What lvl 30 AB is viable?

[Bunnysmack]

I'm thinking of doing a few builds that are multi-classed to use various types of magic alongside melee combat. However, this of course will all result in a disappointment if they are incapable of landing a hit on enemies that have lvl30 equivalent AC values.

To help me decide which builds are viable, I'd like to know what threshold I should aim for so that my end game toons are able to actually use their weapons without looking like a clumsy oaf.

As an example, one of the builds I have planned should have 23 BAB at level 30. They will have 21 or 22 strength and I'll obviously shoot for a weapon with a high enhancement buff and an item to boost my strength up. Would this character be able to land hits reasonably often? Damage shouldn't be a concern with the build I have in mind, as the other classes mixed in are massively bolstering the damage on hit factors.

[Calodan]

Well it is dependent on the style of build. If playing a 30CL Cleric BAB is not a thing you need to care about immensely as you get the spell Divine Power which makes your BAB that of a equal level fighter. So if Level30 you are effectively treated as a Fighter for BAB and have 30BAB.

General Overall AB after buffs and with +4 weapon should reach close to 50AB total to be viably fun as a melee.

Sneaks are different and thusly ranged sneaks are as well and not my forte so to speak so others would have to chime in on BAB needed at level 30 to be effective on the server.

[Valefort]

40 AB with everything taken into account is fine, 45 is very comfortable, anything above is just to kill things faster. Generally speaking monsters have low AC and high HP so you can get away with rather low AB compared to top builds.

[Bunnysmack]

Hmmmnnnn, I may need to rethink making a Warlock 26/Blackguard 4 build then. I'm not certain I can get the AB up to 40-50, even with some impressive gear. Warlocks don't get anything that boosts AB, at least not to my knowledge.

Oh, because I was interested in making either a neutral or good melee Cleric, what are good prestige classes to spec into? War priest jumped out of course, but it looks like I can't be a Stormlord unless I worship Talos...which I don't want to do.

[Calodan]

Hmmmnnnn, I may need to rethink making a Warlock 26/Blackguard 4 build then. I'm not certain I can get the AB up to 40-50, even with some impressive gear. Warlocks don't get anything that boosts AB, at least not to my knowledge.

Oh, because I was interested in making either a neutral or good melee Cleric, what are good prestige classes to spec into? War priest jumped out of course, but it looks like I can't be a Stormlord unless I worship Talos...which I don't want to do.

Hands down the best PRC to multiclass into from CLeric is going to Hierophant. With spell powers you can get your base caster level above 30 and thusly be pretty much undispelled ever by anything or anyone. Not to mention more caster levels means longer buffs as well.

There are others too. Like Hospitalier that makes a good combo with Cleric as it also levels up your caster level along with having bonus feats.

Personally I am not so high on war priest. Not great PRC in my opinion.

I would not worry too much about a warlock not being able to hit things it is different with a ranged touch attack as they are primarily blasters. If trying to use them as a melee EDM I am not sure how one does that.......Interesting concept actually.

[kkrazlite]

Aeb'el walks around with 35 AB and i kill most things without much trouble in human form.

It will be a bit harder to combat Epic bosses with such low AB though but at that point Aeb'el can just cast spells for those as any caster should. . .

Fighter's as said above should be around 50 AB, Sneak master's lower because well they can just sneak attack.

[Bunnysmack]

Well, the warlock build was aimed at using hideous blow+ epic divine might while having crazy high saves from DarkOne's Luck and Dark Blessing. Sounds like it won't be reliable though because it won't be able to hit enough.

Cleric with the above PRCs or a Gish or a pure arcane wizard sound like classes I should pursue instead.

[aaron22]

You will likely find yourself blasting more and more as you level. Using divine shield when mobbed and speeding away invis to pick off again one by one. You will likely just find it easier. I have tried something similar.

[Bunnysmack]

Is that so? Did you find it more fun to play a straight blaster warlock with enough blackguard to get divine shield and dark blessing? How was that for effectiveness/fun at level 30?

[Calodan]

Is that so? Did you find it more fun to play a straight blaster warlock with enough blackguard to get divine shield and dark blessing? How was that for effectiveness/fun at level 30?

A Full 30CL Warlock is very effective end game. Is one of the best classes here. They are really designed around being blasters if not for BGs custom application of the glaive invocation allowing it to re-apply every round on its own.

[Bunnysmack]

Do you recommend taking any levels on Blackguard or Hellfire Warlock; or just go pure warlock?

[chad878262]

Wlck27/ dragon slayer 3

[aaron22]

Yes take the bg and divine shield. That is pretty standard issue blaster lock. There is nothing wrong with your idea of a edm lock. It can work. Mfp is expensive though but mbp is much more common. And saves a feat. 20 dex maxes mbps efficiancy. 16 maxes mfp. Bottom line is you can play the edm lock but avoid the temptation of just blasting. will you be solo most of the time? Playing in a group affords you some freedom to not be totally efficiant.

I don't play perfect builds and get by just fine.

[kkrazlite]

Both variations of Warlock can work end game. I have made a Dwarven Defender, Gish Warlock that was very powerful in the epics. Tanky, good saves, and a AB of 39 without buffs like greater heroism.

On the other hand caster warlocks are super good as well. They can provide a constant source of medium to high damage on bosses and are super useful in prolonged fights where a mage would run out of spells.

[Sapper Woody]

After some testing (most of the Credit goes to Deathgrowl), I have come to the conclusion that the highest AC on epic "non-boss" mobs is 35. That's what some of the Frost Giants and Yuan-Ti have. Most have around 30-32. Something to keep in mind, though it is obvious, is that each subsequent attack is at -5 AB from the previous. So, having a 35AB means your first attack has a 95% chance to hit (missing on a natural 1), your second has a 75%, third has a 50%, fourth 25%, and the rest only hit on a critical threat roll.

Obviously, increasing that to 40AB means that your first and second attack have a 95% chance of hitting, your third has a 75%, your fourth a 50%, fifth a 25%. If you can get it to 45AB, then you have a chance to hit on all your attacks, not just on the first few.

Now, that's just the non-bosses, though. I can't really speak to the bosses too much. I have heard that Icehaup (the white dragon) has the highest AC in the game at 60. Through gameplay, I would guess that the other epic bosses have in between 40-50 AC, depending on the boss.

Hopefully this information helps.