Most powerful and fun build I've ever played

[Harry]

I know I know, Wizard is the "most powerful" build if it's made properly, and there are some combinations that "broke" the game in terms of power (monk druid shapeshifter), but because I like to RP my characters into believeable builds, I am going to share my finding.

I love rogues in D&D. Their sneak attacks are really powerful but rogues suffer from one problem: they are squishy as hell and they are useless againts some enemies: undead creatures, golems, and so on.

There is a way to build a "rogue" that can destroy almost "anything", including undead creatures. I am talking about the Rogue/Warrior multiclass.

So, how do I build such a character you may ask. If you are interesed just follow this guide. BTW, this build is viable in the official campaings, but it is also viable in multiplayer.

I call this build "the outlaw leader".

Race: Doesn't matter. I usually pick Dwarf because reasons. Try to avoid small races (halflings, gnomes) because they can't use big weapons and AFAIK have strenght penalties.
Alignment: For roleplay purposes, I choose neutral evil. Pick whatever the F you want.
Class: Rogue (You are going to get a lot of skill points in the first level of rogue. That's why you don't choose warrior first).
Stats: Unlike the typical rogue, this is a strenght based build, so put most of your stats points in strenght. Dex should be 12 (+1 to AC).No more, no less. You can min Charisma if you want.
Skills: Tumble, the key in this build is tumble. Every 5 points in tumble will get you +1 of natural armor class. Use the other skill points as you wish. I recommend the skill that allows you to use magic devices. You will be able to use scrolls. Believe me, when you are fighting wizards and you have spell mantle scrolls you are invencible.

How to level up?

Basically after the first level, you need to take 4 levels as a warrior and then keep leveling up as a rogue. The warrior levels will allow you to use almost every kind of weapon and armor. In those levels you need to pick up the feat Knockdown (the most important feat for this build).

Because you are a strenght based character, you will almost always succeed knocking down your enemies and once they are on the ground you will ♥♥♥♥ them with your sneak attacks. Even undead will die quickly because your damage is based on strenght.

You can use big weapons with this build to max out your damage. Also, wear heavy armor(always) and a heavy shield if you are fighting melee characters or monsters with high attack. Use an amulter and a ring that gives you natural armor. You will be almost untouchable because your high AC and you will do more damage than any other melee builds.

Tactics:

Once you engage in combat, try to knockdown your enemy. Once they are on the ground they are dead. If you are fighting against magic users, use a scroll of spell mantle (so they don't one shoot you with Isaac missiles) and use true seeing (because they are probably going to use invisibility). Once you are inmune to their spells and they can't hide from you, they are as good as dead. Knock them down and kill them quickly.

If you are playing in a Roleplay server you can even start your own bandit guilt. Warriors, rogues, they all are going to be weaker than you. A pure rogue won't be able to touch you because your high AC (higher than a pure rogue with leather armor). I remember playing in a RP server and my character, being lvl 12, beat the crap out of warriors 5 level higher (they were not able to touch me).

Good luck ;)

[Ronnie]

I am trying out a Paladin in the original campaign so far hes doing pretty good currently level 3 at the moment working on the beggars nest area. I don't use a henchman as I saw you share experience with them and I don't like sharing experience. I like beating those weak zombies not much experience but easy to beat for a Paladin. I am going to put points on pick lock so I won't need a henchman to help.

[Harry]

The beggar nest is a piece of cake to Paladins and Clerics. It's hell for pure rogues. But this build I shared wreck everything.

And you are right, henckmen steal xp from you BUT you should still do their quests. Everytime you advance in the plot, talk to them. This way you will get their quests.

[Lady Crimson (RIP)]

I've always found cleric to be the most broken, followed by druid. Simply because both benefit from the both the combat and spell worlds. Especially if you pick carefully, as well as being uniquely healing gifted. Being a cleric/rogue is basically an all in one character.

[Shiroi Ren]

Well, I played through 3 campaigns with Sorc/Pal/BG build. At helped a lot be a use of those saving throws...

[Rifle Leeroy]

Originally posted by HARRY:

The beggar nest is a piece of cake to Paladins and Clerics. It's hell for pure rogues.

throwing weapons.

[Ronnie]

Well actually a few encounters that is proving to be a big challenge for my Paladin that tough spider and that undead mage have not been able to beat them yet probably go somewhere else get a level or two first.

[Dogmatius]

Originally posted by Ronnie:

Well actually a few encounters that is proving to be a big challenge for my Paladin that tough spider and that undead mage have not been able to beat them yet probably go somewhere else get a level or two first.

Heh, that Bloated Dire Spider guarding the graveyard in Beggars Nest gave my Barbarian alot of trouble as well. Had to back out and do Blacklake and half of Dock District before I could kill it. Strangely enough it was the hardest fight in the entire first chapter.

