Ardent Dilettante?! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ardent Dilettante?! [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Wizu
09-22-05, 01:25 PM Okay, this is the prestige class I've yearned to see since planescape: torment.

The big question is, how to make most out of it? Obiously you need to be able to multiclass quite a bit, but from CO standpoint whats the best progression. Considering that you wont need to qualify for the "visited x and x planes" part in this excercise, how could one reap every single benefit and maximize its potential remains a tricky one. First it sprang to my mind to dabble in bard 8/ardent dilettante 10/lich going for demilich goodness at some distant point of his life. Then I remembered how much bards higher level spellist blowed, and decided not to make "Floating Head the Second".

Planescape optimization guys, can anyone break ardent dilettante?
Blade2718
09-22-05, 01:40 PM I would say its not very breakable except as an excursion to acquire all skills as class skills.

Re: Your Build - You need divine spellcasting to advance to 6th level Ardent Dilettante.
Wizu
09-22-05, 01:44 PM Oh yeah, bards arcane divineish spells wont qualify. Rats.

Edit: Then again, there could be a case made for Temple Raider of Olidammara! ^^
Blade2718
09-22-05, 01:50 PM Or Green Whisperer/Druid/Fochlucan Lyricist.
thegreatbuddha
09-22-05, 01:56 PM Play a human and take Able Learner at first level. Cross-class skills now cost 1 skill point per rank, and 1 level of Ardent Dilettante makes your cap for all skills character level+3.
Blade2718
09-22-05, 03:08 PM Exemplar also has all skills as class skills.
Korg al Tarr
09-22-05, 03:42 PM Quick build:

Human

Wizard 5/Ardent Dilettante 6/Nentyar hunter 1/Ardent Dilettante -10/ Nentyar hunter 2/Mystic Theurge 3

spells:
Wizard cl 17(9lv spells)
Nentyar hunter cl 5(5lv spells)(5d6 - flamestrike :weep: )

Feats:

1H. Able Learner
1.Militia
3.alertness
6.c.casting
9.track
9. Ex.wepon prof.(???)
12. free
13.free
15. free
16. free
18. free
Wizu
09-22-05, 04:09 PM Nifty! And considering such high int as wizard base, those all class skills go into good use! Now... is there a better own spellist divine caster than nethyar hunter?

Edit: 3.5 version!
Mr. Dog
09-22-05, 04:26 PM You can use some of those free feats to get "Practiced Spellcaster" for +4 to your caster level (not to exceed your HD) in one casting class per feat slot. You could use this to increase the caster level of N. Hunter.
Blade2718
09-22-05, 04:32 PM Ur-Priest.
Wizu
09-22-05, 04:59 PM wizard/ardent dilettante/ur priest just feels so... wrong. But I can easily imagine a level 25 build using demilich!

Would make a fantastic BBEG.

"Sorry guys, been there done that, you just bore me so what say you if I suck you out of your life force and add it to my collection of emotional pleasures, eh?"
DavidWL
09-22-05, 06:29 PM The Ardent Dilettante progresses any casting, suggesting we either use a fast progression class (Ur-Priest, Sublime Chord, etc.). Also, it will progress *any* type of class (not just arcane or divine) -- implying that it would also work for the Chameleon! It seems to work best with a caster/skill-monkey, so I like this last build.

Build 1:

Sorcerer 4/Paladin 2/Cleric 1/Prestige Bard 2/Ardent Dilettante 1/Sublime Chord 1/ ardent dilettante 2-10

Charisma Based Build (not MAD)
Divine Grace, Turn Undead, 3 domains, casting as a Sorcerer 6/Sublime Chord 10.
Like many builds, this isn't good until later on.
10 Levels of Ardent Dilittante goodness
Build 2:

Feat Rogue 2/ Warlock 1/Marshall 1/Cleric 1/Chameleon 7/Ardent Dilittante 4/Exemplar 1/Ardent Dilittante 5-7

Uses the Divine Bard variant to have divine spellcasting, uses Warlock for Arcane spellcasting (to qualify for Ardent Dilittante). Uses levels 2-4 of Ardent Dilittante to progress Chameleon casting, uses levesl 5-7 to progress Warlock casting. Exemplar is for Skill Mastery (UMD, Concentrate, whatever else you like).

