Returning after too long, need to 'fix' my build

[lanzlo]

I played when DDO first came out, and created an Elf Bladesinger style character. He's currently Wiz 12/Ftr 7. However, I don't have access to how I originally wanted to build him, and the Action Point system has made that useless anyways. He's about a quarter through Rank 91 (level 19, First Bar) with 72 AP.

Race: Elf
Str 15
Dex 24 (+4 Feat)
Con 17 (+5 effect)
Int 16
Wis 10 (+2 tome)
Cha 11 (+1 Tome)

Feats: Shield Mastery, Dodge, Mobility, Toughness, Deflect Arrows, Weapon Specialization: Piercing, Combat Expertise, Improved Critical: Piercing, Spring Attack, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus: Piercing, Empower Spell, Extend Spell, Quicken Spell, Quick Draw, Magical Training, Spell Penetration.

Currently wielding a shield and rapier. Main way I played him was to buff up and wade in, casting offensive spells as needed. Help me fix this build, please? Even if it's to try and limp to 20, so I can TR.

[Drecas]

I played when DDO first came out, and created an Elf Bladesinger style character. He's currently Wiz 12/Ftr 7. However, I don't have access to how I originally wanted to build him, and the Action Point system has made that useless anyways. He's about a quarter through Rank 91 (level 19, First Bar) with 72 AP.

Race: Elf
Str 15
Dex 24 (+4 Feat)
Con 17 (+5 effect)
Int 16
Wis 10 (+2 tome)
Cha 11 (+1 Tome)

Feats: Shield Mastery, Dodge, Mobility, Toughness, Deflect Arrows, Weapon Specialization: Piercing, Combat Expertise, Improved Critical: Piercing, Spring Attack, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus: Piercing, Empower Spell, Extend Spell, Quicken Spell, Quick Draw, Magical Training, Spell Penetration.

Currently wielding a shield and rapier. Main way I played him was to buff up and wade in, casting offensive spells as needed. Help me fix this build, please? Even if it's to try and limp to 20, so I can TR.

You're so close to hitting 20, that I wouldn't even bother with trying to fix that build, if you have access to Vistani, go with that and just limp your way to 20 and TR.

[unbongwah]

You should have at least one Heart of Wood in your inventory, since every toon got one free, so you could Lesser Reincarnate yourself. But since you're almost level 20, you might be better off just limping along to 20 so you can heroic-reincarnate into something better.

Since you went DEX-based, your only option for DEX to damage with that split is Aerenal Grace for 18 APs. You can use either Eldritch Knight or Kensei as your melee DPS tree. Combine with Pale Master for an undead form which adds survivability. Your DPS will be low but at least you'll be hard to kill, relatively speaking.

[C-Dog]

Welcome back!

He's currently Wiz 12/Ftr 7.
...
Even if it's to try and limp to 20, so I can TR.

The good news is that you don't even need to "fix" your build, and if TR'ing (or RR'ing!*) is your goal, as said above it's almost certainly not worth spending any Heart(s) of Wood to do so, not even the "free" one(s) you will find in inventory.

(* There is now also the option of Racial Reincarnation at 20 - see https://ddowiki.com/page/Racial_Rein...al_PL_Benefits)

If you want to swap a feat, you can get one for free - https://ddowiki.com/page/Fred#Feat_respec

(If you want to swap more than one, plat is easy now, and you can always find someone willing to give you the appropriate shard for free.)

XP is easier and leveling is faster now, so that's too easy, and once at 20 you can put up an LFM asking for help collecting your 20 Tokens, or just join one of the Dailies for same* and (semi-)pike near the back, done.

(* Lords of Dust and Spies in the House seem to be a couple of the favorites, and there's always Devil Assault Hard, a popular one for collecting free XP while grabbing a sandwich, and then passing the Token(s) at the end.)

... DEX to damage ... Aerenal Grace for 18 APs. You can use either Eldritch Knight or Kensei as your melee DPS tree. Combine with Pale Master for an undead form which adds survivability. Your DPS will be low but at least you'll be hard to kill, relatively speaking.

This sounds like a good, quick, free(!) "fix"; U' knows his stuff.

