Hello there everybody!
My DM is soon going to have an epic campaign starting at level 12, and we've been asked to come up with a good backstory to go along with these characters. I've decided to play a Dwarven Bard with bagpipes and a twohander to fight with, and selected the Arcane Duelist Archetype. I'm trying to figure out the best feets to use on this character
Power Attack is obvious, and I get Arcane Strike and the Disruptive line as free feats, but otherwise I'm at a loss. The Step up line seems to be a good idea given that I have the disruptive feats, but I also was considering getting Exotic Wep proficiency and grabbing the Fauchard as a reach weapon.
Currently my stats are
18 STR (16+2 from levels)
12 Dex
16 CON(14+2 from racial
10 INT
9 WIS(7+2 from racials)
16 CHA (17-2 from racials, +1 from levels.
I was also considering prestiging into battle herald(can't have a mount so standard bearer cavalier archetype) but I would have even less of an idea how to build that.
Any feat ideas? Maybe even backstory ideas? Any and all help would be appreciated. So far I can say he's visually based on the Scotsman from Samurai Jack, down to the Crossbow-leg and rune covered weapon.
Oh and his name is Brian Blessedbeard.
Hello there everybody!
My DM is soon going to have an epic campaign starting at level 12, and we've been asked to come up with a good backstory to go along with these characters. I've decided to play a Dwarven Bard with bagpipes and a twohander to fight with, and selected the Arcane Duelist Archetype. I'm trying to figure out the best feets to use on this character
Power Attack is obvious, and I get Arcane Strike and the Disruptive line as free feats, but otherwise I'm at a loss. The Step up line seems to be a good idea given that I have the disruptive feats, but I also was considering getting Exotic Wep proficiency and grabbing the Fauchard as a reach weapon.
Currently my stats are
18 STR (16+2 from levels)
12 Dex
16 CON(14+2 from racial
10 INT
9 WIS(7+2 from racials)
16 CHA (17-2 from racials, +1 from levels.I was also considering prestiging into battle herald(can't have a mount so standard bearer cavalier archetype) but I would have even less of an idea how to build that.
Any feat ideas? Maybe even backstory ideas? Any and all help would be appreciated. So far I can say he's visually based on the Scotsman from Samurai Jack, down to the Crossbow-leg and rune covered weapon.
Feats:
- Medium Armor proficiency: So you can wear mithril breastplate to shore up that AC that's gonna be bad due to not using a shield.- Furious focus: With a medium BAB class you want to hit on that first power attack hit
- Vital strike: Make that two hander (assuming greatsword) really count when you move - 4d6 can really hurt
- Great fortitude: It sucks to fail a fort save. Get saving finale as a spell as well. And if you're going into epic, take improved great fortitude as well.
- Iron will: never bad to have, particularly with your minus to will saves.
- Eschew materials: As arcane duelist you are allowed to cast somatic spells with your weapon in both hands. But you must hold it in both your hands, so materials can be a problem. This allows you to do it.
- Skill focus spellcraft: It sucks when you don't make your spell craft check while not holding your bonded item (weapon) in hand
- Weapon focus: Hitting is cool. Hitting more reliably is cool.
- Consider eldritch heritage feat line to get some more unusual abilities. For example, skill focus perception + eldritch heritage (draconic) + improved eldritch heritage (draconic resistances) gives you claws (never unarmed again!), resist bonuses, natural armor etc. Alternatively the breath weapon which can be a nasty surprise for opponents.
- Ironhide and taking improved natural armor repeatedly might be something for you - be a tough-skinned dwarf!
- Blind-fight is fantastic for melee combatants and almost always pays off early.
General:
- Be sure to enchant that weapon, particularly with ghost touch
- Pick at least saving finale, blur, mirror image as spells. Vanish, too, and greater invisibility later.
- consider starting with a lower charisma and a high wisdom - the will and perception bonuses are worth it.
Have fun! :-)
Those suggestions are all really interesting, though note that I get medium armor for free as a Duelist, and have it already =)
Are there any Sorcerer bloodlines that are particularly interesting for a Dwarf/Bard?
Is Eschew Materials that necessary? Could I not use one hand to hold the Greataxe(I get prof as a dwarf) while casting spells?
I only agree on furious focus.
I dont really get why on earth you would pick draconic as bloodline for such a bard. Claws?
Get eldritch heritage (orc), all of them and pick up the trait optimistic gambler and quicken spelllike ability.
You can even consider to pick 4 levels of dragon disciple - maybe even more.
Would the Dwarven Cleave feats be a good idea?
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Why not try the time tested Cornugan Smash?
1st: Power Attack
3rd: Combat Reflexes/Furious Focus
5th: Intimidating Prowess
7th: Cornugan Smash
9th: Skill Emphasis (Intimidate)
11th: Combat Reflexes/Furious Focus
At 12th Level, you're looking at a +35 intimidate (+8 Str (Assuming 2 stat bump and +4 Belt), +4 Cha (Assuming +2 headband), +2 kit, +12 ranks, +3 class, +6 Skill Emphasis). That will demoralize practically any creature with 13-16 HD on a roll of 1. Nobody will want to mess with your dude. There are some cheap magic items that can boost intimidate more than a +2 skill kit.
Also, to capitalize on your reach weapon I'd suggest stats like this:
Str 20 (original 18, stat bump lvl 4 and 8)
Dex 14
Con 16
Int 8
Wis 8
Cha 16
If you stay with Dex 12, then combat reflexes isn't worth it. Your wis will be low so pick dwarf racial traits and indomitable faith. Also, you may consider a 1-4 lvl dip into fighter (Weapon Master) for increased damage and picking up weapon focus/dazzling display.
Well the issue with the cornugon smash buid is that the Samurai in my group is already doing it. Getting Dazzling display and shatter defenses may still be worth it, but there are other way to attack flatfooted.
I could easily bump up my dex to 14, esp if I dump INT a little or make my Con 14.
Though..I really would love to play that, especially since I have bagpipes..damn samurai.
Just to mention it again: EH (orc) + quicken SLA and IEH will give you most bang for the buck - especially with optimistic gamber
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Though..I really would love to play that, especially since I have bagpipes..damn samurai.
Lol explain to the samurai how with the Ronin Order and katana he'll turn into an unstoppable DPR machine. While your intimidating opponents he'll gleefully slash them into minced meat, laughing at enemy spellcasters/debuffers alike.
If you really want to turn OP, pick up dazzling display and take a 1 lvl dip into rogue (thug).
Yeah the Orc Bloodline is freakin' amazing, but this is a DWARF character. The dwarfiest of dwarves, can't have orc blood in 'im at all.
Though yes I plan to exploit the crap out of that bloodline as another character.
The Samurai is Sword Saint, which gets an inherent, free, AoE intimidate. He's also definitely Order of the Cocatrice due to the other cavalier in the party whose abilities(can't remember what they were) give free crits while the Samurai attacks when others crit. The synergy is hella nice, and I wouldn't want to take over that.
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The Samurai is Sword Saint, which gets an inherent, free, AoE intimidate. He's also definitely Order of the Cocatrice due to the other cavalier in the party whose abilities(can't remember what they were) give free crits while the Samurai attacks when others crit. The synergy is hella nice, and I wouldn't want to take over that.
Understandable and that is an interesting combo, but the terrifying iaijutsu isn't an AoE intimidate per say, just AoE shaken. It's unaffected by his intimidate skill
Same effect though, he has Cornugon Smash and Shatter Defenses.