pdk vamp

[Hobgoblin]

i want to make a vampire tank for a static group

this is what i came up so far


vamp tank
12/8 Fighter/Wizard
Chaotic Good Purple Dragon Knight


Level Order

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


Stats
. . . . . . . .32pt . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . --------
Strength. . . . 13. . . .4: CHA
Dexterity . . . .9. . . .8: CHA
Constitution. . 16. . . 12: CHA
Intelligence. . 12. . . 16: CHA
Wisdom. . . . . 10. . . 20: CHA
Charisma. . . . 16. . . 24: CHA
. . . . . . . . . . . . 28: CHA

Skills
. . . . . F. W .W. W .W. W .W. W .F .F .F .F .F .F .W. F. F. F. F. F
. . . . . 1. 2 .3. 4 .5. 6 .7. 8 .9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Intim . . 4. 1 .1. 1 .1. 1 .1. 1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Heal. . . 2. ½ .½. ½ .½. ½ .½. ½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½. ½. ½. ½. ½. . .11
UMD . . . 2. ½ .½. ½ .½. ½ .½. ½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½. ½. ½. ½. ½. . .11
Balance . 2. . . . . . . . . . . .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ .½ . . ½. ½. ½. ½. 1. .8
Jump. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . 1
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .16. 4 .4. 4 .4. 4 .4. 4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4 .4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4


Feats

.1. . . . : Power Attack
.1 PDK. . : Cleave
.1 Fighter: Exotic Weapon: Bastard Sword
.2 Wizard : Empower Spell
.3. . . . : Shield Mastery
.6. . . . : Maximize Spell
.6 Wizard : Extend Spell
.9. . . . : Toughness
.9 Fighter: Great Cleave
11 Fighter: Heavy Armor Training
12. . . . : Improved Shield Mastery
13 Fighter: Improved Critical: Slashing
15. . . . : Heavy Armor Combatant
16 Fighter: Stunning Blow
18. . . . : Weapon Focus: Slashing
18 Fighter: Weapon Specialization: Slashing
20 Fighter: Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing
21 Epic . :
24 Epic . :
26 Destiny:
27 Epic . :
28 Destiny:
29 Destiny:
30 Epic . :
30 Legend :


Spells

Wizard

1. Jump, Nightshield, <Any>, <Any>, <Any>
2. Lesser Death Aura, Resist Energy, <Any>, <Any>
3. Displacement, <Any>, <Any>, <Any>
4. Death Aura, Negative Energy Burst, Dimension Door

Enhancements (64 of 80 AP)

Eldritch Knight (Wizard) (33 AP)

• Eldritch Strike, Spellsword: Shock, Spellsword II: Acid
  
  1. Improved Mage Armor III, Toughness III, Battlemage III
  2. Improved Shield III, Light Armor Proficiency, Martial Training
  3. Arcane Barrier III, Critical Accuracy III, Strength
  4. Shield Striking III, Critical Damage III

Pale Master (17 AP)

• Dark Reaping, Zombie Form, Vampire Form
  
  1. Deathless Vigor III, Skeletal Knight I, Negative Energy Conduit III
  2. Bone Armor III

Purple Dragon Knight (14 AP)

• Damage Boost, Charisma
  
  1. Cormyrean Knight Training, Skill Focus: Focused III
  2. Shield Mastery III

[adrian69]

Feats looks sound for what it is. Remember to toss on some light resistance, since it's gearable now. I don't know what you're getting out of the wizard 8 though, other than 12 more base seconds of displacement and 2 minutes of blur. You could go 2 pally and up your saves by 8 or 12-7-1 fvs and spell divine might since vanguard builds loose out by not going to capstone.

[Soraksis]

I might be missing something but why all the charisma?

[kendo]

I might be missing something but why all the charisma?

Cormyrean Knight Training: You now use Charisma or Strength, whichever is higher, for attack and damage with shortswords, longswords, bastard swords, and greatswords.
In addition, as long as your Charisma remains higher than your Strength and you are wielding one of the above weapons, you receive a bonus to the DCs of your Tactical Feats equal to 1/3 your Charisma modifier

[unbongwah]

Deja vu!

I don't know if this is tank-y enough for you, but my first alternate thought was wiz 12 / bard 5 / ftr 3: Swashbuckler / Pale Master / SD with a little VG for good measure. Downside is being restricted to lt armor w/out Evasion, although in epics you could use Shadowdancer: not as good DPS as LD, of course, but fits thematically and having Evasion + Shadow Form on a vamp build is a nice touch.

[Hobgoblin]

Deja vu!

I don't know if this is tank-y enough for you, but my first alternate thought was wiz 12 / bard 5 / ftr 3: Swashbuckler / Pale Master / SD with a little VG for good measure. Downside is being restricted to lt armor w/out Evasion, although in epics you could use Shadowdancer: not as good DPS as LD, of course, but fits thematically and having Evasion + Shadow Form on a vamp build is a nice touch.

yup thats one of my party members!


It looks good, but want something a little different then 2 carbon copies in the group

[Hobgoblin]

and the reason i took 8 wizard was for pure laziness - more length on my few buffs, and i get 3 spell slots for 4th level.

so i get neb da and dd!