INT primary, WIS secondary
LOTS of cool skill-monkey and generalist abilities
10th level Chameleon casting.
7 levels of Chamleon Abilities, 7 levels of Ardent Dilittante.
You start off as a skill monkey, and then start to rapidly add broad spellcasting, and then you augment your spellcasting and add more skillmonkey. A little weak in levels 4-8, but it gets good by level 9, and is interesting right from the start.

Best,
David

Buyer Beware: I wrote this without access to my books, so some things may be off. I may come back and update the 2nd build.
pvrhye
09-22-05, 07:18 PM If I played one I'd want to have some reliable means of self ressurection to play offa thier coolest ability. Demiplane Seeds is ideal, but nearly impossible, but clone is a bit more reasonable.
K
09-22-05, 07:48 PM The Jaded [Dark Ardent Dilettante build.]
Rogue 4/Monk 1/Ur-priest 1/Ardent Dillettante 3/Sorcerer 1/Ardent Dillettante 6/Blackguard 2/Ardent Dillettante 7-10

Joy Collector [Hallmark(tm) build]
Sorcerer 6/Bard 1/Paladin 2/Ardent Dillettante 1/Sublime Chord 1/Ardent Dillettante 2-9

The Joy Collector is a powerful LG, charisma-based arcane spellcaster thats playable from 1-20, while The Jaded is an evil BBEG divine caster who uses Wisdom and Cha (also playable from 1-20, but a little more difficult).
Xeraph
09-23-05, 07:00 AM Pardon my ignorence... but where can i find this prcs?
colm_l
09-23-05, 07:58 AM Pardon my ignorence... but where can i find this prcs?

Planar handbook
El_Machinae
09-23-05, 11:35 AM It's most breakable ability is its (Su) "see it again". The trick is to be caught in area affect spells that are brutal, but allow SR (blasphemy springs to mind). Since you can bounce it, but ignore SR - kapowie!

I was thinking of using AD when I was trying to build a staffificer (assuming you could only UMD a staff if the spell wasn't on your list - you'll recall that the whole UMD debate is done to death.) Half of the concept was to use Ancestral Relic to specialise your magical staff as needed.

