Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Neo_Leviathan 09-28-04, 01:21 PM	Ok, I was thinking of making a kind of spellcaster/shifter build. Bascially, shift into a bird or some other kind of flying creature, and rain helldeath from above with big spells. OR, shift into a flea, and smite with helldeath from near-invisibility on the side of a horse. What do people think? I was thinking either a Wizard or Sorc/Shifter build, or maybe a Druid/Shifter build could be used, or maybe even a Psion/Shifter. Maybe take Sorc till lvl 8 or Wiz till lvl 7 (so you can get alter self and qualify for the Shifter PrC), then take shifter levels, and make sure you have Natural Spell and Eschew Components. What do people think?
Battousai 09-28-04, 01:24 PM	You won't cast "big spells" if you take the shifter PrC : losing caster levels is a pain! Just go straight druid : you gain access to "death from above" spells , like Cometfall , bombardement and many others. Just morph into a bird with natural spell and you're set!
darczero 09-29-04, 02:22 AM	Well... For one thing, if you plan on going that route, either take ranks in the Ride skill (gear those toward Flying mount of some sort) or learn a Fly type spell. Also, regardless of gravity, a spell does not exceed its range (given in every spell's description), fired from above or not, as the vast majority of them have no weight whatsoever (they are magical energy, not physical matter). Keep that fact in mind. The Cleric or Druid may be your best bet (they can use Quicken Spell to get more than one spell per round; just think, Quickened "Flame Strike..."), as they have decent spell lists, good offensive capability, and overall are more well-balanced with their approach to spells. A Sorcerer is the obvious first choice for Arcane spellcasters, since they cast without preparation and have more spells per day than most other casters, but they also have low HP and suffer from Arcane Spell Failure (most of the time; there are ways around that in many prestige classes). A Wizard would probably be a bad idea, since they have the smallest amount of spells per day of all major spellcasters. They do, however, get bonus feats every few levels, which you can use for Metamagic feats. For the orbital bomber type, you will need to learn many metamagic feats. If your DM allows them, look through Tome and Blood (specifically at Twin, Repeat, and Energy Sub/Admix). While Metamagic feats raise spell levels when used (and Casting Time for Sorcerers), they are the primary strength of offensive spellcasters (and healers! Just imagine an Empowered Mass Cure Critical Wounds; also, do the same against that pyramid full of mummies! You generally have to be Epic to do this, though). My best spellslinger/orbital bomber type was a Sor/Dragon Disciple/Elemental Savant (Fire, Red Half-Dragon)...
catharz 09-29-04, 03:09 AM	A high level Sorcerer/Elemental savant (air) can certainly rain down destruction in to form of thunder (Sub (Sonic)) and lightning.