A Drow fighter based on intel - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

A Drow fighter based on intel

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dark117
Jun 01, 2010 10:10:32
Hello, i'm the DM, and one of my NPC is a drow. Inspired by Jarlaxle and Artemis Entreri (read Drizzt Do'Urden), i'm planning on a drow who will fight with his intel. All characters are actually 15, and my drow will not fight them soon. There isn't a special limitation for books.

Actually, my drow will have these feats :

At home in the deep (DoTU) - let you see in magical darkness

Gift of the spider queen (DoTU) - expend one of each of your racial spell-like abilities for new spell like abilities, the most interesting in my opinion is mirror image, but it can also extinguish all natural light like torch in an area, see invisibles foes, and become invisible.

Hand crossbow focus (DoTU) - Like rapid reload and weapon focus. Fighter feat.

Versatile combatant (DoTU) - can reload the hand crossbow without AoOs, considered with the TWF feat when using rapier and hand crossbow.

Arcane Strike (CW) - Expend a spell slot, gain +lvl to attacks rolls, +lvls*d4 damages.

Craven (CoR) - When making a sneak attack, can add your character level to damages.

Defensive sweep (PHB2) - Make an AoO to a foe that don't move after one full round near to you.

Fade into violence (PHB2) - When wearing no weapon and a light armor or nothing, make a bluff check opposed to a sense motive check. If successful, foe must attack someone else.

Telling blow (PHB2) - Make SA damages on a critical hit.

Darkstalker (LoM) - Foes with scent or similar ability must do a check as if they would'nt have.

Dead eye (DC) - Within 30 feet, add dexterity to ranged damages, only when you can make critical shot on the foe.

Crossbow sniper (PHB2) - Add 1/2 dexterity to damages with crossbow and SA on 60 feets

Combat panache (PHB2) - Tactical feat, you can redirect an attack on a nearby target, play dead, or make a cha-modifer penalty on attacks rolls of the foe.

Shadow striker (PHB2) - Tactical feat, make a hide check opposed by a spot check, if successful, opponent have to fight someone else ; make an attack and then move, gain a +5 bonus to hide ; Move silently VS listen check, if successfull, the foe is flat-footed on next round.

As you can see, there's a lot of feats.
The character will have 3 lvls of swashbuckler (CW) for int to damages, 1 lvl on dread fang (DoTU) for sneak attack dice, BAB and saves, 5 lvls on avenging executionner (CS) for sudden strike dices, consider shaken foe as flat-footed, then one lvl of warblade for int to reflex save, D12 to hp, one lvl of swordsage for access to shadow hand school. Then, take 5 wizard lvls, and 4 fighters lvls.

I wanted to made him an interessant character, that feint other people by making them believe he is weak, and then become a terrifying, sadistic, horrible guy, who slay down people with a crasy laugh. And the TWF with hand crossbow and rapier is for the style of the NPC.

I use two alternative class features :
- drow warrior : no heavy armor or tower shield, dext to damages
- combat mage : replace the wizard feat list by the warrior feat list.

I think there is something missing. At lvl 20, he will only have 14 BAB, and so 2 attacks. I think 3 would be better, but i don't know what give up, and what would be better. I also consider the Shadow Blade feat, that would allow to a double dext damage to melee with the drow fighter. Maybe allow the use of this feat on all finessable weapons, instead of shadow blade weapons only.

Notables points at lvl 20 :
-Double dext to melee damages if shadow blade taken
-Intel to damages with swashbuckler
-Assassin's stance with avenging executionner and dread fang = 6d6 to SAs
-consider shaken foe like flat-footed => more SAs => FrontStab (okay okay...)
-With avenging executionner, when you kill someone, others guys have to make a Will save or become frighten. If successful, shaken instead (See above)
-Character lvl on SA => 20
-Add +3 touch/+3d4 damages if sacrify a 3rd lvl spell
-use 3rd lvls spells, may be nice and usefull

So, have you some advices to me? what should i modify? thanks you
#2
BloodDragon
Jun 01, 2010 14:00:18

Edit:
Ok so jsut trying to make sense of your post:
Swash 3 / Wizard 5 / Fighter 4 / Dread Fang 1 / Avenging Executionner 5 / Warblade 1 / Swordsage 1 (Not in that order.)

