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Joined Aug 2010

1271 Posts

The Dominatrix: a Seeker Assassin Controller

Aka: The Ace of Spades

The time has come for you to pay. You have been a very, very bad boy. Grovel before me and perhaps I will show you mercy. Or maybe I’ll just make you do my dishes.

Obligatory shout out to Alcestis - he used the name first - sorry man but the name and build fit!

Build premise

The Dominatrix is a controller, pure and simple. She specializes ultimately in later levels as a single target controller. Not any run of the mill single target controller mind you, but rather an absolute OBEY as long as you amuse me controller.

How does she accomplish this? Well at the capstone of her career the dominatrix will be able to dominate any single entity for the entire encounter. This is not a one shot Daily we’re talking about either, but a once per Encounter snatch and grab the coolest play toy on the board and make them a subservient, quivering worm.

The Dominatrix’s trick lies in her ED Glorious Spirit. Her level 30 power Bearer of Doom will ensure that via the Assassin's power Shadow’s Puppet, her dominion over her foe will last as long as she sees fit.

In a nutshell on Turn 1

Minor Action – Designate any enemy she can see as her Worthy Foe

Move Action – Teleport adjacent to her Worthy Foe via Seeker of Foes

Standard Action – Attack her Worthy Foe with Shadow Puppet while using power attack and using her Godplate Summoning Armor (which she is un-proficient with to gain a -2 to the attack) to net a -4 to her un optimized Dexterity attack.

She will miss. As an example Orcus has a 48 AC. The Dominatrix’s attack bonus with Shadow Puppet is a +23. So technically she doesn’t even need to use Power Attack or Summoning her Godplate un-proficiently to need a 20 to hit Orcus. I’ll take these odds.

When she misses with Shadow Puppet, Bearer of Doom will allow her to retain the use of this power, and all miss effects will still apply. In this case that is Dominate until the EONT.

Rinse and repeat.

The Dominatrix is hardly a one trick pony. She will be using Biting Swarm, Psychic Lock, and her Githyanki Silver Weapon to dish out -4 to attack against would be antagonists. During the majority of her career she will be using her Daily Power Call of the Winter Wolf (from level 5 on) to make this a -6

Combine this with optimized RBA’s, Movement hindering, Proning, excellent accuracy, and initiative optimization, The Dominatrix is sure to be the life of the Party.

Item Notes: The Dominatrix is almost completely item independent, the only exception being her Githyanki Silver Weapon and perhaps Eagle Eye goggles. I went ahead and tricked her out with some goodies along the way, especially at level 30 (Ultimate Shield of Defense) but in no way are any of these items mandatory to play The Dominatrix.

Let the beatings commence!

Level 1 Snapshot

Longtooth Shifter, Seeker
Build: Protecting Seeker
Seeker's Bond: Spiritbond

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 14, Con 11, Dex 13, Int 10, Wis 20, Cha 8.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 13, Dex 10, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 8.

AC: 15
Fort: 12
Reflex: 12
Will: 16
HP: 23 Surges: 7 Surge Value: 5

Initiative: +1

TRAINED SKILLS
Nature +10, Perception +10, Insight +10, Athletics +9

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +1, Arcana, Bluff -1, Diplomacy -1, Dungeoneering +5, Endurance +2, Heal +5, History, Intimidate -1, Religion, Stealth +1, Streetwise -1, Thievery +1

FEATS
Level 1: Armor Proficency (Hide Armor)

POWERS
Seeker at-will 1: Biting Swarm
Seeker at-will 1: Grappling Spirits
Seeker encounter 1: Possessing Spirits
Seeker daily 1: Rime Strike

Level 5 Snapshot

Longtooth Shifter, Seeker
Build: Protecting Seeker
Seeker's Bond: Spiritbond

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 15, Con 13, Dex 11, Int 10, Wis 21, Cha 8.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 13, Dex 11, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 8.

