Beginner's Gnoll Whipmaster (26 ranger 14 Blackguard)
Mar 15, 2016 4:02:08 GMT
tomaan and Torin like this
Post by sabregirl on Mar 15, 2016 4:02:08 GMT
If you're a brand new player, HG can be pretty daunting. This build is designed to be the very first thing someone coming to HG can build. It is a tank, and a STR tank which can solo a lot of the early tags and areas. More importantly it is a self buffing tank - and one that assists the party by inflicting enemies and increasing the damage of everyone else in the party. Even more importantly, Ranger is a bonus class for Gnoll which means this build receives 10% bonus XP meaning you can get to higher levels faster and obtain better subraces for other classes. Add in bonus xp for lowbie tags and you get a 15% bonus xp.
This build is mostly designed to be played into legendary levels but not necessarily into hells - primarily because of favored enemy choices - designed for the drow areas, immortal, desert etc. However with the right gear and a few changes it could be reasonably hells suitable.
The biggest drawback to this build is its reliance on whips, however there are a number of set and store-bought whips that are not too bad. Wastalgraniq drops a good whip and there is a decent whip at the imported weapons merchant. Even better is to farm or trade for random whips such as lvl 17, 29 and 35 versions.
Lash of Hatred Quasiclass: Requirements.
- The Lash of Hatred quasiclass combines the Ranger's singleminded devotion to slaying certain types of foes with the Blackguard's rage and magic. This potent mix of hatred is channeled through the Lash's weapon of choice, the whip.
- To qualify for Lash of Hatred the character must have 12 levels of Ranger, 10 levels of Blackguard, and Weapon Focus (Whip) before level 24.
Lashes Receive
Weapon Feats
- On achieving Lash of Hatred status at level 22 or 23, the Lash receives Weapon Specialization (Whip), Disarm, Improved Disarm, Knockdown, and Improved Knockdown as bonus feats.
Spells
- The Lash of Hatred casts Blade Thirst and Camouflage using Ranger level + Blackguard level, including legendary levels if the Lash's control class is Ranger or Blackguard.
Touch of the Lash
- When the Lash of Hatred casts Blade Thirst on a whip he is wielding, he imbues it with the Touch of the Lash.
- The duration of his Blade Thirst spell multiplies by 10. The additional damage done by Blade Thirst is negative damage instead of positive, and is increased by 2 dice. This additional damage can be activated and deactivated with the !damon and !damoff commands.
- A whip imbued with the Touch of the Lash inflicts up to 5% damage vulnerability to physical, elemental, and negative damage on hit when striking a favored enemy, to a maximum of (2 + Blackguard class level)% (half that for physical and negative damage). If the Lash has the Bane of Enemies feat, the limit increases a further 5%. In addition, when striking a favored enemy, it inflicts a -2 Discipline penalty for 2 rounds.
This means this build will inflict 21% vulnerability to the chosen racial types
Shown above at lvl 50 self buffed with storebought URs, immortal gear etc. - very attainable for a determined new player. I bought most of the URs on the player market, won a few on runs.
I highly recommend trading for a lvl 35 whip.
Base Race: Human (Required for Gnoll)
Subrace: Gnoll
CON +3, STR +3 INT -2 CHA -2 Wis -2
Starting Stats (After Gnoll is applied)
Strength 14 (17)
Dexterity 14
Constitution 10 (13)
Wisdom 16 (14)
Intelligence 14 (12)
Charisma 8 (6)
Alignment - any evil (necessary for blackguard)
Stat points
All Strength - this will increase your ab, damage and eventually get your strength high enough for critical hit immunity.
