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Character Direction

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
darth_mahar
May 30, 2012 0:13:27
Character Direction

I am trying to play a TWF rogue type character in a high magic setting. Everything 3.0 and 3.5 is allowed except Dragon magazine. My dilemma is that even though my character thus far is pretty good (just hit level 9) my damage potential is quite limited in the future. From previous experience, my DM loves to use fortification armor on every NPC that he makes. Once the early teen levels arrive, everyone has heavy fortification armor and I need a few ideas on how to bypass that. Here is what I have so far:

Race: Human

Class: 3 Rogue, 2 Fighter, 3 Swashbuckler, 1 Swordsage

Stats: 10, 20, 16, 14, 12, 10 (4d6 drop lowest)

Feats:

Darkstalker (lvl 1)

Craven (Bonus)

TWF (lvl 3)

Imp Init (Fighter 1)

Weap focus (Fighter 2)

Daring Outlaw (lvl 6)

Insightful Strike (Swash 3)

Shadowblade (lvl 9)

I had originally planned on a use/day item that created an anti-magic field and then allowed me to backstab through the armor. Also, my DM has ruled that brilliant energy weapons to not bypass fortification. Does anyone have any less drastic ideas than forgoing all of my magic items?

I also had my levels planned as:
10 swordsage 2
11 swordsage 3 (assassins stance)
12 nightsong enforcer 1 (Cunning Evasion)
13 Barbarian (lion totem)

Any and all suggestions are appreciated
#2
draco1119
May 30, 2012 8:37:54
I am trying to play a TWF rogue type character in a high magic setting. Everything 3.0 and 3.5 is allowed except Dragon magazine. My dilemma is that even though my character thus far is pretty good (just hit level 9) my damage potential is quite limited in the future. From previous experience, my DM loves to use fortification armor on every NPC that he makes. Once the early teen levels arrive, everyone has heavy fortification armor and I need a few ideas on how to bypass that. Here is what I have so far:

I had originally planned on a use/day item that created an anti-magic field and then allowed me to backstab through the armor. Also, my DM has ruled that brilliant energy weapons to not bypass fortification. Does anyone have any less drastic ideas than forgoing all of my magic items?

Any and all suggestions are appreciated

You're pretty well screwed, except for sundering the armor or an AMF. Be sure to thank your DM for being a **** as you're rolling up a druid.
#3
deoxhydroxinate
May 30, 2012 20:38:43 This falls under the "melee can't have nice things" umbrella a bit. Unless casting is getting the same treatment, you're in a heap o' nonsense.

Torcs of AMF and Sunder are your friends, as draco mentioned.

I guess the biggest question I have is, how are casters being treated in this equation? They can kill you all sorts of ways without much work (or thought).
#4
New-Shadow
May 31, 2012 19:02:11 We're collectively overthinking this, though Sundering and Druids have merit..so why not combine the ideas in a way. If your U.M.D. skill is high enough, get a couple of wands, at least one eternal (from Eberron, what book I don't know) and one normal, or something that can cast Heat metal and/or Chill metal to do damage to the armor itself while damaging the person wearing it. If science holds true, well...what happens when you rapidly heat up something cold (or vice versa)?