Bard/Divine Oracle/Annointed Knight/Divine Crusader/AD.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Wizu 09-22-05, 01:25 PM	Okay, this is the prestige class I've yearned to see since planescape: torment. The big question is, how to make most out of it? Obiously you need to be able to multiclass quite a bit, but from CO standpoint whats the best progression. Considering that you wont need to qualify for the "visited x and x planes" part in this excercise, how could one reap every single benefit and maximize its potential remains a tricky one. First it sprang to my mind to dabble in bard 8/ardent dilettante 10/lich going for demilich goodness at some distant point of his life. Then I remembered how much bards higher level spellist blowed, and decided not to make "Floating Head the Second". Planescape optimization guys, can anyone break ardent dilettante?
Blade2718 09-22-05, 01:40 PM	I would say its not very breakable except as an excursion to acquire all skills as class skills. Re: Your Build - You need divine spellcasting to advance to 6th level Ardent Dilettante.
Wizu 09-22-05, 01:44 PM	Oh yeah, bards arcane divineish spells wont qualify. Rats. Edit: Then again, there could be a case made for Temple Raider of Olidammara! ^^
Blade2718 09-22-05, 01:50 PM	Or Green Whisperer/Druid/Fochlucan Lyricist.
thegreatbuddha 09-22-05, 01:56 PM	Play a human and take Able Learner at first level. Cross-class skills now cost 1 skill point per rank, and 1 level of Ardent Dilettante makes your cap for all skills character level+3.
Blade2718 09-22-05, 03:08 PM	Exemplar also has all skills as class skills.
Korg al Tarr 09-22-05, 03:42 PM	Quick build: Human Wizard 5/Ardent Dilettante 6/Nentyar hunter 1/Ardent Dilettante -10/ Nentyar hunter 2/Mystic Theurge 3 spells: Wizard cl 17(9lv spells) Nentyar hunter cl 5(5lv spells)(5d6 - flamestrike :weep: ) Feats: 1H. Able Learner 1.Militia 3.alertness 6.c.casting 9.track 9. Ex.wepon prof.(???) 12. free 13.free 15. free 16. free 18. free
Wizu 09-22-05, 04:09 PM	Nifty! And considering such high int as wizard base, those all class skills go into good use! Now... is there a better own spellist divine caster than nethyar hunter? Edit: 3.5 version!
Mr. Dog 09-22-05, 04:26 PM	You can use some of those free feats to get "Practiced Spellcaster" for +4 to your caster level (not to exceed your HD) in one casting class per feat slot. You could use this to increase the caster level of N. Hunter.
Blade2718 09-22-05, 04:32 PM	Ur-Priest.
Wizu 09-22-05, 04:59 PM	wizard/ardent dilettante/ur priest just feels so... wrong. But I can easily imagine a level 25 build using demilich! Would make a fantastic BBEG. "Sorry guys, been there done that, you just bore me so what say you if I suck you out of your life force and add it to my collection of emotional pleasures, eh?"
DavidWL 09-22-05, 06:29 PM	The Ardent Dilettante progresses any casting, suggesting we either use a fast progression class (Ur-Priest, Sublime Chord, etc.). Also, it will progress any type of class (not just arcane or divine) -- implying that it would also work for the Chameleon! It seems to work best with a caster/skill-monkey, so I like this last build. Build 1: Sorcerer 4/Paladin 2/Cleric 1/Prestige Bard 2/Ardent Dilettante 1/Sublime Chord 1/ ardent dilettante 2-10 Charisma Based Build (not MAD) Divine Grace, Turn Undead, 3 domains, casting as a Sorcerer 6/Sublime Chord 10. Like many builds, this isn't good until later on. 10 Levels of Ardent Dilittante goodness Build 2: Feat Rogue 2/ Warlock 1/Marshall 1/Cleric 1/Chameleon 7/Ardent Dilittante 4/Exemplar 1/Ardent Dilittante 5-7 Uses the Divine Bard variant to have divine spellcasting, uses Warlock for Arcane spellcasting (to qualify for Ardent Dilittante). Uses levels 2-4 of Ardent Dilittante to progress Chameleon casting, uses levesl 5-7 to progress Warlock casting. Exemplar is for Skill Mastery (UMD, Concentrate, whatever else you like). INT primary, WIS secondary LOTS of cool skill-monkey and generalist abilities 10th level Chameleon casting. 7 levels of Chamleon Abilities, 7 levels of Ardent Dilittante. You start off as a skill monkey, and then start to rapidly add broad spellcasting, and then you augment your spellcasting and add more skillmonkey. A little weak in levels 4-8, but it gets good by level 9, and is interesting right from the start. Best, David Buyer Beware: I wrote this without access to my books, so some things may be off. I may come back and update the 2nd build.
pvrhye 09-22-05, 07:18 PM	If I played one I'd want to have some reliable means of self ressurection to play offa thier coolest ability. Demiplane Seeds is ideal, but nearly impossible, but clone is a bit more reasonable.
K 09-22-05, 07:48 PM	The Jaded [Dark Ardent Dilettante build.] Rogue 4/Monk 1/Ur-priest 1/Ardent Dillettante 3/Sorcerer 1/Ardent Dillettante 6/Blackguard 2/Ardent Dillettante 7-10 Joy Collector [Hallmark(tm) build] Sorcerer 6/Bard 1/Paladin 2/Ardent Dillettante 1/Sublime Chord 1/Ardent Dillettante 2-9 The Joy Collector is a powerful LG, charisma-based arcane spellcaster thats playable from 1-20, while The Jaded is an evil BBEG divine caster who uses Wisdom and Cha (also playable from 1-20, but a little more difficult).
Xeraph 09-23-05, 07:00 AM	Pardon my ignorence... but where can i find this prcs?
colm_l 09-23-05, 07:58 AM	Pardon my ignorence... but where can i find this prcs? Planar handbook
El_Machinae 09-23-05, 11:35 AM	It's most breakable ability is its (Su) "see it again". The trick is to be caught in area affect spells that are brutal, but allow SR (blasphemy springs to mind). Since you can bounce it, but ignore SR - kapowie! I was thinking of using AD when I was trying to build a staffificer (assuming you could only UMD a staff if the spell wasn't on your list - you'll recall that the whole UMD debate is done to death.) Half of the concept was to use Ancestral Relic to specialise your magical staff as needed. Bard/Divine Oracle/Annointed Knight/Divine Crusader/AD.