Battlesmith [Archive] - Wizards Community

Battlesmith [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
tete
06-12-07, 11:09 AM I'm going to be playing a Dwarf Cleric in the Shackled City Campaign and I am thinking about trying for the Battlesmith (RoS). The GM already approved. Any thoughts/tips?

Thanks!
Azezel
06-12-07, 01:49 PM Um... Don't brush your teeth with a hedgehog.

The battlesmith is a solid PrC, but if you want advice you're going to need to provide more details, I fear.
tete
06-12-07, 02:19 PM Dwarf Cleric of Moradin, 1st level

STR 16
DEX 12
CON 16
INT 14
WIS 14
CHA 6

Dwarven, Gnomish, Common, Celestial

Diplomacy 3 ranks
Craft (Armorer) 4 ranks
Craft (Weaponsmith) 2 ranks
Knowledge (Religion) 2 ranks
Knowledge (Planes) 1 ranks

The 6 CHA comes from him being beat up by thugs. He has been on a pilgrimage to several Moradin shines and he was ambushed and they stole everything and beat him to a bloodly plup. He crawled his way back to Caldron where he was a beggar until a local smith heard his plight and offered him an apprenticeship. He has been working as a smith and living out of a tent in the mans backyard. His face has horrible scars from the ordeal but he sees the whole thing as just Moradin testing his metal. After all it takes a few poundings for a chunk of iron to become a fine suit of armor.

Thats what I have so far...
StoneStokes
06-12-07, 05:03 PM Awesome. That is a great background. I really like the blacksmithing analogy.
Azezel
06-12-07, 05:03 PM Okie dokie: Well, the obvious is you'll have a hard time turning undead, not a big problem - there's not a great deal of undead action in the Shackled City (I'll stop short of actual spoilers).

Your character's Wisdom is enough for a worthwhile damage bonus with his hammer, though as a Cleric and a BAttlesmith, I'd consider putting your aditional stat points into wisdom at leves 4 and 8. Since you cannot take the class before level 7, if I recal, you'll be doing a lot of Clericing, and Wisdom will help there.

Also, BAttlesmiths have a bad will save, so anything that helps that keep pace with your former Cleric save is good.

On the less mechanical side, make yourself the biggest, baddest Dwarvencraft hammer you can - ie a Goliath Greathammer, or a Dire Maul (Complete Warrior). XWP feat needed for both, of course. I'd suggest making it spell-storing, as a Cleric you have a boatload of good spells for a spell-storing weapon, Hold Person and any Inflict spell are no-brainers.

Similarly, heavy armour, made by you, of course. I'd recomend you not carry a sheild - your AC and HP are nice and high, and the advantage of weilding your hammer two-handed is worth the loss of AC.
tete
06-12-07, 05:19 PM Thanks for the complement on the brief background!

I plan on putting all my attribute bonuses into wisdom. Hoping it will make sense story wise to. Giving me a wisdom of 19 at the end in theory.

Good to know about the will saves as I am having a real hard time thinking of feats for this guy. Right now I was just looking at MWP (Warhammer), Moradin's Smile (RoS), Lightning Reflexes, and Improved Initiative. All of which I don't feel very strongly for. I'll look into will save things and XWP.

I'm still not sure on the no shield thing. I don't enjoy being hit and I thought all I would get is +1 damage? I'm guessing I am wrong.
Steely_Dan
06-13-07, 06:40 AM Because Battlesmith lets you add your Wis bonus to damage with a warhammer (that you crafted), also taking 3 levels of Hammer of Moradin is sweet as it grants you 2 x Str bonus to damage when wielding a warhammer two-handed.
Delg_Ironhammer
06-13-07, 07:40 AM mmmhhh Battlesmith .... nice Thing to do.

If you are the lone Priest/Healer in your group, you 5 Levels in a non Casting PRC are somting to think about. If you more of a Fighter Typ Role in your group i would think about 4 Levels in Cleric and 4 Levels in Fighter before switching to Battlesmith. Don't forget the 4th Level Dwarf Cleric substitution Level which brings you MWP Warhammer and +2 Damage untyped in either case. As a Dwarfy Prestige Class as it can be try Warpriest after Battlesmith.... will bring you away from Casting a bit more, but for Fighter Role its real great.

