That's Nacho Cheese! El Toro - Tactical Vanguard Tank

[savingsoul]

[Reference post; theory builds.]

This is the kind of Bull you can put up with . . .

Stunning Blow, Stunning Shield, Improved Trip, Shield Charge, Shield Rush, Lay Waste, Dire Charge.


El Toro - Tactical Vanguard Tank
16/4 Fighter/Paladin
Lawful Good Purple Dragon Knight w/ Tower Shield & Bastard Sword


Level Order

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


Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ----. . .--------
Strength. . . . 16. . . .+6. . . .4: STR
Dexterity. . . .14. . . .+6. . . .8: STR
Constitution. . 16. . . .+6. . . 12: STR
Intelligence. . 12. . . .+6. . . 16: STR
Wisdom. . . . . .8. . . .+6. . . 20: STR
Charisma. . . . 14. . . .+6. . . 24: STR
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: STR

Skills
Intimidate, Umd, Balance, Jump


Feats

.1. . . . : Shield Mastery
.1 PDK. . : Force of Personality
.1 Fighter: Power Attack
.3. . . . : Cleave
.6. . . . : Great Cleave
.6 Fighter: Combat Expertise
.8 Fighter: Improved Shield Mastery
.9. . . . : Improved Trip
10 Fighter: Improved Critical: Slashing
12. . . . : Stunning Blow
12 Fighter: Tactical Combatant
14 Fighter: Heavy Armor Master
15. . . . : Improved Shield Bash
16 Fighter: Tactical Mastery
18. . . . : Heavy Armor Champion
18 Fighter: Shield Deflection
20 Fighter: Tactical Supremacy
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic . : Bulwark of Defense
26 Destiny: Holy Strike
27 Epic . : Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Elusive Target
29 Destiny: Dire Charge
30 Epic . : Epic Reflexes
30 Legend : Scion of: Astral Plane

.2 Deity. : Follower of: Helm


Enhancement Set #1 (80 AP)

Stalwart Defender (40 AP)

• Toughness, Stalwart Defense, Overbalance
  1. Durable Defense III, Stalwart Defensive Mastery III, Threatening Countenance III
  2. Resilient Defense III, Stalwart Shield Mastery III, Armor Expertise III
  3. Tenacious Defense III
  4. Swift Defense, Hardy Defense III, Reinforced Armor III
  5. Block and Cut III, Strong Defense III, Reinforced Shield III

Sacred Defender (25 AP)

• Holy Bastion
  1. Extra Lay On Hands III, Sacred Armor Mastery III
  2. Instinctive Defense III, Bulwark Aura III, Sacred Shield Mastery III, Defense Boost III
  3. Resistance Aura III
  4. Reinforced Armor III

Vanguard (14 AP)

• To the Fore!, Shield Combat I, Vicious Shield I
  1. Shield Specialization, Armor Training III
  2. Brutality III, Stunning Shield III

Purple Dragon Knight (1 AP)

• Damage Boost

Enhancement Set #2 (80 AP)

Vanguard (33 AP)

• To the Fore!, Shield Combat I, Vicious Shield I, Shield Combat II
  1. Shield Specialization, Armor Training II
  2. Shield Specialization, Brutality III, Stunning Shield III
  3. Shield Specialization, Follow Up III
  4. Armor Mastery III, Shield Charge III, Myrmidon's Edge III
  5. Shield Rush III

Stalwart Defender (24 AP)

• Toughness, Stalwart Defense, Overbalance
  1. Durable Defense III, Stalwart Defensive Mastery III
  2. Resilient Defense III, Stalwart Shield Mastery III, Armor Expertise II
  3. Tenacious Defense III
  4. Swift Defense, Reinforced Armor III

Sacred Defender (23 AP)

• Holy Bastion
  1. Extra Lay On Hands II, Sacred Armor Mastery III
  2. Instinctive Defense II, Bulwark Aura III, Sacred Shield Mastery III, Defense Boost III
  3. Resistance Aura III
  4. Reinforced Armor III

Destiny (24 AP)

Unyielding Sentinel

1. Energy Resistance III, Shield Prowess III
2. Block Energy III, Legendary Shield Mastery III
3. Renewal III, Endless Lay On Hands III
4. (none)
5. Hardened III, Strength of Vitality III

Twists of Fate (8 fate points)