Lvl Progression
01: Ranger(1): Weapon Proficiency Exotic, Blooded, Favored Enemy: Dragons -Favored enemies on a lash give you extra attack bonus and the ability to inflict - lower enemy immunities of monsters with the matching racial type
02: Ranger(2)
03: Ranger(3): Weapon Focus: Whip
04: Ranger(4): STR+1
05: Ranger(5): Favored Enemy: Aberrations
06: Ranger(6): Power Attack (required for cleave)
07: Ranger(7)
08: Ranger(8): STR+1
09: Ranger(9): Cleave (required for blackguard)
10: Ranger(10): Favored Enemy: Humans
11: Ranger(11)
12: Ranger(12): STR+1, Great Cleave (Be sure to have at least 5 points in hide before this level or you will not qualify for blackguard)
13: Blackguard(1)
14: Blackguard(2)
15: Blackguard(3): Iron Will
16: Blackguard(4): STR+1
17: Blackguard(5)
18: Blackguard(6): Improved Critical: Whip
19: Blackguard(7)
20: Blackguard(8): STR+1
21: Blackguard(9): Great Constitution I (so your constitution will be even)
22: Blackguard(10)
23: Blackguard(11)
24: Blackguard(12): STR+1, Epic Weapon Focus: Whip
25: Ranger(13)
26: Blackguard(13): Epic Prowess
27: Blackguard(14): Great Strength I
28: Ranger(14): STR+1
29: Ranger(15): Favored Enemy: Undeads
30: Ranger(16): Great Strength II
31: Ranger(17)
32: Ranger(18): STR+1
33: Ranger(19): Great Strength III
34: Ranger(20): Favored Enemy: Outsiders
35: Ranger(21)
36: Ranger(22): STR+1, Great Strength IV
37: Ranger(23): Bane of Enemies
38: Ranger(24)
39: Ranger(25): Great Strength V, Favored Enemy: Reptilian Humanoids
40: Ranger(26): STR+1, Favored Enemy: Elves
Legendary Feats
Legendary skill affinity tumble - allows you to put skill points in tumble to increase your ac - take this feat first
Legendary weapon focus whip (Increases your AB by 3
LSF Enchantment OR ESF Search (can find secrets)
Great Strength V - VII
Greater Weapon Focus (Improves AB by 1)
Skills
Max Discipline, Tumble (in legendary levels after taking LSA tumble), Hide, Listen, Search, put 30 points in Concentration, Put at least some points in Animal empathy starting off so you can pick up "friends" while leveling - especially Oltum
When you get a spell focus book from Ssith, try to get Enchant before you hit lvl 60 so you can take legendary enchant to increase your blade thirst to +14.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Playing the build - this can be tricky starting off with nothing but if you make use of your animal companion -especially with magic fang and greater magic fang spells - and go slowly it will work out okay.
(will add videos later)
-S
This build is mostly designed to be played into legendary levels but not necessarily into hells - primarily because of favored enemy choices - designed for the drow areas, immortal, desert etc. However with the right gear and a few changes it could be reasonably hells suitable.
The biggest drawback to this build is its reliance on whips, however there are a number of set and store-bought whips that are not too bad. Wastalgraniq drops a good whip and there is a decent whip at the imported weapons merchant. Even better is to farm or trade for random whips such as lvl 17, 29 and 35 versions.
Lash of Hatred Quasiclass: Requirements.
- The Lash of Hatred quasiclass combines the Ranger's singleminded devotion to slaying certain types of foes with the Blackguard's rage and magic. This potent mix of hatred is channeled through the Lash's weapon of choice, the whip.
- To qualify for Lash of Hatred the character must have 12 levels of Ranger, 10 levels of Blackguard, and Weapon Focus (Whip) before level 24.
Lashes Receive
Weapon Feats
- On achieving Lash of Hatred status at level 22 or 23, the Lash receives Weapon Specialization (Whip), Disarm, Improved Disarm, Knockdown, and Improved Knockdown as bonus feats.
Spells
- The Lash of Hatred casts Blade Thirst and Camouflage using Ranger level + Blackguard level, including legendary levels if the Lash's control class is Ranger or Blackguard.
Touch of the Lash
- When the Lash of Hatred casts Blade Thirst on a whip he is wielding, he imbues it with the Touch of the Lash.
- The duration of his Blade Thirst spell multiplies by 10. The additional damage done by Blade Thirst is negative damage instead of positive, and is increased by 2 dice. This additional damage can be activated and deactivated with the !damon and !damoff commands.
