The Count of Monte Cristo - dps, CC, survivability focused pure swashbuckler

[CThruTheEgo]

Updated for U24. See post #462 for a U27 gear set as well as other possible build changes. See post #479 for a discussion on U29 changes.

The Count of Monte Cristo
Human bard 20
True neutral
36 point build
In-game name: I am not currently playing this build

This is a charisma based human swashbuckler bard 20 that uses a buckler in the offhand. It has excellent melee dps, very well rounded defenses, excellent CC, and good self-healing. Due to this build's ability to adapt and control a multitude of situations, I decided to name it after that most resilient character from one of the greatest stories ever written. Breakdowns on everything can be found below. I'd appreciate any feedback about the build. Thanks in advance.

Build Features:
Excellent offense:
~38% doublestrike, 68% with doublestrike action boost
~Zeal of the righteous
~20% human damage boost
~97+d20 DC coup de grace
~Charisma to damage with a 68 charisma
~335 sonic spell power for resonant arms (6d6 sonic damage on critical hits)
~Swashbuckling stance increased crit range and multiplier on finesse weapons
~Increased crit range from celestial champion and exploit weakness
~Vorpal on 19-20 with reign and thunderstruck effects
~Overwhelming crit
~BAB of 28 with GSWF for max base attack speed
Excellent defense:
~69.4% damage avoidance from 32% dodge, 50% concealment through displacement, and 10% incorporeal from equipment
~44.75% physical damage mitigation from 81 PRR
~31.03% magic damage mitigation from 45 MRR
~Evasion with a 67 reflex save
~Slippery mind with a 53 will save
~887 base HP
~20% increased movement speed
~guardbreaking
Good self healing:
~Quickened cure critical wounds and cure serious wounds with 304 positive spell power and 100 heal amp
~Sacred ground - 113 hp every 3 seconds to all in the area with 0 heal amp, 226 with 100 heal amp
~2056 SP
Excellent CC:
~61 DC Otto's sphere, 79 with debuffs
~97+d20 DC fascinate with music of the sewers, music of the dead, and music of the makers to fascinate oozes (woot?), undead, and constructs
~97+d20 DC low blow shield knockdown

For a layout of the build using EllisDee's planner and without the extra skill points from an int tome, see post #403.

Stats:
str: 10
dex: 15
con: 16
int: 8
wis: 8
cha: 18

All level points in charisma.
No tomes are required for this build, but they certainly help.
For 34 point builds, lower str to 8.
For 32 point builds, lower str to 8 and con to 15.

Feats:
1 swf
1h shield mastery (see note below)
3 precision
6 spell focus enchantment (took extend initially and swapped in spell focus at 20)
9 iswf
12 imp crit pierce
15 gswf
18 quicken
21 improved shield mastery
24 overwhelming critical
26 perfect twf
27 inspire excellence
28 perfect swf
Note: You can take force of personality instead of shield mastery and swap to shield mastery later (level 20 at the latest). Dashing scoundrel's 10% doublestrike, which requires nothing in the offhand, is more useful for lower levels. It is worth noting, however, that you can get near max dodge very early. I think at level 9 or 10 I had 24% dodge with a buckler equipped. So choose whichever option you prefer – moar dps or moar defense. I switched to buckler at level 9 because I had the Crystal Cove buckler with guardbreaking, which is useful and fun.

Skills: max balance, haggle, heal, intimidate, perform, UMD, 9 jump, 8 bluff, 4 diplo, 1 tumble

Spell List:
1st: focusing chant, feather fall, hypnotism, grease, merfolk's blessing
2nd: blur, invisibility, rage, hypnotic pattern, CMW
3rd: displacement, haste, CSW, good hope, dispel magic
4th: FoM, CCW, dimension door, Otto's sphere of dancing, break enchantment
5th: greater heroism, mind fog, shadow walk, mass CLW, gr dispel magic
6th: Otto's irresistable dance, mass charm monster, mass CMW, heroes feast

