Chordswitch: Ardent|Bard Warchanter Master of Moments

[MwaO]

This is the weird offshoot of Killswitch that doesn't bother to start with Warlord, Shaman, or Artificer, yet does a lot of what they do. It is primarily ranged due to how Magic Weapon works. But it can go melee, especially in Heroic.

[sblock level 6 build]

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Chordswitch, level 6
Half-Elf, Ardent/Bard
Ardent Mantle (Hybrid) Option: Mantle of Elation (Hybrid)
Hybrid Ardent Option: Hybrid Ardent Fortitude
Hybrid Bard Option: Hybrid Bard Will
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Light blade)
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Wand)
Psionic Augmentation (Hybrid) Option: Hybrid Power Point Option
Hybrid Talent Option: Bardic Virtue
Bardic Virtue Option: Virtue of Valor
Half-Elf Power Selection Option: Dilettante
Akanûl (Akanûl Benefit)
Theme: Knight Hospitaler

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 10, CON 19, DEX 12, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 19

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 10, CON 16, DEX 12, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 16


AC: 22 Fort: 20 Ref: 16 Will: 22
HP: 56 Surges: 11 Surge Value: 14

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +8, Diplomacy +14, Intimidate +12, Perception +9, Streetwise +12

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +3, Athletics +3, Bluff +8, Dungeoneering +5, Endurance +7, Heal +5, History +3, Insight +7, Nature +5, Religion +3, Stealth +4, Thievery +4

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Sidhe Lord Utility: Summon Sidhe Ally
Ardent Feature: Ardent Surge
Bard Feature: Majestic Word
Warlord Attack 1: Direct the Strike
Ardent Attack 1: Ire Strike
Bard Attack 1: Vicious Mockery
Bard Attack 1: Arrow of Warning
Ardent Utility 2: Sympathetic Agony
Bard Attack 3: Rhyme of the Blood-Seeking Blade
Ardent Attack 5: Invitation to Defeat
Bard Utility 6: Revitalizing Incantation

FEATS
Level 1: Versatile Expertise
Level 2: Resourceful Leader
Level 4: Hybrid Talent
Level 6: Superior Will

ITEMS
Dagger of Long Range +1 x1
Magic Dagger +2 x1
Magic Chainmail +2 x1
Amulet of Protection +2 x1
====== End ======[/sblock]

[sblock level 11 build]


====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Chordswitch, level 11
Half-Elf, Ardent/Bard, War Chanter
Ardent Mantle (Hybrid) Option: Mantle of Elation (Hybrid)
Hybrid Ardent Option: Hybrid Ardent Fortitude
Hybrid Bard Option: Hybrid Bard Will
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Light blade)
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Wand)
Psionic Augmentation (Hybrid) Option: Hybrid Power Point Option
Hybrid Talent Option: Bardic Virtue
Bardic Virtue Option: Virtue of Valor
Half-Elf Power Selection Option: Dilettante
Akanûl (Akanûl Benefit)
Theme: Sidhe Lord

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 11, CON 21, DEX 13, INT 9, WIS 13, CHA 21

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 10, CON 16, DEX 12, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 16


AC: 26 Fort: 24 Ref: 19 Will: 27
HP: 83 Surges: 12 Surge Value: 20

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +10, Diplomacy +17, Intimidate +15, Perception +11, Streetwise +15

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +5, Athletics +5, Bluff +11, Dungeoneering +7, Endurance +10, Heal +7, History +5, Insight +9, Nature +7, Religion +5, Stealth +6, Thievery +6

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Sidhe Lord Utility: Summon Sidhe Ally
Ardent Feature: Ardent Surge
Bard Feature: Majestic Word
Artificer Attack 1: Magic Weapon
Ardent Attack 1: Ire Strike
Bard Attack 1: Staggering Note
Bard Attack 1: Arrow of Warning
Sidhe Lord Utility 2: Sidhe Bargain
Bard Attack 3: Rhyme of the Blood-Seeking Blade
Ardent Attack 5: Invitation to Defeat
Bard Utility 6: Revitalizing Incantation
Ardent Attack 7: Forward-Thinking Cut
Ardent Attack 9: Passage of Swords
Bard Utility 10: Mantle of Unity
War Chanter Attack 11: Victorious Smite

FEATS
Level 1: Versatile Expertise
Level 2: Resourceful Leader
Level 4: Hybrid Talent
Level 6: Superior Will
Level 8: Improved Initiative
Level 10: Combat Virtuoso
Level 11: Versatile Master

ITEMS
Dagger of Long Range +2 x1
Magic Chainmail +3 x1
Amulet of Protection +3 x1
Bard's Songblade Dagger +3 x1
====== End ======[/sblock]

[sblock level 22 build]




