Channel the Storm - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Channel the Storm

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
saladin77
Aug 02, 2008 15:26:52 Elf
Fighter 4 / Warblade 6 / Eternal Blade 10
Progression: Warblade 1 / Fighter 1 / Warblade +1 / Fighter +3 / Warblade +4 / Eternal Blade 10

Initiator Level: 18

Feats:
HD1: Two-Weapon Fighting
Ftr1: Weapon Focus
HD3: Ironheart Aura
Ftr2: Combat Reflexes
Ftr4: Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
HD6: Double Hit (Miniatures Handbook)
HD9: Stormguard Warrior
Warblade5: Improved Initiative
HD12: Robilar's Gambit
HD15: Improved Combat Reflexes (Dragon Magazine)
HD18: Greater Combat Reflexes (Dragon Magazine)

Note: This build assumes that Karmic Strike and Robilar's Gambit do not stack. If anyone has a source that contradicts this, please post.

Gear:
2x +1 Keen Kukri
Boots of Speed
Belt of Battle (MIC)
Starmantle Cloak (BoED)
Retributive Amulet (BoED)

Tactics:
Round 1: Activate Boots of Speed. Pouncing Charge - Combat Rhythm
(7 touch attacks. Assume 4 hits, for +20 damage next round)

The enemy then can make a full attack. Assume 4 attacks. For each attack made against you, this build can make 4 attacks of opportunity, totaling 16 attacks of opportunity. However, it gives up making these attacks of opportunity with the Channel the Storm technique from Stormguard Warrior, gaining +4 on attacks and damage for each Attack of Opportunity not taken. This is a total of +64 on attacks and damage the next round.

Round 2:
Full-Round: Time Stands Still
Immediate: Island in Time
Full-Round: Full Attack
Swift: Activate Belt of Battle for another Full-Round action
Full-Round: Full Attack
(28 attacks)

Each attack has +64 to attack and +84 to damage, in addition to the normal bonuses. With a +64 bonus to attack rolls, we expect 27 hits and a natural 1. With 27 hits, we have a total of 2,268 bonus damage, in addition to the damage normally dealt by 27 attacks.

(Note: For comparison, a Great Wyrm Gold Dragon has 717 hp)

This build has a few weaknesses, which can be shored up by other party members. The main one is that it needs to be attacked multiple times in order to power up Channel the Storm. An enemy that relies on a single, powerful attack, or an enemy that can kill in a single round, will be problematic. Ideally, you should go into battle with a few allied buffs, including Fortunate Fate and Indomitability, which will dramatically increase survivability.
#2
empirate
Aug 04, 2008 9:59:54 AFB, so have to ask: Does Robilar's Gambit etc. only grant AoOs if you're actually hit, or on each and every enemy attack, even misses?
Coz you just might stock up on miss chance items to avoid most of the damage coming your way: Displacement, Mirror Image, Blink, Blur... not all of these will stack, but you'll find a way not to get hit that often.
#3
spectre3541
Aug 04, 2008 10:50:20 Robilar's Gambit gives you an AoO on every attack, even misses. And the Starmantle Cloak lets you make a Reflex save (DC 15) for half damage from any attack.
#4
ksbsnowowl
Aug 04, 2008 14:59:29
Progression: Fighter 1 / Warblade 2 / Fighter +3 /...

Just curious why you chose to advance this way? It doesn't get you a higher Initiator Level for your first two Warblade levels, it doesn't aid you in avoiding multiclassing penalties, and it robs you of 2 assured HP's and 6 skill points.

Going Warblade 1/Fighter 1/Warblade +1 would be functionally equivalent so far as the overall build is concerned, only delaying Weap Focus one level (and I can't see how that is truly a detriment in the long run). It also gets you 2 assured additional HP's at first level (an average of 1 bonus HP, overall), and 8 additional skill points at first level (a 6 skill point bonus overall).
#5
saladin77
Aug 04, 2008 21:45:26 @Empirate: Yes, miss chance items will help a lot. I just put down the basics for gear, obviously a full character would have a lot more.

