8th level Druid for Arena Combat: Any Suggestions? [Archive] - Wizards Community

8th level Druid for Arena Combat: Any Suggestions? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
jameswilliamogle
09-29-05, 12:41 PM As the title suggests; we'll have about a 400 x 250 ' rectangle to fight in; 28 pt linear pt buy starting from 10 (an 18 costs just 8 points), 10000 gp with no single item besides armor and weapons costing more than 25% (armor and weapons can cost 50%). Here's what I was thinking: a Tiger Riding Druid with the Mounted Combat chain; I have to survive 6 fights per day so I'll need to conserve my Wild Shape at some point.

Books allowed: Core only (no psionics). Only PHB races and classes.
Human Druid 8th Str 10 Dex 18 Int 16 Wis 20 Cha 10
Feats: Mounted Combat, Ride by Attack, Natural Spell, Spirited Charge
Animal Companion: Tiger

The main idea was to charge while riding the tiger, getting double damage from my weapon, and a full attack from the tiger, then riding away from standard melee (casting buffs as I get into position to repeat). I'd do this against fighter types, and against finesse types (ranged attackers) I'd just charge in to get a full attack on. Eventually, I predict the tiger will die; at this point, I'd use Wildshape to transform into a Dire Lion, and get my freak on myself (I might use Reincarnate on the Tiger, as well, b/c we'll have about an hour between fights). After each charge, before the end of the round, I was going to use the Ride ability to give myself cover; of course I'll be using Mounted Combat for all it's worth, too.

I'm not really sure about equipment though... I was thinking Ironwood armor for myself, and Masterwork Studded Leather on the Tiger, but other than that I'm unsure.
Moon-Lancer
09-29-05, 01:18 PM everything sounds good. what type of spells do you plan to use. you may want to stalk up on produce flame and flame strike, along with entangle and if you have it, wall of thorns.

You could cast wall of thorns, in a big spear, trapping your aponent. You could then estimate whare they are inside the wall of thorns and blast all your produce flames, as you dont need line of sight, just line of effect. You also may want to stalk up on protection from energy, for protection from well... energy.

Wall of thorns would also give you lots of summoning time. I would summon elementals or Thoqquas, or dire wolves.

*edit. i just looked. Your level 8 so you wouldent have wall of thorns."
ZerodotJander
09-29-05, 01:29 PM Why don't you just make a Human Rogue 1/Barbarian 7 with

10 str
10 dex
10 con
10 int
10 wis
38 cha (+14)

Give him max ranks (11) in UMD, 5 ranks in Spellcraft, 5 ranks in Decipher Script. At first level, spend 4 points on UMD, 4 points on Decipher Script, and 4 points on Spellcraft, leaving you with 22 points left for other stuff. At every subsequent level spend 2 skill points on UMD and 1 skill point each on Spellcraft and Decipher Script, leaving you with 1 skill point left per level to spend on other things.

Make his feats

1st. Skill Focus (UMD)
Human. Magical Aptitude
3rd. Improved Initiative
6th. (whatever)

This gives him a (11+14+3+2) = +30 base UMD check, +34 for scrolls.

For items, buy a cloak of charisma +2 (one more to your UMD), maybe some stuff to up your dex (for initiative), and then scrolls of power word kill (3825) and power word stun (3000). You might also want a few attack scrolls while you're at it, I suggest scorching ray or fireball/lightning bolt.

Your charisma is more than high enough to use any scroll you might want by emulating a sorcerer, so you just need to make a DC 37 (20+17) to activate Power Word Kill, or DC 35 to activate Power Word Stun. With a +35 to UMD on scrolls, if you don't roll a 1 you're all set.

Not very many 8th level characters will have more than 99 HP, and essentially none will have more than 150. If the opponent looks like a barbarian, power word stun him, attack him a few times, then power word kill. Otherwise, just power word kill. If you win initiative, you win.

Also, your near full BAB and 7d12 HD should also help you survive long enough to pull this off if you do lose initiative.

Edit: Also you may consider getting some scrolls of animate dead to use your opponents against each other.

