ok good. good. one thing i will say.. don't worry too much as a first life character about NEEDing to run elite. there is more than enough xp to go around that you will be able to level up without feeling locked in to the harder difficulties. if you feel like you want to challenge yourself to do them, tho, you are on the right track for making yourself powerful enough to do so.
one thing i forgot to mention... i also dump open lock. MOST of the locks you'll encounter you'll still be able to get with your base few ranks, good picks, and a good item/dex bonus. the few that aren't pickable with that are almost always highly optional chests.
this is a short vid that should hopfully give you an idea of fascinate timing... i use it twice in this vid. i also moved and did things a bit slower in this vid so hopfully you could see what i was doing. normally that character is pretty infamous for her frenetic pace of movement and actions. XD
when i know ahead of time i'm going to need to fascinate a pack of mobs, i start singing AS i run toward them. that way the song is finishing as i draw close, and they have little time to react and possibly kill me. in the vid i emulated that by backing away from the door, and then running over as it opened. (you'll also notice i cased haste, displacement, and used "Know the Angles" before the fight began) i fascinated once. i only got about half of them (because the other half was down the hall out of range of my fascinate. derp). i backed away and then used "spinning ice". this froze most of my enemies, but this also hit my fascinated foes. spinning ice doesn't last super long, but it IS super handy. as i said, i was moving a little slower than usual, so they broke out of being frozen and mobbed me, since i broke my initial fascinate, at which point i fascinated again... and you see me run and jump around to avoid being hit. once the song completes a 2nd time, there is only one mob who managed to save, and i mopped him up quickly and easily. if you watch, you will also notice grey text fly over my head "miss" (AC), Displaced (displacement spell 50% miss chance), and dodge (dodge skill)...all possible hits that totally missed me.. and all the damage i DID take was reduced by nearly 50% as you saw in my previous post (the dark red small numbers that fly by)
yes, if you want you can usually fascinate and move on. MOST mobs will only chase you so far before giving up and resetting. however, keep an eye on alert... while they are taking no actions, the mobs ARE still agroed on you. you may have to stop and kill from time to time to avoid getting red alert.
the quest you are referring to with the prophets is pretty much a PITA for pretty much everyone. i normally just chug a haste pot, an invisi pot, and just run (and pray) and even then i don't always succeed the first time. doing it that way WILL generate red alert. XD
as for my build.. the basic premise of it is to make liberal usage of the warchanter freezing abilities... spinning ice, frozen fury, and northwind. i also lean more heavily into combat than spellcasting, and my feats reflect this (power attack, cleave) spinning ice, once you get it, is SO much fun. once you get your timing down, you'll be standing in the center of a ring of ice statues that you can chop apart like a little cuisinart! not only are you not taking damage from frozen enemies, they take helpless damage from you! it's win win!. your DC on spinning ice is 14 + charisma modifier + half your bard levels (at 3 ranks) + any stunning modifiers and your frozen fury DC is 10 + charisma mod + half bard levels + stunning mods... and i further increase the DC (and my overall damage output) with "Know The Angles" (Insight bonus to damage and the DC of tactical feats equal to 1/2 of your Intelligence modifier for [30/60/120] seconds.) with a good charisma, semi good int, and a good stunning item, it should be relatively easy to get a passable DC sufficient to stop even elite level mobs.
i can offer a more full breakdown of my exact build a la the breakdown on the monte cristo page if you wish, but... right now it's time to PLAY!
According to every multiclass build with rogue I checked they put a max of 4 points in open lock. I have an item with +5 open lock haven't had to use it yet. I didn't put any points after character creation.
The reason I do hard and elite is because I need favour and often it is to see if I can do it. I do like to challenge myself even if it ends in disaster. Sometimes it is to get some better gear.
I watched your video and explanation helped me see what you were doing. I must practice my timing on fascinate. Probably it got interrupted and why it never worked.I will try it again until I get it right.
You have a stunning axe. I think I have a penalty for that weapon will look for other options with stunning capabilities like light mace. I took SWF.
Another issue is that following the Monte Cristo build I have taken SWF, shield mastery, precision, spell focus extend. At 9 I intend to take ISWF. Then at 12 imp crit pierce. I don't see where I can slot in a power attack and cleave, do I need that?
