Dual Wield Katana Build Thoughts

[Galdinao]

Hello everyone,
I'm thinking about create a new character who uses 2 katanas in combat, first because I like this concept in an RP point of view and second because I find katanas on my loots everytime. I've been storing some good Katanas (like the +4 Deflection one) and I think it's time to use them now. Idk if exists some superior "drop ratio" for katanas on the server, since I've found 5x or 6x more times katanas instead of shortswords in my grinding, and it makes me wants to use it.

I would like some thoughts or any advices about this build here: http://nwn2db.com/build/?50389

Just mentioning that I'm planning to buy the amulet with "Power Critical (Katana)" feat.

[ice_cold535]

Could be interesting, doesn't the Katana require exotic weapon proficiency, if so, I think you missed it. I would also be worried about your AC. Although perhaps that is mitigated if you are full HIPS?

Would be more interested to hear the backstory about the character, but if you enjoy using the build, that is what matters the most

[chad878262]

Personally I think you are better off dropping DEX to 19 while maxing STR and changing your class split to Fighter 12/Tempest 5/Shadow Dancer 3/Warrior of Darkness 10 or Dervish 10 (your pick). Still gets hips for defense, but loses out on the sneak dice. However, will do more damage from STR while having better damage when deciding to use a heavy/tower shield. As mentioned the AC is not great for a dual wielder and when you don't go for a max sneak attack build that can kill most mobs in one flurry that is really important. Overall, Oversized TWF characters who are not Rangers are generally better off just going for GTWF. Note that you could drop DEX to 17 and skip Shadow Dancer in favor of Whirling Dervish to get you Evasion/Expose Weakness access. You could also go with a split like F14/T5/A8/WD3 which would allow for 17 DEX with HiPS and GTWF plus evasion/expose weakness.

Just my thoughts, but I feel with an Oversized TWF build that is not a Ranger21 you will be somewhat underwhelmed. max DEX PTWF builds without lots of sneak dice don't do a whole heck of a lot of damage for the AC and weak saves. Unless something has changed the BGtSCC server has always been about having plenty of defense and your build just doesn't have it. Will saves and AC are a big time concern.

[Galdinao]

Personally I think you are better off dropping DEX to 19 while maxing STR and changing your class split to Fighter 12/Tempest 5/Shadow Dancer 3/Warrior of Darkness 10 or Dervish 10 (your pick). Still gets hips for defense, but loses out on the sneak dice. However, will do more damage from STR while having better damage when deciding to use a heavy/tower shield. As mentioned the AC is not great for a dual wielder and when you don't go for a max sneak attack build that can kill most mobs in one flurry that is really important. Overall, Oversized TWF characters who are not Rangers are generally better off just going for GTWF. Note that you could drop DEX to 17 and skip Shadow Dancer in favor of Whirling Dervish to get you Evasion/Expose Weakness access. You could also go with a split like F14/T5/A8/WD3 which would allow for 17 DEX with HiPS and GTWF plus evasion/expose weakness.

Just my thoughts, but I feel with an Oversized TWF build that is not a Ranger21 you will be somewhat underwhelmed. max DEX PTWF builds without lots of sneak dice don't do a whole heck of a lot of damage for the AC and weak saves. Unless something has changed the BGtSCC server has always been about having plenty of defense and your build just doesn't have it. Will saves and AC are a big time concern.

Thank you for your advices, chad. I think you are absolutely right.
I've made another build and I think I'm going for it now. http://nwn2db.com/build/?320422

If you have any thoughts about the progressions, I would like to know. Thanks again!

[tankteddy]

Build is not public FYI.

[Galdinao]

Build is not public FYI.

I'm sorry! I turned it public now, I think.
http://nwn2db.com/build/?320422

[chad878262]

My feedback -

1. If you are taking armor skin it is far better to take Luck of Hero's and take a non-epic feat in epic levels. + 1 AC and all Saves is better than +1 AC.

