We are only allowed to take a max. of 3 classes/pr.classes (in any combination, but max. 3 of'em) (no, not 3 classes AND 3 pr.classes).
And.
We're only allowed to make reference to this books: the Complete list (adventurer, scoundrel, etc), DMG, PH, PHII, Epic levels, Magic Items Compendium.
I'm trying to exploit as much as i can, for the first time in my life, mostly because i've already seen some of the others PCs and they're HUGE. No, not that huge. MORE. MUCH MORE.
I just don't want to end up doing nothing more than tapestry.
Oh, and we've got 900k GP to buy stuff.
Given that premise...
I got lucky with the dices: 18 - 17 - 17 - 16 - 14 - 14.
Character idea is to run into opponents, make massive amount of damage, and run away.
My character of choice is a human, Fighter2, scout 9, dervish 10.
feats are: 2WF, I2WF, G2WF, P2WF (epic feat), weapon focus (scimitars), dodge, mobility, combat expertise, improved critical, elusive target, acrobatic strike, improved skirmish.
Base saving throws are 10 - 13 - 10 (extremely well balanced).
Stuff:
belt +6 str: 36k
gloves +6 dex: 36k
ring +5 ac deflection: 50k
amulet + 5 natural AC: 50k
mithril chainshirt +5 heavy fortification: 100k
tome for str + 5: 137k
tome for dex + 4: 110k
pair of scimitars +5 ignoring dam. reduction (don't know the eng. name): 196k the pair
Still have about 180k golds
Surely i'll buy the crystals from MIC to skirmish even undead and constructs.
I was liking combing Boots of Skating (giving it a funny Dervish-on-Ice look) with the Ring of Enthropic Deflection.
Note: i don't like much objects with a limited/day use, usually.
Any help welcome. I'm not good at this stuff, never been one for this sort of munchkinism, and not sure wether it's good or not.
Thanks in advance, and sorry for my english!
EDIT: Pity that Expeditious Dodge isn't allowed.
My character of choice is a human, Fighter2, scout 9, dervish 10.
I honestly don't see what's attractive about a Dervish. I used to want to do dirty things to that PrC, but now it does nothing for me. You want a melee beast that can keep up with your oh so huge buddies? Scout 1/ Ranger 1/ Scout 3/ Barbarian 1/ Ranger 15 is your best bet. Use Pounce and Whirling Frenzy.
feats are: 2WF, I2WF, G2WF, P2WF (epic feat), weapon focus (scimitars), dodge, mobility, combat expertise, improved critical, elusive target, acrobatic strike, improved skirmish.
Now, you get the TWF, ITWF, and GTWF for free. WF (Scimitars) is a waste. Dodge and Mobility are no longer needed, which leaves Elusive Target, even though it is a great feat, out. Acrobatic Strike, isn't needed because it only applies to one attack, and you have well more than that. Improved Skirmish is a great feat.
Your new feats should look like this:
Free:
Track (Ranger 1), TWF (Ranger 2), Endurance (Ranger 3), ITWF (Ranger 6), GTWF(Ranger 12), Swift Hunter (6th)
- Martial Study (Sudden Leap) [1st]
- Martial Stance (Blood in the Water) [3rd]
- Improved Skirmish [6th]
- Improved Critical (Scimitars) [9th]
- Sword of The Arcane Order[12th]
- Improved Buckler Defense[15th]
- Minor Shapeshift[18th]
- PTWF [21st]
If you give more info, there will be plenty of people here that can probably give you superior builds that fit your needs.
Maybe tell us why you want to play each of those classes (scout, fighter, dervish)? I don't understand why you want Improved TWF and Greater TWF if what you want to do is just go in and go out. That leaves you only 1 standard action, not enough to do a full attack that you need for ITWF and GTWF.
Er... you do know what Dervish does, right? It lets you move up to your speed and full attack at the same time.
Maybe tell us why you want to play each of those classes (scout, fighter, dervish)? I don't understand why you want Improved TWF and Greater TWF if what you want to do is just go in and go out. That leaves you only 1 standard action, not enough to do a full attack that you need for ITWF and GTWF.
If you give more info, there will be plenty of people here that can probably give you superior builds that fit your needs.
Fair enough. The scout has great damage enhancer (skirmish) plus some very interesting ability regarding movement (bonuses and so).
The fighter levels are really needed only for the 2 feats they provides.
