Post by sabregirl on Sept 26, 2007 5:53:28 GMT
Well since Mish is gone and I don't agree with a lot of his choices in his current cheese build incarnation I'm reposting a slightly modified version of it. Obviously original credit goes to the originator. Here's a link to the original thread. Also had some requests to post Gry'Kati's build. This is extremely similar tho with a slightly different level progression due to the recent changes.
In any case, this is meant to be a combination of dex tank and singer capable of contributing some damage, as well as being able to stay upright on the battlefield. Dex bards are EXTREMELY vulnerable to flat foot which means cursing can be tricky. You're likely to get killed doing this more than any other time but using careful placement can minimize this considerably. To achieve effective tanking in the hells . . .I think you really need the shard subby or (possibly half kyton). Planewalker is almost decent but loses out on some feats and stats much less than that and your con/ac starts getting low enough your stability may be iffy without burs and demi. I have found maxing AC is very important to making you a stable tank, you can do this and still retain decent AB with shard due to bonus feats and stats.
This is my final version, bur armor and deflection, asmo ammy, double demi - no cleric buff. Final AB is 88 dualing raps, 92 single wielding.
Starting stats(after shard/ human base)
str 8
dex 16 (20)
con 14 (18)
wis 14
int 12
cha 12 (16)
Level progression 14bard/1monk/4BG/21 bard
01: Bard(1): Curse Song, Ambidexterity
02: Bard(2)
03: Bard(3): Weapon Finesse
04: Bard(4)
05: Bard(5)
06: Bard(6): Two-Weapon Fighting
07: Bard(7)
08: Bard(8)
09: Bard(9): Toughness
10: Bard(10)
11: Bard(11)
12: Bard(12): Blind Fight
13: Bard(13)
14: Bard(14)
15: Monk(1): Improved Critical: wpn of choice *Alignment Change*
16: Blackguard(1)
17: Blackguard(2): {Smite Good}
18: Blackguard(3): Weapon Focus: wpn of choice
19: Blackguard(4)
20: Bard(15): *Alignment Change*
21: Bard(16): Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
22: Bard(17)
23: Bard(18)
24: Bard(19): Armor Skin
25: Bard(20)
26: Bard(21)
27: Bard(22): Great Dexterity I, Great Dexterity II
28: Bard(23)
29: Bard(24)
30: Bard(25): Great Dexterity III, Great Dexterity IV
31: Bard(26)
32: Bard(27)
33: Bard(28): Great Dexterity V, Great Dexterity VI
34: Bard(29)
35: Bard(30)
36: Bard(31): Epic Weapon Focus: wpn of choice, Great Dexterity VII
37: Bard(32)
38: Bard(33)
39: Bard(34): Great Dexterity VIII, Great Dexterity IX
40: Bard(35)
Legendary feats
Great Wis 1-4
Great Dex X
epic prowess
leg weapon focus
Skills
Max disc, tumble, conc, perform, taunt, extra points into umd.
Comments
An alternative build to this could be 2 pal 1 monk for fear immune and a smidgen more bard song - I chose this particular approach partly because my bard is stuck with the wisdom artifact. Otherwise use the dex artifact, if you have access to a wis artifact go BG. Pandects used would be improved sneak for BG bard, rapid shot for Pally bard. Preepic monk level hurts ab a bit but gives you some bonus saves which aren't NECESSARY but help push your saves into the "stupid" zone where you can absorb save lowering and still beat crazy high checks. Also if you're using a less than ideal subrace the preepic monk level becomes much more critical.
In the past I've used rapiers on my bard but the AB pen is pretty nasty and you need to take GSF trans just to be able to keen them . . . on the plus side this makes you a better party buffer and the damage types on raps are nice. Otherwise daggers, SS, maces, possibly kamas tho I don't like kamas personally, just about any finessable weapon will work. I would not drop any of the grt wis or grt dex bonus feats as maximum dex and wis is what keeps you alive. Good AC to shoot for is 130 with BURs unbuffed . . .anything you can get above that is still helpful.