So if I go along the Warchanter tree following your build but using the feats as per Monte Cristo will it work. Mind you I am still in heroics. I am not taking on epic content the max I manage is elite a couple of levels above the quest, I mean like the quest is level 3 listed when you make it hard it goes to 4 and elite as 5, so I do the quest at level 6, hard I sometimes manage at the same level. I do however think I might enjoy your play style far better.
Did you follow the point path of Monte Cristo for the Swashbuckler Tree? Also I would like to know your build a little more in depth sorry if I sound like a needy child but I am very bad at taking chances. More like cowardly. I want to be sure of my path before I put in the points so I can study your reasoning. Also need to know what feats you took if you will be so kind.
sorry it's taken me all day to get back to you! i had fun playing all day with my husband, didn't leave time for me to type another saga lol. and it's not a problem at all to "indulge" you. i like discussing bards ^_^
ok, good good...yep. 4 points of open lock at creation and no more after is the usual route..
i can respect wanting to do the harder difficulties for a challenge/favor. i've done plenty of oddball and off the wall things over the years "just to see if i could do it"
my "axe" is technically just a cosmetic (i used a mirror of glamering on a handaxe skin that i really liked) i am currently using a raid dropped rapier that i like. when i get a little higher level i will go back to a handaxe. the warchanter tree has an enhancement that grants all martial weapons... and as i said in a previous post, swashbuckler will make all of your swash-able weapons have a good crit profile... per the wiki:
so don't feel limited by any one weapon. especially when the game throws all sorts of different mobs at you that need different things to break their DR! facing a skeleton? break out a club or light mace! zombies? sickle is a simple weapon... or use a handaxe or kukri if you have the warchanter 2nd core ability "Weapon Training" already...fire mephit getting in your face and the only ice weapon you have is a dagger? go for it! use whatever weapon strikes your fancy! at end game some weapons are better than others, but don't worry about that now at 7th. you have plenty of time to plan ;-)
you don't NEEEEEEED power attack and cleave... i just really really really like to have cleaves >.> that's me. technically you could swap right over to warchanter already with the stats and feats you've mentioned and probably do just fine. all the feats except precision that you mention are feats that i eventually end up fitting into my build (with a crowbar.. >.> ) even if i don't get them in by 20. (in my case shield mastery doesn't get added until epic levels, but again, that's just me)
i have my build worked up in a planner, but it's super late right now and i need to crash. i will try (snap that whip, i swear i'll work on it!!!) to do a little bit of a writeup of what i do, when why and how. it won't be as good as the forum pro builders like Cthrutheego... but hopfully i'll make sense... and no, i don't actually go very deep into swashy, as i go to T5 in warchanter... and i only have so many points to go around. if i had more points, i would probably actually spend them in spellsinger for the better fascinate and other goodies.
anyway. keep an eye on this spot, i will try to get MY personal build that i am quite literally using right now to level posted up here for you to laugh at.
Yes I am aware of the swashbuckler weapon advantages it does not outweigh the -4 penalty I get on the weapon (hand axe) since all it does was give me range that didn't look like it was worth the penalty. So right now I only equip the weapon in that list that doesn't give a penalty. I hope the Warchanter tree takes away the penalties. I will look at that. Thanks you for the heads up.
ok then. this is what i, personally, am playing RIGHT NOW... disclaimer: as such it represents my own past lives, gear, tomes and personal quirks, and may not be suitable to try to copy exactly... but feel free to use it as a helping guideline!
if i plugged all my numbers in and did all my math correctly.. that *should* reflect my stats, DCs, and HPs at 30. i just made 24 today, and i am nowhere near this at the moment... lol..., both because i am not max level yet and am still missing some of the feats i need AND my gear is an utter mess right now, but still surprisingly sturdy and workable.
with that said... like i mentioned, both in this post and earlier, i have my own particular quirks... for example... my build has high intimidate.. because i find a tiny bard with fuchsia hair and a crazy high intimi to be hilarious. i also maintain a high jump skill because i hate jumping like a brick. you absolutely could put these points elsewhere... like spot for example. find and wear a good spot item, too... it's totally worth it.
and as i said before, MY OWN PERSONAL PLAYSTYLE... i love me some cleave. i actually have a sad i wasn't able to fit great cleave in this time (this is my first life without going the OLD standby split of 16/2/2. usually 2 fighter 2 rogue) BUT... you don't NEED cleave. spinning ice is a cleave, then you can pick off single targets as you will. i needed power attack to take cleave, so if you go a different route, like the one you are currently on, it technically saves you feats... and precision is a GREAT feat to take. honestly, despite how much i like my cleaves, i am in fact having a little trouble connecting with my enemies at my current level... the fact that my friend keeps dragging me into level 30 quests on EE doesn't help me in that department either! lol.... that problem will reduce as i level up more and regain use of my better gear, tho... but yeah, to be honest, precision would have helped me.
