Ideas for a Ftr/Sor [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ideas for a Ftr/Sor [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
dryhte
10-27-03, 07:50 AM Hi people... please help me out here...

I'm going to play a fighter/sorcerer soon, and I see two options:

a. mounted combat (mounted combat, spirited charge, ride-by attack,... with a lance of course)
b. spring attack/power attack. (spring attack and do a full strength power attack using true strike and a greatsword)

The min/max details have been taken care of, but I still have to make the choice... Which Fighter/Sorcerer would you prefer? I like either idea :p

Attention: the coolness factor of the character should definitely be taken into account!

Anyone who has any hints on how to play the guy, please share!
The_Yellow_Dart_Swinger
10-27-03, 10:19 AM I can't really imagine a fighter/sorcerer doing a lot of mounted combat unless your going to have the vast percent of the levels in fighter and very few in sorcerer. i'd go with b
dryhte
10-27-03, 10:31 AM Why can't you see a ftr/sor do any mounted combat? He'll have the necessary skills and feats, don't worry about that. Some PrC's are involved but that isn't the point (please don't even guess)... at lev 6 he'll have about 4 ranks in ride, but he'll go up quickly. The feats would be mounted combat, spirited charge, ride-by attack, tremendous charge (maybe, DLCS),
In the other build, the feats would be power attack, dodge, mobility, spring attack and probably a skill like intimidate instead of ride.

As I said, don't worry about the details, they're for the min/max forum. By the way, all levels but one would be spellcaster levels :p
Morka
10-27-03, 03:44 PM If you go A, I suggest (perhaps you already plan this) to go with a paladin or some PrC that allow a bonded month. If you can share all your buffing spells with your month, it is a 2 for 1. Interesting!
Jontg
10-27-03, 07:36 PM The second most powerful character I ever played was a fighter/sorcerer. Actually, he had ten levels each of fighter, sorcerer, Spellsword, Blood Magus, Acolyte of the Skin, and Pale Master, but he was still a war-mage! He was a hobgoblin, originally named Grunthark, but when my first character, an elf wizard named Jonathanas Darkstar, killed his fiancee, he vanished for a few years, and resurfaced as a deranged supervillain called Bonedevil. I actually wrote a medium-length story about his feud with Jonathanas--Darkstar was never as fun to play after he finally killed Bondevil.:bigeyes:
P.S. I used each of them for almost a year, and they adventured alone--hence their insane level-up rate!
TheBlackBart
10-28-03, 12:17 AM It looks strange, because any heavy cavalry guy usually wear heavy armor too.

But I like the idea, it is innovative. Did you think about getting a flying mount? I think that would be cool, though it has been done in Mystara... Bah! Who cares?

Besides, I know elves are prone to using giant eagles. The Zhentarim in FR has a prestige class calledthe skymage in Lords of Darkness. You could change it with approval of your DM to fit your character.
dryhte
10-28-03, 02:59 AM I was thinking of using the Phantom Steed spell =)

anyway, why would he have to be heavily armored? remember there's something like 'ride by attack'... the guy would hardly have to be in melee at all (hit and run)

greetings,

D.
Trydan
10-28-03, 06:05 AM Both ideas are great. I really like using True Strike and the buffs (like Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace. Endure Elements).

Personally, I think that the second option (Spring Attack) is better. Combat on foot is likely to see more action than any mounted combat option (unless you have a campaign specifically tailored to it).

By the sounds of it, you're not intending to wear armour, so mobility is paramount. It also removes the arcance spell casting failure chance. My main character is a Ftr/Sor, but takes the arcane casting failure chance as it comes, and role-plays up the results (he wears chainmail armour, and insists on casting electrical spells).

The only problem with the True Strike tactic is the limited number of them that you can cast per day. Sure you can use a wand or scroll or something, but any reasonable DM will not let you prance/charge about oscillating between weapon and magic-item as a free action (unless you pick up Quick Draw).

Now think of some background. One option is the "hit-squad" type approach. Lightly armoured, but really really agile.

Another option is a "weapon tester". Like a test-pilot for fighter aeroplanes, but for D&D weapons. Take it out into the field and put it through its paces. Of course, you'd need a cooperative DM for all those items!

Finally, to what level were you thinking of taking the "Ftr" and "Sor" parts. This will affect your spell/feat choice tradeoff.
dryhte
10-28-03, 06:12 AM fighter 1/spellcaster all the rest (with a PrC like Eldritch Knight)

