Read the Duskblade handbook and no real builds or suggestions in there for elf or half-elf and was wondering if I would be able to get some help optimizing an elven or half-elven (campaign restriction) Duskblade?
32 point buy, no psionics, restricted to the core, complete, phb2, and races books.
Starting at level 8, and was thinking about this for my probationary build:
Duskblade 8
Half-elf
Str 16
Dex 14
Con 14
Int 16
Wis 8
Cha 8
Feats
1 Power Attack, Dodge
3 Mobility
6 Elusive Target
Mainly will be a supplemental damage dealer as we have a tank (paladin) and damage freaks (warmage, rogue and archer)
Any thoughts or suggestions would be most welcome as I have never played a Duskblade before and would like to try and have some fun with a strange (to me) class.
Thanks!
Anyone?
In the duskblade handbook there are 3 builds for sure, so look more closely
Whip: 15 feet of reach melee weapon. Good at trip and disarm. Does crappy
nonlethal damage (easily fixed with some spell channeling love)
Stand behind your main tank and battlefield control.
Requires: Exotic Wpn Whip
Combat Expertise
Improved trip
improved disarm
Build: 5th level
1: Dusk: Exotic wpn Prof
2: Ftr: Combat expertise
3: Dusk: Improved Trip
4: Ftr: Improved Disarm
5: Dusk: Combat Casting (Arcane Channeling Class Ability)
At this level: swift action: shocking grasp standard action: improved trip attack with whip, free attack (from imp. trip) Disarm = Foe on ground with no weapon and 3d6 damage...
Also no psionics in the campaign so I can't pick psionic feats.
The duskblade/fighter whipmaster sounds like a good idea though, I may snag that one...
I believe the op said that the class was only available to elves and half-elves. I suggested half-elves because they would avoid the xp penalties associated with dipping into fighter.
Oops...I think I need to chug down more caffine,have no idea how I missed that one.
I was thinking to have an eternal wand of enlarge eventually, could be much fun to play with ;)
Where to go from here?
At lvl 6 pick up weapon focus whip:
Level 7: Kensai
This is usually a class that I avoid because of my utter dissapointment in WOTC handling of it, but here it goes.
Make up for the whip's abhorent damage with enhancement bonuses and abilities (flaming, shocking, freezing etc...) Also, the duskblade already has concentration as a class skill so the Kensai's surge of strength is great for trip attempts.
Level 11:
Dusk 5, Ftr 2, Kensai 4:
+1 Fiery, Shocking, Icy Whip = 1d6 fire, 1d6 Ice, 6d6 electricity (with a well placed shocking grasp) and huge disarm (thanks to truestrike).
- 1: Power Attack
- 2: Combat Casting (Bonus)
- 3: Knowledge Devotion
- 6: Obtain Familiar
- 9: Arcane Strike
- 12: Improved Familiar (Imp)
- 15: Versatile Spellcaster
- 18: Extra Spell
Invest mainly on strength. You can't make dexterity work without feats, and you don't have plenty of them, so don't do it. Use a reach weapon like guisarme. Next should be constitution and then intelligence. You only need 15-16. Use knowledge devotion and a two handed weapon to transform the attack bonus it provides into damage by using power attack. Familiars, especially imps, are powerful. Arcane strike is there if you need to nova and for the attack bonus you can use for power attack. Versatile spellcaster is pretty standard. Extra spell is a nice choice, but you can have whatever you want.
If you want to dip, dip ONLY 1 LEVEL into cloistered cleric or combat wizard. See the dipping guide for bonuses they give you. Still, i would recommend it. I consider the above build elegant, simple and fun.
It's a good question. What help and bonuses can a familiar provide his master?
There is a feat, called Savvy Rogue. This augments a rogue's special abilities. If you have the skill mastery special ability, this allows you to take "12" with your mastered skills. Now familiars may not have anything to do with this feat, but they, too, grant their masters +2 on every class skill they have with a score of 9 and higher. The same goes for every skill the familiar has with a score of 9 or higher. This is because a familiar can aid you whenever you make a check. Also all familiars grant a feat, alertness and maybe even more in case of improved familiars. So to sum them all up you get:
* +2 to all your high skills and high familiar skills.
* alertness feat.
* speak with animals.
* deliver touch spells. In case your dexterity lacks, just select a familiar with high dexterity.
* Scry 1/day.
* Your personal scout/stalker.
* Additional body slots. Items such as the commander shield/armor ability provide diplomacy and will save bonuses. Same goes for a banner of the storm's eye and similar items.
* Additional actions. A spell cast from a ring of spell storing or a similar ioun stone casted pre-combat inside it by you, is completely the same with your spell only you don't have to spend an action to cast it.
* Extended role playing possibilities.
The list goes on and would be enormous if the improved familiars get into discussion.
Quick question though: With the Versatile Spellcaster feat, could I dtop 2 5th level spells to "cast" a 6th, then use the 6th level spell to fuel arcane strike's bonus to hit and the 6d4 bonus damage?
Or would that be a waste since duskblades only go up to 6th level spells?
Hmm I just might snag the familiar then :-)
Quick question though: With the Versatile Spellcaster feat, could I dtop 2 5th level spells to "cast" a 6th, then use the 6th level spell to fuel arcane strike's bonus to hit and the 6d4 bonus damage?
Or would that be a waste since duskblades only go up to 6th level spells?
no, i don't think that works.
Thanks!
Collector of stories is for monster identification while knowledge devotion just calls for a knowledge check.
But it's close, most of my DMs allow it.
basically that doesn't work :P
Collector of stories is for monster identification while knowledge devotion just calls for a knowledge check.
But it's close, most of my DMs allow it.
Ever met a DM who doesn't allow this, but allows Knowledge devotion?
Ever met a DM who doesn't allow this, but allows Knowledge devotion?
i did say "most of" :P