AC: 19
Fort: 16
Reflex: 15
Will: 20
HP: 45 Surges: 8 Surge Value: 11

Initiative: +2

TRAINED SKILLS
Nature +12, Perception +12, Insight +12, Athletics +10

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +1, Arcana +2, Bluff +1, Diplomacy +1, Dungeoneering +7, Endurance +4, Heal +7, History +2, Intimidate +1, Religion +2, Stealth +1, Streetwise +1, Thievery +1

FEATS
Level 1: Armor Proficiency: Hide
Level 2: Weapon Proficiency (Drow Long Knife)
Level 4: Shield Proficiency: Light

Level 11 Snapshot

Longtooth Shifter, Seeker, Swift Strider
Build: Protecting Seeker
Seeker's Bond: Spiritbond

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 17, Con 14, Dex 12, Int 11, Wis 23, Cha 9.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 13, Dex 11, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 8.

AC: 25
Fort: 25
Reflex: 24
Will: 27
HP: 76 Surges: 9 Surge Value: 19

Initiative: +10

TRAINED SKILLS
Nature +16, Perception +16, Insight +16, Athletics +16

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +7, Arcana +5, Bluff +4, Diplomacy +4, Dungeoneering +11, Endurance +8, Heal +11, History +5, Intimidate +4, Religion +5, Stealth +5, Streetwise +4, Thievery +5

FEATS
Level 1: Armor Proficiency: Hide
Level 2: Weapon Proficiency (Drow Long Knife)
Level 4: Weapon Expertise (Heavy Blade)
Level 6: Shield Proficiency: Light
Level 8: Improved Initiative
Level 10: Improved Defenses
Level 11: Psychic Lock

Level 15 Snapshot

Longtooth Shifter, Seeker, Swift Strider
Build: Protecting Seeker
Seeker's Bond: Spiritbond

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 17, Con 15, Dex 12, Int 11, Wis 24, Cha 9.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 13, Dex 11, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 8.

AC: 29
Fort: 26
Reflex: 27
Will: 31
HP: 97 Surges: 9 Surge Value: 24

Initiative: +18

TRAINED SKILLS
Nature +19, Perception +19, Insight +19, Athletics +16

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +7, Arcana +7, Bluff +6, Diplomacy +6, Dungeoneering +14, Endurance +8, Heal +14, History +7, Intimidate +6, Religion +7, Stealth +5, Streetwise +6, Thievery +5

FEATS
Level 1: Armor Proficiency: Hide
Level 2: Weapon Proficiency (Drow Long Knife)
Level 4: Shield Proficiency: Light
Level 6: Weapon Expertise (Heavy Blade)
Level 8: Improved Initiative
Level 10: Improved Defenses
Level 11: Psychic Lock
Level 12: Distant Shot
Level 14: Battlewise

POWERS
Seeker at-will 1: Biting Swarm
Seeker at-will 1: Grappling Spirits
Seeker encounter 1: Possessing Spirits
Seeker daily 1: Rime Strike
Seeker utility 2: Anticipate Maneuver
Seeker encounter 3: Winter Spirit
Seeker daily 5: Call of the Ghost Wolf
Seeker utility 6: Prescient Maneuver
Seeker encounter 7: Windstorm Strike
Seeker daily 9: Nature's Vengeance
Seeker utility 10: Feywild Jaunt
Seeker encounter 13: Wind Spirits (replaces Possessing Spirits)
Seeker daily 15: Fey Sinkhole (replaces Rime Strike)

Level 21 Snapshot

Longtooth Shifter, Seeker, Swift Strider, Glorious Spirit
Build: Protecting Seeker
Seeker's Bond: Spiritbond

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 18, Con 17, Dex 13, Int 12, Wis 26, Cha 10.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 13, Dex 11, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 8.

