Tiefling Scoundrel - Pure Bard - Inquisitive Swashbuckler

[LightBear]

Just rolled up a Tiefling Scoundrel (actually did it last night).
Since there is hardly any material out there with example builds I decided to play it save on stats and spend some on wis in case i have to switch to falconry for higher damage output.
I also still have a need for a Bard past live, so this first iconic live will bust two things at once.

Starting Stats:
Str: 8
Dex: 15
Con: 17
Int: 10
Wis: 15
Cha: 15

I don't have the two main enhancement trees just right, so can't say much about that just yet, still trying to figure out what does what exactly.
Will come back once I do know but for now some pointers would be welcome.

[cru121]

Those are some .. unorthodox .. stats for an inquisitive.
The consensus for now seems to be int based, 41 inquisitive, 12 harper, 27 left for other trees.
Going wis based with falconry is an option, but that leaves even fewer points to spend elsewhere.

I have tried one inquisitive til now. I had an old weird mule, something like Human Paladin 8, Ranger 2, Artificer 1. So I ate some spare tomes (+3s and +4s) and LRed into an Int based character. Crafted me a ML10 Heavy Crossbow and the damage is great, for a first liver. I am planning to go 8/6/6.

[LightBear]

The xbow that I'm using the The Diplomancer from the anniversary event, seems to hold its weight on its own but is a nice extra kick for this build.
Prob because its a light xbow.

The main confusion that I have is even tho Inquisitive states that you can now swashbuckle with light xbows I'm not 100% sure that light xbows do fully count as a finessable weapon all of a sudden.
Like for resonating arms, does the sonic on crit all of a sudden work with a light xbow then?

Will do some testing and get back with results.

[Hjarki]

Scoundrel + Inquisitive + Bard doesn't really work that well.

- You need to lose 5% Doubleshot to get Swashbuckling.
- It's only Light Crossbows, so you lose 1 damage per [w] vs. Heavy Crossbows.
- You gain back 11+% Doubleshot and +6 damage, but only if you forgo Rune-arms (and the +2d12 or so damage they add per shot, plus whatever abilities are on the Rune-arm).
- You can't use Charisma to hit/damage, so virtually all of the Bard abilities (including the flesh-to-stone ability from Scoundrel) are weakened.
- You can't get the really big Swashbuckling benefits from T5 without sacrificing the even-more-important Crossbow abilities from T5 Inquisitive.

Indeed, I'd call the "Swashbuckling with Light Crossbows" a red herring. It's like Swashbuckling with Thrown Weapons or Rune-arms - something they threw in that has no real practical value.

[LightBear]

Ok, I am swashbuckling because I have nothing in the off-hand.
The light xbow is only mimicked to the off-hand.

Also, the resonant arms is working.

Something else that I noticed is that "No Holds Barred" is sharing a timer with the "Double Shot Boost", not sure if that is supposed to be.
Also you get a graphical notification on screen that says "Endless Fusillade", prob the wrong icon or something.

Best part of Inquisitive seems to be "Diplomatic Immunity", once you have that all the diplomacy buffs roll off themselves.

I prob will go with a ask questions first.

[Justicesar]

Is it worth pumping Dex for al the Precise/Imp Precise feats? Go Ultra ranged? I using Scoundrel to test the waters with a lv 15 toon, thus no stat tomes for messing around. Are there any ranged feats broken, or not working at all?

[Oliphant]

Consider going harper and INT for damage. I did not go this route but think it might be better. Perhaps at legendary range I will have enough INT boost myself to make it worth it. I'm not clear on how to make swash + inquisitive worth it.

[Red_Knight]

I started messing around with a tiefling scoundral. I went with the default Iconic build rather then custom to check it out. Uhm, why does it only have 8 dex?! Going through every enhancement and feat the build has access to (I went with a Swashbuckler/racial build so far) I'm seeing something to use charisma for damage, but nothing to use charisma for to-hit. Since the racial enhancements favor weapons like a rapier, you would think the build would have Weapon Finesse and a decently high Dex rather then maxed out constitution. Sure the build is working out fairly well so far, but that seems like a rather odd choice.

[Hjarki]

To revisit this, one of the builds I messed around with was an Inquisitive Bard. However, calling it a 'Bard' is a bit of a misnomer.

Rather, it was 10/8/2 Favored Soul/Bard/Artificer.

The rough breakdown:

Race: Tiefling Scoundrel
Stats: Max Charisma, 14 Dexterity (with +7 tome), 14 Constitution, 15 Intelligence
Feats: Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, (Rapid Reload), Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Improved Critical: Ranged, Force of Personality, Quicken Spell
Epic Feats: Spell Focus: Evocation, Combat Archery, Embolden Spell, Overwhelming Critical
Destiny: Lasting Inspiration, Doubleshot, Arcane Warrior
Legendary: Scion of the Feywild
Skills: Perform, Heal, Diplomacy, Use Magic Device, Trapping Skills

Destiny/Twists: Fatesinger, with School Specialist, Sense Weakness, Pin, Stay Frosty, etc.

