Tempest Build [Archive] - Wizards Community

Tempest Build [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
LachlarlanIII
04-02-07, 03:44 PM Human

Str 16, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 8

1: Fighter 1 - Dodge, Two-Weapon Fighting, *Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Maul)
2: Fighter 2 - *Weapon Focus (Maul)
3: Fighter 3 - Mobility
4: Fighter 4 - *Weapon Specialization (Maul), Dex 16
5: Fighter 5 - Dex 18 (Gloves +2)
6: Fighter 6 - Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, *Power Attack
7: Exotic Weapon Master 1
8: Fighter 7 - Str 17
9: Fighter 8 - Spring Attack, *Melee Weapon Mastery (Bludgeoning)
10: Tempest 1
11: Tempest 2 - Dex 20 (Gloves +4)
12: Tempest 3 - Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting, Str 18
13: Tempest 4
14: Fighter 9
15: Fighter 10 - Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, *Crushing Strike

Lots of gut-squishing in this build.

Exotic Weapon Master takes Uncanny Blow for added damage during a Power Attack.

Tempest makes room for more Power Attack damage by reducing two-weapon penalties by 2.

Crushing Strike increases attack bonus for each successful hit with a bludgeoning weapon.

This build sits at +28/+23/+18/+28/+23/+18 at 15th with a Belt +6 and +3 weapons in each hand. This allows it to Power Attack fairly good while still having a pretty good attack bonus.

This build will need to Power Attack most of the time to get better damage because it only adds +14 and +10 damage to the primary and secondary weapons respectively.

Until 12th, I will probably have 2 Mauls made of different materials and with different enchantments. At 12th, after getting Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting, I will be able to use both at the same time effectively and be able to swap whichever is in my primary hand depending on the situation.
Jay_Ibero_911
04-02-07, 04:08 PM Just be aware that a lot of DM's will shut down your 2:1 one handed power attack from Uncanny blow. Personally, I don't see how it leaves any room for confusion, but people are apparently very good at coming up with exuses not to let you do it just because they don't like it...
LachlarlanIII
04-02-07, 06:07 PM Just be aware that a lot of DM's will shut down your 2:1 one handed power attack from Uncanny blow. Personally, I don't see how it leaves any room for confusion, but people are apparently very good at coming up with exuses not to let you do it just because they don't like it...

I actually thought the same way until I read and re-read the Uncanny Blow ability.
Galvin
04-02-07, 09:13 PM I have a build somewhat like yours, but I am a human with 2 Dwarven waraxes, I wish I could fit some scout into my build.
King Kashue
04-02-07, 09:20 PM Just a note, Since you're using a magic item to qualify for improved two-weapon fighting, you put yourself in a situation where an anti-magic field kills two of your feats and all four levels of tempest...

Not a chance I'd be willing to take, since in my experience, Anti-magic fields show up about every four or five mods from APL 10 on...
LachlarlanIII
04-03-07, 09:45 AM Just a note, Since you're using a magic item to qualify for improved two-weapon fighting, you put yourself in a situation where an anti-magic field kills two of your feats and all four levels of tempest...

Not a chance I'd be willing to take, since in my experience, Anti-magic fields show up about every four or five mods from APL 10 on...

In those cases, two-handing one of the mauls it an option and without losing too much combat effectiveness.
Mommy was an Orc
04-03-07, 10:37 AM Some points:
You're a human with a 6 Cha?

Why not start the build off with a level of Ranger and the TWF/EWP prof feats, then retrain TWF into Dodge whenever you decide you need to pick up the 2nd level of Ranger? Basically amounts to 20 free skill points, Track, and a Favored Enemy at a cost of 3 hp and delaying Weapon Specialization until 5th or 6th.

Tempest is a very subpar PrC - you're so feat desperate coming into it, even with 10 levels of Fighter that you can't pick up Elusive Target?

A way of looking at Tempest is that it grants you a +2 to hit, and a +2 bonus to AC, and saves you're already good at making. But you're taking 3 feats(Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack) which don't serve a lot of purpose for you and giving up 4 levels of Fighter(aka 2 bonus feats). +2 to hit/+2 to AC isn't that high of a value for what amounts to being 5 feats...

Just imagine those feats as:
Improved Buckler Defense(instead of Dodge)
OTWF(instead of Mobility - this is here to make sure that TWF stays legal if you take the 2 levels of Ranger)
Two-Weapon Pounce(instead of Spring Attack)
GWF
Brutal Strike
Improved Crit(instead of OTWF - this makes even more sense if you choose Dire Pick instead of Maul)

Notice just how much more effective you are at the low levels for doing this and I'd regard you as still being a lot more effective at the higher levels.
LachlarlanIII
04-03-07, 12:11 PM Some points:
You're a human with a 6 Cha?