AC: 35
Fort: 30
Reflex: 33
Will: 34
HP: 129 Surges: 10 Surge Value: 32

Initiative: +22

TRAINED SKILLS
Nature +23, Perception +23, Insight +23, Athletics +20

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +10, Arcana +11, Bluff +10, Diplomacy +10, Dungeoneering +18, Endurance +12, Heal +18, History +11, Intimidate +10, Religion +11, Stealth +8, Streetwise +10, Thievery +8

Level 30 Snapshot

Longtooth Shifter, Seeker, Swift Strider, Glorious Spirit
Build: Protecting Seeker
Seeker's Bond: Spiritbond

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 20, Con 17, Dex 13, Int 12, Wis 28, Cha 10.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 12, Con 13, Dex 11, Int 10, Wis 18, Cha 8.

AC: 45 - 47 with Shadowband - 49 until bloodied
Fort: 41 - 43 with Shadowband - 45 with Shield of Ultimate Protection - 47 while not bloodied
Reflex: 44 - 46 with Shadowband
Will: 44 - 46 with Shadowband - 48 with Shield of Ultimate Protection
HP: 174 Surges: 10 Surge Value: 43

Initiative: +32

TRAINED SKILLS
Nature +29, Perception +29, Insight +29, Athletics +27, Stealth +19

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +16, Arcana +16, Bluff +15, Diplomacy +15, Dungeoneering +24, Endurance +18, Heal +24, History +16, Intimidate +15, Religion +16, Streetwise +15, Thievery +14

FEATS
Level 1: Armor Proficiency: Hide
Level 2: Weapon Proficiency (Drow Long Knife)
Level 4: Shield Proficiency: Light
Level 6: Weapon Expertise (Heavy Blade)
Level 8: Improved Initiative (retrained to Superior Initiative at Level 21)
Level 10: Improved Defenses
Level 11: Psychic Lock
Level 12: Distant Shot
Level 14: Weapon Focus (Heavy Blade)
Level 16: Shield Proficiency: Heavy
Level 18: Primal Eye
Level 20: Far Throw
Level 21: Epic Reflexes
Level 22: Second Skin
Level 24: Long Step
Level 26: Power Attack
Level 28: Shadow Initiate
Level 30: Adept Power

POWERS
Seeker at-will 1: Biting Swarm
Seeker at-will 1: Grappling Spirits
Seeker encounter 1: Possessing Spirits
Seeker daily 1: Rime Strike
Seeker utility 2: Anticipate Maneuver
Seeker encounter 3: Winter Spirit
Seeker daily 5: Call of the Ghost Wolf
Seeker utility 6: Prescient Maneuver
Seeker encounter 7: Windstorm Strike
Seeker daily 9: Nature's Vengeance
Seeker utility 10: Feywild Jaunt
Seeker encounter 13: Wind Spirits (replaces Possessing Spirits)
Seeker daily 15: Fey Sinkhole (replaces Rime Strike)
Seeker utility 16: Insightful Riposte
Seeker daily 19: Captivating Missile (replaces Call of the Ghost Wolf)
Seeker utility 22: Land Passage
Seeker encounter 23: Roaring Missile (replaces Winter Spirit)
Seeker daily 25: Slavering Sentinels (replaces Nature's Vengeance)
Seeker encounter 27: Devouring Arrow (replaces Windstorm Strike)
Seeker daily 29: Trampling Shot (retrained to Shadow Puppet at Adept Power) (replaces Fey Sinkhole)

All input and submissive candidates welcome.

Gorgeous George: The Irresistible Defender Lucid, Star of Mourning: Prince of Hell Jerry the God Slaying Ninja Bard Deadly Little Miho: A Godslaying Build Damage Inc. - An exercise in Brutality Kevin Costner, Prince of Thieves: How I intend to steal the wand of Orcus Thunderstruck! - A Storm Genasi Solar Flare Build Battery: Circle of Destruction The Dominatrix: aka The Ace of Spades - A Seeker/Assassin Controller Michael Buffer: Prescient Buff Machine extraordinaire Blackened: A Blackguard Dragon Riding Indomitable Champion Dark Star: A Charismatic Blackguard DPR build Blitzkrieg: A Tough as Nails Throwing Nova Ranger Keraptis: An Archmage Fiery Necromancer

My Name is MC DrowBane Wookie Fish Man on the ground Fan Girlz Rule Char Op's Last Stand" A Call to Arms I roll 20's The Wrath of MC DrowBane: Optimizing a Nerd Rapper

The Hall of Heroes: A Legendary Collective The Big Bang: A Guide to Novas

#2 Dec 22, 2010 17:55:31

Joined Aug 2010

1271 Posts

Just me and the boys kickin it.

