NWN Character Builds

[jasmeralia]

I can find a lot of builds for NWN2, but that is significantly different and many would function differently. (Like ki strike at 7 instead of 10). The builds I have seen tend to be level 40 builds on YouTube, whereas I’m primarily looking to play through the OC, expansions, and premium modules. None of which go that high to my knowledge. I’m particularly interested in a monk/shadowdancer build and an arcane archer build. A good Druid build would also be helpful; I don’t think I’ve ever played one in 3E.

[Shiroi Ren]

I would probably try...
Monk 20 / SD 1 / Assassin 19

As for AA, I used lol-build:
Fighter 8 / Bard 2 / AA 22 (second bard level should be taken as last one)

[wendigo211]

Search through these links:
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/nwnecbguild/
https://steamcommunity.com/groups/NWN-Players/discussions/1/
https://world-of-greyhawk.github.io/builds/index.html

Neither concept is particularly good for the regular campaigns since they tend to be dex builds, and dex builds have a hard time dealing damage against enemies who have DR and are immune to critical hits.

The idea behind a Monk/Shadowdancer is usually sneak attacks while dual wielding kamas to push another attack into your first flurry. So Rogue or Assassin gets added in to add that sneak attack. For dual wield you only need a 15 dex, so my recommendation would be (human):
STR 16->20
DEX 15->16
CON 12
INT 10
WIS 14
CHA 8
Monk 8/Rogue 11/SD 1. Note: I've changed it from a dex build to a strength build so it should have a bit of an easier time in the campaigns.

For the AA, I would try a half-elf Cleric 8/Bard 2/AA 10 for level 20, and keep adding more AA in epic levels. The idea behind this one is to pick up Divine Might and use it to boost your arrow damage. If you want more details, let me know.

[Ettanin]

Originally posted by Shiroi Ren:

As for AA, I used lol-build:
Fighter 8 / Bard 2 / AA 22 (second bard level should be taken as last one)

Doesn't work: You need to take bard 2 at level 20 because you cannot level arcane archer beyond class level 10 unless you are of epic level.

[Shiroi Ren]

Originally posted by Ettanin:

Doesn't work: You need to take bard 2 at level 20 because you cannot level arcane archer beyond class level 10 unless you are of epic level.

Yeah, I found my old character. She has F8/B4/AA18.

[red255]

Originally posted by jasmeralia:

I can find a lot of builds for NWN2, but that is significantly different and many would function differently. (Like ki strike at 7 instead of 10). The builds I have seen tend to be level 40 builds on YouTube, whereas I’m primarily looking to play through the OC, expansions, and premium modules. None of which go that high to my knowledge. I’m particularly interested in a monk/shadowdancer build and an arcane archer build. A good Druid build would also be helpful; I don’t think I’ve ever played one in 3E.

what are you doing level 40 for? what campaign?

when making an arcane archer I would be mildly tempted to do Bard 7 RDD 10 AA 23

For the devestating critical longbow 25 Strength is required. the AA doesn't really actually need stats because it gets a soild +13 to hit and damage,

thinks.

we could do Bard 5, RDD 4, AA 10 for level 19. assume we start with 14 strength +4 from the RDD thats 18 strength.

We take bard to 6 cuz we can't dump more in AA. then we dump 19 levels in AA, and one level in bard.

For Bard 7 RDD 4, AA 29. if we sink the level 1-28 points into strength, we have 25 strength at level 28. starting from 14. or at 20 starting from 16 strength.

yeah I think thats what I would do. I'd kinda use a two handed weapon like a staff or spear until I get my AA levels. bard song, bard scrolls.

Bow damage is lackluster until HotU though. where you can spend $$ to get decent upgrades.

[Shiroi Ren]

Devastating critical basically require Power Attack, Cleave and Greater Cleave... Which are of questionable usefulness for AA.

[red255]

Weapon master requires like 6 completely worthless feats.
Dual wielding requires 3 feats.

your first 11 or so levels you won't be an arcane archer cuz it requires a BAB of 6 anyways.

where are your feats going instead?

