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The Essentials books also provide feats that help the players keep pace with the enemies. Specialization feats provide a +1 bonus to-hit per tier, along with a little perk depending on weapon or implement... and Improved Defenses helps shore up those NADs. I'm not a fan of Essentials as a whole, but the feats are very handy.
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Jun 6, 2011 08:48
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| # ¿ Apr 29, 2024 04:14 |
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Hey all, I have... an interesting character build I want to get some critique on. You see, I DM a 4e game... but I have yet to play in one beyond a one shot here and there. So, I have a bunch of ideas I want to try out. Recently, one of my games was cancelled due to too few players showing up. During that downtime, I decided to fiddle with the Star Pact Warlock and see what kind of build I could make with it. I was originally going for a crazed "The Sky is Falling" sort of approach initially, but it turned out quite a bit more interesting. Using all the books at my disposal, I put together a build I call the "Revolving Doorlock." I haven't looked into equipment quite yet, but I have skills and feats all the way to 30th. Have a look and tell me what you think. I apologize a bit for the mess. I did this the old-fashioned way on a character sheet and didn't think to specify which levels what what, so it may be off here and there. ================================================== Chicken Little the Revolving Doorlock Kenku Warlock/Student of Caiphon/Radiant One Warlock Pact: Star Pact Twofold Pact Choice: Vestige Pact Background: Followed a Cult (Stealth Class Skill) Starting Scores: 10 STR, 13 CON, 14 DEX, 14 INT, 11 WIS, 18 CHA Final Scores: 12 STR, 17 CON, 16 DEC, 20 INT, 13 WIS, 26 CHA AC: 41, Fort: 41, Ref: 45, Will: 43 HP: 174, Surges: 9, Surge Value: 43 Trained Skills: Arcana +25, Bluff +36, Stealth +25, Thievery +23 Untrained Skills: Acrobatics +18, Athletics +16, Diplomacy +23, Dungeoneering +16, Endurance +18, Heal +16, History +20, Insight +21, Intimidate +29, Nature + 16, Perception +21, Religion + 20, Streetwise +23. Powers: Warlock At-Will: Eldritch Blast Star Pact At-Will: Dire Radiance Fey Pact At-Will: Eyes of the Vestige Encounter 1: Dreadful Word Daily 1: Prophecy of Zhudun Utility 2: Ethereal Stride Encounter 3: Delban's Deadly Attention Daily 5: Fury of Gibbeth Utility 6: Fate's Frayed Thread Encounter 7: All the Sand, All the Stars Daily 9: Thief of Five Fates Utility 10: Accursed Souls Paragon Path Encounter 11: Trust in the Guide Star Paragon Path Utility 12: Steps on the Purple Stair Encounter 13: Dark Reach of Xevut (Replacing Delban's Deadly Distraction) Daily 15: Far Realm Glimpse (Replacing Prophecy of Zhudun) Utility 16: Vile Resonance Encounter 17: Strand of Fate (Replacing Dreadful Word) Daily 19: Wrath of Acamar (Replaces Fury of Gibbeth) Paragon Path Daily 20: Caiphon's Hungry Mercy Utility 22: Ulban's Shiny Cloak Encounter 23: Maddening Whispers (Replaces All the Sand, All the Stars) Daily 25: Instruction to Darkness (Replaces Thief of Five Fates) Epic Destiny Utility 26: Star Flesh Encounter 27: Banish to the Void (Replaces Strand of Fate) Daily 29: Caiphon's Abominable Melody (Replaces Far Realm Glimpse) Feats: Feat 1: Rod Expertise Feat 2: Improved Defenses Feat 4: Hidden Sniper Feat 6: Dual Implement Spellcaster Feat 8: Sacrifice to Caiphon Feat 10: Improved Fate of the Void Feat 11: Relentless Curse Feat 12: Twofold Curse Feat 14: Veil of Waking Dreams Feat 16: Psychic Lock Feat 18: Twofold Pact (Vestige) Feat 20: Bleak