Character Build Contest: Weapon Master Builds

[Cijah]

CLASSES
-------
Fighter (14), Monk (7), Weapon Master (19), Human

STR: 10
DEX: 16 (28)
CON: 14
WIS: 14
INT: 14
CHA: 8

LEVEL GUIDE
-----------
Human: (Quick to Master)
01: Monk(1): Luck of Heros, Dodge, {Cleave, Evasion, Improved Unarmed Strike, Stunning Fist}
02: Fighter(1): Weapon Finesse
03: Fighter(2): Mobility, Weapon Focus: Kama
04: Fighter(3): DEX+1, (DEX=17)
05: Fighter(4): Weapon Specialization: Kama
06: Fighter(5): Blind Fight
07: Monk(2): {Deflect Arrows}
08: Fighter(6): DEX+1, Expertise, (DEX=18)
09: Fighter(7): Improved Critical: Kama
10: Fighter(8): Spring Attack
11: Fighter(9)
12: Monk(3): DEX+1, Ambidexterity, (DEX=19)
13: Fighter(10): Whirlwind Attack
14: Monk(4)
15: Weapon Master(1): Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon of Choice: Kama
16: Monk(5): DEX+1, (DEX=20)
17: Monk(6): {Knockdown, Improved Knockdown}
18: Weapon Master(2): Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
19: Weapon Master(3)
20: Weapon Master(4): DEX+1, (DEX=21)
21: Weapon Master(5): Epic Fortitude
22: Weapon Master(6)
23: Fighter(11)
24: Fighter(12): DEX+1, Improved Expertise, Epic Weapon Focus: Kama, (DEX=22)
25: Weapon Master(7)
26: Weapon Master(8)
27: Fighter(13): Epic Will
28: Fighter(14): DEX+1, Epic Weapon Specialization: Kama, (DEX=23)
29: Weapon Master(9)
30: Weapon Master(10): Great Dexterity I, (DEX=24)
31: Weapon Master(11)
32: Weapon Master(12): DEX+1, (DEX=25)
33: Weapon Master(13): Great Dexterity II, Blinding Speed, (DEX=26)
34: Weapon Master(14)
35: Weapon Master(15)
36: Weapon Master(16): DEX+1, Epic Skill Focus: Discipline, Armor Skin, (DEX=27)
37: Monk(7)
38: Weapon Master(17)
39: Weapon Master(18): Iron Will
40: Weapon Master(19): DEX+1, Epic Prowess, (DEX=28)

HIT POINTS
---------
Base Hit Points: 466
w/ crafted gear: 626*
w/ crafted gear and attr. bonus: 706**


SAVING THROWS
-------------
Base (w/Gear*)[w/Gear* and Attr. Bonus]
Fortitude/Will/Reflex: 30/28/32
w/ crafted gear: 34/34/38
w/ crafted gear and attr. bonus: 40/40/44
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +4[+9], Mind Effects: +2


ATTACK BONUS (AB):
------------
28 BAB
04 EWF/EP
09 DEX
04 WM LEVELS
01 BLINDING SPEED
06 +6 KAMA (e.g. IA KAMA)
==
52 AB
==
06 MAX ATTRIBUTE BUFF
04 BARD SONG
03 AVA
==
65 AB party buffed
-2 DUAL WIELD
==
63 AB

ARMOR CLASS(AC)
-----------
10 BASE
01 MONK LEVELS
02 MONK WISDOM BONUS
08 TUMBLE
02 ARMOR SKIN
09 DEX
==
32 AC
==
06 MONK WISDOM BONUS (Crafted Ammy)
02 BLINDING SPEED
03 DODGE (Crafted Boots +3/+8)
05 NAT
05 DEF
06 MAX ATTRIBUTE BUFF
==
59 AC
04 BARD SONG
==
63(73) AC (IMP EXPERTISE)


SKILLS (235 pts)
------
Base (w/Gear*)[w/Gear* and Attr. Bonus]
Concentration 40(57)[63]
Disable Trap 1(32)[38]
Discipline 43(70)[76]
Intimidate 4(3)
Lore 11(21)[27]
Open Lock 1(33)[39]
Set Trap 1(17)[23]
Spellcraft 21(33)[39]
Spot 43(45)[51]
Taunt 1(28)[34]
Tumble 40(49)[55]

