I thought it might be interesting to post the builds I have in actual play. A lot of the builds that I end up posting on here are theoretical experiments that are used to improve my actual in-play builds.
I'll do a post for each build as it is as present, link to my theoretical build on CharOps if it exists, and quickly detail the why things are different.
I don't do full-blown optimized builds in actual play for many reasons, but mainly I don't like to be the person who is the superstar of every table. I like to range from strong contributor to star and the builds usually reflect this. So these builds may have significant flaws. Some of these flaws are deliberate even if there are superior options elsewhere. Sometimes, they're just flaws and I'm happy to fix such things.
I like bizarre builds that don't fit the mold. Especially ones with odd tactical options that don't necessarily appear to have strong synergy. I don't have problems with a starting primary stat of 16 before racials for a race that doesn't get a +2 to that stat. If you try to play one of these and it plays badly, it is possible that you hit a big run of bad luck or weren't playing the synergy correctly.
I like to be able to talk and not suffer potential skill challenge death from an overly 'you talked, you make the Diplomacy check' DM. Many of my characters have some sort of Face potential as a result.
I almost exclusively play in LFR face to face. I go to an occasional convention to play. The builds need to be practical for LFR - I often need to assume that something won't be available to me at the table, such as a particular role or capability.
I do not think that many of these builds are the best ever. They're fun for me to play and that's what is important. There most certainly could be ways to make them more fun and I don't mind at all hearing thoughts about it.
If you're interested in rules arguments, this is the wrong thread.
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ====== Tiefling, Bard, Resourceful Magician Bardic Virtue Option: Virtue of Cunning Thay (Thay Benefit)
FINAL ABILITY SCORES STR 13, CON 11, DEX 9, INT 23, WIS 13, CHA 23
STARTING ABILITY SCORES STR 12, CON 10, DEX 8, INT 16, WIS 12, CHA 16
POWERS Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack Tiefling Racial Power: Infernal Wrath Bard Feature: Majestic Word Bard Feature: Words of Friendship : Wail of Anguish Attack Wizard Utility: Ghost Sound Wizard Utility: Light Wizard Utility: Mage Hand Wizard Utility: Prestidigitation Bard Attack 1: Staggering Note Wizard Attack 1: Winged Horde Wizard Attack 1: Freezing Burst Wizard Utility 2: Shield Bard Utility 6: Chord of Resilience Wizard Attack 7: Twist of Space Bard Attack 9: Wail of Anguish Bard Utility 10: Mantle of Unity Resourceful Magician Attack 11: Twinned Spell Resourceful Magician Utility 12: Spontaneous Action Wizard Attack 13: Prismatic Burst Bard Attack 15: Strike Up the Dance Wizard Attack 15: Prismatic Beams Swordmage Utility 16: Borrowed Confidence Wizard Attack 17: Mass Charm
FEATS Level 1: Ritual Caster Level 1: Staff Expertise Level 2: Arcane Initiate Level 4: Blade Initiate Level 6: Superior Implement Training (Accurate staff) Level 8: Bard of All Trades Level 11: Sorcerous Vision Level 11: Soul of Sorcery Level 12: Enlarge Spell Level 14: Imperious Majesty Level 16: Dispater's Iron Discipline Level 18: Improved Defenses
ITEMS Ritual Book Rhythm Blade Dagger +1 Goggles of Night (paragon tier) Circlet of Arkhosia (paragon tier) x1 Mac-Fuirmidh Cittern +1 Ring of Tenacious Will (epic tier) x1 Diamond Cincture (heroic tier) Siberys Shard of the Mage (paragon tier) Blessed Book (heroic tier) Traveler's Chant Song of Sustenance Endure Elements Comprehend Language Aria of Revelation Tenser's Floating Disk Song of Restfulness Comrades' Succor Dark Light Memory of a Thousand Deaths Resplendent Boots (heroic tier) x1 Rapidstrike Bracers (paragon tier) x1 Bralani Cloak +4 x1 Belt of the Witch King (paragon tier) x1 Horreb Ritual Cube (paragon tier) Scroll of Scramble Portal Accurate staff of Ruin +4 x1 Resplendent Gloves (paragon tier) x1 Inner Warmth Darkhide Armor +4 x1 ====== End ======
Started play as a playtest Tiefling Bard before the rules were out. One of the consequences of this was that he's had access to a lot of very powerful options and didn't spend a lot of LFR item slots prior to 9th. He was multiclassed into Warlock for Warlock's Wrath, but in actual play, this basically destroyed combats - round 1, I'd do Warlock's Wrath, round 2, Mantle of Unity, and basically, nothing could hit us on round 2, which really does a number on tactics designed to reduce alpha-striking. So I got rid of it.
