HORDOCLAUS...or the bringer of joy for 2 weeks a year during Festivus!

Yes, that's right, with the advent of Festivus in July Hordoclaus had to make an appearance.  There was a problem, however, in that when I first rolled Hordoclaus there was no Veteran status nor Favored Soul and I had to settle for a 1 Cleric / 1 Sorcerer to hand out the goodies.  No longer, my friends, no longer!

THEME BUILD

That sums it up nicely.  Hordoclaus is not, in any way shape or form, a build that is serious in nature.  It is free-loving and fun, and meant only for replicating the best parts of the Santa Claus mythos.  Thus, I am creating a 3 Bard / 13 Favored Soul / 4 Sorcerer build and each part has a reason.

Firstly, the bard portion.  If there is anything about the Santa Claus mythos that is most familiar to anyone around the world (other than the looks which I tried as best I could to duplicate...thus Dwarf in this game had the looks) it is caroling.  Songs are a vital part of the Santa Claus mythos and to that end I took 3 Bard levels.  The first gives a meager +1/+1/+1 Inspire Courage, but the third a very nice bump for your Festivus Shopping by way of Inspired Competence.  Granted I can only take 1 AP of Improved Attack/Damage/Lingering Song/Extra Song each but a buff is a buff so don't complain or you will get coal.

Secondly, the sorcerer portion.  Santa was innately magical, and not always in some divine manner, some of it had to do with the semi-trickster trope of the Northern European and Eastern European version of the myth, and thus the only arcane innate caster (not earned via study) sorcerer.  I will eventually give Magic Missile the heave-ho and replace it with the all-time greatest of all spells, much less trickster spells, grease.  If there is anything about Santa we all remember it's the laughter:  Ho! Ho! Ho!

Finally, the favored soul portion.  Santa, which means saint, is the mythical representation of St. Nicholas, and what class best represents the innate holiness of a Saint but the Favored Soul?  Granted, in this build the healing comes much too late to be a serious healer throughout most of this toon's levelling up, which is why I focused on taking buff spells so early.  Claus will be able to use any scroll in the game, so that isn't an issue...the speed at which one casts via scrolls is an issue, but one that is circumvented by either strategy or having a real healer in the party.  Note, please, that there are rather few offensive spells.  Santa doesn't like to fight.  But if it comes down to it at level 20, he can cast a maximized blade barrier and punish your butt while writing your name on the naughty list.

I'll comment more in the build itself, but I thought a little preamble was in order to keep blood pressure down a bit.  LOL!!  And to forestall questions, yes, I do intend to pike several raids until I can get certain items which I believe fit the Santa mythos...you have been warned.  Ho! Ho! Ho!

THE BUILD ITSELF

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Hordoclaus Canach
Level 20 Chaotic Good Dwarf Male
(4 Sorcerer / 3 Bard / 13 Favored Soul)
Hit Points: 360
Spell Points: 1847

BAB: 13/13/18/23
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 13
Will: 18

              Starting      Ending     Feat/Enhancement
Abilities    Base Stats   Base Stats    Modified Stats
(32 Point)    (Level 1)    (Level 20)      (Level 20)
Strength           14             16                16
Dexterity          10             12                12
Constitution       16             18                20
Intelligence       12             14                14
Wisdom             14             16                16
Charisma           13             20                22

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 5 [I actually ate this already to get me to an even number, so it is permanently in the build.]
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 13

              Starting      Ending    Feat/Enhancement
             Base Skills  Base Skills  Modified Skills
Skills       (Level 1)    (Level 20)      (Level 20)
Balance            4              7                11
Bluff              1              6                6
Concentration      7              12               12
Diplomacy          1              6                6
Disable Device     n/a            n/a              n/a
Haggle             5              20               21 [Santa likes to buy presents for people and needs some discount!]
Heal               2              3                3
Hide               0              1                1
Intimidate         1              6                6
Jump               6              7                7
Listen             2              3                3
Move Silently      0              1                1
Open Lock          n/a            n/a              n/a
Perform            5              23.5             23.5 [Remember Fascinate's DC is not level-dependent it is the Skill score + 1d20 so I'm maxing this.]
Repair             1              2                2
Search             1              2                4
Spot               2              3                3
Swim               2              3                3
Tumble             4              5                5
Use Magic Device   5              29               29 [Santa can use anything...he's that uber]

Level 1 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Haggle (+4)
Skill: Jump (+4)
Skill: Perform (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+4)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Automatic) Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Dismiss Charm
Feat: (Automatic) Dwarven Stability
Feat: (Automatic) Dwarven Stonecutting
Feat: (Automatic) Fascinate
Feat: (Automatic) Giant Evasion
Feat: (Automatic) Heroic Durability
Feat: (Automatic) Inspire Courage
Feat: (Automatic) Light Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Longsword
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Rapier
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Shortsword
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Shortbow
Feat: (Automatic) Orc and Goblin Bonus
Feat: (Automatic) Poison Save Bonus
Feat: (Automatic) Shield Proficiency (General)
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Sneak
Feat: (Automatic) Spell Save Bonus
Spell (1): Focusing Chant
Enhancement: Bard Extra Song I
Enhancement: Bard Haggle I