@ksbsnowowl: That looks good, i'll update the original post.
#6
bellasarius
Aug 09, 2008 11:30:35 It looks like you are counting Double Hit as an additional attack of opportunity for the purposes of Channel the Storm but it doesn't explicitly say that the strike with your off hand weapon counts as an additional attack of opportunity as the Improved and Greater Combat Reflexes feats do. I'm not so sure it would work but you would still get 3 AoOs per provoking action.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 saladin77 Aug 02, 2008 15:26:52	Elf Fighter 4 / Warblade 6 / Eternal Blade 10 Progression: Warblade 1 / Fighter 1 / Warblade +1 / Fighter +3 / Warblade +4 / Eternal Blade 10 Initiator Level: 18 Feats: HD1: Two-Weapon Fighting Ftr1: Weapon Focus HD3: Ironheart Aura Ftr2: Combat Reflexes Ftr4: Improved Two-Weapon Fighting HD6: Double Hit (Miniatures Handbook) HD9: Stormguard Warrior Warblade5: Improved Initiative HD12: Robilar's Gambit HD15: Improved Combat Reflexes (Dragon Magazine) HD18: Greater Combat Reflexes (Dragon Magazine) Note: This build assumes that Karmic Strike and Robilar's Gambit do not stack. If anyone has a source that contradicts this, please post. Gear: 2x +1 Keen Kukri Boots of Speed Belt of Battle (MIC) Starmantle Cloak (BoED) Retributive Amulet (BoED) Tactics: Round 1: Activate Boots of Speed. Pouncing Charge - Combat Rhythm (7 touch attacks. Assume 4 hits, for +20 damage next round) The enemy then can make a full attack. Assume 4 attacks. For each attack made against you, this build can make 4 attacks of opportunity, totaling 16 attacks of opportunity. However, it gives up making these attacks of opportunity with the Channel the Storm technique from Stormguard Warrior, gaining +4 on attacks and damage for each Attack of Opportunity not taken. This is a total of +64 on attacks and damage the next round. Round 2: Full-Round: Time Stands Still Immediate: Island in Time Full-Round: Full Attack Swift: Activate Belt of Battle for another Full-Round action Full-Round: Full Attack (28 attacks) Each attack has +64 to attack and +84 to damage, in addition to the normal bonuses. With a +64 bonus to attack rolls, we expect 27 hits and a natural 1. With 27 hits, we have a total of 2,268 bonus damage, in addition to the damage normally dealt by 27 attacks. (Note: For comparison, a Great Wyrm Gold Dragon has 717 hp) This build has a few weaknesses, which can be shored up by other party members. The main one is that it needs to be attacked multiple times in order to power up Channel the Storm. An enemy that relies on a single, powerful attack, or an enemy that can kill in a single round, will be problematic. Ideally, you should go into battle with a few allied buffs, including Fortunate Fate and Indomitability, which will dramatically increase survivability.
#2 empirate Aug 04, 2008 9:59:54	AFB, so have to ask: Does Robilar's Gambit etc. only grant AoOs if you're actually hit, or on each and every enemy attack, even misses? Coz you just might stock up on miss chance items to avoid most of the damage coming your way: Displacement, Mirror Image, Blink, Blur... not all of these will stack, but you'll find a way not to get hit that often.
#3 spectre3541 Aug 04, 2008 10:50:20	Robilar's Gambit gives you an AoO on every attack, even misses. And the Starmantle Cloak lets you make a Reflex save (DC 15) for half damage from any attack.
#4 ksbsnowowl Aug 04, 2008 14:59:29	Progression: Fighter 1 / Warblade 2 / Fighter +3 /... Just curious why you chose to advance this way? It doesn't get you a higher Initiator Level for your first two Warblade levels, it doesn't aid you in avoiding multiclassing penalties, and it robs you of 2 assured HP's and 6 skill points. Going Warblade 1/Fighter 1/Warblade +1 would be functionally equivalent so far as the overall build is concerned, only delaying Weap Focus one level (and I can't see how that is truly a detriment in the long run). It also gets you 2 assured additional HP's at first level (an average of 1 bonus HP, overall), and 8 additional skill points at first level (a 6 skill point bonus overall).
#5 saladin77 Aug 04, 2008 21:45:26	@Empirate: Yes, miss chance items will help a lot. I just put down the basics for gear, obviously a full character would have a lot more. @ksbsnowowl: That looks good, i'll update the original post.
#6 bellasarius Aug 09, 2008 11:30:35	It looks like you are counting Double Hit as an additional attack of opportunity for the purposes of Channel the Storm but it doesn't explicitly say that the strike with your off hand weapon counts as an additional attack of opportunity as the Improved and Greater Combat Reflexes feats do. I'm not so sure it would work but you would still get 3 AoOs per provoking action.