Zombie is arguably the "toughest", but Wraith is another good one for the damage avoidance. Mostly ignore any temptation to chase Wizard combat spells - your DC's are going to be crippled badly (by the loss of caster levels), so unless you want to mix some of the few "no save" spells (Waves of Exhaustion jumps to mind), use Wizard purely for buffs. Just stay alive, buff your party, chip away w/ whatever DPS you can muster, don't grab aggro, and TR asap, done.

And haff fun stomin' da cassul!
o/

[Valerianus]

all they said and suggested, don't waste resources on respec, just hit 20 somehow and tr.

i just want to add, next time don't take level 19. stay at 18, cap heroic xp, and jump directly to 20, unless you have specific reasons to do so like following your personal tr plan or something.

staying at 18, you keep yourself in bravery range of a lot of content, all level 16 quests. more grouping options, if you need them.

[unbongwah]

Based on what you said, here's a rough blueprint for how to spend your APs:

Enhancements (Spent: 80+0r +0u / Max: 80+0r +0u AP)


Eldritch Knight (Wizard) (41 AP)
Eldritch Strike, Spellsword, Imbue the Blade, Subtle Force
Improved Mage Armor III, Arcane Siphon III
Improved Shield III, Mystic Wards III, Spellpower Boost III, Shield Training
Arcane Barrier, Synergetic Magic
Knight's Transformation, Shield Striking III, Force's Point
Improved Knight's Transformation, Knight's Striker, Force's Edge, Eldritch Tempest III

Elf (19 AP)
Elven Accuracy, Elven Dexterity, Elven Accuracy II, Elven Dexterity II, Elven Accuracy III
Aerenal Weapon Training
Aerenal Weapon Training, Arcanum I
Aerenal Weapon Training
Aerenal Grace, Aerenal Weapon Training, Skill

Pale Master (14 AP)
Dark Reaping, Shroud of the Wraith, Ghost in the Wind
Negative Energy Conduit III, Spell Critical
Cloak of Night I, Spell Critical
Negative Energy Adept III

Stalwart Defender (6 AP)
Toughness, Stalwart Defense
Item Defense I, Improved Stalwart Defense: Durable Defense III

Tier-5 Eldritch Knight for melee DPS + caster perks, wraith form for 20% incorporealty (use Death Auras + NEB for self-heals), Aerenal Grace for DEX to damage with rapiers, Stalwart defensive stance for +25 PRR/MRR. You could shift some APs into Kensei for Haste Boost + some Weapon Specialization bonuses.


Like I said: low DPS, high survivability. Good luck making it to 20.

[lanzlo]

OK, forgot I did have the 'free' +20 Heart of Wood. And, just made it to 20.

So, any suggestions to re-build him, either using TR or the Heart? I do want something similar and effective. Melee gish type caster. (The Wraith shroud was really handy in The Shadowfell Conspiracy, when the Shar priests cast NEB...)

[Katalissa]

OK, forgot I did have the 'free' +20 Heart of Wood. And, just made it to 20.

So, any suggestions to re-build him, either using TR or the Heart? I do want something similar and effective. Melee gish type caster. (The Wraith shroud was really handy in The Shadowfell Conspiracy, when the Shar priests cast NEB...)

TR - don't waste the heart!

You still want a similar rapier wielding elf?

With the changes to EK and PM, you don't need fighter levels for an effective melee wiz. There's plenty of good builds on the wizard forum now, but the basics I'd suggest are go pure wizard, swf with orb. Get Harper if you don't already have it, go INT based, then CON second. All level ups into INT. Make EK your main tree and take the capstone and T5s, then PM. Go wraith or lich form, remember to take death aura and negative energy burst while levelling (as you can't buy scrolls from vendors for them).

Try to farm a medium armour set from RL or Sharn. The Dreadkeeper set from Soul Splitter is good for PM, or maybe Part of the Family from Sharn if you just wanna focus on melee. There are other suitable sets too though.

Another option is go longsword and squeeze in the Knight's Training feat for the extra crit multiplier, giving you x4 crit multiplier by the time you get Improved Knight's Transformation.

[C-Dog]

And, just made it to 20.

Grats! (Surprisingly easy, wasn't it?!)

So, any suggestions to re-build him, either using TR or the Heart?

