Strimtom's Hardcore Ready Character builds, Season 2!

[Perdosus]

You're not taking improved precise shot at all in that build. You don't have the dex, and you are taking the shot on the run line instead.

Ranger gets IPS for free at level 11 regardless of Dex.

[Shein]

Ranger gets IPS for free at level 11 regardless of Dex.

Ohhhhh, right! Now that build makes a lot more sense to me. Thanks!

[Nickodeamous]

1) Frenzied Berserker/Occult Slayer Dwarf Barbarian

Frenzied Berserker/Occult Slayer Dwarf Barbarian

Classes: 20 Barbarian, 10 Epic
Race: Dwarf · · · · · · · ·Alignment: Neutral

Solo: 5/5
Party: 4/5
Main Features: This barbarian will likely never die on elite difficulty thanks to the incredible power of blood tribute, and it will be very difficult to kill on reaper mode still. The goal is to put points into frenzied berserker first and occult slayer second here. Alternatively, if you are feeling like you are a strong player, you could go 41 in ravager instead for more damage and also visage of terror instead of spell immunity. Super easy solo, strike through saves the day to make an amazing easy hardcore character. You've got so much health you can even play tank for your group in a pinch.

I am actually loving this build but i really dont know how to gear it, or the best way to "use" it. I just find great axes and swing away. I am not sure how often to use the blood HP boost, or how to actually gear it (what should i focus on investing in?). Any additional help would be great!

For comparison, usually only play monk, so this is really different for me.

Thanks!
Nico

[Oliphant]

Thanks, these are great!

For the INQ build, seems like you can do 12 Rrg/4 Arti/4 Alch split without losing too much and pick up an extra Arti bonus feat. I'm trying a halfling variant and using extra feat for dragon mark of healing (halfling thing) and spending race AP to get the heal spell. Your drow way probably better but does not seem a must do. Thanks again...

[Shein]

Thanks, these are great!

For the INQ build, seems like you can do 12 Rrg/4 Arti/4 Alch split without losing too much and pick up an extra Arti bonus feat. I'm trying a halfling variant and using extra feat for dragon mark of healing (halfling thing) and spending race AP to get the heal spell. Your drow way probably better but does not seem a must do. Thanks again...

What's the point of the 12th level of ranger? Just the extra spell? I ended up going WF and only doing 11 ranger, and taking 7 wizard instead of alchemist for self heals and buffs.

[Oliphant]

What's the point of the 12th level of ranger? Just the extra spell? I ended up going WF and only doing 11 ranger, and taking 7 wizard instead of alchemist for self heals and buffs.

I had the same question but then I did not see much benefit from extra Alch or Arti level. Hmm. Alch for INT to attack and damage basically gets you 4 AP saved from Harper. Your wiz way sounds cool. I think I'll stick with the 12/4/4 split for extra feat and a few extra AP. Keeping 12 ranger levels ends up with a tad more BAB and saves. I'm going to use the extra AP to squeeze out Heal dragon mark from Halfing, or fail trying

[Shein]

I had the same question but then I did not see much benefit from extra Alch or Arti level. Hmm. Alch for INT to attack and damage basically gets you 4 AP saved from Harper. Your wiz way sounds cool. I think I'll stick with the 12/4/4 split for extra feat and a few extra AP. Keeping 12 ranger levels ends up with a tad more BAB and saves. I'm going to use the extra AP to squeeze out Heal dragon mark from Halfing, or fail trying

Well, the arti levels are key for trapping. The rune arm use is very nice too, and the cheap (spell point) bolts means you don't need to spend those action points. The harper tree is pretty good, and you'll probably need to put points there anyway for the spot/search increase, at least for the 1st half of the game. Even with full points into those skills, and being straight up INT based, it still wasn't good enough for some content... and the traps are just too deadly to mess that up. Halfing is the master race, and the dragon mark is solid plan. All my toons on the softcore server are halfing

I just hit 4880 favor. 5 more quests and the grind is over!

[Oliphant]

12 ranger also gets you the DWS core 4 advanced sneak attack thing, which is pretty nice

[Shein]

12 ranger also gets you the DWS core 4 advanced sneak attack thing, which is pretty nice

Ohhh right, that's exactly why he takes ranger 12! Makes sense. I never made it to DWS. Being warforged I ended up putting 18 points into racial for an extra 15 ranged power and all that extra health and repair amp. I also put 6 AP into eldrich knight for 15 more health and spellsword damage + ghost touch. Then 15 AP in harper for INT to hit and damage, 15 more health, and know the angles. Everything else (37 AP) went into inquisitive. This was heroic only ofc. If i was going epic I would respec to 41 in inquisitive.