Good catch. It should be 8.

How's this for an alternate?

Wood Elf

Str 16, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 8

1: Ranger 1 - Dodge, *Track
2: Ranger 2 - *Two-Weapon Fighting
3: Fighter 1 - Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting, *Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Maul)
4: Fighter 2 - *Weapon Focus (Maul), Dex 18
5: Fighter 3
6: Fighter 4 - Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, *Weapon Specialization (Maul)
7: Exotic Weapon Master 1
8: Fighter 5 - Dex 19
9: Fighter 6 - Power Attack, *Melee Weapon Mastery (Bludgeoning)
10: Fighter 7
11: Fighter 8 - *Brutal Strike
12: Fighter 9 - Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, Dex 20
13: Fighter 10 - Greater Weapon Focus (Maul)
14: Fighter 11
15: Fighter 12 - Crushing Strike, *Greater Weapon Specialization (Maul)

*Bonus Feat

Damage goes up slightly with a slight reduction in accuracy. Doesn't rely on gear to qualify for feats.

I prefer the Maul over the Dire Pick because the Maul allows me to qualify for Crushing Strike which is superior to Driving Attack.
Timlagor
04-03-07, 03:46 PM Just be aware that a lot of DM's will shut down your 2:1 one handed power attack from Uncanny blow. Personally, I don't see how it leaves any room for confusion, but people are apparently very good at coming up with exuses not to let you do it just because they don't like it...

I don't see how it leaves any room for confusion either.. and yet we disagree on the meaning.
**************************************** ******

You take your attacks in order of descending BAB so it should be 28/28/...

Tempest is generally a pretty weak PrC ..it may just be the best option for TWF bludgenoning but I'd look long and hard at Occult Slater &co first.
LachlarlanIII
04-03-07, 04:16 PM I don't see how it leaves any room for confusion either.. and yet we disagree on the meaning.

So, you believe that Uncanny Blow's second statement only applies to one-handed weapons wielded in two hands?

