Death Knight Template:Trying to Optimizate - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Death Knight Template:Trying to Optimizate

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
satanicway
Aug 18, 2008 0:04:39 I'm trying to optmizate a Death Knight Character. (Monster HB 4 pg 207 if i remember well... or is it mhb 5?)
He have some exeptions that i need to say:
1- No ability to control undead, or receive undeads every week/month.
2- I'm starting at first level for balance with other characters.
3- My nightmare will come when i reach lvl2 and will act as a second char at my control, this is the master way to give back something for the undead control he removed. The Nightmare will level up with the group and gain class levels. (lol ^^ its strange but will be fun.)

(The DM removed the Undeads because he thinks that with this amount of undeads at my control, and with 5 other players in the game, battles would take too much time, and i agreed.
Being first level on a Template that requires 6 is all about DM approval but he accepted my background so thats ok.)

I know that most of time people optmizing want just Oficial Rules.
But thats what i have to work for. And this character have an aweasome background, so i really want him to shine, so i want to optmize.

For now, im a Orc. Caster with this amount of Level Adjustment is not a viable option, so i took the most powerful melee race i could think by that time.
Since i made an aweasome roll my attributes ended:
STR 26
DEX 12
CON -
INT 10
WIS 16
CHA 16

At first level, i added Barbarian.
So i can gain Rage that will help even at high level, and cause that makes sense for an orc with his background.

Hes a follower of the God of Destruction of the world.
Hes now receiving military training so im thinking on leveling him as fighter till he can enter Blackguard at Barbarian 1/Fighter 6.
Them he will be Barbarian 1 / Fighter 6 / BlackGuard 10

At lvl 6, by the game history and my background i will probably work on a great quest to receive some more divine blessing. That will work as "almost gestalt cleric" the character.
I will not receive the better bases/saves/skills/dv but only the special abilitys, and spells of the cleric, and the domains.

So i would end up being: Barbarian 1 / Fighter 6 / BlackGuard 10
With abilitys of a Cleric 17

This is just a try to optmize this character without getting alot of different prestige classes or level dips without background explanation. But im still working to make it better, and i still have 3 levels of void.

Now the worst part... Feats...
I have almost no idea of what to do...

What i could figure till now:
Mounted Combat - Will work good with my Nightmare. But i dont want to get the charge feats, cause the knightmare will get class levels and him doing full attacks at same time with me in melee will be much better. And because if i start to focus on Charge feats, i will need to exchange weapon to Mounted Lance and will have feat problems with Focus and Specialization, when not fighting mounted in a dungeon.
So i think i will just have Mounted Combat, so i can fight on my Nightmare and use his great fly move.

Weapon Focus and Specialization - On a big two-handed weapon, maybe a great axe or a great sword.
Melee Weapon Mastery - +1 to hit and +2 on damage on 1 feat is great. (correct me if i didnt stack with focus and specialization)

Power Attack - Best melee feat ever

Cleave - Almost useless on most of campaings i even played, but thats for me. But needed for BlackGuard.

Improved Sunder - Not great, but BlackGuard requires this one too.

Life Sense - This feat seems underpowered when you first look into it, but them you remeber that ligh sorces appear when invisible, and that it will enable me to see the live beigns even really really far in the darkness.

Profane Vigor - When i receive "cleric gelstalt" powers, this may be useful to heal myself even more.

Destruction Devotion - When i get the Destruction Domain, this may be useful to use even more power attack.

Evil Dovotion and Death Dovotion comes to my mind as possible feats too...

Elusive Target is another good feat, but comes with bad requisites...

Improved Toughness may help with HP problems, since i dont have cons score.

Another idea is to forget the Fighter Levels, and the BlackGuard levels, and level up as Paladin of Tyranny or Slaughter Variantes from PHB2.
They gain "Lay on Hands" that Blackguard Lacks and my fascinate will be better.

But the problem is that i alread have a powerful mount, i dont want the special mount. And the only option for that is the Smite Charge exchange that is really weak IMO.

Blackguard atlast can select another type of creature... and it has sneak attack ability as an extra to the class.

This is my ideas, any contribution will be welcome.
Thanks and sorry for the non-general kind of optmization.
#2
satanicway
Aug 18, 2008 11:44:28 Just of adicional information:
I'm using all wizards oficial books.
Even unerthed arcana is a possibility to be discussed, but nothing from other fonts and no dragon magazine just wizards oficial books.

-
Another ideas i had:
Necromantic Presence and Necromantic Might Feat: This would add +2 to hit and damage to me, and help when i become cleric and use undeads.

Necrotic Reserve feat, may save the characters unlife, so it may be useful too.

About PrC 4 levels of Warrior of Darkness seems another good option...

Still needing ideas...
#3
nanshork
Aug 18, 2008 13:44:50 Rage is bad. Here is why. You have no Con score, so your rages always last 3 rounds, and you lose half of it's benefit.
#4
satanicway
Aug 18, 2008 14:20:43 Hummm, you are right...
But i can use Whirwind Rage from Unearthed Arcana.
No bonus to constitution score, but an extra attack and bonus AC.