but... but... cleave!
anyways~!~
for the sake of experimentation and not talking out my ass and being out of touch with what it means to be an ungeared newbie... i went to an alternate server (all my slots are full on my primary server. lol) and rolled up a level 7 toon (vet status 2. woot). 5 bard 2 rogue. straight up starter gear. no guild. go guild buffs. no stacks of pots backing me up. no twink gear, just the stuff they gave me stepping off the boat. walked to the first quick quest i could think of, bought a hard unlock from the store (so i wouldn't have to do the quest twice. i r lazy sometimes) and ran it. no hire. (if i were going to do this quest on elite, i would probably bring a hire) yes, it is a world of difference from what i am used to, but still totally viable using the same techniques i've already described and demonstrated.
the last pic shows what my enhancements chosen were. if i were actively leveling that toon my next move would be to go to T3 in swashy for "different tack" for charisma to damage, and then i'd go over to harper for know the angles. my freezing DCs were suffering a bit and i felt it, but i was still able to make it thru the quest without TOO much difficulty. once i had those, i would take warchanter to T5 for spinning ice, howl of the north, chant of power, and kingly recovery... then i'd comb over everything else for any interesting tidbits. wand and scroll mastery is always handy if you can fit it.
the pic ALSO shows teh description for the 2nd core ability in warchanter... Weapon Training. this makes you proficient in ALL martial weapons. this is why you see me using handaxes and the like. even if you decide to do something else and aren't going super deep into the warchanter tree, it's still handy to go at least that far, because it expands your weapon choices so much.
you mention that you are scared to experiment, but i want to reassure you... you've already got a solid core for your stats, skills, and feats... no worries there... and you are NOT locked in to your choices in enhancements. while it does get more expensive if you reset frequently, you CAN reset one, or all, trees at any time. not enjoying that build you're trying out.. wipe it and try something else. you could very easily try my suggestion, and if you decide you hate it, go right back to Monte Cristo with no issues whatsoever aside from the plat (or astral shard) cost. after you've done a little experimenting... with that build or mine or anything else you find online, i suggest you read the trees... look at what they do. think about how you play and how you like to play... tinker around... select stuff you think would be fun and useful. if it doesn't work out the way you wanted, you can always try again very easily. that's the beautiful thing about the way the enhancement trees are set up now ^_^
I will definitely experiment with and thank you for the extra effort you went to making a level 7 character and running it. That was very kind, unexpected and appreciated.
You have given a thorough explanation and I am confident I will enjoy this and look forward to spinning my way to victory.
I am rebuilding the character on the DDO builder with the new tree changes including know your angles. My int is around 13 so not very good if it is to be used as the modifier for know the angles.
So far I haven't used a hireling on any quest even on elite difficulty but I missed some loot in Waterworks as a result since I had no one to pull a lever. I do use guild buffs. i definitely need the buffs because I am not good enough or play cleverly.
I will be taking some things like Sword Dance that the Count Monte Cristo guy says was useful while levelling and will then remove the points as I go up. The build will probably need to be fine tuned as I am certain the way I play will be quite different from your style but the foundation has been laid by your posts and it is a very good one.
On the builder even after putting 31 points in Warchanter I cannot take Spinning Ice even after fulfilling the requirements and then I realised that you cannot take the last tier on both Swashbuckler and Warchanter so I have to pick. The last tier on Swashbuckler is too good to pass up since I have the precision feat for 'thread the needle'.
I will definitely experiment with and thank you for the extra effort you went to making a level 7 character and running it. That was very kind, unexpected and appreciated.
You have given a thorough explanation and I am confident I will enjoy this and look forward to spinning my way to victory.
I am rebuilding the character on the DDO builder with the new tree changes including know your angles. My int is around 13 so not very good if it is to be used as the modifier for know the angles.
So far I haven't used a hireling on any quest even on elite difficulty but I missed some loot in Waterworks as a result since I had no one to pull a lever. I do use guild buffs. i definitely need the buffs because I am not good enough or play cleverly.
I will be taking some things like Sword Dance that the Count Monte Cristo guy says was useful while levelling and will then remove the points as I go up. The build will probably need to be fine tuned as I am certain the way I play will be quite different from your style but the foundation has been laid by your posts and it is a very good one.
