Returning played - Melee THF BF FvS

[nxthammer]

Hey guys, I've recently returned to DDO after a ~5 year break, a lot has changed since then. My main toon was left behind as a STR based BF pure FvS. With the 'new' changed allowing CHA as attack stat I think the build is in dire need of an update. I've been looking around the forums and put something together, am I missing something obvious here?

BF-17FvS/3Pal
17/3 Favored Soul/Paladin
Lawful Good Bladeforged


Level Order

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


Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ----. . .--------
Strength. . . . 12. . . .+5. . . .4: CHA
Dexterity . . . .6. . . .+4. . . .8: CHA
Constitution. . 20. . . .+5. . . 12: CHA
Intelligence. . .8. . . .+4. . . 16: CHA
Wisdom. . . . . .6. . . .+4. . . 20: CHA
Charisma. . . . 18. . . .+4. . . 24: CHA
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: CHA

Skills
. . . . . F. F. F. F. F. F. P .P. P .F .F .F .F .F .F .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
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Jump. . . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . . . . .1 .2 .2 .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 . . . . . 20
Repair. . . . . . .½ .½ .½ . . . . . 1. ½. ½. ½. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1½ 1½. . 11
Heal. . . . . . . . . . . . 3 .3. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 .10
UMD . . . . .½ .½ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . 2
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . . 4. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 3 .3. 3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3 .3


Feats

.1. . . . : Mithral Body
.3. . . . : Power Attack
.6. . . . : Cleave
.9. . . . : Great Cleave
12. . . . : Improved Critical: Slashing
15. . . . : Quicken Spell
18. . . . : Two Handed Fighting
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic . : Improved Two Handed Fighting
26 Destiny: Perfect Two Handed Fighting
27 Epic . : Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
29 Destiny: Dire Charge
30 Epic . : Greater Two Handed Fighting
30 Legend : Scion of: Mechanus

.2 FavSoul: Grace of Battle
10 FavSoul: Stout of Heart

.5 FavSoul: Energy Absorption: Electricity
13 FavSoul: Energy Absorption: Fire
18 FavSoul: Energy Absorption: Acid

.1 Deity. : Follower of: Lord of Blades
.6 Deity. : Bladesworn Transformation


Enhancements (80 AP)

War Soul (42 AP)

• Smite Foe: Melee, Resilience of Battle, Sanctuary, Blur
  1. Divine Presence III, Toughness III, Righteous Weapons
  2. Smite Weakness, Wall of Steel III, Righteous Weapons, Haste Boost III
  3. Radiant Flourish: Melee I, Righteous Weapons, Charisma
  4. Ameliorating Strike, Righteous Weapons, Holy Striker: Doublestrike III, Charisma
  5. Wrathful Weapons, Divine Champion, Divine Intervention

Bladeforged (22 AP)

• Improved Fortification, Warforged Constitution, Improved Fortification II, Warforged Constitution II, Improved Fortification III
  1. Mechanist III, Construct Stability III
  2. Communion of Scribing III
  3. Improved Power Attack II
  4. Weapon Attachment

Sacred Defender (16 AP)

• Holy Bastion, Sacred Defense
  1. Extra Lay On Hands III, Durable Defense III
  2. Resilient Defense III
  3. Tenacious Defense III, Charisma

Destiny (24 AP)

Legendary Dreadnought

1. Legendary Tactics III, Extra Action Boost III
2. Momentum Swing III, Imp. Power Attack, Damage Boost III
3. Lay Waste, Critical Damage II
4. (none)
5. Advancing Blows, Devastating Critical
6. Master's Blitz

Twists of Fate (30 fate points)

1. Sense Weakness (Tier 4 Fury)
2. Grim Precision (Tier 3 Shadowdancer)
3. Hail of Blows (Tier 2 Flowers)
4. Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)

[slarden]

It looks great. They made it tough to splash on a melee favored soul because you only get the +1 critical range from the level 18 core.

There was a recent change to the game where you can get a 25% hp boost from epic defenses (auto granted at 21), but it doesn't stack with the paladin 20% hp bonus and comes with the drawback of spells having touch range when epic defenses is on.

I was looking at going a slightly different direction with my bladeforged melee and going 15 paladin / 5 arti or 14 paladin / 1 wizard / 5 arti. It's not intended as a tank, but tanky with the ability to switch to a tank by swapping on a shield and possibly making a destiny switch if needed.

I will be following this thread - let me know how it works out. I haven't decided for certain what I will build but I also want it to be bladeforged melee divine.

[Tilomere]

am I missing something obvious here?

I would stay strength based pure 20 FvS, so you don't get tripped and killed, and so that your trips including LD one works and you can trip and kill them.

[nxthammer]

It looks great. They made it tough to splash on a melee favored soul because you only get the +1 critical range from the level 18 core.

There was a recent change to the game where you can get a 25% hp boost from epic defenses (auto granted at 21), but it doesn't stack with the paladin 20% hp bonus and comes with the drawback of spells having touch range when epic defenses is on.

Maybe I should opt for an 18/2 split, lose the paladin bonus HP but stay in the epic defensive fighting stance. This would gain me the crit range from the lvl18 core and an extra feat since power attack can't be used while defensive. The added haste spell is nice as well.
What do you think?

[Velan]

I'm new to FVS - why splash in the three levels of pally?

[nxthammer]

Maybe I should opt for an 18/2 split, lose the paladin bonus HP but stay in the epic defensive fighting stance. This would gain me the crit range from the lvl18 core and an extra feat since power attack can't be used while defensive. The added haste spell is nice as well.
What do you think?