And what level are your players? Because a full level 20 character probably isn't going to seem "weak" if they are all only level 10 or lower.

Also you have just barely have enough feat slots to cover the feats you've named but do not meet the pre reqs for several of them:

Missing - Point Black Shot & Precise Shot for the Crossbow feats
Missing BAB 15 for Defensive Sweep

Also instead of going a rather complicated route to get all the opponents shaken (ie flat footed) you could take a look at the Clarion Commander feat in ToB and focus more on Material Adept levels.
Also take the Skill trick never-over-numbered.

#3
dark117
Jun 02, 2010 9:36:52
Thanks for your answer.

Players are currently lvl 15, but they'll not meet this character soon.
For feats, he can take 2 flaws.
But for BAB, i don't know what to do.

His class lvls in order :
Swashbuckler 3/ Fighter 4/ Avenging executionner 5/ Dread fang 1/ Wizard 5/ Warblade 1/ Swordsage 1. So when taking warblade at 19th lvl, he is considered as a 10th lvl initiator for maneuvers.

Maybe i'll make some changes, depending on how i have to meet pre reqs. I thought about switch 2 lvls of Wizard (and only have 2nd spell lvl) and take 2 lvls in a full BAB class. Maybe fighter for another feat, but i don't know if there is something more interesting. Or totally drop the wizard, and arcane strike, but it will kill the perso as i have imagined him.

Clarion Commander is good with perpetual flank, but this character isn't enough dedicated to team-work. He use others for his interests, but not as much.
Avenging executionner isn't too much complicated, and is in the spirit of the character.
And his class features are great to make others shaken, fastly.
#4
BloodDragon
Jun 02, 2010 13:20:14 Some levels in casters classes are always good but only 3rd level spells? (or 2nd level?) don't seem that worth it.

Through if you are set on the whole casting thing good ol' Eldritch Knight is a simple choice. Abjurent Champion from Comp. Mage is a better choice but you need Combat Casting. or The Jade Phoenix Mage in Tome of Battle might be best to top off your final few levels, giving you more maneuvers and some casting.

I personally say drop Arcane Strike and focus on something that'll give you more bang for your buck with Sneak attack or Maneuvers.
#5
phaedrusxy
Jun 02, 2010 15:02:30 Throw out the wizard levels entirely, and replace them with Suel Arcanamach and Abjurant Champion. I'd go SA1/AJ5, and throw out 1 level of something else (or two levels of fighter). That will give him somewhat relevant magic abilities with a good caster level without sacrificing too much else.

Also: if your PCs are optimized at all, expect this guy to die immediately without putting up much of a fight. If he ambushes them, he might drop one if he's lucky, then he'll probably go down like a sack of bricks.
#6
dark117
Jun 03, 2010 9:57:25
Maybe drop wizards lvls for dread fang (use poison and SA dices), and fighter for feats.

Where does come suel arcanamach from? i want to take a look on this.

My PCs aren't very optimized : one favored soul 15, one soulknife 5/pyrokineticist 10, one ... don't remember, but there's bard dragon disciple something, one druid 15, one artificer. My only challenge is the artificer, and the favored soul is sometimes a pain. So i think my NPC will survive a bit. And he fight surrounded by minions, hidden in the mass.
#7
phaedrusxy
Jun 03, 2010 11:20:13
Where does come suel arcanamach from? i want to take a look on this.

Complete Arcane.
#8
hellfirewarlock
Jun 05, 2010 20:57:02 If your NPC is fighting hiden in a mass of other NPC's, you might want to take a few levels in marshal or any other bolstering class so as to help the rest of the NPC's. IIRC Jaraxle 's real power was not his dagger throwing ability which was good, but his ability to always have an extra trick up his sleeve and the rest of his band to do anything he couldn't himself(ex. his lack of really spell casting was covered by a mystic theurge type and a psion)
#9
dark117
Jun 06, 2010 11:39:47
IIRC Jaraxle 's real power was not his dagger throwing ability which was good, but his ability to always have an extra trick up his sleeve and the rest of his band to do anything he couldn't himself(ex. his lack of really spell casting was covered by a mystic theurge type and a psion)