====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Chordswitch, level 22
Half-Elf, Ardent/Bard, War Chanter, Master of Moments
Ardent Mantle (Hybrid) Option: Mantle of Elation (Hybrid)
Hybrid Ardent Option: Hybrid Ardent Fortitude
Hybrid Bard Option: Hybrid Bard Will
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Light blade)
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Wand)
Psionic Augmentation (Hybrid) Option: Hybrid Power Point Option
Hybrid Talent Option: Bardic Virtue
Bardic Virtue Option: Virtue of Valor
Half-Elf Power Selection Option: Dilettante
Akanûl (Akanûl Benefit)
Theme: Sidhe Lord

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 12, CON 24, DEX 14, INT 10, WIS 14, CHA 24

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 10, CON 16, DEX 12, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 16


AC: 36 Fort: 39 Ref: 28 Will: 39
HP: 143 Surges: 15 Surge Value: 35

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +17, Athletics +16, Diplomacy +26, Endurance +23, Intimidate +24, Perception +18, Streetwise +24

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +12, Bluff +20, Dungeoneering +14, Heal +14, History +12, Insight +16, Nature +14, Religion +12, Stealth +13, Thievery +13

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Sidhe Lord Utility: Summon Sidhe Ally
Ardent Feature: Ardent Surge
Bard Feature: Majestic Word
Artificer Attack 1: Magic Weapon
Ardent Attack 1: Ire Strike
Bard Attack 1: Staggering Note
Bard Attack 1: Arrow of Warning
Sidhe Lord Utility 2: Sidhe Bargain
Bard Attack 3: Rhyme of the Blood-Seeking Blade
Ardent Utility 6: Escalating Fury
Ardent Attack 7: Forward-Thinking Cut
Bard Utility 10: Mantle of Unity
Warlord Utility 10: Tactical Orders
War Chanter Attack 11: Victorious Smite
War Chanter Utility 12: Battle Chant
Ardent Attack 15: Coordinated Effort
Bard Attack 19: Increasing the Tempo
War Chanter Attack 20: Visions of Victory
Bard Utility 22: Climactic Chord

FEATS
Level 1: Versatile Expertise
Level 2: Resourceful Leader
Level 4: Hybrid Talent
Level 6: Superior Will
Level 10: Combat Virtuoso
Level 11: Versatile Master
(Level 12: Bravura Leader was here until 22nd, retrained into Martial Mastery at that point)
Level 14: Superior Fortitude
Level 16: Avenging Spirit
Level 18: Human Ingenuity
Level 20: Elation of Fortune
Level 21: Quickened Spellcasting
Level 21: Superior Initiative
Level 22: Multiclass Mastery
Level 22: Acolyte Power
Level 22: Bravura Leader
Level 22: Martial Mastery

ITEMS
Amulet of Protection +5 x1
Bard's Songblade Dagger +5 x1
Dagger of Long Range +5 x1
Magic Chainmail +5 x1
====== End ======[/sblock]

[sblock level 30 build]




====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Chordswitch, level 30
Half-Elf, Ardent/Bard, War Chanter, Master of Moments
Ardent Mantle (Hybrid) Option: Mantle of Elation (Hybrid)
Hybrid Ardent Option: Hybrid Ardent Fortitude
Hybrid Bard Option: Hybrid Bard Will
Psionic Augmentation (Hybrid) Option: Hybrid Power Point Option
Hybrid Talent Option: Bardic Virtue
Bardic Virtue Option: Virtue of Valor
Half-Elf Power Selection Option: Dilettante
Proficiency: Implement Proficiency (Orb)
Akanûl (Akanûl Benefit)
Theme: Sidhe Lord

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 12, CON 26, DEX 14, INT 10, WIS 14, CHA 26

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 10, CON 16, DEX 12, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 16


AC: 43 Fort: 47 Ref: 36 Will: 47
HP: 183 Surges: 15 Surge Value: 45

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +21, Athletics +20, Diplomacy +30, Intimidate +28, Nature +22, Perception +22, Streetwise +28

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +21, Bluff +27, Dungeoneering +21, Endurance +26, Heal +21, History +19, Insight +23, Religion +19, Stealth +25, Thievery +20

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Sidhe Lord Utility: Summon Sidhe Ally
Ardent Feature: Ardent Surge
Bard Feature: Majestic Word
Artificer Attack 1: Magic Weapon
Ardent Attack 1: Ire Strike
Bard Attack 1: Staggering Note
Sidhe Lord Utility 2: Sidhe Bargain
Bard Attack 3: Rhyme of the Blood-Seeking Blade
Nature Utility 6: Natural Terrain Understanding
Ardent Utility 6: Escalating Fury
Bard Utility 10: Mantle of Unity
Warlord Utility 10: Tactical Orders
War Chanter Attack 11: Victorious Smite
War Chanter Utility 12: Battle Chant
Ardent Attack 15: Coordinated Effort
Bard Attack 19: Increasing the Tempo
War Chanter Attack 20: Visions of Victory
Bard Utility 22: Note of Aggression
Master of Moments Utility 26: Freeze Time
Ardent Attack 27: Exhilarating Strike
Ardent Attack 29: Violent Spark

