Swiss Army Tank (R42, Dr5, Sh13)

[tomaan]

EDIT 12/7/11: missed +1 AC on tumble so I revamped this build, making some feat changes along the way. Revised build is below.

EDIT 7/28/12: reached double demi so I went back and changed a few things around -- really just added Bane of Enemies for a little extra attack/damage boost to the faves. Will also be adding feat selection to level 80 over the next day or so. Revised build is below.
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Thanks for all the advice on this build. After testing some ideas, I realized that what I'm really after is a more versatile tank. For that reason, I went for a Ranger who can shift, as opposed to a Shifter with Ranger CC.

This means emphasizing combat abilities over shifter casting abilities - I'm forgoing Wildshape altogether to focus on Humanoid and Undead forms. This also means getting to CL41 for all Ranger spells to get the optimum effectiveness out of them.

I maxed Wisdom on this build, but have just discovered that Wisdom will only affect your shifted forms' DC -- you can ignore it altogether and still get the same str/dex in shifted forms. It turns out that high Wisdom is beneficial for rangers spells (esp. regen and dodge AC from polymorph self troll and pixie respectively), but you can also max Con for hp or another ability if you so choose. I recommend high Wisdom for the Ranger benefits as well as the DC on Drow Warrior and Risen Lord insta-kill attacks.

This character performs well in several roles:
Party Support - hard-to-kill forms can rez fallen and pick up knocked down (kd'd) party members
Damage Tank - two handed form (1.5x damage) for extra damage output
Ranged Damage - great for breaking things or attacking hard-to-reach mobs
Crowd Control - limited effectiveness due to nerfed damage, but aoe and save-reducing attacks are available

This can easily be done with Treant, but I got Anarch to add a little to saves.

I would not recommend leveling this from scratch as it is a bit tedious. I'd reincarnate from immo, or lvl 35 at the earliest.

T

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Ranger: 22
Druid: 5
Shifter: 13

Race: Gnome

Subrace: Anarch (works well with Treant)

"Anarch" (secret Beyond UltraRare)
- FC: Druid
- CON +4 WIS +6, free feat: Alertness, free feat: Creature Weapon Specialization, free feat: Martial Weapon Proficiency, free feat: Armor Skin, free feat: Creature Epic Weapon Specialization, increased base movement rate - fast

Stats (starting-->race-->subrace-->buffed@lvl60)
Str: 10-->8-->8-->22
Dex: 8-->8-->8-->22
Con: 14-->16-->20-->38
Wis: 18-->18-->24-->62
Int: 14-->14-->14-->28
Cha: 8-->8-->8-->22

Level Progression - Ranger (1-20), Druid (21-25), Shifter (26-38), Ranger (39-40)

Ability Increases - All to Wisdom

Feats (ClassLvl):
1) Blooded; Favored Enemies: Outsiders (Rgr1)
Blooded allows you to take Legendary Skill Affinity: Tumble and raise your Tumble skill in Legendary levels. This will add a max of +12 to your AC.

Favored Enemies: Outsiders will add 3d of positive damage to Outsiders - the most common race in the Hells

3) Armor Prof: Heavy
Your armor enchantment and any bonuses transfer to your shifted forms; Since Heavy armor gives the best enchantment (+18) and immunities, you will spend most of your time wearing it.

5) Favored Enemies: Aberrations (Rgr5)
Aberrations are another common race found in the Hells. This feat will add 3d positive damage to each aberration you hit.

6) Weapon Focus: Unarmed Strike
Unarmed weapon feats apply to the melee forms you will be using the most. This feat gives +1 to AB.

9) Greater Weapon Focus: Unarmed Strike
Unarmed weapon feats apply to the melee forms you will be using the most. This feat gives +1 to AB.

10) Favored Enemies: Magical Beasts (Rgr10)
Magical Beasts are fairly common enemies found in many legendary areas...including the Hells. This feat will add 3d positive damage to each magical beast you hit.

12) Improved Critical: Unarmed Strike
Unarmed weapon feats apply to the melee forms you will be using the most. This feat adds 1 to crit threat range.

15) Favored Enemies: Animals (Rgr15)
Greater Spell Focus: Illusion
Wasn't too sure about which FE to take here, so I went with animals as there are a few in Hells and other areas. This feat will add 3d positive damage to each animal you hit.
GSF: Illusion improves the effectiveness of your camouflage spell. Could swap for extend spell or similar.


