Arcane Caster Build Needed for Frostburn Setting [Archive] - Wizards Community

Arcane Caster Build Needed for Frostburn Setting [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The Orange Pet
06-28-05, 07:54 PM What's up folks.

Some demographics for you first-off.

Our party(4), ATM, consists of:

(Good friend)VoP Monk: A very vanilla VoP Monk build, probably taken from the Vault...should be reliable.

(Old Co-Worker)Trapfinding Holy Warrior: Don't ask me where the concept came from or the logic behind it because I don't honestly know if there is any. ATM, he has a level of Rogue for Trapfinding and a couple levels of Paladin. I don't think he even has a level progression laid out.

(Me)Druid: Using Paradisio's Middle-Aged human build (Updated Druid Thread) as a backbone w/Energy Substituition added for heightened Creeping Cold and Call Lightning efficacy given the heavily [Cold] based setting. I will more than likely step into the leadership role for encounters as far as my party is concerned as our sessions are fairly relaxed and almost all communication is out of character. I've been allowed access to Greenbound so early encounters should be much easier w/free Entangles.

(Old Co-Worker)Arcane Caster: This is where you all come in. I'm recognized as the most knowledgable among my immediate group and so my DM has asked me to build this guys character because of his lack of knowledge and extra time. He expressed interest in a "blaster" type character, but I'd like to stay away from specializing him so far as to stray from adequate versatility (i.e. Warlock). The party already has a weak player (See Holy Warrior above) and I really need this guy to be solid.

More general information:

Our DM is generally lenient in most ways so I've promised not to insult his graciousness by bringing a rules lawyering monster to the table (i.e. Dweomerkeeper, King of Smack). His good spirit has limits though and we've been restricted from using overly evil content (No BoVD...Period) or any Non-Humaniod race including any race w/any LA.

Our endgame looks like a large scale battle w/an opposing evil party of NPCs. I fully expect a Fighter/Barb w/multiple PrCs, a Rogue w/multiple PrCs, a Psion/Wilder w/at least 1 PrC, and a Cleric w/Divine Metamagic brutality in tow. How to combat these is a moot point ATM because I have no idea at what level the encounter will take place, but we need to be rock solid after level 12 w/out a doubt.

The caster can use Arcane spells or Psionics as both would suffice the player's "blaster" requirement. Character stats are via 32 point buy. Starting ECL is 3 w/no LA races or templates allowed. I have access to all WotC printed material. Only disallowed book is BoVD or any non-CrystalKeep Dragon material.

My initial train of thought leads me to use an Incantatrix/Archmage build, but Sorceror/MotAO also plagues me ATM. Full level progressions would be appreciated, but all bits of wisdom are welcome.

Help...?
Particle
06-28-05, 08:08 PM Incancantrix is strong, as it really kicks in at lvl 12. There you get one of the best class features. If specilization isnt an issue, take that route. Stick him to Wizard, because with a Wizard he is able to try out a lot of speels, without wasting future capability. A Sorcerer might be more flexibile(it really sucks to preapare all those spells when you are unfammilar with them), but these mnetiond unfamiliarity i a real drawback when picking spells. oh, and most wizards have the time to try a few spells just for the sake of it, even if it doesnt work for them....

Ffor point buy: Very High Int, farily high Con. Maybe Dex, divide remaing points as you like.

For Races: Human, Gray Elf(MM1), Sun Elf or Strongheart Halfling(forgotten realms campaign setting)
I like the Elves more, tough.

For feats, I suggest taking Iron will(prereq for Incantrix, metamagic feat got by wz lvl 5) and Improved intitaive. You will want it later anyway, and so the player has got some time to decide which schools to specilaize in. If you want to take Spell Focus right away, take Evocation, as imo this will make up a lot of his spells.
The Orange Pet
06-28-05, 08:44 PM Incancantrix is strong, as it really kicks in at lvl 12. There you get one of the best class features.Yes, this was 1 of my primary reasons for looking very hard at Incantatrix. Instant Metamagic is simply broken in capable hands.

For Races: Human, Gray Elf(MM1), Sun Elf or Strongheart Halfling(forgotten realms campaign setting)
I like the Elves more, tough.Standard choices indeed. I'm not really sure where to go w/this however since many are so very similar. I've considered running a LA+0 Aasimar from here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) if only for the Outsider Poly options.

For feats, I suggest taking Iron will(prereq for Incantrix, metamagic feat got by wz lvl 5) and Improved intitaive.Improved Initiative may and may not happen. It just seems worthless after a 24 hour/Perm Poly into a high dex guy.

Thanx.
Khan the Destroyer
06-28-05, 09:06 PM What about the Frostmage from the Frostburn book? That (along with feats from the same book) would add some power to his spells, in the form of damage, higher caster levels, and the ability to bypass cold resistance and immunities.

And the feat Snowcasting can make sure that your spell always has the Cold descriptor for added effects.