TR - don't "waste" a Heart on this, not unless you 100% want an alt parked at 20 "just because"*. Save the Heart for when you really "make a mistake" and need it - unless you have money buring a hole in your pockets and don't mind spending the money on that.

TR'ing gives the alt the advantages of that TR/RR**, a 34 pt build, another free +2 Tome (<cough> Int?), and you get to experience all the great content that's come out since you were away - which is a LOT. Plus you can grab/farm some of the superior named items scattered in that new content, stuff you could not imagine when you left.

Along the way, you can also decide if you want to grab a free +5 tome (for 5,000 favor - very doable), if you want to go that way, once you hit 20 next time with a build that is that much stronger.

(* There are many good reasons, but unless you specifically have one of them... no.)
(** for a Wiz, you get "+2 to Spell Penetration checks" - if you're going to go melee for DPS, then that's utterly useless, and you might want to start on Racial Reincarnations, which (for Elfs) gives +1 Spot, +1 to Dex and +1 free racial AP after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd reincarnations - which go faster than you'd think!)

... Melee gish type caster.

When people say "caster", it's usually understood that that's their DPS source - if you're only looking for buffs, that's a different thing.

In that first context, it's rare that a character is both melee and caster - usually, you take feats for one or the other, and don't have a lot of room (or rationale) for spending feats/AP on the one you're not so good in, rather than "perfecting" your preferred combat style and source of DPS.

However, the Gish is a classic, and I'll be the last one to tell you how or where to find your "fun" - just so you understand what you're asking for (even if I'm not sure).

That said, if you want, you could hold around 20* and grab the "universal tree" Harper, which gives you Int to Damage and To Hit, plus a 50% of Int-bonus damage bonus boost (Know the Angles). This would get you out of the need for a 2nd class, and keep your Caster Level at/near max. Just a thought.

o Harper tree: https://ddowiki.com/page/Harper_Agent_enhancements
o Harper favor & quests: https://ddowiki.com/page/The_Harpers#Favor_Ranks

(* The problem is finding a PUG for that - now that you're 20, you're going to hurt XP for anyone who is not yet L20+)


Meanwhile, here are some links to some Gish types, mainly self-buff melee. I haven't run these, they're just part of my long and ever-growing "Oh, this build looks interesting" collection.

(Note that all are "older", so almost certainly could use some updating. If you see one that grabs you eye, I strongly suggest, here or in another thread*, that you post it along w/ your intention/desires, and see what the build gurus think/suggest.)

o https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post5850690 (these are Unbongwah's, and he'll almost certainly suggest one over another.)
o https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...r-First-Lifers
o https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post6021260
o https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post6386166

(* In the approp build subforum w/ an approp thread title, where it's far more likely to get the attention/critique of vet players who "know" the builds than it is here. I suggest either Wizard or (better?) multi-class or "custom", depending.
o https://www.ddo.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/21-Classes)

[lanzlo]

OK, slight rework of unbongwah's drow bladesinger (slight, because the PM tree has changed)

Character name: 
Classes: 20 Wizard, 10 Epic
Race: Drow· · · · · · · · ·Alignment: Chaotic Good

· · ·Start Tome Final · · ·Incorp:· · ·5% · · ·Displacement:· · 0%
Str:· · 10· · 0 · ·10 · · ·HP:· · · · 410 · · ·AC:· · 12
Dex:· · 12· · 1 · ·13 · · ·PRR: · · · ·20
Con:· · 14· · 0 · ·16 · · ·MRR: · · · ·10 · · ·+Healing Amp:· · ·0
Int:· · 20· · 0 · ·31 · · ·Dodge: · ·0/25 · · ·-Healing Amp:· · 46
Wis:· · ·8· · 0 · · 8 · · ·Fort:· · · ·0% · · ·Repair Amp:· · · ·0
Cha:· · 10· · 0 · ·10 · · ·SR:· · · · · 6 · · ·BAB: · · · · · · 30
DR: 
Immunities: Sleep

Heroic Past Lives
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Past Life: Wizard

