Dual wielding Weapon Master.

[Sun Wukong]

Isn't that damage just 1 damage, or are you speaking some massive crit thing?

[Archaos]

Why not a simple STR Ranger 21+/WM 7?
You get PTWF, spells, extra damage for Favored Enemies (+ Bane of Enemies) and very nice skills.

[Side]

Why not a simple STR Ranger 21+/WM 7?
You get PTWF, spells, extra damage for Favored Enemies (+ Bane of Enemies) and very nice skills.

Main reason for that would be to avoid the RP associated with a patron deity. That said elstevo did say he might be interested in a divine caster. I'd never call a ranger a divine caster, but it does lead to a nice mix of his ideas.

Nice call Archaos, I'd never have come up with it myself.

[chad878262]

I've looked into ranger/weapon master and the real issue is the stats and feats. A bit easier with Mithral chain allowing for DEX 14, but you still need 13 INT and you'd like 14 WIS so as not to be item dependent, CON may suffer depending on how much STR you need to reach solid AB. For feats you need dodge, mobility, spring attack, whirlwind attack, combat expertise and weapon focus. That leaves one feat (two if human/strongheart halfling). Protective ward of going R25/WM5 for +2 AC competes with practiced caster for CL29. Extend spell is really nice for a ranger to better control the spell book...

It's a build you can make, but IMO it gives up a lot for situational benefit of weapon master.

[Archaos]

Why not a simple STR Ranger 21+/WM 7?
You get PTWF, spells, extra damage for Favored Enemies (+ Bane of Enemies) and very nice skills.

Main reason for that would be to avoid the RP associated with a patron deity. That said elstevo did say he might be interested in a divine caster. I'd never call a ranger a divine caster, but it does lead to a nice mix of his ideas.

Nice call Archaos, I'd never have come up with it myself.

In the Realms it's usually a good idea to worship a deity. And since the Ranger is opened to all deities, the choice is even easier.

The Ranger is a very versatile class. With 14 DEX/INT, you could switch from dual-wielding to using a Heavy Shield and Combat Expertise to tank, along with spells like Halo of Sand and Barkskin and Cat's Grace.
With a Mithral Breastplate, your AC would be similar to a Full Plate (5 + Dex 4).
Nevermind the free access to Expose Weakness, since Rangers also get Evasion.

The only issue is that a Ranger/Weapon Master is very feat-starved and needs to put half of his feats towards WM.
While the Fighter gets a ton of them.

As for the stats, it depends on the race.
CON can be set to 12 since they get Toughness for free. But also Bear's Endurance.
WIS can be be put to 11-12 with a WIS item.
CHA is not needed at all, so it's usually sacrificed with melee builds.

Still, all that versatility with spells and skills etc, make it worth it.

[chad878262]

One option if you don't need the spells would be F12/R11/WM7. It would resolve the feats issue and allow you a little more freedom with WIS. Only would get greater two weapon fighting, but each hit will do more damage thanks to epic weapon specialization and melee mastery. 8 damage/hit * 9 potential hits is 72 damage vs losing 3APR you'd get with PTWF.

Edit: Even better, F12/R6/T5/WM7, though you lose evasion this way.

[dzidek1983]

I would make a Fighter 12 (for feats that add dmg,AB and AC) + Tempest 5 (for free TWF feats and aB an AC) + Dervish 10 (for even more AB, and Dmg nad AC) + a 3 lvl class dip that opens up some RP flavor - Ranger that gives for free the first TWF feat and a favored enemy small bonus - Rogue for skills - AK for skills and free Blindfight - Cleric for 2 free feats and skills - etc.

I know there is no WM here... well its just better this way... WM costs ton of feats and it wont be so great then on a 2h + this build will have way more survivability

[chad878262]

I would make a Fighter 12 (for feats that add dmg,AB and AC) + Tempest 5 (for free TWF feats and aB an AC) + Dervish 10 (for even more AB, and Dmg nad AC) + a 3 lvl class dip that opens up some RP flavor - Ranger that gives for free the first TWF feat and a favored enemy small bonus - Rogue for skills - AK for skills and free Blindfight - Cleric for 2 free feats and skills - etc.

