Pre Epic advice.

[elsteveo]

Hi Guys for the first time I have reached a decent level (18) without becoming bored with the character concept and RCRing to something else.

I would like a few pieces of advice from those who are more experienced.

1. What are AB, AC and saves that will make the epic areas survivable?

2. Where can I adventure and explore for my level 18? I don't really now many of the areas well so an idea of the challenge and the physical location would be helpful.

3. Does anyone want to explore these places with me? I am in New Zealand which is GMT +12.
I have a lot of time on hands for the next two weeks laid up while recovering from some surgery so will be online a lot. I would love some RP to go with some exploration.

Thanks in advance for your input and advice.

[aaron22]

level 18... troll claws is a good place. they tend to keep a nice spread. do not cast anything but will require fire acid and they regen so slow kills are not recommended. they can hit pretty hard too. test the water. dip your toes in before you cannonball. beware of the bears unless you have high will or better yet fear immunity!!

as far as AB/AC/Saves go.. that really depends on the build. some builds rely on great AC while another thinks the best defense is a great offense.... what is your build and we can see what you can live with.

generally 40-45 AC will stand up well saves in the 20's should do and not sure about AB..

[chad878262]

1. What are AB, AC and saves that will make the epic areas survivable?

Attack Bonus is dependent upon build. With HiPS you are generally ok if you reach 34 or better end game. For a melee you want to push for a minimum of 40, 46 if you are planning to use IPA, ICE or some other mode that reduces AB. For Ranged, you want to push for 48+ to use Many shot.

AC should aim for 50 if you want to be able to stand solo and tank epic areas. With HiPS you can do with ~44 or so and mirror images+displacement can make due with around that as well. HiPS archer shouldn't need to worry too much about AC, but it never hurts as a backup in case you get mobbed while HiPS is on cooldown.

Saves, Mid 20's is best, but some builds (Rogue types) are just not going to get there. With items you can get high teens/low 20's, but in general your defense is HiPS and wands. Deathward, Least Mantle, Invisibility and Dimension Door are all very good defensive wands.

2. Where can I adventure and explore for my level 18? I don't really now many of the areas well so an idea of the challenge and the physical location would be helpful.

Xvarts and Hill Giants are both pretty good grind spots up to ~20/21 and should not be beyond your characters abilities. If you have a strong enough build Troll Claws will be more rewarding, but you need to be approaching 50 AC and you need to be very careful not to get swarmed.


I haven't been in game much due to work and am GMT -4 so wouldn't likely be in game at the same time as you, but certainly wish you luck!

[elsteveo]

Hi Guys for reference here is the build.

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

A dual wielding Melee fighter Will saves are my weakness.

Ab is Main 28, 23,18,13 off 27,22,17

AC is 42 using a wand of shield.

Damage wise he does ok with a Avernus cold iron short sword +4 and 1d4 magic damage it also gives imp crit that helps too.

[chad878262]

what are you getting from monk 3? Wisdom is too low for AC bonus, better of with padded +4. Can't flurry with short swords. Would be better off with duelist for some int to AC or shadow dancer for hips while keeping evasion which is all you get from monk. Fighter 15 also does nothing for you, better to grab wm8 or something.

[Steve]

Can I rebuild your build for you?!?

But otherwise, I'd say look to the RP of your Character concept, before anything else.

[elsteveo]

what are you getting from monk 3? Wisdom is too low for AC bonus, better of with padded +4. Can't flurry with short swords. Would be better off with duelist for some int to AC or shadow dancer for hips while keeping evasion which is all you get from monk. Fighter 15 also does nothing for you, better to grab wm8 or something.

Monk gets me Evasion which gets me to Expose weakness it also gives a couple of much needed Will saves. Monk is also part of the RP concept I have for this guy too.

I was actually thinking Monk 4 instead of F15 that will give me another Will save.

[elsteveo]

Can I rebuild your build for you?!?

But otherwise, I'd say look to the RP of your Character concept, before anything else.

Hi Steve I actually have a interesting back story and RP worked out for this guy which I am currently writing now.

It involves a secret from his Fathers home land of Shou Lung and his mothers never do well family from the streets of Calimport.

[chad878262]

If you want better saves Anointed Knight or WoD is the way to go. Have you considered F12/M4/WoD10/T4? Won't Crit as hard or often, but will be far better defensively. Another option would be F12/M4/WM5/WoD9.

[Deathgrowl]

Rogue 4 is superior to monk 4 in this instance.

But if the RP calls for it, monk is of course fine.

[aaron22]

to minimally effect your concept, i would increase your wis quite a bit to get the benefits of monk AC and then I would use monk flurry weapon. and just live with the low will. it is doable as i have a toon i took to 30 with a low will. just had UMD and didnt fight mobs that could expose that weakness. I also used gear to help me mitigate some of the bad things mobs can do with your low will.

[chad878262]

He's better off wearing Mithral chain as he will not gain enough WIS/DEX to make it work. Would need 13 in both DEX and WIS and to wear a +3 item of each just to match mithral chain, which would mean dumping points out of STR/CON since WM requires 13 INT. Better to just not use Monk (unless for RP, but then you just need to accept that it is not optimized vs. Rogue, as DG pointed out).

[aaron22]

agree chad. of course the rogue dip or better yet the SD dip would be better, i am just trying to improve the concept on top of what he has. if it were me, i would want SD in that spot and would prolly pick moon or drow elf. but now we have a whole different RP. **shrugs**

[LuvHandles]

Characters that start off as RP concepts and are built along an RP concept tend to be weaker than characters that are driven by their rigidly planned power builds. It's just one of those things. I don't think you really want to change your character, and I can understand that, so grouping with other people who can cover the gaps in your character is probably your best bet.

Depending on how strong and well equipped you are at level 18, giants might be pushing it for soloing. Not that you couldn't do it, but the healing kits/potion use might make it not worth the effort.

The Flinds on Uldoon trail should be pretty good. The ogrillions aren't too bad either, but the clerics do cast will based hold spells you'll have to look out for, but if your AC is high enough (like 38'ish) then you should be able to wait out the spell duration without getting killed. I've hunted here quite a bit with my elven dual wield fighter/tempest/dervish/WM.

Also, if you have access to death ward and spell resistance, the Fields of the Dead are pretty good at that level too. I've spent a lot of time there with my main character Taron (cleric/fighter/bodyguard/silverstar of selune).

I don't know what server population is like for your play times, but I am MST (GMT -6). My account name is the same as my forum name, LuvHandles, so if you see me online feel free to send me tell and we'll see if we can't have some fun.

[aaron22]

uldoon trail is no more