A Build: Learn Basically Every Divine Spell, Arcane Spell and Psionic power. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

A Build: Learn Basically Every Divine Spell, Arcane Spell and Psionic power.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
kadeity
Dec 23, 2008 23:16:04 Have you ever wanted to play a character who could cast anything he came across?
Basically, thats what this build is intended to do.

STEP ONE: Play an Archivist (Heroes of Horror). Archivists can learn any divine spell so long as they can aquire a scroll or prayerbook with it listed in it, it doesnt matter if its a druid spell, shugenja spell, cleric spell, paladin spell, or divine variant bard spell, he can learn it assuming he can find a scroll of it.

STEP TWO: multiclass into Erudite (Complete Psionic/ Dragon Magazine issue 319). Erudite is a psionic class that is essentially a variant psion, though they have different class abilities, including the nifty ability to learn any psionic power they come across, so long as its in a power stone, or in the mind of another willing psionic creature, or in the mind of a helpless or unconscious psionic creature.

STEP THREE: Use the SPELL TO POWER variant found on the WOTC site in the minds eye article Expanded Classes Four which reads as :

"Convert Spell to Power
Your training has included basic magical theory as well as the usual psionic training.
Replaces: You lose your 1st-level bonus feat.
Benefit: You add Spellcraft to your class skill list, which allows you to attempt to convert an arcane spell into a power you can add to your repertoire. You treat the spell as a discipline power for the basis of learning it, and you must first succeed on a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the spell's level) and then a Psicraft check as per the normal rules of learning a discipline power (see page 154 of Complete Psionic)."

this allows you to convert any arcane spell into a power and learn it, provided that it is one lower than the highest level spell you can cast... so basically at, youll be able to learn any arcane spell of up to 8th level

STEP FOUR: Once you can cast second level divine spells, and manifest second level powers (and first level arcane spells youve converted to powers) then youll be able to qualify for the Psychic Theurge prestige class, and level up your archivist divine spells and your erudite psionic powers at the same time.

sadly your arcane spells/powers will always be one level behind your powers and divine spells, but youll be fairly powerful.

STEP FIVE: If you want to optimize this even FURTHER, There are PsiSpell metamagic/psionic feats in Dragon magazine issue 313, and Dragon magazine issue 349 has a feat hat lets your caster level and manifester level STACK with each other to determine your save dcs for spelland powers within related two schools, for example: Evocation/Psychokinesis or Transmutation/Psychometabolism

You NEED at least an 18 int for this build, and i hope i dont need to tell you that, as all classes involved use it.

----------------------------

Personally, my version of this build isnt focused on learning everything he can, and it was initially only designed as a second try at a character i had ran before. I wanted a way to be a Cold mage, like i had been before, but wasnt satisfied with the fact that i couldnt cast ANY cold spell, and because i wanted all the cold spells i could get, i came up with this build.

IMAGE(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y1/kadeity/art/asdf.png)

I did it just like i described, Erudite/Archivist/PsychicTheurge, and i focused on Cold themed Evocation/Psychokinesis, but i also use a feat from a third party pdf Winter Elves, that allows psionic powers with the cold descriptor to cost one less power point to manifest, and 2 less power points if they are manifested in a cold environment. After that, i just focused on the Arcane spells and Psionic powers with the cold descriptor. Thematically, most of my divine spells are cold too, and mostly ones the from Frostburn, but be sure i converted as many Sor/Wiz evocation cold spells as i could find into powers right off. For lategame, im just making the environment im in cold with high level weather altering spells, and cheapening all the powers i manifest from there on out.

Not that you care, but The character is named Cicero, and hes a half elf (subpar choice i know) who was born in Stygia, and raised by winter elves in the demiplane of cold. We altered the background of the Winter Elves as described in the PDF so that they were enslaved to Cryonax, and my character hopes that he can somehow gain vengance on cryonax through dealings with Levistus.

All in all the character concept is pretty fun, and the build itself is pretty solid
This is a build im particularly fond of, and i hope you enjoy it too.

Any ideas on how to optimize it further are welcome.
#2
Endarire
Dec 25, 2008 21:28:02 A Mulan Human with Southern Magician could cast any 3 spells per day and treat them as arcane or divine, DM permitting.
#3
jenos
Dec 26, 2008 16:13:56 This build is only very effective at level 20. In real play, going a theurgic character without some early entry method makes for a significantly weaker character. An archivist 3/Erudite 7/Psychic theurge 10 can manifest 9th level powers and cast 7th level divine spells. Useful, for sure, especially given that the potential spell list is huge, but the reality is that all that "versitility" isn't worth delaying 9th level powers by 3 levels.

