Post/Author/DateTime	Post
CaptFrigate 10-02-06, 08:45 PM	If a melee character had the ability to cast as a 20th level caster in any full caster class, which would be the best for self-buffing?
jstorrie 10-02-06, 08:49 PM	Archivist, by far.
jstorrie 10-02-06, 08:53 PM	The choice will however rest on which stats your melee character is focused around. Archivist works best with any build that can fit the Swashbuckler 3 dip; Favoured Soul and Sorceror work well with any Paladin or other Cha-focused builds, and Cleric of course is king of Wisdom. Archivist strictly trumps Wizard, of course, but there are viable arguments to make for either Favoured Soul or Sorceror (or Shugenja, maybe) for Cha builds. Of the three stats, Int is best straight out of the box, and Wis good for Will saves, though Cha is very easily optimizable (Paladin 4 + Divine Might is a pretty simple step.)
Prominence 10-02-06, 09:03 PM	Does Artificer count? Artificer.
CaptFrigate 10-02-06, 09:05 PM	Lets assume a swashbuckler/dread pirate base. Does that change anything? EDIT: What about the classes from things like ToM?
jstorrie 10-02-06, 09:14 PM	If it's a swashbuckler base, Archivist is what you want, no bones about it. That gives you all the good clerical buffs and most of the good wizard ones (including Shapechange.)
CaptFrigate 10-02-06, 09:15 PM	Thanks
Prominence 10-02-06, 09:17 PM	Archivist or Wizard, wizard gets some nice stuff like Wraithstrike... really no divine equivalent.
jstorrie 10-02-06, 09:24 PM	You can get Wraithstrike through Anyspell, if you have to. Or if you want to get crazygonuts you could make the spellcaster side a Wiz/Arch/Mystic Theurge, although it'll be tricky to do so without interfering with your other PrC levels and still reaching 9th level spells.
CaptFrigate 10-02-06, 09:44 PM	Well, anyspell is not an option here.
jstorrie 10-02-06, 09:46 PM	Wraithstrike is frankly a bit abusive. Unless your game is really over the top you won't need to resort to it anyway - gestalting Archivist onto an Int-focused melee build is extremely powerful as is.
PhaedrusXY 10-02-06, 10:28 PM	The "bad" thing about Archvist is no Divine Metamagic cheese, unless you dip into a PrC (or other base class) that gives you Turn Undead.
Ikeren 10-02-06, 10:46 PM	Contemplative 1, take any domain that provides turning. Contemplative is easy enough to get into, and a decent level besides. If you can fit it, contemplative 5 or 6 adds another domain, and it is more or less equal to any other caster progression.
PhoenixInferno 10-02-06, 10:48 PM	Contemplative 1, take any domain that provides turning. Contemplative is easy enough to get into, and a decent level besides. If you can fit it, contemplative 5 or 6 adds another domain, and it is more or less equal to any other caster progression.Only Turn Undead can fuel Divine Metamagic.
Surreal 10-03-06, 12:15 AM	If you can't dip into cleric, Death Delver (Heroes of Horror) is good for gaining rebuke undead.
LordBOB777 10-03-06, 01:14 AM	i seriously wish someone would of said Druid before me. Sure it isnt the best buffer class but spells like Barkskin, Stone Skin, and Tourtoise Shell (CD...dont know if it would stack with Barkskin) among others always helps.
fnord 10-03-06, 01:35 AM	So you just get casting? In that case Archivist is definitely the best divine class. Wizard, however, also gives nice spells (Wraithstrike). Does your party need utility support in any area, because that could be a concern?
Hanniball 10-03-06, 01:45 AM	As Lordbob pointed out, a stong case can be made for a wild shaped/shapechanged druid. There are plenty of good buffs they can benefit from; Nature's Favor, Nature's Avatar, Gr. Magic Fang, and Animal Growth all come to mind. Either way...just my 2 cp
CaptFrigate 10-03-06, 05:13 PM	So you just get casting? In that case Archivist is definitely the best divine class. Wizard, however, also gives nice spells (Wraithstrike). Does your party need utility support in any area, because that could be a concern? Just the casting. And this is more about self-buffing than party buffing.
Raphael_Maure 10-03-06, 06:09 PM	i seriously wish someone would of said Druid before me. Sure it isnt the best buffer class but spells like Barkskin, Stone Skin, and Tourtoise Shell (CD...dont know if it would stack with Barkskin) among others always helps. Actually, an Archivist would have an easy time adding all of the above to his own spellbook: it just takes a few "standard issue" scrolls straight from your local magic shop. He can have that, plus anything on the Cleric spell list, and anything he likes from Paladin, Ranger, Shugenja... you name it.:pile: Nature's Favor, Nature's Avatar, Gr. Magic Fang, and Animal Growth all come to mind. check.
NiSeKuBi 10-03-06, 06:28 PM	Where is the Archivist located? Thank You in advance.
fnord 10-03-06, 06:35 PM	Where is the Archivist located? Heroes of Horror. Or online (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3)
FriendlyFrog 10-03-06, 06:36 PM	Where is the Archivist located? In Heroes of horror and here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20051007a&page=3). EDIT: Bah, I'm too slow in digging links!
Kapitanturtle 10-03-06, 06:55 PM	Don't forget the "Bite of the..." spells from spell compendium for both druid and wiz