The easiest way would definitely be to take the character on foot, and let the whole hassle of mounted combat be... but the idea of a mounted Knight is soooo very appealing :D
Jontg
10-28-03, 11:09 AM Note that the Spellsword PrC reduces spell failure considerably--Bonedevil wore a spiked mithral breastplate without any spell failure chance!
As far as flavor goes, Bonedevil wound up as sort of a fantasy version of the Green Goblin--a superpowered lunatic who devoted his entire life to destroying one foe, but managed to cause tremendous collateral damage along the way (he blew up Castle Greyhawk during his first battle with Jonathanas!). I suggest you try balancing levels of Fighter, Sorcererer, and Spellsword--first, take five levels of sorcerer, then take enough fighter levels to meet the Spellsword's BAB requirement, and take levels of that until you have an equal number of levels in each class. Then, start leveling up in a pattern of your choice. Use armor only if your Spellsword levels negate the full spell failure chance--even then, go for mithral. Obviously, a shield is out of the question--you need one hand free to cast spells. Use a longsword if you want damage, or a scimitar if you like a good threat range (Bonedevil recreated Blackrazor and made it into a version of the One Ring--as long as Blackrazor was whole, it only needed to be touched to Bonedevil's remains to completely revive him!). Of course, you'll want to have a lot of attack and combat-support spells if you want to live to epic level!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
dryhte 10-27-03, 07:50 AM	Hi people... please help me out here... I'm going to play a fighter/sorcerer soon, and I see two options: a. mounted combat (mounted combat, spirited charge, ride-by attack,... with a lance of course) b. spring attack/power attack. (spring attack and do a full strength power attack using true strike and a greatsword) The min/max details have been taken care of, but I still have to make the choice... Which Fighter/Sorcerer would you prefer? I like either idea :p Attention: the coolness factor of the character should definitely be taken into account! Anyone who has any hints on how to play the guy, please share!
The_Yellow_Dart_Swinger 10-27-03, 10:19 AM	I can't really imagine a fighter/sorcerer doing a lot of mounted combat unless your going to have the vast percent of the levels in fighter and very few in sorcerer. i'd go with b
dryhte 10-27-03, 10:31 AM	Why can't you see a ftr/sor do any mounted combat? He'll have the necessary skills and feats, don't worry about that. Some PrC's are involved but that isn't the point (please don't even guess)... at lev 6 he'll have about 4 ranks in ride, but he'll go up quickly. The feats would be mounted combat, spirited charge, ride-by attack, tremendous charge (maybe, DLCS), In the other build, the feats would be power attack, dodge, mobility, spring attack and probably a skill like intimidate instead of ride. As I said, don't worry about the details, they're for the min/max forum. By the way, all levels but one would be spellcaster levels :p
Morka 10-27-03, 03:44 PM	If you go A, I suggest (perhaps you already plan this) to go with a paladin or some PrC that allow a bonded month. If you can share all your buffing spells with your month, it is a 2 for 1. Interesting!
Jontg 10-27-03, 07:36 PM	The second most powerful character I ever played was a fighter/sorcerer. Actually, he had ten levels each of fighter, sorcerer, Spellsword, Blood Magus, Acolyte of the Skin, and Pale Master, but he was still a war-mage! He was a hobgoblin, originally named Grunthark, but when my first character, an elf wizard named Jonathanas Darkstar, killed his fiancee, he vanished for a few years, and resurfaced as a deranged supervillain called Bonedevil. I actually wrote a medium-length story about his feud with Jonathanas--Darkstar was never as fun to play after he finally killed Bondevil.:bigeyes: P.S. I used each of them for almost a year, and they adventured alone--hence their insane level-up rate!
TheBlackBart 10-28-03, 12:17 AM	It looks strange, because any heavy cavalry guy usually wear heavy armor too. But I like the idea, it is innovative. Did you think about getting a flying mount? I think that would be cool, though it has been done in Mystara... Bah! Who cares? Besides, I know elves are prone to using giant eagles. The Zhentarim in FR has a prestige class calledthe skymage in Lords of Darkness. You could change it with approval of your DM to fit your character.
dryhte 10-28-03, 02:59 AM	I was thinking of using the Phantom Steed spell =) anyway, why would he have to be heavily armored? remember there's something like 'ride by attack'... the guy would hardly have to be in melee at all (hit and run) greetings, D.
Trydan 10-28-03, 06:05 AM	Both ideas are great. I really like using True Strike and the buffs (like Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace. Endure Elements). Personally, I think that the second option (Spring Attack) is better. Combat on foot is likely to see more action than any mounted combat option (unless you have a campaign specifically tailored to it). By the sounds of it, you're not intending to wear armour, so mobility is paramount. It also removes the arcance spell casting failure chance. My main character is a Ftr/Sor, but takes the arcane casting failure chance as it comes, and role-plays up the results (he wears chainmail armour, and insists on casting electrical spells). The only problem with the True Strike tactic is the limited number of them that you can cast per day. Sure you can use a wand or scroll or something, but any reasonable DM will not let you prance/charge about oscillating between weapon and magic-item as a free action (unless you pick up Quick Draw). Now think of some background. One option is the "hit-squad" type approach. Lightly armoured, but really really agile. Another option is a "weapon tester". Like a test-pilot for fighter aeroplanes, but for D&D weapons. Take it out into the field and put it through its paces. Of course, you'd need a cooperative DM for all those items! Finally, to what level were you thinking of taking the "Ftr" and "Sor" parts. This will affect your spell/feat choice tradeoff.
dryhte 10-28-03, 06:12 AM	fighter 1/spellcaster all the rest (with a PrC like Eldritch Knight) The easiest way would definitely be to take the character on foot, and let the whole hassle of mounted combat be... but the idea of a mounted Knight is soooo very appealing :D
Jontg 10-28-03, 11:09 AM	Note that the Spellsword PrC reduces spell failure considerably--Bonedevil wore a spiked mithral breastplate without any spell failure chance! As far as flavor goes, Bonedevil wound up as sort of a fantasy version of the Green Goblin--a superpowered lunatic who devoted his entire life to destroying one foe, but managed to cause tremendous collateral damage along the way (he blew up Castle Greyhawk during his first battle with Jonathanas!). I suggest you try balancing levels of Fighter, Sorcererer, and Spellsword--first, take five levels of sorcerer, then take enough fighter levels to meet the Spellsword's BAB requirement, and take levels of that until you have an equal number of levels in each class. Then, start leveling up in a pattern of your choice. Use armor only if your Spellsword levels negate the full spell failure chance--even then, go for mithral. Obviously, a shield is out of the question--you need one hand free to cast spells. Use a longsword if you want damage, or a scimitar if you like a good threat range (Bonedevil recreated Blackrazor and made it into a version of the One Ring--as long as Blackrazor was whole, it only needed to be touched to Bonedevil's remains to completely revive him!). Of course, you'll want to have a lot of attack and combat-support spells if you want to live to epic level!