Could also go halfling base race for more AC if XP pen doesn't bother you.
-S
In any case, this is meant to be a combination of dex tank and singer capable of contributing some damage, as well as being able to stay upright on the battlefield. Dex bards are EXTREMELY vulnerable to flat foot which means cursing can be tricky. You're likely to get killed doing this more than any other time but using careful placement can minimize this considerably. To achieve effective tanking in the hells . . .I think you really need the shard subby or (possibly half kyton). Planewalker is almost decent but loses out on some feats and stats much less than that and your con/ac starts getting low enough your stability may be iffy without burs and demi. I have found maxing AC is very important to making you a stable tank, you can do this and still retain decent AB with shard due to bonus feats and stats.
This is my final version, bur armor and deflection, asmo ammy, double demi - no cleric buff. Final AB is 88 dualing raps, 92 single wielding.
Starting stats(after shard/ human base)
str 8
dex 16 (20)
con 14 (18)
wis 14
int 12
cha 12 (16)
Level progression 14bard/1monk/4BG/21 bard
01: Bard(1): Curse Song, Ambidexterity
02: Bard(2)
03: Bard(3): Weapon Finesse
04: Bard(4)
05: Bard(5)
06: Bard(6): Two-Weapon Fighting
07: Bard(7)
08: Bard(8)
09: Bard(9): Toughness
10: Bard(10)
11: Bard(11)
12: Bard(12): Blind Fight
13: Bard(13)
14: Bard(14)
15: Monk(1): Improved Critical: wpn of choice *Alignment Change*
16: Blackguard(1)
17: Blackguard(2): {Smite Good}
18: Blackguard(3): Weapon Focus: wpn of choice
19: Blackguard(4)
20: Bard(15): *Alignment Change*
21: Bard(16): Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
22: Bard(17)
23: Bard(18)
24: Bard(19): Armor Skin
25: Bard(20)
26: Bard(21)
27: Bard(22): Great Dexterity I, Great Dexterity II
28: Bard(23)
29: Bard(24)
30: Bard(25): Great Dexterity III, Great Dexterity IV
31: Bard(26)
32: Bard(27)
33: Bard(28): Great Dexterity V, Great Dexterity VI
34: Bard(29)
35: Bard(30)
36: Bard(31): Epic Weapon Focus: wpn of choice, Great Dexterity VII
37: Bard(32)
38: Bard(33)
39: Bard(34): Great Dexterity VIII, Great Dexterity IX
40: Bard(35)
Legendary feats
Great Wis 1-4
Great Dex X
epic prowess
leg weapon focus
Skills
Max disc, tumble, conc, perform, taunt, extra points into umd.
Comments
An alternative build to this could be 2 pal 1 monk for fear immune and a smidgen more bard song - I chose this particular approach partly because my bard is stuck with the wisdom artifact. Otherwise use the dex artifact, if you have access to a wis artifact go BG. Pandects used would be improved sneak for BG bard, rapid shot for Pally bard. Preepic monk level hurts ab a bit but gives you some bonus saves which aren't NECESSARY but help push your saves into the "stupid" zone where you can absorb save lowering and still beat crazy high checks. Also if you're using a less than ideal subrace the preepic monk level becomes much more critical.
In the past I've used rapiers on my bard but the AB pen is pretty nasty and you need to take GSF trans just to be able to keen them . . . on the plus side this makes you a better party buffer and the damage types on raps are nice. Otherwise daggers, SS, maces, possibly kamas tho I don't like kamas personally, just about any finessable weapon will work. I would not drop any of the grt wis or grt dex bonus feats as maximum dex and wis is what keeps you alive. Good AC to shoot for is 130 with BURs unbuffed . . .anything you can get above that is still helpful.
Could also go halfling base race for more AC if XP pen doesn't bother you.
-S