The Obstacle (Fighter 10 / Dwarven Defender 26 / Rogue 4)

[unifiedworld]

(If you want, you can tl:dr skip to the build plan with the bolded title below.)

Today, I’m looking at Fighter/Rogue/Dwarven Defender26 builds. I want to play the “best” possible version of such a build that gets both Epic Damage Reduction III and Devastating Critical, so I will be critiquing and analyzing such builds.

1. The Anvil by Mithdradates (F12/DD26/R2) https://world-of-greyhawk.github.io/builds/data/build118910.html

The biggest mistake on this build is in the starting stats: 16CON, 10WIS. Other builds shave off points from DEX, WIS and INT to boost STR/CON. On a dwarf fighter/dwarven defender build, it’s not hard to start with 16STR/18CON. Simply put, reducing starting WIS to 8 and increasing starting CON to 17 would allow this build to later add Epic Prowess, which it lacks. Shaving an extra point off of INT and DEX would allow this build to start at 18CON and thereby add Armor Skin.

Positives of this build: 41AB, full UMD, Tumble, Discipline, cross-classed Spellcraft

Final Saves: Fort30, Reflex21, Will20 (+4 extra vs. spells from Spellcraft) [Note: I believe the Will save should actually be 21 based on the starting WIS score of 10]

2. Versatile Wall by Diesel, Vin Diesel (F10/DD26/R4) https://world-of-greyhawk.github.io/builds/data/build144177.html

The first of two builds that take 3 rogue levels in pre-epic to increase epic fighter bonus feats by 1. This allows for more skill points and a potentially higher final STR or CON score at the cost of 1BAB.

The Anvil got two pre-epic “flex” feat slots (two out of 13 total pre-epic feats), which it used on Luck of Heroes and Lightning Reflexes. If we give Versatile Wall Blind Fight, it gets no “flex” feat slots (zero out of 11 total pre-epic feats), in comparison.

Strangely, Versatile Wall pumps both its final strength and final constitution to 25. For the sake of my analysis, I will assume its final STR is 28 and its final constitution is 22. That would push its AB to 41. It also lacks Epic Prowess, so technically that final constitution point could be converted to Epic Prowess for +1AB.

Anyway, this was a good effort overall but it’s hard to analyze fully as the skill plan is not listed and the final saves aren’t listed either so I will stop the analysis here.

3. The Unbreakable by Valerfor (F10/DD26/R4) https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/nwnecbguild/the-unbreakable-ftr-10-rog-4-dd-26-t2354327.html

Valerfor does what I believe Diesel perhaps should have done, ending with 28STR and 22CON. He chooses to forego Dev.Crit. in his original build but provides the blueprint for how to add it. For my purposes, I will be comparing the Dev.Crit. version, which actually ends at 26STR. All calculations and numbers will refer to the Dev.Crit. version of his build.

The Dev. Crit. version of The Unbreakable has 41AB. Its saving throws are Fort29, Ref19, Will19 (with an extra +4 vs. spells from Spellcraft) The Anvil with Epic Prowess (which is easy to add) would have 42AB and better saves. Thus, so far, The Anvil seems to win out over The Unbreakable. The Unbreakable does have more skill points and has Armor Skin, which The Anvil lacks. I will consider these matters as I design my own build.

So this all boils down to:
1. Do you want a higher final AB score and higher final base saving throws? Then don’t take rogue on pre-epic levels.
2. Do you want more skill points and versatility in your build at the cost of 1AB and some base saving throws which you can compensate for somewhat via Spellcraft ranks? Then take rogue on pre-epic levels. This second option also makes it much easier to fit Epic Prowess and Armor Skin into the build.

I will submit two possible builds I have come up with that I might consider for private use in the environment of my choice (Swordflight).