On the builder even after putting 31 points in Warchanter I cannot take Spinning Ice even after fulfilling the requirements and then I realised that you cannot take the last tier on both Swashbuckler and Warchanter so I have to pick. The last tier on Swashbuckler is too good to pass up since I have the precision feat for 'thread the needle'.
don't worry so much for chests, if you really cared that much you would need a lot of spot, openlock, disble device, but since you are a rogue that is kinda a need. take note too you will need to rebirth at least 2 times then you are free so for now play with the builds, you just notice too you can only master(the top line of enhancement) one path, but everything else if free game, worse come to worse looking for bonus to hit and damage is alwyas a good thing
I don't know what you wnat to do, but I saw some rogues running with xbows doing a lot of damage and killing for afar so maybe check that and see if you can make use, for faster quests
I will definitely experiment with and thank you for the extra effort you went to making a level 7 character and running it. That was very kind, unexpected and appreciated.
You have given a thorough explanation and I am confident I will enjoy this and look forward to spinning my way to victory.
I am rebuilding the character on the DDO builder with the new tree changes including know your angles. My int is around 13 so not very good if it is to be used as the modifier for know the angles.
So far I haven't used a hireling on any quest even on elite difficulty but I missed some loot in Waterworks as a result since I had no one to pull a lever. I do use guild buffs. i definitely need the buffs because I am not good enough or play cleverly.
I will be taking some things like Sword Dance that the Count Monte Cristo guy says was useful while levelling and will then remove the points as I go up. The build will probably need to be fine tuned as I am certain the way I play will be quite different from your style but the foundation has been laid by your posts and it is a very good one.
On the builder even after putting 31 points in Warchanter I cannot take Spinning Ice even after fulfilling the requirements and then I realised that you cannot take the last tier on both Swashbuckler and Warchanter so I have to pick. The last tier on Swashbuckler is too good to pass up since I have the precision feat for 'thread the needle'.
don't worry so much for chests, if you really cared that much you would need a lot of spot, openlock, disble device, but since you are a rogue that is kinda a need. take note too you will need to rebirth at least 2 times then you are free so for now play with the builds, you just notice too you can only master(the top line of enhancement) one path, but everything else if free game, worse come to worse looking for bonus to hit and damage is alwyas a good thing
I don't know what you wnat to do, but I saw some rogues running with xbows doing a lot of damage and killing for afar so maybe check that and see if you can make use, for faster quests
I only have 2 levels of rogue I am actually a bard I intend to go 18 levels Bard so I won't get much of the rogue benefits. I just hated being unable to disable traps and open doors.
I mentioned the chest because hmm you're right I shouldn't sweat a chest here and there. I had to forgo much when I was playing the monk and pally anyway so I was kinda pissy when it came to this bard with rogue splash that I lost that chest. Stupid but there you have it.
Thanks for the advice on hit and damage. I am looking but I checked the AH for some collectables but on the Cannith server stuff costs a lot.
I didn't understand the comment about free when you reincarnate twice sorry.
I will definitely experiment with and thank you for the extra effort you went to making a level 7 character and running it. That was very kind, unexpected and appreciated.
You have given a thorough explanation and I am confident I will enjoy this and look forward to spinning my way to victory.
I am rebuilding the character on the DDO builder with the new tree changes including know your angles. My int is around 13 so not very good if it is to be used as the modifier for know the angles.
So far I haven't used a hireling on any quest even on elite difficulty but I missed some loot in Waterworks as a result since I had no one to pull a lever. I do use guild buffs. i definitely need the buffs because I am not good enough or play cleverly.
I will be taking some things like Sword Dance that the Count Monte Cristo guy says was useful while levelling and will then remove the points as I go up. The build will probably need to be fine tuned as I am certain the way I play will be quite different from your style but the foundation has been laid by your posts and it is a very good one.
On the builder even after putting 31 points in Warchanter I cannot take Spinning Ice even after fulfilling the requirements and then I realised that you cannot take the last tier on both Swashbuckler and Warchanter so I have to pick. The last tier on Swashbuckler is too good to pass up since I have the precision feat for 'thread the needle'.
don't worry so much for chests, if you really cared that much you would need a lot of spot, openlock, disble device, but since you are a rogue that is kinda a need. take note too you will need to rebirth at least 2 times then you are free so for now play with the builds, you just notice too you can only master(the top line of enhancement) one path, but everything else if free game, worse come to worse looking for bonus to hit and damage is alwyas a good thing
I don't know what you wnat to do, but I saw some rogues running with xbows doing a lot of damage and killing for afar so maybe check that and see if you can make use, for faster quests
I only have 2 levels of rogue I am actually a bard I intend to go 18 levels Bard so I won't get much of the rogue benefits. I just hated being unable to disable traps and open doors.