Failing that, there is always Dispel Magic to suppress the magic effects of the armor temporarily. Which you can get from the PrC Trapsmith (from the Dungeonscape book, it also has DD as a class skill). Go Daggerspell Mage or Spellsword to Channel the spells when attacking (after picking up a Drake Helm from Eberron: Explorer's handbook (read to see why this is the best gear for a spontainious caster) and a Geomancer to cast them as arcane spells of course) for more fun, or finish off the build with Arcane Trickster after picking up the Spell Hand feat to get mage hand to qualify.
#5
darth_mahar
May 31, 2012 22:37:51 I have thought about a greater dispelling dagger or the like. The only limitations I have seen mages undergo is that abuse of split ray was outlawed and feats can not be repeated in the same spell (empower an empowered). Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Such a simple DMG armor ability is such a pain in the butt to get around.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 darth_mahar May 30, 2012 0:13:27	Character Direction I am trying to play a TWF rogue type character in a high magic setting. Everything 3.0 and 3.5 is allowed except Dragon magazine. My dilemma is that even though my character thus far is pretty good (just hit level 9) my damage potential is quite limited in the future. From previous experience, my DM loves to use fortification armor on every NPC that he makes. Once the early teen levels arrive, everyone has heavy fortification armor and I need a few ideas on how to bypass that. Here is what I have so far: Race: Human Class: 3 Rogue, 2 Fighter, 3 Swashbuckler, 1 Swordsage Stats: 10, 20, 16, 14, 12, 10 (4d6 drop lowest) Feats: Darkstalker (lvl 1) Craven (Bonus) TWF (lvl 3) Imp Init (Fighter 1) Weap focus (Fighter 2) Daring Outlaw (lvl 6) Insightful Strike (Swash 3) Shadowblade (lvl 9) I had originally planned on a use/day item that created an anti-magic field and then allowed me to backstab through the armor. Also, my DM has ruled that brilliant energy weapons to not bypass fortification. Does anyone have any less drastic ideas than forgoing all of my magic items? I also had my levels planned as: 10 swordsage 2 11 swordsage 3 (assassins stance) 12 nightsong enforcer 1 (Cunning Evasion) 13 Barbarian (lion totem) Any and all suggestions are appreciated
#2 draco1119 May 30, 2012 8:37:54	I am trying to play a TWF rogue type character in a high magic setting. Everything 3.0 and 3.5 is allowed except Dragon magazine. My dilemma is that even though my character thus far is pretty good (just hit level 9) my damage potential is quite limited in the future. From previous experience, my DM loves to use fortification armor on every NPC that he makes. Once the early teen levels arrive, everyone has heavy fortification armor and I need a few ideas on how to bypass that. Here is what I have so far: I had originally planned on a use/day item that created an anti-magic field and then allowed me to backstab through the armor. Also, my DM has ruled that brilliant energy weapons to not bypass fortification. Does anyone have any less drastic ideas than forgoing all of my magic items? Any and all suggestions are appreciated You're pretty well screwed, except for sundering the armor or an AMF. Be sure to thank your DM for being a **** as you're rolling up a druid.
#3 deoxhydroxinate May 30, 2012 20:38:43	This falls under the "melee can't have nice things" umbrella a bit. Unless casting is getting the same treatment, you're in a heap o' nonsense. Torcs of AMF and Sunder are your friends, as draco mentioned. I guess the biggest question I have is, how are casters being treated in this equation? They can kill you all sorts of ways without much work (or thought).
#4 New-Shadow May 31, 2012 19:02:11	We're collectively overthinking this, though Sundering and Druids have merit..so why not combine the ideas in a way. If your U.M.D. skill is high enough, get a couple of wands, at least one eternal (from Eberron, what book I don't know) and one normal, or something that can cast Heat metal and/or Chill metal to do damage to the armor itself while damaging the person wearing it. If science holds true, well...what happens when you rapidly heat up something cold (or vice versa)? Failing that, there is always Dispel Magic to suppress the magic effects of the armor temporarily. Which you can get from the PrC Trapsmith (from the Dungeonscape book, it also has DD as a class skill). Go Daggerspell Mage or Spellsword to Channel the spells when attacking (after picking up a Drake Helm from Eberron: Explorer's handbook (read to see why this is the best gear for a spontainious caster) and a Geomancer to cast them as arcane spells of course) for more fun, or finish off the build with Arcane Trickster after picking up the Spell Hand feat to get mage hand to qualify.
#5 darth_mahar May 31, 2012 22:37:51	I have thought about a greater dispelling dagger or the like. The only limitations I have seen mages undergo is that abuse of split ray was outlawed and feats can not be repeated in the same spell (empower an empowered). Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Such a simple DMG armor ability is such a pain in the butt to get around.