Also, you are severely limited in terms of learning by what your DM gives you. You need to spend a significant amount of money to pick up each scroll/power stone to scribe it into your list.

If you can find some way to do an early entry method into psychic thuerge then it could work. You would need to find a way to cast higher level divine spells - perhaps some sort of earth spell and heighten cheese? Things like southern magician don't work that well here, because you never actually cast arcane spells, you turn them into psionic powers.
#4
amadithegreat
Dec 26, 2008 18:07:09 Erudite 20 does the same, with much less fuss and better class abilities apart from spellcasting. Here's how:

A: Play erudite.
B: Point your DM to Spell to Power class feature of Erudite.
C: Point your DM to Southern Magician the feat, or Spell Versatility, class feature of Geomancer.
D: Have your DM conclude that every divine spell exists as arcane variant, and therefore is valid to learn with Spell to Power class feature.
#5
kell_kheraptis
Dec 27, 2008 7:53:21 By the same token, if you can write "retired Magister of Faerun" into your backstory as a psion, you can have all the same goodies as the above, only spontaneously >.> (not to mention every power too, and technically via arcane swordsage, every maneuver too).
#6
PlzBreakMyCampaign
Dec 27, 2008 8:12:12 This is not exactly what you wanted, but my tripple 9 build comes pretty close and with less cheese here, build 5
#7
true_shinken
Dec 27, 2008 12:36:13
This is not exactly what you wanted, but my tripple 9 build comes pretty close and with less cheese here, build 5

Less cheese? You are using beholder mage, for crying out loud...
#8
PlzBreakMyCampaign
Dec 27, 2008 22:48:58 Yes but I only mentioned PAO for completeness. The build functionally uses 24/7 Wildshape to stay in it. :D
#9
kadeity
Dec 27, 2008 22:53:32
Wildshape

less cheese

does not compute.

