Concept: PDK-Warlock-Melee (WIP)

[Smokewolf]

Been tinkering around with a PDK-Warlock-Melee (G-Sword) and would like to get some constructive feedback.

Side note: I also have a variant of this using the Tiefling and the Fiend Pact for fire synergy. (Feydark Cha-to-hit)

Oh and as always, thank you in advance!


Character name: PDK-Melee-Warlock
Classes: 20 Warlock, 10 Epic
Race: Purple Dragon Knight Alignment: Chaotic Neutral

· · ·Start Tome Final
Str:· · 13· · 8 · ·27 · · ·HP:· · · ·2008 · · ·AC:· · 42
Dex:· · 10· · 8 · ·24 · · ·PRR: · · · ·36
Con:· · 18· · 8 · ·45 · · ·MRR: · · 55/50 · · ·+Healing Amp:· ·110
Int:· · 11· · 8 · ·21 · · ·Dodge: · ·1/25 · · ·-Healing Amp:· · 20
Wis:· · ·8· · 8 · ·18 · · ·Fort:· · · ·0% · · ·Repair Amp:· · · ·0
Cha:· · 16· · 8 · ·29 · · ·SR:· · · · · 0 · · ·BAB: · · · · · · 20
DR:
Immunities: Fear, Magic Missiles, Knockdown, Magic Missiles, Drowning

Class and Feat Selection
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level Class · · · · · ·Feats
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Level 1 Requires a +1 Heart of Wood to switch out of Iconic Class
1 · · Warlock(1)· · · ·Standard: Two Handed Fighting (Requires Feat Swap with Fred)
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Purple Dragon Knight Bonus: Completionist (Requires Feat Swap with Fred)
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Pact: Warlock: Pact: The Abyss
2 · · Warlock(2)· · · ·
3 · · Warlock(3)· · · ·Standard: Quicken Spell
4 · · Warlock(4)· · · ·Warlock Save Bonus: Abyssal Resillience
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Constitution: +1 Level up
5 · · Warlock(5)· · · ·Warlock Pact Spell: Pact Spell The Abyss: Spawn Screen
6 · · Warlock(6)· · · ·Standard: Maximize Spell
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Warlock Pact Ability: Warlock: Unhallowed Flesh
7 · · Warlock(7)· · · ·
8 · · Warlock(8)· · · ·Warlock Save Bonus: Abyssal Resillience
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Constitution: +1 Level up
9 · · Warlock(9)· · · ·Standard: Improved Two Handed Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Warlock Pact Spell: Pact Spell The Abyss: Halt Undead
10· · Warlock(10) · · ·Warlock Resistance: Abyssal Resistance
11· · Warlock(11) · · ·
12· · Warlock(12) · · ·Standard: Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Warlock Save Bonus: Abyssal Resillience
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Constitution: +1 Level up
13· · Warlock(13) · · ·
14· · Warlock(14) · · ·Warlock Pact Spell: Pact Spell The Abyss: Death Aura
15· · Warlock(15) · · ·Standard: Greater Two Handed Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Warlock Pact Ability: Warlock: Channel the Abyss
16· · Warlock(16) · · ·Warlock Save Bonus: Abyssal Resillience
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Constitution: +1 Level up
17· · Warlock(17) · · ·Warlock Pact Spell: Pact Spell The Abyss: Symbol of Pain
18· · Warlock(18) · · ·Standard: Force of Personality
19· · Warlock(19) · · ·Warlock Pact Spell: Pact Spell The Abyss: Rend the Soul
20· · Warlock(20) · · ·Warlock Save Bonus: Abyssal Resillience
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Constitution: +1 Level up
21· · Epic(1) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Epic Eldritch Blast
22· · Epic(2) · · · · ·
23· · Epic(3) · · · · ·
24· · Epic(4) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Wellspring of Power
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Constitution: +1 Level up
25· · Epic(5) · · · · ·
26· · Epic(6) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Epic Arcane Eldritch Blast
27· · Epic(7) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Blinding Speed
28· · Epic(8) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Perfect Two Handed Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Constitution: +1 Level up
29· · Epic(9) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Dire Charge
30· · Epic(10)· · · · ·Epic Feat: Master of the Dead
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Legendary: Scion of the Shadowfell

