Book of Exalted Deeds [Archive] - Wizards Community

Book of Exalted Deeds [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Thinker89
09-21-06, 10:18 PM My group recently got the book of exalted deeds and I was wondering what are the powerful combos, feats, spells, prestige classes, etc. to look out for or to use for npc's?

If it helps the other books we have are PHB, DMG, MMI-III, PHBII, Comp Warrior, adventurer, psionic, arcane, divine, races of stone, destiny, libris mortis, and exp psionics handbook.

Level doesn't really matter I'd like to hear any stuff.
rilem
09-21-06, 11:19 PM Vow of Poverty is the most-used thing. Exceptionally powerful at early-tomid-levels, falls apart at the end (unless you're a druid or psion) because you can't fly or beat things with tough DR.

Nymph's Kiss is used in many builds as a good all-around feat and for help with Cha-skills.

Champion of Gwynharrf is one of the better Barbarian PrCs. Apostle of Peace is used fairly often.
Zemyla
09-21-06, 11:34 PM Vow of Poverty is the most-used thing. Exceptionally powerful at early-tomid-levels, falls apart at the end (unless you're a druid or psion) because you can't fly or beat things with tough DR.

Don't forget the incarnum classes. You get stat boosts and armor without having to occupy your chakra slots with magic items.
Blade2718
09-22-06, 12:05 AM Fist of Raziel is also popular, since it advances divine spellcasting, smites, and has full BAB. Best used with access to a full divine spellcasting list.
Seerow
09-22-06, 12:11 AM Most of the items found in the BoED tend to be very good as well.

I particularly like Starmantle Cloak and Retributive Amulet.
X-Codes
09-22-06, 03:20 AM Most of the items found in the BoED tend to be very good as well.

I particularly like Starmantle Cloak and Retributive Amulet.
...and Soulfire Armor... :rolleyes:

Honestly, a party doesn't need to be Exalted to get good use out of this book. Even plain ol' good aligned parties have some useful tricks to pull outta there.
Brol_The_Mighty
09-22-06, 04:01 AM I agree about the equipment.

Soulfire Armor + Starmantle Cloak + Retributive Amulet is just CRAZY
Hanniball
09-22-06, 04:11 AM Words of Creation is a popular choice for Bards.

Intuitive Attacks reduces MAD in many Wis-based builds.

Ranger/Stalker of Kharashs wreak evil NPCs.

Starmantle + evasion = immunity to weapon attacks.

LA+2 Half-Celestials can pose a problem in many campaigns.

The Saint template is extremely powerful.

That's all off the top of my head...

Either way...just my 2 cp
Brol_The_Mighty
09-22-06, 04:49 AM umm, where does it say that evasion applies to the Starmantle cloak?
Skadrian
09-22-06, 07:15 AM afb, but doesnt the starmantle cloak say that it halves the damage on a succesfull ref save?
that is excactly what evasion works for
Apocabramanic
09-22-06, 08:35 AM Vow of Poverty is the most-used thing. Exceptionally powerful at early-tomid-levels, falls apart at the end (unless you're a druid or psion) because you can't fly or beat things with tough DR.

That's what Exhalted Strike is for, isn't it?
Prominence
09-22-06, 08:48 AM I've seen/heard of pretty much everything except Wonderworker and most Ravages used.

Even the archons are getting some love by Planar Shepherd probably.
Apocabramanic
09-22-06, 09:21 AM Also check out the optional spell components. Couatl Feathers seem to be one the most useful. 35% chance of +2d6 damage on a fireball, for only 10 gp per try? Hum, let's get a bunch of them.

edit: Also! do not forget about the sanctified spells. Any caster qualifies for them. Any. The higher level spells are interesting because they grant you permanent allies. And not bad ones at all.
Sarivar
09-22-06, 10:59 AM The Saint template in OTHERWORLDLY powerful. For a +2 LA it gives you everything you can dream of. The drawbacks are its requirements, that are no easy to obtain, but if you can keep (very) good you get a massive reward.

I used to play an exalted saint cleric in an old campaign, and it likely ended because of the saint, when my character revealed to be more powerful than even the DM could expect.

My favourite tactic was to use the blood of the martir spell. Comboed with the saint fast healing it becomes a 4-level, no-150-max heal, as long as you can safely wait a few minutes to recover...
Prominence
09-22-06, 11:26 AM Everyone can pretty much agree the Saint template is severely undercut. The closest template, Unholy Scion, is LA+5. I still think Saint is better though.

