Archivist Break Points [Archive] - Wizards Community

Archivist Break Points [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Endarire
01-06-06, 02:30 AM I've seen various archivist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3) builds stop at levels 7, 8, and 11, and was wondering which, overall, was best. I know that 7 gives a second lore mastery, 8 a damage bonus, and 11 stunning.

-EE
pfooti
01-06-06, 01:33 PM In the build I'm working on, I'm partial to level 8. Most interesting prestige classes require you to be at least level 7 to enter (Sacred Exorcist and Divine Disciple being two notable ones), but level 8 gives you a useful class feature, Fort and Will save bumps, and a BAB upgrade.

It's possible to duck out of Archivist even earlier, if you are going to take a few levels of Runecaster, Dracolyte, or a weird one like Human Paragon. I'm not keen on that unless you'd be taking those PrCs for a long time, since they take about three or four levels of their better BAB and Hit Die to really matter over the Archivist's. If you're going Gish, I'd say get out of the Archivist's BAB and HD as soon as you can. If you're focusing on spellcasting, then levels 8 or 11.
fafnisbani
01-06-06, 02:29 PM I'm going to have to agree with copping out at level 11. Being able to reliably stun almost anything with merely a move action is well worth it in my books.

Cheers,
Gunni
tsuyoshikentsu
01-06-06, 08:50 PM The only reason to break before 11th is if you absolutely MUST have ten levels.
Taliesin52
01-07-06, 01:05 AM I'd base the level 11 breakpoint on your campaign. For example, if your dm likes to send undead and constructs at you constantly, super stunning power's about useless.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Endarire 01-06-06, 02:30 AM	I've seen various archivist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3) builds stop at levels 7, 8, and 11, and was wondering which, overall, was best. I know that 7 gives a second lore mastery, 8 a damage bonus, and 11 stunning. -EE
pfooti 01-06-06, 01:33 PM	In the build I'm working on, I'm partial to level 8. Most interesting prestige classes require you to be at least level 7 to enter (Sacred Exorcist and Divine Disciple being two notable ones), but level 8 gives you a useful class feature, Fort and Will save bumps, and a BAB upgrade. It's possible to duck out of Archivist even earlier, if you are going to take a few levels of Runecaster, Dracolyte, or a weird one like Human Paragon. I'm not keen on that unless you'd be taking those PrCs for a long time, since they take about three or four levels of their better BAB and Hit Die to really matter over the Archivist's. If you're going Gish, I'd say get out of the Archivist's BAB and HD as soon as you can. If you're focusing on spellcasting, then levels 8 or 11.
fafnisbani 01-06-06, 02:29 PM	I'm going to have to agree with copping out at level 11. Being able to reliably stun almost anything with merely a move action is well worth it in my books. Cheers, Gunni
tsuyoshikentsu 01-06-06, 08:50 PM	The only reason to break before 11th is if you absolutely MUST have ten levels.
Taliesin52 01-07-06, 01:05 AM	I'd base the level 11 breakpoint on your campaign. For example, if your dm likes to send undead and constructs at you constantly, super stunning power's about useless.