anyway i was just trying to make it so i could learn anything i came across, and i can fucntionally do so. Its not viable at all levels, but i wasnt trying to get that :S
#10
PlzBreakMyCampaign
Dec 28, 2008 0:18:16 Wow that's hilarious. But less face it Wildshaping into only 1 form all the time is a weaker version of PAO. You don't get the mental stats, nor does the new con affect your levels, etc.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 kadeity Dec 23, 2008 23:16:04	Have you ever wanted to play a character who could cast anything he came across? Basically, thats what this build is intended to do. STEP ONE: Play an Archivist (Heroes of Horror). Archivists can learn any divine spell so long as they can aquire a scroll or prayerbook with it listed in it, it doesnt matter if its a druid spell, shugenja spell, cleric spell, paladin spell, or divine variant bard spell, he can learn it assuming he can find a scroll of it. STEP TWO: multiclass into Erudite (Complete Psionic/ Dragon Magazine issue 319). Erudite is a psionic class that is essentially a variant psion, though they have different class abilities, including the nifty ability to learn any psionic power they come across, so long as its in a power stone, or in the mind of another willing psionic creature, or in the mind of a helpless or unconscious psionic creature. STEP THREE: Use the SPELL TO POWER variant found on the WOTC site in the minds eye article Expanded Classes Four which reads as : "Convert Spell to Power Your training has included basic magical theory as well as the usual psionic training. Replaces: You lose your 1st-level bonus feat. Benefit: You add Spellcraft to your class skill list, which allows you to attempt to convert an arcane spell into a power you can add to your repertoire. You treat the spell as a discipline power for the basis of learning it, and you must first succeed on a Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the spell's level) and then a Psicraft check as per the normal rules of learning a discipline power (see page 154 of Complete Psionic)." this allows you to convert any arcane spell into a power and learn it, provided that it is one lower than the highest level spell you can cast... so basically at, youll be able to learn any arcane spell of up to 8th level STEP FOUR: Once you can cast second level divine spells, and manifest second level powers (and first level arcane spells youve converted to powers) then youll be able to qualify for the Psychic Theurge prestige class, and level up your archivist divine spells and your erudite psionic powers at the same time. sadly your arcane spells/powers will always be one level behind your powers and divine spells, but youll be fairly powerful. STEP FIVE: If you want to optimize this even FURTHER, There are PsiSpell metamagic/psionic feats in Dragon magazine issue 313, and Dragon magazine issue 349 has a feat hat lets your caster level and manifester level STACK with each other to determine your save dcs for spelland powers within related two schools, for example: Evocation/Psychokinesis or Transmutation/Psychometabolism You NEED at least an 18 int for this build, and i hope i dont need to tell you that, as all classes involved use it. ---------------------------- Personally, my version of this build isnt focused on learning everything he can, and it was initially only designed as a second try at a character i had ran before. I wanted a way to be a Cold mage, like i had been before, but wasnt satisfied with the fact that i couldnt cast ANY cold spell, and because i wanted all the cold spells i could get, i came up with this build. I did it just like i described, Erudite/Archivist/PsychicTheurge, and i focused on Cold themed Evocation/Psychokinesis, but i also use a feat from a third party pdf Winter Elves, that allows psionic powers with the cold descriptor to cost one less power point to manifest, and 2 less power points if they are manifested in a cold environment. After that, i just focused on the Arcane spells and Psionic powers with the cold descriptor. Thematically, most of my divine spells are cold too, and mostly ones the from Frostburn, but be sure i converted as many Sor/Wiz evocation cold spells as i could find into powers right off. For lategame, im just making the environment im in cold with high level weather altering spells, and cheapening all the powers i manifest from there on out. Not that you care, but The character is named Cicero, and hes a half elf (subpar choice i know) who was born in Stygia, and raised by winter elves in the demiplane of cold. We altered the background of the Winter Elves as described in the PDF so that they were enslaved to Cryonax, and my character hopes that he can somehow gain vengance on cryonax through dealings with Levistus. All in all the character concept is pretty fun, and the build itself is pretty solid This is a build im particularly fond of, and i hope you enjoy it too. Any ideas on how to optimize it further are welcome.
#2 Endarire Dec 25, 2008 21:28:02	A Mulan Human with Southern Magician could cast any 3 spells per day and treat them as arcane or divine, DM permitting.
#3 jenos Dec 26, 2008 16:13:56	This build is only very effective at level 20. In real play, going a theurgic character without some early entry method makes for a significantly weaker character. An archivist 3/Erudite 7/Psychic theurge 10 can manifest 9th level powers and cast 7th level divine spells. Useful, for sure, especially given that the potential spell list is huge, but the reality is that all that "versitility" isn't worth delaying 9th level powers by 3 levels. Also, you are severely limited in terms of learning by what your DM gives you. You need to spend a significant amount of money to pick up each scroll/power stone to scribe it into your list. If you can find some way to do an early entry method into psychic thuerge then it could work. You would need to find a way to cast higher level divine spells - perhaps some sort of earth spell and heighten cheese? Things like southern magician don't work that well here, because you never actually cast arcane spells, you turn them into psionic powers.
#4 amadithegreat Dec 26, 2008 18:07:09	Erudite 20 does the same, with much less fuss and better class abilities apart from spellcasting. Here's how: A: Play erudite. B: Point your DM to Spell to Power class feature of Erudite. C: Point your DM to Southern Magician the feat, or Spell Versatility, class feature of Geomancer. D: Have your DM conclude that every divine spell exists as arcane variant, and therefore is valid to learn with Spell to Power class feature.
#5 kell_kheraptis Dec 27, 2008 7:53:21	By the same token, if you can write "retired Magister of Faerun" into your backstory as a psion, you can have all the same goodies as the above, only spontaneously >.> (not to mention every power too, and technically via arcane swordsage, every maneuver too).
#6 PlzBreakMyCampaign Dec 27, 2008 8:12:12	This is not exactly what you wanted, but my tripple 9 build comes pretty close and with less cheese here, build 5
#7 true_shinken Dec 27, 2008 12:36:13	This is not exactly what you wanted, but my tripple 9 build comes pretty close and with less cheese here, build 5 Less cheese? You are using beholder mage, for crying out loud...
#8 PlzBreakMyCampaign Dec 27, 2008 22:48:58	Yes but I only mentioned PAO for completeness. The build functionally uses 24/7 Wildshape to stay in it. :D
#9 kadeity Dec 27, 2008 22:53:32	Wildshape less cheese does not compute. anyway i was just trying to make it so i could learn anything i came across, and i can fucntionally do so. Its not viable at all levels, but i wasnt trying to get that :S
#10 PlzBreakMyCampaign Dec 28, 2008 0:18:16	Wow that's hilarious. But less face it Wildshaping into only 1 form all the time is a weaker version of PAO. You don't get the mental stats, nor does the new con affect your levels, etc.