PDK Warchanter Swashbuckler Challenge Farmer

[Dulcimerist]

I've been having fun using unbongwah's PDK WC Challenge Farmer, located in this post:
https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post6092135

When I bumped my bard to level 16, I took another level of bard. The addition of level 5 spells have been nice, but not spectacular. I saw that unbongwah had updated the build by taking a 3rd level of fighter, and I completely agree that the addition of Stalwart Defense is much better than what the 13th level of bard offers. I'm going to respec.

After having fun with this character in Gianthold to grab the +10HP feat, I invested in some tomes to meet prerequisites and gain more skill points. The character planner didn't understand that the tomes would be applied prior to a respec, so I manually entered the order I'll take the feats. Please check my work! Here's what I'm considering, based on the two builds from unbongwah's forum post:

PDK Warchanter Swashbuckler Challenge Farmer
12/3/1 Bard/Fighter/Favored Soul
True Neutral Purple Dragon Knight


Level Order

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


Stats
. . . . . . . .32pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ----. . .--------
Strength. . . . 11. . . .+2. . . .4: CHA
Dexterity . . . 11. . . .+4. . . .8: CHA
Constitution. . 16. . . . . . . .12: CHA
Intelligence. . .8. . . .+4. . . 16: CHA
Wisdom. . . . . .8
Charisma. . . . 18. . . .+4. . . 
Caution: If starting a new character, begin with STR and DEX at 13, and CON at 14! (Otherwise you won't be able to select your feats!)


Skills
. . . . .Fi Bd Bd Bd Bd Bd Fv Bd Bd Bd Fi Bd Bd Bd Bd Fi
. . . . . 1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7. 8. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
. . . . .------------------------------------------------
Jump. . . 4 . . . .1 .3 . . . . . . . . 4 .1 . . 2. . .4. 19
Perform . . .1 .1 .4 .2 .1 . . 2. 1. 1. . .2 .1 .1 .1 . . 18
Heal. . . 2 . . . . . . . . 4 .2 .3 .2 . . . .3 .1 .1 . . 18
UMD . . . . .3 .3 .1 .1 .1 . . 2. 1. 1. . .2 .1 .1 .1 . . 18
Tumble. . . . . . . . . .4 . . . . . 2. . .3 . . 2. 4. . .15
Balance . . .3 .3 .1 .1 .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
. . . . .------------------------------------------------
. . . . . 8 .7 .7 .7 .7 .7 .4. 8. 8. 8. 4 .8 .8 .8 .8 .4


Feats

.1. . . . : Cleave
.1 PDK. . : Precision
.1 Fighter: Power Attack
.3. . . . : Single Weapon Fighting
.6. . . . : Great Cleave
.9. . . . : Improved Single Weapon Fighting
11 Fighter: Improved Critical: Piercing
12. . . . : Shield Mastery
15. . . . : Greater Single Weapon Fighting

.7 Deity. : Follower of: Helm


Spells

Bard
Expeditious Retreat (2), Focusing Chant (3), Sonic Blast (4), Hypnotism (6)
Rage (5), Blur (5), Soundburst (6), Cure Moderate Wounds (9)
Haste (9), Displacement (9), Cure Serious Wounds (10), Good Hope (13)
Dimension Door (13), Freedom of Movement (13), Otto's Sphere of Dancing (14)
Favored Soul
Nightshield (7), Protection from Evil (7)

Enhancements (64 of 64 AP)

Warchanter (38 AP)
Skaldic: Constitution, Weapon Training, Song of Heroism, Fighting Spirit
Poetic Edda II, Enchant Weapon
Arcane Shield Chant III, Iced Edges III, Sprint Boost I
Ironskin Chant III, Frozen Fury III
Reckless Chant III, Northwind III
Expeditious Chant III, Howl of the North, Spinning Ice III
Swashbuckler (11 AP)
Confidence, Swashbuckling
On Your Toes III, Blow By Blow: Melee III
Fast Movement
Skirmisher
Stalwart Defender (6 AP)
Toughness, Stalwart Defense
Durable Defense III, Stalwart Defensive Mastery I
Purple Dragon Knight (5 AP)
Damage Boost
Cormyrean Knight Training, Improved Recovery
War Soul (4 AP)
Smite Foe: Melee
Divine Presence III

Skills:
- Perform, Heal, and UMD take priority; and sufficient Balance is required for the Single Weapon Fighting feats.
- Jump I enjoy with melees, and helps me get around quicker. However, would higher jump slow me down if I wear a featherfall item?
- Tumble I'm tentatively investing in, hoping it would allow me to not wear a featherfall item so I can drop down quicker, effectively increasing my movement speed. Would this investment negate a sufficient amount of damage from falling? (If not, I might reallocate these skill points to Concentration since I didn't choose Quicken.)