18) Lightning Reflexes
Your reflex saves are your worst saves. This feat will add +2 to them.

20) Favored Enemies: Shapechangers (Rgr20)
Another optional FE -- I chose Shapechangers to help with Raks in the Hells, but you could easily go with something else depending on your needs. This feat will add 3d positive damage to each shapechanger you hit.

21) Epic Reflexes
Your reflex saves are your worst saves. This feat will add +4 to them.

24) Epic Prowess
This adds +1 to your AB. It adds an additional +1 to Legendary Weapon Focus (+3 total) if you take that feat.

27) Epic Weapon Focus: Unarmed Strike
Unarmed weapon feats apply to the melee forms you will be using the most. This feat adds +2 to AB.

30) Great Wisdom I
Wisdom is your primary ability. Increasing it increases the DC for your shifter abilities.

33) Great Wisdom II
Wisdom is your primary ability. Increasing it increases the DC for your shifter abilities.

36) Undead Shape
Undead Shape will provide one of your main melee forms (Risen Lord) as well as forms with area dom (vampire) and death (banshee) attacks.

38) Great Wisdom III (Shft13)
Wisdom is your primary ability. Increasing it increases the DC for your shifter abilities.

39) Bane of Enemies
Bane of Enemies gives +2 to AB and +2d6 damage to armed forms while shifted.


42) Legendary Skill Affinity: Tumble
This feat allows you to raise Tumble as a class skill in Legendary Levels. Raising it to 60 base (lvl 57) will allow you to get the maximum +12 bonus to AC from it.

45) Legendary Form Focus: Humanoid I
This feat increases your AB, AC and ability DC while in Humanoid Forms.

48) Legendary Form Focus: Humanoid II
This feat increases your AB, AC and ability DC while in Humanoid Forms.

51) Legendary Form Focus: Humanoid III
This feat maximises your AB, AC and ability DC while in Humanoid Forms.

54) Legendary Form Focus: Undead I
This feat increases your AB, AC and ability DC while in Undead Forms.

57) Legendary Form Focus: Undead II
This feat increases your AB, AC and ability DC while in Undead Forms.

60) Legendary Form Focus: Undead III
This feat maximises your AB, AC and ability DC while in Undead Forms.

63) Paragon Form Focus: Undead
This feat maximises your AB, AC and ability DC while in Undead Forms.

66) Paragon Form Focus: Humanoid
This feat maximises your AB, AC and ability DC while in Humanoid Forms.

69) Legendary Reflexes
This feat adds +7 to your reflexes, which is your weakest saves. They will now be high enough for all areas of the server in all forms.

72) Legendary Weapon Focus: Unarmed Strike
This feat adds +3 to your AB.

75) Paragon Weapon Focus: Unarmed Strike
This feat adds +2 to your AB.

78) Legendary Form Defense
This feat adds +3 to your AC when shifted which really helps Risen Lord form.


Spell Tome: Enchant

Artifact: Saves


AB:
BAB+EBAB+LBAB+Feats+(CW)+Max Bonus+[form ability modifier]
=20+10+15+5+(1)+20 = 71+[form ability modifier]
(primary melee forms range between 105-118)

AC:
ranges from mid 110s to mid 140s with girding depending on form and gear

Saves:
F: ~70, W: ~75, R: ~70 (depending on form)

Skills:
Concentration (25), Craft Weapon (max), Discipline (max), Hide (max), Listen (max), Parry (max), Tumble (60), Craft Armor (max); Craft Weapon (leftover....)

Ranger Spell Selection: (gear-based slots are lost when shift, so only using base spell slots)
1st: Camouflage
2nd: Protection from Elements (14% elem immunity)
3rd: Blade Thirst, Greater Magic Fang (if using pet)
4th: Polymorph Self (Pixie, Troll, Spider), Freedom of Movement, Mass Camouflage (if no druid epic)
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Advantages:
-- Ranged, dex, str, and near-uni tank forms
-- Several insta-kill attacks
-- GS (Vampire Form)
-- Weapon flexibilty; attack bonuses come from unarmed weapon feats so can wield any weapon
-- Con bonus, SF: Illusion (bonus to hide skill) and extra skill points from Gnome
-- Up to 67% concealment in heavy armor (gear dependent)
-- Great AB
-- Great AC on dex and uni forms; Good AC on str forms
-- Great HP
-- Ranger spells reach CL42 plateau for increased effectiveness (+13 Blade Thirst, +5% conceal, etc.)
-- Regenerate ~30 pts/round with Polymorph: Troll
-- 5 Favored Enemies (+3d positive damage)
-- +14 Dodge AC from Polymorph Self: Pixie offsets hells AC penalty
-- Lizardfolk form has Improved Disarm (use command !action dis opponent)