Divine Might, Improved Smite and Extra Smite are other feats that i found useful...
#5
nanshork
Aug 18, 2008 15:49:04 Alright, I've actually looked at the Death Knight template. It's in MM II by the way.

Also, are you allowed to use setting specific material? How attached are you to barbarian? And are you allowed to choose how your nightmare mount advances?
#6
carnivore
Aug 19, 2008 5:40:51 here it is:

Death Knight(martial champions of evil)(MM2 p207)(3.5up p31)+
Decayed body in its original equipment, but with dots of orange light for eyes
Acquired Template that can be applied to any Evil Humanoid 6th level or higher.
Becomes an Undead.
Natural Armor bonus +5 (if better than base creature).
DR 15 / magic.
SR 20 + 1 per level above 10th

Str +4
Con —
Wis +2
Cha +2
CR +3
LA +5

Touch attack does (1d8 + Charisma modifier) Negative Energy damage (Will½) plus 1 point of Constitution damage (WillNeg). Charisma-base DC.
Fireball, 1 / day. Half the damage is Divine. Charisma-based DC.
Fear, to all within a 15’ radius if they have 5HD or less. Charisma-based DC.
2x HD in Undead followers, attracted from the surrounding area.
Summon a mount with ½ Death Knight’s HD (often a Nightmare).
If it is slain, must wait 1 year & 1 day for a replacement.
Immune to Cold, Electricity, & Polymorph.
Immune to Turning

:D
#7
satanicway
Aug 19, 2008 10:21:55 Yes, any setting material for Ravenloft, Forgotten, or Eberron is ok.

The Barbarian Lv1 makes sense on his history, and it adds a good burst of damage to the character.
Even more now that i will use the whirwind fury.
There isnt alignment restrictions for classes, if you can give a good storie and explanation.

Yes, i can advance the nightmare as i wish.
I'm having strange ideas...
Monk... for even faster movement, and great AC, just allitle hard to explain but nothing impossible heheheheh.
Fighter would be useful for the knightmare too.

But probably i will level him up as a cleric of the god of destruction or a sorcerer... but i'm not sure yet.
#8
nanshork
Aug 19, 2008 18:03:23 If you decide to go Blackguard, the Improved Fiendish Servant feat from Champions of Ruin would give you better choices.

The real problem with Barbarian is that you'll never rage for more than three rounds without wasting a feat on Extend Rage.