Guide's Return Feat 21: Warlock Implement Expertise Feat 22: Student of the Athanaeum Feat 24: Epic Resurgence Feat 26: Cursed Spells Feat 28: Curse of Doom Ensured Feat 30: Epic Fortitude Equipment: Rod of Ulban +6, Rod of Vulnerability +6, Leather Armor of Dark Majesty +6, Skull Bracers +6, Boots of Caiphon, Hands of Hadar, Skull Mask, Torc of Power Preservation +6, Ring of Khirad, Ring of Greater Spell Storing, Baldric of Valor, Resurgence Tattoo ================================================== It's definitely an odd build, I'll say that much. It really doesn't show anything special until mid-Paragon to near the start of Epic - where the Revolving Door concept starts coming into play. Basically, this build focuses on using save ends abilities that shunt targets out of play, then punishing them with Dark Reach of Xevut when they return and use the secondary effect to banish another target. Since this build relies heavily on one specific power - Dark Reach of Xevut - to function, both the feats and the PP involve methods of getting powers back. Sacrifice to Caiphon, Bleak Guide's Return, Student of the Athanaeum, and Epic Resurgence (along with the standard feats to improve hit chances, criticals and damage) focus on getting back Dark Reach on either a miss or critical, while Student of the Athanaeum focuses on getting back Caiphon's Hungry Mercy. Hungry Mercy is the fun one in this, making this build a potential power battery. Everyone in the effect gets to roll a d6, regaining an encounter on a 1-5, and a daily on a 6. The Revolving Doorlock will most likely recover Dark Reach on a 1-5, or recover Hungry Mercy right back on a d6... using the Athanaeum feat to recover it if it's needed again and it's not available. Obviously, this would be further improved with equipment that reduces saving throws on the target, or also allows the recovery of powers (I believe there's an armor that lets you recover a power by burning a healing surge, but the name escapes me). It's not the most reliable or deadly build out there, but it strikes me as a lot of fun. Also, for optimization you'd probably want a Tiefling or Gnome... or something else that has CON/CHA or INT/CHA bonuses... but I really liked the idea of a bird talking about the sky trying to kill everyone. ... Thoughts? EDIT: vvvvvvv Aha, good suggestion! I completely overlooked that feat. Adjusted. EDIT 2: Went back and built him back up in the Character Builder in order to look for some good items. Ended up changing a couple Utility powers and Feats as well due to it listing options I was unaware of. Kobold fucked around with this message at 03:09 on Jun 20, 2011 |
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Jun 19, 2011 23:52
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J. Alfred Prufrock posted:Another option to consider would be the Planeshifter PP, which gives you a banishing power every encounter at level 11. Everything else about it sucks, but it does get the gimmick online much earlier, and every encounter. Also, do you think that threat range boost from getting a radiant longsword would be worth dropping one of the two rods (In this case, probably the Rod of Vulnerability) and burning a feat on it? Caiphon's Guidance gives that threat range to radiant AND fear... most of my powers being the latter, save for a couple irregulars. Hence why I thought picking up the Skull Helm would be a good idea, since it'd make those harder to save against... which is actually the only reason I picked it up over the Phrenic Crown. The Crown of Equilibrium sounds like it'd make for a hilarious situation if the Doorlock ended up in a battle where a lot of saves were needed.
