Debating 2 feats, help appriciated [Archive] - Wizards Community

Debating 2 feats, help appriciated [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
bobotheguy
02-12-08, 09:02 PM Hey there, 8th lvl adventure, and I am a Dread Necromancer with another PC serving as my Deaths Chose PrC

I have 2 feat combominations to choose from. One, is improved unarmed strike and another feat that lets me add my CHA mod (+8) to my AC, making my AC 28 compared to 20. The other combonation, involves taking Lifeblood (on my Deaths Chosen PC ally) and Nimble Bones Both from the Libris Mortis.

Any opinions would be helpful.

Bobo
Sulacu
02-12-08, 10:18 PM That really depends on whether you plan on getting chopped at or stay behind a throng of undead.

Lifebond (I take it you mean that one) is handy, but only when you have the undead template. If you have a death's chosen, I would think so, but with the Dread Necromancer class you'll only attain the undead type when you reach 20th level, so you'll be minimally 12 levels away from being able to pick up the feat or get a Death's Chosen in the first place. Do you happen to already be an undead creature? If you are a Necropolitan or some such, this problem of course doesn't apply and it'll be a smart choice to use the latter combination.

So, if you're already an undead, wasting a feat on Improved Unarmed Strike would be unwise, even for a +8 to AC, since your BAB progression is slow. Otherwise, if you plan on using unarmed strike to evade provoking AoOs when using your touch attack, then go for it. Even with AC 28, though, there's plenty of creatures out there of around CR 12 that'll be able to hit that no problem anyway. It comes down to personal flavour anyway.
bobotheguy
02-14-08, 12:08 AM Yes, I am a necropolitain.

Pretty much, because I came and had a chat with my DM about what would be acceptable or not, he let me make a totally broken character as compared to the players who made their characters on their own.

See, I am actually Dead Necromancer 3/ Master Specialist 5 See, my DM thinks that is you are a class such as Dread Necro, or beguiler, Warlock, etc then it meets the "specialist Wizard" prereq

Also, he let me continue the advancement of my Charnel Touch, my Neg Energy Burst, and my Lich Body DR. (which means they continue as if I were 8th lvl DN). In addition, he removed the two "Advanced Learning" special abilities from the Master Specialist (which let me add a spell to my spellbook, but conisdering im a DN its pointless) and in place of those two Advanced Learnings I had the Undead Mastery the DN gets at 8th lvl.

In a sense, broken. With my +8 to CHA, and my 8HD, I can animate up to 96 HD of undead and control 80HD. dont get me started on rebuking undead...

Anywho, Yes, I am protected by a legion of undead, AND the Deaths Chosen PC (our characters are brothers).

As per one option, I would take Lifebond with and mark my PC brother (+4 Turn Resist, +2 to all saves if within 60ft), and then something like Nimble Bones (+4 Init +10ft/rd on undead I create) or maybe hardened Flesh (+2 Nat Armor on undead I create)

Or as mentioned above, I take the Improved Unarmed Strike, (worthless) and Aesthetic Mage (Add CHA mod to AC) Thus making my AC go from 20 to a 28.

Hopefully that helps
Sulacu
02-14-08, 12:25 AM It does. It does sound quite very broken indeed, but if it works in the context of your game, there's no reason to complain, I think. Still, your DM should be real careful when he goes around swapping class features. In that light, I could almost dig the fact that a necromancer would comply to the Master Specialist PrC, since, let's be honest, he's a necromancer.

Well, considering your build, I'd say you should go with Life Bond and Nimble Bones, since it's likely not you that they'll be focusing on, but your 'massive army of undead'. You'll want to strengthen the bulwarks that befit you best; if you fight by surrounding yourself with animated corpses, take feats that make them better, like Nimble Bones. In light of all this, a 'meagre' +8 bonus to AC is underwhelming and insignificant, since you have several dozen of thralls lumbering about you acting as meat shields.
justicar347
02-14-08, 02:11 PM Ok, first off I have to say you have managed to sucker your DM into something so broken that somewhere in the multiverse one of me was reading that and his head exploded. I hope that you are playing in some kind of rediculously high power game.

