Post/Author/DateTime	Post
eRaz0r 08-01-05, 03:28 AM	I was thinking - a popular entrance to FL is something like Bard 7/ MasterThrower or Shadow Dancer 2/ Druid 1 / (Sublime Chord) ... I was wondering.. Initiate of the Draconic Mysteries (Draconomicon) gives evasion at 1st level. So it could easily go Bard 8/ IDM 1/Druid 1/ FL 10 (or SC1/FL 9) This would give you an Arcane CL of 18. A Druidic CL of 11. The Spells of an 8th level bard and a 10th level Sublime Chord. Instead of the 3 feat prerequisites of SD or MT, you have the 3 feats for IC, but +2 in all 3 saves and it costs you one fewer CL to do it. The feats aren't particularly useful for a caster type (Alertness, Improved Unarmed Strike and Power attack), compared with the synergy with the Shadow Dancer requirements (dodge, mobility, spring attack - all dex/movement based feats), but arguably are slightly more useful than the Master Thrower requirements (which, while dex-based, are weapon focussed). But it is one CL better off, which can be important to some people. Thoughts?
Otto the Bugbear 08-01-05, 07:05 AM	I think there are two general thoughts for meeting the evasion requirement without losing casting levels. 1. Use Divine Oracle as it provides what amounts to evasion, but with a different name. 2. Use Spelldancer, which does grant evasion at 2nd level, though at the cost of feats. Both allow the advancement of either arcane or divine, also. If you're willing to lose the caster level, then any of the methods you mentioned works fine, as does 2 levels of rogue. Cheers Otto :)
Mommy was an Orc 08-01-05, 10:45 AM	The advantage of Master Thrower is threefold: The progression is playable from 1-20 with only a little bit of significant weakness at level 10 - a Bard 5 with Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot isn't going to surprise anyone. That he takes WF: Dagger at level 6 really is just a one feat penalty. And once he gains Trip attack at level 8, he gets some of the value back. Also, Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot are still useful with Ranged Touch Attacks. You end up with a +16 BAB. Ultimately, you don't really gain a lot from boosting the caster level in that way unless you're doing something really odd involving Ur-Priest or Acolyte of Peace. So you cast 6th level Druid spells instead of 5th level ones at 20th level. Is that really worth losing 3 feats? The feats aren't particularly useful for a caster type (Alertness, Improved Unarmed Strike and Power attack), compared with the synergy with the Shadow Dancer requirements (dodge, mobility, spring attack - all dex/movement based feats), but arguably are slightly more useful than the Master Thrower requirements (which, while dex-based, are weapon focussed).
LordKiwi 08-01-05, 10:48 AM	You could try Combat Medic from Heros of Battle. Evasion at level 4 plus a few other nice abilities for when you heal people. If you do this I suggest that Druid > Bard, due to there rather juivy spell list, so you'd want... Bard 1 / Druid 4 / Combat Medic 4 / Bard +1 / FL 10 Lord Kiwi,
eRaz0r 08-01-05, 10:47 PM	Good to know.