The dervish run (to 10th level) is the main one:
- 5/day dervish dance (move up to max with full attack)
- another bonus to movement
- cleave (just as i don't have enough attacks)
- thousand cuts (doubling my attacks 1/day)
8 attacks/round, plus 1 if cleave kicks in, tumbling my way through enemies, stacking bonus for Acrobatic Strike (that, impressively, don't limit it's use 1/round) dealing 1d6 (weapon) + 3d6 (skirmish) + 2d6 (improved skirmish) + 15 (+5 weapon, and Str30 doesn't look hard to reach) = 6d6+15 damage each attack, ending my turn away from enemies, and giving a 50% chance to miss with any ranged attack.
I'd go for Dex focus anytime of the day, really. Specially at epic - going first means WIN.
I think Swift Hunter/Dervish is your best bet. Something like Scout 4/Ranger 6/Dervish 10. Get a pair of Deadly Precision Scimitars. Also, a Celestial Armor would be better than mithral chain, I think.
You are making a Str based Dervish? O.o
I'd go for Dex focus anytime of the day, really. Specially at epic - going first means WIN.
I think Swift Hunter/Dervish is your best bet. Something like Scout 4/Ranger 6/Dervish 10. Get a pair of Deadly Precision Scimitars. Also, a Celestial Armor would be better than mithral chain, I think.
Both Str AND Dex. Should have'em both at 30 with no real effort. The cross Scout/Ranger was giving me headache, 'cause i like it, but i have a serious issue with feats. Still, now i'm looking to the alternative Ranger "Champion of the Wild" from Complete Champion... i lose some unwanted and, frankly, useless spells (i was going to get 2 lev. max of spells, at 21st level of PC: not this big stuff lose'em) to get extra feats. This way, i'm thinking about a 5-Scout, 6-Ranger ("Champion of the wild"), 10-Dervish, without losing any of the feats i listed above.
What are the DPScimitars?
Why you think the Celestial Armor is better? Given that i can customize the mithral chain (and heavy fortification it's really cool)... only for the "flying" thing?
I'm not polemic, here.... just curious!
The gold standard
Swashbuckler 3 / Fighter 2 / Dervish 10 / Tempest 5
The build defines elegance. Optimal cherry picking of base classes that a DM will likely approve (easy role-play justification and there is only 2) and not only completing PrCs (which will make your DM happy), but also synergizing them (which will make you happy). Simple, effective, and non setting specific. All TWF dervishes should meet this standard; if they can’t, you are making your character overly complicated. Note, this does not mean this build is the best; it is sort of like pizza - easy, simple, yet good.
Er... you do know what Dervish does, right? It lets you move up to your speed and full attack at the same time.
He wants to go in, attack, and go out. I thought Dervish only lets you go in and attack (full attack or otherwise), and there's no action left to get out. If he just wants to go in and full attack, then I guess that's fine
He wants to go in, attack, and go out. I thought Dervish only lets you go in and attack (full attack or otherwise), and there's no action left to get out. If he just wants to go in and full attack, then I guess that's fine
No. Dervish lets you move up to your speed, making up to one attack every time you move five feet, up to your maximum number of attacks. So if you have 2+ attacks and a speed of 60 feet, you can move 5 feet, attack, move another 5 feet, attack and move another 50 feet.
No. Dervish lets you move up to your speed, making up to one attack every time you move five feet, up to your maximum number of attacks. So if you have 2+ attacks and a speed of 60 feet, you can move 5 feet, attack, move another 5 feet, attack and move another 50 feet.
Oh
Well, I learned something new! Time to read up on that handbook.Also you might consider power attack since you are using one-handed weapons, it can make dishout 32 extra damage (at -4) without any serious impact, even more if combined with the Spot the Weak Point Skill Trick.
Humbly yours,
Yawarmauta
If you haven't read the [thread=629013]Dervish Handbook[/thread] yet:
Problem is that the build requires 4 classes. OP states 3 class max.
I know. Doesn't mean you can't edit it.
Re: what you can take damage from while being hidden/you can't hit what you can't see: Don't forget Will/Fort save-or-die AoE spells. As well, Glitterdust will ruin your day if you're not heavily boosting the check.
If you're planning on CQC while hiding, that's -20 for attacking. There's a lot more I could recommend, like the Quicker than the Eye feat for an extra partial action so you can still full attack while hiding near shadows.