Fighter(12), Dwarven Defender(26), Rogue(2), Dwarf

STR: 16 (26)
DEX: 13
CON: 18 (21)
WIS: 8
INT: 13
CHA: 6

Dwarf: (Darkvision, Defensive Training vs. Giants, Stonecunning, Hardiness vs. Poison, Hardiness vs. Spells, Offensive Training vs. Goblinoids, Offensive Training vs. Orcs, Skill Affinity: Lore)
01: Fighter(1): Luck of Heroes, Weapon Focus: Scimitar
02: Fighter(2): Blind Fight
03: Fighter(3): Dodge
04: Fighter(4): STR+1, Weapon Specialization: Scimitar, (STR=17)
05: Fighter(5)
06: Fighter(6): Toughness, Knockdown
07: Fighter(7)
08: Dwarven Defender(1): STR+1, {Defensive Stance}, (STR=18)
09: Dwarven Defender(2): Improved Critical: Scimitar, {Defensive Awareness I}
10: Dwarven Defender(3)
11: Dwarven Defender(4)
12: Dwarven Defender(5): STR+1, Improved Knockdown, (STR=19)
13: Dwarven Defender(6)
14: Fighter(8): Power Attack
15: Fighter(9): Cleave
16: Fighter(10): CON+1, Great Cleave, (CON=19)
17: Dwarven Defender(7)
18: Dwarven Defender(8): Lightning Reflexes
19: Dwarven Defender(9)
20: Dwarven Defender(10): CON+1, (CON=20)
21: Fighter(11): Epic Weapon Focus: Scimitar
22: Rogue(1)
23: Fighter(12): Epic Weapon Specialization: Scimitar
24: Dwarven Defender(11): CON+1, Epic Damage Reduction I, (CON=21)
25: Dwarven Defender(12)
26: Dwarven Defender(13)
27: Dwarven Defender(14): Epic Damage Reduction II, Epic Damage Reduction III
28: Dwarven Defender(15): STR+1, (STR=20)
29: Dwarven Defender(16)
30: Dwarven Defender(17): Great Strength I, (STR=21)
31: Dwarven Defender(18): Armor Skin
32: Dwarven Defender(19): STR+1, (STR=22)
33: Dwarven Defender(20): Great Strength II, (STR=23)
34: Dwarven Defender(21)
35: Dwarven Defender(22): Overwhelming Critical: Scimitar
36: Dwarven Defender(23): STR+1, Great Strength III, (STR=25)
37: Dwarven Defender(24)
38: Dwarven Defender(25)
39: Rogue(2): Devastating Critical: Scimitar, {Evasion}
40: Dwarven Defender(26): STR+1, Epic Prowess, (STR=26)

Hitpoints: 684
Skillpoints: 141
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 30/20/20
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +2, Traps: +1, Poison: +2
BAB: 30
AB (max, naked): 42 (melee), 32 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane items only): 21/32
Spell Casting:
Alignment Changes: 0

Disable Trap 1(2), Discipline 43(51), Open Lock 1(2), Search 10(11), Spellcraft 1(2), Tumble 40(41), UMD 42(40)

01: Disable Trap(1), Discipline(4), Open Lock(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(2),
02: Discipline(1), Save(4),
03: Discipline(1), Save(6),
04: Discipline(1), Save(8),
05: Discipline(1), Save(10),
06: Discipline(1), Save(12),
07: Discipline(1), Save(14),
08: Discipline(1), Save(16),
09: Discipline(1), Save(18),
10: Discipline(1), Save(20),
11: Discipline(1), Save(22),
12: Discipline(1), Save(24),
13: Save(27),
14: Save(30),
15: Save(33),
16: Save(36),
17: Save(39),
18: Save(42),
19: Save(45),
20: Save(48),
21: Save(51),
22: Search(10), Tumble(25), UMD(25),
23: Discipline(3),
24: Discipline(3),
25: Discipline(3),
26: Discipline(3),
27: Discipline(3),
28: Discipline(1), Save(2),
29: Discipline(1), Save(4),
30: Discipline(1), Save(6),
31: Discipline(1), Save(8),
32: Discipline(1), Save(10),
33: Discipline(1), Save(12),
34: Discipline(1), Save(14),
35: Discipline(1), Save(16),
36: Discipline(1), Save(18),
37: Discipline(1), Save(20),
38: Save(23),
39: Tumble(15), UMD(17),
40: Discipline(3),

This is essentially my version of The Anvil, with 42AB, Armor Skin, EDRIII, Dev.Crit., 30Fort/20Ref/20Will. At the cost of the Armor Skin feat, the skills can be somewhat improved (by starting with 17CON, 14DEX, 14INT, removing Armor Skin, adding an extra Great Strength and raising CON instead of STR at level 12). However, I truly think the more interesting (and exciting) version of the build to play is the next version.

