you might as well spend a feat on IC: bludgeoning.
-cleave/greatcleave/overwhelming critical, thats why you still start with 18 str (but you need no other stat badly)
-manyshot is also easy to pick up for furyshotting. Or empower heal just for cocoon. You have feats to spare.
-especially the improved evasion is something I am looking forward to. I'm getting sick of dying to 1200 point damage spells so instead of needing to have the reflex to save you just at LEAST 'autosave' for half.

To like this, you do have to like Fury of the Wild. I think they play so much different from dreadnoughts that the two are hard to compare.

I'm levelling a bodybuilder soon, but I love him on paper already. Anyone else excited yet?

Selfhealing? Saves?
Palie splash isnt there for dm alone, but overall its a fun idea.
Will save will be low, same as reflex, quite low.
Fort should be coverd would be better in dreadnought, but you will fail alot of checks like webs, trips etc, think they offer only str/dex modifier for save.
Could selfheal via silver flame pots, since your stat for dam is con you wont lose as much dps as a str char based build. I can see it work with silver pots.
I have yet to tr to test out how primals balancing strikes acts with 2 weapon style, you could add that as some kind of semi cc.

Like the idea, we need more non bf melles xD

[lyrecono]

Selfhealing? Saves?
Palie splash isnt there for dm alone, but overall its a fun idea.
Will save will be low, same as reflex, quite low.
Fort should be coverd would be better in dreadnought, but you will fail alot of checks like webs, trips etc, think they offer only str/dex modifier for save.
Could selfheal via silver flame pots, since your stat for dam is con you wont lose as much dps as a str char based build. I can see it work with silver pots.
I have yet to tr to test out how primals balancing strikes acts with 2 weapon style, you could add that as some kind of semi cc.

Like the idea, we need more non bf melles xD

i agre, awesome build idea's, but the gaps need to be covered.

-saves
-stats, isn't it cheaper to go 16 str and put 2 (out of 7) stat upgrades into str? free's up 6 points for saves/skillpoints?
- selfhealing, on EE you'll run out of sp for cocoon in no time and 450 silverflame potions will be taken away in no time (having 3 emo clown assassins swinging their chain at you for 400 per hit doesn't help either)

[Irongutz2000]

Advantages:
-ridiculous HP
-25% incorporeal
-Improved Evasion
20 x6 / 19 x6 / 18 x4 / 17 x4 crit profile, with dragonforged heavy picks.
-100% offhand attack
-racial damage bonusses
-piercing as well as bludgeoning damage
-some healing amp and Devotion for cocoon

The idea of this build is to make use of all the synergy that comes with con-based fighting.
-No str means no stunning bow. Means Fury of the wild as stun option. Means twf to fuel.
-No str means you don't need 12 fighter. No str also means no need for CHA and divine might. Both mean enough levels to go deep in monk and still pick up ranger for more twf.
-No str but CON means dwarf. this means axes, hammers or picks.
-Best weapon in the game -probably- is conveniently not a sos/sireth/(balizarde) anymore, but dragonforged so any type is viable again.
-Also coincidentally, heavy picks are now par with the old king in crafted weapons, khopeshes, in terms of crit profile, thanks to Keen Edge (19/x4 base equals 18/x3 and both beat all other weapon types).
-Fury means relative benefit from a high crit multiplier (low crit range) weapon because of the autocrit on 400% swings, so Heavy Picks has even more synergy.

Starting stats would look like:
18 con +2 racial +7 level
18 str
12 dex
8 int
8 wis
8 cha

-master earth stance (for crit, but also +3 con yay)
-equally proficient in warhammers_ since you get you bonusses on 'picks and hammers' and for kensai focus tge group is also picks and hammers, you might as well spend a feat on IC: bludgeoning.
-cleave/greatcleave/overwhelming critical, thats why you still start with 18 str (but you need no other stat badly)
-manyshot is also easy to pick up for furyshotting. Or empower heal just for cocoon. You have feats to spare.
-especially the improved evasion is something I am looking forward to. I'm getting sick of dying to 1200 point damage spells so instead of needing to have the reflex to save you just at LEAST 'autosave' for half.

