Build Request: Kensai Fighter with Self-healing proficiency

[Muddon]

In my brief experience with DDO Class Forums I have found that there are a ton of build design savants on here. I was hoping someone or someones would be willing to give me their two cents towards my next character build. I'm a new player playing my first character who will be beginning his 3rd life soon, and I wanted to make a kensai fighter who is relatively self-sufficient and not a drag on team play. I'll have a greensteel rapier and possibly long sword as well as a greensteel necklace with +45 health and blur. Other than these considerations, I'm completely open to any and all creative input.

Thanks!

[CThruTheEgo]

Check out Santa's Little Slayer in my sig. It's built for endgame and is somewhat of a late bloomer in terms of potential, so if you're looking for just a heroic past life build it may not be the best option. But it's got great damage avoidance through dodge, incorp, and the displacement dragonmarks; solid dps through both melee and ranged; and decent self healing from cocoon. It's definitely self-sufficient and a solid contributor to a party.

[unbongwah]

Bearing in mind Kensei have fallen out of favor lately, my first thought is ftr 12 / bard 4 / cleric or FvS 4: SWF w/rapiers (b/c Swashbuckling & Keen Edge will stack). Ameliorating Strike, CCW wands, and pots cover your self-healing.

Feats: SWF x3, SM+ISM, Precision or Power Atk, IC:Pierce, WF/WS/GWF/GWS:Pierce (Kensei pre-reqs + Melee Power).

Enhancements: 31 APs into Kensei (Power Surge + Keen Edge), 22 APs into Warpriest (Div Might & Ameliorating Strike), 21 APs into Swashie (Skirmisher + Low Blow), 3 APs into human (Dmg Boost & heal amp), 1 AP into WC (Skaldic Rage), with 2 APs left over. Or go for a more defensive build by shifting APs from SB & WC into Stalwart and possibly Vanguard.

[cru121]

Bearing in mind Kensei have fallen out of favor lately, my first thought is ftr 12 / bard 4 / cleric or FvS 4: SWF w/rapiers (b/c Swashbuckling & Keen Edge will stack). Ameliorating Strike, CCW wands, and pots cover your self-healing.

Feats: SWF x3, SM+ISM, Precision or Power Atk, IC:Pierce, WF/WS/GWF/GWS:Pierce (Kensei pre-reqs + Melee Power).

Enhancements: 31 APs into Kensei (Power Surge + Keen Edge), 22 APs into Warpriest (Div Might & Ameliorating Strike), 21 APs into Swashie (Skirmisher + Low Blow), 3 APs into human (Dmg Boost & heal amp), 1 AP into WC (Skaldic Rage), with 2 APs left over. Or go for a more defensive build by shifting APs from SB & WC into Stalwart and possibly Vanguard.

I like it! I'd try to fit in Extend for Blur and Rage.

[unbongwah]

Well then, let's try messing around with the builder and see what we can come up with.

Upon reflection, I didn't think Low Blow was worth the extra APs, so instead I tried investing in Vanguard; Shield Smash is a nice defensive buff, while Stunning Shield + Follow Up is a nice combo for boosting DPS. And I got 40% shield bashing proc chance (20% Imp Shield Bash feat + 20% Vanguard cores), which is not bad.

12/4/4 Fighter/Bard/Favored Soul
True Neutral Human


Level Order

1. Bard . . . . . .6. Favored Soul. .11. Fighter. . . . 16. Fighter
2. Bard . . . . . .7. Favored Soul. .12. Fighter. . . . 17. Fighter
3. Bard . . . . . .8. Fighter . . . .13. Fighter. . . . 18. Fighter
4. Favored Soul . .9. Bard. . . . . .14. Fighter. . . . 19. Fighter
5. Favored Soul . 10. Fighter . . . .15. Fighter. . . . 20. Fighter


Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt. . .Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .----. . .---- . . --------
Strength. . . . 18 . . . +2. . . .4: STR
Dexterity . . . 12 . . . +2. . . .8: STR
Constitution. . 14 . . . +2. . . 12: STR
Intelligence. . .8 . . . +2. . . 16: STR
Wisdom. . . . . .8 . . . +2. . . 20: STR
Charisma. . . . 16 . . . +2. . . 24: STR
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: STR

Feats

.1. . . . : Single Weapon Fighting
.1 Human. : Power Attack
.3. . . . : Cleave
.4 Deity. : Follower of: Sovereign Host
.6. . . . : Great Cleave
.6 Deity. : Child of: Sovereign Host
.8 Fighter: Improved Single Weapon Fighting
.9. . . . : Shield Mastery
10 Fighter: Improved Critical: Piercing
12. . . . : Improved Shield Mastery
12 Fighter: Weapon Focus: Piercing
14 Fighter: Greater Single Weapon Fighting
15. . . . : Weapon Specialization: Piercing
16 Fighter: Greater Weapon Focus: Piercing
18. . . . : Extend Spell
18 Fighter: Improved Shield Bash
20 Fighter: Greater Weapon Specialization: Piercing
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic . : Precision
26 Destiny: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
27 Epic . : Blinding Speed
28 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting


Enhancements (80 AP)

Human (1 AP)

Damage Boost

Kensei (31 AP)

Kensei Focus: Light Blades, Spiritual Bond, Strike with No Thought, Power Surge
Extra Action Boost III, Weapon Group Specialization, Haste Boost III
Weapon Group Specialization
Critical Accuracy III, Weapon Group Specialization, Strength
Critical Damage II, Weapon Group Specialization, Strength
Keen Edge

Vanguard (14 AP)

To the Fore!, Shield Combat I, Vicious Shield I
Shield Specialization, Shield Smash III
Stunning Shield III
Follow Up III

Warpriest (22 AP)

Smite Foe, Resilience of Battle
Divine Might III, Toughness I
Smite Weakness, Wall of Steel III, Inflame III, Inflame: Saving Throws III
Inflame: Energy Absorption III
Ameliorating Strike

Swashbuckler (11 AP)

Confidence, Swashbuckling
On Your Toes III, Tavern Shanties III
Deflect Arrows
Skirmisher

Warchanter (1 AP)

Skaldic: Rage

Skipping Stalwart Defender lets you use Skaldic Rage and Rage spell for +6 STR early on (Primal Scream in epics for +9 STR total); biggest downside is missing out on +25 PRR for 6 APs, ofc. But feel free to play with enhancements to find the right DPS / survivability tradeoff.