[u]Enhancements[u]
Spellsinger (40)
Core: Spellsinger, Music of the Sewers, Music of the Dead
1: Sonic Blast, Musical Studies
2: Reverberate, Violet Marigold Crown
3: Enthrallment, Shout I, Spell Song Trance, Charisma
4: Sustaining Song, Arcane Aid, Song of Arcane Might, Charisma
5: Prodigy, Spell Song Vigor, Mass Hold Monster

Inquisitive (31 - not all point allocated, drop them where you wish)
Core: Inquisitive, Hit the Streets, Mind like Iron, True Seeing, Undaunted
1: Dual Shooter, Law on your Side
2: Observation, Improved Law
3: Improved Observation, Stop in the Name, Charisma
4: Divine Inquisition, Greater Law, Charisma

Scoundrel (11)
Core: Bloodsong, Charisma, Bloodsong, Charisma, Bloodsong
3: Ash Imprisonment

Battle Engineer (1)
Core: Battle Engineer

Note: This is an 83 point build as listed above, so it requires tomes/past lives. The minimum Inquisitive is 23 points. You really don't want to lose either Ash Imprisonment or the T5 Spellsinger abilities. One of the reasons I'm not grinding it out at max level with this build is that the extra racial AP are a huge bonus. If you've got 13 racial AP + 3 tome AP, it lets you add one of the Favored Soul trees (such as War Soul for a Haste Boost and vulnerability on Smite).


This isn't even close to a maximum dps build. However, it's an adequate dps build for what else it brings to the table. Your CC is somewhat narrow (Sonic Blast, Mass Hold Monster, Ash Imprisonment, Sound Burst, Greater Command, Stop in the Name, Fascinate/Enthrall) but broad enough to cover most situations (Plants are a bit of a nuisance). You bring some decent healing (albeit not enough to self-heal very effectively in high Reaper) and you can fight from range. It's generalist enough that you can enjoy solo'ing with it and it's got enough support that many raids will want you along. It also has a very 'Bard' feel despite only 8 levels of Bard.

I also wouldn't classify it as a "tier 1" build by any stretch of the imagination.

[LightBear]

Consider going harper and INT for damage. I did not go this route but think it might be better. Perhaps at legendary range I will have enough INT boost myself to make it worth it. I'm not clear on how to make swash + inquisitive worth it.

Made the first round to 30. From level 28 and upwards was a pain. Having not much yet to bypass dr made me feel like a real bard.
Thx for all who carried my through those last two levels.

Did an ETR yesterday and now going Inquisitive - Falconry - Swashbuckler.
World of difference having WIS to Hit and Damage!!!
More unique ranged attacks.

[Oliphant]

I finished my no-damage-stat-flub life and rolled a new INT based Harper Scoundrel, 36 Inquisitive, 31 Warchanter for BAB=Character Level, 12 harper, etc. Definitely did ok, maybe not top tier. I wanted the extra power and speed of the BAB more than the Inquisitive capstone. Probably better ways to build for max BAB for Inquisitive than doing bard scoundrel, but not bad.

[LightBear]

Just for future reference as I tend to forget these kind of things unless I post it somewhere on this forum.
My gear is suppar and so are my stats. Still can hold up my pants in R1. From R4 and up not so much.

[droid327]

Just for future reference as I tend to forget these kind of things unless I post it somewhere on this forum.
My gear is suppar and so are my stats. Still can hold up my pants in R1. From R4 and up not so much.

This is pretty much the story of Inquisitive right now. "Dont care, got pewpew!"

It can blast through shortcomings, mistakes, or inefficiencies in your class build just through sheer force of ranged damage output. But once that damage is no longer overwhelming, you have little left to fall back on and your shortcomings start to re-emerge. Granted that point is well beyond R1, since I'm easily cruising through late Heroic on R1 with a turd-geared PDK inqui right now (just need Nightshade) - and I have 1 whole reaper point - so that's not necessarily a damning failure of inqui, just means that the inqui meta will be even more important to follow if you want to push high skulls, once people figure out what works best.

It does open up a lot of R1 viable niche fun builds though that are at least reliable through Heroic for a PL, things that might fall apart much sooner on other builds. I really like the idea of Barb Ravager inquis with +2/+1 crits and auto heal. A 12 barb/8 bard might not be bad either, if you wanted to make a Scoundrel Terminator.

