The Eldritch Knight (4Barb/35Wiz/1Pal)

[strakej01]

I found this build to be pretty fun to play and has some of the best defenses possible.

Pros: (140 AC [129 dual wielding]/Epic Dodge/80% conceal) Great buffs for survival like 100% immunity to an element from energy resist spell, The "mage armor" spell grants +20 armor ac from the abjuration feats, nice premonition damage reduction, 7 attacks per round with a katana, but has the ability to dual wield for 9. Also, you will have the most potent mords available from abjur spec and will be able to mord/grab raks on hell runs. Ability to max about all the skills you want, i have maxed conc, craft armor, craft weapon, listen, spellcraft and tumble, discipline and parry are both raised to 42 at level 39. Epics - Contingency/Starfire/Mass Spell Destruction - Saves are all also proven 64+

Cons: Ab and damage. Ab at 60 is 91, but you will reach 94/5 after double demi.

I chose katana as my weapon of choice. It seemed like a no brainer for me, the stygian razors dev crit gave me the much needed damage boost i needed on a dex tank. When offhanding it, you will gain the full benefits of dev crit on ur onhand dis katana. (The build does not include improved two weapon fighting, but using the POM twf bracers give you the feat)

Base Race: Half-elf - Subrace: Half-fiend

Stats at 1 : After race mods
Str: 8 : 8
Dex: 16 : 22 (All stat points from levels go here)
Con: 16 : 20
Wis: 8 : 6
Int: 14 : 18
Char: 12 : 10

Class Progression: [4 Barbarian] >[34 Wizard] >[1 Paladin/max discipline/parry and take esf disciple] >[1 Wizard]

Wizard Bonus Feats:
5: Extend Spell
10: Spell Focus Abjuration
15: Greater Spell Focus Abjuration
20: Spell Focus Divination
23: Great Intelligence I
26: Greater Spell Focus Divination
29: Epic Spell Focus Abjuration
32: Epic Spell Focus Divination
35: Epic Mage Armor

Feats:
1: Blooded
3: Weapon Finnese
6: Weapon Proficiency Exotic
9: Weapon Focus Katana
12: Improved Critical Katana
15: Great Fortitude
18: Iron Will

21: Greater Weapon Focus Katana
24: Epic Weapon Focus Katana
27: Armor Skin
30: Epic Prowess
33: Great Dexterity I
36: Great Dexterity II
39: Epic Skill Focus Discipline

42: Legendary Weapon Focus Katana
45: Legendary Skill Affinity Tumble
48: Legendary Skill Affinity Listen
51: Legendary Spell Focus Illusion
54: Legendary Spell Focus Abjuration
57: Legendary Will
60: Legendary Fortitude

Arcane Spec: Abjuration
Bar: Necro/Enchant

Use the Tome of Wonderous Lore Illusion

Pandect: Not sure? possibly the sneak attack one? extra damage is always nice.

Dex Arti

As ur offhand when NOT dual wielding you will need to use a shield.. the only ones you can use are those that don't interfere with Ethreal or Premonition and also they must be a small shield so you don't gain any negations to your dex modifier. I use the Shield named arcane lustre, +11 ac, some damage immunes etc - It drops on dis.

Notes: You can also replace the 4 levels of barbarian with fighter, this would gain you three extra feats but cost you uncanny dodge. Gaining these three feats would allow you to take all the two weapon fighting feats so you don't have to use the pom bracers, or gain 2 more great dexes and another feat of choice. It all depends on whether or not your worried about going flat-footed. (Stun and kd in hell will cause this and you might regret not having uncanny dodge.)

Recap on stats: 140 AC [129 dual wielding] - 94 ab - all 64+ saves - HP meh at about 880, tensors gets you to 1200 temporary

Will most likely mod this post in the future with screenshots, etc.

[Chaos]

If you have the visor of vigilance helm you could go the 4 fighter levels with a gain in power, no losses. This looks like a very fun build....might just have to build it now and collect tags with it, it seems that fun! Nice build to have around.


Chaos

Edit: How do you have epic dodge? I see EMA in there, not sure how that works tho.

[strakej01]

Thanks

And yes the edodge is coming the EMA

[Torin]

A dex based battle wizard: Cool!I was thinking about this for ages, and your build encourages me to give it a try.

I want to swap some feats around and thinking of ditch one of the three spell schools. Could you please comment for which spells the schools abjuration, Divination and Illusion are taken for?

Yours
Torin

[StrykerOfChaos]

I'd consider dropping barb altogether, taking 4 paladin and 1 monk. Gives you fear immune, keeps your AB at 4 Tier 1 classes pre-epic, and monk gives you wis AC in robes.

You might also be able to get Divine Might somewhere, for short bursts or unresistable divine damage

[strakej01]

Seeing as though visor of vigilance adds uncanny dodge(?) a reincarnation as fighter is probably in my near future

This version is already a remake off my original which was 4 barb 35 wiz 1 monk with dual kamas. I decided to trade the kama versions 12 attacks for the juicy 11-20 x3 crit that katanas offer, but the monk did well also. He would have reach around 135 ac rather than 140, but thats dual wielding. And, even though i didnt have pally, i fit in legendary luck to keep saves around the same amount as this one.

The way i see it is, depending on your preference, you can either make a crit focused version or an apr one.

[Trazik]

A novel build. This is rare and inspiring; however I suspect that a Stormlord would have better AB (better BAB too) and damage. I recognize that they are not fully implemented yet (Storm of Vengeance works, though) but mine is vaguely similar to this: both use katanas, are dex-based and of the 35-4-1 variety (Dr-F-M in my case).

The awkward thing for Stormlord is there is no truly useful subrace for them. In my case I have used Undying because the trick is to max melee-type skills in LLs when your control-class will not normally allow you to do so (discipline, hide, listen, tumble ... parry if you can somehow fit it in). Gear is also tight, especially before demi.

[starlandra]

i like this... and I have some dev crit kama boots laying about

[starlandra]

so I played around and try this... Elf Genie 4 paladin 35 wiz 1 monk. AC is great, and starting dex and int were both 20. built in lev ring does not hurt either

[MurphysLawAgain]

Hmmm to max skills dont forget the joy of Able Learner. By using base class Elf you lose 1 pre-epic feat, 1 skill point per level (boo hoo) BUT .. you can max more skills to 60. Its worth consideration imho.

[starlandra]

well that was my thinking as well... can max disc and tumble without having to take the LSF feats.