Post by Balduvard on Sept 10, 2010 23:22:18 GMT
Missing that elusive bard in your party? Feel like making your own but hate building a caster? I made this character to cater to my play style of putting steel to foe, and I think it's very effective as it puts your epics exactly where they're needed--in the line of tanks right next to the big nasties. With enough ability points to shrug off minor checks, this character is very sturdy through the combination of bard epics (immune to KD, immune to critical hits) and Harper Scout levels (elemental immunities) with some offensive power that can pack quite a punch.
Using the Secret, UR, and BUR versions of this build, you can achieve 60 charisma and your largest epic radii without becoming a demigod first (instead requiring +14 charisma and a charisma artifact). If reincarnating a demigod character, feel free to drop great charisma in order to pick up GWF: Rapier and Epic Prowess. I would also consider re-allocating ability points from constitution into charisma and choosing to use the constitution artifact, as poison is one of the more common instakills this bard encounters.
Harper Scout is really a great combination for a tank bard, as the Boots of the Wanderer give you added speed to move around and reposition quickly as you need, you can craft potions of greater restoration to simultaneously heal and restore you without burning another round on an action, and you only lose 1 song level over taking more bard levels. The caveat to these benefits is that you lose 5% off of your concealment by not reaching 55 bard levels, topping out at 75% with LSF Illusion.
Logs
Maladomini
Nessus
Azzagrat, Part 3
This build was originally intended for use with the Shard subrace, but I have gone back and evaluated a few other options at every tier. Fortunately the differences are not terribly extensive, but the AC and AB will suffer on lower tier subraces due to the bard feats they miss.
Level Progression
Bard 14 / Paladin 4 / Bard 6 / Harper Scout 5 / Bard 11
Tome: Necromancy (Enchantment, Illusion, or Transmutation if you swap out the respective feats for Necromancy feats instead)
Pandect: Energy Resistance
Starting Abilities [After Subrace modifications]
Note that the build pictured above has not been reincarnated yet to follow the feat selection in this build (it has two extra Great Charisma); it had the smaller epic radius until it obtained the first demigod bonuses. If you want an ability distribution at 34 rather than 32, use the following to top out at 60 charisma (recommended only if reincarnating a double demigod character):
Human - Shard
Str: 15 +1 Pre-LL
Dex: 12 [16]
Con: 12 [16]
Wis: 8
Int: 14
Cha: 15 [19] + 9 Pre-LL + 10 LL + 2 G.Cha + 2 artifact = 42
Ability Progressions
Feats
With respect to the above missed feats and divergence from the Shard build, you could drop SF/GSF/ESF Enchantment in order to take feats to make up the gap, but keep in mind that Hear Me Roar is a very important epic in certain areas of the mod.
*It is recommended that you pick up these feats by dropping Great Charisma on a reincarnation after you obtain your first or second demigod charisma boost, in order to make sure you have 60 charisma for maximum epic radius.
Build Variant: Searcher
Here are some feat adjustments you can make to the Shard build in order to enable it to perform searching (63 base + 50 item + 11 int mod + 3 SF:Search aug = 127). The preferred skill to drop for this would be Taunt. This variant is only recommended as a double demigod Shard, as you will be dropping 4 Great Charisma feats, leaving you with 60 charisma for maximum epic size in +14 gear.