To like this, you do have to like Fury of the Wild. I think they play so much different from dreadnoughts that the two are hard to compare.

I'm levelling a bodybuilder soon, but I love him on paper already. Anyone else excited yet?

This is similar to some builds I have seen, weapon of choice is citw hammers usually. Most r 8 fighter, 6 ranger, 6 monk for manyshot with fury. U will almost certainly need silver flame pots and u can get a decent reflax save 50's if u twist some in.

[the_one_dwarfforged]

like the build. like the name. dorfpwer.

[Arcanegrin]

Great build, looks really fun. After playing a few con based builds I think you need to add more for your self healing. Self healing seems to be the biggest issue with con based builds that have 1500+ hp.

[Rull]

Fortunatly, I have a friendly healer girl who runs with me most of the time (where being non-warforged becomes a benefit). Maybe not every build needs to be selfhealing. For the worse raids and EE quests, an oldschool balanced party might be preferable. For soloing, I'll take my an alt who does selfheal.

I would love to work in ameliorating strike somehow, but the 8 fighter and 9 monk just doesn't allow it. 6 monk 6 fvs doesn't look appealing either.

As for saves (aside from a sky-high fort save) your saves are indeed low in numbers. But the main question is, how much does it matter with improved evasion? Improved evastion only works when you fail your save, therefore it shines most on low-save builds, which monks and rogues typically aren't, but this is. I THINK it's more reliable to always bite that 100dmg, or actually 55dmg after resist, for 200dmg spells and take 455 for the weird stuff. Instead of usually 0 but somtimes 955 on a failed save against a high damage/high save spell.
Will saves i have never been overly concerned about with infinite FOM from an enless flask + protection from evil.
knockdown on the other hand I dislike a lot. but you will have good balance as a dwarf to make up for it. And you strenght won't be terrible, with 23 base for overwhelming, you still get a decent score with a reasonable item (which is also nice for the bow strength you get from ranger2)

For more CC and to better abuse sense weakness, I am thinking of twisting Anvil of Thunder as Tier4 (instead of 15% fort bypass, or seeker+6). With 100% offhand this has a 35% chance to stun and deals 255dmg average, every 12 seconds. Not sure if it's good enough.

[Rull]

This is similar to some builds I have seen, weapon of choice is citw hammers usually. Most r 8 fighter, 6 ranger, 6 monk for manyshot with fury. U will almost certainly need silver flame pots and u can get a decent reflax save 50's if u twist some in.

But when con-based (which doesn't work on bows), I prefer improved evasion over furyshot capability.
With keen edge the heavy pick outshines the mornh-hammer in crit profile, but since there is no pick in citw the mornh still outdamaged the best heavy pick (random or alchemical). But now with dragonforged weapons it's picks for sure.

Of course this isn't an isolated idea. But, to quote someone famous, "Creativity is just connecting things".

[Rull]

-stats, isn't it cheaper to go 16 str and put 2 (out of 7) stat upgrades into str? free's up 6 points for saves/skillpoints?

Well 6 points in wisdom and dex don't weigh up to the 2 less in con: 1 reflex save + 2 will save isn't worth 1 fort + 28 hp and +1 dmg.
However, i'm working out the feats, and you can't use a +5 tome to get your dex to 17 to grab iTWF and gTWF. (I planned on using a fighter bonus feat for one but the last fighter feat must be greater weapon focus)
So yeah,
18 con +2 dwarf +6 levelup
17 str +1 levelup
14 dex
9 wis
8 int
8 cha (-2 dwarf)
instead.
And like lyrecono said, this isn't too big of a deal since this has other benefits too.