EDIT: actually I need power attack for cleave and great cleave. Below an update build with the 18/2 split.

BF-18FvS2Pal
18/2 Favored Soul/Paladin
Lawful Good Bladeforged


Level Order

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


Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ----. . .--------
Strength. . . . 12. . . .+5. . . .4: CHA
Dexterity . . . .6. . . .+4. . . .8: CHA
Constitution. . 20. . . .+5. . . 12: CHA
Intelligence. . .8. . . .+4. . . 16: CHA
Wisdom. . . . . .6. . . .+4. . . 20: CHA
Charisma. . . . 18. . . .+4. . . 24: CHA
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: CHA

Skills
. . . . . F. F. F. F. F. F. P .P. F. F. F. F. F. F. F. 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
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Jump. . . 4. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . . . . .1 .2 .2 .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 . . . . . 20
Repair. . . . . . .½ .½ .½ . . . . . 1. ½. ½. ½. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1½ 1½. . 11
Heal. . . . . . . . . . . . 3 .3. 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. 10
UMD . . . . .½ .½ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . 2
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . . 4. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 3 .3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3


Feats

.1. . . . : Mithral Body
.3. . . . : Power Attack
.6. . . . : Cleave
.9. . . . : Great Cleave
12. . . . : Improved Critical: Slashing
15. . . . : Quicken Spell
18. . . . : Two Handed Fighting
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic . : Improved Two Handed Fighting
26 Destiny: Perfect Two Handed Fighting
27 Epic . : Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
29 Destiny: Dire Charge
30 Epic . : Greater Two Handed Fighting
30 Legend : Scion of: Mechanus

.2 FavSoul: Grace of Battle
.9 FavSoul: Stout of Heart

.5 FavSoul: Energy Absorption: Electricity
12 FavSoul: Energy Absorption: Fire
17 FavSoul: Energy Absorption: Cold

.1 Deity. : Follower of: Lord of Blades
.6 Deity. : Bladesworn Transformation


Enhancements (80 AP)

War Soul (44 AP)

• Smite Foe: Melee, Resilience of Battle, Sanctuary, Blur, Haste
  1. Divine Presence III, Toughness II, Righteous Weapons
  2. Smite Weakness, Righteous Weapons, Haste Boost III
  3. Radiant Flourish: Melee III, Righteous Weapons, Charisma
  4. Ameliorating Strike, Silence the Wicked: Melee III, Righteous Weapons, Holy Striker: Doublestrike III, Charisma
  5. Wrathful Weapons, Divine Champion, Divine Intervention

Bladeforged (26 AP)

• Improved Fortification, Warforged Constitution, Improved Fortification II, Warforged Constitution II, Improved Fortification III
  1. Mechanist III, Construct Stability III
  2. Communion of Scribing III, Great Weapon Aptitude III
  3. Improved Power Attack II
  4. Weapon Attachment, Power of the Forge

Sacred Defender (10 AP)

• Holy Bastion
  1. Extra Lay On Hands III, Durable Defense III
  2. Resilient Defense III

Destiny (24 AP)

Legendary Dreadnought

1. Legendary Tactics III, Extra Action Boost III
2. Momentum Swing III, Imp. Power Attack, Damage Boost III
3. Lay Waste, Critical Damage II
4. (none)
5. Advancing Blows, Devastating Critical
6. Master's Blitz

Twists of Fate (30 fate points)

1. Sense Weakness (Tier 4 Fury)
2. Grim Precision (Tier 3 Shadowdancer)
3. Hail of Blows (Tier 2 Flowers)
4. Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)

[nxthammer]

I'm new to FVS - why splash in the three levels of pally?

Mostly, better saves, maybe lay on hands proves useful. Also +15 PRR and MRR, as well as +20% HP although that apparently does not stack with the extra HP from the defense stance. That's why I am considering dropping the 3rd Pal lvl.

[Garix]

This is probably a "This is how you suck an egg" type of statement but just in case you've forgotten....You'll need to burn a +1 Lesser Heart or start with Paladin at first level.

[Velan]

This is probably a "This is how you suck an egg" type of statement but just in case you've forgotten....You'll need to burn a +1 Lesser Heart or start with Paladin at first level.

Why start with pally at lvl 1 - why is burning a lesser heart necessary if you start out as fvs? I really have no idea how the lesser hearts work - they didn't used to have them.

[nxthammer]

This is probably a "This is how you suck an egg" type of statement but just in case you've forgotten....You'll need to burn a +1 Lesser Heart or start with Paladin at first level.

Just I guess you are right, makes more sense to keep the pal lvl at 1, I totally forgot.

[Garix]

Why start with pally at lvl 1 - why is burning a lesser heart necessary if you start out as fvs? I really have no idea how the lesser hearts work - they didn't used to have them.

First level as any Iconic race is fixed when rolling the character up. SDK is Rogue, PDK is Fighter. BF is Paladin etc etc

This can be changed after levelling to 15 by using a +1 lesser heart to sway out the first level.

See the Wiki for more details

[Velan]

First level as any Iconic race is fixed when rolling the character up. SDK is Rogue, PDK is Fighter. BF is Paladin etc etc

This can be changed after levelling to 15 by using a +1 lesser heart to sway out the first level.

See the Wiki for more details

Okay, I think that may be why there didn't used to lesser hearts AFIAK. There weren't Iconic characters back then, AFAIK - I'm not sure.