Enhancements:
Swashbuckler: 43 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: 4 total
On your toes 3 (3 dodge)
Tavern shanties 1 (1 song)
Tier 2: 8 total
Fast movement 2 (30% movement speed)
Doublestrike action boost 6 (30% doublestrike)
Tier 3: 11 total
Swashbuckling style - skirmisher 1 (10% dodge, swashbuckle with buckler in offhand)
Resonant arms 6 (6d6 sonic on critical)
Different tack - smooth flourishes 2 (cha to damage)
Charisma 2
Tier 4: 3 total
Swashbuckling style II - low blow 1 (shield bash knockdown with perform dc)
Charisma 2
Tier 5: 11 total
Thread the Needle 2 (5 damage with precision)
Second skin 6 (6 reflex, 6 max dex bonus)
Exploit weakness 2 (stacking +1 crit range on non-crit hits until crit hit)
Coup de grace 1 (perform + d20 instakill under certain conditions)

Spellsinger: 23 total
Core: 4 total
Spellsinger 1 (1 spellpower per point spent, each core after this one grants 1 diplo/perform/listen/UMD, 2% sonic/positive spell crit, and 1 enchant/evocation/illusion DC)
Music of the sewers 1 (fascinate oozes)
Music of the dead 1 (fascinate undead)
Music of the makers 1 (fascinate constructs)
Tier 1: 6 total
Magical studies 3 (100 spell points, magical training - echoes of power and 5% spell crit)
Lingering songs 3 (60% song duration)
Tier 2: 7 total
Willful 3 (3 will save)
Wand and scroll mastery 2 (+50% effectiveness of scrolls)
Yellow marigold crown 2 (1 enchantment dc)
Tier 3: 4 total
Spell song trance 2 (1 morale DC, -10% spell cost)
Charisma 2
Tier 4: 2
Charisma 2

Harper: 10 total
Core: 3 total
Agent of good 1 (1 to hit vs evil, 1 universal spell power)
Cha 2
Tier 1: 4 total
Harper enchantment 2 (1 weapon enhancement, 20 spell points)
Traveler's toughness 2 (10 HP)
Tier 2: 3 total
Versatile adept 3 (3 melee/ranged/spell power)

Human: 3 total
Core: 3 total
Damage boost 1 (20% damage)
Human adaptability charisma 2

Warchanter: 1 total
Core: 1 total
Skaldic constitution 1 (1 con)

Epic destiny:
Divine crusader
Tier 1: 5 total
Bane of undeath 2 (2 to hit and 2d6 damage vs undead)
Purge the wicked 1 (2 seeker, purification on crits)
Charisma 2
Tier 2: 5 total
Consecration 3 (28d6 damage to enemies when on consecrated ground)
Charisma 2
Tier 3: 4 total
Sacred ground 2 (heal 101 hp every 3 seconds when on consecrated ground)
Charisma 2
Tier 4: 4 total
Crusade 2 (10% damage when on consecrated ground)
Charisma 2
Tier 5: 4 total
Celestial champion 2 (+1 crit range, celestial fervor - 1% doublestrike on crit, stacks 10 times, lasts 6 seconds)
Charisma 2
Tier 6: 2 total
Charisma 2
Alternatively, you could drop 1-3 charisma and pick up any or all of castigation, heavenly presence, and strike down.
Note: Fatesinger is also a good option that allows you to maintain the CC potential of the build. Fury of the wild and legendary dreadnaught could work as well, but you'd lose 3 DCs in either destiny.