Fighter(10), Dwarven Defender(26), Rogue(4), Dwarf
 
STR: 16 (26)
DEX: 14
CON: 17 (21)
WIS: 8
INT: 14
CHA: 6

Dwarf: (Darkvision, Defensive Training vs. Giants, Stonecunning, Hardiness vs. Poison, Hardiness vs. Spells, Offensive Training vs. Goblinoids, Offensive Training vs. Orcs, Skill Affinity: Lore)
01: Rogue(1): Dodge
02: Fighter(1): Weapon Focus: Scimitar
03: Fighter(2): Toughness, Blind Fight
04: Fighter(3): STR+1, (STR=17)
05: Fighter(4): Weapon Specialization: Scimitar
06: Fighter(5): Knockdown
07: Rogue(2): {Evasion}
08: Fighter(6): CON+1, Improved Knockdown, (CON=18)
09: Dwarven Defender(1): Improved Critical: Scimitar, {Defensive Stance}
10: Dwarven Defender(2): {Defensive Awareness I}
11: Dwarven Defender(3)
12: Dwarven Defender(4): CON+1, Power Attack, (CON=19)
13: Dwarven Defender(5)
14: Dwarven Defender(6)
15: Dwarven Defender(7): Cleave
16: Dwarven Defender(8): CON+1, (CON=20)
17: Dwarven Defender(9)
18: Dwarven Defender(10): Great Cleave
19: Rogue(3): {Uncanny Dodge I}
20: Fighter(7): CON+1, (CON=21)
21: Fighter(8): Epic Weapon Focus: Scimitar, Epic Weapon Specialization: Scimitar
22: Fighter(9)
23: Fighter(10): Epic Damage Reduction I
24: Dwarven Defender(11): STR+1, Epic Damage Reduction II, (STR=18)
25: Dwarven Defender(12)
26: Dwarven Defender(13)
27: Dwarven Defender(14): Great Strength I, Epic Damage Reduction III, (STR=19)
28: Dwarven Defender(15): STR+1, (STR=20)
29: Dwarven Defender(16)
30: Dwarven Defender(17): Great Strength II, (STR=21)
31: Dwarven Defender(18): Armor Skin
32: Dwarven Defender(19): STR+1, (STR=22)
33: Dwarven Defender(20): Great Strength III, (STR=23)
34: Dwarven Defender(21)
35: Dwarven Defender(22): Overwhelming Critical: Scimitar
36: Dwarven Defender(23): STR+1, Great Strength IV, (STR=25)
37: Dwarven Defender(24)
38: Dwarven Defender(25)
39: Rogue(4): Devastating Critical: Scimitar
40: Dwarven Defender(26): STR+1, Epic Prowess, (STR=26)

Hitpoints: 676
Skillpoints: 214
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 28/19/20
Saving Throw bonuses: Spells: +6, Traps: +1, Poison: +2
BAB: 29
AB (max, naked): 41 (melee), 32 (ranged)
AC (naked/mundane items only): 22/32
Spell Casting:
Alignment Changes: 0

Craft Armor 10(12), Craft Weapon 10(12), Disable Trap 11(13), Discipline 43(51), Open Lock 4(6), Pick Pocket 1(3), Search 10(12), Set Trap 1(5), Spellcraft 21(23), Tumble 40(42), UMD 42(40)

01: Craft Armor(4), Craft Weapon(4), Disable Trap(4), Open Lock(4), Pick Pocket(1), Search(4), Set Trap(1), Spellcraft(2), Tumble(4), UMD(4), Save(6),
02: Discipline(5), Save(5),
03: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(6),
04: Discipline(1), Save(9),
05: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(10),
06: Discipline(1), Save(13),
07: Disable Trap(3), Search(6), Spellcraft(1), Tumble(6), UMD(6),
08: Craft Armor(1), Craft Weapon(1), Discipline(2),
09: Craft Armor(1), Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1),
10: Craft Weapon(1), Discipline(1), Save(2),
11: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(3),
12: Discipline(1), Save(6),
13: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(7),
14: Discipline(1), Save(10),
15: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(11),
16: Discipline(1), Save(14),
17: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(15),
18: Discipline(1), Save(18),
19: Disable Trap(4), Tumble(12), UMD(12),
20: Discipline(2), Spellcraft(1),
21: Craft Weapon(1), Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1),
22: Craft Armor(2), Craft Weapon(1), Discipline(1),
23: Craft Weapon(1), Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1),
24: Craft Armor(2), Craft Weapon(1), Discipline(1),
25: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(1),
26: Discipline(1), Save(4),
27: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(5),
28: Discipline(1), Save(8),
29: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(9),
30: Discipline(1), Save(12),
31: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(13),
32: Discipline(1), Save(16),
33: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(17),
34: Discipline(1), Save(20),
35: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(21),
36: Discipline(1), Save(24),
37: Discipline(1), Spellcraft(1), Save(25),
38: Discipline(1), Save(28),
39: Tumble(18), UMD(20),
40: Discipline(2), Spellcraft(1),

(Note that skillpoint allocation is always greatly affected by environment. Please adjust to the needs of your environment if you wish to use this build.)

I would be very interested to hear what others think about these builds. Which do you think is the best & why?

Many thanks,

[Author]

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