My Name is MC DrowBane Wookie Fish Man on the ground Fan Girlz Rule Char Op's Last Stand" A Call to Arms I roll 20's The Wrath of MC DrowBane: Optimizing a Nerd Rapper

The Hall of Heroes: A Legendary Collective The Big Bang: A Guide to Novas

#3 Dec 22, 2010 17:55:56

Joined Aug 2010

1271 Posts

Strategies and key elements

General

Why Seeker? Spiritbond is what we are concerned with here. Being a throwing build the +1 to light/heavy thrown weapons is a no brainer. At low levels pre-magic weapon having the weapon return is also icing. The build will later on benefit from a higher Strength via damage buffs, as well as adding this bonus to our AC.

We are not concerned so much about our Spirit's rebuke power as we are about qualifying for the Swift Strider paragon path. More on this later.

Heroic strategies

Biting swarm - our goto At-Will de-buff, we will be building upon this angle later. And yes, it's an RBA.

Grappling Spirits - This At-Will is just plain awesome. An RBA that slows and negates shifting? Sign me up.

Posessing Spirits - A level 1 daze is sweet, 2 dazes (tho harder to pull off) is sweeter.

Rime Strike - Our first immobilizer. The damaging zone is incidental. A large degree of this builds MO is to delay oncoming brutes/melees with far reaching hindering effects.

Winter Spirit - another immobilizer, this one as an RBA

Call of the Ghost Wolf - I really love this Daily. Conjure a flanker that grants 2d6 extra damage to allies flanking with it. But the real goodness? All adjacent enemies to the wolf take -2 to attacks till EONT. Is to bad you can't move it.

Prescient Maneuver - shifting as an immediate interrupt half your speed when an enemy moves toward you is pretty groovy for this build.

Windstorm Strike - an area burst one within weapon range that pushes enemies = to my STR mod. Another delay tactic.

Nature's Vengeance - a nifty little zone that immobilizes and would be damagers and goes on to restrain them.

Feywild Jaunt - removing self from play as a move action could be useful

My Name is MC DrowBane Wookie Fish Man on the ground Fan Girlz Rule Char Op's Last Stand" A Call to Arms I roll 20's The Wrath of MC DrowBane: Optimizing a Nerd Rapper

The Hall of Heroes: A Legendary Collective The Big Bang: A Guide to Novas

#4 Dec 22, 2010 18:32:02

Kerrus

Joined Jan 2008

1454 Posts

'closing her eyes'? really?

Otherwise, looks interesting.

Oh Content, where art thou?

#5 Dec 22, 2010 18:33:20

Joined Aug 2010

1271 Posts

'closing her eyes'? really?

Otherwise, looks interesting.

It's taken out, it's not necessary and not very Char Oppy.

My Name is MC DrowBane Wookie Fish Man on the ground Fan Girlz Rule Char Op's Last Stand" A Call to Arms I roll 20's The Wrath of MC DrowBane: Optimizing a Nerd Rapper

The Hall of Heroes: A Legendary Collective The Big Bang: A Guide to Novas

#6 Dec 22, 2010 23:03:34

Vibes

Joined Feb 2007

23 Posts

Why are you a seeker? It seems to me you final trick doesn't require you to be a seeker and if you went like any non-dex class you would just as effective in that class. (And seeker needs more support to match up to other classes abilities).

So I understand the final trick but do not under stand why you choose a sub-optimal class.

#7 Dec 22, 2010 23:47:28

Joined Aug 2010

1271 Posts

Well for one I need to be a primal class. Two I like Seekers. The class in itself may be "sub optimal" but that doesn't mean that every build is.

I wanted a controller and I feel this build accomplishes what I set out to do.