Enhancements: 80 APs, Racial 2, Universal 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purple Dragon Knight - Points spent: 13
1 Core ·(1) Versatility I: Spell Power Boost
2 Tier1 (2) Cormyrean Knight Training
3 Tier1 (2) Improved Recovery I
4 Tier1 (1) Don't Count Me Out
5 Tier2 (1) Fighting Style: Great Weapon Aptitude
6 Tier2 (1) Fighting Style: Great Weapon Aptitude
7 Tier2 (1) Fighting Style: Great Weapon Aptitude
8 Core ·(2) Adaptability: +1 Constitution
9 Tier3 (2) Improved Recovery II
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enlightened Spirit - Points spent: 54
1 Core ·(1) Eldritch Aura
2 Tier1 (1) Resilience of Body
3 Tier1 (1) Resilience of Body
4 Tier1 (1) Resilience of Body
5 Tier1 (1) Spiritual Defense
6 Tier1 (1) Spiritual Defense
7 Tier1 (1) Spiritual Defense
8 Core ·(1) Aura of Courage
9 Tier1 (1) Resilience of Soul
10 Tier1 (1) Resilience of Soul
11 Tier1 (1) Resilience of Soul
12 Core ·(1) Shape Vestments
13 Tier2 (2) Shield
14 Tier2 (1) Power of Enlightenment: Light I
15 Tier2 (1) Power of Enlightenment: Light I
16 Tier2 (1) Power of Enlightenment: Light I
17 Tier2 (1) Spiritual Bastion
18 Tier2 (1) Spiritual Bastion
19 Tier2 (1) Spiritual Bastion
20 Tier2 (1) Resist Energies
21 Tier2 (1) Resist Energies
22 Tier2 (1) Resist Energies
23 Tier3 (1) Eldritch Burst
24 Tier3 (1) Eldritch Burst
25 Tier3 (1) Eldritch Burst
26 Tier3 (1) Spiritual Ward
27 Tier3 (1) Spiritual Ward
28 Tier3 (1) Spiritual Ward
29 Tier3 (1) Power of Enlightenment: Light II
30 Tier3 (1) Power of Enlightenment: Light II
31 Tier3 (1) Power of Enlightenment: Light II
32 Tier4 (1) Brilliance
33 Tier4 (1) Spiritual Retribution
34 Tier4 (1) Spiritual Retribution
35 Tier4 (1) Spiritual Retribution
36 Tier4 (2) Medium Armor Proficiency
37 Tier5 (1) Spirit Blast
38 Tier5 (1) Spirit Blast
39 Tier5 (1) Spirit Blast
40 Tier5 (2) Beacon
41 Tier5 (2) Shining Through
42 Core ·(1) Aura of Menace
43 Core ·(1) Celestial Spirit
44 Core ·(1) Ultimate Enlightenment
45 Tier3 (2) Ability I: +1 Constitution
46 Tier4 (2) Ability II: +1 Constitution
47 Tier5 (2) Displacement
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tainted Scholar - Points spent: 15
1 Core ·(1) Tainted Spellcasting
2 Tier1 (2) Strong Pact I
3 Tier1 (1) Eldritch Focus
4 Tier1 (1) Eldritch Focus
5 Core ·(1) Tainted Lore
6 Tier2 (2) Strong Pact II
7 Tier2 (2) Utterdark Blast
8 Tier3 (2) Strong Pact III
9 Tier3 (2) Ability I: +1 Charisma
10 Core ·(1) Stanch
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harper Agent - Points spent: 1
1 Core ·(1) Agent of Good I
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ValariusK]

There are a number of issues with this build. Some of them are structural and you can't do much about them. Others you can. I'll start with what you CAN fix.