- A whip imbued with the Touch of the Lash inflicts up to 5% damage vulnerability to physical, elemental, and negative damage on hit when striking a favored enemy, to a maximum of (2 + Blackguard class level)% (half that for physical and negative damage). If the Lash has the Bane of Enemies feat, the limit increases a further 5%. In addition, when striking a favored enemy, it inflicts a -2 Discipline penalty for 2 rounds.
This means this build will inflict 21% vulnerability to the chosen racial types
Shown above at lvl 50 self buffed with storebought URs, immortal gear etc. - very attainable for a determined new player. I bought most of the URs on the player market, won a few on runs.
I highly recommend trading for a lvl 35 whip.
Base Race: Human (Required for Gnoll)
Subrace: Gnoll
CON +3, STR +3 INT -2 CHA -2 Wis -2
Starting Stats (After Gnoll is applied)
Strength 14 (17)
Dexterity 14
Constitution 10 (13)
Wisdom 16 (14)
Intelligence 14 (12)
Charisma 8 (6)
Alignment - any evil (necessary for blackguard)
Stat points
All Strength - this will increase your ab, damage and eventually get your strength high enough for critical hit immunity.
Lvl Progression
01: Ranger(1): Weapon Proficiency Exotic, Blooded, Favored Enemy: Dragons -Favored enemies on a lash give you extra attack bonus and the ability to inflict - lower enemy immunities of monsters with the matching racial type
02: Ranger(2)
03: Ranger(3): Weapon Focus: Whip
04: Ranger(4): STR+1
05: Ranger(5): Favored Enemy: Aberrations
06: Ranger(6): Power Attack (required for cleave)
07: Ranger(7)
08: Ranger(8): STR+1
09: Ranger(9): Cleave (required for blackguard)
10: Ranger(10): Favored Enemy: Humans
11: Ranger(11)
12: Ranger(12): STR+1, Great Cleave (Be sure to have at least 5 points in hide before this level or you will not qualify for blackguard)
13: Blackguard(1)
14: Blackguard(2)
15: Blackguard(3): Iron Will
16: Blackguard(4): STR+1
17: Blackguard(5)
18: Blackguard(6): Improved Critical: Whip
19: Blackguard(7)
20: Blackguard(8): STR+1
21: Blackguard(9): Great Constitution I (so your constitution will be even)
22: Blackguard(10)
23: Blackguard(11)
24: Blackguard(12): STR+1, Epic Weapon Focus: Whip
25: Ranger(13)
26: Blackguard(13): Epic Prowess
27: Blackguard(14): Great Strength I
28: Ranger(14): STR+1
29: Ranger(15): Favored Enemy: Undeads
30: Ranger(16): Great Strength II
31: Ranger(17)
32: Ranger(18): STR+1
33: Ranger(19): Great Strength III
34: Ranger(20): Favored Enemy: Outsiders
35: Ranger(21)
36: Ranger(22): STR+1, Great Strength IV
37: Ranger(23): Bane of Enemies
38: Ranger(24)
39: Ranger(25): Great Strength V, Favored Enemy: Reptilian Humanoids
40: Ranger(26): STR+1, Favored Enemy: Elves
Legendary Feats
Legendary skill affinity tumble - allows you to put skill points in tumble to increase your ac - take this feat first
Legendary weapon focus whip (Increases your AB by 3
LSF Enchantment OR ESF Search (can find secrets)
Great Strength V - VII
Greater Weapon Focus (Improves AB by 1)
Skills
Max Discipline, Tumble (in legendary levels after taking LSA tumble), Hide, Listen, Search, put 30 points in Concentration, Put at least some points in Animal empathy starting off so you can pick up "friends" while leveling - especially Oltum
When you get a spell focus book from Ssith, try to get Enchant before you hit lvl 60 so you can take legendary enchant to increase your blade thirst to +14.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Playing the build - this can be tricky starting off with nothing but if you make use of your animal companion -especially with magic fang and greater magic fang spells - and go slowly it will work out okay.
(will add videos later)
-S