Skills
Required:
Discipline (4)
Lore (6)
Persuade (8)
Search (4*2= 8)
=26
Satyr, Siren; Alethian Dwarf - +1 modifier, +1 human bonus +1 bard bonus; +2 modifier, +1 bard bonus
Bard: (4 + 3) * 4 + (4 + 3) * 50 = 378
Paladin: (2 + 2) * 4 = 16
Harper Scout: (4 + 2) * 5 = 30
Total: 424
Available: 424 - 26 = 398
Max:
Tumble (60)
Discipline (63 - 4)
Listen (63)
Perform (63)
Taunt (63)
Parry (63)
=371
Remaining: 398 - 371 = 27
Remainder:
Concentration (26)
Use Magic Device (1)
Shard - +2 modifier, +1 human bonus, +1 bard bonus
Bard: (4 + 4) * 4 + (4 + 4) * 50 = 432
Paladin: (2 + 3) * 4 = 20
Harper Scout: (4 + 3) * 5 = 35
Total: 487
Available: 487 - 26 = 461
Max:
Tumble (60)
Discipline (63 - 4)
Listen (63)
Perform (63)
Taunt (63)
Parry (63)
=371
Remaining: 461 - 371 = 90
Remainder:
Concentration (27)
Craft Weapon (25)
Craft Armor (25)
Use Magic Device (1)
All of the below are calculated using ranges for values that can change between the different subrace and gear configurations, to illustrate the full range of values this build will see.
Attack Bonus
Ability bonuses are at L60 and range from +12 gear to +14 gear with demigod bonuses and a charisma artifact.
Armor Class
Ability bonuses are at L60 and range from UR +12 gear to BUR +14 gear, demigod bonuses, and Asmodeus artifact usage.
Base: 10
Dexterity: 9 - 13
Armor (Aria, Echoes, Chorus): 16 - 18
Shield (large): 16 - 17
Natural: 16 - 17
Deflect: 16 - 20
Dodge: 20
Tumble: 12
Other (Armor Skin): 0 - 2
Craft Armor: 0 - 1
=115 - 130 (119 - 134 with girding)
Saving Throws
Bard (16): Reflex, Will
Paladin (4): Fortitude
Song Allocation
Refer to the HG Customization for Bards for more details on the point buy mechanics of songs.
Bard Levels: 51
Harper Scout Levels: 5 * (4/5) = 4
Total song levels: 55
Total song points: 55*10 = 550
Bard Song: Skills, Damage, AC, AB, Saves
Skills: L60 (+20)
Damage: L60 (+8)
AC: L47 (+3)
AB: L44 (+3)
Saves: L15 (+1/+1/+2)
Curse Song: Saves, Skills, AC, AB, Damage
Saves: L60 (-3/-3/-5)
Skills: L60 (-20)
AC: L47 (-3)
AB: L46 (-3)
Damage: L15 (-3)
Equipment
Weapon: Rapier (obviously)
Shield: Any shield that does not suffer arcane spell failure penalties (more of an annoyance factor if you want to deal with unequipping a shield with arcane spell failure every time you want to cast a spell). Since you are likely using displacement rather than EV, you are not restricted to the caster-specific shields that allow EV. I used Sparten on my first Nessus run with this character whenever slagging was a possibility and I did not need to cast spells.
Armor: Aria, Echoes, Chorus
Boots: [Moliated] Boots of the Wanderer; Harper Scout class secret
Belt: Coil of Grabduk (additional divine might uses, though I rarely find myself running out of uses without it) or Inspiration (if not wearing, then at least in inventory to swap to for mass resurrection)
Amulet: Divine Intervention (ele/exo immunities), Ygrette's (resists), Heavenly Haunt's (status immunities), Polished Ekolid Eye (resists and blind/deaf immune)
Gloves: Masterful Performance or Reaching for Damnation
Cloak: Titan's Wrap (physical), Cloak of the Elements (elemental), Netherward Cloak (exotic), breach or other special-use cloaks (such as Shroud of the Demon Bat)
Helm: I prefer Visor of Vigilance for its defensive benefits. Being immune to flanking attacks and retaining your dex AC are very helpful. It is also one of the few slots you can spare for a +14 Charisma item
Rings: Breach and Mord when necessary to keep buffs; if no Planewalker then the belt slot will likely have to contain Gravity Slain to prevent Malebranches or other creatures from tossing you.
Using the Secret, UR, and BUR versions of this build, you can achieve 60 charisma and your largest epic radii without becoming a demigod first (instead requiring +14 charisma and a charisma artifact). If reincarnating a demigod character, feel free to drop great charisma in order to pick up GWF: Rapier and Epic Prowess. I would also consider re-allocating ability points from constitution into charisma and choosing to use the constitution artifact, as poison is one of the more common instakills this bard encounters.