Anyhow, back to your feats. First, as to the Aesthic Mage, you have to have a level in monk before you can add your Cha bonus to your AC because that part of the feat only comes into play if you can add your Wis bonus to your AC. Also, I hope you didn't want Imp. Unarmed Strike to avoid AoOs because touch attacks do not provoke them. So I would definately recomend the Lifebond feat. Harden Flesh and Deadly Chill are both way more usefull than Nimble Bones unless you are really [I]un[I]dead set on getting the first attack in. What would be a really good combo is if your Death's Chossen picked up Tomb-Tainted Soul and you picked up Destructive Retribution. Then anytime one of your disposable undead minions is destroyed, your enemy takes damage and you, your Death's Chosen, and your other minions all get healed.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
bobotheguy 02-12-08, 09:02 PM	Hey there, 8th lvl adventure, and I am a Dread Necromancer with another PC serving as my Deaths Chose PrC I have 2 feat combominations to choose from. One, is improved unarmed strike and another feat that lets me add my CHA mod (+8) to my AC, making my AC 28 compared to 20. The other combonation, involves taking Lifeblood (on my Deaths Chosen PC ally) and Nimble Bones Both from the Libris Mortis. Any opinions would be helpful. Bobo
Sulacu 02-12-08, 10:18 PM	That really depends on whether you plan on getting chopped at or stay behind a throng of undead. Lifebond (I take it you mean that one) is handy, but only when you have the undead template. If you have a death's chosen, I would think so, but with the Dread Necromancer class you'll only attain the undead type when you reach 20th level, so you'll be minimally 12 levels away from being able to pick up the feat or get a Death's Chosen in the first place. Do you happen to already be an undead creature? If you are a Necropolitan or some such, this problem of course doesn't apply and it'll be a smart choice to use the latter combination. So, if you're already an undead, wasting a feat on Improved Unarmed Strike would be unwise, even for a +8 to AC, since your BAB progression is slow. Otherwise, if you plan on using unarmed strike to evade provoking AoOs when using your touch attack, then go for it. Even with AC 28, though, there's plenty of creatures out there of around CR 12 that'll be able to hit that no problem anyway. It comes down to personal flavour anyway.
bobotheguy 02-14-08, 12:08 AM	Yes, I am a necropolitain. Pretty much, because I came and had a chat with my DM about what would be acceptable or not, he let me make a totally broken character as compared to the players who made their characters on their own. See, I am actually Dead Necromancer 3/ Master Specialist 5 See, my DM thinks that is you are a class such as Dread Necro, or beguiler, Warlock, etc then it meets the "specialist Wizard" prereq Also, he let me continue the advancement of my Charnel Touch, my Neg Energy Burst, and my Lich Body DR. (which means they continue as if I were 8th lvl DN). In addition, he removed the two "Advanced Learning" special abilities from the Master Specialist (which let me add a spell to my spellbook, but conisdering im a DN its pointless) and in place of those two Advanced Learnings I had the Undead Mastery the DN gets at 8th lvl. In a sense, broken. With my +8 to CHA, and my 8HD, I can animate up to 96 HD of undead and control 80HD. dont get me started on rebuking undead... Anywho, Yes, I am protected by a legion of undead, AND the Deaths Chosen PC (our characters are brothers). As per one option, I would take Lifebond with and mark my PC brother (+4 Turn Resist, +2 to all saves if within 60ft), and then something like Nimble Bones (+4 Init +10ft/rd on undead I create) or maybe hardened Flesh (+2 Nat Armor on undead I create) Or as mentioned above, I take the Improved Unarmed Strike, (worthless) and Aesthetic Mage (Add CHA mod to AC) Thus making my AC go from 20 to a 28. Hopefully that helps
Sulacu 02-14-08, 12:25 AM	It does. It does sound quite very broken indeed, but if it works in the context of your game, there's no reason to complain, I think. Still, your DM should be real careful when he goes around swapping class features. In that light, I could almost dig the fact that a necromancer would comply to the Master Specialist PrC, since, let's be honest, he's a necromancer. Well, considering your build, I'd say you should go with Life Bond and Nimble Bones, since it's likely not you that they'll be focusing on, but your 'massive army of undead'. You'll want to strengthen the bulwarks that befit you best; if you fight by surrounding yourself with animated corpses, take feats that make them better, like Nimble Bones. In light of all this, a 'meagre' +8 bonus to AC is underwhelming and insignificant, since you have several dozen of thralls lumbering about you acting as meat shields.
justicar347 02-14-08, 02:11 PM	Ok, first off I have to say you have managed to sucker your DM into something so broken that somewhere in the multiverse one of me was reading that and his head exploded. I hope that you are playing in some kind of rediculously high power game. Anyhow, back to your feats. First, as to the Aesthic Mage, you have to have a level in monk before you can add your Cha bonus to your AC because that part of the feat only comes into play if you can add your Wis bonus to your AC. Also, I hope you didn't want Imp. Unarmed Strike to avoid AoOs because touch attacks do not provoke them. So I would definately recomend the Lifebond feat. Harden Flesh and Deadly Chill are both way more usefull than Nimble Bones unless you are really [I]un[I]dead set on getting the first attack in. What would be a really good combo is if your Death's Chossen picked up Tomb-Tainted Soul and you picked up Destructive Retribution. Then anytime one of your disposable undead minions is destroyed, your enemy takes damage and you, your Death's Chosen, and your other minions all get healed.