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Jun 20, 2011 02:32
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Ah, that must've been it. I knew one of my players had armor that did allowed the recovered power. I must've missed the errata. Also, you make a good point. Why waste a feat for a 19-20 crit on all my spells when I can start critting with a wider range on all my spells right at the start of Paragon? Hm. If I'm going to do that, though, picking up Font of Radiance at Epic would probably be a good idea as well. I was looking a Bleak Guide's Return anyway and thinking that it's pretty useless with Sacrifice to Caiphon giving me the exact same result with a minor hit to HP instead of having to crit with a Con-based at-will. I was thinking about swapping it out instead for Diminished Spirit Curse; it's a Heroic feat, but it'll give a -2 to the next save of the target if their both bloodied and subject to the Curse (which is quite possible with how I have this guy built). Might be good for keeping them out of play. So, Arcane Implement Proficiency, Diminishing Spirit Curse, and Font of Radiance at the three tiers. I was also looking at Contagious Curse, but I don't know what to swap out for it in Epic - maybe Epic Fortitude? I'm thinking it'd work well with the Accursed Souls utility by killing a target, then marking everything around it and causing them to take both Necrotic and Curse damage simultaneously. Would that even work? EDIT: The final result would be something like this: Feat 1: Rod Expertise Feat 2: Improved Defenses Feat 4: Hidden Sniper Feat 6: Dual Implement Spellcaster Feat 8: Sacrifice to Caiphon Feat 10: Improved Fate of the Void Feat 11: Arcane Implement Proficiency (Heavy Blades) Feat 12: Relentless Curse Feat 14: Twofold Curse Feat 16: Veil of Waking Dreams Feat 18: Twofold Pact (Vestige) Feat 20: Diminishing Spirit Curse Feat 21: Epic Resurgence Feat 22: Student of the Athanaeum Feat 24: Font of Radiance Feat 26: Contagious Curse Feat 28: Cursed Spells Feat 30: Curse of Doom Ensured I also have Killing and Brutal Curse sideboarded in case it's a game where the DM allows a couple free feats, which I would spend on getting the feat taxes out of the way. Kobold fucked around with this message at 06:11 on Jun 20, 2011 |
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Jun 20, 2011 05:50
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Hey all. I'm getting to chance to play in a Dark Sun game, so I'm dusting off the idea I had for a Goliath Templar Lazylord. It's only level 8 at the start, but I wanted to plan ahead to save taking too long while digging through books and whatnot during game time. I looked at some other sources for abilities to take and whatnot, and this is what I've gotten so far: ====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ====== Ukase, level 30 Goliath, Warlord, Praetor Legate, Hordemaster Build: Tactical Warlord Archer Warlord Optional Choice: Standard Warlord Armor Features Warlord: Battlefront Leader Commanding Presence: Tactical Presence Horde Champion: Horde Champion Strength Horde Champion: Horde Champion Intelligence Background: Birth - Blessed (Insight class skill) FINAL ABILITY SCORES Str 30, Con 14, Dex 10, Int 24, Wis 12, Cha 13. STARTING ABILITY SCORES Str 18, Con 10, Dex 8, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 11. AC: 35 Fort: 39 Reflex: 35 Will: 35 HP: 171 Surges: 9 Surge Value: 42 TRAINED SKILLS Endurance +21, Insight +21, Diplomacy +21, Intimidate +21 UNTRAINED SKILLS Acrobatics +14, Arcana +22, Bluff +16, Dungeoneering +16, Heal +16, History +22, Nature +18, Perception +16, Religion +22, Stealth +14, Streetwise +16, Thievery +14, Athletics +26 FEATS Feat User Choice: Improved Defenses Feat User Choice: Axe Expertise Level 1: Tactical Assault Level 2: Lend Might Level 4: Lend Strength Level 6: Inspirational Attacker Level 8: Goliath Greatweapon Prowess Level 10: Improved Tactics Level 11: Cragborn Courage Level 12: Fight On Level 14: Tactician's Word Level 16: Vexing Flanker Level 18: Deadly Axe Level 20: Benevolent Templar Level 21: Reliable Action Level 22: Shared Resources Level 24: Tactical Action Level 26: Martial Mastery Level 28: Epic Resurgence Level 30: Epic Will POWERS Dark Sun: Far Hearing Warlord at-will 1: Commander's Strike Warlord at-will 