Keidara the Firestarter

[MadCookieQueen]

Let’s set the mood:




About this build:

You have to be a bit reckless/fearless to play it. You have got to be willing to jump into the mobs and bounce out when appropriate.
Primal Scream is no longer just for buffing, it can and will crit for 2.5k+ damage.

You want agro and then you don’t. She makes use out of the sonic procs in SB so that…bad guys miss you they take sonic damage (around 75 per tick and will trigger twice if they double strike and miss) and she hits back, they take even more (around 90 per tick). Deception and Improved Deception keep the bad guys spinning around (like a record player) while you tap dance away from the others. Again…they miss her and they take damage.

Reverberate is your friend for the long haul, obscene HP bags of bosses will need the help and with a flush of sonic power and high crit chance they will take some pretty nasty blows (150 – 200 per tick).

Some of the little ticks may not seem like a lot of damage but it does add up, especially with her crazy swing speed. She does play like a Tasmanian Devil. In the span of less than 30 seconds you will add hundreds of points of damage to your attack. That’s just the sonic.

You have some great self and group healing options, Ameliorating Strike, Consecration and Cure Critical are your tools.

You are also a great party support, not just in spamming the AS heals and Consecration, In Flame is a group hug of awesome. Don’t forget to sing, because everyone loves to be inspired.

In a fair arm wrestling competition the Avatar still wins but the Firestarter is more elegant, fast, and dexterous and can cripple a playing field. (Though the Avatar will still stun your butt to the ground)

She can take a hit, if she has to, her HP when buffed is plenty to go toe to toe with many monsters. Her damage mitigation is nothing to sneeze at either.

She has amazing saves, but like all things it takes a bit of work to get there.

I don’t recommend her for first life, but she can be adjusted to compensate. I have +5 tomes across the board and Epic Completetionist…so some of the extra oomph comes from that.

She’s very customizable, a few tweaks and her world changes, just for you. Also she doesn’t have a ton of gear swaps, so that helps.

Why Drow? CHA and Vulkoor, they made the most sense. However you can use any other race you want but remember to max out CHA add some CON then DEX and finally STR. You may have skill point issues so just leave Concentration out of it...but that's not fully recommended...you know...casting Cure Critical.

How I play her:

See a mob, jump in. Energy burst (4k+ on crit), Consecration, Primal, in flame, action boost and then attack anything still standing. Spam Smite Weakness for everything that it’s worth and Blow by Blow because…well moar sonic and it alleviates some of that agro you just won for yourself.

Don’t forget to jump out every so often to re-apply your displacement and do a quick heal (if needed). If things start falling apart you can D-Door and come back (where appropriate), Fascinate also just shuts down a mob but only if they aren’t standing in your circle of fire and you know...the party listens to you ^^

When the smoke clears I'm usually at full (or very close to) health, most of the party is still standing, everything is dead and I'm in the top three of kill counts (the random times I do actually check).


She’s a firestarter, a twisted firestarter.


Keidara – Drow – 15 Bard/4FvS/1Fighter

BFvsFvsFvsFvsBBBBBBBBBFBBBBB

Numbers in the build are current estimations, actual mileage will vary and you know...I could have missed something.

Stats*:
STR**: 31/70 (13 Base, +5 tome, +1 exceptional, +8 item, +2 insight, +2 profane/+2 Inspire Exc., +2 Ship, +4 Alchemical, +5 morale, +6 Psionic, +23 Divine Might)
DEX: 34/42 (13 Base, +5 tome, +1 exceptional, +11 item, +2 insight, +2 profane/+2 Inspire Exc., +2 Ship, +4 Alchemical)
CON: 33/46 (13 Base, +5 tome, +1 exceptional, +10 item, +2 insight, +2 profane/+2 Inspire Exc., +2 Ship, +4 Alchemical, +5 morale)
INT: 28/32 (10 Base, +5 tome, +1 exceptional, +8 item, +2 insight, +2 profane/+2 Inspire Exc., +2 Ship)
WIS: 26/30 (8 Base, +5 tome, +1 exceptional, +8 item, +2 insight, +2 profane/+2 Inspire Exc., +2 Ship)
CHA: 50/54 (20 Base, +5 tome, +7 level ups, +1 exceptional, +11 item, +3 insight, +2 profane/+2 Inspire Exc., +2 Ship)
*add in +2 for Yugo and +2 for Lasting Supreme Elixir
**Divine Might is an insight bonus and does not actually stack with the insight item, this was accounted for in the buffed number