1. Lay Waste (Tier 3 Dreadnought)
2. Legendary Tactics (Tier 1 Dreadnought)

Already enough tanks in the group?
Legendary Dreadnought

1. Legendary Tactics III, Extra Action Boost III
2. Momentum Swing III, Imp. Power Attack
3. Lay Waste, Critical Damage III
4. Volcano's Edge
5. Advancing Blows, Devastating Critical
6. Master's Blitz

Equipment
IP

[savingsoul]

When I was experimenting with The Total Package, I discovered that you could put enough points into both Stalwart and Sacred Defender to get the stacking bonus to armor AC from Reinforced Defense and still have 33-34 ap's to put into another tree--namely, the Kensei Tree on The Total Package and the Vanguard Tree on El Toro--which is just enough points to take advantage of Tier 5 enhancements.

Pretty cool.

It has been brought to my attention that El Toro is similar to the original Elven Steel Maiden.
https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...(-AC-Fighter-)

After reviewing the enhancements on the Steel Maiden, I've added the option to take *some* points out of Vanguard on El Toro and put them into Stalwart. I've also switched from relying on the Sacred defensive stance on El Toro to relying on the Stalwart stance. Hence, Enhancement Set #2 (see the OP).

Though I've learned a little from it's Enhancements, I did find some problems with the original Steel Maiden.

First, I'm not sure why the original Steel Maiden does not take advantage of the stacking bonus to armor AC from Sacred/Stalwart Reinforced Defense.

If I understand correctly, they are supposed to stack. It's not an exploit. El Toro takes advantage of this stacking, and I assume that 50% to armor AC (only accessible w/ 4 levels of Paladin) is much better than merely the 10% to general AC (from one level of Wizard/EK). Reinforced Defense also does not require casting and recasting a spell or worrying about it being dispelled.

Taking both four/five levels of Paladin and one level of Wizard/Sorcerer, as found in later versions of the Steel Maiden, leads to a sub-optimal tactical build, because it loses access to the Tactical Supremacy feat; the *Tactical* Tank in El Toro doesn't want to go there.

Sticking to the 16 Fighter level possibilities w/ Tactical Supremacy, four levels of Paladin on El Toro (as opposed to 3 on Steel Maiden) also gives an additional +3 to all saves through Divine Grace aside from opening up access to stacking Reinforced Armor. For what it's worth, the additional Paladin level gives +1 to BAB as well while the Wizard level on the original Steel Maiden does not--which may not seem worth much unless you take into consideration the fact that the Steel Maiden (originally) took a Fighter:Past Life feat for +1 to attack (and +1 to tactical DC's).

The original Steel Maiden *seems* to go in the direction of tactics. Like El Toro, it has 16 levels of fighter to secure the Tactical Supremacy feat alongside the Tactical Mastery feat. However, the Steel Maiden only invests in Stunning Blow and Dire Charge. There is no Tactical Combatant, Improved Trip, or Stunning Shield [or Shield Rush] even though (1) it puts all level-ups into STR, (2) it has Combat Expertise, and (3) it already has a few ap's invested in Vanguard.

With Tactical Combatant, Tactical Mastery, Tactical Supremacy, Stunning Blow, Stunning Shield, Improved Trip, and Dire Charge (and, optionally, Shield Rush), El Toro does not let the STR, Combat Expertise, or Vanguard points go to waste.

With El Toro, I originally did not have DPS in mind (as opposed to The Total Package). I was thinking of only Tanking and Tactics. El Toro therefore has a certain elegance to it (which I feel, ironically, is lacking in the original Steel Maiden; El Toro is better both tactically and defensively). So much for the bull in the china shop. However, I have a feeling that there's very little difference between the the outgoing melee DPS from El Toro and the Steel Maiden--which should not be confused with the greater *overall contribution* to DPS from El Toro.

As the Bull and the Maiden taunt, flirt, and dance, they will come together to create a bigger beast.

Having Extend alongside the Greater Dragonmark of Shadow (Displacement) on an the Elven Steel Maiden may be blissful, but four levels of Paladin also gives access to Extend--and you will have enough room for it by giving up that rather weak Fighter: Past Life feat. In turn, the stacking armor bonus and tactics of El Toro will lead to less incoming damage alongside more outgoing damage.

I will therefore inevitably need to do an Elven Maiden version of El Toro, though it will be painful giving up one feat and bastard sword proficiency from PDK, let alone the other feat and ap's required for the dragonmark.

The hybrid build will be called The Minotaur.