Class and Feat Selection
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Level Class · · · · · ·Feats
1 · · Wizard(1) · · · ·Standard: Single Weapon Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Metamagic: Extend Spell
2 · · Wizard(2) · · · ·
3 · · Wizard(3) · · · ·Standard: Precision
4 · · Wizard(4) · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
5 · · Wizard(5) · · · ·Metamagic: Quicken Spell
6 · · Wizard(6) · · · ·Standard: Insightful Reflexes
7 · · Wizard(7) · · · ·
8 · · Wizard(8) · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
9 · · Wizard(9) · · · ·Standard: Knight's Training
10· · Wizard(10)· · · ·Metamagic: Maximize Spell
11· · Wizard(11)· · · ·
12· · Wizard(12)· · · ·Standard: Improved Single Weapon Fighting
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
13· · Wizard(13)· · · ·
14· · Wizard(14)· · · ·
15· · Wizard(15)· · · ·Standard: Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Metamagic: Spell Focus: Necromancy
16· · Wizard(16)· · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
17· · Wizard(17)· · · ·
18· · Wizard(18)· · · ·Standard: Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
19· · Wizard(19)· · · ·
20· · Wizard(20)· · · ·Metamagic: Heighten Spell
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
21· · Epic(1) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Greater Single Weapon Fighting
22· · Epic(2) · · · · ·
23· · Epic(3) · · · · ·
24· · Epic(4) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Master of the Dead
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
25· · Epic(5) · · · · ·
26· · Epic(6) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
27· · Epic(7) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Overwhelming Critical
28· · Epic(8) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Hellball
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
29· · Epic(9) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Dire Charge
30· · Epic(10)· · · · ·Epic Feat: Epic Damage Reduction
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Legendary: Scion of the Shadowfell

Skills
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skill Points· · ·28 ·7· 7 ·7· 7 ·7· 7 ·8· 8 ·8· 8 ·8· 8 ·8· 8 ·9· 9 ·9· 9 ·9
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 · · · ·1· · ·1· · ·1· · ·1· · ·1· · ·1· · · · 1 · · · ·2· ·11.0 · 22.0
Bluff · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 12.0
Concentration · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 36.0
Diplomacy · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 10.0
Disable Device· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 20.0
Haggle· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 10.0
Heal· · · · · · · 2 · · 1 · · 1 · · 1 · · 1 · · 1 · · 1 · · 1 · · 1 · · 1 · · ·11.0 · 20.0
Hide· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 16.0
Intimidate· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 10.0
Jump· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 10.0
Listen· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 11.0
Move Silently · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 11.0
Open Lock · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 11.0
Perform · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 12.0
Repair· · · · · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 · · · · · · · · · · · · ·5· 1 ·5· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 43.0
Search· · · · · · 1 ·1· · ·1· · ·1· · ·1· · ·1· · ·1· · ·1· · ·1· · ·1· · ·1· ·11.0 · 33.0
Spell Craft · · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 43.0
Spot· · · · · · · · ·1· · · · · · · · ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 · · 1 · · 1 · · ·11.0 · 22.0
Swim· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 10.0
Tumble· · · · · · 1 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 1.0 · 12.0
Use Magic Device· 2 · · 1 · · 1 · · 1 · · 1 · · 1 · · 1 · · 1 · · · · · 1 · · ·10.0 · 20.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Harper Agent - Points spent: 13
 1 Core ·(1) Agent of Good I
 2 Tier1 (2) Harper Enchantment
 3 Tier1 (2) Strategic Combat I
 4 Core ·(2) Harper Training I: +1 Intelligence
 5 Tier2 (1) Know the Angles
 6 Tier2 (1) Know the Angles
 7 Tier2 (1) Know the Angles
 8 Tier3 (2) Strategic Combat II
 9 Core ·(1) Agent of Good II
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arch-Mage - Points spent: 3
 1 Core ·(1) Specialization I: Necromancy I: Chill Touch
 2 Tier1 (2) Spell Critical: Elemental and Force I
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eldritch Knight (Wiz) - Points spent: 42
 1 Core ·(1) Eldritch Strike
 2 Tier1 (1) Improved Mage Armor
 3 Tier1 (1) Improved Mage Armor
 4 Tier1 (1) Improved Mage Armor
 5 Tier1 (1) Arcane Siphon
 6 Core ·(1) Spellsword
 7 Tier2 (1) Improved Shield
 8 Tier2 (1) Improved Shield
 9 Tier2 (1) Improved Shield
10 Tier2 (1) Mystic Wards
11 Tier2 (1) Mystic Wards
12 Tier2 (1) Mystic Wards
13 Tier2 (1) Action Boost Spellpower
14 Tier2 (1) Action Boost Spellpower
15 Tier2 (1) Action Boost Spellpower
16 Core ·(1) Imbue the Blade
17 Tier3 (2) Arcane Barrier
18 Tier3 (2) Synergetic Magic
19 Core ·(1) Subtle Force I
20 Tier4 (2) Knight's Transformation
21 Tier4 (1) Offhand Defenses: Orb Saves
22 Tier4 (1) Offhand Defenses: Orb Saves
23 Tier4 (1) Offhand Defenses: Orb Saves
24 Tier4 (2) Force's Point
25 Tier4 (2) Armored Arcana
26 Core ·(1) Subtle Force II
27 Tier5 (2) Improved Knight's Transformation
28 Tier5 (2) Knight's Arcanum: Knight's Controller
29 Tier5 (2) Force's Edge
30 Tier5 (1) Radiant Forcefield
31 Tier5 (1) Eldritch Tempest
32 Tier5 (1) Eldritch Tempest
33 Tier5 (1) Eldritch Tempest
34 Core ·(1) Eldritch Blade
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pale Master - Points spent: 22
 1 Core ·(1) Dark Reaping
 2 Tier1 (2) Spell Critical: Negative Energy I
 3 Tier1 (1) Negative Energy Conduit
 4 Tier1 (1) Negative Energy Conduit
 5 Tier1 (1) Negative Energy Conduit
 6 Core ·(1) Pale Shroud: Pale Master: Shroud of the Wraith
 7 Tier2 (2) Spell Critical: Negative Energy II
 8 Tier1 (2) Deathless Vigor
 9 Tier1 (2) Deathless Vigor
10 Tier1 (2) Deathless Vigor
11 Tier2 (1) Cloak of Night
12 Tier3 (2) Spell Critical: Negative Energy III
13 Tier3 (2) Ability I: +1 Intelligence
14 Tier4 (2) Spell Critical: Negative Energy IV
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anything else you'd change? Add?