2. What is the purpose behind Iron Will? I'm thinking you need to replace this with Oversized Two Weapon Fighting.

3. If you move fighter levels earlier in epics you could replace Armor Skin with Epic Weapon Specialization

4. Grabbing UMD of ~11 modified allows you to use wands. Improved Mage Armor, Shield, Mirror Images, Displacement, etc. can solve quite a lot of defensive issues.

5. While Dervish gets "perform" there is no mechanical benefit to putting points in. Oops, not correct...

6. Since no able learner 'saving' skill points to take when they are class skills will provide you with more overall skill points to distribute.

I can take a more in depth look later, but start with considering this feedback.

[Theodore01]

5. While Dervish gets "perform" there is no mechanical benefit to putting points in.

Perform is needed for dancing duration

[chad878262]

apologies, Theo is correct. I will edit my post accordingly. Dervish may not be the best option due to lack of skill points when you are trying to make a stealth build with limited stealth classes. Note that if you are just looking for HiPS cheese (to break target lock or get free AB increase in first flurry) you don't need any more hide/ms than it takes to qualify for SD. HiPS will always work for at least 1 second to break lock and cause the spell targetting you to fail.

[Galdinao]

Hey guys, I've been improving the build with your suggestions and I had to made some decisions. The Assassin PrC allows me to use an amulet with Improved Critical (Katana) feat and 1 or 2 special Katanas on the server, but at the end, I think I will drop the Assassin idea.

So this is my idea at the moment http://nwn2db.com/build/?320422 and I would like to have you guys looking by it again.

I'm still concerned about not having the Two Weapon Defense progression feats and all the epic feats in general. I know that my Will saves are bad and I will have some problems with this, but I don't know how to fix it atm.
Like I said, the Air Genasi choice was made for RP reasons, this character is gonna be my first "dark side" RP on the server, so I'm still improving his background. I will post it on forums when I finish.

Thank you again.

[Steve]

-6 Wisdom and -6 Charisma doesn’t strike me as a Character that would have many friends!

I can appreciate the desire for mechanical optimization, but I also appreciate when Players consider what the “non-mechanical-Attributes” in certain Builds STILL should affect the Character, and thus the RP.

That said, your PCs background and Bio are yet published, and perchance you will make them fugly-as-sin, a grating personality, inability to lead, terribly unpersuasive, and have extremely poor willpower, common sense, perception, and intuition.

Honestly, that seems like a very challenging Role to play!

But if some advice from me is interesting to you, it’s this: mechanical POWAH only goes so far, in terms of longevity of a Character on BGTSCC (perhaps any Role-play). For the Player of said PC, having Attributes that best match how you want to RP the Character, is of utmost importance. Else, if how you DO role play the Character is far from matching its Attributes, it is essentially meta gaming the Character (Sheet). Which this Server explicitly requests Players refrain from doing.

Cheers. Whatever you decide, I wish for you lots of fun on BGTSCC.

[qwertyh88]

Here I think is a better build. (An even better build would be to go HUMAN, which would reduce starting Con to 13 but GAINS 1 EXTRA feat and quicker lvling!, and 2 more charisma (important for UMD and Perform!))

http://nwn2db.com/build/?320879 (may need to change around the leveling for 1st level cleric -for better skills distribution)

--Does slightly bit less damage --- but much more saves especially with spellcraft gained from Cleric & Slippery Mind.

Also, in your build the skills distribution is wrong -- NWN2DB has different skills distribution than in BGTSCC --
Able Learner is a must. -- We have 185 skills points
30 Tumble
30 Spellcraft
33 Perform
16 UMD -- Assassin Gear Enabled!
16 Open Locks
16 Appraise
--Rest up to you!

[Steve]

Since I piped up in the first place, I thought I'd give example to another way of doing it (obviously, if this doesn't fit the Character/RP in mind, then forgetaboutit)

Fighter (12), Dread Pirate (10), Bard (4), Rogue (4)
http://nwn2db.com/build/?320899