This is my first post on the 3.5 CharOp boards. It appears to be very nice active around here :-)
I have been invited to a gestalt game at level 12, and I want to build a gish (buffing fighter, not the "original" fireball hurling gish). In the endevour to build a competent character, I seek your insightful assistence. I have been told that everything is open, but I have my own restrictions. I don't know if we use XP penalty, so I will want to be able to avoid it in case it's there (don't really know how that works with gestalt).
I would like help with feat, spell, skill, and gear selection, and I welcome suggestions on synergizing the two parts of the gestalt. Would also like suggestions on the ability array.
So here are the premises:
- I don't want a broken character, I want no abuse.
I will be using the Generic Spellcaster (arcane) from Unearthed Arcane. There is one simple reason: I want a spontaneous int-caster. I don't want to think too much during gameplay. The Spellcaster has two very unique features, actually. He gets very free feat choices and can learn wiz/sorc, cleric, and druid spells.
- I'd rather not use too much Tome of Battle material, again for the sake of simplicity and realtime resource management.
- It may already be apparent that I am a bit conservative. I'd prefer material from core + PHBII, complete books, unearthed arcana (very not core, but really good book, imo), and spell compendium. Maybe others, but that is the baseline.
- The party of four has no healer, but I've been told they do alright.
I think you get the idea. Here is what I have so far:
Human Barbarian 1/Fighter 11 // Generic Arcane Spellcaster 12
Barbarian for pounce, would actually like to not use that class.
I plan to use the Armored Mage alternative fighter class feature from Complete Mage. I suppose this puts me in light armor, which fits my vision well. Hope it works.
I think I'd like to play a plain old human. I want to be unimpressive/ordinary in appearance.
Feat ideas
Power Attack (definitely want this), Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, Improved Critical, Quick Draw, Leap Attack, Combat Brute, Improved
Sunder, Shock Trooper (strong candidate, I feel), Improved Trip
Quicken Spell, Extend Spell, Empower Spell, Maximize Spell, Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Wondrous Item, Retributive Spell (pseudo, cheap quicken), Combat Casting, Battle Caster, Metamagic School Focus, Battlecaster Defense/Offense, Craft Wands
A lot of these are from a concept with wizard and are thus wizard bonus feats.
Spells
Swift spells
Accelerated Movement, Blades of Fire, Critical Strike, Daggerspell Stance (requires dual daggers), Distract Assailant, Swift Expeditious Retreat, Swift Fly, Forcewave, Instant Search, Wraithstrike
Cool spells
True Seeing, Contingency (with 4th level spells), Permanent Image, Spell Matrix, Fly, Dimension Door, Invisibility
Buffs
Heroism, Brilliant Blade, Shiel, Blur, Mirror Image, Haste, Displacement, Tenser's Transformation, Draconic Might, Greater Magic Weapon, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Resist Energy
Touch
Vampiric Touch, Shocking Grasp, Bestow Curse
Range (I feel maybe spells are my ranged option, but maybe a weapon is better?)
Scorching Ray, Ray of Enfeeblement, Ray of Exhaustion
Exploration/interaction?
So that's about all I have so far. I have not found many cleric or druid spells, yet, as I am most familiar with arcane spells. I prefer arcane magic. I am looking forward for what you have to say about this :-)
You don't need combat casting, you can already make the checks to cast defensively even on a 1. Combat casting doesn't apply to any other use of the concentration skill, so it'd be a waste unless it's a prerequisite for something.
You only need 8 levels of fighter to cast up to 9th-level spells without arcane spell failure via armored mage. If you're fine with using a githcraft (Dungeon Master's Guide II, p276) mithral chain shirt with thistledown padding (Races of the Wild, p168) underneath, you can skip fighter altogether, since that armor has a 0% arcane spell failure chance.
Have you gotten generic spellcaster approved? The generic classes aren't meant to be used in a game that also uses the normal classes. I wouldn't just assume it'll be allowed.
Take the extra rage feat, and rework your martial side some. You are going to want to do something to let you cast in rages, and this might be a weird time when rage mage is worth it.
Consider Barb 1/Fighter 2/Ranger 1/Rage Mage 7. Eh, even still it might not be?
Alternatively, consider dropping the rage for ANYTHING else. Even the UA swap for archers crap and favored enemy would be better. Check out the PHB2 variant where you only rage when you drop HP? Then you can still do caster stuff, until late in a fight, and you switch to barb full time?
