Save a 2012 build: Neutral Dwarf Bard 10/Fighter 2/Barbarian 1

[Daemos]

Meet Phadrian D'Kundarak, an old friend of mine that I used to play in days of old. When I came back to him in 2023, he is still holding dual DAxes and has quite the old/outdated build. I would love to lesser reincarnate him to something more modern and to level him up to 32. He would be reincarnated into a 32-point build and already has +2 tomes into DEX/WIS/CHA.

If he COULD still use a DAxe, it would be nice, but not needed. He does have an assortment of Vorpal/Disruption/etc. axes, so I'd hate to not use them unless they serve no purpose in the "modern" DDO world.

Thank you in advance for any help in organizing a build to cap after lesser reincarnating a Dwarf Brd 10/Ftr 2/Barb 1.

 

[unbongwah]

Depending on how long you've been gone, you should have one or more Lesser Hearts of Wood in your inventory, which the devs have given out at various times. If any of them enable level changes, that gives you more flexibility in your respec options, e.g., LHoW +3 would let you switch to pure bard or switch 3 bard levels for more fighter or barbarian.

 

[Daemos]

Depending on how long you've been gone, you should have one or more Lesser Hearts of Wood in your inventory, which the devs have given out at various times. more fighter or barbarian.

Yes, I have a lesser heart, and a +20. I had been told by new guildies that "wasting" a +20 on this was a bad idea vs. just using the lesser. Yet, if you think this build can not be refurbished using the above current levels, I will consider using the +20. BTW, thanks for responding. I have been a huge fan of your builds since the "before times" , and it was good to see your name again when I re-entered DDO.

 

[C-Dog]

after lesser reincarnating a Dwarf Brd 10/Ftr 2/Barb 1.

Leveling is MUCH faster now than it used to be (and doubly so if you're in a helpful Guild or static group). You could be Level 20 in a week or 3 no prob, depending how much you play, AND have a chance for some good loot on the way (say "Sharn" and smile).

Strongly recommend you consider limping him up to 20*, grab another PL (racial or Bard, your choice), and go from there. While Bard 18 would be stronger than <18, since you're just going straight to TR it won't matter much, and Level 13 is more than half the struggle.

It all depends on how much you want to spend on Hearts, and how fast you want to get to 30/32.


(* Folk here can help you minimize the pain from where ever you are now, and/or assess if it's a "lost cause" and/or to what degree. While Bard + SWF is strong, not every workable bard melee build has to buckle their swash.

If you want to go that way, list your current stats (without gear) and Feats, and what Universal Trees you have access to (if any - Inquisitive, Harper, etc etc.) and we can go from there. It can be a fun challenge, many welcome such.)

 

[unbongwah]

I had been told by new guildies that "wasting" a +20 on this was a bad idea vs. just using the lesser.

That depends: do you just want to get to 20 and reincarnate right away? If so, I'd say your guildies are probably right. Presuming you're STR-based, you could stick with Warchanter and use its freezing attacks, which just got tweaked so their DCs are higher and use the highest of STR/CHA/DEX (used to be only CHA).

OTOH if you really want to take this toon to level cap and maybe stay there a while or work on some epic past lives, then it may be better to fix it "permanently" with the +20 HoW. Your friends are probably telling you to bank that Heart because +20's aren't always available in the Store and they're pricey AF when they do come out. But what's the point of hoarding a Heart if you're unhappy with your toon?

That said, you don't have to decide right away. Given your current class split, you could continue leveling as, say, bard 12 / fighter 6 / barbarian 2: I'm thinking tier-5 Warchanter + Strike with No Thought from Kensei.

 

[Daemos]

OK, thank you C-Dog for the optimism as to "fun" challenge. I hope it is not too painful...anyways". And TY Unbongwah, as always.

I have access to ALL universal trees.

I was really planning on using the lesser reincarnation heart +0 as it looks REALLY messed up as it is. Also it started as a 28 point, and I can LR to 32.

STR 21/ DEX 17 (15 +2 Tome)/ CON 16/ INT 8 / WIS 10 (8 +2 Tome) / CHA 10 (8 +2 Tome)

Feats - TWF/ Imp TWF/ Toughness/ Cleave/ Power Attack/ Weap Focus -Slashing/ Extend

In 2009 or 10 when I built this, I don't recall any enhancement tree, and the feat worked differently from how they are now. That being said, I am not sure just where I was going with this, and I can not find an old template on the forums that would match it. That was why at first I thought "Ugh, LR him and hope for a better build".

Would love to take it to 32, but I understand that limping it over 20 and TR'ing might be a more rational approach.

Thank you C-Dog and Unbongwah, I appreciate the help and the mental gymnastics you performed.

Unbongwah, if you are still reading this, I have to ask a question that has been bothering me for 10+ years" "What is the name Unbongwah meaning/origin? Thanx.

 

[unbongwah]

"What is the name Unbongwah meaning/origin?

It's just a nonsense word a friend and I made up in...I think Diablo 2 was the first time I used "unbongwah" as an username so at least 2000. I don't even remember if we ever defined it, it was just like a secret codeword / euphemism we used because we are massive ?

Sounds like your build was some variant cross between the original Axesinger and Genghis Khan, which predate the Enhancement revamp in Update 19. Weapon Focus used to be a Warchanter pre-req, but not anymore. And the old days when you needed Toughness to unlock the hit-points enhancements which went with it. Final build was probably bard 16 / fighter 2 / barbarian 2 or something similar. Fortunately you're only level 13 so you still have some flexibility what to do with the rest of your build.