It puzzles me why Bloated Dire Spiders are tougher than real Dire Spiders as they're supposed to be the "lite" version..

[Shia Luck]

@OP This site may interest you.

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/nwnecbguild/character-building-f2/

Have fun :)

[Bishop]

I played similar str based fighter/rogue/sd last time through Swordflight modules (about 10 times harder than original bw compaigns so it requires min/maxing). Yeah its pretty bonkers especially while abusing hips all the time.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1768176130

[Harry]

Originally posted by Bishop:

I played similar str based fighter/rogue/sd last time through Swordflight modules (about 10 times harder than original bw compaigns so it requires min/maxing). Yeah its pretty bonkers especially while abusing hips all the time.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1768176130

Nice. But next time wear a heavy armor. Your AC is a bit low. My lvl 15 character had almost 60 AC with heavy armor/natural armor amulet/ring and a large shield. I used a bastard sword to max damage.

[Bishop]

Originally posted by HARRY:

Originally posted by Bishop:

I played similar str based fighter/rogue/sd last time through Swordflight modules (about 10 times harder than original bw compaigns so it requires min/maxing). Yeah its pretty bonkers especially while abusing hips all the time.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1768176130

Nice. But next time wear a heavy armor. Your AC is a bit low. My lvl 15 character had almost 60 AC with heavy armor/natural armor amulet/ring and a large shield. I used a bastard sword to max damage.

Heavy armor penalizes rogue skills and it will limit agility bonus anyway. Same goes for shield. Plus I prefer two handed sword to maximize damage bonuses from high strength.
Not like armor really matters that much when you have hips.

[Harry]

It's true that it will penalize agility saves, but as a rogue you are going to have more agility than necessary. Unless you get a 1 in the dice throw, you will be fine.

Regarding the damage, that's why I suggested a bastard sword. It only makes 2 points less of damage than the great sword.

I mean, your build is okay, but against warriors/paladins/buffed clerics you could have some problems.

Wait, I didn't saw the level of shadow dancer lol You are going to be fine.

[Bishop]

Two handed weapons have 1.5x bonus from strength to physical damage, bastard sword is one handed so it does just normal 1x damage. Plus it requires additional exotic weapon feat.
And it's not like I can't equip shields, i carried one just in case though never felt much reason to equip it.

It's true that it will penalize agility saves, but as a rogue you are going to have more agility than necessary. Unless you get a 1 in the dice throw, you will be fine.

I mean bonus to max AC from dexterity (not agility, just playing WoW right now lol, sorry) will be limited when you wear heavy armor. My build was optimized around leather armor with full prebuff and full AC bonus from dex. Plus heavy armor greatly penalizes both hide and move silently which is critical for this build due to hips.


I mean, check it here https://nwn.fandom.com/wiki/Full_plate . This thing has -8 armor check failure for all dex based rogue skills and 1 max dex bonus. It's just not worth it for rogues imo, even str based ones.


As a side note I didn't have any natural ac items equipped, so I could equip more useful stuff that can be actually stacked (such as + saving throws items and +stats items) and used scrolls and wands to buff non stacking AC bonuses instead (Swordflight requires full prebuff before every single fight in order to stand a chance anyway). Fully buffed this char had about 45-50 AC without shield.

[Shia Luck]

I do love FTR/Rog. The standard base class, multiclass build. Doesn't do anything exceptionally, (Not the highest AB, definitly not the highest AC, minimal casting from scrolls/items only) and yet she is really, really good at most everything and excellent at locks, traps and using other classes magic items. For an SP character in a game designed for party play she is fantastic.

@OP I think it would be useful to suggest an INT stat and a skillpoint distribution over the levels. You will be investing in an awful lot of skills. It's not clear how you will get the Discipline skill any front line FTR needs and you are likely using all your rogue skillpoints per level on the plethora of rogue skills. Which skills are vital? Which can be stopped at only 5 or 15 or 25 ranks etc?

I'd do the same with feats too. I mean, I know Imp Knockdown, some wpn focus and critical, and Blind fight must be in there somewhere because it'd be insane not too, but people new to the game would likely appreciate the help. That still leaves some feats to fill tho even with my assumptions. Did we get to INT14 before? Should we take expertise if so? If not, what else?

It's great to see some character build love & discussion here :)

Links for people interested in charcater building:
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/nwnecbguild/character-building-f2/
https://steamcommunity.com/groups/NWN-Players/discussions/1/
https://neverwintervault.org/project/nwn1/other/tool/characterbuildcalculator-cbc

[Jinx]

I play as cleric with few levels of rogue and monk. Spell combo Ultravision+Darkness+Divine Power+Divine Favor destroys everything.