Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Vorsk 09-28-06, 01:45 AM	Ok I am interested in playing a Druid/Wizard hybrid, a class called the Arcane Heirophant from the Races of the Wild book. What I am debating is the types of feats I should take to suppliment a wild shaping arcane spellcaster, but first I will give you a bit of information about the class incase you do not already know about it. Arcane Heirophant Prereqs: Any nonlawful Druid/Arcane caster OR Ranger/Arcane caster (2nd level arcane/divine spell casting) Knowldege Arcane & Nature (rank 8) Benefits: Hit Die: 1d6 Attack Bonus: Wizard Saves: Wizard Spell Casting Progression: +1 level of existing arcane class & +1 level of existing divine class every level of Arcane Heirophant AH lvl 1: Companion Familiar, Ignore Arcane Spell Failure, Wild Shape (Only if Druid) AH lvl 4: Channel Animal 2/day AH lvl 6: Channel Plant 1/day AH lvl 8: Channel Animal 4/day AH lvl 10: Channel Plant 2/day My character level progression I want to do is: Druid (1-3) Wizard (5-6) Arcane Heirophant (7-16) Arch-Mage (17, 18) - Mastery of Shaping, Mastery of Elements Druid (19, 20) Epic Arcane Heirophant (21+) The idea I have is a equal balance of Druid & Mage caster levels, keeping equal caster level, and a balance of feats to strengthen both classes. Granting me the strength of wildshaping at later levels into a Elemental while able to cast offensive/defensive spells in these forms. But the problem is that I am limited in a total of 8 feats, assuming to lvl 20, and I am also unsure of what type of companion to get. Questions: 1. What 8 feats would you take with a Human Druid/Wizard class assuming upto lvl 20? My thoughts were: Natural Spell (allows spell casting while in wild shape form) Eschew Materials (ignores basic material components for spells of less than 1g; +0 spell slots) Fast Shaping (Wild shape transformation is considered a movement instead of a full round action) Skill focus (Spellcraft) Spell Focus (Evocation) Spell Focus (Conjuration OR Abjuration) Undecided (x2) Undecided = Quicken, Maximized, Twin, Still, Silent, Empowered, Energy Subsitition & Energy Admixture, or any other wildshape feat. So what to do for the undecided feats? 2. What type of animal companion should I get? The Companion Familiar feat at 1st level of Arcane Heirophant allows the animal compaion to get the best of both Companion & Familiar abilities. So again what type of animal companion should I get, becuase I have no experience in this field. A tiger, dire tiger, bear, dire bear, a fairy dragon, a psuedodragon, etc... ??
starfire311 09-28-06, 08:53 AM	I would suggest druid 3/Wizard 3/arcane hierophant 10/ Mystic Theuge 4/epic arcane hierophant Yes you will lose 2 more levels of companion, but you will get higher level druid and wizard casting, I think it is worth the trade off.... else I would go, Druid 3/Wizard 3/arcane Hierphant 10/druid 5 This would maximize your companions abilities, and give you 9th level druid spells.
Vorsk 09-28-06, 10:14 AM	The thing is about this class is that the ability of Companion Familiar from AH level 1 he gains the bonuses from the companion & the familiar level charts which Mystic Theurge would not give anytype of bonus to my companion and have a much lower hit die level advancement. I know its a trade off for the spell casting, but I honestly never thought about Mystic Theurge since I feel its a very weak class overall. Hmmm...I'll think about it, and that would free a lot more feats if I do not take Arch-mage so then I could metamagic my spells from hell. But the power to shape and change elemental spell types freely is really nice. Anyhow what type of feats would you take for a wildshaping spellcaster? What type of animal companion would you take also?
starfire311 09-28-06, 12:24 PM	The thing is about this class is that the ability of Companion Familiar from AH level 1 he gains the bonuses from the companion & the familiar level charts which Mystic Theurge would not give anytype of bonus to my companion and have a much lower hit die level advancement. I know its a trade off for the spell casting, but I honestly never thought about Mystic Theurge since I feel its a very weak class overall. yeah thats the trade off... your build(druid/wizard/AH/ArchM/Druid) gives 15 companion levels, 13 familiar levels and druid caster level 15 and wizard caster level 15 my 1st build(druid/wizard/AH/MT) gives 13 companion level, 13 familair levels, druid caster level 18 and wizard caster level 18 and -4 HP. my 1st build(druid 3/wizard 3/AH 10/druid 4) gives 17 companion level, 13 familair levels, druid caster level 17 and wizard caster level 13 and +4 HP. Anyhow what type of feats would you take for a wildshaping spellcaster? What type of animal companion would you take also? feats, natural spell is a good one, and practised spell casterx2 is good, maybe arcane strike, or if there is a feat that lets you sac any spell for damage, not sure if there is. spells transformtion can be cool, when shared with your companion, and if your DM allows it wraithstrike sharing is pretty crazy. not sure about animal companion, I have always been partial to tigers.
Vorsk 09-28-06, 01:35 PM	Thanks for the breakdown, interesting ideas. Its much appreciated. When I get home I'll look those feats up, since I don't know them off the bat. I was leaning towards a tiger too.