Sword master supreme!

[elsteveo]

Hi Guys,

I really like the idea of playing a sword master.

I am open to ideas on the Weapon type as well. Two handed or one handed whatever you see as being the most effective build and weapon combo.

One caveat it must include 7 Weapon Master levels for the Critical Damage goodness.

If you have suggestions of weapons available at vendors on the server that support your weapon and build combo that would be awesome!

I have an in game prize for the build and weapon combo I decide to use.
(Prize info posted once I get online later tonight and assess the inventory of the character I will RCR)

Thanks guys you are always so helpful.

[Steve]

Monk 11 / Fighter 12 / WM 7. Use q-staff for +2 APR with Monk Greater Flurry. High STR for damage + IPK lolz. Take One Weapon feat for sure, and if it is kept being allowed take Northlander Hewing for extra DMs on top (also possible to take IPA instead). Or even CE/ICE if you want even more AC at times.

There are very good quarter staffs in Soubar NPC merchant.

But not really a sword master! Stick master then!!

[Zkenic]

My first thought was to make a fighter with the highest AB possible, while relying on 0 buffs or UMD.

http://nwn2db.com/build/?302268
12f/8WM/10Dervish
Weapon can be any slashing, so Longsword is a good alternative. You can even Katana if you want to drop Luck of Heroes.
Longsword
Pros
-Gets vamp +2, so good
Cons
-Lower crit range

Intuitive strike = One Weapon

Final Stats (with items): Str-32 Dex-18 Con-14 Int-14 Wis-14 Cha-6

Max unbuffed AB 61:30(base)+11(Str)+4(enhancement)+1(WM)+6(fighter feats)+5(Dervish Dance)+4(1d4 One Weapon)
61/56/51/46/41/36, -6 for ICE would still be...
55/50/45/40/35/30

Total Damage 42.5: 5(2d4)+4(enhancement)+3.5(1d6 cold)+16(str)+6(fighter feats)+5(Dervish Dance)+7(Thousand Cuts)

Base AC 44:10(base)+10(+4mithril chain)+4(dex)+3(Dervish)+3(tumble)+12(nat/def/dodge)+1(LoH)+1(One Weapon)
AC with ICE: 50

Other Pros
-Saves are mediocre (but not terrible) with base 16/22/16 assuming only +3 stat items
-Gets maxed Listen
-No UMD annoying dispelling issues

Cons
-Saves are mediocre with no spellcraft or access to UMD protection.
-No able learner and crappy skills for 2/3rd of your levels (fighter and WM skills are bad)
-No UMD to balance out weakness
-Dervish Goodies don't show up til later epics
-Dervish Dance wont last most of the time until final levels
-Thousand Cuts is not able to be up all the time

For a more defensive approach, you can swap the 10 Dervish for 10 Anointed Knight or Warrior of Darkness.
Pros
-Higher saves (Iron will, max Spellcraft so +6 to all saves against spells)
-Can get Steadfast Determination (can also move out of wisdom and into con to add a little HP and an extra 1-2 fort/will)
-Higher AC (Get to run a shield)
-Two more strength from the two bonus feats from AK, bumping IKD and negating some of the ab/damage loss
-Gets Heal
-3dr (not really that great, but when coupled with higher AC and if you go longsword for vamp, you can get a little hardiness)
Cons
-Lower AB and damage from dervish loss and no one weapon bonus, also if using a shield no 1.5 str damage
-No spotting skill
-Tighter feat management, no free spring attack and have to take iron will, and will want to take SFD seeing as you get a free toughness, but that then requires you to take 4 levels of AK/WoD before 20.
-Shields are lame. (I've been playing a lot of fire emblem and my idea of a swordmaster uses only a sword)

Of course, if you were looking for something a little more balanced, you can do something with lower AB base and fit something like rogue or whirling dervish. You'll lose out on some fighter feats (ie AB and damage), have stricter feat selection (especially because you will either have to push back WM into high epics or you will have to take a chunk of fighter feats at epic levels), and have lower strength as your epic feats are better spent on things like expose weakness. In return you get expose weakness, evasion, and a lot of skills including UMD.

[elsteveo]

Monk 11 / Fighter 12 / WM 7. Use q-staff for +2 APR with Monk Greater Flurry. High STR for damage + IPK lolz. Take One Weapon feat for sure, and if it is kept being allowed take Northlander Hewing for extra DMs on top (also possible to take IPA instead). Or even CE/ICE if you want even more AC at times.

There are very good quarter staffs in Soubar NPC merchant.

