What is your favorite Melee build?

[Ork]

I'm currently playing a kensai rogue/wm/shadow dancer with a scythe.
I opted not to do it, but if i went down the path of overwhelming critical i know my criticals would be around 300 at 30..... base hits roughly 80 damage each. But the issue with this is you NEED true strike pots to hit a wall when you're standing next to it, because power attack(-5) on a toon with 40 ab isn't really that practical.

Honestly even without the overwhelming critical its the most broken toon i've ever played, level 21 and i was soloing duergars....

That sounds like an impossibly miserable build. I'm assuming drow so that means you'd need 15 levels of rogue to qualify for WM due to feats and 18 before you could dip into shadowdancer. Plus exotic weapon prof for scythe? I don't believe you.

[High Primate]

That build sounds un-fun to play.

[Wytchee]

I'm currently playing a kensai rogue/wm/shadow dancer with a scythe.
I opted not to do it, but if i went down the path of overwhelming critical i know my criticals would be around 300 at 30..... base hits roughly 80 damage each. But the issue with this is you NEED true strike pots to hit a wall when you're standing next to it, because power attack(-5) on a toon with 40 ab isn't really that practical.

Honestly even without the overwhelming critical its the most broken toon i've ever played, level 21 and i was soloing duergars....

I am sorry for your loss.

[godhand-]

That sounds like an impossibly miserable build. I'm assuming drow so that means you'd need 15 levels of rogue to qualify for WM due to feats and 18 before you could dip into shadowdancer. Plus exotic weapon prof for scythe? I don't believe you.

Not even close

I might point out hte "i opted not to do it" at the beginning - I chose not to take overwhelming critical because as i said it makes it useless trying to hit things for the AB Sacrifice to get it.

Its human, 0 ECL... and actually quite fun to play. I've never played a character that felt this consistently strong.

[BegoneThoth]

You should try a 20/7/3 wm scythe build then, or a scythe barb.

[High Primate]

I've never played a character that felt this consistently strong.

You haven't been living life, friend.

[Astral]

Im using 17/6/7 barb fighter wm kensai

This is definitely something I will play sooner or later.

Can do that with 21 con, 22 str (flat at level 30) with mighty rage, terry rage and EDR 3
OR you can do that with 26 str (with great strength 1), 18 con, thundering rage, terry rage and epic prowess (and the other feats remain the same: epic weapon focus, armor skin).

So which one do you think is better?

[OutOfChwi]

Im using 17/6/7 barb fighter wm kensai

This is definitely something I will play sooner or later.

Can do that with 21 con, 22 str (flat at level 30) with mighty rage, terry rage and EDR 3
OR you can do that with 26 str (with great strength 1), 18 con, thundering rage, terry rage and epic prowess (and the other feats remain the same: epic weapon focus, armor skin).

So which one do you think is better?

Eh, up to the player I guess. I went all or nothing and went full strength and two rages and didnt bother with the EDR and Mighty rage. Its also a very feat starved build and that just puts even more pressure on it. Youre still going to need a -guard even with the EDR route, may as well sink all into strength and do as much damage as possible. 7 attacks with haste and crits for 300 on 16-20.

[BegoneThoth]

EDR isn't to hot on a build that's a glass cannon.

That build would slay though. It has problems, but it is powerful in its niche.

[OutOfChwi]

Its a Kensai and has a terrible AC. It certainly will die to a lot of builds. It makes people nervous though

[Teshil]

20 Monk, STR based, quarterstaff, overwhelming criticals. Point and brawl.

[Astral]

Its a Kensai and has a terrible AC. It certainly will die to a lot of builds. It makes people nervous though

Because they don't know your build to details, and your saves on a Kensai are actually pretty decent from my experience with kensai, and these people know you can 1 shot them in half a round if they break out of their invisibility/stealth/GS too soon.

[flower]

I am making now 25f 5wm for added punch.

With moonblade AB runs up to 50 on sword+shield, decent ac 45-47 without haste, and with dual wield feats.

Character also takes riding and mounted combat.

She will have 6 attacks when hasted or 8 on dual wield. Very easy playtrough in pve so far.

