Skill Monkey for Greyhawk Ruins? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Skill Monkey for Greyhawk Ruins? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
echoota
03-06-07, 03:00 AM I'm trying to work out an 8 level build for Greyhawk Ruins that will be focused on maximizing skill use above all else. Rather than tweaking the character for combat I want him to excel at all of the non-combat areas of the game.

Unfortunately Able Learner isn't available for a feat, but are there other skill based feats that could really boost the character across the board?

I was going to do human for the extra feat and skill points. I was thinking of these stats:

Str 10 Dex 14 Con 12 Int 14 Wis 10 Cha 14

I'm not that crazy about a straight rogue build, I kind of prefer the Scout, particularly for the language skill option, but I have no problem multiclassing and mixing in a lot of stuff if there is an interesting path to take.
Mithrus
03-06-07, 09:32 AM Try playing with the Beguiler. You get great skill choices, plus arcane support. Most of the skills you will use (assuming you are looking at rogue-like skills) are Int and Dex based. You get Knock as a second level spell, which means you could opt to neglect your Open Locks skill altogether.

If you are looking at the diplomacy side of skills, focus on Int and Cha instead. Considering Bluff is a core skill for this class, this might be a better option.
Alpha_Nerd
03-06-07, 10:19 AM Yeah, if you don't have a PHB 2 try to get ahold of one, the Beguiler sounds right up your alley. INT based casting gives you a reason to buy a 16, and as a human that would put you up to 10 skill points per level. You could dip into some prestige classes if you wanted, but I don't think it's necessary. Beguiler 15 should be fine. These stats might be more effective.

STR 8
DEX 14
CON 14
INT 16
WIS 10
CHA 12
Mithrus
03-06-07, 12:04 PM Alternately, a grey elf will work great as well:
8=>6
14=>16
14=>12
16=>18
8=>8
14=>14

This also makes the DC higher should you need to participate in combat ;)
Timlagor
03-06-07, 12:48 PM Scouts Suck ;)

The only skill Feat I can recommend is Trivial Knowledge (extremely good for knowledges, RoS: Gnome only)

Straight TWF Rogue is nice. Also take a look at the "Unseen Seer Rogue" thread on here.
Japangirl
03-06-07, 02:17 PM Alternately, a grey elf will work great as well:
8=>6
14=>16
14=>12
16=>18
8=>8
14=>14

This also makes the DC higher should you need to participate in combat ;)

6 Str *eep*. Not terrible, of course, just very scary for when shadows pop out and start trying to munch the caster. Still worth min-maxing, probably, just something to be aware of. Also, can you carry a HHH and still be in light load?
Fleetfang
03-06-07, 02:33 PM Sure!
A HHH is only 5 pounds, and a Str 6 light load is 20.

Just don't make the same mistake that a halfling I ran into at GenCon last year made. He was so weighed down by his Bag of Holding that he had to keep everything he owned in it.
When he took a full round action to go into it in combat, I thought for sure he was going to pull out something AWESOME.
Imagine my surprise the next round when he used his non-masterwork sling to chuck a rock at the arrowhawks that were bearing down on us.

To his credit, I think he hit one of them once or twice.
Weeee!
Japangirl
03-06-07, 02:38 PM Ah cool. That gives you 15 lbs. for metamagic rods, light armor (get mithril ASAP, of course), various alchemical substances if you buy any, scrolls, wands, and any weapons you happen to carry. That works.
ithardin
03-06-07, 04:33 PM The nice thing about the HHH is that what you want is right there at the top.

There are few things more fun then having ramped up skills and actually getting to use them :)
Mithrus
03-06-07, 07:25 PM 6 Str *eep*. Not terrible, of course, just very scary for when shadows pop out and start trying to munch the caster. Still worth min-maxing, probably, just something to be aware of.
100% agree. Surprisingly, I haven't encountered a ton of stuff that drains strength (that the casters had to deal with). Saying that, I also will bet money there are some shadows SOMEWHERE in the ruins of Greyhawk...
Nerax
03-06-07, 08:47 PM Unfortunately Able Learner isn't available for a feat, but are there other skill based feats that could really boost the character across the board?

I was going to do human for the extra feat and skill points.

