Post by dodrudon on Nov 21, 2006 6:59:46 GMT
Edit (12/16/06): Fixed stat errors, forgot to account for HG's RDD con bonuses. Added more variations. Then made variations original build and took out variations.
Edit (11/21/06): Fixed error in build. More information on build added, with variations.
Until the BURRs came out it was impossible (afaik) to make an RDD build with 7 levels of WM, but with salamander....
This is for a WM RDD, later becoming larger in size, allowing you to wield a large weapon in one hand and a shield in the other. The weapon used is greatsword (2handed till size change 2d6 19-20/x2), but can also be switched for a scimitar (1 handed 1d6 18-20/x2).
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Race: Human Salamander (Armor Skin, Dodge, Mobility, +8 Lore, 25% Fire Immune)
Base Stats:
STR 17->23
DEX 11->13
CON 15
WIS 8
INT 11->13
CHA 11 (min for bard)
(almost) max STR because that's your main stat.
13 DEX is required for Whirlwind.
CON is as high as possible, given other stat requirements.
WIS is not useful in this build.
13 INT is required for Expertise and Whirlwind.
CHA is 11 because that's minimum for a bard.
+8 lore lets you get RDD at level 2. Don't forget to get 4 initimidate before taking WM.
Feat Progression
*Recommended Feat
Level 1: Bard (Weapon Proficiency Martial, Heavy Armor Proficiency*)
Level 2-11: RDD (Expertise, WF: Greatsword, Spring Attack)
Level 12: Bard (Whirlwind)
Level 13-19: WM (WoC: Greatsword, Imp Crit: Scythe, Toughness/Blindfight*)
Level 20: Bard
Level 21-40: RDD (EpicWF: Greatsword*, Epic Toughness x9, Toughness/Blindfight*, Epic Toughness)
Toughness is nice but not necessary. Blindfight is very important, however.
Feats MUST be taken in this order to get WM in time, as well as to get RDD bonuses immediately. This leaves 7 legendary feats. For one of the level-up stat points, take Con instead of Str (preferably early on) to make both even. Also, this allows you to take Epic Damage Reduction at LLs.
Level 40-60: Using normal progression, you get EDR 1-3 at levels 51, 54, and 57, but if you'd like 60 more HP, EDR 10 levels earlier, and +1 to fort save, at the cost of 1 point of AB and damage, take two points of Con instead of Str. This still leaves you with 4 feats, choose from Epic Weapon Focus, Epic Prowess, Great Constitution, Great Strength, Epic Save feats (will or reflex). If you don't take any Great Cons, you can get either +4 AB and +1 dmg, or +2 ab and +2 dmg.
Feat Requirements
Expertise: 13 int
Wep Prof Martial: none
Wep Focus: BAB +1, proficiency with chosen weapon
Spring Attack: 13 dex, Dodge, Mobility, BAB +4
Whirlwind: 13 dex, 13 int, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, BAB +4
Bard gets the 3/4th BAB per level progression, so still has BAB +0 at level 1, so you can't get Weapon Proficiency Exotic (prereq BAB +1) in order to go scythe, unfortunately.
Skills
You can get 23 UMD at level 20 (not much, but it helps with items like Shadow Orb), 17 Spellcraft (spellcraft bonus to saves is counted in the 20 cap, and includes any skill modifiers so the +3 from int will boost you to 20, you should have +16 at least from equipment anyways), and Tumble (if you plan on getting more of these cross-class at LLs), Discipline is always nice, and maybe some Appraise.
Special Abilities
At level 11, you get immunity to Fire, Sleep, and Paralysis.
At level 30, you get True Seeing and immunity to Sneak Attack, and SR of 10+level (20+RDD levels).
At level 40: 852/912HP (with Tougness), 44 strength, 20 constitution, 16 intelligence, 14 charisma, 4 attacks/r, your size becomes large (greatsword+shield), Dragonfear Aura, Greater Dragon Breath (16d12 dc40), Wing Buffet (6d12 dc30). Saves are F/W/R 24 or 25/21/22 unbuffed, 50 or 51/47/48 max buffed.
