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2 months ago ::
Mar 20, 2013 - 7:15PM
#31
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Date Joined:
Jun 15, 2010
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There is such thing as too much of a good thing. One time we had a defender with 52 AC at level 25 (or something like that), the monster rolled a 17 on the die and missed. Our DM shriveled up in the corner and died. Not to mention, the defender got so bored not being hit, he jumped into a river of lava and swarm the rest of the encounter. Having resist fire 25, he took no damage.
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2 months ago ::
Mar 21, 2013 - 8:12AM
#32
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Date Joined:
Jul 29, 2008
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I think it's a matter of maximixing "goodness." Absurd defenses come at a price, and that price is other stuff you could be doing aside from making sure you're only five percent vulnerable. I get that some people enjoy that, and that's cool. Personally, having never played Epic, I was totally lost to where the probable diminishing returns line kicks in, but I know - for me - it stopped short of being an immovable object. Improved defenses, some form of improved AC feat (better armor proficiency, shield proficiency, improved swordmage warding, etc), armor spec or equivalent, three superior defense feats, three epic defense feats, resilient focus, plus random stuff like Solid Sound - that's around or over half your feats, keeping in mind redundancy and other stacking defense feat options - are competing for limited space against to-hit, damage, and flavor feats. The same concept holds for items and power choices. Based on some of the insightful feedback, I think I've found a happy middle ground. The key was finding a bit of flexiblity in a character plan to tweak the defenses up or down if need be. Thanks! For the sake of calling back to the OP, here's what I ended up with for my example character, including encounter-long buffs: Swordmage 30
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====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Arden Wenn, level 30 LFR Character
Human, Swordmage, Malec-Keth Janissary, Sage of Ages
Build: Shielding Swordmage
Swordmage Aegis Option: Aegis of Shielding
Devshirme Training Option: Gain an additional two languages
Soul of Sorcery Option: Soul of Sorcery Necrotic
Human Power Selection Option: Heroic Effort
Proficiency: Implement Proficiency (Orb)
Spellscarred
Waterdeep (Waterdeep Benefit)
Theme: Order Adept
FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 13, CON 22, DEX 10, INT 26, WIS 12, CHA 17
STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 11, CON 15, DEX 8, INT 16, WIS 10, CHA 14
AC: 53 Fort: 49 Ref: 50 Will: 53
HP: 211 Surges: 14 Surge Value: 52
TRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +49, Athletics +21, Diplomacy +25, Endurance +26, History +38
UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +15, Bluff +18, Dungeoneering +22, Heal +16, Insight +49, Intimidate +18, Nature +22, Perception +49, Religion +33, Stealth +20, Streetwise +18, Thievery +15
POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Order Adept Attack: Argent Rain
Swordmage Feature: Aegis of Shielding
Swordmage Attack 1: Frigid Blade
Swordmage Attack 1: Sword Burst
Swordmage Attack 1: Lightning Lure
Swordmage Utility 2: Dimensional Warp
Swordmage Attack 3: Dimensional Vortex
Swordmage Attack 5: Swordmage Shielding Fire
Swordmage Utility 6: Swordmage's Decree
Swordmage Utility 10: Impenetrable Warding
Malec-Keth Janissary Attack 11: Loyal Unto Death
Malec-Keth Janissary Utility 12: Ever-Present Escort
Swordmage Utility 16: Aegis of Lost Souls
Malec-Keth Janissary Attack 20: Elemental Scourge
Swordmage Utility 22: Ghost Walk
Swordmage Attack 23: Radiant Shield
Swordmage Attack 25: Waves of Languor
Sage of Ages Utility 26: Trick of Knowledge
Swordmage Attack 27: Circle of Devastation
Swordmage Attack 29: Astral Thunder Blade
FEATS
Level 1: White Lotus Dueling Expertise
Level 1: White Lotus Riposte
Level 2: Intelligent Blademaster
Level 4: Arcane Familiar (Coure Attendant)
Level 6: Linguist (Adventure Reward)
Level 6: Improved Defenses
Level 8: Superior Will
Level 10: Resilient Focus
Level 11: Greater Aegis of Shielding
Level 12: Resounding Thunder
Level 14: Spellscarred Invigoration
Level 16: Thunder's Rumble
Level 21: Rapid Aegis Reaction
Level 21: Total Aegis
Level 22: Superior Initiative
Level 22: Epic Will
Level 24: Epic Fortitude
Level 26: Soul of Sorcery
Level 28: Sorcerous Vision
Level 30: Skill Focus (Arcana)
ITEMS
Baldric of Shielding x1
Runic Leather Armor +6
Periapt of Cascading Health +6 x1
Sunblade Longsword +6 x1
Nullifying Ring x1
Siberys Shard of the Mage (epic tier)
Eager Hero's Tattoo (epic tier) x1
Many-Fingered Gloves x1
Greater Ring of Invisibility x1
Elven Chain Shirt (epic tier)
Runic Swordwing Armor +6 x1
Zephyr Boots x1
Opal Ring of Remembrance x1
Eye of Awareness x1
Rhythm Blade Wrist razors +1
====== End ======
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2 months ago ::
Mar 21, 2013 - 9:48AM
#33
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Date Joined:
Nov 16, 2010
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There is such thing as too much of a good thing. One time we had a defender with 52 AC at level 25 (or something like that), the monster rolled a 17 on the die and missed. Our DM shriveled up in the corner and died. Not to mention, the defender got so bored not being hit, he jumped into a river of lava and swarm the rest of the encounter. Having resist fire 25, he took no damage.
If the DM isn't an idiot, he's going to start mauling the squishies. Monster is 99% going to die anyhow, may as well beat on a wizard or a rogue before it goes down.
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2 months ago ::
Mar 21, 2013 - 10:03AM
#34
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- Senior Volunteer Community Lead
Date Joined:
Aug 19, 2007
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Which is why Mantle of Unity bends/breaks the game 
Keith Richmond
Living Forgotten Realms Epic Writing Director
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2 months ago ::
Mar 21, 2013 - 2:26PM
#35
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Date Joined:
Apr 25, 2002
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Which is why Mantle of Unity bends/breaks the game
At least it is now not including temporary bonuses. Which could be a wide set of possible bonuses, such as defenses that only operate when condition X is true.
NETH4-1 Containing Shadow (co-author) Handbooks
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2 months ago ::
Mar 21, 2013 - 5:37PM
#36
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- Senior Volunteer Community Lead
Date Joined:
Aug 19, 2007
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True enough. All sorts of temporary bonuses, like warlock's wrath. Or Helm of Able Defense? Golden Ring of Teros? Cloak of Translocation? Your enhancement bonus from neck (minor action to remove)? Shield bonus? AC bonus from Summoned Armor?  Ah well, not every errata solves the entire problem, or works perfectly.
Keith Richmond
Living Forgotten Realms Epic Writing Director
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