Neverwinter Nights 2 Character Builder

Damned Soul Fighter (14), Frenzied Berserker (6), Hellfire Warlock (3), Warlock (7)

Copy Build Export Build Author: ScottG
Created: 13th June 2009
Updated: 14th June 2010
Votes: 2 Tags: None  

Summary

Pros

Cons

• Melee:
• Levels 1-20:
• Offensively:
• Good throughout the build, both against single tough opponents and multiple opponents with both attack numbers and damage. Significantly better than the Favored Soul, primarily due to 2 factors:
• 1. The attributes for the build can focus totally on Strength without having to worry about Charisma or Wisdom for spell casting. This increases attack numbers and damage numbers significantly - particularly resulting in a MUCH stronger build initially.
• 2. Half of the 20 levels are dedicated to high BAB classes. This significantly improves the BAB of the Damned Soul when compared to the Favored Soul.
• ADDITIONALLY - Increasing Damage BEFORE LEVEL 20:
• Further - at level 19 and with a 2-Handed weapon and Improved Power Attack ON the Damned Soul can add an additional +20 Damage at only a -6 attack penalty at will.
• Defensively:
• Full Plate Armored Character with excellent damage reduction. Significantly better than the Favored Soul by achieving an increasing level of damage reduction to 6/Cold Iron by 12th level. Tower Shield capable if needed.
• At very early levels infrequent damage reduction can be achieved via the Earth Genasi's "Merge with Stone" racial stone skin spell. Note that because of the Earth Genasi's penalty to both Charisma and Wisdom, it is highly unlikely that this race would be chosen for a Favored Soul build . Because of this the "Merge with Stone" racial spell would not be available to the Favored Soul.
• Levels 21-30:
• At Epic levels the build shifts toward enhancing the character's melee ability, particularly with fairly specialized fighter moves like Knockdown and Disarm. Of course improving attack numbers is also of concern and all Epic levels are high BAB, with the build including specialized fighter weapon focuses.
• Magic:
• Levels 1-20:
• This build's magical prowess is focused on improving the character's melee capability - both offensively and defensively. (See the Notes section on Invocations for more detail.)
• This build is NOT intended to utilize Eldritch Blast. It CAN however use Eldritch Blast, particularly when facing melee damage-immune opponents. This damage can even be augmented with Hellfire Blast from level 10+.
• Levels 21-30:
• (not applicable.)

• Melee:
• This build is not as good as a build focused purely on melee, at least with respect to attack numbers. Damage however is nearly as good as an excellent high BAB build (..though perhaps not as early as more focused builds).
• Damage reduction is not as high as a Favored Soul. 7 for the Damned Soul vs. 10 for the Favored Soul. (..however see the "Pro's" section on this topic.)
• Specialized fighter maneuvers like Knockdown and Disarm are not available until epic levels.
• Magic:
• This build is not as good as a Favored Soul with respect to classical melee spell-buffs, nor does the build have the spell diversity that a Favored Soul is capable of.
• Some of the spell casting is subject to spell failure. Note however that several that are can be cast infinitely - so these particular spells are not "lost" .
• Saves:
• Are only moderate at best, and are low for Reflex.
• Traps are the "Achilles heel" for this build - with low Reflex saves and no Search capability. Fortunately traps are usually rare and are rarely critical to a character with hit-points as high as this one.
• Dialogue Skills:
• .. are also not well represented with this build. However they are not totally abandoned. I've also noted areas where the build can be altered to achieve a better representation of these skills if necessary.

Outline

Notes

Build Purpose and Use:

This is primarily a "brute force" melee character. At level 12 you can "switch-on" Hellfire Shield for additional damage to attackers. The effect works well against single tough opponents. Toggle it OFF against multiple opponents. The Hellfire Blast portion can always be left on if desired just for the cool look (..though generally turn it off if you want to fire your Eldritch Blast).

The Hellfire summon is perhaps the best in-game and available as early as level 11. The 10 Fire resistance is also very useful.

At level 11 you gain Stealth WITH Full Plate ON via the Invocation "Walk Unseen" and while in Stealth mode. INCREDIBLY useful against spell-casters to get in that first attack. This is further enhanced at Epic levels via Knockdown and Disarm.

The Damned Soul also has several Invocations to enhance it's overall ability - including Haste.

Spell casting is further enhanced via a couple of "Fey" feats and the potential provided by Use Magic Device.



Warlock Invocations

(should be selected as follows):

Character level

2 : See the Unseen.
5 : Entropic Warding.
7 : Beguiling Influence.
9 : Brimstone Blast.
11: Walk Unseen.
12: Remove Brimstone Blast and replace with Flee the Scene.
13: Charm.


See the Unseen - is there to help "Spot" opponents. Additionally it provides the ability to "see through" Invisibility that would other wise require some other spell or a high skill level of Listen.

Entropic Warding - is there to lower the threat of missile attacks, both physical and magical. It also provides an augmentation to Hide and Move Silently skills. (..see Walk Unseen below.)