Sorry that I don't have more to say. I had some ideas when I asked all the questions in my last post, I'll try to remember them.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 satanicway Aug 18, 2008 0:04:39	I'm trying to optmizate a Death Knight Character. (Monster HB 4 pg 207 if i remember well... or is it mhb 5?) He have some exeptions that i need to say: 1- No ability to control undead, or receive undeads every week/month. 2- I'm starting at first level for balance with other characters. 3- My nightmare will come when i reach lvl2 and will act as a second char at my control, this is the master way to give back something for the undead control he removed. The Nightmare will level up with the group and gain class levels. (lol ^^ its strange but will be fun.) (The DM removed the Undeads because he thinks that with this amount of undeads at my control, and with 5 other players in the game, battles would take too much time, and i agreed. Being first level on a Template that requires 6 is all about DM approval but he accepted my background so thats ok.) I know that most of time people optmizing want just Oficial Rules. But thats what i have to work for. And this character have an aweasome background, so i really want him to shine, so i want to optmize. For now, im a Orc. Caster with this amount of Level Adjustment is not a viable option, so i took the most powerful melee race i could think by that time. Since i made an aweasome roll my attributes ended: STR 26 DEX 12 CON - INT 10 WIS 16 CHA 16 At first level, i added Barbarian. So i can gain Rage that will help even at high level, and cause that makes sense for an orc with his background. Hes a follower of the God of Destruction of the world. Hes now receiving military training so im thinking on leveling him as fighter till he can enter Blackguard at Barbarian 1/Fighter 6. Them he will be Barbarian 1 / Fighter 6 / BlackGuard 10 At lvl 6, by the game history and my background i will probably work on a great quest to receive some more divine blessing. That will work as "almost gestalt cleric" the character. I will not receive the better bases/saves/skills/dv but only the special abilitys, and spells of the cleric, and the domains. So i would end up being: Barbarian 1 / Fighter 6 / BlackGuard 10 With abilitys of a Cleric 17 This is just a try to optmize this character without getting alot of different prestige classes or level dips without background explanation. But im still working to make it better, and i still have 3 levels of void. Now the worst part... Feats... I have almost no idea of what to do... What i could figure till now: Mounted Combat - Will work good with my Nightmare. But i dont want to get the charge feats, cause the knightmare will get class levels and him doing full attacks at same time with me in melee will be much better. And because if i start to focus on Charge feats, i will need to exchange weapon to Mounted Lance and will have feat problems with Focus and Specialization, when not fighting mounted in a dungeon. So i think i will just have Mounted Combat, so i can fight on my Nightmare and use his great fly move. Weapon Focus and Specialization - On a big two-handed weapon, maybe a great axe or a great sword. Melee Weapon Mastery - +1 to hit and +2 on damage on 1 feat is great. (correct me if i didnt stack with focus and specialization) Power Attack - Best melee feat ever Cleave - Almost useless on most of campaings i even played, but thats for me. But needed for BlackGuard. Improved Sunder - Not great, but BlackGuard requires this one too. Life Sense - This feat seems underpowered when you first look into it, but them you remeber that ligh sorces appear when invisible, and that it will enable me to see the live beigns even really really far in the darkness. Profane Vigor - When i receive "cleric gelstalt" powers, this may be useful to heal myself even more. Destruction Devotion - When i get the Destruction Domain, this may be useful to use even more power attack. Evil Dovotion and Death Dovotion comes to my mind as possible feats too... Elusive Target is another good feat, but comes with bad requisites... Improved Toughness may help with HP problems, since i dont have cons score. Another idea is to forget the Fighter Levels, and the BlackGuard levels, and level up as Paladin of Tyranny or Slaughter Variantes from PHB2. They gain "Lay on Hands" that Blackguard Lacks and my fascinate will be better. But the problem is that i alread have a powerful mount, i dont want the special mount. And the only option for that is the Smite Charge exchange that is really weak IMO. Blackguard atlast can select another type of creature... and it has sneak attack ability as an extra to the class. This is my ideas, any contribution will be welcome. Thanks and sorry for the non-general kind of optmization.
#2 satanicway Aug 18, 2008 11:44:28	Just of adicional information: I'm using all wizards oficial books. Even unerthed arcana is a possibility to be discussed, but nothing from other fonts and no dragon magazine just wizards oficial books. - Another ideas i had: Necromantic Presence and Necromantic Might Feat: This would add +2 to hit and damage to me, and help when i become cleric and use undeads. Necrotic Reserve feat, may save the characters unlife, so it may be useful too. About PrC 4 levels of Warrior of Darkness seems another good option... Still needing ideas...
#3 nanshork Aug 18, 2008 13:44:50	Rage is bad. Here is why. You have no Con score, so your rages always last 3 rounds, and you lose half of it's benefit.
#4 satanicway Aug 18, 2008 14:20:43	Hummm, you are right... But i can use Whirwind Rage from Unearthed Arcana. No bonus to constitution score, but an extra attack and bonus AC. Divine Might, Improved Smite and Extra Smite are other feats that i found useful...
#5 nanshork Aug 18, 2008 15:49:04	Alright, I've actually looked at the Death Knight template. It's in MM II by the way. Also, are you allowed to use setting specific material? How attached are you to barbarian? And are you allowed to choose how your nightmare mount advances?
#6 carnivore Aug 19, 2008 5:40:51	here it is: Death Knight(martial champions of evil)(MM2 p207)(3.5up p31)+ Decayed body in its original equipment, but with dots of orange light for eyes Acquired Template that can be applied to any Evil Humanoid 6th level or higher. Becomes an Undead. Natural Armor bonus +5 (if better than base creature). DR 15 / magic. SR 20 + 1 per level above 10th Str +4 Con — Wis +2 Cha +2 CR +3 LA +5 Touch attack does (1d8 + Charisma modifier) Negative Energy damage (Will½) plus 1 point of Constitution damage (WillNeg). Charisma-base DC. Fireball, 1 / day. Half the damage is Divine. Charisma-based DC. Fear, to all within a 15’ radius if they have 5HD or less. Charisma-based DC. 2x HD in Undead followers, attracted from the surrounding area. Summon a mount with ½ Death Knight’s HD (often a Nightmare). If it is slain, must wait 1 year & 1 day for a replacement. Immune to Cold, Electricity, & Polymorph. Immune to Turning :D
#7 satanicway Aug 19, 2008 10:21:55	Yes, any setting material for Ravenloft, Forgotten, or Eberron is ok. The Barbarian Lv1 makes sense on his history, and it adds a good burst of damage to the character. Even more now that i will use the whirwind fury. There isnt alignment restrictions for classes, if you can give a good storie and explanation. Yes, i can advance the nightmare as i wish. I'm having strange ideas... Monk... for even faster movement, and great AC, just allitle hard to explain but nothing impossible heheheheh. Fighter would be useful for the knightmare too. But probably i will level him up as a cleric of the god of destruction or a sorcerer... but i'm not sure yet.
#8 nanshork Aug 19, 2008 18:03:23	If you decide to go Blackguard, the Improved Fiendish Servant feat from Champions of Ruin would give you better choices. The real problem with Barbarian is that you'll never rage for more than three rounds without wasting a feat on Extend Rage. Sorry that I don't have more to say. I had some ideas when I asked all the questions in my last post, I'll try to remember them.