You need to be stacking your charisma to high heaven. It is your spell point stat, your DCs stat, your attack/damage stat, pretty much everything. You can't be putting your level ups in con, they need to all be in charisma. Maybe if you were a dwarf instead using TYWA it'd be different, but you're not. That you can fix, and fixing it is pretty easy. Change charisma to 18, con to 16, all level ups to charisma and emphasize charisma in all your enhancements etc.

PDK isn't a bad race choice IF you don't care about the expense of the +1 heart. But with Feywild illusionist, you don't need it. You could take a better race for your application since you'd have an easy route to charisma to hit/damage. But assuming you want PDK (personally I hate the way they look, and lots of the game population agrees), PDK can be made to work after a fashion.

Second: Rarely is it worthwhile to stack much more than 41 points into a line. With 41 in ES, you have 39 points available in the other lines. There's lots of good stuff in the other lines of warlock that'll buy you way more, and feydark illusionist is something you should invest at least minimally in (at least 3 points in it to get the shadow weapons thing to imbue your greatsword, which will make it immune to damage, when you have a build like this with very limited weapon selection you really want that). Celestial pact also will probably do you better than Abyssal. That is, unless you're joining a group dominated by pale masters. Prayer is a really useful spell now that it scales. Check out soul eater in particular. You can get there for 11 points: consume/feeding frenzy (easy 20% speed when you need it), first 3 cores (+3 damage with melee, +15 usp and a bunch of other stuff) and 4 points in hungry for destruction (+4 MP/+8 USP)
You can also probably afford 21 points in TS.

Now to the stuff you can't fix. You're stuck with greatsword crit profile, as in 20%/2x, 30%/3x if you can score a SoS or ESOS. This is going to significantly reduce your damage relative to even an FVS using a greatsword via book of war in divine crusader (your critical damage bonus including overwhelming crit is going to be 30%, his will be 50%---if you both have ESOS it'd be 70% for you and 35%/4x, 5x on 19-20 115% for him. That's a pretty hardcore hit to your DPS. The only way you're getting favorable crit profiles on a pure warlock is to go vistani and I don't think you want to do that.

[Smokewolf]

1st off great reply! I don't often see that sort of response online much anymore.

Looking back at what I've been tinkering with, I feel that PDK is just another DDO-Store trap. Dev's obviously assuming that folks will pay to bypass every minor 1st lvl inconvenience. While I get that it's their business model, it clearly is taking advantage of people by engineering in restrictions that create a "false" product demand.

Anyways.. My rant aside, the Tiefling (Tief) of DragonBorn (DB) would be better starting races.

Tief having the ability to reduce / remove resistances and extra fire damage. While the DB having its breath-weapon and elemental affinity. Its possible that the DB would offer more flexibility during char creation and certainly would be more interesting to play with a breath-weapon that scales using the same spell-power as the Warlocks pact.

In either case, your right about the G-Sword as I only selected it as it was one of the (few) available options for PDK to use Cha to Hit/DMG. Looks like Feydark would be the way to go then... Question would be which 2H'er would be best here?

Here is a quick work up using DB, Feydark and Warlock ES:

Character name: BD-Melee-Warlock
Classes: 20 Warlock, 10 Epic
Race: Dragonborn· · · · · ·Alignment: Neutral

· · ·Start Tome Final
Str:· · 15· · 8 · ·29 · · ·HP:· · · ·1617 · · ·AC:· · 41
Dex:· · ·8· · 8 · ·22 · · ·PRR: · · · ·36
Con:· · 18· · 8 · ·35 · · ·MRR: · · · ·50 · · ·+Healing Amp:· · 70
Int:· · 11· · 8 · ·21 · · ·Dodge: · ·5/29 · · ·-Healing Amp:· · ·0
Wis:· · ·8· · 8 · ·18 · · ·Fort:· · · ·0% · · ·Repair Amp:· · · ·0
Cha:· · 18· · 8 · ·40 · · ·SR:· · · · · 0 · · ·BAB: · · · · · · 20
DR:
Immunities: Fear, Magic Missiles, Knockdown, Magic Missiles, Drowning

