Hello, Arelith build nerds!
I've been toying with a concept for a while now, a character I'd like to play, but need help taking my RP idea and making it mechanically viable.
The idea is a Human, Spear + Shield Warrior in Heavy Armor. Think Greek Hoplite, Pantheon from LoL, whatever.
The easy thing would be 30 Fighter or Rogue 4 Fighter 26 for the Tumble. But are there any other build combos / classes combo that could make Spear + Shield as a main weapon, while keeping the aesthetic in mind, viable?
Build Help! Theme: Greek Hoplite
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Good Character
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Re: Build Help! Theme: Greek Hoplite
Must specifically be human?
If not, there's a solid Earthkin build. High DR (20), decent damage (roughly 41), great AB (51) for a tank build, and thematic abilities (Aegis, Banner) to your concept.
Other bonuses: high SR (32) with Magebane, a lot of skills, and access to Improved Knockdown.
If not, 25 Fighter/5 Loremaster is your go-to. Decent AC, AB, damage, crazy amount of feats.
If not, there's a solid Earthkin build. High DR (20), decent damage (roughly 41), great AB (51) for a tank build, and thematic abilities (Aegis, Banner) to your concept.
Other bonuses: high SR (32) with Magebane, a lot of skills, and access to Improved Knockdown.
If not, 25 Fighter/5 Loremaster is your go-to. Decent AC, AB, damage, crazy amount of feats.
Re: Build Help! Theme: Greek Hoplite
Human preferably, but don't want it to limit any potential mechanical benefits.
Which EK build are you referring to?
Which EK build are you referring to?
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Good Character
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Re: Build Help! Theme: Greek Hoplite
16 EKD/10 Fighter/4 Loremaster.
Made mine for a duergar. Swap stats around for a shield dwarf and dump the Weapon Proficiency Exotic. I would also try and bump UMD up as much as possible to use a Stormchaser spear.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... p=drivesdk
EDIT: Lemme know if the link works. It looks like it's acting up on my end.
Made mine for a duergar. Swap stats around for a shield dwarf and dump the Weapon Proficiency Exotic. I would also try and bump UMD up as much as possible to use a Stormchaser spear.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... p=drivesdk
EDIT: Lemme know if the link works. It looks like it's acting up on my end.
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Tarkus the dog
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Re: Build Help! Theme: Greek Hoplite
ive been wanting to cosplay hector of troy for some time now and the closest opportunity ive ever got was during the time invisible blade considered spear a small weapon. there were several build options with this, barb ftr invisible blade or ftr weaponmaster invisible blade. unfortunately it was decided that spears no longer fall into the concealed weapon category which realistically makes sense enough but mechanically has more or less killed the dream of the greek hoplite.
what i mean by killed is more so that you can very easily give any build the spear focus and the build would work decently -- and "decently" is the key word here, not "good" or "great" as it would be the case with a rapier/scimitar, so invisible blade at least allowed you to have a very good reason to be running the spear.
with that in mind, that the weapon choice will make the character slightly weaker but nontheless robust here are the choices i would go for:
20 ftr 7 wm 3 rogue/specialist is the classic choice, you can't go wrong with this considering all STR items in the game that makes high fighter viable. high damage and enough defense to ensure you don't die.
27 hexblade 3 specialist - a pretty tanky build that should fully captivate the hoplite experience, the 18-20 threat range might seem lackluster but given that dealing damage is your secondary objective you should be fine in that field. works perfectly with the talos spear given the +5 eb from curse weapon. one thing to note is that your class will be metagamed. the talos spear will hide the red color from corrupt weapon but the hex ability will get you singled out as a hexblade from at least one person in your existence, so something to keep in mind.
21 barb 3 ftr 3 specialist/rogue, similar to the build above. less tanky but has more damage to work with. essentially the hexblade build without people calling you out for being one. it trades some tankiness for more damage as mentioned and straightforward to play.
and last but not least would be something unorthodox but very comfortable in pve: 27 ranger 3 specialist/rogue. works very well with the talos spear once again due to the +5 eb on the weapon since it has no piercing damage on it's own. you can choose to play with or without a pet but both choices are fine. although ranger wants to stealth and duel wield you can ignore these two simply for a comfier pve experience. i dont recommend it personally but i decided to include it as an option.
ive avoided stuff like paladin/blackguard/cleric which would be pretty good as well since the idea is an antique warrior and not a finger waggler. all of these builds have the same idea, spear + aegis with armor warrying between dragonplate, accursed chains, ranger tunic and whatever barbarians wear these days.
what i mean by killed is more so that you can very easily give any build the spear focus and the build would work decently -- and "decently" is the key word here, not "good" or "great" as it would be the case with a rapier/scimitar, so invisible blade at least allowed you to have a very good reason to be running the spear.
with that in mind, that the weapon choice will make the character slightly weaker but nontheless robust here are the choices i would go for:
20 ftr 7 wm 3 rogue/specialist is the classic choice, you can't go wrong with this considering all STR items in the game that makes high fighter viable. high damage and enough defense to ensure you don't die.