I know there is no WM here... well its just better this way... WM costs ton of feats and it wont be so great then on a 2h + this build will have way more survivability

Feats required for WM:
dodge, mobility, spring attack, whirlwind attack, combat expertise and weapon focus

Feats required for Tempest and Dervish:
CE, Dodge, WF (Slashing weapon), Mobility, Spring Attack and ITWF (by default also TWF)

The only feat you need for WM that you don't need for Tempest/Dervish combo is Whirlwind Attack. While I am not arguing that some build ideas are better with Tempest/Dervish over WM (including TWF ones in most cases) it's important to note that the feat requirements are equally heavy. While Annointed Knight is a good 4th class I'm not sure you could fit in all of the requirements before level 18 to meet 3b20 requirements, at least not while also getting fighter feats that I am sure are also important to the build.

[dzidek1983]

I would take rogue for evasion and expose weakness.

[Calodan]

I would take rogue for evasion and expose weakness.

Not needed on a WM. It is just cheese if you want. Of course taking Rogue for Tumble and UMD is needed but not for Evasion and Expose Weakness. Rogue for opening up every skill to 30. Not for Evasion and Expose Weakness. You will actually find that you can hit most creatures at level 30 quite well with a 36 AB. Needs to push up to 40+ for bosses to hit consistently enough to not need a ton of heal pots but otherwise a WM is very efficient at killing almost every squishy mob on the server.

The only thing I would argue that is NEEDED is UMD of at least 15 for wands at the very least but then again there are Pots and Elixirs so yeah........

Basically more builds need to understand the quality of life consumables give to your PC. For any build really. Use them. If you use them you can push better dungeons with better loot...better loot more gold. More gold. More consumables. More loot.

[elsteveo]

Hi Guys totally thread Necro.

Thanks for all the advice and input. I have used a lot of the ideas and a base of Thorssons
"Master of Two Weapons" to make the following.

http://nwn2db.com/build/?262929

I have been playing this guy for the last week or so and its a lot of fun.

What I am wondering is to offset the lack of damage that a dexer seems to have am I better off going Dragon warrior or some other class after 21?

Thoughts or suggestions welcomed.

[K'yon Oblodra]

Hi Guys totally thread Necro.

Thanks for all the advice and input. I have used a lot of the ideas and a base of Thorssons
"Master of Two Weapons" to make the following.

http://nwn2db.com/build/?262929

I have been playing this guy for the last week or so and its a lot of fun.

What I am wondering is to offset the lack of damage that a dexer seems to have am I better off going Dragon warrior or some other class after 21?

Thoughts or suggestions welcomed.

First of all cool that you found something that is fun for you!

On the question of going dragon Warrior after 21, there is a build rule that doesn't allow taking new classes after 21 and also any class you do want to take has to have 3 levels already when you hit level 20.

If it is a good idea to go Dragon Warrior I have to admit I don't know but the others will answer that shortly I am sure.

[elsteveo]

Ok I thought it was 3 before 20 then another allowed after that.

[K'yon Oblodra]

Ok I thought it was 3 before 20 then another allowed after that.

Yea before 20 not 21...no i don't think so... Will check again

– Three By 20
– 3 Levels of Each Class at Level 20 (3b20) Rule: A PC (the build plan) must have 3 levels in every class at level 20 (example of a build's class level distribution at the 20th character level: 17/3 or 14/3/3/ or 11/3/3/3). Prestige classes are included in this rule. So for example, a Rogue 12/Wizard 5/Arcane Trickster 3 is okay. A Rogue 13/Wizard 5/ Arcane Trickster 2 is not. Failure to observe this rule will result in the de-leveling of your PC to a legal state with NO XP refund

So yea all classes before 20 no mentioning of another class after that.

[elsteveo]

Ok I get it now.

So I am currently at level 15 for this build now so I could technically go:

WM 16 2
WM 17 3
DW 18 1
DW 19 2
DW 20 3
WM 21 4
WM 22 5
WM 23 6
WM 24 7
DW 25 4
DW 26 5
DW 27 6
DW 28 7
DW 29 8
DW 30 9

That would leave me all the WM goodies and the DW 1D4 Elemental Weapon Damage.