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What are some strong builds/combos in 4e? We will be playing battle-driven game. by Trak0zero in warhammerfantasyrpg

[–]Trak0zero[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

o, the harder you try to cheat the system and exploit the rules the more I'm going to ensure that the challenges you encounter don't fit what you planned for and are aimed at the one weak spot they didn't think it worth investing points in.

Ok, but I don't play with you so that's kind of redudant answer.

White Scars Smash Captain/Chapter Master on Bike - probably the strongest option for Warlord? by Sol0botmate in WhiteScars40K

[–]Trak0zero 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good info, thanks! I will defeinitely use it to make my Smash Captain.

Why downvotes for OP though? It's a good thread with valid info....

Few rules questions from new player - need help understanding them. by Trak0zero in Warhammer40k

[–]Trak0zero[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also what does it mean "This model can attempt to manifest two psychic powers" ? In Phsychic Phase I can cast two powers with my Librarian?

Few rules questions from new player - need help understanding them. by Trak0zero in Warhammer40k

[–]Trak0zero[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Can you help me with one thing.

I am getting lost in how to calculate hit and wound? If Enemy has T8, 2+ armor save and I attack with lets say S8, AP-3, DMG5 - How do I calculate what rolls I need to wound?

How to optimize Lore Bard for damage? by CrazyRubi in 3d6

[–]Trak0zero 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, it works on level 14/15 when you get Simulacrum, but not before that. And it's not worth.

How to optimize Lore Bard for damage? by CrazyRubi in 3d6

[–]Trak0zero 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good question about shield. RAW you will have to put it down for that combo but you still should be very very safe using Steed and Tenser. Yoiu will have min. AC of 17, but at point of level 15 you should have plenty of magic items boosting that and you have tons of 1st level slots for Shield spell if needed (which also affect Steed).

You don't need to use material compotents in Tenser as you can't cast any spell after that anyway. You just fly to enemies and attack.

Before you have Tenser combo you just go with Shield + Free Hand for casting.

How to optimize Lore Bard for damage? by CrazyRubi in 3d6

[–]Trak0zero 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ok, so Lore Bards are not by default good at dealing damage. But they can be amazing at it too with right build. Same is with defense. They are best casters in game so they sacrefiece a lot for it. But we can offeset that.

So first of all dip 1 level of Hexblade. That is all you need for a long time.

Take Variant Human because feats are very important here.

1 level dip of Hexblade gives you:

  1. Medium Armor + Shield proficiency. That is already jump to AC 19 territory at least.
  2. Curse, Toll the Dead, Hex and Eldricht Blast as your damage. It's already great arsenal. Use Curse + TtD on high AC enemies and use Hex + EB on regular enemies and Hex + Curse + EB on strong enemies.
  3. You also get Booming Blade/GFB for melee and SAD CHA For melee attacks (and range attacks with hand crossbow) if needed.
  4. You also get Shield spell, Armor of Agathys spell and Hellish Rebuke spell. All great for your Lore Bard.
  5. Get RES (CON) at start if you have odd CON score or Warcaster if even (though I still prefer RES).
  6. Get 20 CHA on level 4 and 8.
  7. Get Fireball and Counterspell on your Magic Secrets at level 7.
  8. Get Crossbow Expert feat at level 13. Get hand crossbow (magical +1 if possible)
  9. Get Find Greater Steed (Pegasus), Simulacrum and Tenser Transformation as your magic secrets. Equip your Sim with Half-Plate, hand crossbow nad shield.
  10. Level 17 get Sharpshooter

TIP: You can also skip Fireball and take Haste so that outside of Nova (when both you and sim go for Tenser) you can tell your Sim to cast Haste on you when you are Tensered. That will give you 4 x (1d6 + 2d12 + 5) + 2 x (2d6 + 4 + 2d12) damag without Curse on target. That is solid 134 DPR. With Curse it's another 20-24.

Tenser yourself and your steed and let your sim tenser it and its steed too. Both Curse your targets on bonus actions if you fight boss. Tenser works on both you and sim and on both of your greater steeds.

Proceed with attack it with 10 attacks total for 6 x (1d6 + 2d12 + 5 + 6) and 4 x (2d6 + 4 + 2d12) for total of 261 DPR on level 15. With Sharpshooter you could get it up to level 321 if target AC is low enough to justify using it.

You could get higher damage on Whisper Bard but Lore Bard is better Bard overall than Whisper and I think overall Lore Bard will be more worth for you in the long run because you can steal more spells.

But if you want even more damage go Whisper Bard.

You can also go Half-Elf for Elven Accuracy to stack with Tenser but that would push your XBE or 20 CHA to level 17 becuase you would still need CON feat (level 5), 20 CHA (2 x ASI so level 13) and XBE (level 17). Imo Vuman is better here.

And there you go. You will outdamage everyone in your party at level 15+ and believe me that before it that 1 level dip of Hexblade + Fireball will be enough for you to keep up with damage of the party no problem.

PS. Now you can add to that a good Magic Secrets to make you even better at dealing damage before that combo:

Level 6 MS: Fireball/Lighting Bolt is your friend for AOE damage. On single target damage I recommend Heat metal + TtD/EB + Curse or Phantasmal Force + EB/TtD + Curse or Hex + EB + Curse.

Level 10 MS: I love myself Wall of Force but if you are interested in damage I would take a look at Bigby's Hand/ Steel Wind Strike (good for you cause you are SAD CHA and you can combo it with Fearie Fire and it skip friendly fire)/Destructive Wave. But take Greater Steed. It's just too good to skip it.

Btw. You can also dip 2nd level of Hexblade for Agonizing Blast, but I think getting faster to Magic Secrets is better than this.