Funny, the Power Attack feat already says exactly that, and Power Attack is a requirement for the second statement to function in the first place.
Timlagor
04-03-07, 05:28 PM Yes and I'm not going to argue about it here.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LachlarlanIII 04-02-07, 03:44 PM	Human Str 16, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 8 1: Fighter 1 - Dodge, Two-Weapon Fighting, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Maul) 2: Fighter 2 - Weapon Focus (Maul) 3: Fighter 3 - Mobility 4: Fighter 4 - Weapon Specialization (Maul), Dex 16 5: Fighter 5 - Dex 18 (Gloves +2) 6: Fighter 6 - Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Power Attack 7: Exotic Weapon Master 1 8: Fighter 7 - Str 17 9: Fighter 8 - Spring Attack, Melee Weapon Mastery (Bludgeoning) 10: Tempest 1 11: Tempest 2 - Dex 20 (Gloves +4) 12: Tempest 3 - Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting, Str 18 13: Tempest 4 14: Fighter 9 15: Fighter 10 - Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, Crushing Strike Lots of gut-squishing in this build. Exotic Weapon Master takes Uncanny Blow for added damage during a Power Attack. Tempest makes room for more Power Attack damage by reducing two-weapon penalties by 2. Crushing Strike increases attack bonus for each successful hit with a bludgeoning weapon. This build sits at +28/+23/+18/+28/+23/+18 at 15th with a Belt +6 and +3 weapons in each hand. This allows it to Power Attack fairly good while still having a pretty good attack bonus. This build will need to Power Attack most of the time to get better damage because it only adds +14 and +10 damage to the primary and secondary weapons respectively. Until 12th, I will probably have 2 Mauls made of different materials and with different enchantments. At 12th, after getting Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting, I will be able to use both at the same time effectively and be able to swap whichever is in my primary hand depending on the situation.
Jay_Ibero_911 04-02-07, 04:08 PM	Just be aware that a lot of DM's will shut down your 2:1 one handed power attack from Uncanny blow. Personally, I don't see how it leaves any room for confusion, but people are apparently very good at coming up with exuses not to let you do it just because they don't like it...
LachlarlanIII 04-02-07, 06:07 PM	Just be aware that a lot of DM's will shut down your 2:1 one handed power attack from Uncanny blow. Personally, I don't see how it leaves any room for confusion, but people are apparently very good at coming up with exuses not to let you do it just because they don't like it... I actually thought the same way until I read and re-read the Uncanny Blow ability.
Galvin 04-02-07, 09:13 PM	I have a build somewhat like yours, but I am a human with 2 Dwarven waraxes, I wish I could fit some scout into my build.
King Kashue 04-02-07, 09:20 PM	Just a note, Since you're using a magic item to qualify for improved two-weapon fighting, you put yourself in a situation where an anti-magic field kills two of your feats and all four levels of tempest... Not a chance I'd be willing to take, since in my experience, Anti-magic fields show up about every four or five mods from APL 10 on...
LachlarlanIII 04-03-07, 09:45 AM	Just a note, Since you're using a magic item to qualify for improved two-weapon fighting, you put yourself in a situation where an anti-magic field kills two of your feats and all four levels of tempest... Not a chance I'd be willing to take, since in my experience, Anti-magic fields show up about every four or five mods from APL 10 on... In those cases, two-handing one of the mauls it an option and without losing too much combat effectiveness.
Mommy was an Orc 04-03-07, 10:37 AM	Some points: You're a human with a 6 Cha? Why not start the build off with a level of Ranger and the TWF/EWP prof feats, then retrain TWF into Dodge whenever you decide you need to pick up the 2nd level of Ranger? Basically amounts to 20 free skill points, Track, and a Favored Enemy at a cost of 3 hp and delaying Weapon Specialization until 5th or 6th. Tempest is a very subpar PrC - you're so feat desperate coming into it, even with 10 levels of Fighter that you can't pick up Elusive Target? A way of looking at Tempest is that it grants you a +2 to hit, and a +2 bonus to AC, and saves you're already good at making. But you're taking 3 feats(Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack) which don't serve a lot of purpose for you and giving up 4 levels of Fighter(aka 2 bonus feats). +2 to hit/+2 to AC isn't that high of a value for what amounts to being 5 feats... Just imagine those feats as: Improved Buckler Defense(instead of Dodge) OTWF(instead of Mobility - this is here to make sure that TWF stays legal if you take the 2 levels of Ranger) Two-Weapon Pounce(instead of Spring Attack) GWF Brutal Strike Improved Crit(instead of OTWF - this makes even more sense if you choose Dire Pick instead of Maul) Notice just how much more effective you are at the low levels for doing this and I'd regard you as still being a lot more effective at the higher levels.
LachlarlanIII 04-03-07, 12:11 PM	Some points: You're a human with a 6 Cha? Good catch. It should be 8. How's this for an alternate? Wood Elf Str 16, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 8 1: Ranger 1 - Dodge, Track 2: Ranger 2 - Two-Weapon Fighting 3: Fighter 1 - Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Maul) 4: Fighter 2 - Weapon Focus (Maul), Dex 18 5: Fighter 3 6: Fighter 4 - Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Specialization (Maul) 7: Exotic Weapon Master 1 8: Fighter 5 - Dex 19 9: Fighter 6 - Power Attack, Melee Weapon Mastery (Bludgeoning) 10: Fighter 7 11: Fighter 8 - Brutal Strike 12: Fighter 9 - Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, Dex 20 13: Fighter 10 - Greater Weapon Focus (Maul) 14: Fighter 11 15: Fighter 12 - Crushing Strike, Greater Weapon Specialization (Maul) *Bonus Feat Damage goes up slightly with a slight reduction in accuracy. Doesn't rely on gear to qualify for feats. I prefer the Maul over the Dire Pick because the Maul allows me to qualify for Crushing Strike which is superior to Driving Attack.
Timlagor 04-03-07, 03:46 PM	Just be aware that a lot of DM's will shut down your 2:1 one handed power attack from Uncanny blow. Personally, I don't see how it leaves any room for confusion, but people are apparently very good at coming up with exuses not to let you do it just because they don't like it... I don't see how it leaves any room for confusion either.. and yet we disagree on the meaning. ************************************** **** You take your attacks in order of descending BAB so it should be 28/28/... Tempest is generally a pretty weak PrC ..it may just be the best option for TWF bludgenoning but I'd look long and hard at Occult Slater &co first.
LachlarlanIII 04-03-07, 04:16 PM	I don't see how it leaves any room for confusion either.. and yet we disagree on the meaning. So, you believe that Uncanny Blow's second statement only applies to one-handed weapons wielded in two hands? Funny, the Power Attack feat already says exactly that, and Power Attack is a requirement for the second statement to function in the first place.
Timlagor 04-03-07, 05:28 PM	Yes and I'm not going to argue about it here.