I mentioned the chest because hmm you're right I shouldn't sweat a chest here and there. I had to forgo much when I was playing the monk and pally anyway so I was kinda pissy when it came to this bard with rogue splash that I lost that chest. Stupid but there you have it.
Thanks for the advice on hit and damage. I am looking but I checked the AH for some collectables but on the Cannith server stuff costs a lot.
I didn't understand the comment about free when you reincarnate twice sorry.
you possible are playing with the 28 points build first rebirth unlock 32 2nd rebirth unlock 34 points build, with means more base stats points to use, each true rebirth require some work but its needed for better builds, but it also raise the xp neede for each lvl, but in DDO other then gear hoarding is rebirthing to gather more power
barda and rogues are kinda the same, almost, but you also have the rogue lvls with means it make lvling rogues skill cost only 1 point, true sight kinda make spot useless till lvl 18 after that no spells detect doors, and you would still need spot to see traps and find the device to disable, and bard do get some nice skills points each lvl anyway
I am playing with 32 since I am subbed. I see now thanks for explaining.
I did take that spell to detect doors. I don't use it at all now because I conserve my spell points the shrine being single use in quests. The bard uses a lot of spell points for the buffs since they are temporary buffs too and heals.
Anyway my levelling has slowed down a lot I should go run some level 6 quests I am still doing the 5's
i can respect the decision to stay with the swashbuckler T5 (can only have one tree at T5 at a time). i will say that forgoing spinning ice will reduce the melee CC capacities, but you should be able to somewhat make up for that using other options.. sonic blast, hypnotism, and sound burst are all good low level options, and you could still have the single target freeze from warchanter.
and as i mentioned... you could always try it out, and if you don't like it, reset the warchanter tree and spend the points in swashbuckler again.
i can respect the decision to stay with the swashbuckler T5 (can only have one tree at T5 at a time). i will say that forgoing spinning ice will reduce the melee CC capacities, but you should be able to somewhat make up for that using other options.. sonic blast, hypnotism, and sound burst are all good low level options, and you could still have the single target freeze from warchanter.
and as i mentioned... you could always try it out, and if you don't like it, reset the warchanter tree and spend the points in swashbuckler again.
Oh yeah the AOE freeze..hmmm okay I will try the last tier and then decide and switch back to Swashbuckler if it does not work out.
if you do decide to stick with the swashy T5, make sure you also take coup de grace... the cool down is looooong, but insta-killing mobs with it is so satisfying ^_^ (i have 5 bards. >.> i've just been showing off my main. i DO have a swashy.... among other things. LOL)
if you do decide to stick with the swashy T5, make sure you also take coup de grace... the cool down is looooong, but insta-killing mobs with it is so satisfying ^_^ (i have 5 bards. >.> i've just been showing off my main. i DO have a swashy.... among other things. LOL)
Yes I was going to do that but it does not work with bosses I recall reading. So some of the tougher mobs perhaps. Hope it does not end up being the button you leave to use for emergencies that get overlooked by overabundance of use in emergency only idea, I do that sometimes in games. I keep and keep a skill until it becomes obsolete. The Warchanter tree stuff will get used a lot more since some are passive. Two bars full of skills already that I have programmed to my mouse with +shift for one action bar. I thought the monk was bad. I must go back to the one bar paladin soon.
At least now I sing that extra song then heroism and my blur before wading in. I am adding fascinate. Finally got my timing right. I managed to get a few but not useful because lol I manage to hit them while hitting something close to them. Dumbass, classes like this that require some finesse are not good for a buffalo like me.