[mbartol]

Hardcore Inquisitive
Classes: 12 Ranger, 10 Epic, 6 Alchemist, 2 Artificer

IMPORTANT NOTE: At level 16 this character will get insightful reflexes for free and at level 18 you get int to hit and damage without needing harper agent. With this in mind, you want to use harper agent to get intelligence to hit and damage before level 18, and after level 16 you are able to perform a feat swap to switch your insightful reflexes feat out for something else.

When swapping out Insightful Reflexes prior to taking L16, I was thinking of taking WF:Ranged.
Any suggestions for better options?

[C-Dog]

When swapping out Insightful Reflexes prior to taking L16, I was thinking of taking WF:Ranged.
Any suggestions for better options?

In most cases, "better" would be a matter of playstyle. This build takes Extend at Lvl 24, so one could grab that 8 levels earlier for a nice Quality of Life improvement. However, since this is HardCore, I'd have to say that, from some objective view, a little more Ranged Power is probably the "best" improvement - DPS is king.

That said, how you play your character is not "objective". So, if you, as a player, know that you typically forget to keep track of your buffs, and any character that you run would benefit greatly from Extend - then that's your answer. (And then Weapon Focus at 24.)

[Urklie]

What everyone overlooked, survivalist and cloth armor doesn't mix.
So all those points in survivalist are wasted. Or would you like to carry cloth armor for the missile shield (that is very much needed at higher levels) and lose the PRR and HP?
So there's no magic missile immunity in light armor that survivalist requires and that pretty much breaks the build
And you have to go warforged to be able to have your cake and eat it too.

So here's my adaptation of it
Getting to level 9 is rather trivial with a few pitfalls
Early 2 Alchemist levels for insightful reflexes
Then 2 Ranger for Rapid Shot
And here we go level 9 and Precise Shot with 4 Ranger
And next is the long way to level 17 where we're finally able to equip a runearm and put some gear on our pet
Next 2 levels in Alchy give us displacement, might be too late for that already, maybe move those 2 levels up. Is IPS really that important? 25% damage vs 50% displacement?
Also Healer's Friend in Warforged vs +1 weapon enchantment in harper, why do I need tactical DC as a ranger again?
Also rather than wasting 3 feats on dodge, mobility and shot on the run for what, +4 attack? I'm taking extend and heighten spell and toughness
Also since I maxed that diplomacy skill and have 1 point left over, that 1 point goes into arresting assult, adding to the cc-abilities when surrounded, which is VERY useful in some quests.
So now there are 3 CCs, Fine Dust lvl1 alchy & Salt Crystals lvl2 alchy which are heightened and Arresting Assault, and all are AOE CC.
Dropped Open Lock apart from the initial 4, because who needs more than that anyway?

What I don't know if I should take the repair skill or heal skill, being warfoged


Character name: Warfoged Ranger Alchy Inq
Classes: 12 Ranger, 10 Epic, 6 Alchemist, 2 Artificer
Race: Warforged · · · · · ·Alignment: Neutral

· · ·Start Tome Final
Str:· · ·9· · 0 · ·13 · · ·HP:· · · · 598 · · ·AC:· · 24
Dex:· · 13· · 0 · ·15 · · ·PRR: · · · ·13
Con:· · 18· · 0 · ·20 · · ·MRR: · · · · 0 · · ·+Healing Amp:· · 30
Int:· · 18· · 0 · ·28 · · ·Dodge: · ·3/25 · · ·-Healing Amp:· · ·0
Wis:· · ·6· · 0 · · 8 · · ·Fort:· · · 50% · · ·Repair Amp:· · · ·0
Cha:· · ·6· · 0 · · 8 · · ·SR:· · · · · 0 · · ·BAB: · · · · · · 17
DR:
Immunities: Magic Missiles, Sleep, Energy Drain, Nausea, Sickness, Exhaustion, Paralysis

Saves:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fortitude:· · · · ·30
· vs Poison:· · · ·40*
· vs Disease: · · ·30
Will: · · · · · · ·22
· vs Enchantment: ·22*
· vs Illusion:· · ·22*
· vs Fear:· · · · ·22*
· vs Curse: · · · ·22
Reflex: · · · · · ·31
· vs Traps: · · · ·31
· vs Spell: · · · ·31
· vs Magic: · · · ·31
Marked with a * is no fail on a 1 if required DC met

