Post by desocupado on Jan 24, 2012 1:11:48 GMT
Change log:
Double-demihood - Paragon feat choices have been made
Higher Levels: Upon gaining some levels and using a Knockdown Panndect I feel that some choices must be made to optimize the tanking ability of the build. Changes include getting Expertise and LWF.
Paragon levels: This help this build a lot. First sketch on feat suggestion bellow.
A good idea came up: Ditch LWF for LFF Humanoid 2, as 99+ AB is pointless on Risen lord, but Humanoid needs +4 AB (due EWF applying with LFF 2) in order to get numbers around 95. Corrected a few numbers.
Major update: Changed the shape focus from Wild 3 Humanoid 3 and Dragon 1 to Wild 3 Undead 3 Humanoid 1.[/i]
To do list:
Improve the build based on suggestions
Shape usage mini-guide for Undead.
Overview:
This is a AB/DC Shifter, having the combined versatility of Wild, Humanoid and Undead Shapes. At higher levels Humanoid shapes offer a myriad of good options like the powerful ranged Kenku with 6 attacks using a DB weapon, the handy 15% Lash Infliction with the Lizardfolk, and of course, the Drow with Mortal Strike.
Requirements:
Anarch subrace
Undead/Humanoid Epode
Recommended:
Wisdom artifact (Humanoid needs this to get a reliable DC)
Knockdown Pandect (Only at very high levels AB get close to 110)
OC/DC Unnarmed on an armor slot (this one is a must for Drow)
Main features:
Maximum Wisdom for DC
4 base attacks, which means 6 with haste and Legendary Form Focus.
Reasonable Disciple Parry (43)
Decent saves (R58/F60/W73) Reflex increases as most shapes have more than 8 base Dex.
Character creation:
Base: Human
Subrace: Anarch
Str 8
Dex 8
Con 12->16
Wis 18->24 (+30)
Int 16
Cha 8
(Level up points go into Wisdom)
Saves (with +12 gear):
Ref 2+6+5+2+7+35 = 58 (at 8 base dex)
Will 6+2+1+28+35 = 72
Fort 6+6+4+9+35 = 60
Skills: (only increase Hide only after you get LSA:Tumble)
Tumble 60
Disciple 43 (dump Ranger 40)
Parry 43 (dump at druid 20 Ranger 40)
Hide 63 (low priority)
Concentration 43
Animal empathy 63
Listen 63
Craft armor 63
Craft Weapon 63
Paragon choices: (Concentration+20 AE+10 Listen+10 CW+10 CA+10)
Feats and level progression:
Anarch bonus feats:
Martial weapon proficiency
Armor skin
Weapon Spec - Regular and Epic
Alertness
Pre-epic (5 Druid->8 Shifter->3 Druid->4 Ranger)
1 Blooded - Toughness
3 Lightning Reflexes
6 Heavy Armor Proficiency
9 Weapon Focus unnamed
12 GWF
15 Improved Critical
18 Expertise (it's useful when you want to use Risen lord or Jello)
Epic = 7+6/bonus (19 Shifter->1 Ranger)
21 Epic Prowess
24 Undead Shape
40 Epic Weapon Focus (ranger bonus feat)
(other levels) Great wisdom 1-10
Legendary = 7
41+ -> read spell penetration tome
42 LSA tumble
45-48-51 Legendary Wild shape 1-2-3
51+ -> Use Undead Epode (If you have the Humanoid Epode, swap their respective feats around)
54 Legendary Reflexes
57 LFF Humanoid 1
60 LFF Humanoid 2
Paragon = 6 - Pandect: KD
63 Paragon Form Focus Undead
66 LFF Humanoid 3
69 Paragon Form Focus Humanoid
72 Legendary Form defense
75 LWF
78 Paragon Form Defense
AC and AB calculations (non-bur gear or artifacts)
AB:
38/bab +5/wf+gwf+ewf+EP +2 (craft weapon) +20/magic bonus = total 65 (+shape)
AC (UR gear)
10 - base
16 - natural
18 - armor
16 - deflection
20 - dodge+haste
12 - tumble
2 - armor skin
2 - craft armor
Total = 96 + shape dex and shield bonus ac
Keep in mind, +14 dex, Guirding(+2), +50 skill bonus to Craft Armor, +17 Deflection and Natural, and each demi iteration each increases this value by 1
Also, With PFF, And Form Defense, you'll get +10 ac.
