Suggested Builds for New Players

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TheEdExperience
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Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by TheEdExperience » Wed Apr 18, 2018 11:40 pm

I am not super knowledgeable on builds, I've never really been into the crunching numbers part of gaming.

As a new player in Arelith what are some "safe" builds I could use to hop in and start RPing with you all?

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Cortex
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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by Cortex » Wed Apr 18, 2018 11:48 pm

20/7/3 Fighter WM Rogue for generic all around melee character

Wizard(NOT sorcerer) 26/4 or 27/3 wiz bard with conjuration for a mostly easy and laid back experience in PvE

21/6/3 Barb ftr rog for heavy barbarian characters (2h or 1h)

Druid 30 or 27/3 with bard or similar, conjuration focus as well

The above four, are imo, the easiest to play classes, wizard and druid having the easiest PvE

If you've an interest in any of the above, I'll elaborate.
:)

Zae
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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by Zae » Thu Apr 19, 2018 8:38 am

Or cleric with conjuration. (And you do not have the cost for spell componement, only piety (and it's easy to have it at 100% most of the time))
Or even the old sorcerer or wizard golem shield (with mestil it works enough, for what i saw in game until now, can be great with conjuration : you are the tank and lets the summon doing the whole stuff for you :)).

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Baron Saturday
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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by Baron Saturday » Thu Apr 19, 2018 9:38 am

A Fiendlock (warlock with Abyssal or Infernal pact) is very simple to build and play as well, though be warned that the RP itself can be challenging, as warlocks are not terribly welcome on the surface.
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cptcuddlepants
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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by cptcuddlepants » Thu Apr 19, 2018 3:29 pm

Zae wrote:
Thu Apr 19, 2018 8:38 am
Or cleric with conjuration. (And you do not have the cost for spell componement, only piety (and it's easy to have it at 100% most of the time))
Seconding this. A 23 cleric/4 fighter/3 rogue "Battle Cleric" is fairly sturdy in melee, with some potent spells and a durable summon.

Just watch out for dispels.
When the going gets tough, the tough hide under the table.

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BegoneThoth
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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by BegoneThoth » Thu Apr 19, 2018 4:11 pm

I wouldn't recommend a battle cleric to new players who are going to be frustrated when their spells get dispelled by everything.

Almost every dungeon has dispelling mobs and clerics just lose to that, moreso with lower CL from fighter levels.
\

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cptcuddlepants
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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by cptcuddlepants » Thu Apr 19, 2018 4:31 pm

Level them the same way you level a conjuration wizard, following from one map-length away with your summon charging ahead. ;)

(If anything, it's a good way to learn how aggro and Player Tool 1 work, and clerics are a wee bit more durable than wizards should something reach you)
When the going gets tough, the tough hide under the table.

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TheShadowdove
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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by TheShadowdove » Thu Apr 19, 2018 5:29 pm

My wife started playing recently and was wondering if 26paladin 4 bard is doable?

Paladin primary for smites, some survivability, and the cuddly feeling that knowing your deity is watching over you gives.

Bard for flavor and access to things like tumble.

She just wants something simple with the class combo, but wants to roleplay a primary paladin character.

Xerah
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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by Xerah » Thu Apr 19, 2018 7:42 pm

You miss out on quite a few feats. Most add in 4 levels of fighter to get EWS, bring the standard build to be paladin 23, 4 fighter, 3 rouge. Fighter4 is taken in epic feat level to get EWS and WS in the same level (24).

https://pastebin.com/7qNDJc8g

I'm currently doing 5 bard, 4 fighter, 21 paladin, which is far from optimum but works well for what I wanted. I started with bard but followed most of the feats above.
Katernin Bersk, Chancellor of Divination; Kerri Amblecrown, Paladin of Milil; Xull'kacha Auvry'rae, Redcap Fey-pacted; Sadia yr Thuravya el Bhirax, Priestess of Umberlee; Lissa Whitehorn, Archmage of Artifice

TheShadowdove
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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by TheShadowdove » Wed Apr 25, 2018 11:16 am

Why the spell focus ?