Disadvantages
-- No Wildshape LFF means no form epode
-- Low DC (~42) on any non-humanoid/undead form abilities
-- Low damage output in most forms; need item/augment to get Dev Crit: Unarmed Strike
-- Low Reflex save in str forms until Paragon levels
-- All insta-kills are Fort-checks; nothing Will-based
-- Shifting in combat can be detrimental to your health (make sure you're clear before you shift)
-- Spells prepared/saved in gear-based spell slots are lost when you shift so your ranger gear doesn't do much good.
-- Summons/Pets are nerfed compared to pure/high level CC builds
-- VERY slow to lvl from 1....recommend reincarnating as immo (or lvl 35 at earliest)
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Here's a quick breakdown of the forms I'm using most (no order). The stats given are at level 60, x2 demi with +16 stats (asmo helm). I also have Paragon Form focus in Humanoid and Undead as of these screens but no Legendary or Paragon Weapon Focus. AB in screen is with +13 BT. Screens are also at lvl 69, so odd-numbered stats will even out by lvl 80.

Lizardfolk - great near-uni tank; inflicts 20% damage vulnerability. Can disarm using !action dis opponent
STR - 85; DEX - 40; AB - 111; AC - 142 (144 w/girding); Saves: F(69), R(74), W(75); 55% Concealment; Disarm DC ~113

Role: Party Support (humanoid forms can use assist other to pick up KD'd and rez dead party members).





Kenku - a fully buffed DB weapon makes for pretty good ranged damage.
STR - 34; DEX - 87; AB - 112; AC - 142 (144 w/girding); Saves: F(63), R(83), W(70); 67% Concealment

Role: Ranged Attack





Risen Lord - str tank; two handed weapon damage; insta-kill on-hit; immune to breach & crits
STR - 89; DEX - 28; AB - 113; AC - 129 (131 w/girding); Saves: F(69), R(68), W(75); 53% Concealment; Slay Living DC - 56

Role: Damage Tank





Drow Warrior - uni tank with Mortal Strike ability & improved evasion
STR - 78; DEX - 44; AB - 108; AC - 137 (139 w/girding); Saves: F(68), R(76), W(75); 55% Conceal; Mortal Strike DC - 56

Role: Party Support (humanoid forms can use assist other to pick up KD'd and rez dead party members)




Kobold Commando - dex tank with 7d6 sneaks, 13d10 traps & improved evasion
STR - 36; DEX - 83; AB - 111; AC - 143; Saves: F(69), R(95), W(75); 67% Conceal;trap DC 56

Role: Crowd Control (using traps for aoe damage and saves reduction)






Banshee - area insta kill attack very good against low-fort mobs
Howl DC - 59

Baelnorn - insta kill attack
Finger of Death - 59

Vampire - cone domination attack;
Domination DC - 57

[tomaan]

Revised feat selection, cleaned up editing, and added key stats for MVFs - Most Valuable Forms.

[MightyKhan]

interesting thats some pretty good ABs actually...
just wondering though, since you are taking 2 x3 LFFs, why not fit in wildshape and use an epode?
it doesnt cost you anything and you gain a LOT in return

[StrykerOfChaos]

Take aberration instead of construct? Once you hit hells, most of the constructs you really shouldn't be hitting. Aberrations probably has a lot more end-game functionality.

[StrykerOfChaos]

Jan 3, 2011 14:50:03 GMT MightyKhan said:

interesting thats some pretty good ABs actually...
just wondering though, since you are taking 2 x3 LFFs, why not fit in wildshape and use an epode?
it doesnt cost you anything and you gain a LOT in return

I think you must be Shifter CC

[MightyKhan]

really? I guess that makes sense, else you could just as easily go druid CC and get epics to boot...

[tomaan]

Jan 3, 2011 15:16:21 GMT StrykerOfChaos said:

Jan 3, 2011 14:50:03 GMT MightyKhan said:

interesting thats some pretty good ABs actually...
just wondering though, since you are taking 2 x3 LFFs, why not fit in wildshape and use an epode?
it doesnt cost you anything and you gain a LOT in return

I think you must be Shifter CC

You can take LFF: Wildshape if you have unlimited Wildshape IV which requires 16 levels of Shifter, which means Ranger level would max at 39.