[-Avalon-]

I'd think seriously about subbing 1 wizard and 4 or 5 lvls of fighter, to pick up warlock... 7 wiz/6 lock/7 fighter? Grab the aura, the medium armor enhancement, shining through... Plus, get more PRR/MRR, all around much better than Eldritch Knight line at making a more tanky character, plus a consistent DPS pulse to add to the death auras you'll need for self healing, and a really cheap displacement.

[unbongwah]

BTW, does your group have a gnome vampire Illusionist yet? Do you want one?

[Uska]

Feats looks sound for what it is. Remember to toss on some light resistance, since it's gearable now. I don't know what you're getting out of the wizard 8 though, other than 12 more base seconds of displacement and 2 minutes of blur. You could go 2 pally and up your saves by 8 or 12-7-1 fvs and spell divine might since vanguard builds loose out by not going to capstone.

Has to be a vampire for the group

[Whitering]

I rolled one of these up yesterday as a proof of concept, so to speak, Iconic, I love that you are done with wizard at 15. I am not trying to tank, and picked up a sword of shadows. It's a ton of fun, and it's fine, if you are fighting light damage enemies you just mow them down with cleaves anyway. I did relic of a sovereign past on elite and just farmed it normal mode, the only difference is I moved some gear around to give him a tapestry helmet.

Anyway, I think this character will even be fun to level for a first lifer.

[unbongwah]

Hooray, Kensei is finally worthwhile again! Which means flavor builds like this got a major DPS upgrade!

Quick build test:

ML Vamp Kensei
12/7/1 Fighter/Wizard/Cleric
True Neutral Morninglord


Level Order

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


Stats
               32pt     Level Up
               ----     --------
Strength        16       4: STR
Dexterity        8       8: STR
Constitution    14      12: STR
Intelligence    12      16: STR
Wisdom           8      20: STR
Charisma        16      24: STR
                        28: STR

Feats

 1        : Power Attack
 1 Deity  : Follower of: Amaunator
 2 Wizard : Extend Spell
 3        : Cleave
 6        : Two Handed Fighting
 6 Wizard : Quicken Spell
 8 Fighter: Great Cleave
 9        : Stunning Blow
 9 Fighter: Weapon Focus: Slashing
11 Fighter: Weapon Specialization: Slashing
12        : Improved Two Handed Fighting
13 Fighter: Improved Critical: Slashing
15        : Greater Two Handed Fighting
15 Fighter: Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing
18        : Heavy Armor Master
18 Fighter: Tactical Combatant
20 Fighter: Tactical Mastery
21 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic   :
26 Destiny: Perfect Two Handed Fighting
27 Epic   : Epic Damage Reduction OR Blinding Speed
28 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
29 Destiny: Dire Charge
30 Epic   :
30 Legend : Scion of: Arborea


Enhancements (80 AP)

Kensei (35 AP)

Kensei Focus: Axes, Spiritual Bond, Strike with No Thought, Power Surge

Extra Action Boost III, Weapon Group Specialization, Haste Boost III
Weapon Group Specialization
Weapon Group Specialization, Shattering Strike III, Strength
Weapon Group Specialization, Strike at the Heart, Strength
A Good Death: Melee, Weapon Master, One with the Blade, Deadly Strike, Keen Edge

Stalwart Defender (13 AP)

Toughness, Stalwart Defense

Item Defense I, Durable Defense III
Resilient Defense III, Instinctive Defense I
Tenacious Defense III

Eldritch Knight (Wizard) (13 AP)

Eldritch Strike, Spellsword: Acid

Improved Mage Armor III, Toughness II
Improved Shield III
Arcane Barrier III

Pale Master (11 AP)

Dark Reaping, Zombie Form, Vampire Form

Spell Critical, Negative Energy Conduit III
Bone Armor III

Morninglord (4 AP)

Elven Accuracy

Arcane Fluidity III

Warpriest (4 AP)

Smite Foe

Divine Might III


Destiny (24 AP)

Legendary Dreadnought

Legendary Tactics III, Extra Action Boost III, Strength
Momentum Swing III, Imp. Power Attack
Lay Waste
Anvil of Thunder
Advancing Blows, Devastating Critical
Master's Blitz, Headman's Chop

Morninglord for ASF reduction; mandatory cleric splash makes Div Might a no-brainer. Vanguard chews up too many APs and isn't powerful enough on heavy MCed builds, IMO; so I went THF (greataxe) but invested in some defensive buffs like Arcane Barrier to keep the "tanky" theme.

[Enderoc]

I probably would go 4 Paladin, 4 fighter, 12 Wizard personally

[unbongwah]

I probably would go 4 Paladin, 4 fighter, 12 Wizard personally

That would be a huge DPS loss without the new-n-improved Kensei enhs. Seriously, check them out, some of them are ridiculous; +1 crit multiplier for 11 APs by lvl 6?! Geez, like plowing thru an HTR using Carnifex & SOS wasn't easy enough already...

OP was running in a static group with a dedicated Pale Master (IIRC), they didn't need to handle all of their self-unhealing; thus the bare minimum of wiz lvls I thought necessary.