Anyone Optimize the Shugenja? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Anyone Optimize the Shugenja? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
o_b_livion
03-17-07, 03:53 PM I have heard of people who have optimize the classes, even their familiars. So anyone has any advice to optimize the shugenja.

Can anyone offer which element to focus in? Feats to take? Spells preferred over others?

Thanks in advance.
enygmatic_me
03-17-07, 03:56 PM The CharOp Boards (http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=339) is the best place for this question. That is where you will find any and all optimization help that is needed.
monkofcuthbert4684
03-18-07, 02:08 PM I'm in a campaign playing a fire shugenja, but here's some basic advice for all of them:

If you want to heal, specialize in water.
If you want to deal damage, specialize in fire.
If you want to protect, specialize in earth.
If you want utility, specialize in air.

For feats, armor proficency wouldn't be that bad. If you want better weapons, take MWP (longsword and longbow are good chaioces; or play an elf). Animal cohort isn't a bad feat (for a link to the feat, go to Barbarian Question thread under Classes and Prestige Classes.

For a race, I would take elf or human. The bonus feats help, but you get free MWP feats for an elf.

Basically, it comes down to personal style; the specialization chooses it all.
o_b_livion
03-18-07, 02:53 PM What kind of campaign are you playing? Is it a Rokugan-like campaign or more of a 'western' setting? How is your fire shugenja doing (Gets hurts a lot, does ok, does real well)?

How does a shugenja fair in a non-Rokugan setting?

Would anyone recommend starting out as a sorceror to have Mage Armor and Magic Missile/Shield then take levels in Shugenja so you'd have some protection?

Im thinking more of specializing in air, getting away from combat while raining down with fire spells and healing others if need be. Planning on taking Fiery Burst from Complete Mage so magic can be conserved.

Any help on how to BUILD a good shugenja would be appreciated. I can't find it here on optimizing shugenja, wish the search engine here was better.
The_Shaman
03-18-07, 03:03 PM The CharOp Boards (http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=339) is the best place for this question. That is where you will find any and all optimization help that is needed.

And a lot more, trust me :) For PrCs, I'm wondering about Mystic Wanderer... That's one heck of a synergy you get, presuming you don't want to wear armor.
o_b_livion
03-18-07, 09:27 PM That's nice....

but how do you find something in there without a search option? Annoying-click-and-read-everything-kind-of-option am I left with?
serow_#R
03-18-07, 10:39 PM That's nice....

but how do you find something in there without a search option? Annoying-click-and-read-everything-kind-of-option am I left with?

You google it.
Add this after typing in your searching keywords
site:boards1.wizards.com
monkofcuthbert4684
03-24-07, 01:34 PM What kind of campaign are you playing? Is it a Rokugan-like campaign or more of a 'western' setting? How is your fire shugenja doing (Gets hurts a lot, does ok, does real well)?

How does a shugenja fair in a non-Rokugan setting?

Would anyone recommend starting out as a sorceror to have Mage Armor and Magic Missile/Shield then take levels in Shugenja so you'd have some protection?

Im thinking more of specializing in air, getting away from combat while raining down with fire spells and healing others if need be. Planning on taking Fiery Burst from Complete Mage so magic can be conserved.

Any help on how to BUILD a good shugenja would be appreciated. I can't find it here on optimizing shugenja, wish the search engine here was better.
Well, we're actually in a campaign based on more of a European setting. My shugenja was exiled from his homeland for treason (tried to help rebels assasinate a corrupt leader).

My shugenja is doing pretty good, and people don't mind him due to his high charisma. He's actually the parties leader, and the group follows his orders unquestionably.
Kurama Youko
03-24-07, 05:50 PM If you can use Forgotten Realms Material and Unearthed Arcana here is a good idea.

Shujenga 2/Human Paragon 3/Mystic Wanderer 10/Spell Dancer 5.

The Synergy here is unbelieveable.

With Feats like Extend Spell and Persistant Spell you can make your buffs (of any spell level) last 24 hours with out neccesarily using higher level spell slots thanks to Spell Dancers spelldance ability, you get various spell-like abilities like Charm Monster, Suggestion, Mass Charm, Sleep, and Spell-Like Dances, Entralling Dance, Confusing Dance, Sleep Dance, all DC's use Charisma and you only miss out on 1 caster level because of Human Paragon, but you gain alot in its place. I have a sampe build of a 20th lv such character, they specialize in Earth Spells and have the Gentle Raining Order.
It has a AC of 41 or 42 with barely buffed, a Winter Wolf Familiar who I ride around on during Combat who is also my offensive attack when need be. (Share Spell and all those buffs I can cast make me and him very tough.)