But not really a sword master! Stick master then!!

Thanks Steve sounds like a fun build.

[elsteveo]

My first thought was to make a fighter with the highest AB possible, while relying on 0 buffs or UMD.

http://nwn2db.com/build/?302268
12f/8WM/10Dervish
Weapon can be any slashing, so Longsword is a good alternative. You can even Katana if you want to drop Luck of Heroes.
Longsword
Pros
-Gets vamp +2, so good
Cons
-Lower crit range

Intuitive strike = One Weapon

Final Stats (with items): Str-32 Dex-18 Con-14 Int-14 Wis-14 Cha-6

Max unbuffed AB 61:30(base)+11(Str)+4(enhancement)+1(WM)+6(fighter feats)+5(Dervish Dance)+4(1d4 One Weapon)
61/56/51/46/41/36, -6 for ICE would still be...
55/50/45/40/35/30

Total Damage 42.5: 5(2d4)+4(enhancement)+3.5(1d6 cold)+16(str)+6(fighter feats)+5(Dervish Dance)+7(Thousand Cuts)

Base AC 44:10(base)+10(+4mithril chain)+4(dex)+3(Dervish)+3(tumble)+12(nat/def/dodge)+1(LoH)+1(One Weapon)
AC with ICE: 50

Other Pros
-Saves are mediocre (but not terrible) with base 16/22/16 assuming only +3 stat items
-Gets maxed Listen
-No UMD annoying dispelling issues

Cons
-Saves are mediocre with no spellcraft or access to UMD protection.
-No able learner and crappy skills for 2/3rd of your levels (fighter and WM skills are bad)
-No UMD to balance out weakness
-Dervish Goodies don't show up til later epics
-Dervish Dance wont last most of the time until final levels
-Thousand Cuts is not able to be up all the time

For a more defensive approach, you can swap the 10 Dervish for 10 Anointed Knight or Warrior of Darkness.
Pros
-Higher saves (Iron will, max Spellcraft so +6 to all saves against spells)
-Can get Steadfast Determination (can also move out of wisdom and into con to add a little HP and an extra 1-2 fort/will)
-Higher AC (Get to run a shield)
-Two more strength from the two bonus feats from AK, bumping IKD and negating some of the ab/damage loss
-Gets Heal
-3dr (not really that great, but when coupled with higher AC and if you go longsword for vamp, you can get a little hardiness)
Cons
-Lower AB and damage from dervish loss and no one weapon bonus, also if using a shield no 1.5 str damage
-No spotting skill
-Tighter feat management, no free spring attack and have to take iron will, and will want to take SFD seeing as you get a free toughness, but that then requires you to take 4 levels of AK/WoD before 20.
-Shields are lame. (I've been playing a lot of fire emblem and my idea of a swordmaster uses only a sword)

Of course, if you were looking for something a little more balanced, you can do something with lower AB base and fit something like rogue or whirling dervish. You'll lose out on some fighter feats (ie AB and damage), have stricter feat selection (especially because you will either have to push back WM into high epics or you will have to take a chunk of fighter feats at epic levels), and have lower strength as your epic feats are better spent on things like expose weakness. In return you get expose weakness, evasion, and a lot of skills including UMD.

Wow thanks! Heaps of great information here.

I have decided after look at this that a Two handed sword will be the way.

Any advice Re a Falchion vs a Great Sword?

[Zkenic]

The build has zero changes between greatsword and falchion. Falchion ends up being a little better because of the extended crit range. Because most of your damage is from static bonuses, not dice on the weapon, the extra damage on the greatsword does not outweigh that extra 10% crit chance. That being said, it really is not so big a difference that using a greatsword isn't viable.

Mechanically
Greatsword - 15-20x3 2d6, average 7 damage on hit, 21 on crit
vs
Falchion - 13-20x3 2d4 average 5 damage on hit, 15 on crit
but,
both weapons get the 31(16str+5dervish+4enhancement+6fighter feats) average damage on hit, 93 on crit.

Both have a a +4 1d6bonus damage weapon in the epic shop, so magic item wise you dont really lose out on anything.

[roke42]

How can you be a supreme swordmaster without the weapon supremacy feat (requires fighter lvl18)? Might not be as strong as the other proposed builds here, but at least you would have all the feats for it

[Lockonnow]

well i have a warrior follow of the way of the blades to make a blademaster you need really lots of ab or bab couse you need to hit and every time if it a shieldmaster you need lots of AC so you dont get hit see point?

[chad878262]

I'd go F12/D8/WM7/WD3 with a scimitar.