The Halfling Huckleberry - Swashbuckler

[shores11]

The Halfling Huckleberry (Bard)
Race/Class: Halfling/Bard - Pure Bard level 20
Nuetral Good
36 point build
In-game name: Fizmite on Khyber

Why this build? I wanted to create a pure Halfling Bard (I like Halflings) that can deal very good DPS at least through reaper 5-7 and I have accomplished that. I did want to also build in some crowd control but after a few variations I realized I was sacrificing too much DPS. He is a support melee fighter for a group that can provide some good Bard buffs.
So, I built a Charisma based Halfling Swashbuckler Bard (46) with some significant Warchanter (34) built in, using a buckler in the offhand for a shield. See how I did it below and I'd appreciate any feedback about the build. Thanks in advance.

Build Features:
Offense:
This build has turned into a great support offensive DPS melee build. He hits very frequently on his single target freeze to include an occasional red named opponent. I am happy with the melee DPS that he generates.
Defense:
The bard in general is a fairly difficult class to generate a high defensive ability. However with displacement in his spell book it certainly helps a lot. I took extended metamagic which gives him a good 5 minute displacement and haste.
Healing or Self-healing:
To be honest I am still trying to improve here. At best I would rate him as an average self-healer and a poor group healer.
Spell Casting & Crowd Control:
Other than freezing, stunning and fascinate I am not really planning this Bard for major crowd control via enchantment spells.

Ability Score(s):
STR: 8
DEX: 17
CON: 16
INT: 8
WIS: 8
CHA: 18
All level points in Charisma.
This build has +8 tomes in all abilities.

Feats:
01 Single Weapon Fighting
03 Precision
06 Weapon Finesse
09 Shield Mastery
12 Improved Single Weapon Fighting
15 Improved Critical: Piercing
18 Greater Single Weapon Fighting
21 Improved Shield Mastery
24 Overwhelming Critical
26 Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
27 Extend Spell
28 Adamantine
29 Dire Charge
30 Inspiration Melody: Excellence
30 Scion of Feywild
Comments: With the enhancement of "Low Blow" and Shield Mastery he has some very good knock down ability.

Skills:
Maximize: UMD, Perform, Balance
Partial: Jump 16, Heal 16, Diplomacy 14, Haggle 15, Bluff 10, Listen 10, Tumble 1

Spell List:
1st: Master's Touch, Feather Fall, Detect Secret Doors, Grease, Remove Fear, Enchant Weapon
2nd: Cure Moderate Wounds, Blur, Invisibility, Rage, Soundburst
3rd: Cure Serious Wounds, Displacement, Haste, Good Hope, See Invisibility
4th: Cure Critical Wounds, Freedm of Movement, Dimension Door, Break Enhancement, Neautralize Poison
5th: Cure Light Wounds, Mass, Greater Heroism, Shadow Walk, Summon Monster V, Greater Dispel Magic
6th: Cure Moderate Wounds, Mass, Otto's Irresistable Dance, Heroes Feast, Greater Shout

Enhancements:
Swashbuckler: 46 total
Core: 6 total
Confidence 1 (1 dodge, reflex, and max dex bonus per core)
Swashbuckling 1 (1 doublestrike, 1 enhancement bonus to weapon, swashbuckling stance)
Uncanny dodge 1 (gain uncanny dodge feat, 1 doublestrike, 1 attack, 1 damage)
Panache 1 (1 doublestrike, 1 attack, 1 damage, 1 enhancement bonus to weapon)
Roll with the punches 1 (5 dodge cap, slippery mind, 1 doublestrike, 1 attack, 1 damage)
Evasive maneuvers 1 (2 dex, 2 cha, evasion, 1 doublestrike, 1 attack, 1 damage, 1 enhancement bonus to weapon)
Tier 1: 6 total
On Your Toes 3 (3 dodge)
Blow by Blow 1 (+3 critical threat range + 3d6 sonic damage, reduces threat by 300)
Tier 2: 5 total
Fast Movement 2 (run 1% faster per bard level = +30% movement speed)
En Pointe 3 (2 attacks w/+2[W] +12 critical threat range, -1 critical multiplier)
Tier 3: 11 total
Skirmisher 1 > Swashbuckling Style > Buckler 1 (10% dodge, can be used w/single weapon fighting)
Resonant Arms 6 (6d6 sonic damage on critical hits)
Smooth Flourishes 2 > Charisma (charisma to damage)
Charisma 2
Tier 4: 13 total
On the Mark 6 (+3 on attack to confirm criticals)
Swashbuckling style II - low blow 1 (shield bash knockdown with perform dc)
Battering Barrage 4 (damage w/weapons inflicts improved destruction)
Charisma 2
Tier 5: 5 total
Thread the Needle 2 (5 damage with precision)
Exploit weakness 2 (stacking +1 crit range on non-crit hits until crit hit)
Coup de grace 1 (perform + d20 instakill under certain conditions)