Beguiling Influence - is there to augment dialogue feats by a time where they could have significance. If you did not care about this aspect of game-play then consider Hideous Blow (though be warned that in practice it does not work well.)

Brimstone Blast - is chosen as quickly as possible and is ONLY chosen for the Hellfire Warlock prerequisite. Further, it is removed when it can be removed and replaced without compromising the Hellfire Warlock build portion.

Walk Unseen - is there for stealth maneuvers. It does have a spell failure component, BUT you can cast it as many times as you want. Further, unlike the spell Invisibility - you can perform other none-attacking actions without removing the Invisibility. This (along with Stealth via hiding) is THE method to generally avoid the disabling attacks from spell-casters - usually giving your character the first attack. It also provides 50% concealment from attackers.

Flee the Scene - Haste. More limited in duration but again, capable of being cast as often as you want. (..also subject to spell failure.)

Charm - useful in conjunction with Walk Unseen. It acts as both the spell Charm and Charm Monster - so provided that you can beat the opponent's save it allows you to charm. Of course if you can't beat the save then you can always try again, and again, and again, etc.. It's particularly useful as a first NON-attack against a lesser hench/summon. Note that it is also subject to spell failure. Most importantly note that it does NOT remove the effects of Walk Unseen - so you can cast this as often as you want and still remain Invisible.



Skills:

(are highly managed and selected at the appropriate time in the build process. Note that you can alter certain skills at certain times to achieve better dialogue skill ability if you find that important.)

Heal- is there sufficiently in skill level early-on to heal the character via healing kits and without exposing the character to attacks of opportunity. At Epic levels it's increased to keep pace with the higher hit-points the character will have. You can at epic levels trade some of the points expended here for points in a single epic dialogue skill (Intimidate or Bluff) if desired.

Hide - is there for placing the character in "Stealth" mode as an augmentation to the Invisibility that the Invocation "Walk Unseen" can provide. The Invocation "Entropic Warding" can also improve this skill. Note that under the latest patches from SOZ on, that Invisibility in an of itself is no longer sufficient in most cases to be undetectable - you ALSO need to enter Stealth mode for viability (with a decent Hide and Move Silently skill level). This could of course change with updated patches so be forewarned. IF you find that it isn't necessary any longer, then definitely consider spending the points on Intimidate or Bluff.

Intimidate - is there primarily for the Hellfire Warlock prerequisite. It is however ALSO there for Intimidate skill checks and can be further augmented with the Invocation "Beguiling Influence".

Lore - is there strictly for the Hellfire Warlock prerequisite.

Move Silently - is there for increasing the effectiveness of the Invocation "Walk Unseen". Between Hide and Move Silently, Move Silently is more important. The Invocation "Entropic Warding" can also improve this skill.

Spellcraft - is there strictly for the Hellfire Warlock prerequisite.

Spot - is there at higher levels where Feint-type opponents may become more common, and to augment the build's Invocation "See the Unseen" when attacking Stealthy or Concealed opponents. Practically speaking this skill can be largely "ignored" in favor of dialogue skills if desired, particularly for extending one dialogue skill (either Intimidate or Bluff) to epic levels for a particular module .

Use Magic Device - is there to augment the builds capacity for additional spell-casting and the ability to use magical items that this character might not otherwise be able to. It basically extends the builds versatility. Note that at level 10+ you can at any time use points allocated to this skill in favor of a dialogue skill like Intimidate, Bluff, or even Diplomacy. If you do this then remember that you need a NET Use Magic Device Number of somewhere in the low twenties to get most of the value from this skill - so be forewarned and plan accordingly.


Feats:

Much like the skills, the feats are all HIGHLY managed - chosen for particular reasons at particular times.

Power Attack/Cleave/Great Cleave: started early-on to achieve good support against multiple attackers. Also required for the Frenzied Berserker class.

All "Fey" feats are chosen for optimal inclusion for fairly early damage reduction beyond the limited racial spell. They also provide some spell casting and increasing the DC checks against saves for those spells.

Able Learner - is there to achieve maximum efficiency with limited skill points throughout the build.

Steadfast Determination is chosen at a latter time when additional Will saves could be necessary. Note however that the early "front loaded" Warlock classes also adds to Will saves so that they are not substantially sacrificed.

Improved Power Attack is chosen just before you get the Empowered Power Attack of the Frenzied Berserker.

Blind Fight (along with the skill Spot) is chosen to augment the Invocation "See the Unseen" - particularly in providing that second re-roll against concealed opponents.

Fey Power tops-off your final point of damage reduction and improves you DC checks on those spells that are effectively offensive.

The other feats at Epic levels are primarily intended to either:

1. Improve Attack numbers (and critical percentiles), and

2. Provide additional fighter-type attacks against particularly difficult opponents - ESPECIALLY WHILE IN STEALTH MODE via "Walk Unseen".

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