[LargoKeyWest]

Bard 20
True Neutral Tiefling Scoundrel

Stats
36pt 1st Tome Level Up
---- ---- ---- --------
Strength 8 13 +8 4: INT
Dexterity 10 16 +8 8: INT
Constitution 14 20 +8 12: INT
Intelligence 18 24 +8 16: INT
Wisdom 14 20 +8 20: INT
Charisma 16 23 +8 24: INT
28: INT

Skills
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
------------------------------------------------------------
Perform 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 23
Spellcr 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 23
Bluff 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 23
Diplo 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 23
Balance 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 23
Jump 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 23
Hide 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 23
UMD 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 23
Move Si 2 3 3 3 3 8 22
Heal 2 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 11
Search 2 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 11
Spot ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 11
Intim 2 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 11
------------------------------------------------------------
40 11 11 12 12 12 12 13 13 13 13 14 14 14 14 15 15 15 15 16


Feats

1 : Rapid Reload
3 : Completionist
6 : Point Blank Shot
9 : Precision
12 : Precise Shot
15 : Improved Critical: Ranged
18 : Rapid Shot
21 Epic : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic : Insightful Reflexes
26 Destiny: Holy Strike
27 Epic : Master of: Music
28 Destiny: Doubleshot
29 Destiny: Embodiment of Law
30 Epic : Force of Personality
30 Legend : Scion of: Ethereal Plane

Spells

1. Expeditious Retreat (1), Grease (2), Hypnotism (3), Focusing Chant (5), Sonic Blast (16)
2. Blur (4), Glitterdust (4), Invisibility (5), Soundburst (7), Hypnotic Pattern (17)
3. Displacement (7), Good Hope (7), Haste (8), Deep Slumber (10), Remove Curse (18)
4. Cure Critical Wounds (10), Dimension Door (10), Freedom of Movement (11), Neutralize Poison (13), Otto's Sphere of Dancing (19)
5. Greater Dispel Magic (13), Greater Heroism (13), Mind Fog (14), Mass Suggestion (16), Shadow Walk (20)
6. Greater Shout (16), Mass Charm Monster (16), Heroes Feast (17), Otto's Irresistible Dance (19)

Heroic/Epic(Legendary)
Negotiators Spectacles – Blindness Immunity
Wallwatch Circlet – WIS +4/+8
Family Recruit Sigil – Poison +6/Draconic Soul
Token of the Proven – CHA +4/Legendary Cursebane Focus - CHA +8
Mantle of the Dwarven Commander – Disease +6/Legendary Phase Cloak - Globe of True Imperial Blood
Bronze Dragonscale Belt – Resist +4/+8
Deathwarden – Good Luck +1/+2 (swap Ring of Flickering Steel)
Wildwood Gauntlets – Master’s Gift
Softsole Slippers – Protection +4/+8
Ring of Nightfall – DEX+4/+8
Bracers of the Fallen Hero – Feather Falling
Wildwood Vest - Spell Agility+5/+15
Ratcatcher – Endless Night / Nightshade & Screamshatter – Deconstructor
Dynamistic / Epic Purifying

Epic Destiny:
*Shiradi*
Gird Against Demons - T4 Fury of the Wild
Grim Precision – T3 Shadowdancer
Extra Action Boost – T1 Legendary Dreadnought *
Brace for Impact – T1 Unyielding Sentinal *
Cocoon – T1 Primal Avatar
* OR
Impregnable Mind - T1 Magister
Unearthly Reactions - T1 Magister

On the plus side, saves will be decent for a non Paly, your damage is going to be insane, and the constant Diplo Proc will reduce your active threat issues to nada.

On the negative side, pay attention to your Angles and other buffs, as they are all going to expire pretty much all at once. That Displacement is REALLY nice..

Remember to keep your distance... you are NOT a melee toon, don't get caught up in the excitement and get yourself killed getting into close quarters with critters you should be ranging

Not sure how many bolts you have left? Cast a stack just in case.... pulling the trigger for 30 seconds before you realize people are dying because you ran out is just idiotic

[LargoKeyWest]

[LargoKeyWest]

[LargoKeyWest]

To be fair, the party healing is fairly weak while running in R6+, but most folks know that going in and would accept standing toe-to-toe in a mob, die, and get a full resurrection rather then spending 5 minutes trying to heal back up with spells or scrolls that have been reduced to little more then a concerned pat on the head...

The single largest weakness of this build is simply that mechanics changes in-game (likely made to reduce overhead and lag) have MOST mobs refusing to activate/be targetable until a PC moves into melee range. They can shoot/cast at YOU, have the blood bar overhead, can be selected to range attack, but you waste bolts trying to hit them. They simply can not be engaged in the slightest as they are not truly active.

To be perfectly honest this is a load of garbage and negates the entire point of being a ranged build. Also, Inquisitor is notorious for not being able to hit something while in point blank range, the shafts are simply wasted until you can back off a bit (provided you live that long). I can blow thru more then 3k bolts on a single quest, with 30-40 being used before you actually start to hit a selected target.

Edited to add: Currently @ 67 Reaper Points... wish I had taken more interest back when the farming groups were active night & day