I chose against it because several key Ranger spells had plateaus at/around Ranger40. IE, at 40 levels of Ranger, the next level of benefits kicks in (+5% conceal, +12 BT, etc) and this build needs the Ranger buffs to survive.

Another key factor was the fact that weapon damage does ]NOT apply to unarmed forms [EDIT: turns out damage does but weapon enchantment doesn't]. This is a melee build, and most of the Wildshape melee forms are unarmed, so their damage output is even worse than now - which is, admittedly, pretty low.

The unintended benefits of taking LFF3 are those nice ABs

[tomaan]

Jan 3, 2011 15:02:40 GMT StrykerOfChaos said:

Take aberration instead of construct? Once you hit hells, most of the constructs you really shouldn't be hitting. Aberrations probably has a lot more end-game functionality.

That's a good point.

I actually have Aberrations at Rgr5 - maybe animals or shapechangers?

[StrykerOfChaos]

shape changer, monstrous humanoid? one of those. probably shapechanger

[uncanny]

Hmm... don't have Anarch but do have Zeny (-2wis but pickup +4 dex - not sure if it helps though)... and with the free unarmed feats it might work..
Swap Weapon Focus: Unarmed Strike for Alertness
Swap Epic Weapon Focus: Unarmed Strike for Grt Wis1
Swap Dragon Shape for Grt Wis2

You could avoid the class penalty by going human half-elf, and you'd have more to push into Int this negating the skills shortage (which you will have with the con boost since gnome is -2 con to start)..
[edit]: half-elf gets same benefits BUT also gains 1 skill point, start with 16 int and you get same skill points.. I think.
You end up with the same stats (a bit more I think in some areas); but will lose something.. not sure what.. thoughts?

STR +4, DEX +4, WIS +4, free feat: Weapon Specialization Unarmed Strike, free feat: Epic Weapon Specialization Unarmed Strike, free feat: Improved Critical Unarmed Strike, free feat: Whirlwind Attack, free feat: Improved Whirlwind.

Gonna try that out.. I think it works out the same where it counts..

[Yojimbo]

Zeny gets Specialization not Focus

[uncanny]

Jan 14, 2011 23:28:31 GMT Yojimbo said:

Zeny gets Specialization not Focus

Ahhh crud... ok... still. I think the net loss would be 2 wisdom points. You would still swap imp crit for alertness, for no change in the pre-epic feats then...

[uncanny]

Given that you're using mainly melee; is there any purpose to the high wis? Does the base affect the shifted forms that you're using abilities on in any meaningful way?

[tomaan]

Jan 15, 2011 0:30:43 GMT @uncanny said:

Given that you're using mainly melee; is there any purpose to the high wis? Does the base affect the shifted forms that you're using abilities on in any meaningful way?

Wisdom affects the DC on your MS (Drow), Banshee Wail, and Risen Lord Slay Living - those are the abilities I use most often.

It also affects dragon breath DC, but have to admit I haven't used it in the Hells yet.

If you're not taking a lot of Wisdom, I suppose you could put it all in CON and have uber hp? Didn't even think about it though, tbh.

As for Zeny....you do get improved crit, so that's a nice benefit. I originally made it with Treant and that worked out pretty well too.

[uncanny]

Jan 15, 2011 5:53:59 GMT tomaan said:

Jan 15, 2011 0:30:43 GMT @uncanny said:

Given that you're using mainly melee; is there any purpose to the high wis? Does the base affect the shifted forms that you're using abilities on in any meaningful way?

Wisdom affects the DC on your MS (Drow), Banshee Wail, and Risen Lord Slay Living - those are the abilities I use most often.

It also affects dragon breath DC, but have to admit I haven't used it in the Hells yet.

If you're not taking a lot of Wisdom, I suppose you could put it all in CON and have uber hp? Didn't even think about it though, tbh.

As for Zeny....you do get improved crit, so that's a nice benefit. I originally made it with Treant and that worked out pretty well too.

Makes sense. Actually now thinking of Half-Kyton as Zeny gets Str while HK gets Con - str being kinda pointless and all. With the extra dex (+2 to reflex saves) I think you could drop the lightening reflexes and take Alertness in its place, still keeping the same other feats