My core melee dude build stub is
Barb 1/Fighter 2/Ranger 2/Horizon Walker 10/Whatever. If you want to drop the barbarian you could consider paladin 2/fighter 2/ranger 2/Horizon Walker 10/whatever. A paladin/sorcerer gestalt would be awesome, but you wanted int. Something to consider though.
Horizon walker is my go to prestige class unless you have something else in mind. (And seriously... fighter 11?)
There are plenty of other neat options of course. Another tasty prospect is the fact you get to aim for high level abilities of multiple classes which makes it worthwhile most of the time to just pick two classes and run with it.
Some classes that start out weak end up having a lot to offer for a generically stronger class, like Wizard/Ranger gets full BAB, all good saves, more HP than a Wizard would otherwise, better skills (a huge variety of skills to boot) and some class features that improve stealth which a Wizard can already do quite well via illusions.
Don't need to break the game to make a really interesting and powerful character.
You don't need combat casting, you can already make the checks to cast defensively even on a 1. Combat casting doesn't apply to any other use of the concentration skill, so it'd be a waste unless it's a prerequisite for something.
You only need 8 levels of fighter to cast up to 9th-level spells without arcane spell failure via armored mage. If you're fine with using a githcraft (Dungeon Master's Guide II, p276) mithral chain shirt with thistledown padding (Races of the Wild, p168) underneath, you can skip fighter altogether, since that armor has a 0% arcane spell failure chance.
Have you gotten generic spellcaster approved? The generic classes aren't meant to be used in a game that also uses the normal classes. I wouldn't just assume it'll be allowed.
I figured combat casting was pretty tame, but it's a prereq for stuff like Battlecaster Defense (which appears unimpressive, but I like the idea and posted it to get suggestions on similar, but better alternatives).
I don't know how we do equipment so I'd rather not be too dependent on that.
I don't know if generic spellcaster is allowed, but I can argue a case for it and forfeit some of the more abusable features (spells from three classes, completely open feats, open skills) if needed.
Alternatively, consider dropping the rage for ANYTHING else. Even the UA swap for archers crap and favored enemy would be better. Check out the PHB2 variant where you only rage when you drop HP? Then you can still do caster stuff, until late in a fight, and you switch to barb full time?
My core melee dude build stub is
Barb 1/Fighter 2/Ranger 2/Horizon Walker 10/Whatever. If you want to drop the barbarian you could consider paladin 2/fighter 2/ranger 2/Horizon Walker 10/whatever. A paladin/sorcerer gestalt would be awesome, but you wanted int. Something to consider though.
Horizon walker is my go to prestige class unless you have something else in mind. (And seriously... fighter 11?)
Good idea getting rid of rage. I like that. But with one level I only gain favored enemy. Hmm.
I don't really see the huge advantage of Horizon Walker over Fighter bonus feats. Fighter 11 is empty, but Fighter 12 is not. I suppose those Terrain masteries are better than I figured? Or am I missing something else?
One of the best things about Gestalt games is the ability to get synergy out of an attribute. An example being Int for your Generic caster and Int for a Swashbuckler, Warblade, Factotum or even Assassin.
There are plenty of other neat options of course. Another tasty prospect is the fact you get to aim for high level abilities of multiple classes which makes it worthwhile most of the time to just pick two classes and run with it.
Some classes that start out weak end up having a lot to offer for a generically stronger class, like Wizard/Ranger gets full BAB, all good saves, more HP than a Wizard would otherwise, better skills (a huge variety of skills to boot) and some class features that improve stealth which a Wizard can already do quite well via illusions.
Don't need to break the game to make a really interesting and powerful character.
I had considered swashbuckler, but I am really hot for feats at the moment. Using Ranger might be a fun idea. I like skills, and it'd help my reflex.
If I am to cut down on the fighter levels, I need to cut some feats. Which lines would you say are most worthwhile:
Combat Expertise -> Improved Trip
Power Attack -> Improved Sunder -> Combat Brute
Power Attack -> Improved Bull Rush -> Shock Trooper
Power Attack -> Leap Attack
Dodge -> Mobility -> Elusive Target
Also, are there any generally good "gish" feats?
What feats, if any, should I get to support my caster side?