What kind of weaponmaster ?

[Bmonkey]

hi guys, i was thinking about making a weaponmaster build to get that high ab, but now i'm doubting about the weapon to focus in.

The ones i'm thinking about is either a kama cheese for the high amount of attacks, or a rogue version with a large threat range.

--rogue version gives me a high threat and nice skills and some sneak.

--monk version gives me 2 more attacks a round and monk ac-ing.

what are your thoughts on this, and which one would you rather go for on ns4 ?

[kgb]

Whilst its nice to go kamas ( I know I have ftr/mnk/cleric) with 9 attacks thanks to flurry of blows) the damage is output is medium. The storm kama is the staple but its only a +4wpn so at higher levels damage resistance from other players who have greater stoneskin, premonition and the like will soak a bit up. With cleric of course this can be bypassed thanks to Greater Magic Wpn which turns the Storm Kama into a +5 wpn! if u have at least 15 cleric levels.

Again with the wide crit range of rapiers and kukris the no of decent wpns at higher levels is not as great as others. Scimitar for instance has a nice +5 version called the Djinni Blade. Problem with Scimitars and Kukris are the large amount of monsters/mobs with slash resist. A shortsword is a nice wpn compromise - also some lesser known used ones like the spear would be fantastic - ogre hunter spear and blooddrinker spears at low levels and then the amazon lance or amazon champion's lance higher up - very nice wpns.

As a wpn master u cant go past the Scythe (Nice +5 Flame Harvester) Great Swords like the Black Guardian Sword with Neg Energy dam etc.

Depends whether you want to try something different or try something others have done.

[Myrdyr]

I've been thinking of making a weaponmaster (fighter/rogue) with two weapons of choice to work around the limits of relying upon just one weapon...

[watchwood]

I'm pretty sure a weapon master only gets one weapon of choice.

[Celorn]

I'm pretty sure a weapon master only gets one weapon of choice.

Nope.

You can at least get 2, (as was discussed in another thread) at 13 levels of WM, you can pick 'Weapon of Choice' again for any other weapon you have focus in... AND it has all the WM boosted crits and things that the initial weapon has.

[Kirg]

And at 18 you get the crit boost if my memory doesn't fail me. Yup, it's possible to get two weapons of choice, at least.

[CrazyJ]

18? You get the crit boost at 5 and 7, don't know of anything at WM 18.

2-handed weapons give you a lot more damage, but if you wield a 2-handed weapon your AC and DR will be about as bad as that of a naked kobold so you're going to die a lot unless you can face everything in one-on-one duels.

[havelot]

AND it has all the WM boosted crits and things that the initial weapon has.

This should not be interpreted to mean that you don't have to take separate Weapon Focus and Epic Weapon Focus feats for each weapon - which is highly advisable. The same caveat would apply to WS and EWS feats (if you are taking levels as a Fighter). I'm not sure a Strength-based WM is all that viable on NS4; a dexer, using the Githzerai subrace, might be - but then you are limited in your choice of weapons supported by the Weapon Finesse feat. You can't dual wield a whip, so that is even more limiting. A rapier/ss combo might prove effective.

I actually think a R/M/SD with Bane of Enemies and Epic Dodge would be a better option for a dual-weilding dexer. You could probably reach an AB in the mid-50s with this build. The damage from FE/BoE would largely make up for it not being a Strength build.

[P. Fricebottle]

Yes, you can take a second Weapon of Choice. Which is indeed, rather neat to an extent. Unfortunately, Weapon Masters can only have Melee Weapons of Choice. I'd rather stick with my first weapon of choice, because to make the second one as good you'll need...

Weapon Focus
Improved Critical
Weapon Specialization (optional but advised)
Epic Weapon Focus
Epic Weapon Specialization (again, optional but advised)

Thats five feats. I'd rather take normal and improved knockdown/disarm, epic skill focus discipline/spot, etc.

[CrazyJ]

Improved Crit alone is enough... keep the secondary in reserve in case you run into a lot of DR. For a while, I was going to make my Lanceress have a backup of Heavy Flail... may still do it, but only after a lot more Barb levels.

[Igor]

i play strength based wm with rapier and its not bad, now level 20. looking forward to improve my poor ac with some tumble next level.

if stuff has good pierce resists i just have to suck it up tho because as paladin i didn't have enough feats to get second weapon of choice. hammers should be good though.

[CrazyJ]

All you *have* to have for a second Weapon of Choice is Weapon Focus. IC, Specialization, etc. are icing on the cake.

[rookfive]

There is really no point in specializing in two different weapons. There is a massive variety of weapons already on the server. I say stick to one weapon and save yourself a few feats.

As far as a weapon master build..Right off the top of the noggin..


20 fighter

13 rogue

7 weapon master

Level progression:

Pre Epic-

9 fighter, 7 weapon master, 4 rogue

Post Epic-

8 rogue to 28

11 fighter to 39, max dicipline at 39-- Take epic weapon specialization here.

last rogue level at 40, max tumble, UMD, etc.

Nice standard weapon master build. Nice AB, decent AC, crippling strike and improved evasion.

No defensive spell buffs on this build obviously and I'm a big fan of clerics on Neversummer. I won't tell you guys my new cleric weapon master build, that would destroy teh secret.

Good luck weapon master noobs!!!111

-Love

Rookfive

[P. Fricebottle]

because to make the second one as good [as the first] you'll need...

I never said it was a requirement to take all those feats. But personally I feel that if I take 5 in one weapon and 2 in the other, I'm going to always use the one with 5 feats.

[Binkyuk]

I find it interesting that people are talking about rogue/WMs. This seems odd to me, because a rogue's main selling point (besides skills) are sneak attacks, which aren't affected by crits.
For this reason I'm very skeptical about a dex based WM, because nuts all damage multiplied by 4 is still pretty much nuts all damage. Sneaks would give the damage back, but then you're not using your WM abilities.

On weaponry, because crits are so heavily dependent on AB I wouldn't dual wield as a WM (except possibly a kama monk), and I'd pick a weapon with a high multiplier and low range. A rapier WM may crit on a 9-20, but that's totally useless if you only hit on a 17. Without Dev Crit (thank goodness) a large number of crits isn't nearly as good as higher damage ones, especially with the high DR in NS4.
Also with most players chugging pots incredibly often in pvp, a high damage single strike is good for getting a kill.