Back in the swing.. need help [Archive] - Wizards Community

Back in the swing.. need help [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
celloshane
09-08-06, 11:48 PM So after a long stint as DM, I'm stepping back to the other side of the table. One of my players is taking my place, so the party is losing it's barbarian. The party consists of a paladin, cleric, wizard and rogue. I'd like to try something versatile that hits hard; Duskblade instantly appealed to me.

Stats are: 17, 15, 15, 14, 12, 11. I haven't yet chosen a race, but I'm guessing human. I need help with almost everything. I'd like to keep this character as adaptable as possible so that I can fill whatever role the situation calles for.

I think I'd be very effective with a reach weapon, and I'd like to maybe add to the spell list if it's easy enough. I was considering tacking on a handful of Sublime Chord levels, but I was concerned that 4-6 levels wouldn't contribute enough to the overall build. Basically, I could really use some suggestions here, especially what prestige class would contribute most to Duskblade. Feats that would help the most would be really useful, although I know Arcane Strike is almost a given. Suggestions for a good reach weapon other than spiked chain would be nice too (chain just seems to cause headaches for our group), as well as any other specialized gear. I really appreciate any help you guys can give, thanks in advance.
Pinky's brain
09-08-06, 11:53 PM Level, books, alignment?
celloshane
09-09-06, 12:00 AM Ah, I knew I was forgetting something. 5th level to start, 6k gold, alignment is open but there is a paladin in the party.

As for books, I use anything published by Wizards, but I don't have Tome of Battle yet.
PhoenixInferno
09-09-06, 12:01 AM http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=637776
celloshane
09-09-06, 09:41 AM Thanks Pheonix, thats a great thread. It's too bad so many of the ideas in it don't work. Can anybody suggest anything a little more personalized?
celloshane
10-01-06, 01:51 AM Ok, I'm back. I went ahead and built a preleminary character to run in my first session as a player. Here it is;

Str 15, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 17, Wis 11, Cha 12
Feats: Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Short Haft
Duskblade 5 (granting me)
Arcane Attunement, Armored Mage (light & medium), Combat Casting, Arcane Channelling, and Quick Cast 1/day

The character proved formidable in combat, I was capable dealing high damage and filling the tank role to some extent, but I was dissapointed that he seemed to be much of a one-trick pony. I plan to rebuild the character to give me a little more of the flexibility I was looking for. Here's what I had in mind;

Str 12, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 17, Wis 11, Cha 15 Human
1 Bard1 Bardic Music, ect. [F]Combat Reflexes, [F]Able Learner
2 DBl1 Arcane Attunement Armored Mage (light)
3 Dbl2 Combat Casting, [F]Battle Caster
4 Dbl3 Arcane Channelling, +1 Int
5 Dbl4 Armored Mage (Med) *Character starts play here
6 Dbl5 Quick Cast 1/day, [F]Short Haft
7 Dbl6 Spell Power +2
8 Dbl7 +1 Cha
9 Dbl8 [F]Touchstone (City of the Dead)
10 Dbl9
11 Sublime Chord1
12 Sandshaper [F] Arcane Strike +1 Cha
13 SCh2 Song of Arcane Power
14 Dbl10 Quick Cast 2/day
15 Dbl11 Spell Power +3 [F]?
16 Dbl12 +1 Cha
17 Dbl13 Arcane Channelling (full attack)
18 SCh3 [F]?
19 SCh4
20 SCh5, +1 Cha

Pros of this build over a straight Duskblade build

Increase to spells known
7th level spells as opposed to 5th
Greater skill set
Capability to become a party "face"
Improved ability to benefit the party through healing, buffs, and ect.

Cons

Less BAB
Less Hit Points
Have to wait an extra 4 levels for Full Attack Channelling
Less combat feats
Last and most obviously, lack of the higher level Duskblade abilities and spells

So to recap the new build is more versatile and seems like a better fleshed out character, but loses out on combat capability. Now, it's been more than a couple months since I used to visit the CO boards on a regular basis, but I know this build needs some tweaking. Oh and I have a small confession; I don't have Sandstorm, but I intend to borrow it from friend the next time I see him.

Looking forward to all the help I can get.
celloshane
10-02-06, 05:53 PM bump
JMD999
10-02-06, 07:05 PM you may consider being an illumian. Your caster level will increase by 2 and you can get some other nifty effects. Also, the feats Lyric Spell+ Extra Music is a great path to get more spells per day.
celloshane
10-03-06, 12:17 AM Also, the feats Lyric Spell+ Extra Music is a great path to get more spells per day.

I'm not sure how viable that would be since the build doesn't get many uses of bardic music. As the build stands, it gets 3 uses of bardic music. Add in Extra music and that increases to 4. Netting me one extra 4th level spell/day. I think this build would be better served by Extra Slot and Arcane Manipulation to accomplish the same effect.