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one thing i forgot to mention... i also dump open lock. MOST of the locks you'll encounter you'll still be able to get with your base few ranks, good picks, and a good item/dex bonus. the few that aren't pickable with that are almost always highly optional chests.
this is a short vid that should hopfully give you an idea of fascinate timing... i use it twice in this vid. i also moved and did things a bit slower in this vid so hopfully you could see what i was doing. normally that character is pretty infamous for her frenetic pace of movement and actions. XD
when i know ahead of time i'm going to need to fascinate a pack of mobs, i start singing AS i run toward them. that way the song is finishing as i draw close, and they have little time to react and possibly kill me. in the vid i emulated that by backing away from the door, and then running over as it opened. (you'll also notice i cased haste, displacement, and used "Know the Angles" before the fight began) i fascinated once. i only got about half of them (because the other half was down the hall out of range of my fascinate. derp). i backed away and then used "spinning ice". this froze most of my enemies, but this also hit my fascinated foes. spinning ice doesn't last super long, but it IS super handy. as i said, i was moving a little slower than usual, so they broke out of being frozen and mobbed me, since i broke my initial fascinate, at which point i fascinated again... and you see me run and jump around to avoid being hit. once the song completes a 2nd time, there is only one mob who managed to save, and i mopped him up quickly and easily. if you watch, you will also notice grey text fly over my head "miss" (AC), Displaced (displacement spell 50% miss chance), and dodge (dodge skill)...all possible hits that totally missed me.. and all the damage i DID take was reduced by nearly 50% as you saw in my previous post (the dark red small numbers that fly by)
yes, if you want you can usually fascinate and move on. MOST mobs will only chase you so far before giving up and resetting. however, keep an eye on alert... while they are taking no actions, the mobs ARE still agroed on you. you may have to stop and kill from time to time to avoid getting red alert.
the quest you are referring to with the prophets is pretty much a PITA for pretty much everyone. i normally just chug a haste pot, an invisi pot, and just run (and pray) and even then i don't always succeed the first time. doing it that way WILL generate red alert. XD
as for my build.. the basic premise of it is to make liberal usage of the warchanter freezing abilities... spinning ice, frozen fury, and northwind. i also lean more heavily into combat than spellcasting, and my feats reflect this (power attack, cleave) spinning ice, once you get it, is SO much fun. once you get your timing down, you'll be standing in the center of a ring of ice statues that you can chop apart like a little cuisinart! not only are you not taking damage from frozen enemies, they take helpless damage from you! it's win win!. your DC on spinning ice is 14 + charisma modifier + half your bard levels (at 3 ranks) + any stunning modifiers and your frozen fury DC is 10 + charisma mod + half bard levels + stunning mods... and i further increase the DC (and my overall damage output) with "Know The Angles" (Insight bonus to damage and the DC of tactical feats equal to 1/2 of your Intelligence modifier for [30/60/120] seconds.) with a good charisma, semi good int, and a good stunning item, it should be relatively easy to get a passable DC sufficient to stop even elite level mobs.
i can offer a more full breakdown of my exact build a la the breakdown on the monte cristo page if you wish, but... right now it's time to PLAY!
The reason I do hard and elite is because I need favour and often it is to see if I can do it. I do like to challenge myself even if it ends in disaster. Sometimes it is to get some better gear.
I watched your video and explanation helped me see what you were doing. I must practice my timing on fascinate. Probably it got interrupted and why it never worked.I will try it again until I get it right.
You have a stunning axe. I think I have a penalty for that weapon will look for other options with stunning capabilities like light mace. I took SWF.
Another issue is that following the Monte Cristo build I have taken SWF, shield mastery, precision, spell focus extend. At 9 I intend to take ISWF. Then at 12 imp crit pierce. I don't see where I can slot in a power attack and cleave, do I need that?
So if I go along the Warchanter tree following your build but using the feats as per Monte Cristo will it work. Mind you I am still in heroics. I am not taking on epic content the max I manage is elite a couple of levels above the quest, I mean like the quest is level 3 listed when you make it hard it goes to 4 and elite as 5, so I do the quest at level 6, hard I sometimes manage at the same level. I do however think I might enjoy your play style far better.
Did you follow the point path of Monte Cristo for the Swashbuckler Tree? Also I would like to know your build a little more in depth sorry if I sound like a needy child but I am very bad at taking chances. More like cowardly. I want to be sure of my path before I put in the points so I can study your reasoning. Also need to know what feats you took if you will be so kind.