*Gear used
Merfolk Helm (Discipline +7, Concentration +7)
Level 16 ring x 2 (+10 to Discipline, Concentration, Taunt, Spellcraft,Open Locks or Disable Traps)
Imbued Silk Gloves (Open Locks +7, Disable Traps +7)
Crafted Boots (Disable Traps +7, Set Traps +7)
Imbued Winged Helm (Lore +10)
Thieve Tools (Open Locks +6)
Crafted Belt (Taunt +8)
Crafted Cloak (Taunt +10)

** spellcraft, disable trap, intimidate, open lock, set trap and taunt are cross-classed skills **

Description:
This build is your basic Fighter/Monk/Weapon master. Dual-wielded Kamas with EWS and Blinding Speed. Uses Level 16 gear and Crafted Level 30 items.

Options include reducing Monk Levels to 5 taking Knockdown feat pre-epic and taking two more Fighter levels post-epic for a 16-5-19 build netting an extra AB but losing Improved Knockdown from not having 6 monk levels. In this build base saves are best with either 4 or 6 monk levels pre-epic and adding or reducing WM levels pre-epic any other combo you lose at least 1 on each save.

Can also be built in RK as a dwarf losing one feat - probably Luck of Heroes and therefore losing -1 will and -1 reflex save. No net loss to fort as dwarves get +1 from +2 con. Also will lose 43 skill points which would see probably spot dropped.

Spot was included even though the build does not have keen senses. In the human build you could cross-class taunt or open locks etc to make these more effective.

[Rufio]

so... I don't understand, what is the contest here?

[Alkapwn]

Newbie builds I thought the contest was. I don't think this one passes as monk is not available in MA

[mining]

Alka, I don't think we can do a newbie build that fits every faction--dwarfs in RK but not AO, and everything else in AO and not RK.

I'd imagine we'd have to settle for most factions, with the winner the build that does the best, in the most factions, with the lowest ECL, and the least use of hard to find gear.

[BlkMamba]

Pure Barb, can be made anywhere
comes with haste
decent ab and survivablity

[OpalimTeGolim]

Devs, give MA barbarians! Even Mamba wants it

[rocketkai]

Pure barb would be the winner build for sure. No-brainer
Could be the pure bard if the song is not nerfed

[frogofpeace]

NC will defer on the barb diaspora, and therefore will expect to receive rogues

Not sure if mamba meant bard - pure bard is a good choice, hard to mess up a githzerai bard, unless you're worried about the recent anti-nerf on turning.

Actually, shouldn't this discussion be on the other thread, and keep this one for WM builds?

[Lokey]

Monk 7? (2 more skill points over another fighter or wm...)

Poor MA left out in the cold

[mining]

ECL 3, low damage, pita to level- bards are good, but this is for new players .

[Cijah]

Monk 7? (2 more skill points over another fighter or wm...)

The 7th monk level was a skill dump for tumble. You could go 6 monk levels but that would mean leaving the 6th level until level 37 and not having knockdown or improved knockdown until very late in the build. Taking an extra fighter level or weaponmaster level pre-epic would mess with the saves and playability in my opinion.

Understandable that MA misses out with this configuration given no Monks in MA however criteria was largest possible number of factions.

The easiest to meet Factions would be Pure Cleric, Fighter, Bard but then the quality of Clerics would be affected by the Domains allowed.

A figher/Bard/WM can be built in every faction though the saves would not be as good.

I was trying to meet all the criteria which I nearly got except MA who do not have monks

[mining]

Everyone gets travel.

Thus, travel/magic, travel/war or travel/healing.

Easy.

[Shadowalker]

When ever I am speaking with players new to server, there are two things that I share with every single one.

First Aetheria is "A highly customized server for blanced PvP" and due to that your need to refer offten to http://www.nsrealm.com and the NS4.wiki.

Second, I reccomned to them all, that they build a battle cleric. Because a clerics spells with fill in the hundreds of holes in your gear. And after you get into your 30's and decide that there a few things you would have done diffrent, had ya known then what you learned getting this far. You can turn the toon into a clerical crafter, at first for much needed RD scrolls which can not be purchased in the mod. Checking the local variations of cleric spells will also familurize them with the wiki.