For the trapfinding holy warrior, I would suggest the Shadowbane Inquisitor from Complete Adventurer, it seems to be suited for that.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The Orange Pet 06-28-05, 07:54 PM	What's up folks. Some demographics for you first-off. Our party(4), ATM, consists of: (Good friend)VoP Monk: A very vanilla VoP Monk build, probably taken from the Vault...should be reliable. (Old Co-Worker)Trapfinding Holy Warrior: Don't ask me where the concept came from or the logic behind it because I don't honestly know if there is any. ATM, he has a level of Rogue for Trapfinding and a couple levels of Paladin. I don't think he even has a level progression laid out. (Me)Druid: Using Paradisio's Middle-Aged human build (Updated Druid Thread) as a backbone w/Energy Substituition added for heightened Creeping Cold and Call Lightning efficacy given the heavily [Cold] based setting. I will more than likely step into the leadership role for encounters as far as my party is concerned as our sessions are fairly relaxed and almost all communication is out of character. I've been allowed access to Greenbound so early encounters should be much easier w/free Entangles. (Old Co-Worker)Arcane Caster: This is where you all come in. I'm recognized as the most knowledgable among my immediate group and so my DM has asked me to build this guys character because of his lack of knowledge and extra time. He expressed interest in a "blaster" type character, but I'd like to stay away from specializing him so far as to stray from adequate versatility (i.e. Warlock). The party already has a weak player (See Holy Warrior above) and I really need this guy to be solid. More general information: Our DM is generally lenient in most ways so I've promised not to insult his graciousness by bringing a rules lawyering monster to the table (i.e. Dweomerkeeper, King of Smack). His good spirit has limits though and we've been restricted from using overly evil content (No BoVD...Period) or any Non-Humaniod race including any race w/any LA. Our endgame looks like a large scale battle w/an opposing evil party of NPCs. I fully expect a Fighter/Barb w/multiple PrCs, a Rogue w/multiple PrCs, a Psion/Wilder w/at least 1 PrC, and a Cleric w/Divine Metamagic brutality in tow. How to combat these is a moot point ATM because I have no idea at what level the encounter will take place, but we need to be rock solid after level 12 w/out a doubt. The caster can use Arcane spells or Psionics as both would suffice the player's "blaster" requirement. Character stats are via 32 point buy. Starting ECL is 3 w/no LA races or templates allowed. I have access to all WotC printed material. Only disallowed book is BoVD or any non-CrystalKeep Dragon material. My initial train of thought leads me to use an Incantatrix/Archmage build, but Sorceror/MotAO also plagues me ATM. Full level progressions would be appreciated, but all bits of wisdom are welcome. Help...?
Particle 06-28-05, 08:08 PM	Incancantrix is strong, as it really kicks in at lvl 12. There you get one of the best class features. If specilization isnt an issue, take that route. Stick him to Wizard, because with a Wizard he is able to try out a lot of speels, without wasting future capability. A Sorcerer might be more flexibile(it really sucks to preapare all those spells when you are unfammilar with them), but these mnetiond unfamiliarity i a real drawback when picking spells. oh, and most wizards have the time to try a few spells just for the sake of it, even if it doesnt work for them.... Ffor point buy: Very High Int, farily high Con. Maybe Dex, divide remaing points as you like. For Races: Human, Gray Elf(MM1), Sun Elf or Strongheart Halfling(forgotten realms campaign setting) I like the Elves more, tough. For feats, I suggest taking Iron will(prereq for Incantrix, metamagic feat got by wz lvl 5) and Improved intitaive. You will want it later anyway, and so the player has got some time to decide which schools to specilaize in. If you want to take Spell Focus right away, take Evocation, as imo this will make up a lot of his spells.
The Orange Pet 06-28-05, 08:44 PM	Incancantrix is strong, as it really kicks in at lvl 12. There you get one of the best class features.Yes, this was 1 of my primary reasons for looking very hard at Incantatrix. Instant Metamagic is simply broken in capable hands. For Races: Human, Gray Elf(MM1), Sun Elf or Strongheart Halfling(forgotten realms campaign setting) I like the Elves more, tough.Standard choices indeed. I'm not really sure where to go w/this however since many are so very similar. I've considered running a LA+0 Aasimar from here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sp/20040213a) if only for the Outsider Poly options. For feats, I suggest taking Iron will(prereq for Incantrix, metamagic feat got by wz lvl 5) and Improved intitaive.Improved Initiative may and may not happen. It just seems worthless after a 24 hour/Perm Poly into a high dex guy. Thanx.
Khan the Destroyer 06-28-05, 09:06 PM	What about the Frostmage from the Frostburn book? That (along with feats from the same book) would add some power to his spells, in the form of damage, higher caster levels, and the ability to bypass cold resistance and immunities. And the feat Snowcasting can make sure that your spell always has the Cold descriptor for added effects. For the trapfinding holy warrior, I would suggest the Shadowbane Inquisitor from Complete Adventurer, it seems to be suited for that.