TOPIC: Optimizing a Fighter for Nightmare Difficulty

With just under 4 months until GenCon, (Yes the countdown is in effect), I started planning out my character for a couple of Nightmare runs. I just wanted some opinions as to what the ideal Fighter looks like going into these runs. If money/token availability was no object what would you pick? <br /><br />This is what I am currently rocking:<br /><br />Above the Head: Ioun Stone - Iridescent Spindle  (Do not require air)<br />Above the Head: Ioun Stone - Faceted Amber      (-2 Damage from ranged attacks and spells)<br />Above the Head: Ioun Stone - Lavender Ellipsoid    (Immune to Undead touch attacks)<br />Above the Head: Ioun Stone - Violet Prism            (Absorb 1 spell of 3rd level or less)<br /><br />Head: Dragonscale Helm  (+2 AC, -1 Fire Damage)<br />Neck: Necklace of the Oak (+2 to Strength)<br />Armor: Dragonscale Armor (+8 AC, -1 Fire Damage)<br />Back: +2 Cloak of Resistance (+2 to all Saves)<br />Waist: Girdle of Hill Giant Strength (+3 Strength)<br />Wrists: +2 Bracers of Defense (+2 AC)<br />Hands: Gauntlets of Ogre Power (+2 Strength)<br />Mainhand: +2 Dread Sword (When Jeff sends out PURP token creation award tokens)<br />Offhand: Dragonscale Shield (+3 AC, -1 Fire Damage)<br />Feet: Boots of Free Movement (Immune to Slow, entanglement, etc.)<br /><br />Ring 1: ?<br />Ring 2: ?<br /><br />Random Ranged Weapon: Repeating Heavy Crossbow (Just because)<br /><br />-Just some random questions:<br /><br />Is the Celestial Girdle better then the Girdle of Hill Giant Strength? The bonus to hit and damage from the Celestial is better<br /><br />Is the Plate of Absorption Better then the Dragonscale Armor? Same Armor bonus, but Absorption gets -1 to all melee damage where the Dragonscale is -1 to fire, this does however break up the Dragonscale set for me, removing the -10 bonus for having all 3 Dragonscale Items<br /><br />+2 Torc to AC, or Necklace?<br /><br />What are the best rings for a fighter to have?<br /><br />Is anyone selling a Questor's Charm, slotless is nice, and I haven't seen one for sale.<br /><br />Discuss.<br /><br />

The Celestial Girdle has no to hit bonus, so it's better if you like doing more damage, and the Girdle is better if you like the to hit bonus.<br /><br />I'd definitely keep the Dragonscale Armor to keep that -10 on Fire Damage.  Unless you swap out both the Dragonscale Armor and Shield for +1 Plate and +1 Tower Shield.  <br /><br />Necklace is probably better for the Fighter, as your AC is already so high.  <br /><br />I'd recommend two Savings Throw Rings - maybe Fortitude and Will.  <br /><br />Just my thoughts...  =)

<br />The Celestial Girdle has no to hit bonus, so it's better if you like doing more damage, and the Girdle is better if you like the to hit bonus.<br /><br />I'd definitely keep the Dragonscale Armor to keep that -10 on Fire Damage.  Unless you swap out both the Dragonscale Armor and Shield for +1 Plate and +1 Tower Shield.  <br /><br />Necklace is probably better for the Fighter, as your AC is already so high.  <br /><br />I'd recommend two Savings Throw Rings - maybe Fortitude and Will.  <br /><br />Just my thoughts...   =)<br />

<br /><br />Busted on the Celestial Girdle...good call Mike.

If you decide to break up the dragonscale set and go with Plate of Absorption, you might want to consider using a Ring of Fire Elemental Control.  It will give you back some of the fire resistance you lost, plus it will damage anything that actually hits you in melee.  For the other ring, perhaps a Ring of the Eye or a Feedback Loop.  Of course, you could taunt the monsters by showing your utter disdain for their might by wearing an Ancient Ruby Ring as your second ring.