There's no incentive to dual-wield dwarven axes, as Strikethrough only applies with single-wielded d.axes and battleaxes have better critical threat range with Knight's Training. And TWF bard isn't really a thing anymore unless you're doing something niche-y like Vistani. So if you wanted to stick with d.axes, I would switch to SWF or maybe THF+Shield Mastery S&B. Or change weapon types: e.g., greataxes for THF Axesinger, handaxes for Swashbuckling (w/ or w/out going for TYWA).

 

[C-Dog]

... Fortunately you're only level 13 so you still have some flexibility what to do with the rest of your build...

There's no incentive to dual-wield dwarven axes, as Strikethrough only applies with single-wielded d.axes and battleaxes have better critical threat range with Knight's Training. .. So if you wanted to stick with d.axes, I would switch to SWF or maybe THF+Shield Mastery S&B...

All great suggestions (and I had half-written up a couple of my own), but I just realized a pesky detail that prevents any "feat swapping" with this build... it's an older build, and Fred won't recognize it. (bug w/ a re-work a few updates ago) :confused:

That means that it's either go for 20 and a TR, or grab a LR now, no dodging that bullet.

Would love to take it to 32, but I understand that limping it over 20 and TR'ing might be a more rational approach.

Whenever you do start to 32 (this life w/ a LR or next after a TR), you want to get it right. 30 is a long haul, and you might park a while once you get there - you don't want to have regrets about not taking a couple weeks to have gotten as strong as you could have been. If you haven't earned 1,750* Favor and your (current life's) free +2 Tome, I strongly recommend you do that first. If that means you'll be gaining a few levels on the way, then skipping the LR and TR'ing at 20 is sounding better imo.

Again, leveling is fast - TR'ing and starting from 1 is not nearly as big a deal as it was 10 years ago!

STR 21/ DEX 17 (15 +2 Tome)/ CON 16/ INT 8 / WIS 10 (8 +2 Tome) / CHA 10 (8 +2 Tome)

Feats - TWF/ Imp TWF/ Toughness/ Cleave/ Power Attack/ Weap Focus -Slashing/ Extend
...
Would love to take it to 32, but I understand that limping it over 20 and TR'ing might be a more rational approach.

Str build, lots of Con, enough Cha for casting but not to be a Caster ... Personally, I see no pressing reason to LR. I'd go TR, get a Bard Past Life, start your 2nd life w/ 34 build points, and call it a win.

I think your build could easily be adapted to this 2WF bard build, (with some tweaks), which (yes) is old but still works just fine. Certainly not cutting edge, certainly unexpected and counter-intuitive, but far from gimped. Or you can stick with a more vanilla Swashbuckler approach - your call.) No need to swap feats, just press on, get as close as you can, call it good.

• Feats: (TWF), Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave?, ITWF, Improved Critical: Bludgeon (SLASH), GTWF, Quicken?

The bad news is that 3 of your current Feats are (mostly) wasted: Toughness / WF -Slashing / Extend. (All are in fact "useful" to one extent or another, but not as useful as other feats would be here.) However, if you're good with not going to get to Bard 16 (for Otto's Irresistable around Character level 16-7 or so)), then with Fighter you can make (some of) that up. And with Barb, maybe(?) some of the rest.

To stick closer to that build, at 15, take Improved Critical (SLASHING) - you're already late in grabbing that, so that's asap. Fighter 3+4 gets you Greater 2WF (whenever you can squeeze that in, maybe Level 14+15?). Meanwhile Barb 2 gets you Blood Tribute, +150 Temporary Hit Points on-demand - that's your "healing", so no (pressing) need for Quicken. Then 18 gets you either that Quicken (to augment that Healing) or Great Cleave, for groups. And you're home, as a 14/4/2, with Greater Heroism (among others).


OR... ignore Fighter 3/4, and Great Cleave/Quicken, wait until 18 to take ITWF, and go for Bard 16 and Otto's Irresistable Dance - it's not like there's a DC to worry about.... win (altho' Quicken would help).


I can see either build getting you to 20 without too much problem - tougher if you solo, but you won't be last in the kill count in any but the most leet groups.

The Enhancements will be diff, no Ranger, so much of that will have to be made up via Barb and Fighter - but some of that's been suggested earlier.

...Sounds like your build was some variant cross between the original Axesinger and Genghis Khan, which predate the Enhancement revamp in Update 19. ..

Occasionally (rarely) I think I know the basics about builds - then I read someone who has casually internalized more than I even recognize. <sigh> o7

 

[Daemos]

Thanks to you both. I am off to make this work.

 

[unbongwah]

bard 12 / fighter 6 / barbarian 2: I'm thinking tier-5 Warchanter + Strike with No Thought from Kensei.

To expand on this:

• Stats: STR 18 / CON 16 / INT 16 to start with level-ups into STR (or STR 17 / DEX 11 so you can take Precision)
• Heroic feats: Power Attack (or Precision), THF x3, Improved Critical, Stunning Blow, Weapon Focus + Specialization, Quicken, Empower Heal (or Extend), Least Dragonmark for spice

Enhancements:

Designed for greataxes but you can continue to single-wield dwarven axes for THF bonuses, though they'll have lower damage bonus. Or respec into Heavy Blades to use falchions or Sword of Shadow if you have one.