Thanks for the look though. And hey, while I was looking that up I found Versatile Spellcaster which looks like an awesome feat for any spontaneous caster.
celloshane
10-03-06, 05:09 PM hmm.. If I had phrased that last post more like a question, would I need to bump?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
celloshane 09-08-06, 11:48 PM	So after a long stint as DM, I'm stepping back to the other side of the table. One of my players is taking my place, so the party is losing it's barbarian. The party consists of a paladin, cleric, wizard and rogue. I'd like to try something versatile that hits hard; Duskblade instantly appealed to me. Stats are: 17, 15, 15, 14, 12, 11. I haven't yet chosen a race, but I'm guessing human. I need help with almost everything. I'd like to keep this character as adaptable as possible so that I can fill whatever role the situation calles for. I think I'd be very effective with a reach weapon, and I'd like to maybe add to the spell list if it's easy enough. I was considering tacking on a handful of Sublime Chord levels, but I was concerned that 4-6 levels wouldn't contribute enough to the overall build. Basically, I could really use some suggestions here, especially what prestige class would contribute most to Duskblade. Feats that would help the most would be really useful, although I know Arcane Strike is almost a given. Suggestions for a good reach weapon other than spiked chain would be nice too (chain just seems to cause headaches for our group), as well as any other specialized gear. I really appreciate any help you guys can give, thanks in advance.
Pinky's brain 09-08-06, 11:53 PM	Level, books, alignment?
celloshane 09-09-06, 12:00 AM	Ah, I knew I was forgetting something. 5th level to start, 6k gold, alignment is open but there is a paladin in the party. As for books, I use anything published by Wizards, but I don't have Tome of Battle yet.
PhoenixInferno 09-09-06, 12:01 AM	http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=637776
celloshane 09-09-06, 09:41 AM	Thanks Pheonix, thats a great thread. It's too bad so many of the ideas in it don't work. Can anybody suggest anything a little more personalized?
celloshane 10-01-06, 01:51 AM	Ok, I'm back. I went ahead and built a preleminary character to run in my first session as a player. Here it is; Str 15, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 17, Wis 11, Cha 12 Feats: Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Short Haft Duskblade 5 (granting me) Arcane Attunement, Armored Mage (light & medium), Combat Casting, Arcane Channelling, and Quick Cast 1/day The character proved formidable in combat, I was capable dealing high damage and filling the tank role to some extent, but I was dissapointed that he seemed to be much of a one-trick pony. I plan to rebuild the character to give me a little more of the flexibility I was looking for. Here's what I had in mind; Str 12, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 17, Wis 11, Cha 15 Human 1 Bard1 Bardic Music, ect. [F]Combat Reflexes, [F]Able Learner 2 DBl1 Arcane Attunement Armored Mage (light) 3 Dbl2 Combat Casting, [F]Battle Caster 4 Dbl3 Arcane Channelling, +1 Int 5 Dbl4 Armored Mage (Med) *Character starts play here 6 Dbl5 Quick Cast 1/day, [F]Short Haft 7 Dbl6 Spell Power +2 8 Dbl7 +1 Cha 9 Dbl8 [F]Touchstone (City of the Dead) 10 Dbl9 11 Sublime Chord1 12 Sandshaper [F] Arcane Strike +1 Cha 13 SCh2 Song of Arcane Power 14 Dbl10 Quick Cast 2/day 15 Dbl11 Spell Power +3 [F]? 16 Dbl12 +1 Cha 17 Dbl13 Arcane Channelling (full attack) 18 SCh3 [F]? 19 SCh4 20 SCh5, +1 Cha Pros of this build over a straight Duskblade build Increase to spells known 7th level spells as opposed to 5th Greater skill set Capability to become a party "face" Improved ability to benefit the party through healing, buffs, and ect. Cons Less BAB Less Hit Points Have to wait an extra 4 levels for Full Attack Channelling Less combat feats Last and most obviously, lack of the higher level Duskblade abilities and spells So to recap the new build is more versatile and seems like a better fleshed out character, but loses out on combat capability. Now, it's been more than a couple months since I used to visit the CO boards on a regular basis, but I know this build needs some tweaking. Oh and I have a small confession; I don't have Sandstorm, but I intend to borrow it from friend the next time I see him. Looking forward to all the help I can get.
celloshane 10-02-06, 05:53 PM	bump
JMD999 10-02-06, 07:05 PM	you may consider being an illumian. Your caster level will increase by 2 and you can get some other nifty effects. Also, the feats Lyric Spell+ Extra Music is a great path to get more spells per day.
celloshane 10-03-06, 12:17 AM	Also, the feats Lyric Spell+ Extra Music is a great path to get more spells per day. I'm not sure how viable that would be since the build doesn't get many uses of bardic music. As the build stands, it gets 3 uses of bardic music. Add in Extra music and that increases to 4. Netting me one extra 4th level spell/day. I think this build would be better served by Extra Slot and Arcane Manipulation to accomplish the same effect. Thanks for the look though. And hey, while I was looking that up I found Versatile Spellcaster which looks like an awesome feat for any spontaneous caster.
celloshane 10-03-06, 05:09 PM	hmm.. If I had phrased that last post more like a question, would I need to bump?