Double Demihood adds +2 AC to all shapes
Humanoid shapes also benefit form LFF Humanoid III (+2 AC)
Armed Shape modifiers at PL 60 and LFF 3 Wild/Undead but LFF 2 Humanoid:
Drow - 26 ab 28 ac
Kobold - 28 ab 33 ac (add +1 from small size)
Lizard - 29 ab 33 ac
Kenku 30 ab 33 ac
Minotaur 32 ab 35 ac (and there is a gear that grants OC DC)
Gargoyle 31 ab 25 ac (yes it's armed)
Risen Lord 34 ab 24 ac
Gear guidelines:
Look for bonuses to Animal empathy, and look for heavy armors with high AC and resistances.
Weapons: You can use any melee one handed weapon, so try to cover level with 50 weapons the damages you have hard time inflicting. DB weapons are also very handy when fully buffed for general DPS.
Shield: While Ac doesn't merge, the shield's resistance bonuses do.
Asmo Artifact:The armor, Bastion of Fallen Lord provides solid defenses, and immunity to earthquake, which is more than welcome on undead shapes, as they have vulnerability to positive damage.
Artifact: Wisdom.
Shape Usage mini-guide:
Wild Shapes
Minotaur - If you get the gear with OC DC great axe, it allows great damage against crittable mobs - but usually not worth since it has 1 less attack than shapes with LFF. It packs a single cast of maze at PL 40, which is nice.
Harpy - Helps the casters and yourself when there isn't another curser.
Medusa - The shifter trademark, a spammable stoning ignoring SR, make sure to target cursed mobs.
Dire Tiger - His knockdown (LFF1+) works on many different mobs, as it rolls against reflex instead of Disciple skill, making it useful against Hiogh Discipline enemies.
Manticore - Does very solid damage against mobs without pierce resist - However the damage potential is reduced due Ranger levels.
Mindflayer - It's a nice substitute to Weird, while it's hard to find a mobs susceptible to it, it also does psionic damage.
Beholder - Very useful for single target cold and negative damage. Be careful to not hit allies with the anti-magic cone.
Undead Shapes
Risen lord
- It can breathe in any environment and is immune to Breach.
- Slay living on hit. While it's slay living has 3 less DC than Banshee's it can attempt it 6 times per round.
- DPS - It does great physical damage (str mod x 150%) and critical hits (scythe).
Banshee
- It doesn't use spells, so both Howls ignore Spell Resistance.
- It packs a stronger aura than xDD, but only affects saves.
Vampire
- While levitation is a nice perk, the active powers are very powerful.
- Domination gaze allows you to get some unexpected helpers on several areas.
- Vampiric touch serves as a spamable negative damage spell.
- Gaseous form works as a toggleable ethereal visage, allowing you to blink and lure enemies.
Baelnorn
- This shape has two spells hence the 5 ranger splash hurts it the most.
- Sunburt - It mostly useful on legendary levels, as the TR is limited to 55. Against non-undead as it does a little bit of magic damage. (Workso n Abyss after a NB)
- Finger of Death - Does positive damage, and is very handy due it's range.
- Empower Ally - Grants 2 minutes of CL +1 - stack 3 times (handy for casters with splash, beating SR and increasing DC)
Spectre
Shadow Touch - it drains (Foci + 1)d4 and Ignores SR.
Bestow Curse - Helps a bit. Specially due the SR -11 debuff at CL 55.
Other subrace Adjustments:
Doppleganger subrace - Loses 2 Con, 1 DC, and 4 Physical damage.
Modifications: Swap Great Wisdom X with Armor skin.
Variants (instead of undead):
Construct Shape Offers some very skills with Marut (Chain and Elec) Iron Golem (con damage Breath) Stone golem (area blungeoning damage)
Dragon Shape Can use Dragon shape for uni tanking, offers high elemental damage and high DC wing buffet (negligible melee capabilities in dragon shape as weapon buff don't merge or it gets extra attacks)
Outsider Shape Not recommended - CL 55 makes it much less effective
Double-demihood - Paragon feat choices have been made
Higher Levels: Upon gaining some levels and using a Knockdown Panndect I feel that some choices must be made to optimize the tanking ability of the build. Changes include getting Expertise and LWF.