Shugenja 2/Human Paragon 3/Mystic Wanderer 10/Spell Dancer 5
Size & Type: Medium Sized Humanoid (Human)
Hit Dice: 7d6+13d8+140 (225)
Iniatitive: +7
Speed: 30ft
Armor Class: 41 (Sacred +12, Dex +7, Barkskin +5, Def +5, +2 Shield) or 42 with Dodge, Touch AC: 22, FF: 34
Base Attack Bonus/Grapple: +9/+9
Attack: +9 Touch Spells or +16 Range Touch
Full Attack: +9 Touch Spells or +16 Range Touch or +16 MW Long Bow (1d8)
Space / Reach: 5ft/5ft
Special Attack: Spells, Spell-Like abilities, Enthralling Dance, Sleep Dance, Confusing Dance,
Special Qualities: Element Focus, Sense Elements, Adaptive Learning, Glory of the Divine, Familiar, Lore of Nature, Gem Magic, Greater Potion (I, II, III), Timeless Body, Spell Dance, Evasion, Cooperative Dance
Saves: Fort: +5 Ref: +12 Will: +17
Abilities: Str: 10 Dex: 25 Con: 25 Int: 12 Wis: 12 Cha: 34
Skills: Concentration +18(25), Diplomacy +5(17), Heal +5(6), Knowledge (nature) +18(19), Perform (Dance) +23(35), Profession (herbalist) +7(8), Ride +18(25), Spellcraft +5(6), Tumble +19(26)
Feats: (H)Iron Will, 1st-Dodge, (B)Combat Casting, 3rd-Mobility, 6th-Endurance, (B)Attune Gem, (B)Brew Potion, 9th-Extend Spell, 12th-Persistant Spell, 15th-Improved Familiar, 18th-Twin Spell,
Environment: Any
Organization: Any
Challenge Rating: 20
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: True Neutral
Advancement: Character Class
Level Adjustment: +0

Winter Wolf Familiar

Spell Dance Rounds: 12 Rounds of Safe Dancing.
Spell-Like Abilities: Once per day each, DC 10 + Spell Level + 12 (Sleep, Suggestion, Charm Monster, Mass Charm)
Spell-Like Dances: Sleep Dance (DC 23) Once per day, Enthrall Dance (27) Twice per day, Confusing Dance (DC 26) Once per day.
Equipment:
+6 Cloak of Charisma
+5 Tome of Charisma
+6 Amulet of Health
+5 Tome of Con
+6 Gloves of Dexterity
+5 Tome of Dex
+5 Ring of Deflection
Ring of Force Shield
Kurama Youko
03-24-07, 10:30 PM Here is a sample spell list i put togather for the above character, it having a caster level of 19

Order of the Perfect Sculpture Rain Spells
0th-Mending
1st-Magic Stone
2nd-Soften Earth and Stone
3rd-Stone Shape
4th-Subvert Planar Essence
5th-Transmute Rock to Mud
6th-Flesh to Stone
7th-Statue
8th-Earthquake
9th-Antipathy

Favored Element (Earth) Spells
0th-Mage Hand, Virtue, Resistance
1st-Shield of Faith, Pass Without Trace, Sanctuary
2nd-Barkskin, Glitterdust, Hold Person,
3rd-Prayer, Greater Magic Weapon
4th-Death Ward, Spike Stones
5th-Spell Resistance, Passwall
6th-Stoneskin, Banishment
7th-Disintegrate, Spell Turning
8th-Protection from Spells, Binding
9th-Imprisonment,

Other Element Spells
0th-Cure Minor Wounds, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Purify Food and Drink,
1st-Cure Light Wounds, Speak with Animal
2nd-Cure Moderate Wounds, Resist Energy,
3rd-Cure Serious Wounds, Glyph of Warding
4th-Cure Critical Wounds, Restoration
5th-Righteous Might, Commune with Nature
6th-Greater Dispel Magic,
7th-Resurrection,
8th-Heal, Mass
9th-Summon Monolith