Edit Again: Ah, just noticed you only had 10k to start with and no items over 2500. That makes this much harder. Still with your ridiculously high charisma you could use scrolls of say finger of death (2275 each) and it might still work, due to the boosted DCs. DC 31 fort saves are nothing to laugh at.
jameswilliamogle
09-29-05, 01:45 PM Well, I could have a 20 base CHA, +4 Eagle's Splendor, +5 item, and all the UMD synergies and feat as you suggest for UMD scrolls: 30 base; still pretty good, but no item can be above 2500 gp after that, and I've spent about 3000 gp already, leaving 7000, or just enough scrolls to go 3 rounds; a little bad... Still, this does give me an idea for the secondary character (each player has 2 characters); Rogue Sorcerer, maybe, with Alter Self to fly above the arena, pelting the opponent w/ arrows and spells?

One other thing: no XP penalties allowed due to multiclassing (your suggestion wouldn't incure one, but it made me remember this).
AlexVADnD
09-29-05, 03:56 PM Some Random Thoughts

At 8th level you could potentially be in (Large) Wild Shape for 24 straight hours so you may want to take that into account.

Or you could WS into a bird and avoid the melee altogether and let your summonings and companion handle it.

I think you have also forgotten your stat adjustments for 4th and 8th level.
jameswilliamogle
09-29-05, 05:58 PM Some Random Thoughts

At 8th level you could potentially be in (Large) Wild Shape for 24 straight hours so you may want to take that into account.

Or you could WS into a bird and avoid the melee altogether and let your summonings and companion handle it.

