Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 eviltedzies Sep 08, 2009 11:51:16	I am currently playing in an Anima d20 game, but our group has decided to switch it to DnD 3.5 edition due to our more comfortable opinions on 3.5. As such, our DM is letting us remake our characters into 3.5 characters. I was playing a "red mage" esque elf with a charismatic personality. I did not feel like taking Mystic Theurge as I despise the utter loss of everything but spells. I wanted a flexible character who could cast some heals, some nukes, and even mix in up in melee a bit. I thought I was just going to have to remake my character completely, but then I started looking over the duskblade class. My DM approved and then gave me 2 house rules that changed the mechanics of the class to a larger degree.   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The two changes my DM made to Duskblade. 1. Duskblades may now choose any sorcerer/wizard spell for his spell list instead of the very restricted spell selection list of a normal duskblade. 2. In addition to sorcerer/wizards spells, a Duskblade may learn any spell on the cleric spell list and add it to his spells known. This means that I can choose both arcane and divine spells to put on my Duskblade spell list. Before you say anything about this being overpowered, (Which it is. =p ) please note that my DM has placed a few restrictions on the class ass well. Restrictions placed on the character. 1. All damaging spells have their maximum damage halfed. (Aka a Fireball would cap out at 5d6.) I don't know if he will apply this to ability drain as well. 2. I lose all armor and shield proficiencies Duskblades normally gain. (Making their class ability to cast in armor useless) 3. We are starting out at level 6, but I will only know HALF of what my normal spells known would be. The rest will have to be slowly gained back over time. ( And I am sure he will make it a royal pain to relearn those missing spells.) 4. All spells must come from the Players Handbook and the original Duskblade spell list. (I do not expect him to let me take spells outside the PHB, but their may be a slight chance down the way.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now that thats all said and done I propose my idea for my Duskblade "Red Mage" Race: Elf ECL: 6 Planned Class Progression: Duskblade 5/Abjurant Champion 5/Swiftblade 9/Duskblade 1 Feat Selection (No Flaws): Lvl 1: Dodge Lvl 3: Mobility Lvl 6: Open Feat Lvl 9: Arcane Strike Lvl 12,15, & 18: Open Feats ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As you can see I am having some difficulty choosing feats and, as far as spells go, I only have Mage Armor and Shield on my list. I would love some advice on feats and or spell selection. Notice: I understand this is OP and is in no way legal via RAW. But for optimizations sake please help me make it all he can be. Thank you in advance.
#2 ikildkenny Sep 10, 2009 12:17:52	well, obviously you need to get armor proficiencys from somewhere ... so the question is how? since the mithral shirt imho is one of the best Armors any Ducblade can get, light armor proficienca is your very best friend ... as is a darkwood buckler (no ACP, so no problem!) - or yust skip the feat and look for armor without any ACP (Mithral Shirt ;) ) ... mmhh ... a Duskblade with all sorc/wiz spells from the players Handbook ... and you SEEM to be set on Elf if i'm not mistaken ... somehow Alter Self+Otherworldly comes into mind - sure, without the Dwarven ancestor, you are only half as cheesy as you could be (but you can!) - but also Mephits make a very decent choice  ... other than that ... nothing spontanous ...
#3 eviltedzies Sep 11, 2009 13:08:16	I kept elf for my race because I'm simply converting my old character from Anima d20 to 3.5 DnD. I liked his flavor before and I intended to keep that during the transfer. In addition our DM only allows races out of the PHB. The armor loss isn't such a bad thing. If you noticed I chose Abjurant Champion as my level 6-10 PrC. By level 10 I can cast Mage Armor and Shield for a total of a +18 to AC. I know Mage Armor is labled as a Conjuration spell, but my DM agrees that it should be an Abjuration spell. The only difference from Mage Armor and Shield is the type of bonus granted. So using both in combination will be far mor beneficial than using feats to buy armor proficiencies. As far as Alter Self goes..... ye my DM is not fond of us pulling random creatures out of nowhere. Granted I do have Knowledge ranks in just about every Knowledge, I'd have to discuss possible alternate forms ahead of time. Oh, and where is "Otherworld" from? A feat or a type of creatures?   Thanks for the advice though. I'm still working out his spell list at the moment. I'll try and post it sometimes soon.
#4 ikildkenny Sep 11, 2009 15:24:27	otherworldly is from player's guide to faerun...   sure, your DM might not be "fond" of you changing to a mephit for example ... but as long as you have a decent knowledge:the planes skill, taking a "common" outsiders (as which I would consider mephits) shouldn't be a problem ...   furthermore: take a look into knowledge Devotion (complete champion) - you have all knowledge skills AND you need to have at least some int (and no real use for your skillpoints whatsoever ...)
#5 eviltedzies Sep 11, 2009 18:48:21	I did look at the Knowledge Devotion feat. I very much think it has potential and I have at least one free feat at 6th level I haven't decided on. Would make the character more of a melee contender than he already is. As far as alternate forms go, I would hazard a guess that our DM will run Alter Self just like he does polymorph. The character casting the spell must have personally seen the actual creature he intends to turn into. This makes randomly saying "Oh I polymorph into a 6 headed hydra." highly unlikely.
#6 hcl Sep 11, 2009 21:10:29	Can I suggest Wild Elf? I am not too familiar with the duskblade class but I think it runs off CHA, in which case wild elf would be better than high elf. Also I have heard that duskblades tend to do very well with Obtain Familiar and Improved Familiar (take a mephit)
#7 steelblue Sep 12, 2009 3:03:46	Can I suggest Wild Elf? I am not too familiar with the duskblade class but I think it runs off CHA, in which case wild elf would be better than high elf. Also I have heard that duskblades tend to do very well with Obtain Familiar and Improved Familiar (take a mephit) You are incorrect... the duskblade's casting stat is INT. What it really runs off of is subject to debate, but I would posit STR, since it is primarily a melee class. Also - familiars? How so?