Another Dancing Build (3.5e Optimized Character Build)
Introduction
So I got bored and started looking through a few books and I hatched an idea for a dervish build. I've seen a few like this before, and I honestly must say if you don't like this one then go check out the other builds. Still I figured I should toss my hat into the ring and see how it goes.
References
You'll need:
Player's Handbook
Player's Handbook II (Two-Weapon Rend)
Sandstorm (Great Scimitar)
Complete Adventurer (Tempest)
Complete Warrior (Dervish)
(Optional!) Unearthed Arcana (Flaws)
Game Rule Components
Items
Go with whatever you want really, but here's what I used:
Mithril Chain Shirt +5 (you're gonna want this so you can get the best use of your Dex)
Great Scimitar +10: +3 Flaming and Shocking Burst (+4) Wounding (+2) Thundering (+1) (I highly suggest the burst qualities, and the wounding is always nice)
Scimitar +10: Same as above, but replace the Flaming and Shocking Burst with Icy and Corrosive Burst
Gloves of Dexterity +6
Belt of Giant Strength +6
Tome of Gainful Exercise +4
Amulet of Health +4
Ring of Protection +5
Ring of Sustenance
Pale Blue Rhomboid
Pale Green Prism
Dusty Rose Prism
Cloak of Resistance +4
And an extra 33,000 gold or so
Progression
Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): Assuming a 25 Point buy system: Str 15, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 8
Race (Templates): The bonus feat from 3e Race::Human is needed for this build, although a few feats can be switched out to allow some mobility, also flaws can substitute for the human bonus feat, but keep in mind that every little bit helps
Starting Racial Traits:
Bonus Feat
Extra skill points
| ECL | Class/HD/LA | Base Attack Bonus |
Saving Throws | Feats | Class Features |
Special | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | ||||||
| 1st | Fighter 1 | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Dodge, Combat Expertise, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Great Scimitar) | Bonus Feat | Put max ranks into Perform (Dance) and Tumble |
| 2nd | Fighter 2 | +2 | +3 | +0 | +0 | Mobility | Bonus Feat | Continue putting ranks into Perform (Dance) and Tumble |
| 3rd | Fighter 3 | +3 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Weapon Focus (Great Scimitar) | None | |
| 4th | Fighter 4 | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Two-Weapon Fighting | Bonus Feat | Put a point into Dex, pick up a scimitar for your off hand |
| 5th | Fighter 5 | +5 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Dervish Requirements Met | ||
| 6th | Fighter 6 | +6 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Specialization (Great Scimitar) | Bonus Feat | Make sure you have a +2 Dex item, Don't put a rank in Perform (Dance) or Tumble FOR THIS LEVEL ONLY!!! Now the first part of the build is completed. |
| 7th | Fighter 6, Dervish 1 | +7 | +5 | +4 | +4 | Dervish Dance 1/day, Movement Mastery, Slashing Blades, and AC bonus +1 | Now you won't take any penalties for wielding a scimitar in your off hand, also Perform (Dance) and Tumble are class skills now so you don't need to use two points for one rank | |
| 8th | Fighter 6, Dervish 2 | +8 | +5 | +5 | +5 | Fast Movement +5 ft. | Put another point into Dex | |
| 9th | Fighter 6, Dervish 3 | +9 | +6 | +5 | +5 | Improved Critical (Great Scimitar), Spring Attack | Dervish Dance 2/day | Tempest Requirements Met |
| 10th | Fighter 6, Dervish 3, Tempest 1 | +10 | +8 | +5 | +5 | Tempest Defense +1 | Only tumble is a class skill now, but continue to put max ranks in Perform (Dance) and Tumble | |
| 11th | Fighter 6, Dervish 3, Tempest 2 | +11 | +9 | +5 | +5 | Ambidexterity (-3/-1) | Your Two-Weapon Fighting Penalty decreases by 1 | |
| 12th | Fighter 6, Dervish 3, Tempest 3 | +12 | +9 | +6 | +6 | Greater Two-Weapon Fighting | Two Weapon Versatility, Tempest Defense +2 | All of the bonuses you receive for your Great Scimitar now count for your scimitar as well, put a point into Str, and make sure you have +4 Gloves of Dexterity for 20 Dex |
| 13th | Fighter 6, Dervish 3, Tempest 4 | +13 | +10 | +6 | +6 | Ambidexterity (-2/+0) | No more Two-Weapon Fighting penalties! The second part of the build is completed. | |
| 14th | Fighter 6, Dervish 4, Tempest 4 | +14 | +10 | +7 | +7 | Dance of Death | Perform (Dance) is a class skill again | |
| 15th | Fighter 6, Dervish 5, Tempest 4 | +15 | +10 | +7 | +7 | Two-Weapon Rend | Fast Movement +10 ft., Dervish Dance 3/Day, and AC Bonus +2 | Two-Weapon Rend is a great feat to pick up, an extra 1d6 + 1-1/2 Str modifier damage when you hit with both of your weapons |
| 16th | Fighter 6, Dervish 6, Tempest 4 | +16 | +11 | +8 | +8 | Improved Reaction | Put another point into Str | |
| 17th | Fighter 6, Dervish 7, Tempest 4 | +17 | +11 | +8 | +8 | Dervish Dance 4/day, Elaborate Parry | Combat Expertise gets a nice little boost with this power | |
| 18th | Fighter 6, Dervish 8, Tempest 4 | +18 | +11 | +9 | +9 | Take any you like, I suggest either Power Critical or Improved Combat Expertise if you want a really high AC | Fast Movement +15 ft. | |
| 19th | Fighter 6, Dervish 9, Tempest 4 | +19 | +12 | +9 | +9 | Dervish Dance 5/day, Tireless Dance | ||
| 20th | 3e Final Class Progression::Fighter 6, Dervish 10, Tempest 4 | +20 | +12 | +10 | +10 | A Thousand Cuts | Put your last point into Str, and get ready to destroy things. | |
Other Components
You should have a nice AC using this build, and tanking shouldn't be too much of a problem if you took the Improved Combat Expertise
Also, this build doesn't have a ranged attack, so you can use that extra money to pick one up
Highlights
A Thousand Cuts while dancing is your deadliest attack
Here's a break down of the attack:
+20 BAB
+10 Strength
+5 Dervish Dance
+3 Weapon
+1 Pale Green Prism
+1 Weapon Focus
Altogether a +40/+40/+40/+40/+35/+35/+35/+35/+30/+30/+30/+30/+25/+25
And let's not forget about AC
+10 Base
+9 Armor
+6 Dexterity
+5 Deflection
+3 Dervish Bonus
+2 Tempest Bonus
+1 Insight
36 AC, 30 Flat-Footed, 26 Touch
Munchkin-Size Me
Side Notes
Limitations
Takes a while for it to really reach it's true potential, and not having a ranged attack sucks
DM Counters
Creatures immune to critical hits, ranged attacks