Planning a new stealth build

[Saekee]

I am planning a new stealth build and appreciate feedback. The idea is to use wraith form (12 wiz) and its synergy with 5 bard and Brush Hooks for the insane crit profile (13-20/4). Wraith gives 1d6 on crit and I intend to run in Divine Crusader for 11-20 crit range. Bard also gives resonant arms on crits. 3 rogue for faster sneaking, evasion, and traps.

offenses:
Single target:
brush hook crit profile of 13-20/4, 11-20/4 in DC plus Exploit weakness
+5 damage (Thread the needle)
3d4 elemental per hit (EK)
On crits (half of all attacks):
1d6 CON
6d6 sonic resonant arms (swash) scales with spell power
CDG against weakened FORT mobs due to CON damage
doublestrike burst, various bonuses to doublestrike from epic destiny feats, EK and Swash tree


Group offense:
EK cleave (sp costly)
Divine Crusader Strike Down
Energy burst DC INT based

range:
Great xbow

Defenses:
Perma incorp (wraith form), extended Displacement
Evasion
Arcane barrier (EK)
Various dodge bonuses for max
Improved Mage armor (+10% AC)
Improved shield (+10 PRR)
Deflect Arrows
elegant footwork
Will study buckler vs Orb, light armor (up to 16 PRR for light armor)
Self-healing through Aura

stealth: Wraith form MS +20, near maxed skills here plus insta invis, trapping (but not trapmaking)

Wraith Critter
12/5/3 Wizard/Bard/Rogue
True Neutral Drow


Level Order

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


Stats
32pt Tome Level Up
---- ---- --------
Strength 8 +3 4: INT
Dexterity 13 +4 8: INT
Constitution 14 +5 12: INT
Intelligence 20 +3 16: INT
Wisdom 8 +3 20: INT
Charisma 13 +3 24: INT
28: INT

Skills
R B B B W W W W W W W B B R W W W W W R
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
------------------------------------------------------------
Disable 4 1 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 ½ 3 23
Spellcr 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 ½ 21
UMD 4 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 3 2 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 21
Concent 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 ½ 20
Hide 4 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 5 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 20
Move Si 4 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 6 20
Search 4 ½ ½ ½ 7 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1½ 3 19
Perform 2 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 14
Heal 2 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 11
Balance 4 4 8
Jump 4 1 1 1 7
Open Lo 4 4
Tumble 1 1
Haggle 1 1
Intim ½ ½
------------------------------------------------------------
47 11 11 12 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 14 14 16 10 10 10 10 10 17
52 11 11 12 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 14 14 16 10 10 10 10 10 17


Feats

1 : Single Weapon Fighting
3 : Precision
5 Wizard : Extend Spell
6 : Insightful Reflexes
9 : Exotic Weapon: Kama
9 Wizard : Quicken Spell
12 : Improved Single Weapon Fighting
15 : Improved Critical: Slashing
17 Wizard : Maximize Spell
18 : Improved Critical: Piercing
21 Epic : Greater Single Weapon Fighting
24 Epic : Overwhelming Critical
26 Destiny: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
27 Epic : Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting


Enhancements (80 AP)

Pale Master (21 AP)
• Dark Reaping, Zombie Form, Vampire Form, Wraith Form
• Deathless Vigor III, Negative Energy Conduit III
• Efficient Quicken II, Bone Armor II
• Intelligence

Swashbuckler (35 AP)
• Confidence, Swashbuckling
• On Your Toes III, Limber Up I
• Deflect Arrows, Sword Dance III, Double Strike Boost II
• Elegant Footwork, Arcane Marauder, Resonant Arms III, Two Steps Ahead
• Loud & Clear
• Thread the Needle, Exploit Weakness, Coup de Grace: Melee

Harper Agent (7 AP)
• Agent of Good I
• Traveler's Toughness III, Strategic Combat
• Know the Angles I

Assassin (4 AP)
• Knife in the Darkness
• Stealthy III

Eldritch Knight (12 AP)
• Eldritch Strike, Spellsword: Flame
• Improved Mage Armor III, Toughness I
• Improved Shield III, Martial Training
• Arcane Barrier I