[the_one_dwarfforged]

Well 6 points in wisdom and dex don't weigh up to the 2 less in con: 1 reflex save + 2 will save isn't worth 1 fort + 28 hp and +1 dmg.
However, i'm working out the feats, and you can't use a +5 tome to get your dex to 17 to grab iTWF and gTWF. (I planned on using a fighter bonus feat for one but the last fighter feat must be greater weapon focus)
So yeah,
18 con +2 dwarf +6 levelup
17 str +1 levelup
14 dex
9 wis
8 int
8 cha (-2 dwarf)
instead.
And like lyrecono said, this isn't too big of a deal since this has other benefits too.

i dont know what lvl split youre using, and i dont know if you can do this with an epic feat (i dont see why you couldnt though), or if you would have room for the 2 twf feats after lvl 19, but you can take gwf after you have lvl 8 ftr as a regular feat. definately works in heroic regular feat slots, never tried with epics.

also, i guess it depends on whether +1 ref +2 will would be a meaningful increase in your chance to completely avoid damage, but if this was a build without improved evasion id say yea those little bits are probably worth more. not that i could bring myself to do that personally. or if those saves dont float your boat and/or dont really affect your saves anyway theres always int to dump points into. but given that you are going for having imp evasion and just controlling dmg taken id say youre right the hp and +1 dmg is better.

[Rull]

So the feats I want for sure:

cleave
gCleave
iTWF
gTWF
IC: Piercing
Master Stance
wFocus Piercing
gwFocus Piercing
wSpecialization Piercing
epic Overwhelming Critical
epic Haste
(monk) Power Attack
(monk) Precision

leaves 4 feats and 1 monk feat to choose
options are:

Ranged plan:
-point blank shot
-manyshot
-precise shot
-improved precise shot
+and zen archery as monk feat
... but you won't be able to pick up IC: Ranged with this

Alternatively, you could take
-toughness
-epic toughness
-IC: Bludgeoning
-grandmaster stance, for 1 more CON
+dodge as monk feat

Another option::
-mobility
-spring attack
-combat experise
-whirlwind attack
+and dodge as monk feat

last, you can pick some sort of mix. Not sure what the mix should be:
-point blank shot
-manyshot
-non-ranged
-non-ranged
-non-ranged as monk feat

whatcha think?

[Toro12]

One more option::
-mobility
-spring attack
-combat experise
-whirlwind attack
+and dodge as monk feat

13 int required for CE

[Rull]

13 int required for CE

Putting the leftover point in 9 int instead of 9 wis will fix it with a +4 tome

(a +5 won't cover it because it would only kicks in at 19)

[Rull]

Improved Critical: Blugeoning improves you warhammer crit profile from 140% to 160%. Assuming 50% fort bypass, this is a 8.3% relative damage increase versus skeletons/liches.

Is that good enough for a feat? (instead of something mediocre like another toughness or 2% dodge)

[Clemeit]

Not directed at anyone, but just what's on my mind which reading some of the responses.

This is a multiplayer game. I can't understand why the radical change when ED's came out. Suddenly NOBODY wanted to group. It was all about self healing self sufficient self blah blah blah. There is this great thing called a group, and even greater things called static groups. This is a multiplayer game: instead of sacrificing tons of damage just to scrap in some self healing, why not run with a healer? That is what they are for, after all... Instead of sacrificing tons of damage and power for crazy saves, why not run with a rogue to do the traps for you? That is what they are for, after all. Worried about casters getting to you? Run with a wizard, they can crowd control all those casters and they wont touch you ever again. That is, again, what they are for.

Self sufficiency is fun and all, but I really kinda miss the old way of things. Playing a crazy raging barbarian who takes 200 damage per second directly from himself, not even taking into consideration the damage that is being taken from EE mobs, was a ton of fun. And it used to be possible because most people still grouped. So, you grab a healer that has made a name for him/herself on the server, and you go chop some mobs down with more power than any self-sufficient toon could push out in a day.

/rant off

At OP, I like the idea of the build. Looking forward to seeing some videos and screenshots.

[Rull]

Not directed at anyone, but just what's on my mind which reading some of the responses.

This is a multiplayer game. I can't understand why the radical change when ED's came out. Suddenly NOBODY wanted to group. It was all about self healing self sufficient self blah blah blah. There is this great thing called a group, and even greater things called static groups. This is a multiplayer game: instead of sacrificing tons of damage just to scrap in some self healing, why not run with a healer? That is what they are for, after all... Instead of sacrificing tons of damage and power for crazy saves, why not run with a rogue to do the traps for you? That is what they are for, after all. Worried about casters getting to you? Run with a wizard, they can crowd control all those casters and they wont touch you ever again. That is, again, what they are for.