Feat's:

Heavy Amor Spec from RoS
Shield Spec from PHB 2 (Light for Caster, Heavy for Fighter)
Weapon Focus is must why not Speci if you take 4 Fighter Level (means Str+Wis+Mag+4) on a onehanded Weapon without Cheesyness
You have to take Enduarence so why not Die hard
Combat Casting is Prereq for War Priest
Expertise is a great Feat for this Char
the Healing Reserve Feat i heard from in the Complete Champion is nice to as good aligned Cleric, even if your level is low, you can heal up to the half of all HP of your group after a fight, as long as you have a 2nd Level Spell left ... if your primary Healer want take it, do it even as Cleric/Fighter

Domains:
I like Dwarf if you Play in the FR
Protection is a must for Warpriest and one of the tougher Domains anyway
I would prefer Good above Law cause of the enemys but Law Spells are nice too
Earth would open the way to the Earth Feats from RoS
Craft, another FR only, would be a nice RP fit cause it gives you Skill Focus in one Craft

Equipment:
As a Dwarf nothing can be wrong with a Fullplate, you need time anyway to get that Bonuses foe a self Craft Armor, cause it needs time to make it, so enchant it yourself as Priest 5/Battlesmith 5 you can make +5 Amor and Weapon.... use that. I would take an Shield+Warhammer aproach regardles of the way and aim for high AC and good saves.

Have fun with it, i love to play my Dwarf melee's atm i play a Fighter4/Warblade8 who is incerdible, close to way overpowered wit that Combat Focus Feat's from PHB 2....