Thank you again for indulging me in this.
ok, good good...yep. 4 points of open lock at creation and no more after is the usual route..
i can respect wanting to do the harder difficulties for a challenge/favor. i've done plenty of oddball and off the wall things over the years "just to see if i could do it"
my "axe" is technically just a cosmetic (i used a mirror of glamering on a handaxe skin that i really liked) i am currently using a raid dropped rapier that i like. when i get a little higher level i will go back to a handaxe. the warchanter tree has an enhancement that grants all martial weapons... and as i said in a previous post, swashbuckler will make all of your swash-able weapons have a good crit profile...
per the wiki:
Swashbuckling: Stance: You gain 1% Doublestrike and Doubleshot as well as +1 to the Enhancement Bonus of the weapon in your main hand. Swashbuckling requires wielding a Finesseable or Thrown weapon in your main hand, wielding a Buckler or nothing in your off hand, and wearing Light Armor or no armor. (Druids cannot Swashbuckle while in animal forms.) (For Warforged and Bladeforged, you must be using either the Composite Plating or Mithral Body feats).
Passive: While Swashbuckling, the following weapons receive Competence bonuses to their critical profiles1:
1 Critical threat range bonuses are doubled with the appropriate Improved Critical feat, but not with keen or impact
4 With Tempest 2nd core ability: Tempest2 Not proficient by default
3 With Inquisitive tier 4 enhancement: Inquisition Style: Dashing Inquisition
so don't feel limited by any one weapon. especially when the game throws all sorts of different mobs at you that need different things to break their DR! facing a skeleton? break out a club or light mace! zombies? sickle is a simple weapon... or use a handaxe or kukri if you have the warchanter 2nd core ability "Weapon Training" already...fire mephit getting in your face and the only ice weapon you have is a dagger? go for it! use whatever weapon strikes your fancy! at end game some weapons are better than others, but don't worry about that now at 7th. you have plenty of time to plan ;-)
you don't NEEEEEEED power attack and cleave... i just really really really like to have cleaves >.> that's me. technically you could swap right over to warchanter already with the stats and feats you've mentioned and probably do just fine. all the feats except precision that you mention are feats that i eventually end up fitting into my build (with a crowbar.. >.> ) even if i don't get them in by 20. (in my case shield mastery doesn't get added until epic levels, but again, that's just me)
i have my build worked up in a planner, but it's super late right now and i need to crash. i will try (snap that whip, i swear i'll work on it!!!) to do a little bit of a writeup of what i do, when why and how. it won't be as good as the forum pro builders like Cthrutheego... but hopfully i'll make sense... and no, i don't actually go very deep into swashy, as i go to T5 in warchanter... and i only have so many points to go around. if i had more points, i would probably actually spend them in spellsinger for the better fascinate and other goodies.
anyway. keep an eye on this spot, i will try to get MY personal build that i am quite literally using right now to level posted up here for you to laugh at.
Yes I am aware of the swashbuckler weapon advantages it does not outweigh the -4 penalty I get on the weapon (hand axe) since all it does was give me range that didn't look like it was worth the penalty. So right now I only equip the weapon in that list that doesn't give a penalty. I hope the Warchanter tree takes away the penalties. I will look at that. Thanks you for the heads up.
https://pastebin.com/pnmFGXbu
if i plugged all my numbers in and did all my math correctly.. that *should* reflect my stats, DCs, and HPs at 30. i just made 24 today, and i am nowhere near this at the moment... lol..., both because i am not max level yet and am still missing some of the feats i need AND my gear is an utter mess right now, but still surprisingly sturdy and workable.
with that said... like i mentioned, both in this post and earlier, i have my own particular quirks... for example... my build has high intimidate.. because i find a tiny bard with fuchsia hair and a crazy high intimi to be hilarious. i also maintain a high jump skill because i hate jumping like a brick. you absolutely could put these points elsewhere... like spot for example. find and wear a good spot item, too... it's totally worth it.
and as i said before, MY OWN PERSONAL PLAYSTYLE... i love me some cleave. i actually have a sad i wasn't able to fit great cleave in this time (this is my first life without going the OLD standby split of 16/2/2. usually 2 fighter 2 rogue) BUT... you don't NEED cleave. spinning ice is a cleave, then you can pick off single targets as you will. i needed power attack to take cleave, so if you go a different route, like the one you are currently on, it technically saves you feats... and precision is a GREAT feat to take. honestly, despite how much i like my cleaves, i am in fact having a little trouble connecting with my enemies at my current level... the fact that my friend keeps dragging me into level 30 quests on EE doesn't help me in that department either! lol.... that problem will reduce as i level up more and regain use of my better gear, tho... but yeah, to be honest, precision would have helped me.
but... but... cleave!