Harper Scout is really a great combination for a tank bard, as the Boots of the Wanderer give you added speed to move around and reposition quickly as you need, you can craft potions of greater restoration to simultaneously heal and restore you without burning another round on an action, and you only lose 1 song level over taking more bard levels. The caveat to these benefits is that you lose 5% off of your concealment by not reaching 55 bard levels, topping out at 75% with LSF Illusion.
Logs
Maladomini
Nessus
Azzagrat, Part 3
This build was originally intended for use with the Shard subrace, but I have gone back and evaluated a few other options at every tier. Fortunately the differences are not terribly extensive, but the AC and AB will suffer on lower tier subraces due to the bard feats they miss.
Level Progression
Bard 14 / Paladin 4 / Bard 6 / Harper Scout 5 / Bard 11
Tome: Necromancy (Enchantment, Illusion, or Transmutation if you swap out the respective feats for Necromancy feats instead)
Pandect: Energy Resistance
Starting Abilities [After Subrace modifications]
Ability | (Human) Satyr | (Human) Siren | (Dwarf) Alethian Dwarf | (Human) Shard |
Strength | 15 [14] | 15 [13] | 14 [14] | 14 [14] |
Dexterity | 11 [12] | 10 [12] | 12 [12] | 14 [18] |
Constitution | 12 [12] | 14 [12] | 16 [14] | 14 [18] |
Wisdom | 9 [8] | 8 [8] | 10 [10] | 8 [8] |
Intelligence | 12 [12] | 12 [12] | 12 [14] | 14 [14] |
Charisma | 16 [17] | 16 [18] | 13 [20] | 14 [18] |
Note that the build pictured above has not been reincarnated yet to follow the feat selection in this build (it has two extra Great Charisma); it had the smaller epic radius until it obtained the first demigod bonuses. If you want an ability distribution at 34 rather than 32, use the following to top out at 60 charisma (recommended only if reincarnating a double demigod character):
Human - Shard
Str: 15 +1 Pre-LL
Dex: 12 [16]
Con: 12 [16]
Wis: 8
Int: 14
Cha: 15 [19] + 9 Pre-LL + 10 LL + 2 G.Cha + 2 artifact = 42
Ability Progressions
Ability | Satyr | Siren | Alethian Dwarf | Shard |
Charisma | +10 Pre-LL +10 LL +5 G. Charisma | +10 Pre-LL +10 LL +6 G. Charisma | +10 Pre-LL +10 LL +4 G. Charisma | +10 Pre-LL +10 LL +6 G. Charisma |
Feats
Feats | Satyr | Siren | Alethian Dwarf | Shard |
Pre-epic | -Power Attack (Human bonus feat) -Curse Song -Extra Music -Lingering Song -SF: Illusion -Rapier Wit -WF: Rapier -Divine Might | -Power Attack (Human bonus feat) -Curse Song -Iron Will -Alertness -SF: Illusion -Rapier Wit -WF: Rapier -Divine Might | -Curse Song -Extra Music -Lingering Song -Rapier Wit -Power Attack -WF: Rapier -Divine Might | -Power Attack (Human Bonus feat) -Curse Song -Iron Will -Alertness -SF: Illusion -Rapier Wit -WF: Rapier -Divine Might |
Epic | -Iron Will -Alertness -Lasting Inspiration -SF:Transmutation -Great Charisma -Extend Spell -Great Charisma | -Great Charisma -Great Charisma -Lasting Inspiration -SF:Transmutation -SF:Enchantment -Extend Spell -Great Charisma | -Iron Will -Alertness -Lasting Inspiration -SF: Illusion -SF: Enchantment -Extend Spell -Great Charisma | -Great Charisma -Epic Prowess -Great Charisma -EWF: Rapier -SF: Enchantment -SF: Transmutation -Extend Spell |