Level 2 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Diety) Favored by the Sovereign Host [Either this or the Longbow Silver Flame one...I guess Longswords it is!]
Feat: (Automatic) Magical Training
Feat: (Automatic) Medium Armor Proficiency
Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds
Spell (1): Nimbus of Light
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness I

Level 3 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Eschew Materials
Spell (1): Magic Missle [Once I am out of the solo/duo stages of lowbie land, this becomes grease and this toon gets the Hordo version of a Bar Mitzvah.]
Spell (1): Jump
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I [What?  You thought Santa didn't have hit points?]
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I

Level 4 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Haggle (+3)
Skill: Perform (+3)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Defensive Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Sunder
Feat: (Automatic) Trip
Spell (1): Detect Secret Doors
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I

Level 5 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (1): Nightshield
Enhancement: Favored Soul Charisma I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wand and Scroll Mastery I

Level 6 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+2)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Perform (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness
Feat: (Automatic) Inspire Competence
Spell (1): Remove Fear
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I

Level 7 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Perform (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Child of the Sovereign Host

Level 8 (Sorcerer)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)

Level 9 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Spell (2): Cure Moderate Wounds
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic II
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness II
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution II

Level 10 (Sorcerer)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (2): Blur

Level 11 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Fire
Spell (2): Resist Energy
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhanceement: Favored Soul Wand and Scroll Mastery II

Level 12 (Sorcerer)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell
Spell (2): Knock

Level 13 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (3): Cure Serious Wounds
Enhancement: Favored Soul Charisma II

Level 14 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (3): Mass Aid
Spell (2): Deific Vengance
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting III
Enhancement: Racial Toughness IV
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic III
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness III

Level 15 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Maximize Spell
Spell (4): Deathward
Enhancement: Sorcerer Improved Maximizing I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wand and Scroll Mastery III

Level 16 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (2): Lesser Restoration
Spell (3): Magic Circle Against Evil
Spell (4): Recitation
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion III

Level 17 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Sonic
Spell (5): Protection From Elements
Enhancement: Favored Soul Smiting IV
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic IV

Level 18 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (3): Prayer
Spell (4): Freedom of Movement
Spell (5): Break Enchantment
Enhancement: Favored Soul Toughness IV

Level 19 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Beloved of the Sovereign Host
Spell (6): Heal
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wand and Scroll Mastery IV

Level 20 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: CHA
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Spell (4): Restoration
Spell (5): Spell Resistance
Spell (6): Blade Barrier
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion IV

NOTA BENE
I chose not to take some spells, like the mass cures, thus far as I am trying to figure out what not to take to pick at least MCLW up.  I think I don't need Spell Resistance (even though it fits with the theme) and can get it that way...the other stuff all comes on scrolls which are slower but at least the buffing ones are one time at the beginning and maybe another time after a shrine.  I could swap out Heal for MCMW and just use Heal on scrolls, but then I'm not sure how much that would kill my ability to self-heal when I'm looking for presents (i.e. farming the Vale and Amrath).

Anyway, there is the build as it stands now.  Enjoy the flaming...but remember Hordoclaus may giveth a nice item, but he can also giveth coal!

---Hordo

I think that any theme build with arcane levels should have haste.  Add a level of sorc or something, pokey!

Demoyn wrote on Jul 18^th, 2010 at 7:54pm:

Grease?

Schmoe wrote on Jul 19^th, 2010 at 12:32am:


why the fuck would he need to get heros feast?!?! santa doesnt cook, he tells his elves to cook (aka use a scroll!)

Strakeln wrote on Jul 18^th, 2010 at 4:11pm:


Ok, then wiseguy, you look at the concept build as-is and tell me where I'm gonna get haste from?  I agree I want it, but Sorcs get it at level 6.  Which means that the build would end up 3 Bard/6 Sorc/11 FvS and lose some nice major spells needed for soloing.  One can solo stuff like the Vale without haste (it comes on pots...and clickies) but I dare say I would need Blade Barrier out there with this build.

So be my guest and show me where to work it in.

Demoyn wrote on Jul 19^th, 2010 at 1:19am:


My guildies suggested I up a level of sorc or two for Sleet Storm, which would be funny, too, but I hate that spell.  I am known for my uber, superior, grease-clicky collection which takes 3 full toons to store. 

Hordo wrote on Jul 19^th, 2010 at 8:07am:


I want to give you negative Toppies for this. I hate that movie as my sister would watch it any chance she got growing up.