I think you have also forgotten your stat adjustments for 4th and 8th level.Whoops! I forgot: 16 Con. That's all of the points. Wild Shape 24 hours a day... hmmm... I could stay Wild Shaped for the whole tourney instead of relying on the tiger (but I just thought it would be cooler to ride in like He-Man). The Ride w/ Cover, then Ride check to prevent an attack on my mount, and mount spring attack just would be so much fun (plus, my group doesn't usually use mounts, so this is a perfect time to showcase one). The whole thing is that I've got to have endurance; I think this will give me the greatest flexibility over the whole scenario.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jameswilliamogle 09-29-05, 12:41 PM	As the title suggests; we'll have about a 400 x 250 ' rectangle to fight in; 28 pt linear pt buy starting from 10 (an 18 costs just 8 points), 10000 gp with no single item besides armor and weapons costing more than 25% (armor and weapons can cost 50%). Here's what I was thinking: a Tiger Riding Druid with the Mounted Combat chain; I have to survive 6 fights per day so I'll need to conserve my Wild Shape at some point. Books allowed: Core only (no psionics). Only PHB races and classes. Human Druid 8th Str 10 Dex 18 Int 16 Wis 20 Cha 10 Feats: Mounted Combat, Ride by Attack, Natural Spell, Spirited Charge Animal Companion: Tiger The main idea was to charge while riding the tiger, getting double damage from my weapon, and a full attack from the tiger, then riding away from standard melee (casting buffs as I get into position to repeat). I'd do this against fighter types, and against finesse types (ranged attackers) I'd just charge in to get a full attack on. Eventually, I predict the tiger will die; at this point, I'd use Wildshape to transform into a Dire Lion, and get my freak on myself (I might use Reincarnate on the Tiger, as well, b/c we'll have about an hour between fights). After each charge, before the end of the round, I was going to use the Ride ability to give myself cover; of course I'll be using Mounted Combat for all it's worth, too. I'm not really sure about equipment though... I was thinking Ironwood armor for myself, and Masterwork Studded Leather on the Tiger, but other than that I'm unsure.
Moon-Lancer 09-29-05, 01:18 PM	everything sounds good. what type of spells do you plan to use. you may want to stalk up on produce flame and flame strike, along with entangle and if you have it, wall of thorns. You could cast wall of thorns, in a big spear, trapping your aponent. You could then estimate whare they are inside the wall of thorns and blast all your produce flames, as you dont need line of sight, just line of effect. You also may want to stalk up on protection from energy, for protection from well... energy. Wall of thorns would also give you lots of summoning time. I would summon elementals or Thoqquas, or dire wolves. *edit. i just looked. Your level 8 so you wouldent have wall of thorns."
ZerodotJander 09-29-05, 01:29 PM	Why don't you just make a Human Rogue 1/Barbarian 7 with 10 str 10 dex 10 con 10 int 10 wis 38 cha (+14) Give him max ranks (11) in UMD, 5 ranks in Spellcraft, 5 ranks in Decipher Script. At first level, spend 4 points on UMD, 4 points on Decipher Script, and 4 points on Spellcraft, leaving you with 22 points left for other stuff. At every subsequent level spend 2 skill points on UMD and 1 skill point each on Spellcraft and Decipher Script, leaving you with 1 skill point left per level to spend on other things. Make his feats 1st. Skill Focus (UMD) Human. Magical Aptitude 3rd. Improved Initiative 6th. (whatever) This gives him a (11+14+3+2) = +30 base UMD check, +34 for scrolls. For items, buy a cloak of charisma +2 (one more to your UMD), maybe some stuff to up your dex (for initiative), and then scrolls of power word kill (3825) and power word stun (3000). You might also want a few attack scrolls while you're at it, I suggest scorching ray or fireball/lightning bolt. Your charisma is more than high enough to use any scroll you might want by emulating a sorcerer, so you just need to make a DC 37 (20+17) to activate Power Word Kill, or DC 35 to activate Power Word Stun. With a +35 to UMD on scrolls, if you don't roll a 1 you're all set. Not very many 8th level characters will have more than 99 HP, and essentially none will have more than 150. If the opponent looks like a barbarian, power word stun him, attack him a few times, then power word kill. Otherwise, just power word kill. If you win initiative, you win. Also, your near full BAB and 7d12 HD should also help you survive long enough to pull this off if you do lose initiative. Edit: Also you may consider getting some scrolls of animate dead to use your opponents against each other. Edit Again: Ah, just noticed you only had 10k to start with and no items over 2500. That makes this much harder. Still with your ridiculously high charisma you could use scrolls of say finger of death (2275 each) and it might still work, due to the boosted DCs. DC 31 fort saves are nothing to laugh at.
jameswilliamogle 09-29-05, 01:45 PM	Well, I could have a 20 base CHA, +4 Eagle's Splendor, +5 item, and all the UMD synergies and feat as you suggest for UMD scrolls: 30 base; still pretty good, but no item can be above 2500 gp after that, and I've spent about 3000 gp already, leaving 7000, or just enough scrolls to go 3 rounds; a little bad... Still, this does give me an idea for the secondary character (each player has 2 characters); Rogue Sorcerer, maybe, with Alter Self to fly above the arena, pelting the opponent w/ arrows and spells? One other thing: no XP penalties allowed due to multiclassing (your suggestion wouldn't incure one, but it made me remember this).
AlexVADnD 09-29-05, 03:56 PM	Some Random Thoughts At 8th level you could potentially be in (Large) Wild Shape for 24 straight hours so you may want to take that into account. Or you could WS into a bird and avoid the melee altogether and let your summonings and companion handle it. I think you have also forgotten your stat adjustments for 4th and 8th level.
jameswilliamogle 09-29-05, 05:58 PM	Some Random Thoughts At 8th level you could potentially be in (Large) Wild Shape for 24 straight hours so you may want to take that into account. Or you could WS into a bird and avoid the melee altogether and let your summonings and companion handle it. I think you have also forgotten your stat adjustments for 4th and 8th level.Whoops! I forgot: 16 Con. That's all of the points. Wild Shape 24 hours a day... hmmm... I could stay Wild Shaped for the whole tourney instead of relying on the tiger (but I just thought it would be cooler to ride in like He-Man). The Ride w/ Cover, then Ride check to prevent an attack on my mount, and mount spring attack just would be so much fun (plus, my group doesn't usually use mounts, so this is a perfect time to showcase one). The whole thing is that I've got to have endurance; I think this will give me the greatest flexibility over the whole scenario.