The fast healing to feed your spells is a nice touch. Throw in the paladin spell Divine Sacrifice in Spell Compendium where you lose 10 hp for 5d6 damage too. Nothing like a nigh-free ~15 damage a swing. It also goes a long way to making paladins invincible.

Really, just using DMG, CD and BoED gives you immunity to nigh-everything.
Think about the Cleric 3 / CI 3 / Prestige Paladin 3 / FoR 9 / Saint 2. You're immune to damn near everything. You only need 2 stats (1 if you do intuitive attack and Serenity). Soulfire Armor gives you a lot of immunities, paladin gives you insane saves and fear immunity, FoR immunity to possession. Saint various immunities, DR, FH, etc. Cleric spell list for energy immunity, etc. Throw in some DMM cheese. Starmantle Cloak and Retributive Amulet means they will generally die first or most damage is mitigated. WIS/DEX/Armor to AC+automatic +4 deflection bonus (saves money/slots). Heck, if we throw in DMG2 or CA we get ring of Greater Counterspells or Ring of Spellbattle to stop countermagic / antimagic.
Hanniball
09-22-06, 11:38 AM umm, where does it say that evasion applies to the Starmantle cloak?

Although Skadrian hit it on the head, some rules citing is always nice:

Starmantle states that you are entitled to a Ref. save (DC 15) each time you are struck by magical weapon; success results in half damage from the weapon.

Evasion (Ex)
At 2nd level or higher if a monk makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, she instead takes no damage

:)
joseccb
09-22-06, 12:00 PM Book of Exalted Deeds is one of the most powerful books...

Fist of Raziel
Saint Template (extremly abusive)
Vow of Poverty
Sanctified Spells (can be CAST spontaneously by clerics!!)
Emmisary of Barachiel (Buy item of +20 Competence to Diplomacy)
Apostole of Peace (7 first level take paladin, monk and pious, Add Saint Template and Celestial Mystic and thats it)
Abusive Items (Starmantle Cloak, Soulfire even better and Retributive Amulet is broken)
Champion of Gwynharwyf
Slayer of Domiel (better than regular BAB, Sneatk attack, death touch, divine grace!!, plus spells)
the only book with spells that can plain and easy get you servants for up to a year