Note he gets to use his Arcana for Insight/Perception
He's a controller. He generally opens up with Borrowed Confidence for 2 attack rolls, uses either Twist of Space or Freezing Burst/Twin Spell to move targets together, then Action Points to either blind people via Prismatic Burst or send them flying at each other with Mass Charm. Generally goes first due to high init
He's really Human. He's a nephew of Tharchion Sylora Salm. He made some inappropriate remarks about Szass Tam and because of that, was cursed to be a Tiefling. Part of the joke is that I almost never remember to use the Tiefling Infernal Wrath power. He views himself as the minor nobleman that he is and plans an elaborate revenge on Szass Tam if he ever gets powerful enough.
Psychopathic Liar who claims everyone else in the party is working for him. One of the oddball effects of this is that gamers tend to go the same routes for denying that they work for him. Which means I'm prepared for what they might say and they're not usually expecting that.
The basis for Grey Ioun Stone Marker. Originally a 14 Str Fighter in LFR with Windrise Ports before hybrids were available. As Windrise Ports got nerfed, there was a special ruling allowing players to use the hybrid rules specifically for those classes that they had. Nowhere near as mobile as Grey Ioun Stone Marker, especially with the lack of Lightning Rush.
Does the combo of Brash Strike with Cha to defenses, Shield Edge Block. I used Lashing Flail instead of Eldritch Strike to get the Slide 1 from an MBA. This let me pick up Throw and Stab, which is still something of a work in progress. It will probably get replaced with something else.
ITEMS Farbond Spellblade Rapier +2 Strikebacks x1 Goggles of Night Siberys Shard of Radiance (paragon tier) Thieves' Tools Cloak of Translocation +3 x1 Sunblade Longsword +4 x1 Broom of Flying Belt of the Witch King x1 Planestrider Boots x1 Solitaire (Citrine) Iron Armbands of Power (paragon tier) x1 Greater Drowmesh of Eyes +3 x1 Elven Chain Shirt (paragon tier) ====== End ======
Based off the Invisible Stalker build. A couple significant changes in the build that first, I wanted all weapon powers only. No implement options other than required. If the other Warlock MC feat would have given out a skill, I would have taken that instead. The goal of that was to use Light Blade Expertise while generally invisible. However, I found a particular Sunblade and my character's background is such that I absolutely had to take it. I had picked Selune(aka Sehanine) solely for role-playing purposes and had no intent of going Silvery Glow before that. Very big string of coincidences for that character.
The character originally started out as an Eladrin Fighter and got to 5th. But then WotC errata'd the Urgrosh to be Axe or Spear instead of Axe/Spear. This mean that it was very unclear if I could use Eladrin Soldier to have proficiency in the Axe end. I didn't play the character after that until LFR admins decided to allow created characters and I didn't have a character in the 7-10 range. So I made it up at 8th as a Battlemind|Swordmage. Note the relatively unusual skill set + Arcane Mutterings - can cover a lot of different skills in a skill challenge.
Basically, likes to teleport. I didn't want to take Ethereal Sidestep like other teleporters did, so I took 3 daily powers that give him the capability of teleporting. He also has a couple of encounter teleport powers and Assault Swordmage mark. Usually, he moves up to the soldier, does Aegis of Ensnarement on them, then does Dual Lightning Strike, and goes after the artillery/controller/leader in the back with the 2nd swing. As he's now invisible to that soldier, that gives the soldier a bunch of bad options, usually. edit: now he's 17th and has Planestrider boots, he has switched to more a set of encounter options - Fey Step, Dual Lightning Strike, Planestrider boots, and Armathor's Step = 4 teleport options, his Cloak is a 5th as a Daily and he has two daily powers that allow teleporting as an encounter option.