1: Intuitive Strike Warlord encounter 1: Warlord's Favor Warlord daily 1: Lead the Attack Warlord utility 2: Reward the Obedient Warlord encounter 3: Devastating Offensive Warlord daily 5: Glare of Oppression Warlord utility 6: Rousing Words Warlord encounter 7: Fettering Glare Warlord daily 9: Imperious Gaze Warlord utility 10: Berate the Weak Warlord encounter 13: Death from Two Sides (replaces Warlord's Favor) Warlord daily 15: Anticipate Attack (Warlord) (replaces Lead the Attack) Warlord utility 16: Decisive Timing Warlord encounter 17: Hail of Steel (replaces Devastating Offensive) Warlord daily 19: Victory Surge (replaces Glare of Oppression) Warlord utility 22: Harrying Warhound Warlord encounter 23: Hold that Thought (replaces Fettering Glare) Warlord daily 25: Precision Stance (replaces Imperious Gaze) Warlord encounter 27: A Plan Comes Together (replaces Death from Two Sides) Warlord daily 29: Stand Invincible (replaces Anticipate Attack (Warlord)) ITEMS Hide Armor, Trikal of Shared Wrath ====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ====== Thoughts? I went for Axe Expertise because I was using a Trikal (Axe/Polearm with Reach), but I'm not married to that weapon choice. Only things I'm sticking to is being a Goliath and TacLord. I think I'm weakest in the feats department... I kind of ran out of ideas as points in Paragon and Epic. Also, suggestions for a wish list would be pretty nice. EDIT: ... I thought I posted this guy here before (albeit only at level 10-ish). Maybe it was in an older thread. Kobold fucked around with this message at 07:09 on Aug 11, 2011 |
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Aug 11, 2011 07:04
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Ah, good point. I figured a couple extra points would be nice... but I suppose just making sure that my allies are near baddies I'm hitting (which they should be) would be better. Also... Combat Commander's for the Combat Leader Warlord option. I went with Battlefront since I thought the moving one character would be more handy. Is having the bonus to Init that useful? And thanks for the suggestions on the items.
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Aug 11, 2011 07:48
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I think I posted my Revolving Doorlock Star Pact idea months ago in this very thread for some evaluation. He went Student of Caiphon PP too, and then... Starchild or something at Epic. The one that also bolsters radiant damage and lets you basically supernova to nullify range attacks or something. But yeah, Radiant-cheese seems the best way to maximize damage. And the best part about the Morninglord is that YOU don't have to be the one with that PP - get one of your divine classes to go that route and build some group synergy that way. If you'd like, I can hunt down either the post or the character sheet. Though, it's more a gimmick build turning the Warlock into a bit of a controller rather than focusing solely on putting out the most damage possible.
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Feb 22, 2012 23:09
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Cipher Pol 9 posted:If Drow wasn't a major part of his character and the next season, I'd go with this in a heartbeat.
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May 11, 2012 21:33
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Lemon Curdistan posted:No, it's not underpowered; it's merely under-supported.
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May 15, 2012 19:30
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So, I've been theorizing an idea lately and I'm curious to get some input on it. A lot of the "feat taxes" revolve around your enemies' defenses and to-hit and such scaling faster than the normal player as presented. Enemies also can get some decent bonus things on their "standard attacks" depending on the monster. As such, I figured trying to create an entire build around having as many Dominate/Charm style abilities might be worth trying out. I'm thinking Psion|Warlock Hybrid since you could go 16/16 Int/Cha with a Tiefling or Kalashtar or something to get double 18s at start. Warlock, particularly Fey and Star Pacts, have moves that involve either making the enemy attack another or straight up dominating them, and