A build for Dread Pirate.

[Incarnate]

I've been considering for some time to create a Dread Pirate that has a darker twist to it.
A non-typical Pirate, an arcane or divine magic wielding one, a pirate that worships a deity related to the seas or pirates.

The theme is more important than its efficiency, but should be as optimal as possible.

Considering Dread Pirate requires:
Feats: Weapon Finesse.
Base Attack Bonus: +4.
Alignment: Any nonlawful.
Skills: Appraise 8, Lore: Geography 8.

Then I would either require an entry class with above as class skills or have able learner feat.
If they're considered class skills then the earliest entry point for Dread Pirate would be level 5. Bard gets appraise and Geography as class skills, making it an obvious choice, but not necessarily the most optimal choice.

Something like:
- Cleric / Dread Pirate / Hierophant
- Wizard / Dread Pirate / Pale Master
- Bard / Dread Pirate / Pale Master

There certainly other builds possible and Dread Pirate doesn't really offer anything thats truly viable to the build, unless the bard entry option is chosen.

So without the Dread Pirate PrC but still going along with the theme of a Dread Pirate, it could be something like:
- Rogue / Cleric
- Fighter / Cleric
- Fighter / Wizard
- Rogue / Assassin / Pale Master.

[chad878262]

With any of these I believe you can make a viable build for the character you want to RP, but there are going to be downsides. You're going to have to decide between Caster Level, BAB and how many levels you want in DP vs. your other classes. I broke down some ideas for the three possible builds you listed below.

- Cleric / Dread Pirate / Hierophant

Cl13/DP9/H8 = Caster Level 28. Not terrible, but would actually recommend Weapon Finesse being a 'wasted feat' and going for a Shield and medium weapon Cleric with EDM. Need 13 Cleric to qualify for Hierophant (7th level spells). Heirophant 8 for SP3, thus you can only get 9 levels of Dread Pirate. Personally I think the Dread Pirate abilities don't mesh very well with a cleric, but you could have 8 APR with divine power and ITWF

- Wizard / Dread Pirate / Pale Master

CL with 10 levels of DP is 20 with only 8th level spells. Could do something like W6/DP10/AM4/EK10 for CL25, but still pretty weak. With no divine power it is going to be really difficult to have a solid Caster Level as well as a decent BAB. You could just dip DP with something like W7/DP3/EK10/PM10 which would hit the min BAB (21) and have CL27, if you don't mind just a dip. Though there are likely better options. Finally, if you want a lesser gish, where you don't mind gearing like a fighter you could go SB5/DP10/W5/EK10. CL would only be 18 and you'd only have level 7 spells, but with Swashbuckler you could go for a DEX/INT split and double up on INT to damage. BAB is 27 so you are full 6 APR with ITWF for free (8 APR, 9 with haste). If taking a race like Tiefling or Air Genasi (+2 DEX/INT) you could aim for 25 DEX and 22 INT to have PTWF and +12 INT damage on your main hand, +6 off hand (I think). Idea would be not to rely on AC boosting spells too much, so you need good equipment for natural, deflection and armor AC, but you could still use shorter duration buffs like displacement, shield, mirror images, haste, etc. as needed. If you wanted to go Drow you could even go with a Deathsinger mix like SB5/DP10/W5/DS10, but CL would be even lower (15 with only level 6 spells).

- Bard / Dread Pirate / Pale Master

Bard has the best synergy with DP thanks to Rally the crew working whenever you have inspire courage active. I would drop Pale Master though since the low BAB will likely cause issues. I would either go B20/DP10 (CL24), B17/DP10/SD3 (CL21, but you get some protection from HiPS), or B15/DP5/EK10 (CL28, BAB26 but your Inspire Courage isn't as good, probably the best option IMO). Of course you could, again go for less of a caster bard where you have minimal bard spells that you only use as short duration buffs for boss fights or what not, in which case something like B8/DP10/EK9/DS3 might work. BAB28, CL22 and Inspire Courage +5.

[Sun Wukong]

Something like:
- Cleric / Dread Pirate / Hierophant

http://nwn2db.com/build/?283819 <= There you go, dexterity based cleric, needs some wisdom item. Caster level 30, with Perfect Two-Weapon Fighting and Expose Weakness.

[Deathgrowl]

Bard8/dp10 is a great start. Add in whatever you want, really.

[Valefort]

http://nwn2db.com/build/?162743 more of a fighter with more but he is quite mean.

[Sun Wukong]

http://nwn2db.com/build/?162743 more of a fighter with more but he is quite mean.

Spells on that thing are considerably less relieable than what those were five years ago... Yet, if you get the equipment to equip it, sure, I think it still works.

But, I kind of have to wonder if you should switch the Power Attack for Northlander Hewing though... Since there are weapons that grant Power Attack feat, like one Greatsword for example.

Additionally, the Improved Critical feat could be swapped out for Craft Wand, as a way to use your bardic spells to craft wands, because both are about as dispellable due to low caster levels.

[Valefort]

Spells are not needed for the build to work really, but ofc you are even more powerful when there are no dispels.

[Sun Wukong]

Was that the build used on Maelir's Emo Captain days? (Just a friendly poke.)

[Valefort]

SB 5/ Bard 8 / Duelist 7/ Dread Pirate 10

[Wandering_Woodsman]

Must be named Roberts.

[Incarnate]

There is so much good stuff posted here that makes it hard to decide

Cl13/DP9/H8.
SB5/DP10/W5/EK10.
Cl13/DP7/H10.

Those seem like very solid choices - I wonder if there are other equally solid but different builds that have more emphasis on the magic part it - the darker magic twist.

[Sun Wukong]

It will not have levels of Dread Pirate, but a Bard 10/Pale Master 10/Stormsinger 10 could be an interesting charisma based bard build to consider.

A Witch King/Queen of the seas that uses fog to paralyse the sailors on other ships, who conjures storms upon unsuspecting victims, and is a curse on the Sea of Swords with a crew of both living and the dead at his/her beck of call.

Fog = (Mind Fog Spell with Mass Hold Person)
Storms = (Storm of Vengeance from Stormsinger)
Crew of the Dead = (Pale Master Animate Dead and Create Greater Undead with Descrate from an item bought from the wandering merchant last seen in Beregost)

Another good thing to grab would be the Clap of Thunder feat just to that have little bit of sonic damage output, and Epic Spell Focus Enchantment to get most out of Mind Fog and Mass Hold Person spells.




Would you be interested in something like that?

[chad878262]

I wonder if there are other equally solid but different builds that have more emphasis on the magic part it - the darker magic twist.

Here is one with CL 27, which would be 30 if you drop Bard. Bard is there because you'll have +2 Inspire Courage (+3 with 1st level bard spell) and it makes qualifying for Dread Pirate easier due to Appraise. Note you can drop bard to reach CL30, but will have to take W to 13 before taking DP which then will open up Eldritch Knight. Will end up W17/DP3/EK10 and still have BAB21 which is a bit low. Will also have weak rally the crew only lasting 3 minutes instead of always on inspire courage. Deadly Defense and Combat Insight will further help with damage since as PTWF gish it'll be a bit low.

http://nwn2db.com/build/?283900