AB is 26 (BAB) + 17 (STRmod) + 4 (2 from focus, 1 from WM) = 47
At level 60, HP is 1192/1252, strength is 60/58, con is 22/24, int is 17, cha is 15. Saves are Saves are F/W/R 29 or 30/26/27 unbuffed, 55 or 56/52/53 max buffed.
Crit range with greatsword is 13-20/x3, with scimitar is 10-20, x3. Crit multiplier isn't as great as the scythe's x5, but you have a better chance at critting compared to scythe's 16-20. Also greatsword has a base 2d6 damage, while scythe has 2d4.
Calculate average GS dmg to be 7, and scythe to be 5. Assume 20 swings of both weapons, GS does 12*7+8*(7*3)=252 dmg, for scythe 15*5+5*(5*5)=200. Against crit immune enemies, GS does 2 more dmg per hit.
Misc Info
Draconic Armor should scale up to +10 AC LLs (if not, then at least +8 at RDD lvl 30). Though listed as natural AC, it actually falls into the "other" category and stacks with everything.
Though you take ten Great Toughness feats, you get ten points of strength in return, as well as 4 con, 2 int, 2 cha, (from HG mods) and the 200 hp Great Toughness grants you. It's even better than taking Great Strength. On top of that, the base RDD class gains 8 str, 2 int, 2 con, and 2 cha, for a total of 18 str, 6 con, 4 int, and 4 cha. Your AB will be equivalent to a build with that started with the same base stats and took all ten Great Strength feats, but with 4 more points of damage, because the 18 str bonus has the 10 str in it, as well as an extra 8 which makes up for the missing 4 AB due to not taking all 20 levels in a 1/1 BAB progression (bard and RDD are 3/4).
Edit (11/21/06): Fixed error in build. More information on build added, with variations.
Until the BURRs came out it was impossible (afaik) to make an RDD build with 7 levels of WM, but with salamander....
This is for a WM RDD, later becoming larger in size, allowing you to wield a large weapon in one hand and a shield in the other. The weapon used is greatsword (2handed till size change 2d6 19-20/x2), but can also be switched for a scimitar (1 handed 1d6 18-20/x2).
====
Race: Human Salamander (Armor Skin, Dodge, Mobility, +8 Lore, 25% Fire Immune)
Base Stats:
STR 17->23
DEX 11->13
CON 15
WIS 8
INT 11->13
CHA 11 (min for bard)
(almost) max STR because that's your main stat.
13 DEX is required for Whirlwind.
CON is as high as possible, given other stat requirements.
WIS is not useful in this build.
13 INT is required for Expertise and Whirlwind.
CHA is 11 because that's minimum for a bard.
+8 lore lets you get RDD at level 2. Don't forget to get 4 initimidate before taking WM.
Feat Progression
*Recommended Feat
Level 1: Bard (Weapon Proficiency Martial, Heavy Armor Proficiency*)
Level 2-11: RDD (Expertise, WF: Greatsword, Spring Attack)
Level 12: Bard (Whirlwind)
Level 13-19: WM (WoC: Greatsword, Imp Crit: Scythe, Toughness/Blindfight*)
Level 20: Bard
Level 21-40: RDD (EpicWF: Greatsword*, Epic Toughness x9, Toughness/Blindfight*, Epic Toughness)
Toughness is nice but not necessary. Blindfight is very important, however.
Feats MUST be taken in this order to get WM in time, as well as to get RDD bonuses immediately. This leaves 7 legendary feats. For one of the level-up stat points, take Con instead of Str (preferably early on) to make both even. Also, this allows you to take Epic Damage Reduction at LLs.
Level 40-60: Using normal progression, you get EDR 1-3 at levels 51, 54, and 57, but if you'd like 60 more HP, EDR 10 levels earlier, and +1 to fort save, at the cost of 1 point of AB and damage, take two points of Con instead of Str. This still leaves you with 4 feats, choose from Epic Weapon Focus, Epic Prowess, Great Constitution, Great Strength, Epic Save feats (will or reflex). If you don't take any Great Cons, you can get either +4 AB and +1 dmg, or +2 ab and +2 dmg.
