Gestalt Warblade Archivist Advice - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Gestalt Warblade Archivist Advice

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
noble_savage
Jun 24, 2008 21:11:52 I'm finishing up a character for a game (gestalt, level 1,full sheet here) I'm playing, and I'm looking for some advice. I'm not terribly good at building casters from the ground up, and I want to make sure I won't feel like I've missed something terribly important. I'm unsure which direction I should take with the feats. Martial schools I will probably use in the following order; Iron Heart, Diamond Mind, with Shadow Hand (DM allowed trade for flavor) and White Raven used here and there. I've identified three paths I could take, feat wise, and was wondering what you all thought.

-Psionic Focus Cheese (Wild Talent, Psionic Weapon, Psionic Meditation)

-Melee (Power Attack, Cleave, probably no melee feats past these)

-Metamagic (Extend, Spell Focus: Div, Insightful Divination, Smiting Spell)

-Other (Knowledge Devotion)

Thoughts? Do I even need the melee branch? My only thought was I'd probably be downing guys pretty quickly. Other ideas? I'm looking for something to play levels 1-20, but I do believe in deferred gratification. 'Preciate whatever advice you can throw at me.
#2
blargney_the_second
Jun 24, 2008 21:39:53 1) Power Attack + Deep Impact + Diamond Mind = Win.
2) Knowledge Devotion is a great feat, but note that it gives you insight bonuses that overlap with warblade class abilities.
3) Long duration spells work great in gestalt - cast them and they just go for ages without sucking up your actions in a fight. (Which is a great reason to gestalt warblade with artificer.)

-blarg
#3
eldariel
Jun 24, 2008 21:48:59 Much also depends on how you plan on multiclassing. If you ever plan on taking Eternal Blade, Knowledge Devotion becomes much stronger. If you plan on prestiging the caster side, you'll probably want metamagic and divine feats to abuse with Turn Undead (since you'd obviously be multiclassing for Turn).

Anyways, melee is your focus so start there. Metamagic comes later when you have the slots to use it. Extend Spell is probably worth it for a buffer combatant. Others remain to be seen. Power Attack you'll want anyways.
#4
noble_savage
Jun 24, 2008 21:49:49 1) Would you really need Deep Impact if you have Emerald Razor?

3) What feats would you pick to facilitate that? Extend? Is Persistent worth it, or should you access it with magic items?

Edit: I don't plan on multi-classing much, if at all, I like both base classes quite a bit.

Smiting Spell isn't worth it, is it? Especially with a Spell Storing weapon. What about Cleave? How does it match up against other 1st level feats?
#5
eldariel
Jun 24, 2008 21:57:01 Smiting Spell needs spell levels to be useful; may be worth picking up later on depending on how much damage you want. Since you can't use Arcane Strike, it may be well be worth it, really. Spell Storing goes nicely with it hand in hand. Smiting Spell doesn't mind levels, remember.

I'd say Deep Impact-chain is worth it. Get Deep Impact and combine it with the Nightmare Blade-line from Diamond Mind. Then profit. In a 20th level duel against a Wizard, my Eternal Blade Archer dealt 200 damage in melee with the Elvencraft Bow. The only things he used? Diamond Nightmare Blade and Power Attack. Pulling that off against opponents with AC requires Deep Impact. Standard Action 200 damage without trying is a good baseline for killing things in one standard.
#6
eldariel
Jun 24, 2008 22:09:50 Oh yeah, make the damn sheet public. Seriously, hard to give advice based on something I can't see :P
#7
blargney_the_second
Jun 24, 2008 22:24:18 Assuming you want to make a melee-centric character that is augmented by spells, here are the feat chains you would want to take as soon as possible:
1) Power Attack, Cleave
2) Wild Talent, Psionic Weapon, Deep Impact, Psionic Meditation
3) Blind-Fight as a bonus feat

Get a lesser metamagic rod of extend sometime soon, and maybe the feat later on. Also pick up buffs with 10 min/level durations or 1 hour/level from various divine spell lists. In the same vein, swift action spells can do good things, just be aware that warblades already use their swifts a lot.
#8
noble_savage
Jun 24, 2008 23:42:46 God...:embarrass public now.

What kind of action is expending your psionic focus? None?

So, metamagic feats probably aren't necessary as I can get rods to replace them?

Would it be preferable to go Maenad instead of human, as then I wouldn't need the feat?
#9
blargney_the_second
Jun 25, 2008 0:33:54 Expending focus is generally part of the action that you're using it for.

Hmm.. I didn't realize that your Str was so low. That will making hitting a difficult proposition until you can make touch attacks (3rd for Emerald Razor, and 6th for Deep Impact). I'll need to think about this a bit.
#10
natenate
Jun 25, 2008 0:35:05 Expending your psionic focus is always part of another action, such as part of a melee attack (Deep Impact), part of manifesting a power (Metapsionics), or part of whatever action it takes for a skill check (Inquisitor feat), etc. Expending your focus is not a separate acion itself.