[godhand-]

You should try a 20/7/3 wm scythe build then, or a scythe barb.

I've played Barbs and other 2h-WM builds before. Its where i got the inspiration for this build. getting hit all the time isn't fun, even when you munch everything you see in three hits.

Eh, up to the player I guess. I went all or nothing and went full strength and two rages and didnt bother with the EDR and Mighty rage. Its also a very feat starved build and that just puts even more pressure on it. Youre still going to need a -guard even with the EDR route, may as well sink all into strength and do as much damage as possible. 7 attacks with haste and crits for 300 on 16-20.

at a sacrifice of 4ab from a pure 4/4 bab build, i have my own -guard at all times.
Still anticipating 220-250dmgcrits 16-20 on 6attacks a round hasted when i max out.

[Astral]

I am making now 25f 5wm for added punch.

With moonblade AB runs up to 50 on sword+shield, decent ac 45-47 without haste, and with dual wield feats.

Character also takes riding and mounted combat.

She will have 6 attacks when hasted or 8 on dual wield. Very easy playtrough in pve so far.

You can take 23 fighter lvls and 7 wm if you go noob-blade *cough* I mean moon blade! Unless you specifically want +6 enchantment bonus but I don't see why you would, given 7th wm gives you more.

[flower]

25th fighter adds +1 ab +1 dmg and +2/3 ac total.

39/44 (hasted) ac on dual wield

It allows me to reach 46 AB when dual wielding and also +6 weapon is good. Yes i could get 13-20 range crit but it means to give up above mentioned and also loose one feat (big loss on Elf)/).

My oppinion is that sheer ammount of attacks will make up for less often crits.

[OutOfChwi]

That threat range is a WMs bread and butter and a lot of the strength that comes from WM. Much better than +1 ab and dmg IMO. As for the AC, youre still going to get hit a lot with 44 AC. But each to their own, if thats what you want, own it

[flower]

That threat range is a WMs bread and butter and a lot of the strength that comes from WM. Much better than +1 ab and dmg IMO. As for the AC, youre still going to get hit a lot with 44 AC. But each to their own, if thats what you want, own it

I just make dip to WM, WM is not primary focus. 44 AC can be increase with +10 imp expertise. Or always swap to sword and shield for AC beyond 60. I added WM only) to make critical deal more dmg otherwise i would go for 30 fighter. It will work and maybe not the best build, but it iwll do its thing

[I_Am_King_Midas]

I started with a ftr/wm/rogue and realize I probably should have taken kensi. I won’t get a rogue level till near 30 :/

[I_Am_King_Midas]

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to build the 20 Bard/5 ftr/5 Harper Paragon?

Is concentration now necessary for melee builds after the PDK update?

[Astral]

Human
STR: 17 (gift) (all in to str for 24 at the end)
DEX: 8
CON: 14
WIS: 8
INT: 16
CHA: 16 (gift)

01: Bard(1): iron will, expertise
02: Bard(2)
03: Bard(3): curse song
04: Bard(4): STR+1, (STR=18)
05: Fighter(1): weapon focus
06: Fighter(2): blind fight, knockdown
07: Fighter(3)
08: Fighter(4): STR+1, weapon spec, (STR=19)
09: Bard(5): still spell
10: Bard(6)
11: Bard(7)
12: Bard(8): STR+1, imp crit, (STR=20)
13: Bard(9)
14: Bard(10)
15: Bard(11): alertness
16: Bard(12): STR+1, (STR=21)
17: Bard(13)
18: Bard(14): imp expertise
19: Bard(15)
20: Bard(16): STR+1, (STR=22)
21: Harper Scout(1): epic weapon focus, Great Charisma I, (CHA=17)
22: Harper Scout(2)
23: Harper Scout(3)
24: Harper Scout(4): STR+1, armor skin, (STR=23)
25: Harper Scout(5): Great Charisma II, (CHA=18)
26: Bard(17)
27: Fighter(5): epic spec
28: Bard(18): STR+1, (STR=24)
29: Bard(19)
30: Bard(20): lasting inspiration

Recommanded skills (by order of importance): perform, discipline, heal, tumble, spellcraft, concentration, umd, taunt. You'll still have enough points for harper skills and some appraise and lore.