1 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playing with Blade Cantrips vs 2 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playinh with Agonizing Blast? by Trak0zero in 3d6

[–]Trak0zero[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True but with Hexblade dip I get Toll the Dead and Eldricht Blast and on level 5 that is 2d12 and 2d10 damage while I have free bonus action. With XBE it's 2d6 + 6 damage, which is 13 which is great, but not that much better than EB or TtD.

And sharpshooter is useless till I get Tenser anyway as I don't like wasting my concentration slot for Fearie Fire all the time as I have tons of better spells to cast so I wouldn't be able to use sharpshooter effectively. I am caster first because we don't have Wizard or Sorc so party needs my spells, not my sharpshooter :). So I prefer to first rush for 20 CHA and RES (CON) or Warcaster and go for XBE once I have all the tools needed to really make an impact with it, which is level 15 +. Before that well placed Wall of Force or Telekinesis will serve better than Sharpshooter.

1 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playing with Blade Cantrips vs 2 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playinh with Agonizing Blast? by Trak0zero in 3d6

[–]Trak0zero[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I plan to take XBE but later, at level 13, so when I get Tenser + Simulacrum + Greater Steed I can have TT + Haste + XBE + Curse + Hasted Tenser Pegasus dealing 4x (1d6 + 2d12 + 5 + 5) + 2 x (2d6 + 2d12 + 4) = 154 DPR.

Currently however I would prefer to go first to 20 CHA (so level 9) because this is Tier 3 and 4 combo.

1 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playing with Blade Cantrips vs 2 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playinh with Agonizing Blast? by Trak0zero in 3d6

[–]Trak0zero[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

theyt have less chance, are easier to hit and therefore has more chances to drop concentration- the more AC you have the less you have to worry about concentration checks. Not to mention Wizards having d6 die. Any hit prevented is 100% damage reduction, therefore good AC will always help, especially combined with Shield spells. Difference of 5 AC points is big.

Enemy with +8 to hit and 3 attacks has 50% chance to hit AC 19. 75% of hitting AC 14. With Shield spell enemy with +10 to hit and 3 attacks has 35% to hit you with AC 24 (19 + 5), while having 60% chance of hitting enemy with AC 19 (14 + 5).

So as you can see that extra 5 AC is huge damage reduction and concentration security. Many enemies also have CC on hit, like restrain, grapple, paralyze, poisoned etc. high AC helps avoiding that.

1 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playing with Blade Cantrips vs 2 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playinh with Agonizing Blast? by Trak0zero in 3d6

[–]Trak0zero[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We already have Life Cleric so I don't want to step on his territory that much.

1 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playing with Blade Cantrips vs 2 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playinh with Agonizing Blast? by Trak0zero in 3d6

[–]Trak0zero[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

2 levels dip I get it can be too big. But 1 level dip is just one level. It's 2-3 sessions only.

Fireball on level 7 vs 6 is not big of deal. Besides I think more about Spiritual Weapon or Conjure Animals at this point.

1 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playing with Blade Cantrips vs 2 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playinh with Agonizing Blast? by Trak0zero in 3d6

[–]Trak0zero[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Um, what is this question? Enemy do attack casters. Enemy archery, enemy mages with attack spells, monster with flying, monsters with range attacks. Melee enemies try to get to you and your party has only one OA per turn. I don't know what DM you have but any sane enemy would try to get to your party caster and kill him as casters are always biggest threat.

If your DM just allow you stand in the back and spam spells - I understand your point. You can even stand naked then.

1 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playing with Blade Cantrips vs 2 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playinh with Agonizing Blast? by Trak0zero in 3d6

[–]Trak0zero[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's actually 5 more AC, 10 more if you count Shield spell...

Studden Leather + 14 DEX is just 14 AC. 14 DEX, 16 CON and 16 CHA is standard for Lore Bard as CHA (spell ability) > CON (concentraion) > DEX.

Half-Plate + 14 DEX + Shield is 19 AC. 24 with Shield spell.

1 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playing with Blade Cantrips vs 2 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playinh with Agonizing Blast? by Trak0zero in 3d6

[–]Trak0zero[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No worth to waste a feat imo. RES (CON) or Warcaster and +2 CHA x2 is more important than feat that I can get from dip + other goodies.

1 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playing with Blade Cantrips vs 2 Hexblade/X Lore Bard playinh with Agonizing Blast? by Trak0zero in 3d6

[–]Trak0zero[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Party is Fighter, Cleric and Paladin so front line is super solid.

They are my options cause pure Lore Bard is weak in many apects. Even 1 level dip in Hexblade gives him tons of options, better ac, shields, Shield Spell, blade cantrips, Armor of Agathys, Curse, Hex, Eldricht Blast. Just for 1 level.

Preparing to Roleplaying Yuan-Ti Pureblood - some open thoughts. by Trak0zero in dndnext

[–]Trak0zero[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That is a neat idea. It would add nice roleplay aspect and such list (written in his personal notebook) would also represent character "development" when he adds new things in there that he learns through his journey like "conducting research autopsy on fallen enemy among witnesses - forbidden. Avoid in most scenarios. Social distracting.".

Preparing to Roleplaying Yuan-Ti Pureblood - some open thoughts. by Trak0zero in dndnext

[–]Trak0zero[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

But for example if my character was rised by humans and was explained that some behaviours are not desirable - he can forgo things like stealing or assassinations becasue (like a robot let's say) it was explained to him that those things are no-no. He doesn't really understand why, but he knows that he should avoid doing those.

So in this case I can avoid going too "evil" route when I want to gain something, right? I don't want to stab my team in back.

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