Warchanter: 33 total
Core: 5 total
Skaldic constitution 1 (1 con)
Weapon Training 1 (martial weapon proficiency, +10 max HP, +1 additional damage)
Ballad Melody: Song of Heroism 1 (+1 to damage, greater heroism)
Fighting Spirit 1 (+10 HP, +1 damage, uses charisma for temporary HP & x2 in epics)
Victory Song 1 (+20 HP, attack bonus equal to character level, Bardic aria doubled)
Tier 1: total 5
Enchant Weapon 2 (+1 to damage, spell like ability)
Rough and Ready 3 (+6 AC, +6 PRR)
Tier 2: total 6
Words of Encouragement 3 (+30 HP for 1 minute, +15 spellpower)
Iced Edges 3 (+1d6 cold damage w/attacks)
Tier 3: total 8
Ballad Melody: Ironskin 3 (DR 6/-, +6 bonus music to PRR)
Frozen Fury 3 (melee attack +3(w) damage, enemies make fortitude save (10 + charisma modifier + 1/2 bard level + stunning modifiers) or become frozen for seconds equal to bard levels)
Charisma 2 (+1 charisma)
Tier 4: total 9
Ballad Melody: Recklessness 3 (+6 music bonus to doublestrike & doubleshot, +9 universal spell power)
Northwind 6 (on a vorpal hit enemy is frozen briefly)

Spellsinger: 1 total
Core: 1 total
Spellsinger 1 (Bardic Inspirational +1 additional bard level)

Halfling: 1 total
Core: 1 total
Halfling Luck 1 (+1 to all saving throws)

Inquisitive: 1 total
Core: 1 total
Inquisitive 1 (+1 attack w/all wepaons, +1 diplomacy, +1 intimidate, +1 bluff)

[Xandez]

Hello!

Looks nice.

Have you tried WC T5 vs swash T5 which you think is "better" ?

[shores11]

Hello!

Looks nice.

Have you tried WC T5 vs swash T5 which you think is "better" ?

I did have a T5 Warchanter in a previous life and it was OK. I wanted as pure of a melee DPS as I could get and found Swashbuckler more appealing. I have a friend that did the opposite of me and is currently running a T5 Warchanter and it certainly has a higher chance of freezing mobs. The Swashbuckler only freezes single targets if you take Warchanter to at least T4 as I have done. The Warchanter in general has less melee DPS output but more crowd control ability in part because you tend to also spend more points in Spellsinger. As you can see I spent almost nothing in Spellsinger.

I like it thus far although I plan to put a few more ER's into him he is doing pretty much what I want. I do already have 3 ER's of ED-Arcane in him for a +3 Enchant weapon bonus + the Enchant Bard spell I get a +4 weapon damage bonus in melee combat.

[shores11]

It has been a few months since I have completed this character. I wanted to report back that it has been a very effective build for support melee DPS and in some cases main melee DPS.

[Jetrule]

It has been a few months since I have completed this character. I wanted to report back that it has been a very effective build for support melee DPS and in some cases main melee DPS.

Hey thanks for sharing your build, I have a few questions if you dont mind.

What main weapon are you using?
What buckler?
What destiny are you running since ED pass? Have you tried the new fatesinger and how does it stack up?
Are you finding you have enough hit chance for sharn especially? What is the buffed up to hit bonus in the inventory screen? I have a feeling that with full bab Bard may have the highest to hit bonus. Of course yours will be lower by a bit using dex to hit and having cha as your top score.

[shores11]

Hey thanks for sharing your build, I have a few questions if you dont mind.

What main weapon are you using? I use the shortsword from Sharn, moon something. The damage is awesome.
[/COLOR]What buckler? - I use Van Richter's cane, it is still over the best in my opinion.
What destiny are you running since ED pass? Have you tried the new fatesinger and how does it stack up? I run in Fatesinger full time. I love the ED.
Are you finding you have enough hit chance for Sharn especially? My to hit is great I do notice any significant amount of missing.
What is the buffed up to hit bonus in the inventory screen? TBA - I will need to log in and test.
I have a feeling that with full BAB Bard may have the highest to hit bonus. No problems hitting.
Of course yours will be lower by a bit using DEX to hit and having CHA as your top score. My damage is generally at 2,500 to 4,000 crits; his non-crits are ranging in at 300-400. I have no complaints about his damage.

I hope I have answered most of your questions. Let me know if you have more.

[Jetrule]

Cool! Thanks man!