Twists:
1) Reign (fatesinger tier 3, 11d20 sonic and electric on vorpal)
2) Legendary shield mastery (unyielding sentinel tier 2, 15 PRR, 7% doublestrike)
3) Magister enchantment specialist (magister tier 2, +3 enchantment DCs)
Alternatives: energy sheath electric, sense weakness, soundburst SLA, extra action boost, hail of blows, critical damage, grim precision

Gear Set: See post #462 for a U27 gear set as well as other possible build changes.
Weapons: Thunder-Forged Rapier (1st degree burns/dragon's edge/mortal fear/red slotted devotion138/colorless slotted)
vs fire immune mobs: Thunder-Forged Rapier (touch of shadows/dragon's edge/mortal fear/orange slotted devotion138/colorless slotted)
ranged: Thunder-Forged Throwing Dagger (touch of flames/dragon's edge/mortal fear/orange slotted devotion138/colorless slotted)
Shield: Kobold Admiral's Tiller (dodge10/DR14 vs slash and blunt/guardbreaking/colorless slotted dex2/hidden green slotted proof against poison10)
Armor: Shadowscale light armor (shadow phase x3/deathblock/ghostly/fort130/profane spell DC1/blue slotted HP40/green slotted fear immunity)
Goggles: EN Intricate Field Optics (cha3/spot17/TS/yellow slotted greater enchantment focus2/colorless slotted heal15)
Helm: Mythic Minos Legens (fort150/vitality45/fort save10/sheltering30/insightful con3/unbreakable adamancy/yellow slotted wiz10/green slotted Globe of True Imperial Blood)
Neck: Shroud of Ardent (sheltering30/blur/fear immunity/heal amp60/blue slotted golem's heart/green slotted crushing wave guard)
Trinket: Epic Litany of the Dead (turn the page/profane abilities2/attack4/damage4/light of dawn/blue OR yellow slotted wis8/green slotted wis2)
Cloak: Sage's Mantle (enchantment focus5/illusion focus4)
Belt: Epic Chord of Reprisals (cha11/resonance144/perform20/soundproof/roar/sheltering24/yellow slotted blindness immunity/green slotted sonic resistance40)
Ring swap: EE Consuming Darkness (seeker12/combat mastery5/green slotted proof against disease10)
Gloves: Sanctified Gages (UMD5/2d6 light damage/deadly11/greater dispelling guard/blue OR yellow slotted str8/green slotted str2)
Boots: Epic Boots of the Innocent (resistance11/speed15/GH/vertigo12/stunning12/shatter12/yellow slotted water breathing/green slotted protection8)
Ring: Skirmisher's Ring (con8/thunderstruck/yellow slotted anthem)
Bracers: Epic Ethereal Bracers (dex11/riposte9/insight AC5/insight saves4/ghostly/deadly10/speed14/feather falling/yellow slotted draconic soul gem/green slotted natural armor8)
Quiver: Epic Quiver of Alacrity (concentration -50/speed15/ranged and spell threat -15%/insightful sneak4/doublshot8)

Gear Notes: Here is a list compiled by EllisDee37 of named swashbuckler weapons with an improved crit profile.
See post #73 and post #75 for other heroic weapon suggestions.
See post #343 for a gear setup from level 15 and up by UurlockYgmeov.
See post #366 for a level 20 gear set composed primarily of Eveningstar commendation turn in rewards and Wheloon/Stormhorns end rewards.

Final Stats:
str34: 10base, 5tome, 8item, 2insight, 1exceptional, 2rage, 2competence, 2profane, 2ship
dex42: 15base, 5tome, 2capstone, 11item, 2insight, 1exceptional, 2competence, 2profane, 2ship
con44: 16base, 5tome, 11item, 2insight, 1exceptional, 1warchanter, 2rage, 2competence, 2profane, 2ship
int20: 8base, 5tome, 1exceptional, 2competence, 2profane, 2ship
wis30: 8base, 5tome, 8item, 2insight, 1exceptional, 2competence, 2profane, 2ship
cha68: 18base, 6tome, 7levels, 11item, 3insight, 1exceptional, 1human, 2swashbuckler, 2spellsinger, 2capstone, 1harper, 6divine crusader, 2competence, 2profane, 2ship, 2yugo
Note: No tomes are actually required for this build.