Class and Feat Selection
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level Class · · · · · ·Feats
1 · · Warlock(1)· · · ·Standard: Two Handed Fighting (Requires Feat Swap with Fred)
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Dragonborn Racial: Draconic Ancestry: Blue
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Pact: Warlock: Pact: Celestial
2 · · Warlock(2)· · · ·
3 · · Warlock(3)· · · ·Standard: Completionist
4 · · Warlock(4)· · · ·Warlock Save Bonus: Celestial Awareness
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Charisma: +1 Level up
5 · · Warlock(5)· · · ·Warlock Pact Spell: Pact Spell Celestial: Soundburst
6 · · Warlock(6)· · · ·Standard: Quicken Spell
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Warlock Pact Ability: Warlock: Celestial Attunement
7 · · Warlock(7)· · · ·
8 · · Warlock(8)· · · ·Warlock Save Bonus: Celestial Awareness
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Charisma: +1 Level up
9 · · Warlock(9)· · · ·Standard: Improved Two Handed Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Warlock Pact Spell: Pact Spell Celestial: Magic Circle against Evil
10· · Warlock(10) · · ·Warlock Resistance: Celestial Resistance
11· · Warlock(11) · · ·
12· · Warlock(12) · · ·Standard: Maximize Spell
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Warlock Save Bonus: Celestial Awareness
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Charisma: +1 Level up
13· · Warlock(13) · · ·
14· · Warlock(14) · · ·Warlock Pact Spell: Pact Spell Celestial: Prayer
15· · Warlock(15) · · ·Standard: Greater Two Handed Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Warlock Pact Ability: Warlock: Ameliorate
16· · Warlock(16) · · ·Warlock Save Bonus: Celestial Awareness
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Charisma: +1 Level up
17· · Warlock(17) · · ·Warlock Pact Spell: Pact Spell Celestial: Holy Aura
18· · Warlock(18) · · ·Standard: Force of Personality
19· · Warlock(19) · · ·Warlock Pact Spell: Pact Spell Celestial: Freedom of Movement
20· · Warlock(20) · · ·Warlock Save Bonus: Celestial Awareness
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Charisma: +1 Level up
21· · Epic(1) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Epic Eldritch Blast
22· · Epic(2) · · · · ·
23· · Epic(3) · · · · ·
24· · Epic(4) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Wellspring of Power
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Charisma: +1 Level up
25· · Epic(5) · · · · ·
26· · Epic(6) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Epic Arcane Eldritch Blast
27· · Epic(7) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Blinding Speed
28· · Epic(8) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Perfect Two Handed Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Charisma: +1 Level up
29· · Epic(9) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Dire Charge
30· · Epic(10)· · · · ·Epic Feat: Embolden Spell
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Legendary: Scion of the Plane of Air