Items: (I haven't created the crafted items yet.)
Armor - Drow Outrunner Armor (I have a +4 Mythic Boost)
Helm - Pansophic Circlet with Sapphire of Heavy Fortification
Necklace - Hypnotic Pendant with Topaz of Enchantment
Bracers - Bracers of the Sun and Moon (Is there something better?)
Cloak - Cloak of Night (level 16)
Ring - Ring of the Buccaneer (level 16) with Sapphire of Natural Armor +5
Ring - Ring of Lies (This character has a +1 Mythic Boost) or crafted Charisma 8, Sheltering 19, Insightful Charisma 3
Belt - crafted Constitution 8, Stunning 9, Insightful Constitution 3
Gloves - crafted Doublestrike 9 Melee Alacrity 12, Healing Amplification 32, Insightful Stunning 4
Boots - crafted Dodge Bonus 8, Parrying 3 Strength 8, Insightful Dodge Bonus 3
Goggles - crafted Seeker 8, Deadly 6, Insightful Seeker 3
Trinket - Shard of Xoriat or Momento of War (Is there something better?)
Shield - Swashbuckler (level 16)
Weapon - Cutthroat's Smallblade (level 16)

I also have an Envenomed Blade with +2 Mythic Boost, but I'm unsure if the Paralyzing DC17 would be all that effective in level 16-21 challenges. What other weapons would be good to have when running Cannith Challenges, and possibly even the seasonal challenges? Undead are in some of them, and the Cutthroat's Smallblade isn't particularly good against skellies.

If I can gather up slotted crafting blanks, I'd have several places for augments. Which augments would be worth grabbing?

Thanks in advance for any advice, and please feel free to nitpick!

[Dulcimerist]

I'm getting ready to ITR this character, and will keep it parked at level 16. This is what I'm planning:

Character name: 34 Point PDK Bard Farmer
Classes: 16 Bard, 10 Epic, 3 Fighter, 1 Favored Soul
Race: Purple Dragon Knight Alignment: Neutral

· · ·Start Tome Final
Str:· · 12· · 3 · ·15 · · ·
Dex:· · 12· · 4 · ·16 · · ·
Con:· · 16· · 0 · ·16 · · ·
Int:· · ·8· · 4 · ·12 · · ·
Wis:· · ·8· · 3 · ·11 · · ·
Cha:· · 18· · 4 · ·29 · · ·

Heroic Past Lives
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Past Life: Bard

Iconic Past Lives
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Past Life: Purple Dragon Knight



Class and Feat Selection
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level Class · · · · · ·Feats
1 · · Fighter(1)· · · ·Standard: Cleave
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Purple Dragon Knight Bonus: Precision (Requires Feat Swap with Fred)
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Fighter Bonus: Power Attack (Requires Feat Swap with Fred)
2 · · Bard(1) · · · · ·
3 · · Bard(2) · · · · ·Standard: Single Weapon Fighting
4 · · Bard(3) · · · · ·Charisma: +1 Level up
5 · · Bard(4) · · · · ·
6 · · Bard(5) · · · · ·Standard: Great Cleave
7 · · Favored Soul(1) ·Follower of Faith: Favored by Helm
8 · · Bard(6) · · · · ·Charisma: +1 Level up
9 · · Bard(7) · · · · ·Standard: Improved Single Weapon Fighting
10· · Bard(8) · · · · ·
11· · Fighter(2)· · · ·Fighter Bonus: Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons
12· · Bard(9) · · · · ·Standard: Quicken Spell
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Charisma: +1 Level up
13· · Bard(10)· · · · ·
14· · Fighter(3)· · · ·
15· · Bard(11)· · · · ·Standard: Greater Single Weapon Fighting
16· · Bard(12)· · · · ·Charisma: +1 Level up
17· · Bard(13)· · · · ·
18· · Bard(14)· · · · ·Standard: Shield Mastery
19· · Bard(15)· · · · ·
20· · Bard(16)· · · · ·Charisma: +1 Level up