My Name is MC DrowBane Wookie Fish Man on the ground Fan Girlz Rule Char Op's Last Stand" A Call to Arms I roll 20's The Wrath of MC DrowBane: Optimizing a Nerd Rapper

The Hall of Heroes: A Legendary Collective The Big Bang: A Guide to Novas

#8 Dec 23, 2010 0:23:42

Veleria

Joined Mar 2010

1377 Posts

Have you considered elf as a race for elven accuracy? You might crit someday.

#9 Dec 23, 2010 0:41:49

Joined Aug 2010

1271 Posts

Well seeing as how the "trick" of the build only comes into play on Level 30 - chances are you'll only be making so many rolls you actually want to miss. Like I said it's a crap shoot for sure, but i don't think being an elf simply because we might crit against Demogorgon is worth it for this build.

Now if I were to make an say an Elven Druid and do this trick that may be a different story. Right now the build benefits the most as a Longtooth Shifter, believe me I wish there were other options.

My Name is MC DrowBane Wookie Fish Man on the ground Fan Girlz Rule Char Op's Last Stand" A Call to Arms I roll 20's The Wrath of MC DrowBane: Optimizing a Nerd Rapper

The Hall of Heroes: A Legendary Collective The Big Bang: A Guide to Novas

#10 Dec 23, 2010 1:18:54

songnsilence

Joined Jun 2007

1307 Posts

I like the picture !

The capstone combo is very nice - just the idea of taking Orcus on a leash, indefinitely, is simply hillarious. Just make sure you have good necrotic resistance, and never loose your standard action - i doubt Orcus likes to be the Dominatrix's lapdog (although, looking at the picture, who knows?^^).

However, i'd consider to go Invoker|Seeker for some multitarget control - and the ability to use rod implements (again, see picture)...

CO Posts

#11 Dec 23, 2010 8:18:54

Joined Aug 2010

1271 Posts

Just make sure you have good necrotic resistance, and never loose your standard action - i doubt Orcus likes to be the Dominatrix's lapdog (although, looking at the picture, who knows?^^).

However, i'd consider to go Invoker|Seeker for some multitarget control - and the ability to use rod implements (again, see picture)...

These are... very good points. Hmmmm.

My Name is MC DrowBane Wookie Fish Man on the ground Fan Girlz Rule Char Op's Last Stand" A Call to Arms I roll 20's The Wrath of MC DrowBane: Optimizing a Nerd Rapper

The Hall of Heroes: A Legendary Collective The Big Bang: A Guide to Novas

#12 Dec 24, 2010 23:30:56

Joined Aug 2010

1271 Posts

A rare bump for me... hoping to get some big dog bashing. Updating.

Merry Christmas everyone.

My Name is MC DrowBane Wookie Fish Man on the ground Fan Girlz Rule Char Op's Last Stand" A Call to Arms I roll 20's The Wrath of MC DrowBane: Optimizing a Nerd Rapper

The Hall of Heroes: A Legendary Collective The Big Bang: A Guide to Novas

#13 Dec 26, 2010 13:05:48

Tech-Priest

Joined Apr 2010

2303 Posts

I'm actually impressed. This is a surprisingly fun-looking build.

Only you could make a Seeker worthwhile, MC, good job!

Ps. Should you get a moment of free time, I could definitely use the extra brainstorming with the charging/polearm shenanigans build I want to make.

RIP George! 4-21-11 RIP Abie! 1-2-13

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#14 Dec 26, 2010 14:15:55

Joined Aug 2010

1271 Posts

Thanks Tech. That's more obtuse's forte, i leave the fighter shenanigans to him. I'll have him take a look.

My Name is MC DrowBane Wookie Fish Man on the ground Fan Girlz Rule Char Op's Last Stand" A Call to Arms I roll 20's The Wrath of MC DrowBane: Optimizing a Nerd Rapper

The Hall of Heroes: A Legendary Collective The Big Bang: A Guide to Novas

#15 Dec 26, 2010 15:26:38

Tech-Priest

Joined Apr 2010

2303 Posts