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Thinker89 09-21-06, 10:18 PM	My group recently got the book of exalted deeds and I was wondering what are the powerful combos, feats, spells, prestige classes, etc. to look out for or to use for npc's? If it helps the other books we have are PHB, DMG, MMI-III, PHBII, Comp Warrior, adventurer, psionic, arcane, divine, races of stone, destiny, libris mortis, and exp psionics handbook. Level doesn't really matter I'd like to hear any stuff.
rilem 09-21-06, 11:19 PM	Vow of Poverty is the most-used thing. Exceptionally powerful at early-tomid-levels, falls apart at the end (unless you're a druid or psion) because you can't fly or beat things with tough DR. Nymph's Kiss is used in many builds as a good all-around feat and for help with Cha-skills. Champion of Gwynharrf is one of the better Barbarian PrCs. Apostle of Peace is used fairly often.
Zemyla 09-21-06, 11:34 PM	Vow of Poverty is the most-used thing. Exceptionally powerful at early-tomid-levels, falls apart at the end (unless you're a druid or psion) because you can't fly or beat things with tough DR. Don't forget the incarnum classes. You get stat boosts and armor without having to occupy your chakra slots with magic items.
Blade2718 09-22-06, 12:05 AM	Fist of Raziel is also popular, since it advances divine spellcasting, smites, and has full BAB. Best used with access to a full divine spellcasting list.
Seerow 09-22-06, 12:11 AM	Most of the items found in the BoED tend to be very good as well. I particularly like Starmantle Cloak and Retributive Amulet.
X-Codes 09-22-06, 03:20 AM	Most of the items found in the BoED tend to be very good as well. I particularly like Starmantle Cloak and Retributive Amulet. ...and Soulfire Armor... :rolleyes: Honestly, a party doesn't need to be Exalted to get good use out of this book. Even plain ol' good aligned parties have some useful tricks to pull outta there.
Brol_The_Mighty 09-22-06, 04:01 AM	I agree about the equipment. Soulfire Armor + Starmantle Cloak + Retributive Amulet is just CRAZY
Hanniball 09-22-06, 04:11 AM	Words of Creation is a popular choice for Bards. Intuitive Attacks reduces MAD in many Wis-based builds. Ranger/Stalker of Kharashs wreak evil NPCs. Starmantle + evasion = immunity to weapon attacks. LA+2 Half-Celestials can pose a problem in many campaigns. The Saint template is extremely powerful. That's all off the top of my head... Either way...just my 2 cp
Brol_The_Mighty 09-22-06, 04:49 AM	umm, where does it say that evasion applies to the Starmantle cloak?
Skadrian 09-22-06, 07:15 AM	afb, but doesnt the starmantle cloak say that it halves the damage on a succesfull ref save? that is excactly what evasion works for
Apocabramanic 09-22-06, 08:35 AM	Vow of Poverty is the most-used thing. Exceptionally powerful at early-tomid-levels, falls apart at the end (unless you're a druid or psion) because you can't fly or beat things with tough DR. That's what Exhalted Strike is for, isn't it?
Prominence 09-22-06, 08:48 AM	I've seen/heard of pretty much everything except Wonderworker and most Ravages used. Even the archons are getting some love by Planar Shepherd probably.
Apocabramanic 09-22-06, 09:21 AM	Also check out the optional spell components. Couatl Feathers seem to be one the most useful. 35% chance of +2d6 damage on a fireball, for only 10 gp per try? Hum, let's get a bunch of them. edit: Also! do not forget about the sanctified spells. Any caster qualifies for them. Any. The higher level spells are interesting because they grant you permanent allies. And not bad ones at all.
Sarivar 09-22-06, 10:59 AM	The Saint template in OTHERWORLDLY powerful. For a +2 LA it gives you everything you can dream of. The drawbacks are its requirements, that are no easy to obtain, but if you can keep (very) good you get a massive reward. I used to play an exalted saint cleric in an old campaign, and it likely ended because of the saint, when my character revealed to be more powerful than even the DM could expect. My favourite tactic was to use the blood of the martir spell. Comboed with the saint fast healing it becomes a 4-level, no-150-max heal, as long as you can safely wait a few minutes to recover...
Prominence 09-22-06, 11:26 AM	Everyone can pretty much agree the Saint template is severely undercut. The closest template, Unholy Scion, is LA+5. I still think Saint is better though. The fast healing to feed your spells is a nice touch. Throw in the paladin spell Divine Sacrifice in Spell Compendium where you lose 10 hp for 5d6 damage too. Nothing like a nigh-free ~15 damage a swing. It also goes a long way to making paladins invincible. Really, just using DMG, CD and BoED gives you immunity to nigh-everything. Think about the Cleric 3 / CI 3 / Prestige Paladin 3 / FoR 9 / Saint 2. You're immune to damn near everything. You only need 2 stats (1 if you do intuitive attack and Serenity). Soulfire Armor gives you a lot of immunities, paladin gives you insane saves and fear immunity, FoR immunity to possession. Saint various immunities, DR, FH, etc. Cleric spell list for energy immunity, etc. Throw in some DMM cheese. Starmantle Cloak and Retributive Amulet means they will generally die first or most damage is mitigated. WIS/DEX/Armor to AC+automatic +4 deflection bonus (saves money/slots). Heck, if we throw in DMG2 or CA we get ring of Greater Counterspells or Ring of Spellbattle to stop countermagic / antimagic.
Hanniball 09-22-06, 11:38 AM	umm, where does it say that evasion applies to the Starmantle cloak? Although Skadrian hit it on the head, some rules citing is always nice: Starmantle states that you are entitled to a Ref. save (DC 15) each time you are struck by magical weapon; success results in half damage from the weapon. Evasion (Ex) At 2nd level or higher if a monk makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, she instead takes no damage :)
joseccb 09-22-06, 12:00 PM	Book of Exalted Deeds is one of the most powerful books... Fist of Raziel Saint Template (extremly abusive) Vow of Poverty Sanctified Spells (can be CAST spontaneously by clerics!!) Emmisary of Barachiel (Buy item of +20 Competence to Diplomacy) Apostole of Peace (7 first level take paladin, monk and pious, Add Saint Template and Celestial Mystic and thats it) Abusive Items (Starmantle Cloak, Soulfire even better and Retributive Amulet is broken) Champion of Gwynharwyf Slayer of Domiel (better than regular BAB, Sneatk attack, death touch, divine grace!!, plus spells) the only book with spells that can plain and easy get you servants for up to a year