Hessian Mercenary

[Blackman D]

I want a Hessian Mercenary aka Headless Horseman build, I messed around with a few ideas but wanna see what others can come up with.

Requirements:
human
chaotic evil
two weapon fighting: longsword and handaxe
non stealth

[Svabodnik]

Could go for a Ranger 7/Tempest 3/Barbarian 20. Ranger/Tempest will grant G2WF with only 13 DEX (required for the Dodge line of feats needed for Tempest), and with a +3 DEX item will fill our the DEX to AC of mithral FP (since without an extra feat in armor proficiency it would be limited to Medium). Add Barbarian 20 with Epic Rage (Whirlwind Frenzy + Ice Troll Berserker for a sizable AC bonus while raging), and on paper looks like a stealth-less dual wielder that can both dish out and take a beating.

Would also have a nice quality-of life movespeed outdoors, between Woodland Stride and Barbarian's Fast Movement, so may not even need to ride a horse.

[Steve]

If getting Evasion in the above build, then better to raise DEX, take a small hit on AC with Mithral Chain Mail, and USE that Evasion.

[chad878262]

One thing to consider is switching to Ranger 6/Tempest 4 for +1 AC at cost of Woodland Stride. Already get the Barbarian movement speed boost and TWF characters want AC. I also agree with going 14 DEX for Mithral Chainmail use so you get your evasion.

Another option of course would be to go for a Ranger 26/Blackguard 4 for lower AC, but you could go 21 STR/CHA for EDM, though from my own experience you will have to sacrifice in other statistical area's since Ranger wants WIS for spells, INT for skill points and CON for HP and fortitude/will saves (Steadfast).

However, with blades of fury and EDM you can make for a solid damage dealing character. I have a Ranger/Paladin that's a similar build and it's fun to play, but definitely requires consumables like IMA wand and shield broaches. Saves are nice though!

[Blackman D]

i was actually going against ranger at first, but yea it does make tempest work easier which is something i was trying to fit in for sure

think im settled on 7 ranger 8 barb 5 temp 10 FB, was originally wanting fighter levels for the feats to get some damage but FB should make up for that

http://nwn2db.com/build/?298822#content

[Svabodnik]

Typically I find it a bit redundant to go both Barbarian and taking FB over 5 because the max modifier you're going to be getting to STR is +12. Base Rage is +4, standard Frenzy is +6, and you'll be having at least a +2 STR item, so there is not much synergy past that to get Greater Frenzy. Of course, you could be taking both with the intention of using Rage and Frenzy on separate occasions.

Likewise, you're not going to be getting as much benefit as you could from Power Attack and its improved versions (ala FB) by going with two weapons and a handaxe for the off-hand, since Power Attack does not add a damage bonus to Light weapons (afaik). Having an off-hand battleaxe and picking up Oversized 2WF would work in that regard, however.

Regarding the DEX score, without taking Barb to 18 you're not going to be getting Evasion (which, for a low-Reflex build, I personally find overrated aside from taking advantage of it to pick up Expose Weakness), so with the build you posted there is no need to skirt over to Light armor. In that respect, I'd stick to either 13 DEX (for Medium armor and mithral full plate) or 15 DEX (for Light armor and mithral mail). Only point for that being is availability of gear. If you already have a +4 mithral FP or +4 mithral CM, or a +4 DEX item that doesn't go in the glove slot, then this is of no concern.

However, the reason I would not go for 14 DEX is that you'll be wanting +4 Armor bracers (e.g. Bracers of the Blinding Strike available from CK) and a +3 DEX item, since the only readily available mithral mail from vendors is +3 (and requires elf/half-elf without UMD), and you'll need to buy/find mithral FP from drops. Outside of wands/pots of Cat's Grace, +4 DEX to fill out a mithral mail at 14 DEX would be coming from Braces of a Peerless Archer, which also takes up the same slot as the armor bracers you'd be using.

Of course, that can be disregarded if you have a pocket-buffer for [Improved] Mage Armor/Cat's Grace, or are willing to take the hit to your GP and action economy to reapply consumable buffs if they get stripped.

[Blackman D]

you are new so its ok if you dont know who i am

i have more mithral than what i know to do with, so the dex is highly irrelevant because if i go light armor 6/4 or mithral half plate 8/2 im still getting +10 AC and i dont feel like moving over a mithral FP bc i am not rcring a toon to make this guy

high FB has other perks that are nice like deathless frenzy since i dont want to use too much UMD to casually play

battleaxe is not a handaxe, and i actually like doing builds with less popular weapons if i can find a good theme for it like this one

[Fury_US]

I'm not new, and I don't know who you are?

Honestly, failing to see how that adds anything to the discourse. New players here does not mean new players to the game, and likewise, having become invested here doesn't automatically make a player a sage.

[Blackman D]

of course not, it was in reference to needing anything, i already have everything of concern to the build, something you are not going to know if you dont know me and it in turn make unnecessary suggestions about gear and such instead of the build itself

[Fury_US]

Seems a relevant thing to add to the conversation, regardless, when you consider that there may be others interested in the concept reading the thread who are not as well equipped as you apparently are (which I wouldn't know either).

Besides, simply stating "Well, I'm very well equipped" is way, way less condescending than "Newbie, you don't know who I am".

[Deathgrowl]

I'd like to point out that Dread Pirate gets both TWF (level 1) and ITWF (level 6), which helps you get to Tempest without a lot of dexterity investment, and without having to go for ranger.

For instance, Bard8/dp10/tempest5/somethingsomething7. That will get you the same inspire courage as a level 26 bard.

If you want barbarian, you could go barbarian20/dp6/tempest4.

[Blackman D]

not the biggest bard fan, only use it on the AA because she predates the assassin change, she was already 30 by the time it happened so there was no point in rcring her either

barbarian is fine but the only base classes i really take a lot of are only cleric rogue sorc and wiz

i would go 20 barb... but probably only with 10 FB after that

and really want 5 tempest in there, so 9 barb 10 FB 6 DP 5 temp would be more ideal, tho the ranger one looks like it fits the theme i want more than having pirate levels