Psion seems to do this as well. Does this seem like it would be a feasible project, or are there just too few domination powers to work with? EDIT: Here's a basic concept: ====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ====== Mentok the Mindtaker, level 30 Kalashtar, Warlock|Psion, Entrancing Mystic, Feyliege Eldritch Pact (Hybrid): Fey Pact (Hybrid) Hybrid Warlock: Hybrid Warlock Reflex Discipline Focus (Hybrid): Telepathy Focus (Hybrid) Psionic Augmentation (Hybrid): Hybrid Encounter Power Eldritch Blast: Eldritch Blast Charisma Twofold Pact: Vestige Pact Kalashtar: Arcana Bonus FINAL ABILITY SCORES Str 10, Con 15, Dex 12, Int 26, Wis 13, Cha 28. STARTING ABILITY SCORES Str 8, Con 13, Dex 10, Int 16, Wis 11, Cha 16. AC: 34 Fort: 31 Reflex: 35 Will: 35 HP: 143 Surges: 8 Surge Value: 35 TRAINED SKILLS Intimidate +29, Arcana +30, Bluff +29 UNTRAINED SKILLS Acrobatics +16, Diplomacy +24, Dungeoneering +16, Endurance +17, Heal +16, History +23, Insight +18, Nature +16, Perception +16, Religion +23, Stealth +16, Streetwise +24, Thievery +16, Athletics +15 FEATS Level 1: Beguiling Enchantment Level 2: Rod Expertise Level 4: Disciple of Torment Level 6: Aberrant Mark of Contagion Level 8: Dual Mind Strength Level 10: Killing Curse Level 11: Dominating Mind Level 12: Corrosive Thoughts Level 14: Battle Psion Level 16: Psychic Lock Level 18: Twofold Curse Level 20: Twofold Pact Level 21: Contagious Curse Level 22: Cursed Spells Level 24: Student of the Athanaeum Level 26: Mind-Numbing Curse Level 28: Relentless Curse Level 30: Epic Fortitude POWERS Hybrid at-will 1: Dishearten Hybrid at-will 1: Eldritch Blast Hybrid Encounter Power: Betrayal (replaces Dishearten) Hybrid Encounter Power: Sprite War Call Hybrid daily 1: Mists of Madness Hybrid utility 2: Beguiling Tongue Hybrid daily 5: Crisis of Identity Hybrid utility 6: Confusing Blather Hybrid at-will/encounter 7: Touch of Command Hybrid daily 9: Command Insanity Hybrid utility 10: Snap Out of It Hybrid at-will/encounter 13: Bewitching Whispers (replaces Sprite War Call) Hybrid daily 15: Dominate (replaces Mists of Madness) Hybrid utility 16: Psychic Chirurgery Hybrid at-will/encounter 17: Forced Opportunity (replaces Betrayal) Hybrid daily 19: Passionate Betrayal (replaces Crisis of Identity) Hybrid utility 22: Ulban's Shining Cloak Hybrid at-will/encounter 23: Unwilling Betrayal (replaces Touch of Command) Hybrid daily 25: Thrall (replaces Command Insanity) Hybrid at-will/encounter 27: Banish to the Void (replaces Forced Opportunity) Hybrid daily 29: Soul Break (replaces Dominate) ITEMS Adventurer's Kit, Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing), Rod Implement ====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ====== Kobold fucked around with this message at 20:56 on Nov 3, 2012 |
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Nov 3, 2012 20:07
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LightWarden posted:I'd use enchantment wizard instead of psion. Also, Tieflings at epic can take Royal Command of Asmodeus as a feat, which turns all stuns into dominate effects. This expands your options immensely (there was a period in the game where Legion's Hold originally was a Close Burst 20 stun (save ends), and an archmage could use it as an encounter power at level 30). It combos well with things like Steal Time. LightWarden posted:It's pretty much possible to play a 1 to 30 enchanter mage who doesn't do a point of damage and instead relies on enemies do damage for you. Given that enemy basic attacks get pretty nasty at high levels, it's not that bad.
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Nov 3, 2012 20:59
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Hm. Never thought about doing Deva as my previous life for an "unkillable" Revenant build. I usually went with Dwarf for being able to Second Wind as either a minor or reaction, depending on which feat I go with. Then again, I went for the classic DnD Revenant concept - an undead guy that will hunt a target down relentlessly and strange them to death. Revenant (Dwarf) Grapple Fighter, so having the reactive Second Wind works as a solid "replacement" for a Paladin's Lay on Hands.
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Mar 24, 2013 05:06
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