Archivist/Psion/Psychic Theurge: worthwhile? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Archivist/Psion/Psychic Theurge: worthwhile? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
JulesCARV
02-08-06, 06:05 PM Lets say you played an Elan or something, starting out as an archivist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3) (better skill points and HD than psion), went about three levels with the archivist, and then took about three levels of psion (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPsion.html), then went into the psychic theurge (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040925b) prestige class. Would this be effective, do you think? The nice thing about it, as far as I can tell, is that 1) its only casting ability is intelligence, and 2) it can wear medium armor without any casting difficulties. In fact, it could wear any armor, but archivist only provides proficiency up to medium.

On the other hand, there is a loss of three caster/manifester levels. Worthwhile?
Esponer
02-08-06, 06:19 PM It's one of the more powerful basic dual spellcasting builds. What do you intend to do with the last four levels though?

As per all of the basic dual spellcasting build, you'll be weak early on and even later on you won't quite be as powerful as the others, but you'll be more versatile. I'm not sure if it'd be as powerful as a Psion/Slayer gish, or an Archivist-based gish.
JulesCARV
02-08-06, 06:28 PM Personally, I don't see the point of an archivist gish. Just play a cleric, which is basically a gish unto itself! The only reason I picked archivist is so that casting would all be int based. Cleric/psychic warrior, or favored soul/wilder could pull off the same trick, but psychic warriors and wilders seem to be weak in terms of manifester levels (the wilder's benefits mainly seem to be as much about class level progression as manifester progression, and the psychic warrior moreso). Or am I missing some secret strength the archivist has in creating good fighter/casters?

As for the last 4 levels, I'm not sure. What do you think?
Esponer
02-08-06, 06:40 PM I suspect an Archivist gish could work surprisingly well. Persisting clerics tend to look to Greater Anyspell, and thus the Magic Domain, to get access to arcane spells for some buffs, including polymorph. An Archivist can simply learn them all himself. As for the actual means of persisting, you'd probably use a level in sacred exorcist, or a level in spelldancer (even better). Providing you spend the vast majority of your levels in useful prestige classes with high BAB progression, you could be extremely effectively. I still favour ur-priest gishes, personally, but I think an archivist would work just as well as a cleric.

Your last four levels will be determined by whether you care more about manifesting or spellcasting. If you can get your hands on a lot of scrolls for your prayer book, then archivist might be better as through domain spells you're progressing both divine and arcane spells instead of just psionics. That said, might be a good idea to spend those four levels in a prestige class that gives you something useful. Nothing's coming immediately to mind, but I'll think of something.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JulesCARV 02-08-06, 06:05 PM	Lets say you played an Elan or something, starting out as an archivist (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3) (better skill points and HD than psion), went about three levels with the archivist, and then took about three levels of psion (http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/psionicPsion.html), then went into the psychic theurge (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040925b) prestige class. Would this be effective, do you think? The nice thing about it, as far as I can tell, is that 1) its only casting ability is intelligence, and 2) it can wear medium armor without any casting difficulties. In fact, it could wear any armor, but archivist only provides proficiency up to medium. On the other hand, there is a loss of three caster/manifester levels. Worthwhile?
Esponer 02-08-06, 06:19 PM	It's one of the more powerful basic dual spellcasting builds. What do you intend to do with the last four levels though? As per all of the basic dual spellcasting build, you'll be weak early on and even later on you won't quite be as powerful as the others, but you'll be more versatile. I'm not sure if it'd be as powerful as a Psion/Slayer gish, or an Archivist-based gish.
JulesCARV 02-08-06, 06:28 PM	Personally, I don't see the point of an archivist gish. Just play a cleric, which is basically a gish unto itself! The only reason I picked archivist is so that casting would all be int based. Cleric/psychic warrior, or favored soul/wilder could pull off the same trick, but psychic warriors and wilders seem to be weak in terms of manifester levels (the wilder's benefits mainly seem to be as much about class level progression as manifester progression, and the psychic warrior moreso). Or am I missing some secret strength the archivist has in creating good fighter/casters? As for the last 4 levels, I'm not sure. What do you think?
Esponer 02-08-06, 06:40 PM	I suspect an Archivist gish could work surprisingly well. Persisting clerics tend to look to Greater Anyspell, and thus the Magic Domain, to get access to arcane spells for some buffs, including polymorph. An Archivist can simply learn them all himself. As for the actual means of persisting, you'd probably use a level in sacred exorcist, or a level in spelldancer (even better). Providing you spend the vast majority of your levels in useful prestige classes with high BAB progression, you could be extremely effectively. I still favour ur-priest gishes, personally, but I think an archivist would work just as well as a cleric. Your last four levels will be determined by whether you care more about manifesting or spellcasting. If you can get your hands on a lot of scrolls for your prayer book, then archivist might be better as through domain spells you're progressing both divine and arcane spells instead of just psionics. That said, might be a good idea to spend those four levels in a prestige class that gives you something useful. Nothing's coming immediately to mind, but I'll think of something.