Core Stats:
HP: 739/896 (+132 Levels, +80 Epic, +322 Con, +10 Draconic, +40 False Life, +25 Shroud, +50 ED, +15 Autogrant, +40 Vitality)
SP: 2038 (+650 base, +80 Magical Training, +748 CHA Bonus, +250 Item, +100 GS, +60 Enhancements, +25 Ship, +125 Epic Destiny)
PRR: 105 (+30 armor, + 10 Wall of Steel, +30 Sheltering, + 10 Heavenly Presence, +9 EPL, +6 Rough and Ready, +10 Epic Damager Reduction)
Mitigation: 42.4%
Fortification: 170% (130% Shadow Scale + 40% Brace for Impact)
Double Strike: 57% (+9 ePL, +5 PTWF, +30 action boost +13 enh)
Dodge: 20% (10% item, +3% unearthly, +7% enhancements)

Saves:
Fortitude: 64 (11 Base, +4 epic, +19 ability, +4 morale, +11 resistance, +2 luck, +1 competence, +3 ship, +1 enh, +3 GS, +3 ePL, +2 Brace)
Reflex: 75 (13 Base, +4 epic, +17 ability, +4 morale, +11 resistance, +2 luck, +1 competence, +3 ship, +5 enh, +3 GS, +3 ePL, +2 Brace, +6 unearthly reflexes, +1 profane)
Will: 70 (13 Base, +4 epic, +23 ability, +4 morale, +11 resistance, +2 luck, +1 competence, +3 ship, +1 enh, +3 GS, +3 ePL, +2 Brace)

Feats:
Past Lives: Fighter x3, Bard x3
Epic Past Lives: Energy Criticals x 3, Brace x 3, Doublestrike x 3, Colors of the Queen x 3
1: SWF
2: FvS: Vulkoor
3: Maximize
6: Quicken
9: ISWF
12: Precision
15: IC: Pierce, Fighter: GSWF
18: Force of Personality
21: Inspire Excellence
24: Overwhelming
26: PTWF
27: Epic Damage Reduction
28: Lasting Inspiration

Skills:
Concentration: 18
Balance: 7 (enough for SWF line)
Heal, Spell Craft, UMD, Perform: 23

Perform: 95 (+22 CHA, +6 GS, +20 item, +2 enh, +23 ranks, +8 epic, +4 Tome, +2 luck, +4 GH, +1 profane, +3 ship)
UMD: 73 (+22 CHA, +6 GS, +2 enh, 23 ranks, +8 epic, +2 Tome, +2 luck, +4 GH, +1 profane, +3 ship)
Heal: 68 (+10 WIS, +13 item, 23 ranks, +8 epic, +4 Tome, +2 luck, +4 GH, +1 profane, +3 ship)
Spell Craft: 71 (+11 INT, +15 item, 23 ranks, +8 epic, +4 Tome, +2 luck, +4 GH, +1 profane, +3 ship)

Spell Power*:
Sonic: 271 (+144 item, +95 perform, +11 Spellsinger Enhancements, +5 destiny, +15 ship)
Fire: 293 (+150 item, +71 spell craft, +11 USP (Spellsinger Enhancements), +35 destiny, +10 Warpriest Enhancements, +15 ship)
Positive: 248 (+138 item, +67 heal, +11 USP (Spellsinger Enhancements), +15 destiny, +15 ship)

*add in +25 for Spell Power potion from Comms of Valor turn-ins, +5 for Lolth Cookie

Lore:
22% Positive (+17% Universal, +4% Spellsinger, +1% ED)
27% Fire (17% Universal, +9% ePL, +1% ED)
31% Sonic (17% Universal, +9% ePL, +4% Spellsinger, +1% ED)

Spells:
Bard: Focusing Chant, Cure Light Wounds, Expeditious Retreat, Feather Fall, Cure Moderate Wounds, Rage, Blur, Invisibility, Cure Serious Wounds, Good Hope, Displacement, Haste, Freedom of Movement, Dimension Door, Cure Critical Wounds, Shout, Greater Heroism, Mind Fog, Cure Light Mass
FVS: Nightshield, Bless, Divine favor, Shield of Faith, Aid