anyways~!~
for the sake of experimentation and not talking out my ass and being out of touch with what it means to be an ungeared newbie... i went to an alternate server (all my slots are full on my primary server. lol) and rolled up a level 7 toon (vet status 2. woot). 5 bard 2 rogue. straight up starter gear. no guild. go guild buffs. no stacks of pots backing me up. no twink gear, just the stuff they gave me stepping off the boat. walked to the first quick quest i could think of, bought a hard unlock from the store (so i wouldn't have to do the quest twice. i r lazy sometimes) and ran it. no hire. (if i were going to do this quest on elite, i would probably bring a hire) yes, it is a world of difference from what i am used to, but still totally viable using the same techniques i've already described and demonstrated.
the last pic shows what my enhancements chosen were. if i were actively leveling that toon my next move would be to go to T3 in swashy for "different tack" for charisma to damage, and then i'd go over to harper for know the angles. my freezing DCs were suffering a bit and i felt it, but i was still able to make it thru the quest without TOO much difficulty. once i had those, i would take warchanter to T5 for spinning ice, howl of the north, chant of power, and kingly recovery... then i'd comb over everything else for any interesting tidbits. wand and scroll mastery is always handy if you can fit it.
the pic ALSO shows teh description for the 2nd core ability in warchanter... Weapon Training. this makes you proficient in ALL martial weapons. this is why you see me using handaxes and the like. even if you decide to do something else and aren't going super deep into the warchanter tree, it's still handy to go at least that far, because it expands your weapon choices so much.
you mention that you are scared to experiment, but i want to reassure you... you've already got a solid core for your stats, skills, and feats... no worries there... and you are NOT locked in to your choices in enhancements. while it does get more expensive if you reset frequently, you CAN reset one, or all, trees at any time. not enjoying that build you're trying out.. wipe it and try something else. you could very easily try my suggestion, and if you decide you hate it, go right back to Monte Cristo with no issues whatsoever aside from the plat (or astral shard) cost. after you've done a little experimenting... with that build or mine or anything else you find online, i suggest you read the trees... look at what they do. think about how you play and how you like to play... tinker around... select stuff you think would be fun and useful. if it doesn't work out the way you wanted, you can always try again very easily. that's the beautiful thing about the way the enhancement trees are set up now ^_^
You have given a thorough explanation and I am confident I will enjoy this and look forward to spinning my way to victory.
I am rebuilding the character on the DDO builder with the new tree changes including know your angles. My int is around 13 so not very good if it is to be used as the modifier for know the angles.
So far I haven't used a hireling on any quest even on elite difficulty but I missed some loot in Waterworks as a result since I had no one to pull a lever. I do use guild buffs. i definitely need the buffs because I am not good enough or play cleverly.
I will be taking some things like Sword Dance that the Count Monte Cristo guy says was useful while levelling and will then remove the points as I go up. The build will probably need to be fine tuned as I am certain the way I play will be quite different from your style but the foundation has been laid by your posts and it is a very good one.
On the builder even after putting 31 points in Warchanter I cannot take Spinning Ice even after fulfilling the requirements and then I realised that you cannot take the last tier on both Swashbuckler and Warchanter so I have to pick. The last tier on Swashbuckler is too good to pass up since I have the precision feat for 'thread the needle'.
I only have 2 levels of rogue I am actually a bard I intend to go 18 levels Bard so I won't get much of the rogue benefits. I just hated being unable to disable traps and open doors.
I mentioned the chest because hmm you're right I shouldn't sweat a chest here and there. I had to forgo much when I was playing the monk and pally anyway so I was kinda pissy when it came to this bard with rogue splash that I lost that chest. Stupid but there you have it.
Thanks for the advice on hit and damage. I am looking but I checked the AH for some collectables but on the Cannith server stuff costs a lot.
I didn't understand the comment about free when you reincarnate twice sorry.
I did take that spell to detect doors. I don't use it at all now because I conserve my spell points the shrine being single use in quests. The bard uses a lot of spell points for the buffs since they are temporary buffs too and heals.
Anyway my levelling has slowed down a lot I should go run some level 6 quests I am still doing the 5's
and as i mentioned... you could always try it out, and if you don't like it, reset the warchanter tree and spend the points in swashbuckler again.
At least now I sing that extra song then heroism and my blur before wading in. I am adding fascinate. Finally got my timing right. I managed to get a few but not useful because lol I manage to hit them while hitting something close to them. Dumbass, classes like this that require some finesse are not good for a buffalo like me.