-Olympus- (Barb8/Sorc32)

[wollstonecraft]

Here’s the Accursed Pariah build I’m currently playing. It’s different than most Pariahs and makes a few compromises compared to the classic 20/20 split, but overall I am happy with this build’s utility. I use it mainly for soloing LLs, but it also fares quite well in Hells parties. I am not a very good character builder, but this build works pretty well for my play style.

I consider the build to be a very stable arcane-replacement in that it can perform some of the important duties of an arcane caster (in Hells, anyway). It endures many attacks with soak, regeneration, and a touch of conceal. It’s also kind of a poor-man’s Sorcerer because it forgoes the need for both a Charisma artifact and a shield pandect.

The extra spells from Sorc levels lend themselves well to Evocation focus since they grant one extra spell level up to level 6 over Barb CC. The build gets 4 epic Sorc bonus feats, so fitting Evoc is no problem. I took an Extra Spell Known feat to allow a full complement of elemental damage AoEs without losing any of the Pariah niche spells. I also fit in all of the decent damage shields, which are great for soloing and small parties.

A tiny added feature is that I can visit the spell ped each level, so I can play around with spell choices to find what works best. The spellbook is listed below.

The build can channel magic. It also gains access to Paragon spells. The obvious choice is Karsus.

With only 3 uses of Rage per day (lasting about 3:45 each), I have to decide on just the right time to use them. This could be mitigated with a Tempest of Blood belt (though I’d not give up the extra spell slots, personally) or a Barb Rage ego (for double duration).

In heavy armour, I can break 100% physical immunity thanks to some lucky randomizations. Other options include Fist robes (for extra spell pen) or Styg robes (for extra DC). I can also swap on Silks of the Iridescent for the elemental immunity buff when Shunt is not available. Interestingly, Plate of Anubis still gives AoE FoD. If you were to take FoD, that’d be another option. 32 Sorc levels let me wear Mask of the Blood War.

Yes, this build has 2 less spell DC than a Barb CC Pariah.

Gnome
Maelephant
Str 6 [10]
Dex 8 (-4 with quasi status)
Con 20 [26] --> {78} at level 80, 2x demi, +16 gear
Int 14
Wis 8
Cha 15 (+4 with quasi status)

All stat increases go to Con

Pre-LL Leveling
1. Sorc: SF Trans
2. Barb
3. Sorc: GSF Trans
4. Barb
5. Barb
6. Sorc: Still Spell
7. Barb
8. Sorc
9. Sorc: SF Evoc
10. Barb
11. Barb
12. Sorc: GSF Evoc
13. Barb
14. Sorc
15. Sorc SF Necro
16. Sorc
17. Sorc
18. Sorc: GSF Necro *Quasi Status*
19. Sorc
20. Sorc
21. Sorc: Gr Con 1
22. Sorc
23. Sorc
24. Sorc: Gr Con 2
25. Sorc
26. Sorc
27. Sorc: Gr Con 3
28. Sorc
29. Sorc
30. Sorc: ESF Trans, Gr Con4
31. Sorc
32. Sorc
33. Sorc: ESF Evoc, Gr Con 5
34. Sorc
35. Sorc
36. Sorc: ESF Necro, Gr Con 6
37. Sorc
38. Sorc
39. Sorc: Extra Spell Known (6), Gr Con 7
40. Barb
41. Spell Penetration tome

Use a Con Artifact at 55

Legendary Feats
1) Gr Con 8
2) Gr Con 9
3) Gr Con 10
4) Empower Spell
5) Leg. Spell Penetration
6) LSF Trans
7) LSF Necro

Paragon Feats
1) Para. Spell Penetration
2) LSF Evoc
3) PSF Evoc
4) PSK: Karsus
5) PSF Trans
6) PSF Necro

Saves
Fort: about 80
Reflex: about 50
Will: about 55

Skills
Concentration 63
Discipline dump at level 40
Craft armour 40
Lore 63
Spellcraft

Spellbook
1) Endure Elements
Expedious Retreat
Ray of Enfeeblement
Magic Weapon
Ice Dagger
Shelgarn’s

2) Combust
Flame Weapon
Shock Weapon
Stone Bones
Melf’s Acid Arrow
Vocalize

3) GMW
Keen
Displacement
Gust
Scint Sphere

4) Evards
Bestow Curse
Enervation
Elemental Shield
Wall of Fire

5) Energy Buffer
Flensing
Melf’s Acid Shield
Break Enchantment
Vitriolic Sphere

6) Stone to Flesh
Flesh to Stone
Disintegration
Circle of Death
Freezing Sphere

7) Delayed Blast Fireball
Great Thunder Clap
Reverse Gravity

8) Horrid Wilting
Sunburst
Bigby’s Clenched

9) Mords
Shapechange
Bigby’s Grasping

Epic Spells
Epic Wall
Death of Magic
Missile Barrage

Para Spell
Karsus’ Avatar

Thanks for reading.
-WSCraft

[Torin]

Thanks for posting a cc:sorc Pariah, that was really missing in the forum. The trick are Epics, Kersus, right?