Skills
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skill Points· · · 8 ·7· 7 ·7· 7 ·7· 4 ·8· 8 ·8· 4 ·8· 8 ·4· 8 ·8· 8 ·8· 8 ·8
Skill Name· · · ·01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20· Total Buffed
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance · · · · · · ·3· 3 · · 1 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 7.0 · 24.0
Bluff · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 23.0
Concentration · · · · · · · · · ·5· · · · · ·2· · ·3· · · · · ·2· 3 ·3· 3 ·2· ·23.0 · 40.0
Diplomacy · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 23.0
Disable Device· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 15.0
Haggle· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 23.0
Heal· · · · · · · 2 · · · · · · · · 4 ·2· 3 ·2· · · · 3 · · 2 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 37.0
Hide· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 17.0
Intimidate· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 23.0
Jump· · · · · · · 4 · · · ·1· 3 · · · · · · · · 4 ·1· · ·4· · ·2· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 39.0
Listen· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 14.0
Move Silently · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 17.0
Open Lock · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 17.0
Perform · · · · · · ·1· 1 ·4· 2 ·1· · ·2· 1 ·1· · ·2· 1 · · 2 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 46.0
Repair· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 15.0
Search· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 15.0
Spell Craft · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 15.0
Spot· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 14.0
Swim· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 16.0
Tumble· · · · · · · · · · ·1· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·1· · 2.0 · 19.0
Use Magic Device· · ·3· 3 ·1· 1 ·1· · ·2· 1 ·1· · ·2· 1 · · 2 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 46.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Available Points· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[droid327]

Skills:
- Jump I enjoy with melees, and helps me get around quicker. However, would higher jump slow me down if I wear a featherfall item?
- Tumble I'm tentatively investing in, hoping it would allow me to not wear a featherfall item so I can drop down quicker, effectively increasing my movement speed. Would this investment negate a sufficient amount of damage from falling? (If not, I might reallocate these skill points to Concentration since I didn't choose Quicken.)

I also have an Envenomed Blade with +2 Mythic Boost, but I'm unsure if the Paralyzing DC17 would be all that effective in level 16-21 challenges. What other weapons would be good to have when running Cannith Challenges, and possibly even the seasonal challenges? Undead are in some of them, and the Cutthroat's Smallblade isn't particularly good against skellies.

No, you shouldnt move slower in the X-axis while featherfalling than while running, AFAIK. Plus higher jump means you can jump cast and lose fewer frames of running.

You can pretty much healtank through fall damage after you hit, so its not that big a concern. I think the biggest drop in a challenge is either the Lava Caves or dropping down to the spider in Rushmore, and neither will be doing more than one CSW's worth of damage to you at L16 with good +HP gear. Though FF might be advantageous sometimes in challenges for gliding over things. Eg in Rushmore, you want FF to grab crests above the Banner Hall.

Challenges are all Normal difficulty, mob saves should be pretty low. Envenomed Blade might not be one-hit paralyze in L21, but you should still be seeing procs fairly regularly. That being said, you have Precision, and you could swap your armor out for Black Dragonhide or Assassin Initiate which will give you 10% more armor piercing...then you can stick with Cutthroat even against crit-immune mobs - especially at 20 if you twist in Grim Precision for even more.

Also worth noting, your Parrying on crafted gear is redundant with Swashbuckler, and the Doubleshot on the gloves is redundant with both Swashbuckler AND Cutthroat

[Dulcimerist]

Also worth noting, your Parrying on crafted gear is redundant with Swashbuckler, and the Doubleshot on the gloves is redundant with both Swashbuckler AND Cutthroat

Thanks for pointing that out! I was going to ask about Doublestrike stacking, since the DDO Wiki says those items shouldn't stack. I could've sworn the Swashbuckler, Cutthroat, and the PDK bracers Doublestrike were all somehow stacking when I checked them several months ago; but logging in now to check, I see that they don't. On the crafted gloves, I'll drop the Doublestrike and instead put a 12% Melee Alacrity on them. I'll have to figure out what to do with the Parrying on the boots - perhaps stick +8 Strength there?

Thanks also for the insight on featherfall! Yes, the quick drops I wondered about are in Lava Caves and Rushmore, most specifically a winding staircase in Rushmore that would allow a quick drop straight down without having to wind around all the flights of stairs. Would I be alright in those drops without the investment in the Tumble skill? Normally I slot a FF augment on an item I always wear, but I'm wondering if I should put it on a situational-use item that I could swap on and off.

Might the Envenomed Blade be a decent go-to for those pesky crit-immune mobs? Do the funky poison/venom effects work on undead, but probably not on constructs?