Note that I added Summon Monolith to 9th lv other element spells, i dont think any sane DM who has read the shugenja class and sees that its a elemental worshipping class would refuse such a addition.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
o_b_livion 03-17-07, 03:53 PM	I have heard of people who have optimize the classes, even their familiars. So anyone has any advice to optimize the shugenja. Can anyone offer which element to focus in? Feats to take? Spells preferred over others? Thanks in advance.
enygmatic_me 03-17-07, 03:56 PM	The CharOp Boards (http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=339) is the best place for this question. That is where you will find any and all optimization help that is needed.
monkofcuthbert4684 03-18-07, 02:08 PM	I'm in a campaign playing a fire shugenja, but here's some basic advice for all of them: If you want to heal, specialize in water. If you want to deal damage, specialize in fire. If you want to protect, specialize in earth. If you want utility, specialize in air. For feats, armor proficency wouldn't be that bad. If you want better weapons, take MWP (longsword and longbow are good chaioces; or play an elf). Animal cohort isn't a bad feat (for a link to the feat, go to Barbarian Question thread under Classes and Prestige Classes. For a race, I would take elf or human. The bonus feats help, but you get free MWP feats for an elf. Basically, it comes down to personal style; the specialization chooses it all.
o_b_livion 03-18-07, 02:53 PM	What kind of campaign are you playing? Is it a Rokugan-like campaign or more of a 'western' setting? How is your fire shugenja doing (Gets hurts a lot, does ok, does real well)? How does a shugenja fair in a non-Rokugan setting? Would anyone recommend starting out as a sorceror to have Mage Armor and Magic Missile/Shield then take levels in Shugenja so you'd have some protection? Im thinking more of specializing in air, getting away from combat while raining down with fire spells and healing others if need be. Planning on taking Fiery Burst from Complete Mage so magic can be conserved. Any help on how to BUILD a good shugenja would be appreciated. I can't find it here on optimizing shugenja, wish the search engine here was better.
The_Shaman 03-18-07, 03:03 PM	The CharOp Boards (http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=339) is the best place for this question. That is where you will find any and all optimization help that is needed. And a lot more, trust me :) For PrCs, I'm wondering about Mystic Wanderer... That's one heck of a synergy you get, presuming you don't want to wear armor.
o_b_livion 03-18-07, 09:27 PM	That's nice.... but how do you find something in there without a search option? Annoying-click-and-read-everything-kind-of-option am I left with?
serow_#R 03-18-07, 10:39 PM	That's nice.... but how do you find something in there without a search option? Annoying-click-and-read-everything-kind-of-option am I left with? You google it. Add this after typing in your searching keywords site:boards1.wizards.com
monkofcuthbert4684 03-24-07, 01:34 PM	What kind of campaign are you playing? Is it a Rokugan-like campaign or more of a 'western' setting? How is your fire shugenja doing (Gets hurts a lot, does ok, does real well)? How does a shugenja fair in a non-Rokugan setting? Would anyone recommend starting out as a sorceror to have Mage Armor and Magic Missile/Shield then take levels in Shugenja so you'd have some protection? Im thinking more of specializing in air, getting away from combat while raining down with fire spells and healing others if need be. Planning on taking Fiery Burst from Complete Mage so magic can be conserved. Any help on how to BUILD a good shugenja would be appreciated. I can't find it here on optimizing shugenja, wish the search engine here was better. Well, we're actually in a campaign based on more of a European setting. My shugenja was exiled from his homeland for treason (tried to help rebels assasinate a corrupt leader). My shugenja is doing pretty good, and people don't mind him due to his high charisma. He's actually the parties leader, and the group follows his orders unquestionably.