Enhancements:
Kensai (4): Core – Light Blades (1), Action Boost: Haste III (3)
WarPriest (22): Cores 1 & 2 (2), Divine Might III (3), Righteous Weapons II (4), Smite Weakness I (2), Wall of Steel III (3), Inflame III (3), Inflame Saves III (3), Ameliorating Strike (2)
Swashbuckler (39): Cores 1 – 4 (4), On Your Toes III (3), Blow by Blow III (3), Sword Dance III (6), Action Boost: Double Strike III (6), Elegant Footwork (2), Fast Movement (2), Style – Dashing (1), Resonant Arms III (6), Thread Needle (2), Exploit weakness (2), CDG (2)
Spellsinger (11): Cores 1 – 3, Lingering III (3), Magical Studies II (2), Reverberate III (3)
Warchanter (3): Core 1, Rough and Ready III (3)

Epic Destiny:
Divine Crusader: Interrogation (1), Purge the Wicked (1), Charisma I (1), Flames of Purity III (3), Consecration III (3), Sacred Ground (1), Empyrean Magic (1), Crusade (1), No Regret (1), Castigation (1), Heavenly Presence (1), Celestial Champion (1), Celestial Bombardment II (2)

Twists:
Energy Burst (fire), Primal Scream, Brace for Impact, Unearthly Reflexes

Gear:
Intricate Field Optics iCHA +3 (yellow: GoITB, Green iCON +2)
Flawless Shadow Scale – Light Armor -- Shadow Killer (Green: False Life +40)
Epic Chord of Reprisals (Yellow: INT +8, Green: good luck +2)
Epic Noxious Embers (Yellow: Spell Points +250, Green: iINT +2)
Dumathoin's Bracers (Blue: iDEX +2)
Ring of Deceit (yellow: WIS +8, colorless: Heal +13)
Random Loot Gen Ring Health +10, Dodge 10%
Epic Boots of the Innocent (yellow: Anthem, blue: golem’s heart)/Boots of Propulsion
Iron Mitts (colorless: Spell craft +15)/Titan’s Grip
Epic Litany of the Dead (yellow: +2 iINT, green: open, alchemical resistance ritual)/PLIS
Greensteel Cloak – balance land and sky (10 HP +2 DEX skills, 15 HP +4 CON skills, 3 Resistance (stacks)
100 SP, +6 CHA skills)/Jeweled Cloak
TF Shortsword: 1st Degree Burns, Dragon's Edge, Mortal Fear (Orange: Devotion +138, Colorless: +2 iWIS)

[MadCookieQueen]

NOTE: This Option will no longer be as viable (basically...you get an orb and no real bonus for having it) in U24 as per release notes: Shield Mastery and Improved Shield Mastery no longer function with Orbs.

If you need to have something in your off hand you can tweak this build to use an Orb and use it well. This will also give you more Positive spell power.

Feats:
Exchange Force of Personality and Epic Damage Reduction for Shield Mastery and Improved Shield Mastery.

Twists:
Swap out Unearthly for Legendary Shield Mastery

Enhancements:
Swap out Dashing Scoundrel for Arcane Marauder. Optionally, find another AP point for Loud and Clear for another +20 sonic power.

Item:
TF Orb, +150 Devotion, Purple Augment slot (Light spell power works), +22% Positive crit Chance.
Replace devotion augment in short sword with Star Ruby, Crushing Waves...you get the point.


Benefits:
Double Strike increase: 62% when buffed (+9% ePL, +8% improved shield mastery, +7% legendary shield mastery, +3% enhancements, +30% action boost, +5% PTWF)
Positive Spell Power: 259/289
Positive Crit Chance: 26%

Losses:
-22 to will save
-10 PRR
-3 dodge
-6 reflex
-5 Attack Damage (for not having dashing)

Overall you'll get more doublestrike and more healing oomph but will take a decent hit to your defenses.


Currently I've been running around with pretty much this only difference is that I don't have OC right now and didn't take Force of Personality. She's rocks pretty hardcore but with the next update I wanted a bit more defense to back me up.

[MadCookieQueen]

UPDATED NOTES: The question as to whether SWF and Shield Mastery will work together, has been mostly solidified...doesn't look like they are planning to change this...can you say "Paladin Riot"?

If this ever changes...at least it will last through U24.

Personally this is the variant I run with...despite the bug with shield mastery but Steel said they are fixing it in U24.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well...you can't really swashbuckle without a swashbuckle ^^

Also note...this is a very solid custom option as many of the gains are very nice, I actually went back and forth with this and the build listed above for a while. I do recommend this to anyone who is crazy enough to run a bunch of Cove and doesn't mind the occasion dancing ball slowing them down.