[Muddon]

Well then, let's try messing around with the builder and see what we can come up with.

Upon reflection, I didn't think Low Blow was worth the extra APs, so instead I tried investing in Vanguard; Shield Smash is a nice defensive buff, while Stunning Shield + Follow Up is a nice combo for boosting DPS. And I got 40% shield bashing proc chance (20% Imp Shield Bash feat + 20% Vanguard cores), which is not bad.

12/4/4 Fighter/Bard/Favored Soul
True Neutral Human


Level Order

1. Bard . . . . . .6. Favored Soul. .11. Fighter. . . . 16. Fighter
2. Bard . . . . . .7. Favored Soul. .12. Fighter. . . . 17. Fighter
3. Bard . . . . . .8. Fighter . . . .13. Fighter. . . . 18. Fighter
4. Favored Soul . .9. Bard. . . . . .14. Fighter. . . . 19. Fighter
5. Favored Soul . 10. Fighter . . . .15. Fighter. . . . 20. Fighter


Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt. . .Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .----. . .---- . . --------
Strength. . . . 18 . . . +2. . . .4: STR
Dexterity . . . 12 . . . +2. . . .8: STR
Constitution. . 14 . . . +2. . . 12: STR
Intelligence. . .8 . . . +2. . . 16: STR
Wisdom. . . . . .8 . . . +2. . . 20: STR
Charisma. . . . 16 . . . +2. . . 24: STR
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: STR

Feats

.1. . . . : Single Weapon Fighting
.1 Human. : Power Attack
.3. . . . : Cleave
.4 Deity. : Follower of: Sovereign Host
.6. . . . : Great Cleave
.6 Deity. : Child of: Sovereign Host
.8 Fighter: Improved Single Weapon Fighting
.9. . . . : Shield Mastery
10 Fighter: Improved Critical: Piercing
12. . . . : Improved Shield Mastery
12 Fighter: Weapon Focus: Piercing
14 Fighter: Greater Single Weapon Fighting
15. . . . : Weapon Specialization: Piercing
16 Fighter: Greater Weapon Focus: Piercing
18. . . . : Extend Spell
18 Fighter: Improved Shield Bash
20 Fighter: Greater Weapon Specialization: Piercing
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic . : Precision
26 Destiny: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
27 Epic . : Blinding Speed
28 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting


Enhancements (80 AP)

Human (1 AP)

Damage Boost

Kensei (31 AP)

Kensei Focus: Light Blades, Spiritual Bond, Strike with No Thought, Power Surge
Extra Action Boost III, Weapon Group Specialization, Haste Boost III
Weapon Group Specialization
Critical Accuracy III, Weapon Group Specialization, Strength
Critical Damage II, Weapon Group Specialization, Strength
Keen Edge

Vanguard (14 AP)

To the Fore!, Shield Combat I, Vicious Shield I
Shield Specialization, Shield Smash III
Stunning Shield III
Follow Up III

Warpriest (22 AP)

Smite Foe, Resilience of Battle
Divine Might III, Toughness I
Smite Weakness, Wall of Steel III, Inflame III, Inflame: Saving Throws III
Inflame: Energy Absorption III
Ameliorating Strike

Swashbuckler (11 AP)

Confidence, Swashbuckling
On Your Toes III, Tavern Shanties III
Deflect Arrows
Skirmisher

Warchanter (1 AP)

Skaldic: Rage

Skipping Stalwart Defender lets you use Skaldic Rage and Rage spell for +6 STR early on (Primal Scream in epics for +9 STR total); biggest downside is missing out on +25 PRR for 6 APs, ofc. But feel free to play with enhancements to find the right DPS / survivability tradeoff.

I like it! I'll give it a try! Thanks for the help.

[Rhysem]

In my brief experience with DDO Class Forums I have found that there are a ton of build design savants on here. I was hoping someone or someones would be willing to give me their two cents towards my next character build. I'm a new player playing my first character who will be beginning his 3rd life soon, and I wanted to make a kensai fighter who is relatively self-sufficient and not a drag on team play. I'll have a greensteel rapier and possibly long sword as well as a greensteel necklace with +45 health and blur. Other than these considerations, I'm completely open to any and all creative input.

Thanks!

If you aren't fixed on kensai fighter and are looking at the rapier, consider bard with swashbuckler instead. Pick up a Tiefling Assassin's Blade for level 4 before you can get greensteel and go to town.

You can mix bard and fighter -- I have a bard 15 / fighter 3 /rogue 2 and it works fine, but I'm using fighter for stalwart defender (and swashbuckler with the buckler line), not kensai. If you didn't want trapping you could do that as bard 15 / fighter 5, but there's not, to me, much drool worthy in the kensai tree. I'd be inclined to do bard 16-17 / fighter 4-3. (Or, even just straight up bard 20.)