Factotum Equipment/skill selection reccomendation - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Factotum Equipment/skill selection reccomendation

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
karmme
Mar 01, 2009 0:17:38 http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheets/view.php?id=111060

Factotum 11/Chameleon 9

Feats: Able Learner/Font of Inspiration
Stats S 13 D 13 C 14 I 17 W 13 Ch 13
Starting level 4

4000GP

Questions:
Skill points ok? Anything really glaringly messed up?
Equipment ok? Mithril chain shirt too expensive for tight budget? Healing belt unnecessary? Wand reccomendations?

Thanks for any responses in advance.

I'll let you know the specifics so you don't have to go look at the sheet.
Darkwood Heavy shield
Healing Belt
Mithril Chain Shirt

72 skill points total
1 point in all skills except Appraise, Concentration, Knowledge (Architecture/engineering), Perform, Profession, Psicraft, and use Psionic device. All those skills have 0 ranks. And the following

Skill/ranks
Autohypnosis/3
Bluff/2
Disable Device/7
Disguise/2
Hide/2
Move Silently/2
Open Lock/7
Sense Motive/2
Spellcraft/2
Tumble/7
UMD/7
#2
darksamuari
Mar 01, 2009 0:39:18 What are you trying to achieve with the character and how do you want them to accomplish it?
#3
karmme
Mar 01, 2009 9:06:57 Sorry it was late last night.

I want a skill monkey who can do just about anything, and is a lot of fun to play.

I read most of the factotum handbook and it looks like nova-ing is the only really exploitable aspect of the class. So I mainly want to know if the skills and equipment I chose are decent choices for a game that will most likely go on for quite a while.

Might go Factotum 11/Chameleon 7/Master of Masks 2 Because that seems like it would be cool and provide even more versatility with a very few drawbacks. Probably Assasin, gladiator, and maybe the lich mask. Or just two levels of some +1 BAB class even though I'll still cap out at +15.
#4
karmme
Mar 02, 2009 10:51:29 The DM gave us 10 more skill points for free to distribute between knowledge and craft skills! So, I guess I like my current equipment just fine and my skills are looking good, but let me just ask this (completely subjective) question.

What wand should I get?

What are the most important skills to obtain skill mastery in ranked in order from most to least?

My random guess
UMD > Tumble > Autohypnosis > Disable Device > Hide > Open Lock > Move Silently
#5
mdsummer
Mar 02, 2009 11:23:55 This build begs for Knowledge Devotion. Free minimum +1 BAB for most part.
#6
karmme
Mar 02, 2009 12:01:26 That does look good... I'm just trying to weigh it against the gain of more fonts of inspiration.

I've already lost one because of Able learner.

Do you think it's worth it?

Lets say

Human, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18
Able Learner, Font of Power (x7) = 24 Inspiration points at level 20
Able Learner, Font of Power (x6), Knowledge Devotion =18 Inspiration points at 20, and +1-+5 to hit/damage.

6 inspiration points is enough to perform two extra standard actions.

Optimum +5 to hit/damage vs 2 extra standard actions per encounter.

Also, I could only gain the +11 on each knowledge skill once per day (so get the benefits for 1 encounter vs all enemies of the same type.

I don't know, you number crunchers might be able to figure it out.
#7
PlzBreakMyCampaign
Mar 03, 2009 12:53:34 Honestly, Factotum+Chameleon? You're fine.

How can you not fail? Unless you play with a part full of wizards and druids, in which case God help your DM (and then you should go pixie and make him cry).
#8
zenogu
Mar 03, 2009 14:36:45 yay factotum! It's hard to screw this up, seriously.

If you're smart on your feat selection and actions in combat, you won't burn through your inspiration points nearly as fast.
Knowledge Devotion is a step in the right direction.
Greater Magic Weapon won't hurt either. Anything that adds long-term bonus to attack/damage will save you Inspiration.
7 ranks in tumble? Fight defensively/total defense and shout insults at your enemy. Maybe they'll buy it :P If somehow you can't manage a task, buy some time for someone who can.

I'm a big fan of just going straight Factotum. The 19th level ability completely blows the Chameleon class out of the water (If you can wait that long anyway).
#9
karmme
Mar 03, 2009 20:30:44 I agree completely, Factotum 20 is way better. But it is extremely unlikely that I will make it to 19th level, and if I do, the years that it will take will be much more fun with the levels of chameleon.

Still:
What 1st level wand should I get? I have a belt of healing so no lesser vigor. Perhaps I should just keep the money and buy a wand when I get some more cash.

Knowledge Devotion... hmm, maybe I'll take that for my level 6 feat. I think the benefits of extra IP outweigh it at 4th level.