[savingsoul]

Okay, so here is The Minotaur -- El Toro's homage to the original Elven Steel Maiden (oESM).

The Minotaur has:
*Stacking 50% x2 Bonus to Armor AC from Reinforced Armor III on both Stalwart and Sacred Defender. (The oESM did not have this.)
*Tactical Combatant, Tactical Mastery, Tactical Supremacy, Improved Trip, Stunning Blow, and Dire Charge. (The oESM did not have Tactical Combatant and Improved Trip.)
*+14 to All Saves from Divine Grace. (The oESM had only +11.)
*Scimitar w/ +2 to hit and damage from Valenar Weapon Training and +3 to critical threat range from Improved Critical. (The oESM had a warhammer w/o Valenar and w/ only +1 to CTR from IC.)
*4 Uses, 6 Minutes Each, of Displacement (50% Concealment). [The oESM had this!!!]
*Block and Cut (Stalwart). [The oESM had this.]

Unfortunately, the Minotaur doesn't have:
*Two Feats* (take your pick) that El Toro has. [Neither did the oESM] <--- this sucks!
*Stunning Shield. [Neither did the oESM] <---This is *very* frustrating!
*Bastard Sword Proficiency. [Neither did the oESM]
*PDK Damage Boost. [Neither did the oESM]

The Minotaur therefore isn't the kind of "bigger beast" for which I was hoping.

El Toro, on the other hand, has *all of the above* except Displacement--though you can get permanent Lesser Displacement or Displacement clickies from equipment.

Me gusta El Toro!


The Minotaur - Tactical Tank
16/4 Fighter/Paladin
Lawful Good Elf w/ Tower Shield & Scimitar


Level Order

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


Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ----. . .--------
Strength. . . . 16. . . .+6. . . .4: STR
Dexterity . . . 14. . . .+6. . . .8: STR
Constitution. . 14. . . .+6. . . 12: STR
Intelligence. . 14. . . .+6. . . 16: STR
Wisdom. . . . . .8. . . .+6. . . 20: STR
Charisma. . . . 14. . . .+6. . . 24: STR
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: STR

Feats

.1. . . . : Shield Mastery
.3. . . . : Force of Personality
.5 Fighter: Power Attack
.6. . . . : Cleave
.6 Fighter: Great Cleave
.8 Fighter: Improved Shield Mastery
.9. . . . : Combat Expertise
10 Fighter: Stunning Blow
12. . . . : Least Dragonmark: Shadow
12 Fighter: Improved Critical: Slashing
14 Fighter: Improved Trip
15. . . . : Extend Spell
16 Fighter: Tactical Mastery
18. . . . : Tactical Combatant
18 Fighter: Heavy Armor Champion
20 Fighter: Tactical Supremacy
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic . : Bulwark of Defense
26 Destiny: Holy Strike/Perfect TWF
27 Epic . : Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Elusive Target
29 Destiny: Dire Charge
30 Epic . : Shield Deflection
30 Legend : Scion of: Astral Plane

.1 Deity. : Follower of: Undying Court


Enhancements (80 AP)

Stalwart Defender (43 AP)

• Toughness, Stalwart Defense, Overbalance
  1. Durable Defense III, Stalwart Defensive Mastery III, Threatening Countenance III
  2. Resilient Defense III, Stalwart Shield Mastery III, Armor Expertise III
  3. Tenacious Defense III, Shield Expertise III
  4. Swift Defense, Strong Defense III, Reinforced Armor III
  5. Block and Cut III, Hardy Defense III, Reinforced Shield III

Sacred Defender (25 AP)

• Holy Bastion
  1. Extra Lay On Hands III, Sacred Armor Mastery III
  2. Instinctive Defense III, Bulwark Aura III, Sacred Shield Mastery III, Defense Boost III
  3. Resistance Aura III
  4. Reinforced Armor III

Elf (12 AP)

• Elven Accuracy
  1. Phiarlan Dragonmark Focus III, Valenar Weapon Training
  2. Lesser Dragonmark of Shadow, Valenar Weapon Training
  3. Greater Dragonmark of Shadow

[Uses the same ED spec's as El Toro (see OP).]

[savingsoul]

[Reserved.]

[psykopeta]

No numbers/screenshots? It's the base of every non therycrafted build! And works wonders for comparison, further than anything expected

[savingsoul]

No numbers/screenshots? It's the base of every non therycrafted build! And works wonders for comparison, further than anything expected

It is theorycrafting.