Energy· · · ·Resistance and Absorbance
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acid: · · · · · · · · 5 · · · · · · 0%
Chaos:· · · · · · · · 0 · · · · · · 0%
Cold: · · · · · · · · 5 · · · · · · 0%
Electric: · · · · · · 5 · · · · · · 0%
Evil: · · · · · · · · 0 · · · · · · 0%
Fire: · · · · · · · · 5 · · · · · · 0%
Force:· · · · · · · · 0 · · · · · · 0%
Good: · · · · · · · · 0 · · · · · · 0%
Lawful: · · · · · · · 0 · · · · · · 0%
Light:· · · · · · · · 0 · · · · · · 0%
Negative: · · · · · · 0 · · · · · · 0%
Poison: · · · · · · · 0 · · · · · · 0%
Sonic:· · · · · · · · 0 · · · · · · 0%

Class and Feat Selection
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level Class · · · · · ·Feats
1 · · Artificer(1)· · ·Standard: Point Blank Shot
2 · · Alchemist(1)· · ·
3 · · Alchemist(2)· · ·Standard: Precision
4 · · Ranger(1) · · · ·Favored Enemy: Favored enemy: Undead
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
5 · · Ranger(2) · · · ·
6 · · Alchemist(3)· · ·Standard: Extend Spell
7 · · Alchemist(4)· · ·Alchemist Bonus: Battalion Brew
8 · · Ranger(3) · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
9 · · Ranger(4) · · · ·Standard: Heighten Spell
10· · Ranger(5) · · · ·Favored Enemy: Favored enemy: Elemental
11· · Ranger(6) · · · ·
12· · Ranger(7) · · · ·Standard: Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
13· · Ranger(8) · · · ·
14· · Ranger(9) · · · ·
15· · Ranger(10)· · · ·Standard: Toughness
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Favored Enemy: Favored enemy: Evil Outsider
16· · Ranger(11)· · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
17· · Ranger(12)· · · ·
18· · Alchemist(5)· · ·Standard: Toughness
19· · Alchemist(6)· · ·
20· · Artificer(2)· · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
21· · Epic(1) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Overwhelming Critical
22· · Epic(2) · · · · ·
23· · Epic(3) · · · · ·
24· · Epic(4) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Toughness
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
25· · Epic(5) · · · · ·
26· · Epic(6) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Holy Strike
27· · Epic(7) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Epic Damage Reduction
28· · Epic(8) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Doubleshot
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
29· · Epic(9) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: First Blood
30· · Epic(10)· · · · ·Epic Feat: Blinding Speed
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Legendary: Scion of Arborea