... I totally forgot that point.
I shall burn in an eternity of pain for this shame >__<"
Thank you, i think i will not need anything else.
I just have to choose between marshall & suel arcanamach.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dark117 Jun 01, 2010 10:10:32	Hello, i'm the DM, and one of my NPC is a drow. Inspired by Jarlaxle and Artemis Entreri (read Drizzt Do'Urden), i'm planning on a drow who will fight with his intel. All characters are actually 15, and my drow will not fight them soon. There isn't a special limitation for books. Actually, my drow will have these feats : At home in the deep (DoTU) - let you see in magical darkness Gift of the spider queen (DoTU) - expend one of each of your racial spell-like abilities for new spell like abilities, the most interesting in my opinion is mirror image, but it can also extinguish all natural light like torch in an area, see invisibles foes, and become invisible. Hand crossbow focus (DoTU) - Like rapid reload and weapon focus. Fighter feat. Versatile combatant (DoTU) - can reload the hand crossbow without AoOs, considered with the TWF feat when using rapier and hand crossbow. Arcane Strike (CW) - Expend a spell slot, gain +lvl to attacks rolls, +lvls*d4 damages. Craven (CoR) - When making a sneak attack, can add your character level to damages. Defensive sweep (PHB2) - Make an AoO to a foe that don't move after one full round near to you. Fade into violence (PHB2) - When wearing no weapon and a light armor or nothing, make a bluff check opposed to a sense motive check. If successful, foe must attack someone else. Telling blow (PHB2) - Make SA damages on a critical hit. Darkstalker (LoM) - Foes with scent or similar ability must do a check as if they would'nt have. Dead eye (DC) - Within 30 feet, add dexterity to ranged damages, only when you can make critical shot on the foe. Crossbow sniper (PHB2) - Add 1/2 dexterity to damages with crossbow and SA on 60 feets Combat panache (PHB2) - Tactical feat, you can redirect an attack on a nearby target, play dead, or make a cha-modifer penalty on attacks rolls of the foe. Shadow striker (PHB2) - Tactical feat, make a hide check opposed by a spot check, if successful, opponent have to fight someone else ; make an attack and then move, gain a +5 bonus to hide ; Move silently VS listen check, if successfull, the foe is flat-footed on next round. As you can see, there's a lot of feats. The character will have 3 lvls of swashbuckler (CW) for int to damages, 1 lvl on dread fang (DoTU) for sneak attack dice, BAB and saves, 5 lvls on avenging executionner (CS) for sudden strike dices, consider shaken foe as flat-footed, then one lvl of warblade for int to reflex save, D12 to hp, one lvl of swordsage for access to shadow hand school. Then, take 5 wizard lvls, and 4 fighters lvls. I wanted to made him an interessant character, that feint other people by making them believe he is weak, and then become a terrifying, sadistic, horrible guy, who slay down people with a crasy laugh. And the TWF with hand crossbow and rapier is for the style of the NPC. I use two alternative class features : - drow warrior : no heavy armor or tower shield, dext to damages - combat mage : replace the wizard feat list by the warrior feat list. I think there is something missing. At lvl 20, he will only have 14 BAB, and so 2 attacks. I think 3 would be better, but i don't know what give up, and what would be better. I also consider the Shadow Blade feat, that would allow to a double dext damage to melee with the drow fighter. Maybe allow the use of this feat on all finessable weapons, instead of shadow blade weapons only. Notables points at lvl 20 : -Double dext to melee damages if shadow blade taken -Intel to damages with swashbuckler -Assassin's stance with avenging executionner and dread fang = 6d6 to SAs -consider shaken foe like flat-footed => more SAs => FrontStab (okay okay...) -With avenging executionner, when you kill someone, others guys have to make a Will save or become frighten. If successful, shaken instead (See above) -Character lvl on SA => 20 -Add +3 touch/+3d4 damages if sacrify a 3rd lvl spell -use 3rd lvls spells, may be nice and usefull So, have you some advices to me? what should i modify? thanks you