My build is set up for, and lvls spaced to try and provide a toon that will be easy to level in the mod. Str based AB for dmg and ability to carry away all the loot we leave behind. Gold, gear and experaince with the mod, are comidities for all new players here.

Having a build provided covers the local knowledge, but leveling will still be a learning xperiance and I beleive that a cleric is a prime choice.

Set up for Human... with a Dwarf conversion at the end to accomidate Ragnars Kin.(aka Noble Dunken Sods)

Classes: Cleric 30, Figher 2, Wpn Master 8
Domains: Travel/Healing
Alignment: adjust to suit faction of choice

Starting/ending stats
S 15/20
D 13
C 14
I 13
W 14/20
Ch 8

Skills Concentration, Dicipiline, Spellcraft, Tumble (xross class) and one rank of Open Lock, Maintain Max ranks in these skills as lvling.

1 F luck of heros, dodge, wpn focus morning star
2 C
3 C xprtise
4 C +str
5 F mobility
6 C spring attack
7 C
8 C +wis
9 C wirlwind
10 WM
11 WM
12 WM imp crit MS
13 C
14 C
15 C extend spell
16 C +wis
17 C
18 C quicken spell
19 C
20 C +wis
21 WM armor skin
22 WM
23 C
24 C +wis, epic wpn focus MS
25 WM
26 WM
27 C epic prowless
28 C +str
29 C
30 C auto quick 1
31 C
32 C +str auto quick 2
33 C epic skill focus dicipiline
34 C
35 C auto quick 3
36 C +str epic fort
37 C great wisdom 1
38 C
39 C epic reflex/will (builders choice)
40 WM (max dicipiline)

Dwarf Variant requires only the slighted change

Begining Stats
S 15
D 13
C 15
I 14 (increased to maintiain skills)
W 14
Ch 6

Drop luck of heros from the build, in lue of human bonus feat.

All else remains the same.

**edited.. messed up my own notes, build has auto quick 3, all taken on bonus epic cleric feats**

[OpalimTeGolim]

Another MA hater
Just kidding, I know that twig loves everyone

If someone is making this build in MA, I'd suggest trickery domain instead of healing, because healing is not an option there.

Apart from that, I'd say that WM are hard to build and I would not suggest new player a WM build. Your cleric/wm build gets ab up to like 56-57 when it hits 20 ab cap. 56-57 is low. Since it's str build, ac will be in 60ies (higher with a friendly bard or pdk), and while it can heal itself, lack of AQ3 is kinda sad. One of the best healing spells is gr restore, and it is lvl 7 spell. Not only that it heals, but it removes bunch of bad things. Resurection is lvl 7 spell too.

My suggestion to new players would be not to build wm. WM builds are so much more sexy once you have few books to burn on them. Int 13, dex 13 and high strength while having decent con is hard to have without using books.

Several players have already mentioned pure barbarians and bards. Those are really good classes for new players (and pure fighter for those who like to pvp a lot). Bards are cool because even if your bard is crappy and dies often, people will still want you in their party because you can sing and curse. Song bonus is huge and bard contributes to party a lot. Whenever you have such situation, ppl will be more tolerant to newbie mistakes you make. If you want to be invited in many parties, and go to higher planes more often, build a bard.

[Shadowalker]

Sorry about the healing part, didnt check to see that all factions can take healing, and aye trickery would be good substitute.

Edited the post, auto quick3 was/is part of it, I missed noting it at lvl 35, fixed now.

Basicly I was going for a Cleric build, with Wpn Master added to increase mele powers. Original thought was a cleric/monk build, but thats not possible in MA. So settled for the above, its just a thought. I still think clerics make great starting toons, aside from the filling in gear holes, a concern long past for the majority of the server who has been here for many many many years. And as OpalimTeGolim points out, bards are cherished for song/curse mass haste, clerics likewise for UEF, AvA, Healing and Grt Restores.

If the post atleast plants a few ideas in the fertile ground of the servers minds, then Twig job is done.