Skills
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skill Points· · ·32 ·8· 8 10 10 ·8· 8 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 10 10 10
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 · · · · · 2 ·3· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·½· 1 ·1· ½ ·1· 2 ·1· ·23.0 · 35.0
Bluff · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 15.0
Concentration · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 17.0
Diplomacy · · · · 2 · · 2 ·2· 2 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·½· 1 ·1 1½ ·1· 1 · · ·22.0 · 43.0
Disable Device· · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· · ·1· 1 ·2· ·23.0 · 42.0
Haggle· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · ·9.0
Heal· · · · · · · 2 ·1· 1 · · · · · · · · · · · · ·1· 2 ·5· 2 ·2· 4 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 34.0
Hide· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 14.0
Intimidate· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 17.0
Jump· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 41.0
Listen· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 19.0
Move Silently · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 12.0
Open Lock · · · · 4 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 4.0 · 16.0
Perform · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 13.0
Repair· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 19.0
Search· · · · · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 44.0
Spell Craft · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 19.0
Spot· · · · · · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 44.0
Swim· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·½· · · · · 0.5 · 11.5
Tumble· · · · · · 1 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 1.0 · 13.0
Use Magic Device· 2 · · · · · · ·2· 2 1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ ·1· ½ · · ½ ·1· 1 ·2· 2 ·2· ·22.0 · 31.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Available Points· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enhancements: 80 APs
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warforged - Points spent: 4
1 Core ·(1) Improved Fortification I
2 Tier1 (1) Repair Systems: Healer's Friend
3 Tier1 (1) Repair Systems: Healer's Friend
4 Tier1 (1) Repair Systems: Healer's Friend
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apothecary - Points spent: 6
1 Core ·(1) Determination
2 Tier1 (1) Soothing Poultices
3 Tier1 (1) Soothing Poultices
4 Tier1 (1) Soothing Poultices
5 Tier1 (1) Curative Admixture: Cure or Inflict Light Wounds: Curative Admixture: Cure Light Wounds
6 Core ·(1) Alchemical Shield
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deepwood Stalker - Points spent: 28
1 Core ·(1) Far Shot
2 Tier1 (1) Favored Defense
3 Tier1 (1) Favored Defense
4 Tier1 (1) Favored Defense
5 Tier1 (1) Increased Empathy
6 Core ·(1) Sneak Attack
7 Tier2 (1) Action Boost: Skill Boost
8 Tier2 (1) Action Boost: Skill Boost
9 Tier2 (1) Action Boost: Skill Boost
10 Tier2 (2) Survivalist I
11 Tier3 (2) Survivalist II
12 Tier3 (1) Thrill of the Hunt
13 Tier3 (1) Thrill of the Hunt
14 Tier3 (1) Thrill of the Hunt
15 Tier3 (1) Favored Hunter
16 Tier3 (1) Favored Hunter
17 Tier3 (1) Favored Hunter
18 Core ·(1) Called Shot: Sniper Shot
19 Tier4 (2) Survivalist III
20 Tier4 (1) Killer
21 Tier4 (1) Killer
22 Tier4 (1) Killer
23 Tier4 (2) Merciful Shot
24 Core ·(1) Advanced Sneak Attack
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inquisitive - Points spent: 42
1 Core ·(1) Inquisitive
2 Tier1 (2) Dual Shooter
3 Tier1 (2) Law on your side
4 Core ·(1) Hit the Streets
5 Tier2 (2) Improved Law
6 Tier2 (2) Crossbow Adept I
7 Tier3 (2) Crossbow Adept II
8 Tier3 (2) First Things First: Ask Questions First
9 Core ·(1) Mind Like Iron
10 Tier2 (2) Observation
11 Tier3 (1) Improved Observation
12 Tier1 (1) Eye for Accuracy
13 Tier1 (1) Eye for Accuracy
14 Tier4 (2) Crossbow Adept III
15 Tier4 (1) What Later?: Shoot Later
16 Tier4 (2) Greater Law
17 Tier4 (2) Inquisition Style: Martial Inquisition
18 Core ·(1) True Seeing
19 Tier1 (1) Inquisitive Skills
20 Tier1 (1) Inquisitive Skills
21 Tier5 (2) No Holds Barred
22 Tier5 (1) Improved Uncanny Dodge
23 Tier5 (1) Inquisitor's Path: Optimistic
24 Tier5 (1) Diplomatic Immunity
25 Core ·(1) Undaunted
26 Tier1 (1) Inquisitive Skills
27 Tier1 (1) Eye for Accuracy
28 Tier3 (2) Ability Score I: Intelligence
29 Core ·(1) Master Inquisitive
30 Tier5 (1) Arresting Assault
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spell Like / Special Abilities
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dismiss Charm · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Wild Empathy· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Curative Admixture: Cure Light Wounds · · ·
Unleash Iron Defender · · · · · · · · · · ·
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weapon Damage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Melee Power:· 50.0
Doublestrike: 0%
Strikethrough: 20%
Off-Hand attack Chance: 80%
Off-Hand Doublestrike: 0%
Fortification Bypass: 10%
Dodge Bypass: 0%
Helpless Damage bonus: 50%
Ranged Power: 85.0· ·with Manyshot active: 153.0
Doubleshot Chance: 25%

Sneak Attack Attack bonus: 0
Sneak Attack Damage: 3d6+0

[Braxion]

What everyone overlooked, survivalist and cloth armor doesn't mix.
So all those points in survivalist are wasted. Or would you like to carry cloth armor for the missile shield (that is very much needed at higher levels) and lose the PRR and HP?
So there's no magic missile immunity in light armor that survivalist requires and that pretty much breaks the build

Yeah I would like to know about this as well. As I have already gone drow, I am wondering if I should just skip the alchemist levels. I don't want to further mix this build and then get to the point where the class choices don't make sense.

[Kaldahr]

What everyone overlooked, survivalist and cloth armor doesn't mix.
So all those points in survivalist are wasted. Or would you like to carry cloth armor for the missile shield (that is very much needed at higher levels) and lose the PRR and HP?
So there's no magic missile immunity in light armor that survivalist requires and that pretty much breaks the build

I just tried this out. I've got Legendary Wildwood Outfit (cloth) armor. I reset my enhancement tree and immediately lost the bonus HP and PRR. I added everything back, saving after each survivalist, and saw my HP and PRR go up each time.

Pre-surviavlist - HP: 643, PRR 79
Survivalist 1 - HP: 653, PRR 82
Survivalist 2 - HP: 673, PRR 86
Survivalist 3 - HP: 703, PRR: 91

I also re-tested magic missile defense by running Slavelords 1 and saw magic missile being negated by shield.

The wiki and the tooltip say PRR (HP should be added either way) is only supposed to be added when wearing light armor so it's possible that this, currently, isn't WAI and could be fixed in a future update or maybe it's meant to be 'light OR cloth' armor.

Nice WF build.