#2 BloodDragon Jun 01, 2010 14:00:18	Edit: Ok so jsut trying to make sense of your post: Swash 3 / Wizard 5 / Fighter 4 / Dread Fang 1 / Avenging Executionner 5 / Warblade 1 / Swordsage 1 (Not in that order.) And what level are your players? Because a full level 20 character probably isn't going to seem "weak" if they are all only level 10 or lower. Also you have just barely have enough feat slots to cover the feats you've named but do not meet the pre reqs for several of them: Missing - Point Black Shot & Precise Shot for the Crossbow feats Missing BAB 15 for Defensive Sweep Also instead of going a rather complicated route to get all the opponents shaken (ie flat footed) you could take a look at the Clarion Commander feat in ToB and focus more on Material Adept levels. Also take the Skill trick never-over-numbered.
#3 dark117 Jun 02, 2010 9:36:52	Thanks for your answer. Players are currently lvl 15, but they'll not meet this character soon. For feats, he can take 2 flaws. But for BAB, i don't know what to do. His class lvls in order : Swashbuckler 3/ Fighter 4/ Avenging executionner 5/ Dread fang 1/ Wizard 5/ Warblade 1/ Swordsage 1. So when taking warblade at 19th lvl, he is considered as a 10th lvl initiator for maneuvers. Maybe i'll make some changes, depending on how i have to meet pre reqs. I thought about switch 2 lvls of Wizard (and only have 2nd spell lvl) and take 2 lvls in a full BAB class. Maybe fighter for another feat, but i don't know if there is something more interesting. Or totally drop the wizard, and arcane strike, but it will kill the perso as i have imagined him. Clarion Commander is good with perpetual flank, but this character isn't enough dedicated to team-work. He use others for his interests, but not as much. Avenging executionner isn't too much complicated, and is in the spirit of the character. And his class features are great to make others shaken, fastly.
#4 BloodDragon Jun 02, 2010 13:20:14	Some levels in casters classes are always good but only 3rd level spells? (or 2nd level?) don't seem that worth it. Through if you are set on the whole casting thing good ol' Eldritch Knight is a simple choice. Abjurent Champion from Comp. Mage is a better choice but you need Combat Casting. or The Jade Phoenix Mage in Tome of Battle might be best to top off your final few levels, giving you more maneuvers and some casting. I personally say drop Arcane Strike and focus on something that'll give you more bang for your buck with Sneak attack or Maneuvers.
#5 phaedrusxy Jun 02, 2010 15:02:30	Throw out the wizard levels entirely, and replace them with Suel Arcanamach and Abjurant Champion. I'd go SA1/AJ5, and throw out 1 level of something else (or two levels of fighter). That will give him somewhat relevant magic abilities with a good caster level without sacrificing too much else. Also: if your PCs are optimized at all, expect this guy to die immediately without putting up much of a fight. If he ambushes them, he might drop one if he's lucky, then he'll probably go down like a sack of bricks.
#6 dark117 Jun 03, 2010 9:57:25	Maybe drop wizards lvls for dread fang (use poison and SA dices), and fighter for feats. Where does come suel arcanamach from? i want to take a look on this. My PCs aren't very optimized : one favored soul 15, one soulknife 5/pyrokineticist 10, one ... don't remember, but there's bard dragon disciple something, one druid 15, one artificer. My only challenge is the artificer, and the favored soul is sometimes a pain. So i think my NPC will survive a bit. And he fight surrounded by minions, hidden in the mass.
#7 phaedrusxy Jun 03, 2010 11:20:13	Where does come suel arcanamach from? i want to take a look on this. Complete Arcane.
#8 hellfirewarlock Jun 05, 2010 20:57:02	If your NPC is fighting hiden in a mass of other NPC's, you might want to take a few levels in marshal or any other bolstering class so as to help the rest of the NPC's. IIRC Jaraxle 's real power was not his dagger throwing ability which was good, but his ability to always have an extra trick up his sleeve and the rest of his band to do anything he couldn't himself(ex. his lack of really spell casting was covered by a mystic theurge type and a psion)
#9 dark117 Jun 06, 2010 11:39:47	IIRC Jaraxle 's real power was not his dagger throwing ability which was good, but his ability to always have an extra trick up his sleeve and the rest of his band to do anything he couldn't himself(ex. his lack of really spell casting was covered by a mystic theurge type and a psion) ... I totally forgot that point. I shall burn in an eternity of pain for this shame >__<" Thank you, i think i will not need anything else. I just have to choose between marshall & suel arcanamach.