Archmage (1 AP)
• Invisibility


Destiny (23 of 24 AP)

Divine Crusader
• Interrogation, Purge the Wicked, Charisma
• Consecration III, Flames of Purity III
• Sacred Ground, Empyrean Magic
• No Regret, Crusade
• Heavenly Presence, Celestial Champion
• Strike Down

Twists of Fate (15 fate points)
• Energy Burst: Fire (Tier 4 Draconic)
• Endless Faith (Tier 1 Exalted)
• Sigil of Warding (Tier 1 Magister)

[HuneyMunster]

I would drop 1 point Traveler's Toughness and in Archmage and use invis spell or scroll instead. Then put those 2 points into Know the Angles unless you want to have to use it every 30sec for 45sp instead of every 2min for 15sp.

[SamaelBael]

Hi Saekee,

i hardly played undead, but are you sure you have the healing covered? no wand/scroll mastery for the inflict wounds potions?

you are int based, +20 MS from wraith is good, but what about HIDE? the invis spell is useless against giants, dragons, some champions,...

do you intend to sneak in EE? the missing 20 in hide could be crucial in higher EE content.

Samaelius

[Saekee]

I would drop 1 point Traveler's Toughness and in Archmage and use invis spell or scroll instead. Then put those 2 points into Know the Angles unless you want to have to use it every 30sec for 45sp instead of every 2min for 15sp.

Hi Huney, fair point. I confess that my current build has KtA and I always forget to activate it and its timer gets lost with guild buff icons. So I figure to use it only against bosses, when the extra DPS is needed. The CON drain, weapon crit profile, resonant arms, minor sneak damage and CDG should get rid of trash mobs easily enough without KtA.

I abuse invisi when it costs 1 sp and is quickened. It keeps me always hitting it, making melee easier for closing in on targets too. It becomes a QoL choice but someone else with this build can do differently.

Hi Saekee,

i hardly played undead, but are you sure you have the healing covered? no wand/scroll mastery for the inflict wounds potions?

you are int based, +20 MS from wraith is good, but what about HIDE? the invis spell is useless against giants, dragons, some champions,...

do you intend to sneak in EE? the missing 20 in hide could be crucial in higher EE content.

Samaelius

Hi Samael, yes am curious how healing will go. I think it will be fine with good missed chances and aura regen. I will probably use the deathwyrm cloak and look to ways to max out spell power, neg energy, CON and the heal skill.

Stealth--I have HS and Ms maxed out and a decent DEX skill. With lots of other bonuses I should be fine. When I get spotted, it will be to their regret.

I suppose I could grab wand and scroll mastery from EK cheaply and use the harm scrolls--will keep it in mind!

[SamaelBael]

The Death Auras are likely to kick you out of stealth/invis. You wrote you spam Invisibility?

Seems to me that you can either stealth or heal.

I am not aware of a way to turn the auras off.

lesser death aura:
24 seconds + 3 seconds per caster level (Max 20) = 24+3*12 = 60sec sneak/invis inability

+ aoe agro

I want to see a video of this build in action. Sounds challenging.

[Saekee]

The Death Auras are likely to kick you out of stealth/invis. You wrote you spam Invisibility?

Seems to me that you can either stealth or heal.

I am not aware of a way to turn the auras off.

lesser death aura:
24 seconds + 3 seconds per caster level (Max 20) = 24+3*12 = 60sec sneak/invis inability

+ aoe agro

I want to see a video of this build in action. Sounds challenging.

Gaah! Great point. I had a vamp form that played a bit with stealth but I do not recall the effect of the death auras. It may be that they break invisi only when they hit a mob. I will need to test it.
Usually, I stealth before confrontations and work around them, or do a burst heal with the neg energy spell. I can also chug the inflict potions while invisible and in stealth and they do not break invisi.

Anyway, thoughtful points! I will need to test stuff. Even if the aura breaks invisi, I can still work this fine sans aura on stealth runs.

I do not have any video capabilities. I plan to do this once I reach level cap (my main is around level 25) but I tend to level slowly.

