Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

Been playing in the builder a bit lately as I've had to be on trains multiple times and the Wi-Fi wasn't fast enough to get in game. Thought I would make a post with some of the general idea's I came up with and invite others to post their unique / oddball builds and what is nice about them, as well as what they give up. These can be powerbuilds or not, but should be viable in PvE from 1-30 so as not to recommend something that a new player might try and become frustrated with. Here are a few of the idea's I came up with.

1. W8/SB5/BS10/D7: The idea is more of a BAB focused Gish. This gets BAB 26, but only level 7 spells with CL18 (if PSC is taken). The idea is to be item dependent, like any non-caster and keep your spells for short term buffs and on hit properties for your Rapier. Whereas most Gish builds struggle for damage, this one struggles for AB which can be mitigated by using some wizard spells for Greater Heroism and haste. Damage will be fantastic thanks to Insightful Strike, Combat Insight, Precise Strike and Flourish, likely reaching high 30's - low 40's w/ a simple +4 Rapier (or GMW). Applying spells such as orbs can make for strong nova's. AC will be about the same as any other Bladesinger build, reaching low to mid 50's. The downside is you only reach 7th level spells and CL14 (18 w/ PSC), leading to the reliance on items since wards are short duration and dispelable.
---Compare to W5/SB5/BS10/EK10 and you find that the above build is weaker since this 'standard' split get's CL24 and 9th level spells as well as +1 BAB while saving a feat (Mobility). It loses a bit of damage and 3 AC from Duelist (+7 for duelist level vs. max 5 for BS and +1 from 5 deflection AC through Parry), but still reaches above 50 AC and low 30's for damage/hit. Either of these builds are likely not as popular as the CL27+ Gish builds, but if you don't mind being more gear dependent can outshine higher CL gishes with regard to damage per round.

2. R26/C4 - EDM with PTWF sounds like an OP combo, but when you consider CHA is a Rangers only true dump stat you realize a lot must be sacrificed for such a build as this. With Wood Elf you still end up with ~9 CON and 10 INT in order to be able to get to 21 STR/CHA. You also take a class in Ranger that has a bit more room for customization than most classes and turn it in to a far more feat starved build. In the end you get something that get's maybe ~10 uses of Turn Undead to split between 7 rounds of +7 AC or 14 rounds of +14 damage per hit. The rest of the time you have AC lower than a Ranger that grabs ICE or even just ITWD as well as lower AB. Overall it's one of those builds that trades sustainability which Rangers are pretty strong at for a decent amount of Nova's each day where it can rip through enemies.

3. P16/Hospitaler9/WM5 - This one only hits CL25 with the Paladin's fantastic spellbook, but with spells that give +8 STR and +8 CHA this build can use a Scimitar buffed to +5 and Keen to have EDM which lasts 2 minutes and does +20 damage. Thanks to Keen property he crits on 15-20 and with a buffed 30 CHA and x3 crit multiplier from WM he'll do significant damage (60 from EDM alone). Far more item dependent than other high CL Paladins, but stronger sustainable damage.

What type of synergies have you found in classes? What are you giving up and what are you getting to compensate?

similar to your R26/C4 but the opposite. i have been looking at trying D27/Ph3 or D23/Ph3/Thu4 master of pets addition.

edit: these would be caster druids not shifters.

chad878262 wrote: 3. P16/Hospitaler9/WM5 - This one only hits CL25 with the Paladin's fantastic spellbook, but with spells that give +8 STR and +8 CHA this build can use a Scimitar buffed to +5 and Keen to have EDM which lasts 2 minutes and does +20 damage. Thanks to Keen property he crits on 15-20 and with a buffed 30 CHA and x3 crit multiplier from WM he'll do significant damage (60 from EDM alone). Far more item dependent than other high CL Paladins, but stronger sustainable damage.

Why hospitaler though? Why not just Paladin25/wm5? Or even Paladin23/wm7? Do you need the extra feats?

chad878262 wrote:What type of synergies have you found in classes? What are you giving up and what are you getting to compensate?

I find a bunch of fun stuff messing around with the builder sometimes. My favourite is this:

http://nwn2db.com/build/?201610
Rogue7 / Monk 11 / Wilderness Stalker 7 / Shadowdancer 5 with kama and two weapon fighting.

This build is something that just revolves around the idea of being super fast. Greater flurry with two weapons, meaning it hits very fast, and it has monk speed, camouflage and hips, meaning it can run fast and keep doing that in stealth. Epic dodge also gives a bit of the "fast" idea, as it is quick to dodge out of getting hit.