Have fun! Go scimitar!

[High Primate]

Is concentration now necessary for melee builds after the PDK update?

It has always been somewhat necessary because it helps you resist taunts. Take it if you can.

[I_Am_King_Midas]

Human
STR: 17 (gift) (all in to str for 24 at the end)
DEX: 8
CON: 14
WIS: 8
INT: 16
CHA: 16 (gift)

01: Bard(1): iron will, expertise
02: Bard(2)
03: Bard(3): curse song
04: Bard(4): STR+1, (STR=18)
05: Fighter(1): weapon focus
06: Fighter(2): blind fight, knockdown
07: Fighter(3)
08: Fighter(4): STR+1, weapon spec, (STR=19)
09: Bard(5): still spell
10: Bard(6)
11: Bard(7)
12: Bard(8): STR+1, imp crit, (STR=20)
13: Bard(9)
14: Bard(10)
15: Bard(11): alertness
16: Bard(12): STR+1, (STR=21)
17: Bard(13)
18: Bard(14): imp expertise
19: Bard(15)
20: Bard(16): STR+1, (STR=22)
21: Harper Scout(1): epic weapon focus, Great Charisma I, (CHA=17)
22: Harper Scout(2)
23: Harper Scout(3)
24: Harper Scout(4): STR+1, armor skin, (STR=23)
25: Harper Scout(5): Great Charisma II, (CHA=18)
26: Bard(17)
27: Fighter(5): epic spec
28: Bard(18): STR+1, (STR=24)
29: Bard(19)
30: Bard(20): lasting inspiration

Recommanded skills (by order of importance): perform, discipline, heal, tumble, spellcraft, concentration, umd, taunt. You'll still have enough points for harper skills and some appraise and lore.

Have fun! Go scimitar!

Thanks a ton!! Is there a reason for getting 18 charisma over just 16? Do you know what the max value for appraisal to really help is?

[Hunter548]

Human
STR: 17 (gift) (all in to str for 24 at the end)
DEX: 8
CON: 14
WIS: 8
INT: 16
CHA: 16 (gift)

01: Bard(1): iron will, expertise
02: Bard(2)
03: Bard(3): curse song
04: Bard(4): STR+1, (STR=18)
05: Fighter(1): weapon focus
06: Fighter(2): blind fight, knockdown
07: Fighter(3)
08: Fighter(4): STR+1, weapon spec, (STR=19)
09: Bard(5): still spell
10: Bard(6)
11: Bard(7)
12: Bard(8): STR+1, imp crit, (STR=20)
13: Bard(9)
14: Bard(10)
15: Bard(11): alertness
16: Bard(12): STR+1, (STR=21)
17: Bard(13)
18: Bard(14): imp expertise
19: Bard(15)
20: Bard(16): STR+1, (STR=22)
21: Harper Scout(1): epic weapon focus, Great Charisma I, (CHA=17)
22: Harper Scout(2)
23: Harper Scout(3)
24: Harper Scout(4): STR+1, armor skin, (STR=23)
25: Harper Scout(5): Great Charisma II, (CHA=18)
26: Bard(17)
27: Fighter(5): epic spec
28: Bard(18): STR+1, (STR=24)
29: Bard(19)
30: Bard(20): lasting inspiration

Recommanded skills (by order of importance): perform, discipline, heal, tumble, spellcraft, concentration, umd, taunt. You'll still have enough points for harper skills and some appraise and lore.

Have fun! Go scimitar!

Thanks a ton!! Is there a reason for getting 18 charisma over just 16? Do you know what the max value for appraisal to really help is?

18 charisma gives you another round on your divine feats, another use, and means you max your dodge modifier via mage armor, divine shield and bard song. So that's neat too.

Note that you should take improved expertise way before 18. I'd probably swap it in at level 1, and take iron will at 18. No need for harper pre reqs early.

[Seven Sons of Sin]

Melee bards remain the most fun and toolbox-y, imo. Bard song is still the best party buff in the game. There's nothing more enjoyable of turning a hopeless party into a more formidable one.