4th level delve challenge [Archive] - Wizards Community

4th level delve challenge [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Teflon Jeff
01-18-07, 02:22 PM I need some help making a 4th level character for a very deadly delve challenge (98% mortality rate)

here's the lowdown.
4th level
Books allowed:
PH, DMG, Monster Manual, Complete Adventurer, Complete Arcane, Complete Divine, Complete Mage, Complete Psionic, Complete Warrior, Draconomicon (Chapter 2 [metabreath feats only] & Chapter 3), Dragon Magic, Dungeon Master’s Guide II (Chapter 7), Expanded Psionics Handbook, Explorer’s Handbook, Faiths of Eberron, Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (Chapter 4), Five Nations, Frostburn, Heroes of Battle, Heroes of Horror (Chapter 5), Libris Mortis (Chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5), Lords of Madness (Chapter 9), Magic of Eberron, Magic of Incarnum, Miniatures Handbook, Player’s Guide to Eberron, Player’s Handbook II, Races of Destiny, Races of the Dragon, Races of Eberron, Races of Stone, Races of the Wild, Sandstorm, Secrets of Xen’drik, Sharn: City of Towers, Spell Compendium, and Stormwrack.

I am not picky about what class or race, but I need something with maximum survivability, while being an efficient killer. This is not an RP adventure, it is 3 quick successive encounters. the goal is to live. any and all help is appreciated.
nittanytbone
01-18-07, 02:30 PM Its fourth level, so no LA, no PrCs, and precious few feats. Especially if you never plan on levelling up.

Druid could be viable: No wildshape cheese, but your Riding Dog should be a buff tank and you'll have nice spells, saves, and HP.

Cleric is always solid. You can have DMM running by this point, or just be a solid all-around type of character.

Just to throw a Gish contestant out there, Paladin 3/Sorcerer 1 could be effective. Lots of charisma synergy and you can get good use out of a pair of level 1 spells: Truestrike + Power Attack and Mount, for example. The charisma synergy should let you negotiate for and hire a bunch of men-at-arms which add combat ability.

Finally, Barbarian 2/something else 2 could be effective. If soloing, maybe two levels of cleric for the save boosts and self-healing capability. Two levels of fighter for the feats (extra rage negates the point of taking another two levels of Barb). One level of ranger for skills/save bonuses, maybe. Don't miss up power attack. Doing damage won't be a problem.
Teflon Jeff
01-18-07, 02:35 PM It is Eberron, and LA are allowed, but not necessarily useful. Some of my favorite LA cheese isn't on the list, but iIve never run Eberron before, so I wanted to see if there was any low-level cheese there to be used. Thanks for the ideas!
ChristopherGroves
01-18-07, 02:43 PM There's also the XE unlocking restrictions on PrCs. Most PrCs won't be unlocked by this point, so PrC hunting isn't going to be that fruitful.
Doodle
01-18-07, 03:00 PM Warforged Fighter 1 / Wizard 3 Transmutation Specialist

Feats:
Adamantium Body, Power Attack (Fighter Bonus), Still Spell

Spells of Note:
Wraithstrike
Repair Light Damage

32 Point Buy (?) including racial and level adjustments

Str 14
Con 18
Dex 12
Int 16
Wis 10
Cha 6

Just suck up the ASF and use still spell for any 1st level spells you really need.

Me.
Teflon Jeff
01-18-07, 03:05 PM Just looked, it's a 25 point buy. Ouch.

you can find the full rules here (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/DnD_Camp_XE_CS1_1.zip)...
MarkL
01-18-07, 03:28 PM Warforged Fighter 1 / Wizard 3 Transmutation Specialist

Feats:
Adamantium Body, Power Attack (Fighter Bonus), Still Spell

Spells of Note:
Wraithstrike
Repair Light Damage

32 Point Buy (?) including racial and level adjustments

Str 14
Con 18
Dex 12
Int 16
Wis 10
Cha 6

Just suck up the ASF and use still spell for any 1st level spells you really need.

Me.

Just no!
Doodle
01-18-07, 03:44 PM ^^^

You'd think it would suck but I've play tested one of those and they are amazingly resilient.

Me.
nittanytbone
01-18-07, 04:01 PM I'd go druid then, with the 25 point buy. Less MAD. Play the riding dog and have a human around to heal and buff you and be the skill monkey. Maybe an elf to provide missile support.

Human: SF (Conjuration) --> Augment Summoning, ONE EXTRA FEAT (Craft Wondrous Item to double the stuff you can have?)

Elf: PBS-->Precise Shot (for missile support -- you're not playing past this level, are you? So who cares about long term viability!)

