Beguiler tips? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Beguiler tips? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
greedo99
10-25-06, 02:14 PM Im playing a gnomish beguiler. Any tips or tactics with this class? I have a hard time adjusting from a non blaster mage...
Cymric
10-25-06, 03:41 PM Use your illusions. Learn to love them because you will find that a lot of creature cant be controlled either because they lack the intelligence or you lack the means to communicate with them. At later levels this wont cause much of a problem because you wont need to voice your needs to them but think them but at early levels it can be quite a drawbacks. I find that my beguiler is a great crowd controller. I have massive amount of spells and replicating danger zones through wich creatures will hesitate to cross is (i find) extremely easy. Dont waste your feats trying to gain an upper hand in combat because youll never have one. Maybe point blank shot with precise shot but im not sure these 2 feats will really change anything in the end time. Whelm is usefull but only against low will save creatures. Other then that youll probably find out on your own
Cainin
10-25-06, 03:45 PM Well I guess it matters whether you are going to build a character and are looking at build suggestion, or whether you want advise on how to best play your current build.

On the character building side, I was recently planning a Beguiler for myself in an upcoming campaign. My final decision was to play a human who took Dragontouched (Dragon Magic) at 1st, which let me take Draconic Wings (Races of Dragon) as my other 1st lvl feat. Draconic Heritage was at 3rd (possible due to Dragontouched), then Draconic Breat at 6th. (Though you could speed this up to 3rd lvl by skipping the wings.) Having the supernatural breath weapon should help supplement your existing abilties when you run against things relatively unaffected by the majority of your spell list (aka enchantments & illusions).
greedo99
10-25-06, 03:49 PM At this point I am a 7th lvl beguiler, with spell focus and greater S.F: illusion an di've picked up Leadership. My cohort is a elven bard archer ( i wanted a personal cheerleader i couldnt resist)

But im really looking for effective beguiler tactics...mainly because We're going to be fighting a horde soon and i dunno how with enchantment and illusion i can really be super effective. I plan on using haste and slow. And its nice having dispel magic so i can focuz on counterspelling..
The_Shaman
10-25-06, 06:52 PM Hmm, I'd expect illusions and enchantments to be perfect for crowd control... I don't have my books here at the moment, but something like a major image of a big enough beastie, can avoid the battle altogether. You are a deceiver: casting an elaborate spell that apprears to summon a gelugon and makes the enemies turn tail in frenzied panic should give your character a near-orgasm. Now, a skeleton horde - that can be a problem. If you can, get shadow conjuration/evocation first thing. For a specialist mage as the beguiler, these are superb. By the way, consider looking at the two shadow mage PrCs (the races of stone one and the underdark one) and ask the DM if he can waive the racial requirement of the former. If I'm not mistaken, it allows your figments to actually do a little damage, and boosts your shadow spells like heck. This is, to put it simply, incredible.

I started an illusion-themed sorcerer once, as my first pnp character. Now that I look at the beguiler, it just makes me want to cry. Illusion and enchantment are some mean schools :D .
Qatharsis
10-25-06, 07:17 PM Where are the Shadow Mages from? Not from the CompArc or so? Sounds interesting, I'm a great fan of the Beguiler class.

As for crowd control... just wait one more level until you can get Confusion. :D The fact that a confused character must attack whoever attacks him makes for beautiful feedback cycles!
greedo99
10-26-06, 01:21 PM one spell i cannot wait to get is Incite Riot.....i could imagine the fun of that with a Horde
Clawhound
10-26-06, 02:40 PM Look at CR encounters that you will be facing at levels 5-10. Figure out ways to handle those encounters BEFORE you level up. You will then grow into a better build where you know that you will be useful.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
greedo99 10-25-06, 02:14 PM	Im playing a gnomish beguiler. Any tips or tactics with this class? I have a hard time adjusting from a non blaster mage...
Cymric 10-25-06, 03:41 PM	Use your illusions. Learn to love them because you will find that a lot of creature cant be controlled either because they lack the intelligence or you lack the means to communicate with them. At later levels this wont cause much of a problem because you wont need to voice your needs to them but think them but at early levels it can be quite a drawbacks. I find that my beguiler is a great crowd controller. I have massive amount of spells and replicating danger zones through wich creatures will hesitate to cross is (i find) extremely easy. Dont waste your feats trying to gain an upper hand in combat because youll never have one. Maybe point blank shot with precise shot but im not sure these 2 feats will really change anything in the end time. Whelm is usefull but only against low will save creatures. Other then that youll probably find out on your own
Cainin 10-25-06, 03:45 PM	Well I guess it matters whether you are going to build a character and are looking at build suggestion, or whether you want advise on how to best play your current build. On the character building side, I was recently planning a Beguiler for myself in an upcoming campaign. My final decision was to play a human who took Dragontouched (Dragon Magic) at 1st, which let me take Draconic Wings (Races of Dragon) as my other 1st lvl feat. Draconic Heritage was at 3rd (possible due to Dragontouched), then Draconic Breat at 6th. (Though you could speed this up to 3rd lvl by skipping the wings.) Having the supernatural breath weapon should help supplement your existing abilties when you run against things relatively unaffected by the majority of your spell list (aka enchantments & illusions).
greedo99 10-25-06, 03:49 PM	At this point I am a 7th lvl beguiler, with spell focus and greater S.F: illusion an di've picked up Leadership. My cohort is a elven bard archer ( i wanted a personal cheerleader i couldnt resist) But im really looking for effective beguiler tactics...mainly because We're going to be fighting a horde soon and i dunno how with enchantment and illusion i can really be super effective. I plan on using haste and slow. And its nice having dispel magic so i can focuz on counterspelling..
The_Shaman 10-25-06, 06:52 PM	Hmm, I'd expect illusions and enchantments to be perfect for crowd control... I don't have my books here at the moment, but something like a major image of a big enough beastie, can avoid the battle altogether. You are a deceiver: casting an elaborate spell that apprears to summon a gelugon and makes the enemies turn tail in frenzied panic should give your character a near-orgasm. Now, a skeleton horde - that can be a problem. If you can, get shadow conjuration/evocation first thing. For a specialist mage as the beguiler, these are superb. By the way, consider looking at the two shadow mage PrCs (the races of stone one and the underdark one) and ask the DM if he can waive the racial requirement of the former. If I'm not mistaken, it allows your figments to actually do a little damage, and boosts your shadow spells like heck. This is, to put it simply, incredible. I started an illusion-themed sorcerer once, as my first pnp character. Now that I look at the beguiler, it just makes me want to cry. Illusion and enchantment are some mean schools :D .
Qatharsis 10-25-06, 07:17 PM	Where are the Shadow Mages from? Not from the CompArc or so? Sounds interesting, I'm a great fan of the Beguiler class. As for crowd control... just wait one more level until you can get Confusion. :D The fact that a confused character must attack whoever attacks him makes for beautiful feedback cycles!
greedo99 10-26-06, 01:21 PM	one spell i cannot wait to get is Incite Riot.....i could imagine the fun of that with a Horde
Clawhound 10-26-06, 02:40 PM	Look at CR encounters that you will be facing at levels 5-10. Figure out ways to handle those encounters BEFORE you level up. You will then grow into a better build where you know that you will be useful.