But it gives up too much damage to be useful (ends with 6d6 sneak attack). It never even gets epic precision, so it's going to be absolutely useless against sneak immunes. I've been pondering over this combination for a few years now, trying to make it work better.

---

Beyond that, I've been thinking about swashbuckler/duelist/assassin now that swashbuckler has gotten a few upgrades. With epic precision at level 12, it's already great for an assassin. There are three possible splits here that I think are worth considering, all of which will focus in getting high intelligence for damage, AC, skills and death attack DC. The synergy is just too lovely:

Swashbuckler 12 / Assassin 8 / Duelist 10.
And
Swashbuckler 12 / Assassin 10 / Duelist 8.
Both of which work similarly. The latter gets higher DC for assassin paralyse, the former gets 1 more BAB and potentially higher AC (depending on how much int you're investing in it)

The third option, which probably is "better", though also less attractive to level I would guess, is:
Swashbuckler 16 / Assassin 8 / Duelist 6.
This gets evasion. As long as you put that last Duelist level at level 30, you should be able to pick up Expose Weakness at level 29 (better late than never?).

Deathgrowl wrote:Why hospitaler though? Why not just Paladin25/wm5? Or even Paladin23/wm7? Do you need the extra feats?

Dodge, Mobility, CE, WF, Spring Attack, Whirlwind Attack, Practiced Spell Caster, Power Attack, Divine Might... That's 9 Feats needed pre-epic so you either need to go for Hospitaler 5 pre-epic or be human (instead of Aasimar) and you still need at least 1 pre-epic feat. I've played with different Weapon Master Builds on and off, but this one is a relatively new build I've been working on for perhaps about a month. As an Aasimar with Hospitaler you get all of the above list pre-epic you get 3 great CHA, EDM, Divine Shield and a Great STR, ending up with 22 STR/CHA so that you can hit 30 in both with your buffs up. Misses out on Extend Spell and taking Divine Shield in epic levels kinda sucks, but losing the extra feats from Hospitaler, while increasing CL would likely have to take some important feat(s) in epic levels and end up with 21 STR/CHA costing a bit of AB and damage. It might still work though, so I will probably play with it without Hospitaler and see what I come up with.

Deathgrowl wrote:I find a bunch of fun stuff messing around with the builder sometimes. My favourite is this:

http://nwn2db.com/build/?201610
Rogue7 / Monk 11 / Wilderness Stalker 7 / Shadowdancer 5 with kama and two weapon fighting.

This build is something that just revolves around the idea of being super fast. Greater flurry with two weapons, meaning it hits very fast, and it has monk speed, camouflage and hips, meaning it can run fast and keep doing that in stealth. Epic dodge also gives a bit of the "fast" idea, as it is quick to dodge out of getting hit.

But it gives up too much damage to be useful (ends with 6d6 sneak attack). It never even gets epic precision, so it's going to be absolutely useless against sneak immunes. I've been pondering over this combination for a few years now, trying to make it work better.

I currently play a R13/M11/SD3/WD3 and have found the damage leaves a lot to be desired (currently level 22). Still a fun build, but it can frustrate me at times. With your build have you considered M11/WS7/A9/NWN3? Loses skill points and Epic dodge as well as still no Epic Precision, but gains an extra speed boost and Death Attack with 3d6 more sneak damage.

Love the Swashbuckler ideas. I had been looking at SB16/WM7/D7 as it seems to be the perfect combination of classes to get the most out of each. However, I like your Assassin idea as well and find it just slightly disappointing you can't get evasion, and assassin 9 but those still like some fun builds to play with. Thanks for sharing, definitely interesting concepts!

aaron22 wrote:similar to your R26/C4 but the opposite. i have been looking at trying D27/Ph3 or D23/Ph3/Thu4 master of pets addition.

edit: these would be caster druids not shifters.

Interesting Aaron, we of course discussed Phantom Druid in QC before releasing the class so I hope it is enjoyable (and not overpowered) whenever you get around to playing it!

I'm playing a swash11/wm7/d7/temp5 and it's awesome so far. I am pushing CRs one tier above and finding it strong. I am still climbing with AC and it's at least two steps ahead of the CRs on ac. My damage is OK and should jump way up when I get early epics. I feel like ~20 Is where the test will come. Will the AC still be good. Will it do enough dmg? Theory says yes..