Edit: This build has good feat combos that would synergize well with what you're aiming for, I think.
Can't think of too many Will/Fort save/die AoE spells aside from the Symbol of (X) spells, which are going to hit this character regardless due to HP limitations (and this characters expected relatively weak Con score). At least hiding makes you untargettable by the majority of the Will/Fort spells.
It was just a suggestion, since Ranger brings only a little to the table (removes the req. for Weapon Crystals to affect Undead/Constructs w/ skirmish dice). 9 levels of Scout gets you to a Skirmish damage break-point, and enhancement bonuses to speed fail to stack (dervish+scout). Too bad one isn't competence or unnamed. :/ I also want to point out that hide cannot be used with the dervish dance (per dervish dance description), but this gives you two forms of attacking. Dancing or Hide/Skirmish/Spring Attack.
I'll remove the section regarding the spring attack/hide until I can find a reasonable source to quote. I am trying to remember stuff sans books, which makes for spotty recollection at times.
Will save does nothing to a creature hit with Glitterdust, since the save only negates the blinding.
Can't think of too many Will/Fort save/die AoE spells aside from the Symbol of (X) spells, which are going to hit this character regardless due to HP limitations (and this characters expected relatively weak Con score). At least hiding makes you untargettable by the majority of the Will/Fort spells.
re: Glitterdust: I know.
re: Will/Fort save/die AoE spells: I'm too lazy to make a list, so I'll make a smaller list. This is epic levels, so how about a Wizard that deals with Rogues by casting Wail of the Banshee or Reality Maelstrom (SpC) or Power Word: Stun.
The opponent still has to figure out where you are hiding, and with the Dervish/Scout movement bonus, you have a pretty good chance of not being where they expect you. Unless they light up the room with daylight spells... But most monsters are geared towards spamming deeper darkness, not light. ^_^
Problem is that the build requires 4 classes. OP states 3 class max.
Another idea would be a Scout/HiP/Dervish, using Scout 9/Shadowdancer 1/Dervish 10. It overlaps with Dervish nicely, only requires one additional feat (Combat Reflexes) and 2 ranks (Dance) that can be acquired during the Dervish levels.
Never underestimate the benefits of being hidden in epic levels. "You can't hit what you can't see" combined with evasion vs AoE spells basically means you won't take damage until you flub a hide/move silent check. This is important because you are going to be sans heavy armor, HP are precious when going dual Str/Dex, and your Fort save is likely to be rather miserable, with your Will save only middling.
Additional suggestions:
Travel Devotion (for the instant movement to trigger Scout skirmish).
Ability to cast (and see) in darkness/deeper darkness (to help hide/HiP abilities)
Edit:
Make sure to stock Greater Weapon Crystals of (X), to allow you to do precision damage to Constructs (Demolition) and Undead (Truedeath). All you have left to worry about are Oozes and Elementals (usually).
the crystals for undead and constructs were already in my original post, and about oozes and elementals, they were some of my first choices for the "favored enemy", should i take the Ranger "champion of the wild" levels.
The shadowdancer looks fine enough, and maybe i'll kick in a couple of levels once we've started (the 3-class limit it's only about creation).
By now, i'm more and more thinking about the scout-ranger-dervish... but your "buts" are reasonable, Muertog. My primary issue it's (still) about the feats. The ranger just fits well by giving 1 feat extra at 4th level (CotW) and the 2Weapons (to 6th level, obviously).
Any other option, as it give me something, force me to discard 1+ feat(s). And i can't choose any of them to lose. The whole "Hide" idea it's good, but how do i apply it? By making ranged attacks? I think not. So... i spring attack, do just 2 strikes, and... run away? I think i would be pretty lame, not delivering much damages, given that the whole PC it's about attacking as much as he can.
You think that the Hide-MoveSilently-HiP would make worth losing all this?
There is no object to cover this weak point (spells against will-fortitude)? My saves (with bonuses) should be more or less 13-26-12. I definitely see some great issue about them... there's no other way to fix this without change so much the PC's core idea?
btw.. thanks a lot, guys. The topic has taken a blitz-develop, and i really like the ideas coming.
Edit: in about 2, max 3 days i must have the character complete. Just to make a point about the time left. Sorry.
NiteCyper: i've read that topic already, finding it very useful. You'll notice my feats are all from their suggested list.