Bard Bonus | -GSF: Illusion -GSF: Enchantment -GSF: Transmutation | -GSF: Illusion -GSF: Enchantment -GSF: Transmutation | -GSF: Illusion -GSF: Enchantment -GSF: Transmutation | -GSF: Illusion -GSF: Enchantment -GSF: Transmutation |
Harper Scout Bonus | -2 Great Charisma | -2 Great Charisma | -2 Great Charisma | -2 Great Charisma |
Legendary | -Great Charisma -EWF: Rapier -ESF: Illusion -LSF: Illusion -ESF: Enchantment -ESF: Transmutation -Armor Skin | -Great Charisma -EWF: Rapier -ESF: Illusion -LSF: Illusion -ESF: Enchantment -ESF: Transmutation -Armor Skin | -EWF: Rapier -Great Charisma -ESF: Illusion -LSF: Illusion -ESF:Enchantment -ESF:Transmutation -Armor Skin | -LWF: Rapier -ESF: Illusion -LSF: Illusion -ESF:Enchantment -ESF:Transmutation -Great Charisma -Great Charisma |
Missed Feats* | -Epic Prowess -GWF: Rapier -LWF: Rapier | -Epic Prowess -GWF: Rapier -LWF: Rapier | -Epic Prowess -GWF: Rapier -LWF: Rapier | -Armor Skin -GWF: Rapier |
Shard Divergence | -3 AC, -5 AB | -3 AC, -4 AB | -3 AC, -4 AB |
With respect to the above missed feats and divergence from the Shard build, you could drop SF/GSF/ESF Enchantment in order to take feats to make up the gap, but keep in mind that Hear Me Roar is a very important epic in certain areas of the mod.
*It is recommended that you pick up these feats by dropping Great Charisma on a reincarnation after you obtain your first or second demigod charisma boost, in order to make sure you have 60 charisma for maximum epic radius.
Build Variant: Searcher
Here are some feat adjustments you can make to the Shard build in order to enable it to perform searching (63 base + 50 item + 11 int mod + 3 SF:Search aug = 127). The preferred skill to drop for this would be Taunt. This variant is only recommended as a double demigod Shard, as you will be dropping 4 Great Charisma feats, leaving you with 60 charisma for maximum epic size in +14 gear.
- Drop all Great Charisma in legendary and epic levels
- Move Alertness to epic levels
- Take Silver Palm as new first-level bonus feat, move all feats downward to fill gap from Alertness
- Take Armor Skin in epic levels
- Take LSA Search in legendary levels
- Take GWF: Rapier in legendary levels
Skills
Required:
Discipline (4)
Lore (6)
Persuade (8)
Search (4*2= 8)
=26
Satyr, Siren; Alethian Dwarf - +1 modifier, +1 human bonus +1 bard bonus; +2 modifier, +1 bard bonus
Bard: (4 + 3) * 4 + (4 + 3) * 50 = 378
Paladin: (2 + 2) * 4 = 16
Harper Scout: (4 + 2) * 5 = 30
Total: 424
Available: 424 - 26 = 398
Max:
Tumble (60)
Discipline (63 - 4)
Listen (63)
Perform (63)
Taunt (63)
Parry (63)
=371
Remaining: 398 - 371 = 27
Remainder:
Concentration (26)
Use Magic Device (1)
Shard - +2 modifier, +1 human bonus, +1 bard bonus
Bard: (4 + 4) * 4 + (4 + 4) * 50 = 432
Paladin: (2 + 3) * 4 = 20
Harper Scout: (4 + 3) * 5 = 35
Total: 487
Available: 487 - 26 = 461
Max:
Tumble (60)
Discipline (63 - 4)
Listen (63)
Perform (63)
Taunt (63)
Parry (63)
=371
Remaining: 461 - 371 = 90
Remainder:
Concentration (27)
Craft Weapon (25)
Craft Armor (25)
Use Magic Device (1)
All of the below are calculated using ranges for values that can change between the different subrace and gear configurations, to illustrate the full range of values this build will see.
