Please assist: Testing build

[jvnorris]

The Base character class used is human.

Sub race will be Mino

I'm wondering if the build would be Viable for HG and able to compete with higher levels.
::UPDATED::

Updated to reflect some of thedomicron's ideas


I sacrificed some AB to take the RDD. The Main Focus was to focus on strength and damage through such. and the Bonuses of the RDD really fit nicely. Made up for the Lost AB through the focuses (hopefuly).

0 40 Human: (Quick to Master)
1 F :01: Fighter(1): Strong Soul, Luck of Heros, Weapon Focus: Greatsword
2 F :02: Fighter(2): Blind Fight
3 F :03: Fighter(3): Called Shot
4 F :04: Fighter(4): STR+1, Weapon Specialization: Greatsword, (STR=19)
5 F :05: Fighter(5)
6 F :06: Fighter(6): Toughness, Dodge
7 F :07: Fighter(7)
8 F :08: Fighter(8): STR+1, Improved Critical: Greatsword, (STR=20)
9 F :09: Fighter(9): Iron Will
10 F :10: Fighter(10): Mobility
11 F :11: Fighter(11)
12 F :12: Fighter(12): STR+1, Skill Focus: Discipline, Spring Attack, (STR=21)
13 Ba :13: Bard(1)
14 RDD :14: Red Dragon Disciple(1)
15 RDD :15: Red Dragon Disciple(2): Two-Weapon Fighting, (STR=23)
16 RDD :16: Red Dragon Disciple(3): STR+1, (STR=24)
17 RDD :17: Red Dragon Disciple(4): (STR=26)
18 F :18: Fighter(13): Lightning Reflexes
19 F :19: Fighter(14): Knockdown
20 F :20: Fighter(15): STR+1, (STR=27)
21 F :21: Fighter(16): Epic Weapon Focus: Greatsword, Epic Weapon Specialization: Greatsword
22 RDD :22: Red Dragon Disciple(5)
23 RDD :23: Red Dragon Disciple(6)
24 RDD :24: Red Dragon Disciple(7): STR+1, Armor Skin, (STR=28), (CON=16)
25 RDD :25: Red Dragon Disciple(8)
26 RDD :26: Red Dragon Disciple(9): (INT=10)
27 RDD :27: Red Dragon Disciple(10): Epic Prowess, {Darkvision}, (STR=32), (CHA=10)
28 RDD :28: Red Dragon Disciple(11): STR+1, (STR=33)
29 RDD :29: Red Dragon Disciple(12)
30 RDD :30: Red Dragon Disciple(13): Epic Toughness I
31 RDD :31: Red Dragon Disciple(14): Epic Toughness II
32 RDD :32: Red Dragon Disciple(15): STR+1, (STR=34)
33 RDD :33: Red Dragon Disciple(16): Epic Toughness III
34 RDD :34: Red Dragon Disciple(17)
35 RDD :35: Red Dragon Disciple(18): Epic Toughness IV
36 RDD :36: Red Dragon Disciple(19): STR+1, Epic Toughness V, (STR=35)
37 RDD :37: Red Dragon Disciple(20)
38 RDD :38: Red Dragon Disciple(21)
39 RDD :39: Red Dragon Disciple(22): Epic Toughness VI, Epic Toughness VII
40 Ba :40: Bard(2): STR+1, (STR=36)

Summary Class Race Fighter(16), Red Dragon Disciple(22), Bard(2), Human

Abilies STR: 18 (36)
DEX: 15
CON: 14 (16)
WIS: 8
INT: 8 (10)
CHA: 8 (10)

Statistic Hitpoints: 700
Skillpoints: 104
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 28/24/23
Saving Throw bonuses: Death: +1
BAB: 28
AB (max, naked): 45 (melee), 31 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane armor/shield only): 28/38
Spell Casting: Bard(0)
Alignment Changes: 0

Skills Discipline 43(59), Lore 8(10), Perform 6(6), Tumble 40(42), UMD 7(7)


Skills by Level F :01: Discipline(4), Lore(4),
F :02: Discipline(1), Lore(1),
F :03: Discipline(1), Lore(1),
F :04: Discipline(1), Lore(1),
F :05: Discipline(1), Lore(1),
F :06: Discipline(1), Save(1),
F :07: Discipline(1), Save(2),
F :08: Discipline(1), Save(3),
F :09: Discipline(1), Save(4),
F :10: Discipline(1), Save(5),
F :11: Discipline(1), Save(6),
F :12: Discipline(1), Save(7),
Ba :13: Discipline(1), Tumble(10),
RDD :14: Discipline(1), Save(1),
RDD :15: Discipline(1), Save(2),
RDD :16: Discipline(1), Save(3),
RDD :17: Discipline(1), Save(4),
F :18: Discipline(1), Save(5),
F :19: Discipline(1), Save(6),
F :20: Discipline(1), Save(7),
F :21: Discipline(1), Save(8),
RDD :22: Discipline(1), Save(9),
RDD :23: Discipline(1), Save(10),
RDD :24: Discipline(1), Save(11),
RDD :25: Discipline(1), Save(12),
RDD :26: Discipline(1), Save(13),
RDD :27: Discipline(1), Save(15),
RDD :28: Discipline(1), Save(17),
RDD :29: Discipline(1), Save(19),
RDD :30: Discipline(1), Save(21),
RDD :31: Discipline(1), Save(23),
RDD :32: Discipline(1), Save(25),
RDD :33: Discipline(1), Save(27),
RDD :34: Discipline(1), Save(29),
RDD :35: Discipline(1), Save(31),
RDD :36: Discipline(1), Save(33),
RDD :37: Discipline(1), Save(35),
RDD :38: Discipline(1), Save(37),
RDD :39: Discipline(1), Save(39),
Ba :40: Discipline(1), Perform(6), Tumble(30), UMD(7),