Enhancements: 80 APs, Racial 2, Universal 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dragonborn - Points spent: 8
1 Core ·(1) Hardy I
2 Core ·(2) Ability I: +1 Charisma
3 Core ·(1) Hardy II
4 Core ·(2) Ability II: +1 Charisma
5 Tier2 (2) Dragon Breath
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feydark Illusionist - Points spent: 15
1 Core ·(1) Find Familiar: Pseudodragon
2 Tier1 (2) Familiar's Flourish I
3 Tier1 (1) Illusory Armor
4 Tier1 (1) Illusory Armor
5 Core ·(2) Ability I: Charisma
6 Tier2 (2) Familiar's Flourish II
7 Tier1 (1) Illusory Armor
8 Tier3 (2) Refraction
9 Tier3 (2) Magical Attunement I
10 Core ·(1) Illusory Weaponry
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enlightened Spirit - Points spent: 46
1 Core ·(1) Eldritch Aura
2 Tier1 (1) Resilience of Soul
3 Tier1 (1) Resilience of Soul
4 Tier1 (1) Resilience of Soul
5 Tier1 (1) Spiritual Defense
6 Core ·(1) Aura of Courage
7 Tier1 (1) Spiritual Defense
8 Tier1 (1) Spiritual Defense
9 Tier1 (1) Resilience of Body
10 Tier1 (1) Resilience of Body
11 Tier1 (1) Resilience of Body
12 Tier2 (1) Resist Energies
13 Tier2 (1) Spiritual Bastion
14 Tier2 (1) Spiritual Bastion
15 Tier2 (1) Spiritual Bastion
16 Tier2 (1) Power of Enlightenment: Light I
17 Tier2 (1) Power of Enlightenment: Light I
18 Tier2 (1) Power of Enlightenment: Light I
19 Core ·(1) Shape Vestments
20 Tier2 (2) Shield
21 Core ·(1) Aura of Menace
22 Tier3 (1) Power of Enlightenment: Light II
23 Tier3 (1) Power of Enlightenment: Light II
24 Tier3 (1) Power of Enlightenment: Light II
25 Tier3 (1) Spiritual Ward
26 Tier3 (1) Spiritual Ward
27 Tier3 (1) Spiritual Ward
28 Tier3 (1) Eldritch Burst
29 Tier3 (1) Eldritch Burst
30 Tier3 (1) Eldritch Burst
31 Tier4 (2) Medium Armor Proficiency
32 Tier4 (1) Spiritual Retribution
33 Tier4 (1) Spiritual Retribution
34 Tier4 (1) Spiritual Retribution
35 Tier4 (1) Brilliance
36 Tier5 (2) Shining Through
37 Tier5 (2) Beacon
38 Tier5 (1) Spirit Blast
39 Tier5 (1) Spirit Blast
40 Tier5 (1) Spirit Blast
41 Core ·(1) Celestial Spirit
42 Core ·(1) Ultimate Enlightenment
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tainted Scholar - Points spent: 14
1 Core ·(1) Tainted Spellcasting
2 Tier1 (2) Strong Pact I
3 Tier1 (1) Eldritch Focus
4 Tier1 (1) Eldritch Focus
5 Tier2 (2) Strong Pact II
6 Core ·(1) Tainted Lore
7 Tier2 (2) Eldritch Blast Shape: Chain
8 Tier3 (2) Strong Pact III
9 Core ·(1) Stanch
10 Tier1 (1) Eldritch Focus
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ValariusK]

That's closer to the mark I think. But I suggest making a little room for some soul eater. The 20% speed for 20 seconds after using consume will really improve your QoL.
You can probably afford to strip 5 points from ES still to make it fit.
For a weapon in Dragonborn you've got plenty of choices, you can do falchions or mauls or both or greatswords. You can pack all 3, and should depending on what good named you've got available. Fire breath will be really handy in heroics, you can drop it later on if you need a few points.
BTW, on dragonborn you've also got the ability to get a leap in the highest tier of racial enhancement. Having one is really really nice. Probably mostly the province of people with lots of racial AP though.

If you do Tiefling, spending for the scorch that removes fire immunity and doing fiend pact will be the way to go, even though its pricey.

[Smokewolf]

Currently lvl 5 and really enjoying this build.

So far I am just sprinting thru Heroics.... The 2H weapon, paired with Aura, Burst, Cha To-Hit/DMG, Shadow-Weapon imbue, Sound-Burst and color spray is awesome!

[Smokewolf]

Continued (2-Feb-2021): Only down side to this build is the Dragonborn race. Apparently the breath-weapon is seriously bugged to where it doesn’t fire towards the target when moving. Being that this problem has been around since the release of Dragonborn, its very unlikely to ever be fixed.

Maybe Tiefling would be a better end-game choice with its improved-scorch. (For those with the racial past lives) However, that would limit the pact options to just fire, which would also have its own issues.

Another option would be to take Dwarf for the D-Axe proficiency and go for Sword-n-Board. This would allow shield use (via Masters Touch) and the benefit of 2H strike-thru, through at the cost of some starting Cha. Depending on past-lives and gear, this may not be to bad considering the higher Con.

[Smokewolf]

Note to self: change Legendary feat to “Scion of Celestia”.

[Smokewolf]

Question: Would Quicken be worth taking for what’s primarily a melee / aura build?