Attack Bonus
Ability bonuses are at L60 and range from +12 gear to +14 gear with demigod bonuses and a charisma artifact.
Modifier | Satyr | Siren | Alethian Dwarf | Shard |
BAB | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
EBAB | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
LBAB | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Ability | 22 - 26 | 22 - 26 | 23 - 27 | 23 - 27 |
Weapon Focus | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Greater Weapon Focus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Epic Weapon Focus | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Epic Prowess | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Legendary Weapon Focus | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Craft Weapon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Maximum Attack Bonus | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Total | 86 - 90 | 90 - 94 | 87 - 91 | 93 - 97 |
Armor Class
Ability bonuses are at L60 and range from UR +12 gear to BUR +14 gear, demigod bonuses, and Asmodeus artifact usage.
Base: 10
Dexterity: 9 - 13
Armor (Aria, Echoes, Chorus): 16 - 18
Shield (large): 16 - 17
Natural: 16 - 17
Deflect: 16 - 20
Dodge: 20
Tumble: 12
Other (Armor Skin): 0 - 2
Craft Armor: 0 - 1
=115 - 130 (119 - 134 with girding)
Saving Throws
Bard (16): Reflex, Will
Paladin (4): Fortitude
Ability | Pre-Epic | Epic | Legendary | Paladin Bonus | Ability | Equipment | Total |
Fortitude | 5 + 4 | 10 | 5 | 22 - 27 | 7 - 11 | 20 | 73 - 82 |
Reflex | 10 + 1 | 10 | 5 | 22 - 27 | 7 - 12 | 20 | 75 - 85 |
Will | 10 + 1 | 10 | 5 | 22 - 27 | 5 - 9 | 20 | 73 - 82 |
Song Allocation
Refer to the HG Customization for Bards for more details on the point buy mechanics of songs.
Bard Levels: 51
Harper Scout Levels: 5 * (4/5) = 4
Total song levels: 55
Total song points: 55*10 = 550
Bard Song: Skills, Damage, AC, AB, Saves
Skills: L60 (+20)
Damage: L60 (+8)
AC: L47 (+3)
AB: L44 (+3)
Saves: L15 (+1/+1/+2)
Curse Song: Saves, Skills, AC, AB, Damage
Saves: L60 (-3/-3/-5)
Skills: L60 (-20)
AC: L47 (-3)
AB: L46 (-3)
Damage: L15 (-3)
Equipment
Weapon: Rapier (obviously)
Shield: Any shield that does not suffer arcane spell failure penalties (more of an annoyance factor if you want to deal with unequipping a shield with arcane spell failure every time you want to cast a spell). Since you are likely using displacement rather than EV, you are not restricted to the caster-specific shields that allow EV. I used Sparten on my first Nessus run with this character whenever slagging was a possibility and I did not need to cast spells.
Armor: Aria, Echoes, Chorus
Boots: [Moliated] Boots of the Wanderer; Harper Scout class secret
Belt: Coil of Grabduk (additional divine might uses, though I rarely find myself running out of uses without it) or Inspiration (if not wearing, then at least in inventory to swap to for mass resurrection)
Amulet: Divine Intervention (ele/exo immunities), Ygrette's (resists), Heavenly Haunt's (status immunities), Polished Ekolid Eye (resists and blind/deaf immune)
Gloves: Masterful Performance or Reaching for Damnation
Cloak: Titan's Wrap (physical), Cloak of the Elements (elemental), Netherward Cloak (exotic), breach or other special-use cloaks (such as Shroud of the Demon Bat)
Helm: I prefer Visor of Vigilance for its defensive benefits. Being immune to flanking attacks and retaining your dex AC are very helpful. It is also one of the few slots you can spare for a +14 Charisma item
Rings: Breach and Mord when necessary to keep buffs; if no Planewalker then the belt slot will likely have to contain Gravity Slain to prevent Malebranches or other creatures from tossing you.