problem concerning str based assassin

[ladyq]

hi all

I just levelled my strength based one eyed assassin to 42...and just realized:

I can't cross-class discipline in LL..

The build itself is 9barbarian/1monk/30assassin.

So, as it stands right now my discipline hovers at the 43 mark. Is this unacceptable for a str based toon? This is with 51 strength and without any discipline adding items.

I made my build in accordance with the Favored Grimmish build on the builds section on this forum, which somehow calculated discipline to 117, which is impossible to me as it stands atm without the ability to cross-class in LL.

I'm contemplating starting over with 29 assassin levels for the skilldump of discipline at 40 at the expense of 1 dev crit dc. Would this be a better idea if I intend to play this toon in all areas of the module? The current saves on my build are all in the 60s, so that is not a problem. I just see discipline as becoming a big problem for me soon..and that it'll serve me better to skill dump for 20 more points.

Any help would be appreciated.

[chainlink]

31 from skill points (at 60), 50 (max) from items, 10 from Epic Skill Focus, 25'ish from Str. Of course that's assuming you followed my build enough to be able to take ESF discipline or you'll be 10 points down at 107'ish which with Hells penalties may cause you a problem in some of the deeper layers.

[ladyq]

Had no idea 50 was the max on items (i thought 20 was the cap on items and ability modifier). tyvm! I am able to fit in ESF at the expense of 63 vs 61 fort..my lone free feat, but I think that will be worthwhile

[unnone]

You can theoretically cross class discipline. The problem is, you're above the cap on cross class skills (level +3/2). At level 60, maximum cross cap is 31. You already have 43.

[chainlink]

No she doesn't have 43 skill points as she took 30 assassin therefore the most she will get is 31 at level 60, she was talking about 43 including Str modifier I believe. You will find that Ixityl's Will UR shield is your friend as it has a very handy +25 discipline.

[ladyq]

Thx again for the replies and advice..I have another...small issue thats becomming alarming to me lol

And that is with critical immunities...

I maxed out my parry skill just for laughs from my last skill dump class at 20 because I had some extra skill points. Now I realize as it stands my parry is practically reduced to nothing - I'm wearing heavy armor. If I were to go the 29 Assassin route and skill dump for 43 points at level40, it would pratically be the same story..

Do you guys think this factor makes dex based assassins superior, especially if they go the WM route for a muliplie critical and higher ab? They not only recieve the benefits of superior AC, the same conceal, superior reflex..but high parry as well (Possible 50% constant critical immunity)? I've looked for +parry items but can't seem to find any.

I"m a bit concerned that, even though the damage from going strength based is nice (Plus, making Half-Orcs are awesome), they are simply inferior to dexxers from not only a AC standpoint but critical immunities standpoint as well. I'm a bit surprised people are not bringing up Parry in discussions for strength based classes which wear heavy armor and don't recieve the benefits of crit. immune through other means like DDs. I'm maxing my umd through LL (currently lvl46, but my cha is quite low..I'm a Half Orc with bad breath ) and am still not able to use that penalty stricken Crit. Immune ring..sigh

[chainlink]

Got Minauros tag on my Favoured build the other day, I think you'll find that 70% conceal is enough to mostly compensate for the lack of critical immunity plus the fact that you can get 10-20% extra damage immunity from your armor vs robes. Another bonus is that you get to laugh at the dex assassins when they run screaming as a Pit Fiend spawns. Already brought up the parry thing but I'm not expecting anything to happen as it seems that from playing my builds its pretty evenly balanced, let's be realistic I got the Nessus tag with my RDD who has no parry and no critical immunity and there was only one other Str tank in that party so its not like I was able to hang back.

[ladyq]

ty for the follow up

I haven't found criticals to be a problem at all really, I can practically tank as well as any RDD in any of the pre hells areas easily. the conceal does wonders, this may not last for long though (*edit. from the new proposed feats, it might be based upon 25% plus hide/3 (dex attributed skill).. , so I'll barely hit 40%!!, which probably means a redo. No love for strength based assassins), .

I'm almost at 60 and about to hit up a tia run Got my Tia tag. I found I was quite swishy in the first circle..due to my newness to the area and spawns to avoid (those fire horse riders...ugh). But I was excited about the dmg output, even deved few things without the presence of a bard.