The dog gets feats too, remember. I'm a big fan of Combat Reflexes-->Hold the Line, myself -- makes a nice furry wall of tripping death between your relatively squishy caster and the bad guys.
Teflon Jeff
01-18-07, 04:16 PM Honestly, I was leaning towards Druid with augment summoning and Ashbound. Those two and some summoned wolves should be pretty cool...
ChristopherGroves
01-18-07, 04:21 PM Wraithstrike is, unfortunately, not allowed.
Teflon Jeff
01-18-07, 04:24 PM yep, on the last two pages are lists of various banned rules (feats, PrC's, spells, Magic Items)
Talok
01-18-07, 04:26 PM Warforged fighter1/barbarian3. Get adamantine body, extra rage, and improved toughness as feats. You lose out on the barbarians' fast movement, but it's not a big deal in a dungeon.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Teflon Jeff 01-18-07, 02:22 PM	I need some help making a 4th level character for a very deadly delve challenge (98% mortality rate) here's the lowdown. 4th level Books allowed: PH, DMG, Monster Manual, Complete Adventurer, Complete Arcane, Complete Divine, Complete Mage, Complete Psionic, Complete Warrior, Draconomicon (Chapter 2 [metabreath feats only] & Chapter 3), Dragon Magic, Dungeon Master’s Guide II (Chapter 7), Expanded Psionics Handbook, Explorer’s Handbook, Faiths of Eberron, Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss (Chapter 4), Five Nations, Frostburn, Heroes of Battle, Heroes of Horror (Chapter 5), Libris Mortis (Chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5), Lords of Madness (Chapter 9), Magic of Eberron, Magic of Incarnum, Miniatures Handbook, Player’s Guide to Eberron, Player’s Handbook II, Races of Destiny, Races of the Dragon, Races of Eberron, Races of Stone, Races of the Wild, Sandstorm, Secrets of Xen’drik, Sharn: City of Towers, Spell Compendium, and Stormwrack. I am not picky about what class or race, but I need something with maximum survivability, while being an efficient killer. This is not an RP adventure, it is 3 quick successive encounters. the goal is to live. any and all help is appreciated.
nittanytbone 01-18-07, 02:30 PM	Its fourth level, so no LA, no PrCs, and precious few feats. Especially if you never plan on levelling up. Druid could be viable: No wildshape cheese, but your Riding Dog should be a buff tank and you'll have nice spells, saves, and HP. Cleric is always solid. You can have DMM running by this point, or just be a solid all-around type of character. Just to throw a Gish contestant out there, Paladin 3/Sorcerer 1 could be effective. Lots of charisma synergy and you can get good use out of a pair of level 1 spells: Truestrike + Power Attack and Mount, for example. The charisma synergy should let you negotiate for and hire a bunch of men-at-arms which add combat ability. Finally, Barbarian 2/something else 2 could be effective. If soloing, maybe two levels of cleric for the save boosts and self-healing capability. Two levels of fighter for the feats (extra rage negates the point of taking another two levels of Barb). One level of ranger for skills/save bonuses, maybe. Don't miss up power attack. Doing damage won't be a problem.
Teflon Jeff 01-18-07, 02:35 PM	It is Eberron, and LA are allowed, but not necessarily useful. Some of my favorite LA cheese isn't on the list, but iIve never run Eberron before, so I wanted to see if there was any low-level cheese there to be used. Thanks for the ideas!
ChristopherGroves 01-18-07, 02:43 PM	There's also the XE unlocking restrictions on PrCs. Most PrCs won't be unlocked by this point, so PrC hunting isn't going to be that fruitful.
Doodle 01-18-07, 03:00 PM	Warforged Fighter 1 / Wizard 3 Transmutation Specialist Feats: Adamantium Body, Power Attack (Fighter Bonus), Still Spell Spells of Note: Wraithstrike Repair Light Damage 32 Point Buy (?) including racial and level adjustments Str 14 Con 18 Dex 12 Int 16 Wis 10 Cha 6 Just suck up the ASF and use still spell for any 1st level spells you really need. Me.
Teflon Jeff 01-18-07, 03:05 PM	Just looked, it's a 25 point buy. Ouch. you can find the full rules here (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/DnD_Camp_XE_CS1_1.zip)...
MarkL 01-18-07, 03:28 PM	Warforged Fighter 1 / Wizard 3 Transmutation Specialist Feats: Adamantium Body, Power Attack (Fighter Bonus), Still Spell Spells of Note: Wraithstrike Repair Light Damage 32 Point Buy (?) including racial and level adjustments Str 14 Con 18 Dex 12 Int 16 Wis 10 Cha 6 Just suck up the ASF and use still spell for any 1st level spells you really need. Me. Just no!
Doodle 01-18-07, 03:44 PM	^^^ You'd think it would suck but I've play tested one of those and they are amazingly resilient. Me.
nittanytbone 01-18-07, 04:01 PM	I'd go druid then, with the 25 point buy. Less MAD. Play the riding dog and have a human around to heal and buff you and be the skill monkey. Maybe an elf to provide missile support. Human: SF (Conjuration) --> Augment Summoning, ONE EXTRA FEAT (Craft Wondrous Item to double the stuff you can have?) Elf: PBS-->Precise Shot (for missile support -- you're not playing past this level, are you? So who cares about long term viability!) The dog gets feats too, remember. I'm a big fan of Combat Reflexes-->Hold the Line, myself -- makes a nice furry wall of tripping death between your relatively squishy caster and the bad guys.
Teflon Jeff 01-18-07, 04:16 PM	Honestly, I was leaning towards Druid with augment summoning and Ashbound. Those two and some summoned wolves should be pretty cool...
ChristopherGroves 01-18-07, 04:21 PM	Wraithstrike is, unfortunately, not allowed.
Teflon Jeff 01-18-07, 04:24 PM	yep, on the last two pages are lists of various banned rules (feats, PrC's, spells, Magic Items)
Talok 01-18-07, 04:26 PM	Warforged fighter1/barbarian3. Get adamantine body, extra rage, and improved toughness as feats. You lose out on the barbarians' fast movement, but it's not a big deal in a dungeon.