edit: btw. for a Hammer of Moradin approach, which is real nice, as it also allows you to get 1,5x Str for 1 handed Hammer, but i would never play one because of roleplay reasons ... being a Hammer of Moradin, can nothappen as i Adventure with my Buddies, if not the DM makes a Plot ariund Citadle Angbar or Mithrall Hall, imho.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
tete 06-12-07, 11:09 AM	I'm going to be playing a Dwarf Cleric in the Shackled City Campaign and I am thinking about trying for the Battlesmith (RoS). The GM already approved. Any thoughts/tips? Thanks!
Azezel 06-12-07, 01:49 PM	Um... Don't brush your teeth with a hedgehog. The battlesmith is a solid PrC, but if you want advice you're going to need to provide more details, I fear.
tete 06-12-07, 02:19 PM	Dwarf Cleric of Moradin, 1st level STR 16 DEX 12 CON 16 INT 14 WIS 14 CHA 6 Dwarven, Gnomish, Common, Celestial Diplomacy 3 ranks Craft (Armorer) 4 ranks Craft (Weaponsmith) 2 ranks Knowledge (Religion) 2 ranks Knowledge (Planes) 1 ranks The 6 CHA comes from him being beat up by thugs. He has been on a pilgrimage to several Moradin shines and he was ambushed and they stole everything and beat him to a bloodly plup. He crawled his way back to Caldron where he was a beggar until a local smith heard his plight and offered him an apprenticeship. He has been working as a smith and living out of a tent in the mans backyard. His face has horrible scars from the ordeal but he sees the whole thing as just Moradin testing his metal. After all it takes a few poundings for a chunk of iron to become a fine suit of armor. Thats what I have so far...
StoneStokes 06-12-07, 05:03 PM	Awesome. That is a great background. I really like the blacksmithing analogy.
Azezel 06-12-07, 05:03 PM	Okie dokie: Well, the obvious is you'll have a hard time turning undead, not a big problem - there's not a great deal of undead action in the Shackled City (I'll stop short of actual spoilers). Your character's Wisdom is enough for a worthwhile damage bonus with his hammer, though as a Cleric and a BAttlesmith, I'd consider putting your aditional stat points into wisdom at leves 4 and 8. Since you cannot take the class before level 7, if I recal, you'll be doing a lot of Clericing, and Wisdom will help there. Also, BAttlesmiths have a bad will save, so anything that helps that keep pace with your former Cleric save is good. On the less mechanical side, make yourself the biggest, baddest Dwarvencraft hammer you can - ie a Goliath Greathammer, or a Dire Maul (Complete Warrior). XWP feat needed for both, of course. I'd suggest making it spell-storing, as a Cleric you have a boatload of good spells for a spell-storing weapon, Hold Person and any Inflict spell are no-brainers. Similarly, heavy armour, made by you, of course. I'd recomend you not carry a sheild - your AC and HP are nice and high, and the advantage of weilding your hammer two-handed is worth the loss of AC.
tete 06-12-07, 05:19 PM	Thanks for the complement on the brief background! I plan on putting all my attribute bonuses into wisdom. Hoping it will make sense story wise to. Giving me a wisdom of 19 at the end in theory. Good to know about the will saves as I am having a real hard time thinking of feats for this guy. Right now I was just looking at MWP (Warhammer), Moradin's Smile (RoS), Lightning Reflexes, and Improved Initiative. All of which I don't feel very strongly for. I'll look into will save things and XWP. I'm still not sure on the no shield thing. I don't enjoy being hit and I thought all I would get is +1 damage? I'm guessing I am wrong.
Steely_Dan 06-13-07, 06:40 AM	Because Battlesmith lets you add your Wis bonus to damage with a warhammer (that you crafted), also taking 3 levels of Hammer of Moradin is sweet as it grants you 2 x Str bonus to damage when wielding a warhammer two-handed.
Delg_Ironhammer 06-13-07, 07:40 AM	mmmhhh Battlesmith .... nice Thing to do. If you are the lone Priest/Healer in your group, you 5 Levels in a non Casting PRC are somting to think about. If you more of a Fighter Typ Role in your group i would think about 4 Levels in Cleric and 4 Levels in Fighter before switching to Battlesmith. Don't forget the 4th Level Dwarf Cleric substitution Level which brings you MWP Warhammer and +2 Damage untyped in either case. As a Dwarfy Prestige Class as it can be try Warpriest after Battlesmith.... will bring you away from Casting a bit more, but for Fighter Role its real great. Feat's: Heavy Amor Spec from RoS Shield Spec from PHB 2 (Light for Caster, Heavy for Fighter) Weapon Focus is must why not Speci if you take 4 Fighter Level (means Str+Wis+Mag+4) on a onehanded Weapon without Cheesyness You have to take Enduarence so why not Die hard Combat Casting is Prereq for War Priest Expertise is a great Feat for this Char the Healing Reserve Feat i heard from in the Complete Champion is nice to as good aligned Cleric, even if your level is low, you can heal up to the half of all HP of your group after a fight, as long as you have a 2nd Level Spell left ... if your primary Healer want take it, do it even as Cleric/Fighter Domains: I like Dwarf if you Play in the FR Protection is a must for Warpriest and one of the tougher Domains anyway I would prefer Good above Law cause of the enemys but Law Spells are nice too Earth would open the way to the Earth Feats from RoS Craft, another FR only, would be a nice RP fit cause it gives you Skill Focus in one Craft Equipment: As a Dwarf nothing can be wrong with a Fullplate, you need time anyway to get that Bonuses foe a self Craft Armor, cause it needs time to make it, so enchant it yourself as Priest 5/Battlesmith 5 you can make +5 Amor and Weapon.... use that. I would take an Shield+Warhammer aproach regardles of the way and aim for high AC and good saves. Have fun with it, i love to play my Dwarf melee's atm i play a Fighter4/Warblade8 who is incerdible, close to way overpowered wit that Combat Focus Feat's from PHB 2.... edit: btw. for a Hammer of Moradin approach, which is real nice, as it also allows you to get 1,5x Str for 1 handed Hammer, but i would never play one because of roleplay reasons ... being a Hammer of Moradin, can nothappen as i Adventure with my Buddies, if not the DM makes a Plot ariund Citadle Angbar or Mithrall Hall, imho.