[Saekee]

Still trying to figure this out. Are the shield mastery feats worth it? I would get a chunk of PRR from them, doublestrike bonuses and the Unyielding Sentinel tier 2.

Wraith Critter
12/5/3 Wizard/Bard/Rogue
True Neutral Drow


Level Order

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


Stats
32pt Tome Level Up
---- ---- --------
Strength 8 +3 4: INT
Dexterity 13 +4 8: INT
Constitution 14 +5 12: INT
Intelligence 20 +3 16: INT
Wisdom 8 +3 20: INT
Charisma 13 +3 24: INT
28: INT

Skills
R B B B W W W W W W W B B R W W W W W R
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
------------------------------------------------------------
Disable 4 1 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 ½ 3 23
Spellcr 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 ½ 21
UMD 4 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 3 2 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 21
Concent 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 ½ 20
Hide 4 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 5 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 20
Move Si 4 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 6 20
Search 4 ½ ½ ½ 7 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1½ 3 19
Perform 2 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 14
Heal 2 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 11
Balance 4 4 8
Jump 4 1 1 1 7
Open Lo 4 4
Tumble 1 1
Haggle 1 1
Intim ½ ½
------------------------------------------------------------
47 11 11 12 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 14 14 16 10 10 10 10 10 17
52 11 11 12 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 14 14 16 10 10 10 10 10 17


Feats

1 : Single Weapon Fighting
3 : Precision
5 Wizard : Extend Spell
6 : Insightful Reflexes
9 : Exotic Weapon: Kama
9 Wizard : Quicken Spell
12 : Improved Single Weapon Fighting
15 : Improved Critical: Slashing
17 Wizard : Maximize Spell
18 : Shield Mastery
21 Epic : Greater Single Weapon Fighting
24 Epic : Improved Shield Mastery
26 Destiny: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
27 Epic : Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting


Enhancements (80 AP)

Pale Master (21 AP)
• Dark Reaping, Zombie Form, Vampire Form, Wraith Form
• Deathless Vigor III, Negative Energy Conduit III
• Efficient Quicken II, Bone Armor II
• Intelligence

Swashbuckler (35 AP)
• Confidence, Swashbuckling
• On Your Toes III, Limber Up I
• Deflect Arrows, Sword Dance III, Double Strike Boost II
• Elegant Footwork, Arcane Marauder, Resonant Arms III, Two Steps Ahead
• Loud & Clear
• Thread the Needle, Exploit Weakness, Coup de Grace: Melee

Harper Agent (7 AP)
• Agent of Good I
• Traveler's Toughness III, Strategic Combat
• Know the Angles I

Assassin (4 AP)
• Knife in the Darkness
• Stealthy III

Eldritch Knight (12 AP)
• Eldritch Strike, Spellsword: Flame
• Improved Mage Armor III, Toughness I
• Improved Shield III, Martial Training
• Arcane Barrier I

Archmage (1 AP)
• Invisibility


Destiny (23 of 24 AP)

Divine Crusader
• Interrogation, Purge the Wicked, Charisma
• Consecration III, Flames of Purity III
• Sacred Ground, Empyrean Magic
• No Regret, Crusade
• Heavenly Presence, Celestial Champion
• Strike Down

Twists of Fate (19 fate points)
• Energy Burst: Fire (Tier 4 Draconic)
• Endless Faith (Tier 1 Exalted)
• Legendary Shield Mastery (Tier 2 Sentinel)

[Saekee]

Ok here is my latest attempt. Feedback of any kind, as well as questions, are very welcome!

• Goal is to take advantage of the insane boost to Melee Power in Tier 5 assassin from Measure the Foe (easy to maintain via stealthing every 10 seconds) without bothering with DC-style stuff like assassinate, CDG etc.
• If wraith form is problematic I can always drop it and stay fleshy. this would free up 21 AP for resonant arms etc. I like Wraith form's bonus to MS and perma incorp as well as pale master immunities; it also saps CON on crits which will be every other hit.
• Will use Celestia on crit-resistant mobs
• Am attempting to maximize PRR via Improved combat expertise LD twist, EK Improved Shield, Shield mastery feats, et al. Should be ok, not great, but have all avoidance otherwise (incorp, displacement, dodge, decent AC and evasion)
• Plan to use Kobold Admiral's Tiller so every other hit on trash will daze it (Guardbreaking) and will have high Dodge as a result of swash and item bonus.