[Katalissa]

OK, slight rework of unbongwah's drow bladesinger... Anything else you'd change? Add?

That's certainly on the right track.

I'd say forget about spending the 3 points in Archmage, and grab extra INT from Palemaster instead. Maybe turf the Arcane Barrier from EK, which will let you grab another INT from Harper T3 too!

I would also personally drop points from STR and DEX to boost CON if you can, although extra STR will help your carry limit...

Personally I wouldn't bother with Hellball at 28 either - it's pretty underwhelming in practise. Extra force or negative spellpower maybe? TBH unless you have all the destiny trees filled out your choices will be somewhat limited anyway, but then that's something to worry about when you hit level 28.

But yeah, I think you'll find that works pretty well overall - better than the old build for sure. Have fun.

[unbongwah]

So, any suggestions to re-build him, either using TR or the Heart? I do want something similar and effective. Melee gish type caster.

I'd probably recommend a TR so you can get your past life feat and +2 build points (presuming this is a first- or second-life toon). Check the wiki to figure out whether a class PL (wizard) or racial PL (elf) feat is more useful, then make sure you grab the right Heart: Heroic True Heart of Wood or Heroic True Heart of Blood, respectively.

Pure wizard with Eldritch Knight / Pale Master combo works well, particularly if you have the Harper Agent tree. While you could stick with S&B, that is by far the lowest melee DPS option, so I would recommend switching to one of the other styles (THF/TWF/SWF). They have their pros & cons:

• SWF - no stat pre-reqs (lets you dump STR & DEX); would let you equip an orb in your offhand for caster bonuses (+Offhand Versatility feat); but kind of the "unwanted stepchild" of DDO melee (i.e., lower single-target DPS than TWF, lower AoE DPS than THF).
• TWF - better single-target DPS than SWF; requires DEX 17 (after tome) for feat pre-reqs.
• THF - better AoE DPS than the first two; requires STR 17 (after tome) for feat pre-reqs.

The first two options let you reuse your rapiers until you replace them with better weapons; THF would require regearing first.