Feat Requirements
Expertise: 13 int
Wep Prof Martial: none
Wep Focus: BAB +1, proficiency with chosen weapon
Spring Attack: 13 dex, Dodge, Mobility, BAB +4
Whirlwind: 13 dex, 13 int, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, BAB +4
Bard gets the 3/4th BAB per level progression, so still has BAB +0 at level 1, so you can't get Weapon Proficiency Exotic (prereq BAB +1) in order to go scythe, unfortunately.
Skills
You can get 23 UMD at level 20 (not much, but it helps with items like Shadow Orb), 17 Spellcraft (spellcraft bonus to saves is counted in the 20 cap, and includes any skill modifiers so the +3 from int will boost you to 20, you should have +16 at least from equipment anyways), and Tumble (if you plan on getting more of these cross-class at LLs), Discipline is always nice, and maybe some Appraise.
Special Abilities
At level 11, you get immunity to Fire, Sleep, and Paralysis.
At level 30, you get True Seeing and immunity to Sneak Attack, and SR of 10+level (20+RDD levels).
At level 40: 852/912HP (with Tougness), 44 strength, 20 constitution, 16 intelligence, 14 charisma, 4 attacks/r, your size becomes large (greatsword+shield), Dragonfear Aura, Greater Dragon Breath (16d12 dc40), Wing Buffet (6d12 dc30). Saves are F/W/R 24 or 25/21/22 unbuffed, 50 or 51/47/48 max buffed.
AB is 26 (BAB) + 17 (STRmod) + 4 (2 from focus, 1 from WM) = 47
Ability bonuses
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They gain the following stat increases at the following RDD levels, which include legendary levels if the character's control class is RDD:
15 STR +1
20 STR +1, CON +1, INT +1 (requires Epic Toughness 5)
25 STR +1 (requires Epic Toughness 7)
30 STR +1, CON +1, CHA +1 (requires Epic Toughness 10)
35 STR +1
40 STR +1, CON +1, INT +1
45 STR +1
50 STR +3, CON +1, CHA +1
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They gain the following stat increases at the following RDD levels, which include legendary levels if the character's control class is RDD:
15 STR +1
20 STR +1, CON +1, INT +1 (requires Epic Toughness 5)
25 STR +1 (requires Epic Toughness 7)
30 STR +1, CON +1, CHA +1 (requires Epic Toughness 10)
35 STR +1
40 STR +1, CON +1, INT +1
45 STR +1
50 STR +3, CON +1, CHA +1
At level 60, HP is 1192/1252, strength is 60/58, con is 22/24, int is 17, cha is 15. Saves are Saves are F/W/R 29 or 30/26/27 unbuffed, 55 or 56/52/53 max buffed.
Crit range with greatsword is 13-20/x3, with scimitar is 10-20, x3. Crit multiplier isn't as great as the scythe's x5, but you have a better chance at critting compared to scythe's 16-20. Also greatsword has a base 2d6 damage, while scythe has 2d4.
Calculate average GS dmg to be 7, and scythe to be 5. Assume 20 swings of both weapons, GS does 12*7+8*(7*3)=252 dmg, for scythe 15*5+5*(5*5)=200. Against crit immune enemies, GS does 2 more dmg per hit.
Misc Info
Draconic Armor should scale up to +10 AC LLs (if not, then at least +8 at RDD lvl 30). Though listed as natural AC, it actually falls into the "other" category and stacks with everything.
Though you take ten Great Toughness feats, you get ten points of strength in return, as well as 4 con, 2 int, 2 cha, (from HG mods) and the 200 hp Great Toughness grants you. It's even better than taking Great Strength. On top of that, the base RDD class gains 8 str, 2 int, 2 con, and 2 cha, for a total of 18 str, 6 con, 4 int, and 4 cha. Your AB will be equivalent to a build with that started with the same base stats and took all ten Great Strength feats, but with 4 more points of damage, because the 18 str bonus has the 10 str in it, as well as an extra 8 which makes up for the missing 4 AB due to not taking all 20 levels in a 1/1 BAB progression (bard and RDD are 3/4).