Self sufficiency is fun and all, but I really kinda miss the old way of things. Playing a crazy raging barbarian who takes 200 damage per second directly from himself, not even taking into consideration the damage that is being taken from EE mobs, was a ton of fun. And it used to be possible because most people still grouped. So, you grab a healer that has made a name for him/herself on the server, and you go chop some mobs down with more power than any self-sufficient toon could push out in a day.

/rant off

At OP, I like the idea of the build. Looking forward to seeing some videos and screenshots.

Oh, but I can understand. It wasn't EDs that cause the solo play, it was Bravery Bonus.

Level 14 quests are only run in the narrow level range of: level 16 character.
There is no point in doing it on level 15. Not only will it be harder than when you wait, there is also this thing called 'saving it for later', because the bulk of the XP is needed at the higher levels, but at the same time the peak in quest XP per minute still lies on level 9 and decline steadily towards 19.
And obviously there is no point in doing it on level 17, breaking bravery for everyone.

With a doubling in content the players are spread out way too thin (over 28 levels). To find 6 people of the same level wanting to do the same quest at the same time takes much much longer than it takes to do the quest. Especially since you need to find people who haven't done it already (after all, they are better off doing that quest on HARD since that nets more XP).

Finding people for said quest on hard is even more impossible, since you need to find people who have already done it once, yet not twice or more.

Yeah, Bravery Bonus both killed and saved this game.
It saved half of the content because never-ran quest are now ran again for first time bonuses.
But the way it was implemented killed all of the content in the process.

[Rull]

Anyway, I worked out the enhancements:

Enhancement: Dwarf - Dwarven Toughness (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Dwarven Constitution (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Dwarven Toughnesss (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Dwarven Constitution (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Dwarven Toughness (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Pick and Hammer Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Child of the Mountain (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Pick and Hammer Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Pick and Hammer Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Pick and Hammer Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Dwarf - Throw Your Weight Around (Picks and Hammers) (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Kensei Focus: Picks and Hammers (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Spiritual Bond (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Strike With No Thought (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Extra Action Boost (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Kensei Weapon Specialization: Picks and Hammers (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Haste Boost (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Reed in the Wind (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Kensei Weapon Specialization: Picks and Hammers (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Weapon Meditation (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Critical Accuracy (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Kensei Weapon Specialization: Picks and Hammers (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Shattering Strike (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Critical Damage (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Kensei (Ftr) - Kensei Weapon Specialization: Picks and Hammers (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: Tempest (Rgr) - Shield of Whirling Steel (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Tempest (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Improved Reaction (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Whirling Blades (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Tempest (Rgr) - Whirling Blades (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Bastion of Purity (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Protection from Tainted Creatures (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Deft Strikes (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Ninja Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Ninja Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Shadow Veil (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Sneak Attack Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Acrobatic (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Sneak Attack Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Agility (Rank 1)

Enhancement: Deepwood Stalkerr (Rgr) - Far Shot (Rank 1)

one point left, for "Dwarven Runes (Rank 1)" or "A Good Death" I guess.


Too bad you don't have 6 points for Shintao: Iron Skin (and 2 more for +1 CON in shintao).
But I don't see any way to free up those points, attractive as 15 PRR might be.
I'm quite happy about how the rest fits, nothing else you really want but can't get, and nothing you hate to take but have to (only the one point in Reed in the Wind is wasted to get the 30th point in kensai)

[NaturalHazard]

could 3 druid be an option instead of 3 ranger? miss some feats though, but would qualify for empowered heaing feat to power cocoon and get some double strike boosts and fatal harrier? Also can get rams might to cast.

[Rull]

could 3 druid be an option instead of 3 ranger? miss some feats though, but would qualify for empowered heaing feat to power cocoon and get some double strike boosts and fatal harrier? Also can get rams might to cast.

Nah, it's not even the free feat, but the 10% offhand strike is HUGE... in addition to cheap 1d6 sneak, +2 saves, +2 save-vs-trap and+2 damage when dualwielding from enhancements for just 9 points.

[Syrrah]

The bodybuilder ...

So, we're now one month later. How is the build performing? I'm especially interested in Throw Your Weight Around: does it give equal DPS as a STR build would have? Did you stick with picks for end game?