A different kind of Dervish [Archive] - Wizards Community

A different kind of Dervish [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gehenna
02-06-06, 05:25 PM 1 Fighter Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes
2 Fighter Dodge
3 Fighter Mobility
4 Fighter Weapon Focus(Halberd)
5 Bard
6 Bard Improved Trip
7 Dervish
8 Dervish
9 Dervish Elusive Target, Spring Attack
10 Dervish
11 Dervish
12 Dervish Improved Combat Expertise
13 Dervish
14 Dervish
15 Dervish Karmic Strike
16 Dervish
17 Warchanter
18 Warchanter Power Attack
19 Warchanter
20 Bard

I designed this for my gf to use in our current campaign. I think it's the one of the more versatile melee builds I've seen. We're at level 14 right now, so she's focusing on tripping and tanking. Since tripping only requires a touch attack, she can use combat expertise to the full +13 and fight defensively (another +6 to AC) and still trip effectively.
Her current stats (with items) are:

Str 26 +8
Dex 20 +5
Con 14 +2
Wis 10 +0
Int 13 +1
Cha 12 +1

Comments/suggestions would be appreciated.
Prominence
02-06-06, 05:27 PM Snowflake War Dance from Frostburn might help, but your weapon would have to change.
Gehenna
02-06-06, 05:38 PM Snowflake War Dance from Frostburn might help, but your weapon would have to change.

Yeah, but that only increases MAD, since the build does not currently rely on charisma. It would also require me to switch to a sickle (the only one-handed, slashing, tripping weapon in the phb). Also, if I were to switch to one-handed weapons, I might as well go all the way for TWF, since dervishes are not allowed shields, but that would fundamentally change the build and it would lose much of it's versatility.
Enamel_32
02-06-06, 06:07 PM Don't forget that the whip is a one-handed slashing, tripping weapon too. If you can, take a level or two in lasher, and/or get a whip dagger, if you choose to go that route.
Gehenna
02-06-06, 06:13 PM Don't forget that the whip is a one-handed slashing, tripping weapon too. If you can, take a level or two in lasher, and/or get a whip dagger, if you choose to go that route.

Sigh. Alas, both lasher and whip dagger are 3.0, which my DM does not allow. Otherwise, you are right.

Also, I left off the "non-exotic" qualifier from my last post.

I seem to have forgotten to mention in my original post that my gf is currently using a guisarme for our campaign, although her character caries around a halberd too.
Denethor
02-07-06, 11:14 AM 5 ranks in Tumble, iirc, give u a +1 AC bonus when you are fighting defensively.
Gehenna
02-07-06, 11:29 AM 5 ranks in Tumble, iirc, give u a +1 AC bonus when you are fighting defensively.

Oh, wow, I totally missed that. Good call, thanks
Timlagor
02-07-06, 12:52 PM How is fighting defensively giving you +6AC?

+2 normally
+1 Tumble5
+3 ??
Gehenna
02-07-06, 01:37 PM How is fighting defensively giving you +6AC?

+2 normally
+1 Tumble5
+3 ??

Actually, it's +7 with the Tumble that I formerly missed. +2 Normal, +1 Tumble, +4 from a Dervish ability (Elaborate Parry, I think. I don't have my books with me at the moment).
mellowship
02-07-06, 08:58 PM 1 Fighter Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes
2 Fighter Dodge
Comments/suggestions would be appreciated.
Take the bard level first for the extra skill points.
Denethor
02-08-06, 04:04 PM Taking the Bard level first is a good advice.
Also, if you are human, the feat Able Learner (from Races of Destiny) is pretty nice - a maxed UMD can help you a lot.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gehenna 02-06-06, 05:25 PM	1 Fighter Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes 2 Fighter Dodge 3 Fighter Mobility 4 Fighter Weapon Focus(Halberd) 5 Bard 6 Bard Improved Trip 7 Dervish 8 Dervish 9 Dervish Elusive Target, Spring Attack 10 Dervish 11 Dervish 12 Dervish Improved Combat Expertise 13 Dervish 14 Dervish 15 Dervish Karmic Strike 16 Dervish 17 Warchanter 18 Warchanter Power Attack 19 Warchanter 20 Bard I designed this for my gf to use in our current campaign. I think it's the one of the more versatile melee builds I've seen. We're at level 14 right now, so she's focusing on tripping and tanking. Since tripping only requires a touch attack, she can use combat expertise to the full +13 and fight defensively (another +6 to AC) and still trip effectively. Her current stats (with items) are: Str 26 +8 Dex 20 +5 Con 14 +2 Wis 10 +0 Int 13 +1 Cha 12 +1 Comments/suggestions would be appreciated.
Prominence 02-06-06, 05:27 PM	Snowflake War Dance from Frostburn might help, but your weapon would have to change.
Gehenna 02-06-06, 05:38 PM	Snowflake War Dance from Frostburn might help, but your weapon would have to change. Yeah, but that only increases MAD, since the build does not currently rely on charisma. It would also require me to switch to a sickle (the only one-handed, slashing, tripping weapon in the phb). Also, if I were to switch to one-handed weapons, I might as well go all the way for TWF, since dervishes are not allowed shields, but that would fundamentally change the build and it would lose much of it's versatility.
Enamel_32 02-06-06, 06:07 PM	Don't forget that the whip is a one-handed slashing, tripping weapon too. If you can, take a level or two in lasher, and/or get a whip dagger, if you choose to go that route.
Gehenna 02-06-06, 06:13 PM	Don't forget that the whip is a one-handed slashing, tripping weapon too. If you can, take a level or two in lasher, and/or get a whip dagger, if you choose to go that route. Sigh. Alas, both lasher and whip dagger are 3.0, which my DM does not allow. Otherwise, you are right. Also, I left off the "non-exotic" qualifier from my last post. I seem to have forgotten to mention in my original post that my gf is currently using a guisarme for our campaign, although her character caries around a halberd too.
Denethor 02-07-06, 11:14 AM	5 ranks in Tumble, iirc, give u a +1 AC bonus when you are fighting defensively.
Gehenna 02-07-06, 11:29 AM	5 ranks in Tumble, iirc, give u a +1 AC bonus when you are fighting defensively. Oh, wow, I totally missed that. Good call, thanks
Timlagor 02-07-06, 12:52 PM	How is fighting defensively giving you +6AC? +2 normally +1 Tumble5 +3 ??
Gehenna 02-07-06, 01:37 PM	How is fighting defensively giving you +6AC? +2 normally +1 Tumble5 +3 ?? Actually, it's +7 with the Tumble that I formerly missed. +2 Normal, +1 Tumble, +4 from a Dervish ability (Elaborate Parry, I think. I don't have my books with me at the moment).
mellowship 02-07-06, 08:58 PM	1 Fighter Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes 2 Fighter Dodge Comments/suggestions would be appreciated. Take the bard level first for the extra skill points.
Denethor 02-08-06, 04:04 PM	Taking the Bard level first is a good advice. Also, if you are human, the feat Able Learner (from Races of Destiny) is pretty nice - a maxed UMD can help you a lot.