So mad, he's sane. Fascinated by the stars. He has Faervian, a purple sunblade. He's a Star Pact Binder who believes in Caiphon, a purple sun. Obviously, Faervian is from Caiphon. Despite my best efforts, he's basically perfect for Faervian, being an Eladrin Knight of Myth Drannor who is an Arcane Gish is an Evermeet Warlock. The created part is part of his origin - he got thrown into Wheloon and somehow broke himself out, but his mind cracked as part of that.
edit: he's the ghost of the previous character possessing a common Eladrin thief, whose talents are represented in some relatively odd options, such as being okay at Thievery and Stealth
Has two very solid at-will options - Ranged Twin Strike(Striker) and Throw and Stab+Righteous Brand+Power of Skill(distributed damage/high mobility Leader). Has 3 encounter-long dailies that boost damage for someone in the party. Hungry lets him throw the Greatspear. With the +3 prof/1d10 for w, it makes for a pretty solid ranged Twin Strike despite the starting 16 Dex.
He's a Dutch second-story man. Good at climbing, breaking into things, etc...The accent is subtle enough that it doesn't scream ACCENT, but differentiates him in play.
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ====== Aya Lunaari, level 11 Human, Avenger/Psion, Dreamwalker Hybrid Avenger Option: Hybrid Avenger Reflex Discipline Focus (Hybrid) Option: Telekinesis Focus (Hybrid) Hybrid Talent Option: Armor of Faith Psionic Augmentation (Hybrid) Option: Hybrid Power Point Option Human Power Selection Option: Bonus At-Will Power Child of Fate (+2 to Insight) Theme: Order Adept
FINAL ABILITY SCORES STR 9, CON 13, DEX 11, INT 21, WIS 19, CHA 13
STARTING ABILITY SCORES STR 8, CON 12, DEX 10, INT 16, WIS 16, CHA 12
Bond of Censure and Dimensional Scramble are a great pair of at-wills to have. Relentless Stride is a good Encounter attack/movement option and the build throws off a lot of damage to targets while imposing control - Dimensional Scramble is very good at hurting opponent plans. Has now picked up some Leader qualities with MC'ing into Bard for an encounter heal - useful thing for LFR.
Dreamwalker really opens tactical options up - Kinetic Buffer is essentially an area attack 2 that pushes 4. Mind Blast is now essentially an area 2 instead of close blast 5.
Character in a Burning Sky campaign. Hasn't been played in a while due to how home campaigns work compared to LFR. Nice aspect of LFR is that you just have to get a table together, no need for specific people to make it work...
At some point in one of her past lives, she has done tons of horrible things and she is trying to make up for those past deeds. Specifically to the ancestors of player characters who say the wrong things to her or any historical fact of faerun thrown around in a mod.
"Oh, now I see why you reminded me of someone. Your great-great-great grandfather said almost the same thing once. I'm truly sorry I tortured him to death. Don't worry, I'm a much different person, now. You have nothing to worry about..."
====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ====== Human, Barbarian/Rogue Hybrid Talent Option: Barbarian Armored Agility Human Power Selection Option: Bonus At-Will Power Merchant Prince (Merchant Prince Benefit)
FINAL ABILITY SCORES STR 17, CON 12, DEX 19, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 10
STARTING ABILITY SCORES STR 16, CON 12, DEX 16, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 10
I know, I know, I lambast Striker|Strikers, I've got here one with a 16 in one of his primary stats. On the other hand, Barbarian Agility+Dex gives him a really good AC for someone who doesn't even have magic armor. He's had really bad found item possibilities for the most part and most of it purchased with gold instead when that was legal.
Hypochondriac who has black out rages. He's a nobleman dressed in finery that has turned to worthless rags. He's constantly coughing, complaining that he's dying of diseases, especially Consumption, that he'll be of no use in combat, etc...whenever he gets in combat, he stops complaining and shreds things. Then he doesn't remember what happened and why exactly is he covered in blood??? His background is that he spent a long time chained up in a dungeon.