Feats:
Exchange Force of Personality and Epic Damage Reduction for Shield Mastery and Improved Shield Mastery.

Twists:
Swap out Unearthly for Legendary Shield Mastery

Enhancements:
Swap out Dashing Scoundrel for Skirmisher

Item:
Epic Swashbuckler: Parrying X, Insightful Dex +2, Doublestrike 7%, Guardbreaking, Riposte

Benefits:
Double Strike increase: 69% when buffed (+9% ePL, +8% improved shield mastery, +7% legendary shield mastery, +3% enhancements, +30% action boost, +5% PTWF, +7% equipment)
Dodge increase: 26% (10% item, +16% enhancements)
Guardbreaking
All Saves: +5 for Parrying X
PRR: 118 (+30 armor, + 10 Wall of Steel, +30 Sheltering, + 10 Heavenly Presence, +9 EPL, +6 Rough and Ready, +8 shield mastery line, +15 legendary shield mastery)

Losses:
-17 to will save
-1 reflex
-5 Attack Damage (for not having dashing)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~

If you're curious as to why I didn't take this option for the post on top it's only because the state of SWF and Shield Mastery are still in flux. It's been quoted from Sev that they should not work together...I have no idea how long we'll have shield mastery and SWF and didn't want to bank on it in the initial build listed.

[unbongwah]

I know APs are tight, but I'm surprised you don't invest anything into AoV. Doesn't Consecration and Energy Burst cause Scourge and Just Reward to proc?

Also, what do think about having Energy Burst, Sense Weakness, and Sound Burst Twists? You'd need to max out your Fate pts (inc. +2 Tome of Fate), but it would work.

[MadCookieQueen]

I know APs are tight, but I'm surprised you don't invest anything into AoV. Doesn't Consecration and Energy Burst cause Scourge and Just Reward to proc?

APs are extremly tight and in the many iterations of this build I tried to play with AoV for the increased "fire support" but simply could not find room. The loses versus the benefits did not make sense to me.

As an example:

I didn't want to trade in the spellsinger APs because that would be a negative of -11 USP, -4% sonic and positive spell crit chance, no ability to deal with fascinating undeads (hello necro 4), loss of song duration...anyways you get the hint.

Couldn't trade in kensai...I mean cheap Haste boost = win!

Warchanter was an option but I'd only gain back 3 APs and lose 6 PRR

Swashbuckler is too tasty to reduce APs for it ^^

War Priest provides some of the key points to the theme and style of this build, so I wasn't going to touch that...not with a ten foot pole


The issues:

If I look at the cooldowns versus abilities out of Scourge and Just reward...I couldn't see them lining up effectively (I could potentially be wrong on this point...but this how the brain things work). Scourge lasts 6 seconds but Consecration has a cooldown of 20 seconds, and Energy Burst has a cooldown of 30 seconds...even if I set both off back to back by the time I'd get them back the 6 second window would be gone. Even if we figured that each stack goes away in 6 seconds...that's only 12 seconds...there simply isn't enough fire spells at my disposal to keep it going.

Just Rewards...I honestly couldn't see a few temporary spell points as being worth the 8 AP investment.


Also I have no idea if they proc...but I'd be happy to test it out.

Also, what do think about having Energy Burst, Sense Weakness, and Sound Burst Twists? You'd need to max out your Fate pts (inc. +2 Tome of Fate), but it would work.

That's completely a viable option (if you can mentally handle the grind...I admit...I am mortal and didn't...also too many undead and none of it can be stunned) but I thought the better utility was in a bit more defense and offense.

We trade in for that route and the losses would be any combination of (pick 2): -5 STR and an area burst sonic boom (primal scream), -40% fortification and -2 saves, and/or -3 dodge and -6 reflex.

Especially for how I play her, it made more sense to amp up the offense/defense than do more of a caster(ish) type option. However...again it's a completely viable option for anyone who really digs that combo and can do the grind ^^


Hopefully that answers your questions...thanks for the feedback.

Game on!

[Nahiz]

I love this build concept, MCQueen! This would be the bard I´ll play if I had the time.

[MadCookieQueen]

I love this build concept, MCQueen! This would be the bard I´ll play if I had the time.

thanks! She's soooo much fun ^^

If you ever find the time and give her a whirl, let me know what you think.

Good luck and game on!