[Discpsycho]

Apparently the breath-weapon is seriously bugged to where it doesn’t fire towards the target when moving. Being that this problem has been around since the release of Dragonborn, its very unlikely to ever be fixed.

I had some issues with that as well this life. Specifically, the Dragonborn animation for running backwards involves a head turn, which makes the breath go sideways. It's been a month or so, but I don't recall having problems while running forward. I don't believe the head turns while strafing.

Another option would be to take Dwarf for the D-Axe proficiency and go for Sword-n-Board. This would allow shield use (via Masters Touch) and the benefit of 2H strike-thru, through at the cost of some starting Cha. Depending on past-lives and gear, this may not be to bad considering the higher Con.

If you're still taking the THF line, I'm not sure this is the way to go. You're sacrificing 1.4x stat modifier to damage (THF gets 3x with GTHF, hand-and-a-half gets 1.6x) for an item slot and (unless you've got the Skyvault Shield) some extra ASF. I could see the case for picking up the Shield Mastery line instead, but at that point it's hardly worth your while to melee things

[Smokewolf]

@Discpsycho

What really surprises me is that the Dragonborn's animation made it thru development and no one noticed it glitching! Would not of required much to script the “Locking” of the head animation during a breath-attack.

Now as for the D-Axe, I’ve a GS one that’s pretty nice for Heroics. Still, it’s just another option to be able to Sword-n-Board defensively as the situation calls for it. Otherwise, I’d use a 2H for most trash where I’m not the direct focus of agro.

Shields have really fallen out of favor in general as the defensive gains don’t add as much to survivability as raw DPS often can. Still though, having the option is nice...

[Discpsycho]

Question: Would Quicken be worth taking for what’s primarily a melee / aura build?

I just took another look over your feat list to get a better feel for your context.

As an aside, I'd probably have taken Maximize at 3, Quicken at 6, Completionist at 12. That +150 spellpower for Consume and your T3 burst are gonna make a huge difference early on. Personally, I don't find myself missing DCs until about 10, so you'd really be taking Completionist for melee damage. That's +2/+4 to hit/damage from THF and +2/+5 from ITHF

On hybrids, I find Quicken helps most because it lets me get back to attacking more quickly. Between the cast time and disrupting the attack animation, an Eldritch Burst or runspeed-generating Consume will set you back a second or so.

Now as for the D-Axe, I’ve a GS one that’s pretty nice for Heroics

Oh for sure. If you've got shiny loot you can leverage, by all means. Except now you've got me thinking about a TYWA TWF Dwarven ES...

[Smokewolf]

@Discpsycho

I did a TYWA melee build a few months back and while the damage was good, the To-Hit was really lacking. Thus resulting in a high number of glancing blows and a much lower overall DPS. IMO while on paper TYWA sounds nice, in practice it’s a build trap. (Thanks Dev’s) One that doesn’t come into full effect until well after Heroics where the stat differences start to really matter. To be blunt it would be worth it “if” it also gave the To-Hit component but as it stands now, even a pure fighter would have issue with glancing blows at end-game. Compounding things further, TYWA requires 15 AP’s, which is an insane amount for everyone but a racial completionist.

Best way to get stat useful to melee damage is to just use / abuse Fey-Dark. Along the way you’ll pick up 5 Force / Universal, Illusionary-Weaponry and maybe even “you’ve got my back”. That Fey-Dark shield is pretty nice considering that it’s a constant effect with some PRR and MRR bonuses.

Side note: Odds are that I’ll take the current build to 20, then TR it to make improvements. This should net me an extra Warlock life as well as allow me to tweak in things I liked and remove those that I do not. Top of my list of changes would be to use Dwarf and take Iron-Stomach and Axe-Training. (6 AP’s total)

[Discpsycho]

I ended up TRing into a pretty similar build. I just hit 12 and respecced from cone-blaster to ES THF, though the odds of making it to 20 by the time the patch hits are pretty slim. Any nuggets of wisdom about the 12-20 range, or overall?