Paragon levels: This help this build a lot. First sketch on feat suggestion bellow.
A good idea came up: Ditch LWF for LFF Humanoid 2, as 99+ AB is pointless on Risen lord, but Humanoid needs +4 AB (due EWF applying with LFF 2) in order to get numbers around 95. Corrected a few numbers.
Major update: Changed the shape focus from Wild 3 Humanoid 3 and Dragon 1 to Wild 3 Undead 3 Humanoid 1.[/i]
To do list:
Improve the build based on suggestions
Shape usage mini-guide for Undead.
Cunning Shifter (Shifter 27 / Druid 8 / Ranger 5)
Overview:
This is a AB/DC Shifter, having the combined versatility of Wild, Humanoid and Undead Shapes. At higher levels Humanoid shapes offer a myriad of good options like the powerful ranged Kenku with 6 attacks using a DB weapon, the handy 15% Lash Infliction with the Lizardfolk, and of course, the Drow with Mortal Strike.
Requirements:
Anarch subrace
Undead/Humanoid Epode
Recommended:
Wisdom artifact (Humanoid needs this to get a reliable DC)
Knockdown Pandect (Only at very high levels AB get close to 110)
OC/DC Unnarmed on an armor slot (this one is a must for Drow)
Main features:
Maximum Wisdom for DC
4 base attacks, which means 6 with haste and Legendary Form Focus.
Reasonable Disciple Parry (43)
Decent saves (R58/F60/W73) Reflex increases as most shapes have more than 8 base Dex.
Character creation:
Base: Human
Subrace: Anarch
Str 8
Dex 8
Con 12->16
Wis 18->24 (+30)
Int 16
Cha 8
(Level up points go into Wisdom)
Saves (with +12 gear):
Ref 2+6+5+2+7+35 = 58 (at 8 base dex)
Will 6+2+1+28+35 = 72
Fort 6+6+4+9+35 = 60
Skills: (only increase Hide only after you get LSA:Tumble)
Tumble 60
Disciple 43 (dump Ranger 40)
Parry 43 (dump at druid 20 Ranger 40)
Hide 63 (low priority)
Concentration 43
Animal empathy 63
Listen 63
Craft armor 63
Craft Weapon 63
Paragon choices: (Concentration+20 AE+10 Listen+10 CW+10 CA+10)
Feats and level progression:
Anarch bonus feats:
Martial weapon proficiency
Armor skin
Weapon Spec - Regular and Epic
Alertness
Pre-epic (5 Druid->8 Shifter->3 Druid->4 Ranger)
1 Blooded - Toughness
3 Lightning Reflexes
6 Heavy Armor Proficiency
9 Weapon Focus unnamed
12 GWF
15 Improved Critical
18 Expertise (it's useful when you want to use Risen lord or Jello)
Epic = 7+6/bonus (19 Shifter->1 Ranger)
21 Epic Prowess
24 Undead Shape
40 Epic Weapon Focus (ranger bonus feat)
(other levels) Great wisdom 1-10
Legendary = 7
41+ -> read spell penetration tome
42 LSA tumble
45-48-51 Legendary Wild shape 1-2-3
51+ -> Use Undead Epode (If you have the Humanoid Epode, swap their respective feats around)
54 Legendary Reflexes
57 LFF Humanoid 1
60 LFF Humanoid 2
Paragon = 6 - Pandect: KD
63 Paragon Form Focus Undead
66 LFF Humanoid 3
69 Paragon Form Focus Humanoid
72 Legendary Form defense
75 LWF
78 Paragon Form Defense
AC and AB calculations (non-bur gear or artifacts)
AB:
38/bab +5/wf+gwf+ewf+EP
AC (UR gear)
10 - base
16 - natural
18 - armor
16 - deflection
20 - dodge+haste
12 - tumble
2 - armor skin
2 - craft armor
Total = 96 + shape dex and shield bonus ac
Keep in mind, +14 dex, Guirding(+2), +50 skill bonus to Craft Armor, +17 Deflection and Natural, and each demi iteration each increases this value by 1
Also, With PFF, And Form Defense, you'll get +10 ac.
