Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LordMacbeth 02-04-04, 10:01 PM	I've always been interested in creating an agile mage (elven, human, or other fairly standred race) who uses swords/rapiers. Sharp objects and fire just seem to go together. My problem lies in my psychotic aversion to bladesingers...Plaese help! The gish section hasn't helped because they place a large emphesis on combat. Where as my ideal character would place more emphesis on spells. Any help would be appreciated. Fighter/Eldritch knights/wizards/swashbucker/ranger/rogue? so many choices...HELP! Thanks in advance
WarRabbit 02-04-04, 10:29 PM	Swashbuckler 3/Wizard 5/Eldritch Knight 10/Wizard 2 BAB +16 Caster level 16th Allows you to add Int to finessable melee weapon damage Key Feat: Arcane Strike(from Complete Warrior) Quick Draw(for switching out wands/scrolls with your weapon) Try to pick up a rapier with the spell storing enchantment as soon as possible so you can add some nice spell effects to your melee damage during important battles. Also, use a mithril buckler for extra AC(since these have 0% spell failure). There are many more builds possible to create an agile mage, but I think this one fits the 'agile' mold the best...adding Int to melee damage while having a caster level of 16 is pretty nice. On the other hand... If you want even more spellcasting go with fighter 1/sorcerer 4/spellsword 1/eldritch knight 10/sorcerer 4. This provides a BAB of +16 and caster level 18th. A bit more spellcasting power, but you don't get to add Int to damage and it doesn't have as much 'flavor'. Still, with this build you could use a mithril chain shirt and mithril buckler along with a longsword/rapier/bastard sword supplemented with almost full sorcerer spellcasting abilities.
LordMacbeth 02-04-04, 10:35 PM	Thanks for the reply, does anyone else have any ideas? would any levels of dualist help? I believe that 15 levels of mage would be sufficient, if it helps.....
PhaedrusXY 02-04-04, 10:42 PM	Replace one of the EK levels from the build above with Spellsword. (Or can Swashbucklers not wear any armor? I don't remember, and don't own CW.)
MikeN 02-04-04, 11:43 PM	Strongheart Halfling (or Human) Sorcerer6/Mage of the Arcane Order4/Dragonslayer1/Spellsword1/Divine Oracle (or Virtuoso)6/Archmage2 1) Dodge, Empower Spell 3) Arcane Preparation 6) Cooperative Spell (yuk, but it's a prereq) 8) Extend Spell (bonus) 9) Iron Will (prereq) 12) Skill Focus (Spellcraft) 15) Spell Focus: XXX 18) Spell Focus: YYY _____________ BAB: 11/6/1 Caster Level: 20 Guildmage Spells 1-6 level (need full-action and to be paid for) Bonus Spells from Divination domain Prescient Sense, Uncanny Dodge, etc. Archmage abilities: Mastery of Elements, Mastery of Shaping _____________ Depending upon what your DM decides the prereqs are for Divine Oracle, it may or may not be viable -- Virtuoso is quite a decent substitute (either fits the idea of a swashbuckler fairly well -- you either get the "roguish" bonuses from DO or the bard-like ones from Virtuoso). You load up on crowd-control, blasting, and save-or-die spells and your Guildmage levels let you cast any other arcane spell you want of level 1-6. Mastery of Elements is a given -- I'd ask your DM if he would allow you to sacrifice a higher spell level in order to be able to shape a spell and not just punch a hole in an area-effect one for your Mastery of Shaping.
pawsplay 02-05-04, 12:15 AM	I'm thinking Swashbuckler 3/Warmage 6/Bonded Summoner 1/Warmage 7-16. You've got the rapier, you've got Insightful strike, and you've got lots of spells involving fire. All you need is Spring Attack, Spell Focus (evocation and conjuration) and you're ready to go. Plus, you get a Medium fire elemental as your familiar and fire resistance 5. EDIT: And you can fight and cast in light armor. EDIT 2: Rats. Forget about Bonded Summoner, it requires a familiar.
Karkul 02-05-04, 12:22 AM	The gish section hasn't helped because they place a large emphesis on combat. Where as my ideal character would place more emphesis on spells This is a problem. If you want an emphasis on spells, then you dont want to water down your caster levels with combat classes. They dont have anything worthwhile to offer a pure caster. If its a flavor thing then just make an elf and wield a rapier, and there you go, a swashbuckling wizard. I think you really ought to give the gish section another look through. Most of the effective builds end up with a decent caster level and melee capabilities. Added together they can be quite effective. Any way you cut it, if you want swashbuckler levels, your not going to have an emphasis on spells. I recomend Swashbuckler 3/Wizard X/Eldrith Knight X p.s. As far as Duelist is concerned, I'd just avoid it entirely unless you want a 10 level commitment (and thus a combat oriented character with a little spell support).
pawsplay 02-05-04, 04:40 AM	Swashbuckler 3/Wizard 6/Eldritch Knight 10/Archmage 1 gives you good beakpoints on saves and BAB, slightly lower than Ranger hit points, 16th level casting, and one Archmage special ability. Human 1 Swashbuckler 1 - Weapon Finesse, Dodge 2 Wizard (Diviner, prohibited: Necromancy), Scribe Scroll, summon familiar 3 Swashbuckler 2 - grace +1, Mobility 4 Swashbuckler 3 - insightful strike 5 Wiz 2 6 Wiz 3 - Improved Familiar 7 Wiz 4 8 Wiz 5 - Empower Spell (summon small Fire elemental familiar) 9 Wiz 6 - Arcane Strike 10 EK 1 - Spring Attack 11 EK 2 12 EK 3 - Combat Expertise 13 EK 4 14 EK 5 15 EK 6 - Whirlwind Attack 16 EK 7 17 EK 8 18 EK 9 - Sudden Maximize 19 EK 10 20 Archmage - scorching ray as a spell-like ability, 6/day
Super Grover 02-05-04, 04:59 AM	can go Swashbuckler 3/Wizard 4/dragonslayer 1/Eldritch Knight 10/spell sowrd 1/bladesinger1 wont be much for mor meta magic feats since most of your feats will be combat related this nets you bab of +18 and 8th level spells feats would be 1 weapon focus rapier 3 iron will 4 wiz scribe scroll 6 dodge 9 combat casting 9 ek combat expertise after level 9 is were you can take the dip into blade singer for int to ac and plus to reflex save and plus 1 bab