Maybe I'm jumping the gun a bit, but it looks like U39 will be very favorable for Tempests.  I wanted to get a jump on putting one together based on info in the DPS test thread.

I'm looking forward to seeing Symb's build, but for me, I needed a build that required minimal past lives.  Obviously would get better with more racial AP, but I don't have any, so... 

In the other thread, someone said tempests drop off on high HP bosses because 1k cuts has a 90s cooldown.  But this build has 100% DS with 100% uptime.  Instead of relying on 1k cuts, uses the MP boost from DWS.  I'm guessing run in LD for ED so you have 100% uptime on MP boost when you need it, too.

Now, the question is, have I traded off too much to get there, or am I missing something obvious?

Also uses Pain/Calamity for main/off-hand for VKF.  Don't know if that's giving up too much, either.  Had to give up a few feats to work in both piercing & slashing feats.

Gear at the bottom seems like it has a few overlaps, and I'm not sure which helm is best.  I'm sure the gear masters here can fix it up.  Doesn't have Ins Dex, but has both silent avenger & adherent sets. 

Doublestrike breakdown:
23% (Molten Silver Gauntlets)
10% (Legendary Lore-fueled Packbanner)
20% Rapid Slash (VKF T2 enhancement)
5% Knife Specialist (VKF Core 3)
15% Silent Avenger
5% Improved Scourge Weapons (T2 Scourge enhancement)
9% Doublestrike EPL
3% Aasimar Scourge PL
5% Perfect TWF
5% Whirlwind (Tempest core 4)
100% Doublestrike

Offhand DS:
25% Dervish (Tempest Core 6)
5% Perfect TWF
5% Knife Specialist (VKF Core 3)
35% Off-hand Doublestrike


Blenderish
Ranger 20
Lawful Good Aasimar Scourge


Stats
               36pt     Tome     Level Up
               ----     ----     --------
Strength         8       +6       4: DEX
Dexterity       18       +6       8: DEX
Constitution    18       +6      12: DEX
Intelligence    10       +6      16: DEX
Wisdom          12       +6      20: DEX
Charisma         8       +6      24: DEX
                                 28: DEX

Skills
          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
         ------------------------------------------------------------
Concent   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Heal      4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Jump      4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Hide      4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Bluff     2  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  11½
UMD       2  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  ½  11½
         ------------------------------------------------------------
         24  6  6  6  6  6  6  6  6  6  6  6  6  6  6  6  6  6  6  6
         24  6  6  6  6  6  7  7  7  7  7  7  7  7  8  8  8  8  8  8


Feats

1        : Exotic Weapon: Khopesh
3        : Precision
6        : Weapon Focus: Slashing
9        : Dodge
12        : Empower Healing Spell
15        : Improved Critical: Slashing
18        : Quicken Spell
21 Epic   : Mobility
24 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
26 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
27 Epic   : Weapon Focus: Piercing
28 Destiny: Elusive Target
29 Destiny: Dire Charge
30 Epic   : Improved Critical: Piercing
30 Legend : Scion of: Arborea

1 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
5 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Construct
10 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Chaotic Outsider
15 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Monstrous Humanoid
20 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Magical Beast


Enhancements (80+1 AP)

Tempest (41 AP)

• Shield of Whirling Steel, Tempest, Graceful Death, Deflect Arrows, Whirlwind, Dervish
• Item Defense I, Improved Reaction III, Improved Defense III
• Improved Parry III, Improved Dodge III
• Storm Dancer, Improved Mobility III, Dexterity
• Storm Tempest, Elaborate Parry III, Dexterity
• Dual Perfection, Evasive Dance III, Dance of Death III

Deepwood Stalker (21 AP)

• Far Shot, Sneak Attack, Exposing Strike, Advanced Sneak Attack
• Stealthy III, Increased Empathy II
• Survivalist, Empathic Healing I, Melee/Range Power Boost III
• Thrill of the Hunt III, Dexterity

Vistani Knife Fighter (13 AP)

• Knife Expertise, Knife Juggler, Knife Specialist
• Vistani Knife Training, Mist Stalker, Rapid Attack
• Bleeding Cuts, Weapon Versatility
• Deadly Blades

Aasimar Scourge (6 AP)

• Stronger Bonds
• Scourge Weapons, Counsel I, Improved Recovery
• Improved Scourge Weapons

Epic Destiny:  Legendary Dreadnought, with all the standard fixin's.