You might think about Well Read from the Dragon magazine feats. It makes all Knowledge skills as class skills. It is available to Suel and Grey Elf characters.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
echoota 03-06-07, 03:00 AM	I'm trying to work out an 8 level build for Greyhawk Ruins that will be focused on maximizing skill use above all else. Rather than tweaking the character for combat I want him to excel at all of the non-combat areas of the game. Unfortunately Able Learner isn't available for a feat, but are there other skill based feats that could really boost the character across the board? I was going to do human for the extra feat and skill points. I was thinking of these stats: Str 10 Dex 14 Con 12 Int 14 Wis 10 Cha 14 I'm not that crazy about a straight rogue build, I kind of prefer the Scout, particularly for the language skill option, but I have no problem multiclassing and mixing in a lot of stuff if there is an interesting path to take.
Mithrus 03-06-07, 09:32 AM	Try playing with the Beguiler. You get great skill choices, plus arcane support. Most of the skills you will use (assuming you are looking at rogue-like skills) are Int and Dex based. You get Knock as a second level spell, which means you could opt to neglect your Open Locks skill altogether. If you are looking at the diplomacy side of skills, focus on Int and Cha instead. Considering Bluff is a core skill for this class, this might be a better option.
Alpha_Nerd 03-06-07, 10:19 AM	Yeah, if you don't have a PHB 2 try to get ahold of one, the Beguiler sounds right up your alley. INT based casting gives you a reason to buy a 16, and as a human that would put you up to 10 skill points per level. You could dip into some prestige classes if you wanted, but I don't think it's necessary. Beguiler 15 should be fine. These stats might be more effective. STR 8 DEX 14 CON 14 INT 16 WIS 10 CHA 12
Mithrus 03-06-07, 12:04 PM	Alternately, a grey elf will work great as well: 8=>6 14=>16 14=>12 16=>18 8=>8 14=>14 This also makes the DC higher should you need to participate in combat ;)
Timlagor 03-06-07, 12:48 PM	Scouts Suck ;) The only skill Feat I can recommend is Trivial Knowledge (extremely good for knowledges, RoS: Gnome only) Straight TWF Rogue is nice. Also take a look at the "Unseen Seer Rogue" thread on here.
Japangirl 03-06-07, 02:17 PM	Alternately, a grey elf will work great as well: 8=>6 14=>16 14=>12 16=>18 8=>8 14=>14 This also makes the DC higher should you need to participate in combat ;) 6 Str eep. Not terrible, of course, just very scary for when shadows pop out and start trying to munch the caster. Still worth min-maxing, probably, just something to be aware of. Also, can you carry a HHH and still be in light load?
Fleetfang 03-06-07, 02:33 PM	Sure! A HHH is only 5 pounds, and a Str 6 light load is 20. Just don't make the same mistake that a halfling I ran into at GenCon last year made. He was so weighed down by his Bag of Holding that he had to keep everything he owned in it. When he took a full round action to go into it in combat, I thought for sure he was going to pull out something AWESOME. Imagine my surprise the next round when he used his non-masterwork sling to chuck a rock at the arrowhawks that were bearing down on us. To his credit, I think he hit one of them once or twice. Weeee!
Japangirl 03-06-07, 02:38 PM	Ah cool. That gives you 15 lbs. for metamagic rods, light armor (get mithril ASAP, of course), various alchemical substances if you buy any, scrolls, wands, and any weapons you happen to carry. That works.
ithardin 03-06-07, 04:33 PM	The nice thing about the HHH is that what you want is right there at the top. There are few things more fun then having ramped up skills and actually getting to use them :)
Mithrus 03-06-07, 07:25 PM	6 Str eep. Not terrible, of course, just very scary for when shadows pop out and start trying to munch the caster. Still worth min-maxing, probably, just something to be aware of. 100% agree. Surprisingly, I haven't encountered a ton of stuff that drains strength (that the casters had to deal with). Saying that, I also will bet money there are some shadows SOMEWHERE in the ruins of Greyhawk...
Nerax 03-06-07, 08:47 PM	Unfortunately Able Learner isn't available for a feat, but are there other skill based feats that could really boost the character across the board? I was going to do human for the extra feat and skill points. You might think about Well Read from the Dragon magazine feats. It makes all Knowledge skills as class skills. It is available to Suel and Grey Elf characters.