Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The Law 04-01-06, 09:28 AM	Hi guys, I'm building a sorcerer/mage of the arcane order/elemental savant (air) and would like some comments on the build below, especially feat selection? Human 1 Sorc 1 feats: Arcane preparation, Maximize spell 2 Sorc 2 3 Sorc 3 feat: Cooperative spell 4 Sorc 4 5 Sorc 5 6 Sorc 5 / MotAO 1 <feat?> 7 Sorc 5 / MotAO 2 bonus feat: Energy substitution (electricity) 8 Sorc 5 / MotAO 2 / Elem Savant 1 9 Sorc 5 / MotAO 2 / Elem Savant 2 feat: Born of the Three Thunders 10 Sorc 5 / MotAO 2 / Elem Savant 3 11 Sorc 5 / MotAO 2 / Elem Savant 4 12 Sorc 5 / MotAO 2 / Elem Savant 5 <feat?> 13 Sorc 5 / MotAO 2 / Elem Savant 6 14 Sorc 5 / MotAO 2 / Elem Savant 7 15 Sorc 5 / MotAO 2 / Elem Savant 8 <feat?> 16 Sorc 5 / MotAO 2 / Elem Savant 9 17 Sorc 5 / MotAO 2 / Elem Savant 10 18 Sorc 5 / MotAO 2 / Elem Savant 10 / Archmage 1 <feat?> arcana: Mastery of shaping 19 Sorc 5 / MotAO 2 / Elem Savant 10 / Archmage 2 arcana: Mastery of elements 20 Sorc 5 / MotAO 2 / Elem Savant 10 / Archmage 3 arcana: Arcane fire This is the build I had in mind. As you can see, I'm having difficulty selecting feats. The following books are legal in our campaign: - core books - All Eberron books (Magic of Eberron, Races of Eberron, Sharn: City of Towers, etc.) - The Complete Series (Complete Arcane, Complete Divine, etc.) ...and if I can convince the DM he might make exceptions if I can find nice feats in another book. I chose MotAO levels so I have access to 1st - 3rd level utility spells. The core prestige class is the elemental savant (air) as I'd like to get the fly speed of an air elemental, and the whole lightning idea rocks. Born of the Three Thunders is an awesome feat for flavour (and mechanically) - we've got a sneak attacking rogue in the party too who I can work with to set up sneak attacks with the feat's stunning effect. Also, changing half the damage to sonic means I'll have less problems with electrical resistance enemies. The maximize feat is chosen at level 1 because I have to have a metamagic feat to pick Cooperative spell, and Coop spell is a prereq for MotAO. Also, at higher levels I can combine Born of the Three Thunders with maximized fireballs (lightning balls) for some serious damage. Could anyone please comment on this build? Feat choices and high level comments would be welcome. I picked archmage because I'm not quite sure what to take at high levels, and the Mastery of Shaping and Mastery of Elements could be useful, as will be the Arcane Fire.
Roland Falantyr 04-01-06, 12:17 PM	well i must say my friend. I do have a soft spot for your build! This is very similar to the build im currently building towards, with some minor differences. Im taking 6 sorc/10 Air Savant/4 Fatespinner I hope you have fun with your 100 foot fly speed. Consider mobile spellcasting, and Air heritage. mobile spellcasting lets you make a double move and cast a spell (200ft) and air heritage give you a 30 foot fly speed increase which for the double move will mean casting spells and moving 260 feet. oh yea, one last thing. Dont forget that with born of the three thunders you are immune to stuns and daze effects so i dont think you get the downside for using it so blast away! EDIT: forgot to mention that mobile spellcasting is a feat in the Complete Adventurer, and Air Heritage is in the Planar Handbook
The Law 04-01-06, 12:22 PM	Can you take an additional energy substitution (sonic) with this build? I know you can take the feat, but the 'elemental specialty' prc ability says that all your spells with an energy descriptor now deal eletric damage. Can I substitute it for sonic damage if I take that feat?
Roland Falantyr 04-01-06, 12:25 PM	well by the wording of the prc i would say no. I've always thought that was a silly rule, though because it basically makes elemental savant terrible for a sorceror..cant play a sorc who can only use one energy type unless you have a very diverse party. I ran it by my dm and he allowed it. Otherwise you cant really use Energy Admixture effectively either.
ninjarabbit 04-01-06, 12:27 PM	Since you're taking arcane preparation that opens up quicken spell for you. I'd also drop the archmage levels and pick up more MotAO levels to get you up to spellpool II for more flexibility.
The Law 04-01-06, 12:37 PM	Any additional suggestions for feats from those source books I mentioned? :)
ninjarabbit 04-01-06, 12:41 PM	Practiced spellcaster will help you make up for those caster levels you lost from ES. Extend spell is a good all around utility metamagic feat.
UMiskatonic 04-01-06, 01:39 PM	If you want to be a fly-around blasty sorceror, you'll get more use out of the two level empower than the three level maximize. Since you're taking it at first level, it also shortens the delay before you have a feat you can use. You could drop Archmage altogether, and take sculpt spell. It's similar to mastery of shaping, and allows you to lightning ball the opposition without destroying your allies. Again, very useful at low levels with grease, glitterdust, etc. Depending on the campaign, non-lethal substitution is either great, or really terrible. Will you be fighting in crowded places, near civilians, or taking prisoners?
ressurrector 04-01-06, 01:47 PM	oh yea, one last thing. Dont forget that with born of the three thunders you are immune to stuns and daze effects so i dont think you get the downside for using it so blast away! Unfortunately, elementals are not immune to daze effects so far as I've been able to find. Daze, and stun are two entirely different status effects, and being immune to one does not equate to immunity from the other.
The Law 04-02-06, 12:46 AM	Thanks for the good advice, I've put sculpt spell at level 6 and practised spell caster at level 12.