(HELP!) PDK Undead Swashbuckler (AKA Hatchetman)

[Brenzel]

Greetings ladies, gentlemen, horcs and forged;

Thank you for taking time out of your busy TR grinds and intensive RP sessions to read this. I am in need of some serious help with a new first life Champion build. I have been an on and off player since... before there were Monks at least. I pop in for a few months every year and try out some new fun builds that I try to make playable to TR, however because of my intermittent player status it always seems like I'm behind the curve and have to relearn the game again (perhaps that's the reason I keep coming back).

This time I have picked one of my favorite class types yet again... the melee caster. For this incarnation, I've decided that I want to swing to the dark side with a hand axe wielding Pale Master. I've done a little research on how the game has changed and it seems that it is now possible to use intelligence for almost all the important stats: to-hit, damage, reflex saves, etc. Therefore it seems that it may be a viable build for the current game. Anyway, enough pontificating, here is what I have so far...

Wizard 12 - Wraith Shroud, self buffing and healing, CC or EVO (not sure what would work better for team play or solo yet.

Bard 5 - Swashbuckler T5 (not sure if necessary for the build but seems like it has fabulous synergy), possibly CC

PDK 2 - I'm not sure about whether or not I need 2 fighter levels for feats or not, I can't seem to figure out what's needed for feats and enhancements on a build like this, but the BAB helps a tad and kensei might help with the melee DPS.

I don't yet know where the last level should go. If not the two(or three) fighter levels, I would use the free heart as a PDK to change it to something that works better, thought I do not have access to all classes yet. PDK is mostly for the extra attribute points and the ability to skip the 1-15 grind, I have done it way too many times. As for attributes and skills...

Int MAX
Con 14-16
MAX Perform, Spellcraft (or whatever its called), UMD, Jump, Tumble, Concentration... idk.

For enhancements I'm considering taking most of the swashbuckler lines, Palemaster lines, maybe harper agent, kensei and race trees. I really don't know where to put them yet.

PLEASE, any help making this funbuild a reality (and viable) is appreciated. The best help would probably be in the form of bare bones builds that I can make my own as I progress, but of course all help is welcome, thank you very much



-Brenzel the Laughing Man

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 04.24.01 
DDO Character Planner Home Page  

Hatcheteer  
Level 15 Chaotic Neutral Purple Dragon Knight Male 
(3 Fighter / 7 Wizard / 5 Bard) 
Hit Points: 153 
Spell Points: 539 

BAB: 9/9/14 
Fortitude: 8 
Reflex: 12 
Will: 9 

              Starting    Feat/Enhancement 
Abilities    Base Stats    Modified Stats 
(32 Point)    (Level 1)      (Level 15) 
Strength            8                 8 
Dexterity          13                13 
Constitution       14                14 
Intelligence       18                21 
Wisdom              8                 8 
Charisma           13                13 

Level 1 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Human Bonus) Insightful Reflexes 
Feat: (Selected) Precision 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Single Weapon Fighting 
 
Level 2 (Bard) 
 
Level 3 (Wizard) 
Feat: (Selected) Eschew Materials 
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Quicken Spell 
 
Level 4 (Wizard) 
 
Level 5 (Wizard) 
 
Level 6 (Wizard) 
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell 
 
Level 7 (Wizard) 
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Maximize Spell 
 
Level 8 (Wizard) 
 
Level 9 (Bard) 
Feat: (Selected) Spell Penetration 
 
Level 10 (Bard) 
 
Level 11 (Bard) 
 
Level 12 (Bard) 
Feat: (Selected) Improved Single Weapon Fighting 
 
Level 13 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons 
 
Level 14 (Fighter) 
 
Level 15 (Wizard) 
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons

[cru121]

you should probably go Fighter 3 for stalwart stance

[Brenzel]

you should probably go Fighter 3 for stalwart stance

Can you use more than one stance at a time? Or is it better just to get stalwart?

[cru121]

Can you use more than one stance at a time? Or is it better just to get stalwart?

not sure which other stance you mean

You can have (at least) the following active simultaneously
- undead form
- stalwart stance
- swashbuckling
- precision feat

[Brenzel]

not sure which other stance you mean

You can have (at least) the following active simultaneously
- undead form
- stalwart stance
- swashbuckling
- precision feat

I see I thought swashbuckling was a stance, I'm assuming you placed the precision feat in there as a suggestion. I will post a loose build soon.

EDIT: Build posted through level 15, after which all wizard levels, GSWF and a magical feat i'm not sure of what to get.

[unbongwah]

I see I thought swashbuckling was a stance, I'm assuming you placed the precision feat in there as a suggestion.

There are multiple stances in DDO which can be active simultaneously, but unfortunately it can be pretty confusing at first to figure out what stacks with what. AFAIK, Swashbuckling is an unique stance which can stack with any other stance; it can also be used with any shapeshifted form except druid animal forms.

[Brenzel]

Any build critiques so far?

