Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Blas de Lezo 11-30-05, 08:00 AM	I just read this cool PrC for Eberron ( Explorer's Handbook Excerpt http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050803a&page=3 ) and fell in love with it. Do you know any good build? What about Swashbuckler3/Bard4/WC5/Legendary Captain 8? Any ideas?
Blas de Lezo 11-30-05, 10:47 AM	Ok, I have more time now, so I'll explain better. I'm looking for a build capable of piloting an airship better than non-windwright captain pilots, but I don't want him to be full-concentrated on this, since you can't bring along your airship everywhere you go, of course. My main idea was an airship pilot good at melee and with some backup magic, but I'm open to new builds/suggestions/ideas. Here's a sample build: Half Elf (requirement) Swashbuckler3/Bard4/Windwright Captain5/Swashbukcler4-11 1.Swashbuckler1: Least Dragonmark, Weapon Finesse* 2.Swashbuckler2 3.Swashbuckler3: Lesser Dragonmark 4.Bard1 5.Bard2 6.Bard3: Craft Arms & Armor, Song of Heart* (substitution of inspire competence, from ECS) 7.Bard4 8.Windwright Captain1 9.Windwright Captain2: Attune Magic Weapon 10.Windwright Captain3 11.Windwright Captain4 12.Windwright Captain5: Dodge 13.Swashbuckler4 14.Swashbuckler5 15.Swashbuckler6: Mobility 16.Swashbuckler7 17.Swashbuckler8 18.Swashbuckler9: Elusive Target 19.Swashbuckler10 20.Swashbuckler11 Final saves: +9/+13/+11 Final BAB: +17 Final caster level: 7 (access to 3rd level bard spells)
Llochlyn 11-30-05, 11:36 AM	You can't take 'craft arms and armors' at level 6, because you're not a caster of level 5, only 3 You shouldn't too... because your spellcasting doesn't increase, meaning you'll make very weak items Maybe you could use a better class than swashbuckler from level 13 Something that fits more your concept : 'Dread Pirate' from complete adventurer is nice for a prestige oriented character Scarlet Corsair from stormwrack fits the idea, but I don't think you should use it, because of the sneak attack prerequisite Then, as you're in Eberron, you might use the Dragonmark classes to improve your sailing and maybe your spellcasting...See this excellent thread about dragonmarks (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=506728) Legendary captain, I don't know where it is, but why haven't you used in your second proposition ?
Eidolon Faer 11-30-05, 01:43 PM	IIRC, Legendary Captain is also from Stormwrack. I think that's the one that gives you bonuses to your Leadership score, an excellent idea if you ever plan to buy your ship back from the House. Leadership is practically a must-have Feat here. And, clearly, you'd want to use a prefix of something like Rogue 2 / Hexblade 5, Rogue 2 / Sorcerer 5, Bard 7, or similar to enter the PrC.
Aramas 11-30-05, 02:48 PM	I like Bard 4th / Dragonmark Heir 3rd as a prefix to Windwright Captain. You definitely should not take more than 3 levels of Swashbuckler.
PonTelon 11-30-05, 04:29 PM	I like Bard 4th / Dragonmark Heir 3rd as a prefix to Windwright Captain. You definitely should not take more than 3 levels of Swashbuckler. I second this. A current NPC in a campaign I'm running is a: Bard 5/DMH 2/Windwright Captain 5 And she seems to work well. I plan on going more DMH after I finish Windwright Captain(if she ever goes that high)
Aramas 11-30-05, 05:31 PM	I second this. A current NPC in a campaign I'm running is a: Bard 5/DMH 2/Windwright Captain 5 And she seems to work well. I plan on going more DMH after I finish Windwright Captain(if she ever goes that high) The reason I suggested Bard 4th / DMH 3rd is because you can qualify for DMH at 4th and Bard 5 doesn't give you anything. I also suggest picking up at least the 4th level of DMH after you finish WWC. After that you can either take a few more bard levels or pick up a different PrC.