HP:
120 base
80 epic levels
25 heroic durability
20 improved heroic durability
10 draconic vitality
11 epic primal past life
50 divine crusader cores
10 harper traveler's toughness
476 con44
40 false life slotted
45 vitality
20 hag's apothecary ship buff
887 TOTAL
48 yugo
935 self buffed

SP:
525 base
250 slotted
100 magical training
1036 cha66 at level 28
125 divine crusader
20 harper enchantment
25 arcane sanctum ship buff
2056 TOTAL

Fort/Reflex/Will Saves:
6/12/12 base
4/4/4 epic
11/11/11 item
4/4/4 insight
2/2/2 good luck
1/1/1 alchemical
4/4/4 greater heroism
1/0/0 competence (inspire greatness)
0/6/0 swashbuckler cores
0/6/0 swashbuckler second skin
0/0/3 willful (spellsinger tier 2)
3/0/0 game hunter ship buff
0/2/0 chronoscope ship buff
0/0/2 grandmaster's dojo ship buff
0/15/0 dex40
15/0/0 con40
0/0/10 wis30
51/67/53 TOTAL

Dodge:
6 swashbuckler cores
3 on your toes
10 skirmisher
10 Kobold Admiral's Tiller
4 inspire heroics
1 haste
34 TOTAL 32 is max dodge bonus
Max dex bonus on Shadow Dragonhide Armor is 33 with swashbuckler cores, second skin, and fencing master ship buff but max dodge is 32 with fencing master ship buff and roll with the punches.

PRR:
16 light armor with BAB 28
15 light armor
20 legendary shield mastery
30 Mythic Minos Legens
81 TOTAL (44.75% damage reduction)

MRR:
15 light armor
30 Mythic Minos Legens
45 TOTAL (31.03% magic damage reduction)

Heal Amp:
20 divine crusader
60 item
20 ship buff
100 TOTAL

Otto's Sphere DC:
10 base
4 levels
29 cha68
1 spell focus enchantment
3 magister enchantment specialist
1 yellow marigold crown
3 spellsinger cores
5 Sage's Mantle
2 slotted
1 profane on shadowscale armor
1 archwizard ship buff
1 spell song trance
61 TOTAL
3 hypnotic pattern
5 crushing despair
10 mind fog
79 TOTAL DEBUFFED

Perform:
23 ranks
8 epic
4 tome
3 spellsinger cores
29 cha68
20 item
2 good luck
1 elite spider cult mask
2 Otto's irresistable dance hall ship buff
4 GH
1 focusing chant
97 TOTAL

Positive Spell Power:
11 ranks
8 epic
3 tome
10 wis30
23 spellsinger
1 harper agent of good
1 harper versatile adept
10 divine crusader
33 implement
138 red augment
15 slotted
2 good luck
1 elite spider cult mask
3 forbidden library ship buff
15 crusader's chapel
4 GH
1 focusing chant
25 superior ardor pot
304 TOTAL

Sonic Spell Power:
95 perform
23 spellsinger
1 harper agent of good
1 harper versatile adept
36 implement
144 item
15 stormreaver memorial monument ship buff
20 greater cacophony pot
335 TOTAL

Doublestrike:
3 martial past life
5 swashbuckler cores
15 legendary shield mastery
5 perfect twf
10 celestial fervor (gain 1 doublestrike on crit, stacks 10 times but does not stack with items, this is easy to maintain on this build so it's worth including)
38% TOTAL
30 action boost
68% TOTAL

To-Hit:
28 BAB divine crusader's just cause (1st core)
3 enhancement from swashbuckler cores
4 from swashbuckler cores
12 str34
4 profane
4 morale (inspire courage)
2 competence (inspire greatness)
13 enhancement
2 tactical training room ship buff
72 TOTAL
Add to this the 20% base percent chance that all characters get as well as the 5% percent bonus from precision.

[junta64]

One quick tweak. You can't take the single weapon fighting feat at first level as of right now. It needs balance first.

[CThruTheEgo]

One quick tweak. You can't take the single weapon fighting feat at first level as of right now. It needs balance first.

I figured it would accept the skill points that you spend at first level since (if I remember correctly) you spend skill points before feats. Does it not work this way on Lam?

[junta64]

I figured it would accept the skill points that you spend at first level since (if I remember correctly) you spend skill points before feats. Does it not work this way on Lam?