Ring of Will is also a good choice.  The mind flayer last year paralyzed most of our heavy-hitters with its mental attack.  (We had to make do with the bard, monk, rouge, and ranger.)

just wondering, are you going more for the solo-style (what is best for me) or team-style (what is best for the party) fighter?<br /><br />solo-style: switch to the +2torc rather than the necklace of the oak, you will still do plenty of damage when you hit, but add to your AC.<br /><br />team-style: keep the necklace of the oak, but change weapon to seylahs +2 sundering cestus, you have all the +to hit bonus so you can hit and sunder the monsters AC to help the rest of the party hit as well.<br /><br />and just in general for fighter, i would prefer helm of clear thought, plate armor of absorption, and +1 tower sheild.<br />and last, i agree with going for saving throw rings.  but really, whatever you want.  the good thing about only equipping one person is that you can easily change things like rings out when you hear rumors about the dungeon...i have equipment set aside for each class, so that becomes a bit difficult to do for me.

I'd keep your Dragonscale Armor set with the -10 to Fire Damage at least until the Smoak adventures are over  =)

Hey DS,<br /><br />  This is what you want. Necklace of course it's just too good not to be wearing with the Gauntlets. This will give you all the bonuses you will ever need to hit even if/when you have an off slide. Lets face it that wont happen very often because your already a good slider that's why you play the fighter. With those two items chosen you can chuck the Girdle and go with the Celest G. This will give you something that no other item is going to give you +2 damage. Adding on here to the point of overkill here is exactly what you want. The more damage done the quicker the battle ends. Hence save on taking damage for all involved.(If that's not thinking of the group I dont know what is! Right Kurt?)<br />Top all that off with the cherry on the top of that sunday(+2 Dreadsword). The Barbarian will be envious now. If he/she isn't well they should be. <br />Don't break up the Dragonscale set or the Celest set get the Celest Bracers and the +1 Keen Longsword. Immune to attacks from Evil Outsiders who wants to pass that up. Plus the Keen can be used when your going to use your power attack. Why? Your only going to score on a 19 or 20  anyway so why not double your chances to score a crit. with the only two numbers you can hit with. Your always going to get that use on every run you do. Way too useful. <br />Since your not maxing out your AC(and you really don't want to there are 7 other people with you) use the Cloak of Displacement. There is always one hit that slips thru during the run especially with some determined DMs. The look and thier face is priceless when they think they actually got a hit and you get to spring this on them. Sorry. Not Really! LOL! There's only two rings that you really care about The Fire Elemental and Shock. Fighters suck at saves when allowed so taking none from fire and half from lightning makes it a whole lot less painful. These two rings will also take a lot of pressure off when trying to make that all important roll. You'll make it more than not now. This is why the Boots of Warmth also. <br />Here is your best options with a ranged weapon. The Skull of Doom and the +1 Mighty Longbow(think Celest Girdle). I like your other choices I have them also and it works really well for me. Just remember you can't stop everything and your supporting cast can help out with your weak points when needed. That's why they carry scrolls. Isn't it?

Here's a couple of alternatives:<br /><br />Go with the Belt of Retreival and Bull's Strength potions.  This gives you +2 to hit and +2 to damage, better than either the Celestial Girdle or the Girdle of Hill Giant Strength.  (just costs Bull's Strength potions)<br /><br />Carry a set of Bracers of Archery  (if you get into a ranged combat, swap them out for your celestial bracers).  This adds +2 damage, in combination with a Mighty Longbow, your get lots of "plus" damage.<br /><br />Boots of Sure Footing adds +2 Reflex save, something useful for a fighter.  Don't forget the +2 Cloak of Resistance.  <br /><br />Rings:  Iron Will, choice between: Reflex, Fire Elemental Command<br /><br />Could go with an Amulet of Thorns (4 damage to monster if it hits you).  My prefernce would be Horn of Plenty (first), Necklace of the Oak (second)

I think there are so many great items out there that it really depends on the situation you are going into.  You may want to queue up several options for certain slots (like neck and rings) so that you can swap stuff out to optimize for certain situations.  <br /><br />You might consider the Medallion of Greyhawk for the neck slot (extra HP plus immunity to all manner of stuff).  You could switch between it and the Oak depending upon the situation you expect.  <br /><br />If you can find one, Part One of the Rod of Seven Parts is a GREAT slotless addition to any character (+1 HP).  <br /><br />The Ring of Fire Elemental Command is really nice if you are going to encounter any sort of fire attacks. 

+4 save rings are the best use of the two ring slots IMO.

It's too bad the rods don't stack. I think smak would have a +14 to HP.