27 hexblade 3 specialist - a pretty tanky build that should fully captivate the hoplite experience, the 18-20 threat range might seem lackluster but given that dealing damage is your secondary objective you should be fine in that field. works perfectly with the talos spear given the +5 eb from curse weapon. one thing to note is that your class will be metagamed. the talos spear will hide the red color from corrupt weapon but the hex ability will get you singled out as a hexblade from at least one person in your existence, so something to keep in mind.
21 barb 3 ftr 3 specialist/rogue, similar to the build above. less tanky but has more damage to work with. essentially the hexblade build without people calling you out for being one. it trades some tankiness for more damage as mentioned and straightforward to play.
and last but not least would be something unorthodox but very comfortable in pve: 27 ranger 3 specialist/rogue. works very well with the talos spear once again due to the +5 eb on the weapon since it has no piercing damage on it's own. you can choose to play with or without a pet but both choices are fine. although ranger wants to stealth and duel wield you can ignore these two simply for a comfier pve experience. i dont recommend it personally but i decided to include it as an option.
ive avoided stuff like paladin/blackguard/cleric which would be pretty good as well since the idea is an antique warrior and not a finger waggler. all of these builds have the same idea, spear + aegis with armor warrying between dragonplate, accursed chains, ranger tunic and whatever barbarians wear these days.
Re: Build Help! Theme: Greek Hoplite
I just checked out Pantheon's page on LoL.
He looks magicky rather than 300's hoplites(?)
Want to try out Abjurant Champion?
For heavy armor you'd have to deck out a Greensteel Breastplate for sometime though until you get to the epics, when you get Auto stillspell II -> III
Spellsword, Abjurant Champion is best when pure, hence doesn't require much building as it builds itself. Actually come to think of it. Abjurant Champion can be mixed since you don't get access to Elemental Maelstrom, which lowers your tresh-hold level to 21. You don't get the blackstaff/true strike synergy with 80% spellsword requirement, but its a minor loss I think when you really want a build like, say:
Abjurant Champion 21 / Fighter 4 / Weapon Master 5 - taking the last fighter level at 23 nets you Epic Weapon Specialization.
Best spear that you can hold is Stormchaser without UMD, the visual effect of it kinda matches Pantheon's spear. Requires you to be Chaotic in alignment though.
He looks magicky rather than 300's hoplites(?)
Want to try out Abjurant Champion?
For heavy armor you'd have to deck out a Greensteel Breastplate for sometime though until you get to the epics, when you get Auto stillspell II -> III
Spellsword, Abjurant Champion is best when pure, hence doesn't require much building as it builds itself. Actually come to think of it. Abjurant Champion can be mixed since you don't get access to Elemental Maelstrom, which lowers your tresh-hold level to 21. You don't get the blackstaff/true strike synergy with 80% spellsword requirement, but its a minor loss I think when you really want a build like, say:
Abjurant Champion 21 / Fighter 4 / Weapon Master 5 - taking the last fighter level at 23 nets you Epic Weapon Specialization.
Best spear that you can hold is Stormchaser without UMD, the visual effect of it kinda matches Pantheon's spear. Requires you to be Chaotic in alignment though.
Re: Build Help! Theme: Greek Hoplite
I'd say just go with a cookie cutter weaponmaster. Doesn't sound like you need anything super fancy, and WM has always been serviceable in the things it does very well.
Can't say I can get on board with only 21 levels in a caster class relying heavily on its buffs. Even untrained dispels would be doing serious damage very quickly.
Can't say I can get on board with only 21 levels in a caster class relying heavily on its buffs. Even untrained dispels would be doing serious damage very quickly.
Irongron wrote: [...] the super-secret Arelith development roadmap is a post apocalyptic wasteland populated with competing tribes of hand-bombard wielding techno-giants, and strewn with the bones of long dead elves.
So we're very much on track.
Re: Build Help! Theme: Greek Hoplite
Make sure he goes around quoting (The 300) lines whenever possible.
Re: Build Help! Theme: Greek Hoplite
For an armored spearman, fighter WM rogue 20/7/3 would be the clear choice IMO.
You really want the extended crit range you get from the 7th WM level, unlike if you were using an 18 or 19-20 weapon.
You really want the extended crit range you get from the 7th WM level, unlike if you were using an 18 or 19-20 weapon.
Re: Build Help! Theme: Greek Hoplite
I would vote for a high con Barbarian, human, woodelf or half elf works. You can add wm to it
That rage thing really adds to the theme, and medium amour seems more fitting than full plate. Shout and go rage LOL
That rage thing really adds to the theme, and medium amour seems more fitting than full plate. Shout and go rage LOL
Wild-elf Druid Laurifin Goldenleaf
Drow shadowlord Lomin Nightshade
Drow shadowlord Lomin Nightshade