Edit: by the way, thanks for the responses!
#10
zenogu
Mar 03, 2009 21:30:01 good 1st level wands? Depends on what you want to do really.
Golem/Grave strike is pretty good for an opening vs. undead/constructs
Benign Transposition is priceless, and never forget Grease!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 karmme Mar 01, 2009 0:17:38	http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheets/view.php?id=111060 Factotum 11/Chameleon 9 Feats: Able Learner/Font of Inspiration Stats S 13 D 13 C 14 I 17 W 13 Ch 13 Starting level 4 4000GP Questions: Skill points ok? Anything really glaringly messed up? Equipment ok? Mithril chain shirt too expensive for tight budget? Healing belt unnecessary? Wand reccomendations? Thanks for any responses in advance. I'll let you know the specifics so you don't have to go look at the sheet. Darkwood Heavy shield Healing Belt Mithril Chain Shirt 72 skill points total 1 point in all skills except Appraise, Concentration, Knowledge (Architecture/engineering), Perform, Profession, Psicraft, and use Psionic device. All those skills have 0 ranks. And the following Skill/ranks Autohypnosis/3 Bluff/2 Disable Device/7 Disguise/2 Hide/2 Move Silently/2 Open Lock/7 Sense Motive/2 Spellcraft/2 Tumble/7 UMD/7
#2 darksamuari Mar 01, 2009 0:39:18	What are you trying to achieve with the character and how do you want them to accomplish it?
#3 karmme Mar 01, 2009 9:06:57	Sorry it was late last night. I want a skill monkey who can do just about anything, and is a lot of fun to play. I read most of the factotum handbook and it looks like nova-ing is the only really exploitable aspect of the class. So I mainly want to know if the skills and equipment I chose are decent choices for a game that will most likely go on for quite a while. Might go Factotum 11/Chameleon 7/Master of Masks 2 Because that seems like it would be cool and provide even more versatility with a very few drawbacks. Probably Assasin, gladiator, and maybe the lich mask. Or just two levels of some +1 BAB class even though I'll still cap out at +15.
#4 karmme Mar 02, 2009 10:51:29	The DM gave us 10 more skill points for free to distribute between knowledge and craft skills! So, I guess I like my current equipment just fine and my skills are looking good, but let me just ask this (completely subjective) question. What wand should I get? What are the most important skills to obtain skill mastery in ranked in order from most to least? My random guess UMD > Tumble > Autohypnosis > Disable Device > Hide > Open Lock > Move Silently
#5 mdsummer Mar 02, 2009 11:23:55	This build begs for Knowledge Devotion. Free minimum +1 BAB for most part.
#6 karmme Mar 02, 2009 12:01:26	That does look good... I'm just trying to weigh it against the gain of more fonts of inspiration. I've already lost one because of Able learner. Do you think it's worth it? Lets say Human, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 Able Learner, Font of Power (x7) = 24 Inspiration points at level 20 Able Learner, Font of Power (x6), Knowledge Devotion =18 Inspiration points at 20, and +1-+5 to hit/damage. 6 inspiration points is enough to perform two extra standard actions. Optimum +5 to hit/damage vs 2 extra standard actions per encounter. Also, I could only gain the +11 on each knowledge skill once per day (so get the benefits for 1 encounter vs all enemies of the same type. I don't know, you number crunchers might be able to figure it out.
#7 PlzBreakMyCampaign Mar 03, 2009 12:53:34	Honestly, Factotum+Chameleon? You're fine. How can you not fail? Unless you play with a part full of wizards and druids, in which case God help your DM (and then you should go pixie and make him cry).
#8 zenogu Mar 03, 2009 14:36:45	yay factotum! It's hard to screw this up, seriously. If you're smart on your feat selection and actions in combat, you won't burn through your inspiration points nearly as fast. Knowledge Devotion is a step in the right direction. Greater Magic Weapon won't hurt either. Anything that adds long-term bonus to attack/damage will save you Inspiration. 7 ranks in tumble? Fight defensively/total defense and shout insults at your enemy. Maybe they'll buy it :P If somehow you can't manage a task, buy some time for someone who can. I'm a big fan of just going straight Factotum. The 19th level ability completely blows the Chameleon class out of the water (If you can wait that long anyway).
#9 karmme Mar 03, 2009 20:30:44	I agree completely, Factotum 20 is way better. But it is extremely unlikely that I will make it to 19th level, and if I do, the years that it will take will be much more fun with the levels of chameleon. Still: What 1st level wand should I get? I have a belt of healing so no lesser vigor. Perhaps I should just keep the money and buy a wand when I get some more cash. Knowledge Devotion... hmm, maybe I'll take that for my level 6 feat. I think the benefits of extra IP outweigh it at 4th level. Edit: by the way, thanks for the responses!
#10 zenogu Mar 03, 2009 21:30:01	good 1st level wands? Depends on what you want to do really. Golem/Grave strike is pretty good for an opening vs. undead/constructs Benign Transposition is priceless, and never forget Grease!