Divine Rock Thrower (40 cleric)

[simpetar]

Here is my idea how to make a viable zen slinger who (I hope) could offer an alternative to standard Flurry AA builds. Note that it is (again) based on open subby (I love -HC- ) better races will make the numbers nicer.

Race: Gnome
Subrace: Svirfneblin
Alignment: any, BUT if you take evil, you will have access to certain very nice ring with Critical Hit immunity

Stats [Svirfneblin] (lvl 60)
STR 6 (18)
DEX 12 [14] (26)
CON 16 [14] (26)
INT 16 (28)
WIS 16 [18] (54)
CHA 8 [6] (18)

-all stat points go to WIS

Feats

Pre-epic
Blooded
WF Sling
Zen Archery
SF Enchantment
GSF Enchantment
Lightning Reflexes
IC Sling

Epic
Blind Fighting
Point Blank Shot
Combat Casting *
Extended Spell
Improved Combat Casting
EWF Sling
Epic Prowess

Cleric Bonus Feats
ESF Enchantment
Armor Skin
Great Wisdom I - IV

Legendary
LSA Tumble
LWF Sling
LSF Enchantment
Legendary Reflexes
Epic Fortitude
ESF Discipline
Rapid Shot *

- find and read Abjuration book
* there is also an option to get these feats from certain items (dragon blood and pandect) and can be exchanged for 2 Great Wisdom feats (but they are rather hard to get, especially for HC toons like mine )

Skills
Concentration
Heal
Parry
Craft Armor
Craft Weapon
Tumble (after LSA)
Discipline (cross-class, helped by ESF, but still needs to be improved via items / buffs)

Saves
Fort 61
Ref 60
Will 71

AB: 15 base + 10 epic + 15 LBAB (Divine Power grants slingers Tier 1 progression) + 7 weapon foci + 20 buff (easily attainable with self buffs) + 22 wisdom + 1 or 2 Craft Weapon = 90 or 91
+ 1 vs. mob within 15 feet (Point Blank Shot)
+ 1 vs. larger mobs (Small Stature)
- 2 when using Rapid Shot

AC: 10 base + 8 dex + 5 medium armor + 20 armor enhancement (18 Vestments + 2 Girding) + 2 large shield + 20 shield enhancement (18 Vestments + 2 Girding) + 16 deflection (Shield of Faith) + 20 dodge + 16 natural + 12 tumble + 2 Armor Skin + 1 or 2 Craft Armor = 132 or 133

Comparison with standard Flurry AA
- lower AB
- higher AC all the time
- different on-hit effects
- more party friendly (healing circles, Vestments, 2 epics - Aegis and Girding - and other cleric buffs)
- has to rely on breach / mord stuff
- otherwise lot more flexible and easy to gear (you need only an UR amulet to get the listed AC, does not need to carry many different slings like AAs do, Ssithrak or Beholder slings should do fine)
- same number of attacks (slinger: 3 base + 1 haste + 2 Divine Power + 1 Rapid Shot; AA: 4 base + 1 haste + 1 DB bow + 1 Rapid Shot)
- lower damage, but can change the types according to areas
- 75 spell based SR
- spell based 40 melee conceal + 60 ranged conceal (where AAs get undispellable 50 conceal to both)
- no Evasion, higher Will, lower Reflex

...I hope I did not forget anything important Comments, thoughts and ideas are welcome!

Cheers
simpetar

[bort]

simpetar2 said:

20 armor enhancement (18 from Vestments + 2 from own Girding)
20 shield enhancement (again 18 from Vestments + 2 Girding)

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Girding and Vestments don't stack. I've just tested with my Cleric.

[the1kobra]

Combat casting and ICC seem like a waste, as a slinger, you're going to be casting buffs and using your sling in combat, so you're not going to be casting in combat very often. I do cast rezzes and heals a bit with mine, but the majority of the time i'm just hurling bullets.

[simpetar]

bort said:

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but Girding and Vestments don't stack. I've just tested with my Cleric.

Bad news indeed That kinda ruins the entire build...

[simpetar]

the1kobra said:

Combat casting and ICC seem like a waste, as a slinger, you're going to be casting buffs and using your sling in combat, so you're not going to be casting in combat very often. I do cast rezzes and heals a bit with mine, but the majority of the time i'm just hurling bullets.

I meant CC and ICC for spamming Healing Circles around tanks when you are actually forced to stay in front lines. But it is true that when you are casting, it might be a better idea simply to enter Defensive Casting mode.
Great Wisdom instead perhaps?

[phalthallus]

It's unlikely you'll be on the front lines, at least in deeper Hells layers, because one of the downsides of being wis-based is that both Malebranches and Pit Fiends will be knocking you down. Many people choose the dex route for this reason. Though having 14 dex will help quite a bit vs Erinyes, Narzugon, and Advespas.