Not currently working. Not sure if they're going to change it before it goes live. You need to be level 3 to swashbuckle anyway.

[legendkilleroll]

I figured it would accept the skill points that you spend at first level since (if I remember correctly) you spend skill points before feats. Does it not work this way on Lam?

Previous lam rounds it wouldn't let you take swf at lv1 but most recent lam build allowed me to do so, so should no longer be an issue ????

[junta64]

Been using the same build the whole time. Guess its time to try a new one.

[unbongwah]

Precision requires BAB 1 so you can't take it at lvl 1. Not a big deal, though, just swap Precision with Shield Mastery.

I've been debating whether Shield Mastery line is worth it on a pure Swashbuckler. Pros: PRR & 15% doublestrike (5% higher than SB w/no offhand) and threat amp if you're going that route; con: two more feats on an already feat-starved build. In particular it seems unfortunate not to have Emp Heal & Heighten.

[CThruTheEgo]

Previous lam rounds it wouldn't let you take swf at lv1 but most recent lam build allowed me to do so, so should no longer be an issue ????

Thanks for the info.

Precision requires BAB 1 so you can't take it at lvl 1. Not a big deal, though, just swap Precision with Shield Mastery.

Good catch. Thanks for the heads up.

I've been debating whether Shield Mastery line is worth it on a pure Swashbuckler. Pros: PRR & 15% doublestrike (5% higher than SB w/no offhand) and threat amp if you're going that route; con: two more feats on an already feat-starved build. In particular it seems unfortunate not to have Emp Heal & Heighten.

Heighten is only 2 DCs on Otto's sphere. I don't have any experience with enchantment DCs, but I've been told that 60 is the magic number, which I can easily reach with debuffs, so I don't think heighten is worth it.

I do wish I could fit something to boost cure spells. I'd go with maximize if I could spare the feat, just for the extra oomph. But with the well rounded defenses on this build and the healing I'll get from sacred ground, I think I'll be fine without maximize.

But I figure 2 feats and a twist for 20 PRR, 10% dodge, and 15% doublestrike (or 5% if you want to compare it to nothing in the offhand) is a good deal. I think the healing and CC will be good enough, the shield line really brings a lot of defense, and you can never have too much dps.

[Maelodic]

Thanks for the writeup! I was also really tempted to roll in divine crusader and may end up doing it though the gross amount of songs Fatesinger adds is pretty fricken awesome. Turn the Tide is such a trashstomper too.

If you haven't tried this on lama yet and you haven't tried twisting in haste boost- it's absolutely wonderful.
You may also consider using Strike Down- if you're not fascinate-soloing it's actually a really fantastic way to whittle down the masses (Dirge does okay too but not as oomphy)

But I figure 2 feats and a twist for 20 PRR, 10% dodge, and 15% doublestrike (or 5% if you want to compare it to nothing in the offhand) is a good deal. I think the healing and CC will be good enough, the shield line really brings a lot of defense, and you can never have too much dps.

The 10% dodge bonus will come whether or not you have any Shield mastery- but the 15% doublestrike I find worth it- as a CC bard- you really don't need AoE options as much because you can control the masses quite easily. If I wasn't using that, I'd probably go the PA/Cleave/Great Cleave route though- with your ability bonus being doubled combined with exploit weakness- they tend to hit like a truck.
I like the 20 PRR.

I hope my write up helped a bit with this

[giftie]

which I can easily reach with debuffs, so I don't think heighten is worth it.

It's not quite that easy, in my experience. Mind Fog is excellent, and I usually couple it with Otto's, but you need to break will DC in order to apply the debuff to begin with. Assuming an automatic -10 will is a mistake, especially if one's on the lower end of the DC scale already. Hypnotic Pattern is excellent, but in practice only used when soloing due to the graphic effect. Hypnotism and Crushing Despair are both solid debuffs, but are difficult to actually use effectively.

Other than that, very solid build.

[jakeelala]

since I play a human in real life, I sort of enjoy playing other classes in game.

