Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Fitsou_GR Jun 13, 2015 2:37:48	Good day to all! I'm trying to build a lvl 4 character. I would like to try the eldritch knight archetype sinse i have never played it before in past editions. the DM's rules are, all abilities to 12 and we can add or remove a point to add it somewhere else. always point for point.. with that in mind and the fact that i would like to play with two-weapon fighting i though:   Abilities STR 14 (15 with Human Varition) DEX 10 CON 14 (15 with Human Varition) INT 14 WIS 10 CHA 10   1st Feet Dual Wild 4rth lvl Feet Sentinel   Main weapons: 2x Longsword 1x Longbow   AC 17 (Chain Mail +1 from Dual Wield)   Spells: Cantrips: Blade Ward, Chill Touch 1st: Alarm, Shield, Thunderwave With that in mind can you help me improve this build? Also one question about the EK. in the spell section the PHB says that i must choose 3 spells and 2 of them must be Abj or Evo, that means that the 3rd spell could be from any school?
#2 ArialBlack Jun 13, 2015 8:52:34	You cannot cast any spell with a somatic component if both hands are full of longsword. Shield has a somatic component, and is used as a reaction. You are in battle using TWF, the enemy hits you, but would miss if you cast shield as a reaction to this attack. Oh no! You can't cast it, because you don't have a free hand to make the somatic gestures! The damage kills you.   But wait! If you took the War Caster feat at 4th level (instead of Sentinel), it gives you several benefits, chief among which is the ability to provide somatic components even if there is a weapon in your hand. Life saved!   It also gives you advantage on any Con save to prevent losing concentration on a spell when you take damage, and as a front line fighter, you're going to get hit!   Last, it gives you the ability to cast a spell instead of making an OA in response to a target's movement.   Other advice: I'd lose 2 Dex and gain 2 Str, and wear heavy armour; low Dex does not subtract from AC if you wear heavy armour.   I think that there must be better spells than blade ward and alarm.
#3 Yunru Jun 13, 2015 9:28:26	Fitsou_GR wrote:
#4 ArialBlack Jun 13, 2015 9:48:57	Or stay Str-based, and don't use a longbow. Just make sure you have an attack cantrip with a good range. Then, with War Caster, you can attack ranged while still holding two longswords, whereas if you used a bow then you'd have to sheathe/drop your swords then draw your bow, and then drop your bow and draw/pick up your swords again, round to round.   One of the advantages of Eldritch Knight is that magic is your ranged attack.
(Reply to #2) FrogReaver	ArialBlack wrote:
#6 FrogReaver Jun 13, 2015 12:02:37	I think you would have to take warcaster and dual wield feats if you want to be an eldritch knight that two weapon fights.
#7 Fitsou_GR Jun 13, 2015 12:09:46	Thank you all for your advice. after a closer consideration I've decided to drop the Melee concept and go full range.   The changes: STR 10 DEX 16 CON 14 INT 14 WIS 10 CHA 10   2x Crossbow, hand with Crossbow Expert & Sharpshooter in a distance i will be able to make 2 or 3 attack with Action Surge. if someone comes close to me i will drop the bonded crossbow, to have a free hand (i can summon it with Bonded Weapon as a BA) also i have also a bonded dagger to throw if the need arised.   I know about the War Caster Feat but to tell you the truth its been ages sinse i came across a DM that uses the components and the somatic rules... if it comes to that i will have to drop the Sharpshooter for 2lvls and pick it again at 6th   Again thank you all for your responces!
#8 drizzt_zylo Jun 13, 2015 15:05:21	I think the latest errata prohibits the use or at least hinders the use of 2 hand crossbows also when you reach level 7 you will have conflicting bonus actions for either a bonus action melee attack ( don't have book in front of me so it might be a weapon attack) after a can trip or your second weapon after full attack not sure which is for sure better. Just felt you should be informed.
#9 FunkySpunk Jun 13, 2015 15:54:40	drizzt_zylo wrote: