[3.5] Advice and Help Needed and Appreciated.

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

longshot_barbarian

Jun 13, 2011 9:48:11
So, I'm jumping into a new campaign (in about two weeks) after a six month or so break, and I am absolutely indecisive in what to play.

I'll present the current party as it stands and game conditions and let me guys know what you think.

We're starting off at ECL 5 and the standard 9000 gp for such a level.
Nearly all 3.5/3.0 books are subject to review and most content will be accepted. (including 3rd party)

Current Party
Show

GoliathRoS SwashbucklerCW 4
Half Elf Druid 5 (focus on Wild Shape)
Human ShadowcasterToM 5
??? Ranger                                                   These two are still in the
??? Cleric or Favored Soul                            confines of the character forge.
Me
#2

Krusk

Jun 13, 2011 11:17:33

What jumps out to me is the lack of a true arcanist.


You've got: ineffective melee guy/ melee beast and divine caster druid/almost arcane caster/ ranger (Skills and bows? or skills and ineffective melee?) / Divine caster (Maybe effective melee combatant?).


A wizard or artificer would fill in nicely here. Added bonus is that both those classes are some of the easier ones for interesting backstories.


A specialist wizard could prohibit illusion and evocation and then play very different than the shadowcaster.


Wizards and artificers can easily fill the skill guy role, and a druid who bothers with summon natures ally can easily handle damage soak.


 

#3

Tempest_Stormwind

Jun 13, 2011 14:10:00
So, I'm jumping into a new campaign (in about two weeks) after a six month or so break, and I am absolutely indecisive in what to play.

I'll present the current party as it stands and game conditions and let me guys know what you think.

We're starting off at ECL 5 and the standard 9000 gp for such a level.
Nearly all 3.5/3.0 books are subject to review and most content will be accepted. (including 3rd party)

Current Party
Show

GoliathRoS SwashbucklerCW 4
Half Elf Druid 5 (focus on Wild Shape)
Human ShadowcasterToM 5
??? Ranger                                                   These two are still in the
??? Cleric or Favored Soul                            confines of the character forge.
Me
#4

tr0llman

Jun 14, 2011 4:18:27
Dwarf Wizard. 

Get Search skill from somewhere - Apprentice feat perhaps. You'll be able to auto-search for secret doors and stonework traps. Don't worry about the rest of the "skillmonkey" task.  
#5

Krusk

Jun 14, 2011 9:49:43
Dwarf Wizard

Get Search skill from somewhere - Apprentice feat perhaps. You'll be able to auto-search for secret doors and stonework traps. Don't worry about the rest of the "skillmonkey" task.  



Good point. I wouldn't even worry about the result of your search check. Automatically getting one is like your PC's "Spider sense" going off. Even if you can't locate the trap/door you still are aware something is off. USually enough for a clever player and a 10ft pole to find and trigger/disarm.



#6

longshot_barbarian

Jun 15, 2011 0:44:15
First of all, thanks everyone for the help.
I love the idea of playing the artificer.
While it may not be 100% optimal, I think I'll go warforged artificer.

My ability rolls are as follows: 16/18/16/15/18/10
My thoughts were...
Str ??
Dex 16
Con 16(+2) 18
Int 18
Wis ?? (-2)
Cha 18(-2)(+1) 17

I'm left with 10 and 15.
Considering Will is my only good save and Prof. is my only class skill, Strength would benefit more from the 15? Please correct me if I'm wrong.
#7

tr0llman

Jun 15, 2011 1:19:27
First of all, thanks everyone for the help.
I love the idea of playing the artificer.
While it may not be 100% optimal, I think I'll go warforged artificer.

My ability rolls are as follows: 16/18/16/15/18/10
My thoughts were...
Str ??
Dex 16
Con 16(+2) 18
Int 18
Wis ?? (-2)
Cha 18(-2)(+1) 17

I'm left with 10 and 15.
Considering Will is my only good save and Prof. is my only class skill, Strength would benefit more from the 15? Please correct me if I'm wrong.





Very nice indeed. And yes, Wisdom is the Artificer designated dump stat. There are racial substitution levels in Races of Eberron. The first one is a no-brainer, the second one, I would probably take (and the take Craft Construct if I want homonculi), the last one (at level 5) I'm on the fence about.

Note that there's an erratum for Artificers: You get Craft Wand at level 6, Metamagic Spell Trigger at level 7, not the other way around as indicated in the class text & table.
#8

longshot_barbarian

Jun 15, 2011 1:35:37
Note that there's an erratum for Artificers: You get Craft Wand at level 6, Metamagic Spell Trigger at level 7, not the other way around as indicated in the class text & table.



Solid. Thank you for the note.

 Oh, also, I forgot to mention our DM also gave us the option to shift up to four ability points around as long as nothing exceeds a natural 18. Where could I take advantage of this?

 Next thing: Skill points. I have 64.
Max out Spell Craft(?) and UMD(obvisouly UMD).
Search + Disable Device and Open lock as well as Craft(xxx) are rather important as well, right?
#9

Krusk

Jun 15, 2011 8:55:02

Str ?? Dex 16 Con 16(+2) 18 Int 18 Wis ?? (-2) Cha 18(-2)(+1) 17


I'd do


Str- 10 /Dex 16/ Con 18/ Int 18/Wis 13 / Cha 17. Then I would shift 1 from wis to cha, and maybe two more into dex.  (Basically only doing this so you can get a 10 in both str and wis.)


Final stats Str 10/Dex 18/Con 18/Int 18/ Wis 10/ Cha 18

#10

longshot_barbarian

Jun 17, 2011 3:01:31
Alright then.
Skills?

Max out Spell Craft(?) and UMD(obvisouly UMD).
Search + Disable Device and Open lock as well as Craft(xxx) are rather important as well, right?




These were my thoughts on feats.
Heroic Spirit (1st)
Scribe Scroll (Artificer)
Brew Potion (Artificer)
Craft Wondrous Item(Artificer)
??? (3rd)
Legendary Artisan (Artificer Bonus feat)
Craft Magic Arms & Armor (Artificer)

Probably needs some work.

Thanks, again, guys. 
#11

dmverdandi

Jun 17, 2011 6:00:23
Alright then.
Skills?

Max out Spell Craft(?) and UMD(obvisouly UMD).
Search + Disable Device and Open lock as well as Craft(xxx) are rather important as well, right?




These were my thoughts on feats.
Heroic Spirit (1st)
Scribe Scroll (Artificer)
Brew Potion (Artificer)
Craft Wondrous Item(Artificer)
??? (3rd)
Legendary Artisan (Artificer Bonus feat)
Craft Magic Arms & Armor (Artificer)

Probably needs some work.

Thanks, again, guys. 

Fill up that level three with Item familiar.
Get yourself a cool little accesory that can boost your skill bonuses to the stratosphere, give you bonus XP, and talk to you when you are lonely.

For a warforged artificer, I think a torc would be cool. Like a cybernetic torc with glowing computational crystals.(mostly fluff).
 
#12

longshot_barbarian

Jun 17, 2011 15:37:17
Fill up that level three with Item familiar.
Get yourself a cool little accesory that can boost your skill bonuses to the stratosphere, give you bonus XP, and talk to you when you are lonely.

For a warforged artificer, I think a torc would be cool. Like a cybernetic torc with glowing computational crystals.(mostly fluff).
 


So, craft something at level 2. Eat it for the 40 xp. Craft a Torc of Craftiness (UMD + Eyes of the Eagle) for a +5 comp bonus on my UMD? Then make it my item familiar?
#13

dmverdandi

Jun 17, 2011 16:49:13
Fill up that level three with Item familiar.
Get yourself a cool little accesory that can boost your skill bonuses to the stratosphere, give you bonus XP, and talk to you when you are lonely.

For a warforged artificer, I think a torc would be cool. Like a cybernetic torc with glowing computational crystals.(mostly fluff).
 


So, craft something at level 2. Eat it for the 40 xp. Craft a Torc of Craftiness (UMD + Eyes of the Eagle) for a +5 comp bonus on my UMD? Then make it my item familiar?

Sounds Beautiful.
Later on, you can go and give it inteligent item bonuses.
At will and per day spell like abilities, and such. The most optimal thing to do however is simply have it gain lesser powers over and over again. Taking lesser power 3 times gets it 30 extra skill ranks, which is another +10 bonus on all skills.
#14

longshot_barbarian

Jun 18, 2011 19:03:14
Awesome.
So, I guess gear is next.
Creating my Torc will cost me about 1250 gold and the 100 xp from levels 2 & 3.

 Leaves me 7750 in gold and the xp I can use at levels 1 and 4 ( not that I have to). Not to mention the 700 extra xp I get from leveling 3 to 5.

Any ideas for gear/crafting?