Halfling/Drow/Elf variants would just drop SF:Enchant I guess. Is that a prereq for anything important? 1 DC isn't going to make much difference I dont think.

[giftie]

since I play a human in real life, I sort of enjoy playing other classes in game.

Halfling/Drow/Elf variants would just drop SF:Enchant I guess. Is that a prereq for anything important? 1 DC isn't going to make much difference I dont think.

It's a pre-req for Enchantment Specialization, a Magister twist, which is another +3 DC.

[CThruTheEgo]

Thanks for the writeup! I was also really tempted to roll in divine crusader and may end up doing it though the gross amount of songs Fatesinger adds is pretty fricken awesome. Turn the Tide is such a trashstomper too.

I'm sure that I'll give fatesinger a try and see how I like it compared to divine crusader. I'm really looking forward to having a build that will actually make good use of fatesinger instead of just trying to level through it.

If you haven't tried this on lama yet and you haven't tried twisting in haste boost- it's absolutely wonderful.
You may also consider using Strike Down- if you're not fascinate-soloing it's actually a really fantastic way to whittle down the masses (Dirge does okay too but not as oomphy)

The character I will TR into this build is currently leveling through divine crusader, so I'm still learning it. I may very well change some of what I have planned here by the time I get back to epic levels with this build. Strike down does look like a solid ability.

The 10% dodge bonus will come whether or not you have any Shield mastery- but the 15% doublestrike I find worth it- as a CC bard- you really don't need AoE options as much because you can control the masses quite easily. If I wasn't using that, I'd probably go the PA/Cleave/Great Cleave route though- with your ability bonus being doubled combined with exploit weakness- they tend to hit like a truck.
I like the 20 PRR.

I figure if I wasn't going with the shield feats, then I'd probably go for nothing in the offhand for the extra doublestrike anyway, so I just consider the 10% dodge as part of the whole package.

I hope my write up helped a bit with this

I was actually waiting to see if you took my suggestion about including spell focus enchant and building for DCs. Since you didn't I figured this build is different enough to warrant its own thread, but if you had I wasn't going to bother posting this since there wouldn't be much difference between them.

It's not quite that easy, in my experience. Mind Fog is excellent, and I usually couple it with Otto's, but you need to break will DC in order to apply the debuff to begin with. Assuming an automatic -10 will is a mistake, especially if one's on the lower end of the DC scale already. Hypnotic Pattern is excellent, but in practice only used when soloing due to the graphic effect. Hypnotism and Crushing Despair are both solid debuffs, but are difficult to actually use effectively.

Other than that, very solid build.

As I said, I don't have any experience with enchantment spells or DCs. I am expecting that it will take some getting use to. You've given me some ideas for adjusting playstyle, so thank you. I'm thinking drop Otto's sphere, mind fog just before it, hypnotic pattern just before that, and try to hit em with crushing despair as they go through hypnotic pattern. So they should have -8 by the time they hit the mind fog, giving it an effective DC of 62. I understand that some players don't like hypnotic pattern, but if it means solid CC and no damage in an EE run, I figure they won't mind that much. Alternatively, I could just use hypnotism and crushing despair as they approach the mind fog/Otto's sphere combo.

I may make some adjustments once I actually try this out in high level EEs. But I like the prospect of solid CC so I'm willing to give it a try.

since I play a human in real life, I sort of enjoy playing other classes in game.

Halfling/Drow/Elf variants would just drop SF:Enchant I guess. Is that a prereq for anything important? 1 DC isn't going to make much difference I dont think.

Yeah as giftie pointed out, this one feat gets me a total of 4 DCs, which I think will make a difference.

[jakeelala]

It's a pre-req for Enchantment Specialization, a Magister twist, which is another +3 DC.

hmmm, I doubt I'd twist that on this build. Then again, maybe. Wiki states no prereqs for the School specialties in Magister. I know DI DC requires a feat, not sure Magister does.

What about the Magister twist that gives -10 Will Saves 15% of the time on Enchantment school spells? Wouldn't that be more useful?

[CThruTheEgo]

hmmm, I doubt I'd twist that on this build. Then again, maybe. Wiki states no prereqs for the School specialties in Magister. I know DI DC requires a feat, not sure Magister does.

What about the Magister twist that gives -10 Will Saves 15% of the time on Enchantment school spells? Wouldn't that be more useful?

Spell school specialist does require the first spell focus feat as a pre-req, wiki is just wrong as it occasionally is.

As far as twisting spell school augmentation instead (that's the one that has a 15% chance to debuff for -10), I don't intend to be constantly spamming enchantment spells, which is what you need to do for that to really be effective.

[Maelodic]

Just kind of a whoopsie, and not something I'd expect you to know but Skirmisher (buckler style) now adds 10% dodge.

So just with Balizarde and the enhancements, you'll hit dodge cap- I'm not sure if that would free up your boots selection but there it is.

[CThruTheEgo]

Just kind of a whoopsie, and not something I'd expect you to know but Skirmisher (buckler style) now adds 10% dodge.

So just with Balizarde and the enhancements, you'll hit dodge cap- I'm not sure if that would free up your boots selection but there it is.

I did know that skirmisher was changed from 7 to 10 but forgot to change it here. I also forgot that Balizarde has dodge on it. That does help my gearing options considerably but I'll likely end up using thunderforged, though not for quite a while, so I'll need to fit dodge in somewhere else eventually. By then I might have a whole new gear set though, so dodge on Balizarde is good enough for now. Thanks for pointing these out.

EDIT: That actually lets me put con10 of perform20 in the boots slot and use the Battlerager's Harness for even more dps. And I get an extra slot to fit in feather falling... uhm, woot?

[unbongwah]

I do wish I could fit something to boost cure spells. I'd go with maximize if I could spare the feat, just for the extra oomph. But with the well rounded defenses on this build and the healing I'll get from sacred ground, I think I'll be fine without maximize.

I went with Emp Heal on my TWF pure bard; I'm a Spellsinger, so I've got Heal, Rejuv Cocoon, CCW, and MCMW. I think I would drop FoP: between FoM (Hold immunity) and UMDing Prot. from Evil (Command immunity), that covers most Will spells.

[CThruTheEgo]

I went with Emp Heal on my TWF pure bard; I'm a Spellsinger, so I've got Heal, Rejuv Cocoon, CCW, and MCMW. I think I would drop FoP: between FoM (Hold immunity) and UMDing Prot. from Evil (Command immunity), that covers most Will spells.

AFAIK neither FoM or protection from evil negates dancing balls, which seems to be the will save spell that gets me the most. You can avoid them when they're already there, but not when they get dropped right on top of you.

I've stopped using protection from evil wands on my UMD characters because it doesn't seem to do anything in epics. I noticed myself getting commanded with it and then saw someone on the forums report that it isn't working in epics, and that seems to match my experience with it. The description on wiki also states that it may not be working in epics.

I agree that will saves used to be pretty much useless since the appropriate buffs would negate the need for them altogether. Without those buffs I think will save has become more important, not as much as reflex but still something I'd like to have if it doesn't require too much investment.

Sacred ground provides excellent healing. Between that and CCW/CSW, I'm not worried about not having anything to boost the spells. If the spells were going to be my only source of healing, then I could see a stronger argument for empower heal or maximize.

So overall I think force of personality rounds out this builds defenses well and has little cost for the benefit.

[CThruTheEgo]

I verified in game yesterday that the wiki entry was wrong for sacred ground, it costs two points instead of one. So I dropped one charisma from divine crusader and one from spellsinger. I end up with one point left to spend in divine crusader, but there isn't really anything good to spend it on.

I took the two points from spellsinger charisma and picked up music of the sewers and music of the dead. With all of the undead in endgame content I wanted to fit in music of the dead anyway. This also allowed me to drop the one point spent on charlatan to spend it on human damage boost.

So overall, I lost one DC but gained more versatile CC and better burst dps.