Kurama Youko 03-24-07, 05:50 PM	If you can use Forgotten Realms Material and Unearthed Arcana here is a good idea. Shujenga 2/Human Paragon 3/Mystic Wanderer 10/Spell Dancer 5. The Synergy here is unbelieveable. With Feats like Extend Spell and Persistant Spell you can make your buffs (of any spell level) last 24 hours with out neccesarily using higher level spell slots thanks to Spell Dancers spelldance ability, you get various spell-like abilities like Charm Monster, Suggestion, Mass Charm, Sleep, and Spell-Like Dances, Entralling Dance, Confusing Dance, Sleep Dance, all DC's use Charisma and you only miss out on 1 caster level because of Human Paragon, but you gain alot in its place. I have a sampe build of a 20th lv such character, they specialize in Earth Spells and have the Gentle Raining Order. It has a AC of 41 or 42 with barely buffed, a Winter Wolf Familiar who I ride around on during Combat who is also my offensive attack when need be. (Share Spell and all those buffs I can cast make me and him very tough.) Shugenja 2/Human Paragon 3/Mystic Wanderer 10/Spell Dancer 5 Size & Type: Medium Sized Humanoid (Human) Hit Dice: 7d6+13d8+140 (225) Iniatitive: +7 Speed: 30ft Armor Class: 41 (Sacred +12, Dex +7, Barkskin +5, Def +5, +2 Shield) or 42 with Dodge, Touch AC: 22, FF: 34 Base Attack Bonus/Grapple: +9/+9 Attack: +9 Touch Spells or +16 Range Touch Full Attack: +9 Touch Spells or +16 Range Touch or +16 MW Long Bow (1d8) Space / Reach: 5ft/5ft Special Attack: Spells, Spell-Like abilities, Enthralling Dance, Sleep Dance, Confusing Dance, Special Qualities: Element Focus, Sense Elements, Adaptive Learning, Glory of the Divine, Familiar, Lore of Nature, Gem Magic, Greater Potion (I, II, III), Timeless Body, Spell Dance, Evasion, Cooperative Dance Saves: Fort: +5 Ref: +12 Will: +17 Abilities: Str: 10 Dex: 25 Con: 25 Int: 12 Wis: 12 Cha: 34 Skills: Concentration +18(25), Diplomacy +5(17), Heal +5(6), Knowledge (nature) +18(19), Perform (Dance) +23(35), Profession (herbalist) +7(8), Ride +18(25), Spellcraft +5(6), Tumble +19(26) Feats: (H)Iron Will, 1st-Dodge, (B)Combat Casting, 3rd-Mobility, 6th-Endurance, (B)Attune Gem, (B)Brew Potion, 9th-Extend Spell, 12th-Persistant Spell, 15th-Improved Familiar, 18th-Twin Spell, Environment: Any Organization: Any Challenge Rating: 20 Treasure: Standard Alignment: True Neutral Advancement: Character Class Level Adjustment: +0 Winter Wolf Familiar Spell Dance Rounds: 12 Rounds of Safe Dancing. Spell-Like Abilities: Once per day each, DC 10 + Spell Level + 12 (Sleep, Suggestion, Charm Monster, Mass Charm) Spell-Like Dances: Sleep Dance (DC 23) Once per day, Enthrall Dance (27) Twice per day, Confusing Dance (DC 26) Once per day. Equipment: +6 Cloak of Charisma +5 Tome of Charisma +6 Amulet of Health +5 Tome of Con +6 Gloves of Dexterity +5 Tome of Dex +5 Ring of Deflection Ring of Force Shield
Kurama Youko 03-24-07, 10:30 PM	Here is a sample spell list i put togather for the above character, it having a caster level of 19 Order of the Perfect Sculpture Rain Spells 0th-Mending 1st-Magic Stone 2nd-Soften Earth and Stone 3rd-Stone Shape 4th-Subvert Planar Essence 5th-Transmute Rock to Mud 6th-Flesh to Stone 7th-Statue 8th-Earthquake 9th-Antipathy Favored Element (Earth) Spells 0th-Mage Hand, Virtue, Resistance 1st-Shield of Faith, Pass Without Trace, Sanctuary 2nd-Barkskin, Glitterdust, Hold Person, 3rd-Prayer, Greater Magic Weapon 4th-Death Ward, Spike Stones 5th-Spell Resistance, Passwall 6th-Stoneskin, Banishment 7th-Disintegrate, Spell Turning 8th-Protection from Spells, Binding 9th-Imprisonment, Other Element Spells 0th-Cure Minor Wounds, Detect Magic, Read Magic, Purify Food and Drink, 1st-Cure Light Wounds, Speak with Animal 2nd-Cure Moderate Wounds, Resist Energy, 3rd-Cure Serious Wounds, Glyph of Warding 4th-Cure Critical Wounds, Restoration 5th-Righteous Might, Commune with Nature 6th-Greater Dispel Magic, 7th-Resurrection, 8th-Heal, Mass 9th-Summon Monolith Note that I added Summon Monolith to 9th lv other element spells, i dont think any sane DM who has read the shugenja class and sees that its a elemental worshipping class would refuse such a addition.