Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Shebnar 06-23-04, 02:25 PM	Hello everyone! Which is the most advantageous combo Race/Template to gain the highest bonus to Intelligence in the slightest Level Advancement possible? Unfortunately I've not all the D&D products, so I'm asking to the experts...I accept every Dragon Magazine unofficial race/template too. I need a character who can start at 1st level with his Intelligence boosted up! ;) Thank you, and please excuse me for my poor English!
necrosnoop110 06-23-04, 02:45 PM	Black Etherguant See here (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=246043) for starting at level one and going up. They end up with +20 to INT caster level 17 wizard.
Shebnar 06-23-04, 04:22 PM	Thanks for the advice! And, aside from monstruous creatures, which race would you pick to start a 1st level character? I thought Sun Elf (+2 Int) would be OK, but I wanted to add a template to further improve Intelligence... Black Ethergaunts are great, but they gain greater advantages to Int 'only' at level 5 (+4 Int total)... is there any other way to increase the Int score minimizing (as far as possible, of course :) ) the class level/LA progression? THX ;)
necrosnoop110 06-23-04, 04:37 PM	Actually at 5th "Level" Ethergaunt's are +6 INT because they start with +2 and gain +2 at 3rd, 5th, 7th, etc. If you want to go with a more straight laced base creature Sun Elf (FR) or Grey Elf (Kingdom of Kalamar) at a +2 to INT is the best I know of that doesn’t have LA or Hit Dice.
Grim Sage 06-23-04, 04:56 PM	Blue from XPH is arguably either +1 or +0 LA (XPH lists both, one has to be a typo) in terms of power, i'd say +0, and about on par with Grey Elf
iN.fuSioN 06-23-04, 05:59 PM	Dragonlance features the Silvanesti, a kind of elf that has: +2 int and dex -2 cha and con they also get a bonus on spellcraft checks, making them nice for incantatrices. The best way to improve intelligence is by using polymorph any object to assume the form of a creature that has a score higher than you. Another possibility is to use the following spell (which came out at Wizards.com): Random Encounters Article: Pets of Any Stirpe (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20030106a) Mind of Another Transmutation [Mind-Affecting] Level: Sor/Wiz 7 Components: V, S, M Casting Time: 1 action Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) Target: One creature Duration: 1 hour/level Saving Throw: Will negates Spell Resistance: Yes An improved version of the mind of a beast spell, mind of another transforms the subject's mentality into that of an aberration, animal, beast, fey, giant, humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid, or vermin, and there is no maximum Intelligence limit. The caster chooses a creature (for example, "stone giant" or "nymph") upon casting the spell. Making this spell permanent requires a 16th-level caster and the expenditure of 3,500 XP. Otherwise, the spell works exactly the same as the mind of a beast spell. Material Component: A small bit of brain matter is required, but it can be from any creature of the types listed for this spell. EDIT: Now you have to find one creature that fits the description with a high score! EDIT AGAIN: Guess what kind of creature the Black Ethergaunt is!
ksbsnowowl 06-23-04, 07:36 PM	Although this is of little help in the short-term (ie- early character levels), when you get to high levels there is an absolutely vile way to gain a +4 to your Wizard's spell DC's. Shapechange into a Moonrat from the MMII . Moon Rats get a variable, unnamed bonus to intelligence depending on the phase of the moon. During a full moon they gain a +8 unnamed bonus. You gain this as an Ex ability with shapechange, so high level wizards can boost their DC's a bit higher.