FEATS
Level 1: White Lotus Dueling Expertise
Level 2: Resourceful Leader
Level 4: Hybrid Talent
Level 6: Improved Defenses
Level 10: Combat Virtuoso
Level 11: Versatile Master
Level 12: Bravura Leader
Level 14: Bard of All Trades
Level 16: Avenging Spirit
Level 18: Human Ingenuity
Level 20: Skill Power
Level 21: Quickened Spellcasting
Level 21: Superior Initiative
Level 22: Multiclass Mastery
Level 22: Acolyte Power
Level 22: Insightful Leader
Level 24: Arcane Familiar
Level 26: Focused Mind
Level 28: Epic Will
Level 30: Epic Fortitude

ITEMS
Magic Chainmail +6 x1
Amulet of Protection +6 x1
Dagger of Long Range +6 x1
Vistani Tambourine
Orb of Nimble Thoughts +5 x1
Fleet Hero Tattoo (paragon tier) x1
Whistle of Warning
Orb of Translocation Interference +3
Orb of the Planes +5
Circlet of Arkhosia (epic tier) x1
Greater Ring of Invisibility x1
Ring of the Deep Wood x1
Many-Fingered Gloves x1
Ring of Mental Power
Baldric of Valor x1
Chieftain's Short spear +1
====== End ======



[/sblock]


[sblock Basic Strategy]
Ire Strike is a 'melee PC shifts 5-6 and makes a melee basic + extras against enemy - on hit, gives it Vulnerability 10 to all damage'

Magic Weapon, despite not having an Intelligence score to speak of, still has the full Cha bonus to hit and then uses Con to boost the party. It is a minor action to shoot, just like Killswitch at Epic due to Quickened Spellcasting

Rhyme of the Bloodseeking Blade is an interrupt which can turn a party member's miss into a hit. Great spell.

Action Point abuse - spend an action point, give all allies +Con to hit/damage until EoNT. Master of Moments gives a Standard/Move/Minor for an AP. Sidhe Lord's Utility 2 allows the build to gain extra action points from members of the party in exchange for an off-turn standard action. In practice, this should almost always be a standard action at +Con to hit/damage.[/sblock]

[sblock Why this over an Artificer|Warlord?]
Valorous Bard means access to War Chanter, one of the best paragon paths out there. It also means handing out a lot of free temp hit points.

Via Combat Virtuoso, Versatile Master and Dilettante, it grabs one of the best at-wills in the game(Magic Weapon), an at-will that is almost fully supported by stats.

Ardent means access to a very solid at-will that establishes vulnerability(Ire Strike). It also has Dailies that involve lots of either basic attacks or at-will powers.

And of course, because it isn't a Warlord, it can take Resourceful Leader and Bravura Leader feats - once they kick in, the build does an extra +11 damage for party spending action points in Paragon, +15 in Epic. Martial Mastery ought to generally recharge Tactical Orders twice per combat, so potentially 3 uses in every combat once it kicks in.[/sblock]

 

[MwaO]

Party Nova Options
[sblock Encounter Nova]
MoM Minor: Natural Terrain Understanding to shift Party next to him
Minor: Magic Weapon. On hit, add +2 to hit/+9 damage
Move: Tactical Orders
Action Point Spent:
AP Minor: See choices below
AP Move: Tactical Orders(if necessary)
AP Standard: Ire Strike opponent with ally. Character gets +9 to hit/damage. On hit, target gets Vulnerability 10 to all damage until EoNT
Standard: Exhilerating Strike Augmented 6. Yes, augmented 6. This allows all PCs to use a basic attack or charge. Even if it is someone with a poor BA, they still get +10 to hit/+27 damage. A Rogue who dumped Strength to 8, didn't take Melee Training, would still effectively have a 28 Str.

Round 2:
Standard: Violent Spark, Battle Chant or Increasing the Tempo - all of these ought to generally allow at least 4 attacks by allies. Keep all the benefits of round 1 until EoT[/sblock]

[sblock Action Points]
Character generates 2 action points per milestone and another 1 action point if someone falls down, so at least 1 action point per combat, often 2 action points.

If a PC spends an action point, they get +15 damage in Epic from Warlord feats. They also likely have Magic Weapon and this character's +9 to hit/damage for a total of +11 to hit/+43 to damage. This ought to be effectively an encounter option in most games.

Also, the build now has Sidhe Lord's utility 2 option so as to get some action points from other PCs once 16th level is reached. This ought to ensure that every combat has 2 action points going off from 16th level on. Which is crazy good.[/sblock]