On hit: 3d4 elemental damage, 1d8 venomed blades. On crit: 1d6 CON. with Hook: 13-20/4 crit range, 11-20/4 in DC
maybe some other gear to boost damage too such as on vorpals
really wish I could fit in resonant arms


12/5/3 Wizard/Rogue/Bard
True Neutral Drow


Level Order

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


Stats
32pt Tome Level Up
---- ---- --------
Strength 8 +3 4: DEX
Dexterity 19 +4 8: DEX
Constitution 13 +5 12: DEX
Intelligence 18 +3 16: DEX
Wisdom 9 +3 20: DEX
Charisma 10 +3 24: DEX
28: DEX

Skills
R B B B W W W W W W W R R R W W W W W R
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
------------------------------------------------------------
Disable 4 1 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 ½ 2 23
UMD 4 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 3 2 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 2 22
Search 4 1 2 8 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 3 21
Spellcr 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 1 ½ 20
Hide 4 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 4 1 ½ ½ 1 17
Move Si 4 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 4 15
Heal 2 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 11
Balance 4 1 1 4 10
Jump 4 1 1 1 7
Perform 2 1 1 4
Bluff 4 4
Haggle 1 1 2
Repair 1 1
Open Lo ½ ½ 1
Tumble 1 1
------------------------------------------------------------
44 9 9 10 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 13 13 13 7 7 7 6 7 13
48 10 10 10 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 13 13 13 7 7 7 7 7 13


Feats

1 : Single Weapon Fighting
3 : Combat Expertise
5 Wizard : Extend Spell
6 : Weapon Finesse
9 : Exotic Weapon: Kama
9 Wizard : Quicken Spell
12 : Improved Single Weapon Fighting
15 : Improved Critical: Slashing
17 Wizard : Maximize Spell
18 : Shield Mastery
21 Epic : Greater Single Weapon Fighting
24 Epic : Improved Shield Mastery
26 Destiny: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
27 Epic : Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting


Enhancements (80 AP)

Pale Master (21 AP)
• Dark Reaping, Zombie Form, Vampire Form, Wraith Form
• Deathless Vigor III, Negative Energy Conduit III
• Efficient Quicken II, Bone Armor II
• Intelligence

Swashbuckler (11 AP)
• Confidence, Swashbuckling
• On Your Toes III, Limber Up I
• Deflect Arrows, Double Strike Boost I
• Skirmisher

Assassin (38 AP)
• Knife in the Darkness, Dagger in the Back
• Poison Strikes: Heartseeker, Shiv III, Sneak Attack Training, Stealthy III
• Venomed Blades III, Sneak Attack Training
• Critical Mastery II, Sneak Attack Training, Intelligence
• Execute, Killer III, Intelligence
• Measure the Foe III, Deadly Strikes, Light Armor Mastery III

Eldritch Knight (9 AP)
• Eldritch Strike, Spellsword: Flame
• Improved Mage Armor III, Toughness I
• Improved Shield III

Archmage (1 AP)
• Invisibility


Destiny (23 of 24 AP)

Divine Crusader
• Interrogation, Purge the Wicked, Charisma
• Consecration III, Flames of Purity III
• Sacred Ground, Empyrean Magic
• No Regret, Crusade
• Heavenly Presence, Celestial Champion
• Strike Down

Twists of Fate (22 fate points)
• Energy Burst: Fire (Tier 4 Draconic)
• Legendary Shield Mastery (Tier 2 Sentinel)
• Imp. Combat Expertise (Tier 2 Dreadnought)

[slarden]

I am wondering if palemaster self healing will be enough in today's high end EE content for a melee. I am thinking perhaps divine crusader + cocoon + great healing amp might be another option.

