Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 bobsutan Mar 10, 2008 15:34:15	http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=15296222 I could really use some help optimizing this character. Here's where it stands: Dread Necro 3, Warlock 2, and I'm planning to go Eldritch Theurge asap. Invocations known: Beguiling Insight & Dark One's Own Luck What can I do to make this character more effective in battle? Last night was our first real test in combat and it was pretty much as weaksauce as you can get. I've already taken a look at the Warlock builds that have been floating around, but I haven't seen anything spec'd quite the way this one is. On a related note, is there any way to get more invokations short of picking up the feat "extra invokation"? Does the table 1-1 in the PHB apply to Warlocks as they do casters for purposes of how many spells they know/cast?
#2 bobsutan Mar 10, 2008 20:24:23	double post
#3 bobsutan Mar 10, 2008 20:24:58	I was checking out the Dread Necro thread and a really sweet template that would benefit this toon is Necropolitan. Anyone have experience with this template? http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=759515
#4 killgreedy_dup Mar 10, 2008 20:31:41	What do you have now? Feats, Race, Alignment, Stats? Is your current character set in stone? (Feat retraining? Invocation Swapping?) Necropolitan is very nifty, but isn't free. You lose a level (and then more XP) as well as a bit of gold. The loss of con for a character that doesn't have it as a dump stat can hurt as well.
#5 Valheru_Blade Mar 10, 2008 21:03:07	The problem with any of the dual progression classes is that you have to water yourself down to take them "as intended". However if you're allowed to change your build you could go DN 4/Warlock 1/ET X. Use a Chasuble of Fell Power to meet the +2d6 blast requirement or if your DM allows it use Practiced Spellcaster (A strict reading of the rules won't allow it but it makes perfect sense IMO). This way you don't lose out on much casting and still have all day blasts to give you some offence.
#6 bobsutan Mar 10, 2008 23:03:59	The DM is pretty forgivable and will allow some tweaks here or there to make it fun to play. The swapping stuff around is an option so long as it's not over the top or he feels I'm taking advantage of his generosity. Here is what he currently looks like: Race: Illumian (Races of Destiny) Classes: Dread Necromancer 3; Warlock 2 Feats: Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot We started middle aged and I rolled really well so his current stats without any items are Str 12, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 17, Wis 14, Cha 20. Originally they were 13, 17, 16, 16, 13, 18. I put the 4th level stat bump into Charisma. Oh, and since the Necropolitan burns a level, because we're already into the campaign, more than likely he'll just treat it as a +1 level adjustment since most of the other characters have that or more.
#7 Valheru_Blade Mar 10, 2008 23:24:11	Make sure you read the New Dread Necro Handbook and K's Necromancer Handbook.
#8 bobsutan Mar 11, 2008 7:51:27	Make sure you read the New Dread Necro Handbook and K's Necromancer Handbook. Way ahead of you. Gave me some ideas though. Dreadful Presence or Fell Frighten will be my next feat. I'm definitely going for Necropolitan though if it's treated as a +1 LA.
#9 bobsutan Mar 12, 2008 0:12:48	After re-reading Dreadful Presence, it looks like a useless feat given the fear aura class ability. Am I missing something here with the fear effects somehow stacking?
#10 Valheru_Blade Mar 12, 2008 2:16:57	Assuming you mean Daunting Presence from LM then you can use it to make an opponent shaken and then use your aura or cast Fear on them. Fear effects from different sources stack, unless the ability says otherwise. So for example if you succesfully use Daunting Presence the opponent is shaken, then you can follow up with your aura and cause him to be frightened instead of shaken (assuming he fails the save). You just can't do it the other way around since Daunting Presence won't work on a shaken target. When I played a DN I would often use intimidate and my fear aura to quickly fear people without using spell slots. Daunting Presence isn't needed but does have the advantage of being ranged. Just keep in mind your aura is only 5 ft so you'll have to use a spell in the next round from range.
#11 bobsutan Mar 12, 2008 14:38:09	Yes, I meant Daunting Presence. Daunting Presence and Intimidate sound effectively the same. Both work from 30' against a single opponent and cause them to be shaken if they fail their save/intimidate IIRC.
#12 Valheru_Blade Mar 12, 2008 14:48:11	You can only demoralize an opponent in melee range and it only last for a round but they are very similiar.
#13 bobsutan Mar 12, 2008 23:26:37	Daunting Presence at lvl 6. Also going to do the Bloodtouched Rite and max it out and then take Necropolitian. This should really spice things up After that I'm thinking of making a main "pet" and spellstitching the hell out of it. Any recommendations for that? Level 9 I think I'll grab Arcane Disciple for some domain spells. No idea which domain though.
#14 bill_bisco_average_adventurer Mar 15, 2008 9:38:48	You need to go Dread Necro 1/Warlock 3 and take Precocious Apprentice your first level.
#15 bobsutan Mar 15, 2008 16:09:33	Precocious Apprentice? What is that and which book is it from? Edit Complete Arcane Page 181.
#16 bartd Mar 29, 2008 8:36:12	... Fear effects from different sources stack, unless the ability says otherwise. ... Could someone help me find this rule? Edit: Found it on page 294 of the DMG.