First Build Attempt: Vinheim Sentinel

Hi all, relatively new member here this is only my second
topic. This is my first “real” attempt
at a build for SL 120 PvP. I understand
that it is not completely “maxed” and that some small sacrifices were made for
aesthetic purposes. However, I am
posting this for feedback on potential tweaks and overall PvP viability. Thanks in advance for your responses!

Name

Vinheim Sentinel

Starting Class

Sorcerer

Backstory Concept

The Vinheim Sentinel
is a captain of the elite guard of the Vinheim Dragon School. His primary charge is the protection of the college
leadership, although he makes a highly effective field agent as well. He is primarily a sorcerer of prodigious
power but is also an accomplished duelist and archer, making him a highly adaptive
combatant capable of completing a wide array of missions at the behest of the college
leadership. The Sentinel dons Logan’s
Big Hat in memory of the fallen Vinheim legend.

Stats @ SL 120

Vit: 34
Att: 19
End: 30
Str: 10
Dex: 40
Res: 8
Fth: 8
Int: 50

Weaponry

Main Hand:
Velka’s Rapier +5/Ricard’s Rapier +15, Magic Black Bow of Pharis +10 (Moonlight
Arrows)
Off Hand: Crystal
Grass Crest Shield +5, Logan’s Catalyst

Armor

Head: Big
Hat +5
Chest: Black
Iron Armor +5
Hands: Steel
Gauntlets +10
Legs: Elite
Knight Leggings +10

Rings

Dark Wood
Grain Ring
Ring of
Favor and Protection

Combat
Concept

I designed
this build with the aim of producing a powerful caster that doubles as a nimble
melee combatant and sniper.

INT is set
at 50 to unlock White Dragon Breath and seriously boost the power of Homing
Crystal Soul Mass and Crystal Magic Weapon.
The high INT also produces a solid damage result for the Magic Black Bow
of Pharis +10 with Moonlight Arrows, which can punish heavily armored enemies
at range (even through shields as they tend not to black magic damage very
well).

DEX is set
high to boost damage scaling with Velka’s Rapier and the Black Bow in addition
to improving spell cast times to minimize exposure to damage. Ricard’s Rapier +15 also takes great
advantage of high dexterity, and would be employed in PvP and boss fights
buffed with CMW for extremely high, rapid damage output. Velka’s, on the other hand, would be used in
most PvE situations as it scales well with the build’s stats and opens up an
attunement slot for a utility spell (Hush, Fall Control, etc.)

Low VIT and
END scores make this build reliant on the RoFP for equip weight and
durability. The mix of heavy and medium
armor this build wears provides 54 poise, which is high enough to prevent
stunlock from two-handed light and medium weapons as well as one-handed heavy
weapons. The Grass Crest Shield should
mitigate stamina shortages somewhat. The
Dark Wood Grain Ring keeps the build nimble and mobile at 50% equip load, which
is essential for a build with low VIT.

Summary

This build,
I imagine, can go toe-to-toe with other casters and archers at range. It is capable of effective kiting slow-moving
tanks as well. In close quarters, a
CMW-enhanced Ricard’s +15 or a +5 Velka’s mixed with good poise and high
mobility make this build a nimble and high damaging (if somewhat fragile)
duelist. The best approach would be to
stay out of range as long as possible, harassing an opponent with potent magic
and shield-piercing Moonlight Arrows to chip away at health, before engaging at
melee range and using the Rapier’s speed and high (when buffed) damage to
finish the fight quickly

I have yet
to attain this level or all of the necessary gear so my conjecture here is
exactly that: conjecture. Experienced
PvPers please comment on any major weaknesses I have failed to notice here and
potential PvP viability. The only piece
of the puzzle I am unwilling to budge on is the inclusion of the Big Hat in the
armor set, or the inclusion of any Giant armor as I hate its look. Looking forward to your commentary!

nice build my freind, my only problem is casters tend to be very hit and miss if you get the element of suprise you can hit them but spells can be dodged with such ease, id focus more on the velka's i have a build that uses velkas and it a very deadly weapon in the right hands keep it up and may you have many victories

Thanks for the fast response! Would you advocate scaling back the investment in INT and pumping up VIT a little more?

You will rarely hit people with White Dragon Breath unless you learn how to effectively aim without lock-on. Luring them into rolling straight into your dragon breath would be fatal if you can manage it.

With 50 intel, I strongly suggest the MLGS. It is AWESOME for intel builds.

And welcome to the forums, man.

Good build.

this should help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vDdAiTmXDY&feature=relmfu

Thanks for the vid, provided some good insight into how to use WDB in PvP. I investigated the Moonlight Greatsword and it looks awesome. In addition it seems like an Enchanted Composite Bow (requires 16 STR like the Greatsword) out competes a similarly upgraded BBoP with Moonlight Arrows (at least at PvP range)

Unfortunately I have already invested enough points into DEX that I'm more or less committed to the Rapier Setup. I think it should still be viable though and the BBoP will be perfectly effective at range in PvE.

I've elected to drop INT ro 44, forfeiting WDB but giving me 6 more points to pump into VIT and improve melee durability.

rapiers are good just dont use your shield as a crutch youll find most people will go berserk if you turtle and youll end up stunlocked,

Good tip. I wasn't planning on turtleing since I will primarily be using the Grass Cress Shield. That 5%of damage it lets through can be significant when blocking heavy weapons and its stability isn't great either. The shield is basically going to be a last line of defense if I'm cornered or can't dodge out, in addition to acting as a stamina regen booster.

Sorry to keep bumping this/commenting on my own thread. This is the link to the finalized build, I added an extra point of STR to be able to use a Magic Composite Bow +10 in PvP for better magic damage with Moonlight Arrows and scaled down INT to boost VIT for melee.

http://tinyurl.com/bq7yhwo

According to the calculator, you don't have enough strength to use Ricard's rapier. 16 strength? For a rapier? That can't be right...

Ricard's only requires 7 i'm sure

It is saying that I don't have enough strength to wield the Composite Bow. I'm fairly confident that the numbers they are using reflect the one-handed strength, but as we all know bows can only be used two-handed. Every minimum requirement listing I can find online for the bow lists it at 11. It's a little bit of an annoying oversight on the calculator as it won't display the bow's damage.

Thankfully you changed out the bow. The Longbows are great in PvE but anyone with half a brain will tear you to shreds if you pull out a Longbow in PvP, they just take too long to fire. Also don't overlooking the humble shortbow, requires less Str and scales better with Dex while firing just as fast as composite, you may do better with it and save yourself from upping Str.

I'm considering a possible rebuild, or more accurately a tweak. I have been doing some reading about Rapier riposte damage. I tested tested it myself and it is indeed awesome, much higher than the crit rating would imply. As a result I'm considering a tweak that focuses more on this. The build is below. Quick note I swapped RoFP for the Hornet Ring (I know the fap ring is awesome, honestly I think it's a little cheesy) and the Grass Crest Shield for the Target Shield. I also decided to just main Velka's Rapier for PvP since if I'm going to be evading and swapping out for the bow at intervals recasting CMW on Ricard's Rapier is going to be a pain. Take a look and let me know how you think it compares to the first build, which I will repost as the second link for easy reference.

Tweaked Build

http://tinyurl.com/d99nxs4

Original Build

http://tinyurl.com/ceuwxuw