Another option is 11 rogue 6 wizard 3 bard. The wizard level gives you alot of sp and invis/blur/displace clickies. I would probably go 14 rogue 3 pal 3 bard. 3 pal gives you defensive stance, more hp, more prr/mrr and better saves. With 14 rogue levels you get improved evasion and more sneak damage.

i think overall this gives you much better survivability vs. a palemaster build.

Shield mastery + improved shield mastery + twisting legendary shield mastery is a great move.

I've never been big on combat expertise because of the 3x spell cooldown increase.

[Saekee]

I am wondering if palemaster self healing will be enough in today's high end EE content for a melee. I am thinking perhaps divine crusader + cocoon + great healing amp might be another option.

Another option is 11 rogue 6 wizard 3 bard. The wizard level gives you alot of sp and invis/blur/displace clickies. I would probably go 14 rogue 3 pal 3 bard. 3 pal gives you defensive stance, more hp, more prr/mrr and better saves. With 14 rogue levels you get improved evasion and more sneak damage.

i think overall this gives you much better survivability vs. a palemaster build.

Shield mastery + improved shield mastery + twisting legendary shield mastery is a great move.

I've never been big on combat expertise because of the 3x spell cooldown increase.

hi Slarden, thanks for your thoughts. Yup--am taking every feat imaginable for PRR including the shield mastery ones.Here is my estimate for PRR:

• 26 light armor maxed with BAB
• 5 Improved shield mastery
• 10 Improved shield (EK)
• 6 light armor mastery (assassin)
• 10 Epic damage reduction
• 10 Heavenly presence (DC)
• 35 Gear
• 20 Improved Combat Expertise (LD)
• 15 Legendary Shield mastery (Sentinel)

Totals 137 PRR. Not sure if some of those figures are off.

I do not think the Pale Master Healing will be enough but hopefully with evasion, incorp, displacement, high dodge, good PRR and being s n e a k y I can get by. If not . . . it is a wiz past life. I am not crazy about the cooldown of combat expertise but I really feel I need PRR. The spells will be for buffing anyway, so no need for rapid succession of the same spell in combat.

There are few ways, unfortunately, to boost pale master neg energy vulnerability. Right now, it is only the Deathwyrm cloak AFAIK. The current way is to hit hard with necromacy, and 12 wiz levels is not super strong.

. . . I would probably go 14 rogue 3 pal 3 bard . . .

Let me know how your paladin/bard splash goes!



I can also drop the pale master tree entirely, and grab another 12 PRR from warchanter, Wand and scroll mastery and Arcane barrier from EK and the resonant arms from swash for extra damage. I might do this anyway if the wraith form does not pan out. 21 Ap would go far elsewhere.

[slarden]

hi Slarden, thanks for your thoughts. Yup--am taking every feat imaginable for PRR including the shield mastery ones.Here is my estimate for PRR:

• 26 light armor maxed with BAB
• 5 Improved shield mastery
• 10 Improved shield (EK)
• 6 light armor mastery (assassin)
• 10 Epic damage reduction
• 10 Heavenly presence (DC)
• 35 Gear
• 20 Improved Combat Expertise (LD)
• 15 Legendary Shield mastery (Sentinel)

Totals 137 PRR. Not sure if some of those figures are off.

I do not think the Pale Master Healing will be enough but hopefully with evasion, incorp, displacement, high dodge, good PRR and being s n e a k y I can get by. If not . . . it is a wiz past life. I am not crazy about the cooldown of combat expertise but I really feel I need PRR. The spells will be for buffing anyway, so no need for rapid succession of the same spell in combat.

There are few ways, unfortunately, to boost pale master neg energy vulnerability. Right now, it is only the Deathwyrm cloak AFAIK. The current way is to hit hard with necromacy, and 12 wiz levels is not super strong.


Let me know how your paladin/bard splash goes!



I can also drop the pale master tree entirely, and grab another 12 PRR from warchanter, Wand and scroll mastery and Arcane barrier from EK and the resonant arms from swash for extra damage. I might do this anyway if the wraith form does not pan out. 21 Ap would go far elsewhere.

That all makes sense. Plus you have the flexibility to go with PM and then switch to using crusader at higher levels. Sounds like a great life!