As far as skills went I maxed Dicepline Gave preform so I can use Bard song in tight spots if soloing and maxed tumble out to 40. UMD blows but I can keep bumping it during LL if I have to.

[thedomicron]

your constitution is way too low man sorry a str based tank will need around 16-20 constitution in order to have enough hit points to survive.

your starting intellience is too high. i would say at most set your starting intel at 10, you only need three skills maxed. (40-tumble, 43 umd, 43 discipline)

you also need to drop the epic toughness feats and take as many great str feats as possible. by raising your constitution from 12 to 16 at start, you will gain more hitpoints than all 7 of those feats. if you want, take 2 great con feats pre-40.

sacrificing the ab for rdd levels pre-epic is good because it gives you saves, and the rdd bonus to str makes up for the loss. however on HG ab and ac are king, and in order to be effective you'll need ab as high as possible (which is why you'll need the gr str feats) and strength based chars get hit a lot (which is why you need better starting con).

good luck, hope i've helped

[jvnorris]

OK working on the intel problem first

Dropped intel down to 8 but lost expertise and whirlwind

Replaced those two with Called shot and Two weapon fighting

Con now going to 14 at start

Would really not want to give up the toughness seeing as that is required for many of the RDD bonuese most of which are STR bonuses and some con too. So by 40 my Con will be 16. And focusing on them now pre LEgend Aloows me to focus more on maybe con during Legendary PRogression.

As far as skills go.

Dropping my Intel so much in exchange for con cost me big in the skill points department. Over all I have to give up UMD for now but I did get some to put into bard song as an extra bonuse to the skills can come in handy leaving me with 7 points. Gues they'll go UMD.

Modifying the OP now

[thedomicron]

oh sorry i totally forgot about rdd and toughness haha. imo called shot and 2-weap fighting skill focus concentrate, and mobility could all be switched for other feats. if you want to dual wield, you'll want to take ambidextry and improved two weapon fighting, which, imo isn't a great idea cuz you're str based.

also, if you're not going to dual wield i'd drop dex down a bit as well, as since you'll be wearing heavy armor it won't serve much of a purpose.

feats i might take are epic reflexes, epic wil, great con

skillwise: if you don't take ~30-40 umd, its not worth it. disc and tumble are the two most important, try to get tumble to 35 and ditch perform and umd if you have to

anyhow these are just my ideas, i'd definately wait til someone else gives you their opinion too

good luck

[jvnorris]

All great Ideas hence why I added them..

Check the OP i made some changes. and Alot of what you said was taken to heart.

the Dex has to stay as when I go MINO it will drop to 13. the min needed for several of the feats I'm taking.

I dropped Alert for Called shot as it has its uses exspecailly early on. The two weapon fighting was more of a filler as I had no clue what else to do there. A suggestion would be nice on a replacemnt. I still need a replcement for skill focus Concetration too. Any sugesstions???

Sping attack is imortant because you do have to move alot and provoking attacks of oppurtunity sucks. but that requires Mobility too. If I dont really need those I may be able to drop another fighter level for something else either more RDD or another Bard level. WOuldnt know which one to take. And then again I lose more AB too I think if I do that. Can you save feats to take at a later time?? I doubt it but would be nice hehehe.

I did max Tumble and Discepline i just used perform for the 6 needed to use Bardsong. Like I said may just be plus +1 but hey it helps right. The leftovers well just got dumped into UMD as I can see no viable place to put them but would rather not have them go to waste. Hmm maybe I can summon animal 2 when I get board and send it after beattles for fun ..


:: UPDATE :: Found replcament for Concentration focus.. Replaced it with Lighting reflexes for the Save boost. OP updated to reflect.

[thedomicron]

if you max tumble, you shouldn't fail attacks of opportunity.

the problem with low level bardson is i believe the duration is close to squat.

as for your extra pre-epic feats, consider taking a second weapon forcus and improved crit. its nice to have two db weapons w/ different damage types to complement each other for areas where enemies might be resillient to certain damage types. without epic weapon focus you would only lose 2 ab to the 2nd weapon, which is acceptable because your str should be high enough to compensate

[hiryuu]

That's a good point. I would suggest a blunt weapon, like Heavy Flail, since fewer enemies have resistance to it. I also agree that you should drop your dex bonus and dump Mobility/Spring Attack. I might go back to 13 Int, so you can take Expertise & Imp Expertise. Don't bother with Whirlwind unless it's a WM build.