Gear:

I don't know what's best for the helm - +80 HAmp, +19% Dodge, or ...?   I'm thinking Dodge for defense, though.

I'm sure you guys can set me straight on the gear.

Also, how do the numbers break down on Pain/Calamity vs the extra +W from using the Pain/Suffering set? 

Ditch the Vistani. 

use Khopeheses.

For helm you probably still want slavers Executioner's Helm. It's pretty titties in the current meta. Remember to grab spell absorb on cloak and trinket as a swap. It's worth breaking set if you're going to get pasted by some fuck-all caster-champ that has some unavoidable shit. You have evasion so it's a lot less of a big deal, but there are situations (e.x., Stairs in Strahd, Amber runs) where you need absorb. Keep it near and dear bro.

Quote:


You'd have to test this. As far as the Ghallanda mooks know (via Bigjunk mostly) you're going to be better off with khopeshes. On paper aren't the khopesh's strictly better in terms of threat range and multiplier? Khopeshes also have much better base damage...

GL bro

WonderfulFoppyBint wrote on Jul 5^th, 2018 at 3:00pm:

Last time I did the math khopeshes were still ahead but barely. Scimitars provide nearly the same offense while providing increased defenses. If you are staying pure, I'd strongly recommend scimitars over khopeshes.

QuantumFX wrote on Jul 5^th, 2018 at 10:52am:


So, correct me if I'm wrong, but with Imp Scourge weapons, and free oversized twf feat, Khopeshes would be light, and so still qualify for dex to hit/dmg.

WonderfulFoppyBint wrote on Jul 5^th, 2018 at 3:00pm:


Thought about that.  I got seeker covered, but you think the extra dmg from fury + Ins deception outweighs the extra defense from 19 dodge?  I guess the best defense is a good offense. 

WonderfulFoppyBint wrote on Jul 5^th, 2018 at 3:00pm:


So, two things there.  First, I guess the big thing I was trying to achieve was 100% doublestrike with 100% uptime to mitigate DPS drop off mentioned below, which you can only do with VKF.  I'm also going off Rubbins comments in the DPS thread for characters without all possible pastlives.

Rubbinns wrote on Jun 21^st, 2018 at 4:55pm:

Rubbinns wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2018 at 2:05pm:


So, I was trying to put together a low-pastlife build that can take just enough of the VKF benefits to help out, but still take T5 tempest, and get the extra crit + sneak from DWS. 

Maybe it's a wild goose chase down a rabbit hole, but it seemed like it just might work. 

The other big thing is Pain has improved deception + deception 17 (and also the fetters, same as calamity).  So, wouldn't that give you more consistent sneak att dmg or save you slotting improved deception somewhere else? 

So yeah.  I may have missed the mark completely.   I've tried to run the math on it, but I'm missing something.  None of the numbers look right.

I appreciate the info.  I think I misunderstood your post, and thought by trading a bit of VKF for DWS core4, you could pick back up some DPS.  Sounds like that isn't the way to go, though.

So... where to go from here.   I don't suppose you have a build handy with what you used for your tests, do you?  I know mine is a few feats off now, and AP would look very different.  Does the gear setup look approximately correct compared to what you were using?

wolff wrote on Jul 5^th, 2018 at 8:36pm:


No.  Oversized TWF only lowers the penalty for dual wielding heavy weapons.  The only way that I'm aware of to make Khopeshes dex based is with 6 levels of fighter and 3 levels of Monk.

That was a big oversight on my part. I've always played THFers, so TWF is less familiar to me.

I'm surprised they break dead even in dps. By my calcs strength based khopesh is ahead but not by enough to justify the lost dodge from elaborate parry.

I'm not overly concerned by vuln. / fetters of unreality. Its my opinion that the DC caster should be stacking vulnerability on end bosses anyways (or in the rare case that theres stuff for them to do, someone else in the group will pick up the slack better suited to it).

In the end, I don't think it matters too much. Tempest is REALLY strong right now and it doesn't matter all that much how you optimize it (in terms of direction) as long as you optimize it.

WonderfulFoppyBint wrote on Jul 9^th, 2018 at 10:08pm:


And soloing or pugging in shitty groups.

With that said . . . don't discount Flow.   Gaurdbreaking on a Rapier + Dance of Death makes mobs retarded.   R5 Grim with this was easy solo.

Rubbinns wrote on Jul 10^th, 2018 at 11:47am:


My girl's my left hand, so yeah . . .