With 30 sorc levels, isn't EMA with Epic Dodge an option? Or does a Pariah gets hit anyway a lot per round?

Added to wiki.

[desocupado]

Just for reference:

Barbarian CC
+ More 2 DC (Con+4 at LL 60) - also improves Transmutation's spell penetration
+ 5 rages per day (3 more)
+ Greater rage (+2 rounds per rage) - regular rage lasts Con mod +7 by default
+ More hp per level (about 536 more at level 60)
+ Better skill choices (including discipline and parry) and 3 more skill points per level

Sorcerer CC
+ One more extra spell known up to level VI
+ Channel magic
+ Access to Extra spell known feat
+ Additional bonus Epic Feats (4, enough for an entire school)
+ Epic spells (it's cool to get DoM)
+ Karsus and possibly other Paragon spells (karsus with both meteor swarm and earthquake is potentially nasty)
+ Ability to swap spells on level up

--------------------------------

Consider getting:
1 - Meteor Swarm (IX)
2 - Chain lightning (VI)
3 - UtD (VI)
4 - Polar Ray (VIII)
5 - Acid Fog (VI)
6 - Freezing Fog (V)
7 - Break Enchantment (V)
8 - Spell Breach (VI) / Spell Breach (IV) / Greater Spell Breach (VIII)
9 - Mass Haste (VI)

Flesh to Stone (VI) could be dropped. Extra know spells changed to level IX and you could get meteor swarm.
Stoning can be done with Shape change: Balor (assuming it also gets the bonus DC)

Also Stone to flesh grants a physical damage kickback shield, up to 150 piercing damage with empowered spell - not THAT useful when compared to other level VI spells or extra spell known.

------ Edit----

Alternatively you could get a Greater breach instead of flesh to stone (to handle spell shields) and drop Mord for Meteor swarm.
Dropping Stone to Flesh for Chain Lightning would be better in my opinion. it does 2x Scintillating Sphere damage

[Vichya]

Aug 8, 2014 11:25:30 GMT desocupado said:

+ Better skill choices (including discipline and parry) and 2 more skill points per level

Barbarians get 5 skill points per level on HG, so they even get 3 more than sorcerers.

[desocupado]

Aug 8, 2014 12:34:26 GMT Vichya said:

Aug 8, 2014 11:25:30 GMT desocupado said:

+ Better skill choices (including discipline and parry) and 2 more skill points per level

Barbarians get 5 skill points per level on HG, so they even get 3 more than sorcerers.

Forgot that - fixed

[wollstonecraft]

Thanks for the breakdown, Deso.

A few things I've noticed while playing:
1) I could not breach Raks using Greater Breach, even with multiple castings. I opted for Mords to reduce my frustration.
2) Flesh to Stone still comes in pretty handy for dealing with Spinagons at a distance. Pariahs always suffer from Dex check KD, and Shapechange just doesn't have the range for distant mobs. Plus, FtS gets a DC bonus, so it pretty much always lands, even on Elites.
3) I'm not convinced of the benefit of Meteor Swarm over Empowered Reverse Gravity.
4) Similarly with Polar Ray, if I want to do cold damage, I'll empower Freezing Sphere. If I want crowd control, I'll use FtS, Shapechange, or Bigby's.
5) I prefer Sunburst over UTD simply because when UTD doesn't land, it does nothing. When Sunburst doesn't land, it still does a little damage.

Thanks for your interest.

-WSCraft

[desocupado]

Aug 8, 2014 20:08:48 GMT wollstonecraft said:

1) I could not breach Raks using Greater Breach, even with multiple castings. I opted for Mords to reduce my frustration.

Silly me, forgot the Level VIII spell immunity.

Aug 8, 2014 20:08:48 GMT wollstonecraft said:

2) Flesh to Stone still comes in pretty handy for dealing with Spinagons at a distance. Pariahs always suffer from Dex check KD, and Shapechange just doesn't have the range for distant mobs. Plus, FtS gets a DC bonus, so it pretty much always lands, even on Elites.

That's a good point, tough you really need to make most use of evocation, and you lack damage types.

Aug 8, 2014 20:08:48 GMT wollstonecraft said:

3) I'm not convinced of the benefit of Meteor Swarm over Empowered Reverse Gravity.

D6*1,5 bludgeoning versus D10 divine.
The difference is karsus. - 15*CL versus 9*CL
Also meteor gets +1 DC and is awesome against both Male and PF.
Having booth isn't bad at all.

Aug 8, 2014 20:08:48 GMT wollstonecraft said:

4) Similarly with Polar Ray, if I want to do cold damage, I'll empower Freezing Sphere. If I want crowd control, I'll use FtS, Shapechange, or Bigby's.

This one is actually a draw (polar gets 2 more DC) - another level VI slot could cover another spell. (also polar ray ignores level VI spell immunity)
Since chain lightning and UtD are on the useful spell list...

Aug 8, 2014 20:08:48 GMT wollstonecraft said:

5) I prefer Sunburst over UTD simply because when UTD doesn't land, it does nothing. When Sunburst doesn't land, it still does a little damage.

Actually they have different uses/targets. It's good to have both for Abyss (and UtD is useful for Ely)