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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by Shadowy Reality » Wed Apr 25, 2018 11:46 am

Each Abjuration Focus makes dispel harder (with Holy Sword) and with shield makes you immune to IGMS.

http://wiki.arelith.com/Feat_changes#Feat_changes

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afreshstart
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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by afreshstart » Wed Apr 25, 2018 11:46 am

Paladins get dispel on hit with holy sword.

Rockrend
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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by Rockrend » Wed Apr 25, 2018 11:17 pm

Cortex wrote:
Wed Apr 18, 2018 11:48 pm
21/6/3 Barb ftr rog for heavy barbarian characters (2h or 1h)


If you've an interest in any of the above, I'll elaborate.
I'd definitely be interested in playing a heavy PvP half-orc barb. I am entirely new to both NWN and the server. I have a bit of 5e DnD experience but admittedly, I am overwhelmed by the depth of this game's mechanics (and 3.5's differences in general).

I heard something about half-orc barbs and double-bladed weapons having nice synergy but admittedly, no idea how to build towards it.

If you're willing to elaborate, Cortex, please do so assuming I am really, really dumb (I am).

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Cortex
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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by Cortex » Thu Apr 26, 2018 12:33 am

Half orc get the following racial bonuses in Arelith(does not extend to sub races such as gnolls or orogs):

Bonus Feat: Power Attack
Bonus Feat: Ambidexterity
+5 Intimidate
5% Physical Damage Immunity

With free ambidexterity, you do not need 15 DEX to maximize dual wield attacks, Two Weapon Fighting and Improved Two Weapon Fighting do not have a DEX requirement.

Initial stats:

20 STR
8 DEX
16 CON
10 INT
8 WIS
6 CHA

Take Gift of Strength and Constitution, boosting them to 22 and 18.

Stat leveling: You want 25 STR for Thundering Rage and 21 for EDR, so it goes like this.

Level 4 +STR (23)
Level 8 +STR (24)
Level 12 +CON (19)
Level 16 +CON (20)
Level 20 +CON (21)
Level 24 +STR (25)
Level 28 +STR (26)

Classes and order: The most all around way to do the above is 21 barbarian 6 fighter 3 rogue, with the following order:
Level 1 to 20: Barbarian
Level 21 to 26: Fighter
Level 27 to 29: Rogue
Level 30: Barbarian

(The above may varie, I haven't done that in a while and someone else may have a better order that gets certain feats earlier, but sometimes at the cost of higher skills).

Feats:
Level 1 Weapon Prof Exotic
Level 3 Two Weapon Fighting
Level 6 Weapon Focus Double-Whatever
Level 9 Improved Critical
Level 12 Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Level 15 Blind Fight
Level 18 Knockdown
Level 21 Epic Damage Reduction I and II
Level 22 Epic Damage Reduction III
Level 24 Epic Weapon Focus and Weapon Specialization
Level 26 Epic Weapon Specialization
Level 27 Prowess
Level 30 Thundering Rage

Skills: You'll want discipline, heal, use magic device(UMD) in your rogue levels and then a skill of your choice (listen works well for stealth detection).

(If I missed anything here, please correct me!)

So end results are: A big meaty half-orc with over 600 HP, about 50s AB and 7 to 8 attacks per round, the half-orc damage immunity coupled with 13 DR, barbarian rage immunity and bonus HP makes you incredibly resilient to damage and hard to kill.

Things to watch out for:

Anything you cannot reliably hit will reliably hit you.
Reflex based spells that can stop on your tracks (Bigby for example).
Will spells if you don't use Clarity potions well.
Paladins and blackguards (their divine damage ignores all damage mitigation).
Spellswords (even if they busted as heck they've a good arsenal to fall back onto and exploit the obvious weaknesses).
:)

Rockrend
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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by Rockrend » Thu Apr 26, 2018 4:41 am

Thank you so much, Cortex. Whenever I inevitably take my place as Emperor of Earth, I will not forget your contributions.

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dominantdrowess
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Re: Suggested Builds for New Players

Post by dominantdrowess » Thu Apr 26, 2018 4:57 am

Wow, Cortext. You're amazing. And scarey!

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