[Shiroi Ren]

Ironically, my Pal 3 / Monk 1 / Sorc 36 was more dangerous Arcane Archer. +18 Divine Damage for 18 rounds, 21 times per rest.

[red255]

number of attacks per round 2, chance to hit 5%.

sounds very dangerous.

[Shiroi Ren]

Number of attacks is actually 3. Divine Power helped me a lot too...

[Selphea]

When thinking of builds I like to start with the goals and context first, then classes second.

For example if I know I'll be playing in epic levels with easy access to stat items and want a high AC dodge tank, that's where I can be confident that I can reach Monk 9 and Shadowdancer 5 quickly to get an Epic Dodge build with high AC while having 26 levels to spare on a damage dealing class. But if I'll be playing in the OCs, I won't go with that build because it will never have time to mature.

That's really the issue with NWN builds. The OC is easy and kind of boring so no one is interested in making powerbuilds for it. Challenging content and level 40 is frequently found in custom modules and PWs, so that's why people focus on that.

[jasmeralia]

Originally posted by red255:

Originally posted by jasmeralia:

I can find a lot of builds for NWN2, but that is significantly different and many would function differently. (Like ki strike at 7 instead of 10). The builds I have seen tend to be level 40 builds on YouTube, whereas I’m primarily looking to play through the OC, expansions, and premium modules. None of which go that high to my knowledge. I’m particularly interested in a monk/shadowdancer build and an arcane archer build. A good Druid build would also be helpful; I don’t think I’ve ever played one in 3E.

what are you doing level 40 for? what campaign?

I think folks might have misunderstood what I was asking... I'm not looking to do level 40 anything at the moment. Those are just the builds I have been able to find, and I suspect that builds geared at hitting 40 won't be optimized for the levels leading up to the end of the OC (which I'm seeing tends to cap around 17) and SOU+HOTU (which if taken together, seem to go up to 28 or so?).

At this point, I'm wondering if doing a prestige class is even worthwhile for the OC, though it seems like it would be for the expansion campaigns.

[wendigo211]

Originally posted by jasmeralia:

At this point, I'm wondering if doing a prestige class is even worthwhile for the OC, though it seems like it would be for the expansion campaigns.

It can be, but it depends on the prestige class: Blackguard, Champion of Torm, Weapon Master, Red Dragon Disciple and Dwarven Defender all work very well in the OC. Assassin, Shadowdancer and Arcane Archer can work as well, but not the way that most people use them. Shifter can be okay in HotU, but it's not great in the premium modules, OC or SoU.

Summarize your ideal character and we'll see if we can make it work.

Edit: The first link I posted has level 20 and level 30 fora you can look through.

[Selphea]

Originally posted by jasmeralia:

I think folks might have misunderstood what I was asking... I'm not looking to do level 40 anything at the moment. Those are just the builds I have been able to find, and I suspect that builds geared at hitting 40 won't be optimized for the levels leading up to the end of the OC (which I'm seeing tends to cap around 17) and SOU+HOTU (which if taken together, seem to go up to 28 or so?).

At this point, I'm wondering if doing a prestige class is even worthwhile for the OC, though it seems like it would be for the expansion campaigns.

I get that you're not looking for a level 40 build, but I can't give any advice around the OC because I don't know what your goals are. Getting a PrC for the sake of getting a PrC just makes for clunky building.

The synergy between Monk and Shadowdancer revolves around getting a very specific epic feat as a Monk faster than multiclassing with any other class, that's why I don't recommend it.

So I need to know why you want to be a Monk - are you going fists? Dual kamas? Archery? And why do you want Shadowdancer? A Monk doesn't get much advantage from attacking out of stealth, unless you want Sneak Attacks in there. Or were you looking to be a dodge tank with a good melee presence? Then we can talk about what's the caveats and tradeoffs of using Sneak Attacks, or what to look for in a melee build and how to build around that...