After a little playtesting, I'm aware of how important the specific enhancements that must be used with this build are, and I'm really lacking in that department, I'm going to need s lot of help with it. Other then the aforementioned, I seem to have gimped myself somehow and I'm not sure if it's entirely because of my lack of gear (of which I have none besides PDK starting gear). I may have to reroll and any more suggestions and help would be greatly appreciated

EDIT: I would have repped you two but it seems the last time I was on here I did and it won't let me again until some other people care enough to help and get repped lol

EDIT 2: Also I've become concerned about my offhand choice for this build, at first I was thinking orbs (because it sounded cool), but I'm not really sure how to get them and if they are really the best options here, is there any pro/con list for the different swashbuckling offhand options (besides runearm, becaue I don't have artificer)

[cru121]

with 7 levels of wizard, not sure how good your self healing is. if you want, you could ditch pale master completely for now, stay human and use potions and hirelings. this would allow you to invest AP into bard and stalwart.

at lvl 15, you should have 56 AP

~13+ in stalwart (2 cores, PRR, saves, +20% HP)
~35+ in swash (exploit weakness, thread the needle, CDG; later also second skin as needed)
3 in harper (Int to hit; pick up int to damage from swashbuckler for now)
3 in PDK for heal amp

I'd recommend light armor (for example Parasitic Breastplate / crafted Superior Stability armor if true neutral) and buckler (cove buckler if you have, crafted seeker/sneak attack).

[Brenzel]

with 7 levels of wizard, not sure how good your self healing is. if you want, you could ditch pale master completely for now, stay human and use potions and hirelings. this would allow you to invest AP into bard and stalwart.

at lvl 15, you should have 56 AP

~13+ in stalwart (2 cores, PRR, saves, +20% HP)
~35+ in swash (exploit weakness, thread the needle, CDG; later also second skin as needed)
3 in harper (Int to hit; pick up int to damage from swashbuckler for now)
3 in PDK for heal amp

I'd recommend light armor (for example Parasitic Breastplate / crafted Superior Stability armor if true neutral) and buckler (cove buckler if you have, crafted seeker/sneak attack).

Thanks for that good bit of advice, I was spreading myself out too much with the enhancements. I do want at least Shroud of the Vampire to start with so here is my updated feat and enhancement list (I swapped out weapon focus for shield mastery as well):

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 04.24.01 
DDO Character Planner Home Page  

Level 15 Chaotic Neutral Purple Dragon Knight Male 
(3 Fighter / 7 Wizard / 5 Bard) 
Hit Points: 187 
Spell Points: 539 

BAB: 9/9/14 
Fortitude: 8 
Reflex: 12 
Will: 9 

Level 1 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Selected) Insightful Reflexes 
Feat: (Human Bonus) Precision 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Single Weapon Fighting 
 
Level 2 (Bard) 
 
Level 3 (Wizard) 
Feat: (Selected) Eschew Materials 
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Quicken Spell 
 
Level 4 (Wizard) 
 
Level 5 (Wizard) 
 
Level 6 (Wizard) 
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell 
 
Level 7 (Wizard) 
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Maximize Spell 
 
Level 8 (Wizard) 
 
Level 9 (Bard) 
Feat: (Selected) Spell Penetration 
 
Level 10 (Bard) 
 
Level 11 (Bard) 
 
Level 12 (Bard) 
Feat: (Selected) Improved Single Weapon Fighting 
 
Level 13 (Fighter) 
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons 
 
Level 14 (Fighter) 
Enhancement: Harper Agent - Agent of Good (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Harper Agent - Strategic Combat I (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Pale Master (Wiz) - Dark Reaping (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Pale Master (Wiz) - Shroud of the Zombie (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Pale Master (Wiz) - Shroud of the Vampire (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Pale Master (Wiz) - Deathless Vigor (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Pale Master (Wiz) - Deathless Vigor (Rank 2) 
Enhancement: Pale Master (Wiz) - Deathless Vigor (Rank 3) 
Enhancement: Pale Master (Wiz) - Negative Energy Conduit (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Pale Master (Wiz) - Negative Energy Conduit (Rank 2) 
Enhancement: Pale Master (Wiz) - Negative Energy Conduit (Rank 3) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Confidence (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Swashbuckling (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - On Your Toes (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - On Your Toes (Rank 2) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Blow By Blow (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Blow By Blow (Rank 2) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Blow By Blow (Rank 3) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Deflect Arrows (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Sword Dance (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Sword Dance (Rank 2) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Sword Dance (Rank 3) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Elegant Footwork (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Skirmisher (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Two Steps Ahead (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Dexterity (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - On the Mark (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Battering Barrage (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Battering Barrage (Rank 2) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Dexterity (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Thread the Needle (Raank 1) 
Enhancement: Swashbuckler (Brd) - Exploit Weaknesses (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Toughness (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Stalwart Defense (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Durable Defense (Rank 1) 
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Durable Defense (Rank 2) 
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Durable Defense (Rank 3) 
Enhancement: Stalwart Defender (Ftr) - Stalwart Defensive Mastery (Rank 1) 

Level 15 (Wizard) 
Feat: (Selected) Shield Mastery

Also I'm considering dumping CHA and all the bard abilities all together, and putting the attribute points into CON with the leftover in dex.