Blas de Lezo 12-01-05, 09:56 AM	Interesting ideas. I just realized that a build including Windwright Captain doesn't have his strenghts at fighting or magic, it is a build that focuses on being a leader and taking advantage of your group mates/companions/followers and supporting them with auras/bardic music/buffing spells.What about Bard3/Marshal3/WC5/Legendary Captain 9 with the Leadership feat? (You can find a excerpt of the Legendary Captain here http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20050805a&page=3 ) You get an awesome crew thanks to your Legendary Captain bonus mixed with your bardic music (inspire courage+song of heart) and Marshal auras (let's say Motivate Charisma, Master of Tactics and Motivate Ardor). If you're on your airship with your crew, and you are under attack, just activate your auras and bardic music and you'll have a crew capable of everything! If not, always take your cohort (cleric if possible) and 2 or 3 followers with you when adventuring. Something like: 1. Bard1: Least Dragonmark (prereq) 2. Bard2 3. Bard3: Lesser Dragonmark (prereq), Song of Heart* (substitution of Inspire Competence, from ECS) 4. Marshal1: Skill Focus* (Diplomacy) 5. Marshal2 6. Marshal3: Leadership (prereq) 7. Legendary Captain1 8. Windwright Captain1 9. Windwright Captain2: 10. Windwright Captain3: Weapon Finesse (your BAB is going to be low, and since your Dex will be high, this is mandatory) 11. Windwright Captain4 12. Windwright Captain5: Improved Initiative (you must go first in order to give give all your bonuses to your mates before your foes act) 13. Legendary Captain2 14. Legendary Captain3 15. Legendary Captain4: Practiced Spellcaster (bump those buffing spells like Haste) 16. Legendary Captain5 17. Legendary Captain6 18. Legendary Captain7: Words of Creation (from BoED) 19. Legendary Captain8 20. Legendary Captain9
Llochlyn 12-01-05, 07:19 PM	Ah ! I love this one It has a strong thematic, works well, yes, you could end being the best crew around, for sure... Plus it's quite simple and won't give fits to your DM Until you begin to have ship fights And you have a nice set of social skills, making you the party's face While you might not be yourself a "powerful" character (powerful as in 'strong in a stand alone combat'), you should gather influence, friendships, loyalties, contacts etc etc... making you someone very important in Khorvaire and in the rest of Eberron too... Yup, you know, i bookmark this place, this might become an NPC Maybe, instead of improved thoughness (or if you could insert a flaw from unearthead arcana) you could use 'Words of Creation' (book of exalted deeds) Well, it's the CO board, and with it, you show more dedication to the crew [effectively damaging yourself physically], and it's even more efficient [doubles the bonus from your bardic song of the heart... ]
Blas de Lezo 12-02-05, 05:35 AM	Ah ! I love this one It has a strong thematic, works well, yes, you could end being the best crew around, for sure... Plus it's quite simple and won't give fits to your DM Until you begin to have ship fights And you have a nice set of social skills, making you the party's face While you might not be yourself a "powerful" character (powerful as in 'strong in a stand alone combat'), you should gather influence, friendships, loyalties, contacts etc etc... making you someone very important in Khorvaire and in the rest of Eberron too... Yup, you know, i bookmark this place, this might become an NPC Maybe, instead of improved thoughness (or if you could insert a flaw from unearthead arcana) you could use 'Words of Creation' (book of exalted deeds) Well, it's the CO board, and with it, you show more dedication to the crew [effectively damaging yourself physically], and it's even more efficient [doubles the bonus from your bardic song of the heart... ] Hey, you got the point man. This build isn't an uber-spellcaster-powertripper monster, but a build focused on social skills, leadership and improving your crew or group abilities. I want to playtest it, but I'm sure the rest of the group (if they're at least 4) will thank a lot a character like this, with his airship, influences, etc. Words of Creation is also a good idea. In fact I didn't know what feat should I choose at that point, and since you can increase your HP via magic items, I think I'll swap it for WoC.