Double Demihood adds +2 AC to all shapes
Humanoid shapes also benefit form LFF Humanoid III (+2 AC)
Armed Shape modifiers at PL 60 and LFF 3 Wild/Undead but LFF 2 Humanoid:
Drow - 26 ab 28 ac
Kobold - 28 ab 33 ac (add +1 from small size)
Lizard - 29 ab 33 ac
Kenku 30 ab 33 ac
Minotaur 32 ab 35 ac (and there is a gear that grants OC DC)
Gargoyle 31 ab 25 ac (yes it's armed)
Risen Lord 34 ab 24 ac
Gear guidelines:
Look for bonuses to Animal empathy, and look for heavy armors with high AC and resistances.
Weapons: You can use any melee one handed weapon, so try to cover level with 50 weapons the damages you have hard time inflicting. DB weapons are also very handy when fully buffed for general DPS.
Shield: While Ac doesn't merge, the shield's resistance bonuses do.
Asmo Artifact:The armor, Bastion of Fallen Lord provides solid defenses, and immunity to earthquake, which is more than welcome on undead shapes, as they have vulnerability to positive damage.
Artifact: Wisdom.
Shape Usage mini-guide:
Wild Shapes
Minotaur - If you get the gear with OC DC great axe, it allows great damage against crittable mobs - but usually not worth since it has 1 less attack than shapes with LFF. It packs a single cast of maze at PL 40, which is nice.
Harpy - Helps the casters and yourself when there isn't another curser.
Medusa - The shifter trademark, a spammable stoning ignoring SR, make sure to target cursed mobs.
Dire Tiger - His knockdown (LFF1+) works on many different mobs, as it rolls against reflex instead of Disciple skill, making it useful against Hiogh Discipline enemies.
Manticore - Does very solid damage against mobs without pierce resist - However the damage potential is reduced due Ranger levels.
Mindflayer - It's a nice substitute to Weird, while it's hard to find a mobs susceptible to it, it also does psionic damage.
Beholder - Very useful for single target cold and negative damage. Be careful to not hit allies with the anti-magic cone.
Undead Shapes
Risen lord
- It can breathe in any environment and is immune to Breach.
- Slay living on hit. While it's slay living has 3 less DC than Banshee's it can attempt it 6 times per round.
- DPS - It does great physical damage (str mod x 150%) and critical hits (scythe).
Banshee
- It doesn't use spells, so both Howls ignore Spell Resistance.
- It packs a stronger aura than xDD, but only affects saves.
Vampire
- While levitation is a nice perk, the active powers are very powerful.
- Domination gaze allows you to get some unexpected helpers on several areas.
- Vampiric touch serves as a spamable negative damage spell.
- Gaseous form works as a toggleable ethereal visage, allowing you to blink and lure enemies.
Baelnorn
- This shape has two spells hence the 5 ranger splash hurts it the most.
- Sunburt - It mostly useful on legendary levels, as the TR is limited to 55. Against non-undead as it does a little bit of magic damage. (Workso n Abyss after a NB)
- Finger of Death - Does positive damage, and is very handy due it's range.
- Empower Ally - Grants 2 minutes of CL +1 - stack 3 times (handy for casters with splash, beating SR and increasing DC)
Spectre
Shadow Touch - it drains (Foci + 1)d4 and Ignores SR.
Bestow Curse - Helps a bit. Specially due the SR -11 debuff at CL 55.
Other subrace Adjustments:
Doppleganger subrace - Loses 2 Con, 1 DC, and 4 Physical damage.
Modifications: Swap Great Wisdom X with Armor skin.
Variants (instead of undead):
Construct Shape Offers some very skills with Marut (Chain and Elec) Iron Golem (con damage Breath) Stone golem (area blungeoning damage)
Dragon Shape Can use Dragon shape for uni tanking, offers high elemental damage and high DC wing buffet (negligible melee capabilities in dragon shape as weapon buff don't merge or it gets extra attacks)
Outsider Shape Not recommended - CL 55 makes it much less effective