You'll definitely want to get Leap Attack at level 6 and learn the spell Rhino's Rush. Maybe even get Spirited Charge and learn Phantom Steed from a scroll (Divine Bard or Spider domain). I'm not very familiar with martial adepts, but if there are some amazing maneuvers for charging you can still use Deep Impact.

I'm just wondering, why did you choose Archivist over Wizard or Psion?
#11
noble_savage
Jun 25, 2008 1:43:12 Wanted to take the Archivist out for a spin. Don't really like the powers list, and there's the whole armor issue with wizards. More than that, it fits the character better. Searcher with a slightly superstitious bent. Plus, Cleric buffs and the 'Bite of' line? Yes please.

On another note I think I'm going to throw two levels of Psionic Warrior in on the Warblade side, and collect Power Attack and Cleave at 1st level.
#12
eldariel
Jun 25, 2008 7:17:07 I don't think Cleave is that important, especially not early on. Nor later either, I guess. It's more of a secondary feat with some use, but hardly a necessity. Also, don't you think your Wisdom is a bit highish? Archivist tends to have enough base spells not to really need high Wisdom. I'd consider going with Wisdom 10 and Str 16.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 noble_savage Jun 24, 2008 21:11:52	I'm finishing up a character for a game (gestalt, level 1,full sheet here) I'm playing, and I'm looking for some advice. I'm not terribly good at building casters from the ground up, and I want to make sure I won't feel like I've missed something terribly important. I'm unsure which direction I should take with the feats. Martial schools I will probably use in the following order; Iron Heart, Diamond Mind, with Shadow Hand (DM allowed trade for flavor) and White Raven used here and there. I've identified three paths I could take, feat wise, and was wondering what you all thought. -Psionic Focus Cheese (Wild Talent, Psionic Weapon, Psionic Meditation) -Melee (Power Attack, Cleave, probably no melee feats past these) -Metamagic (Extend, Spell Focus: Div, Insightful Divination, Smiting Spell) -Other (Knowledge Devotion) Thoughts? Do I even need the melee branch? My only thought was I'd probably be downing guys pretty quickly. Other ideas? I'm looking for something to play levels 1-20, but I do believe in deferred gratification. 'Preciate whatever advice you can throw at me.
#2 blargney_the_second Jun 24, 2008 21:39:53	1) Power Attack + Deep Impact + Diamond Mind = Win. 2) Knowledge Devotion is a great feat, but note that it gives you insight bonuses that overlap with warblade class abilities. 3) Long duration spells work great in gestalt - cast them and they just go for ages without sucking up your actions in a fight. (Which is a great reason to gestalt warblade with artificer.) -blarg
#3 eldariel Jun 24, 2008 21:48:59	Much also depends on how you plan on multiclassing. If you ever plan on taking Eternal Blade, Knowledge Devotion becomes much stronger. If you plan on prestiging the caster side, you'll probably want metamagic and divine feats to abuse with Turn Undead (since you'd obviously be multiclassing for Turn). Anyways, melee is your focus so start there. Metamagic comes later when you have the slots to use it. Extend Spell is probably worth it for a buffer combatant. Others remain to be seen. Power Attack you'll want anyways.
#4 noble_savage Jun 24, 2008 21:49:49	1) Would you really need Deep Impact if you have Emerald Razor? 3) What feats would you pick to facilitate that? Extend? Is Persistent worth it, or should you access it with magic items? Edit: I don't plan on multi-classing much, if at all, I like both base classes quite a bit. Smiting Spell isn't worth it, is it? Especially with a Spell Storing weapon. What about Cleave? How does it match up against other 1st level feats?
#5 eldariel Jun 24, 2008 21:57:01	Smiting Spell needs spell levels to be useful; may be worth picking up later on depending on how much damage you want. Since you can't use Arcane Strike, it may be well be worth it, really. Spell Storing goes nicely with it hand in hand. Smiting Spell doesn't mind levels, remember. I'd say Deep Impact-chain is worth it. Get Deep Impact and combine it with the Nightmare Blade-line from Diamond Mind. Then profit. In a 20th level duel against a Wizard, my Eternal Blade Archer dealt 200 damage in melee with the Elvencraft Bow. The only things he used? Diamond Nightmare Blade and Power Attack. Pulling that off against opponents with AC requires Deep Impact. Standard Action 200 damage without trying is a good baseline for killing things in one standard.
#6 eldariel Jun 24, 2008 22:09:50	Oh yeah, make the damn sheet public. Seriously, hard to give advice based on something I can't see :P
#7 blargney_the_second Jun 24, 2008 22:24:18	Assuming you want to make a melee-centric character that is augmented by spells, here are the feat chains you would want to take as soon as possible: 1) Power Attack, Cleave 2) Wild Talent, Psionic Weapon, Deep Impact, Psionic Meditation 3) Blind-Fight as a bonus feat Get a lesser metamagic rod of extend sometime soon, and maybe the feat later on. Also pick up buffs with 10 min/level durations or 1 hour/level from various divine spell lists. In the same vein, swift action spells can do good things, just be aware that warblades already use their swifts a lot.
#8 noble_savage Jun 24, 2008 23:42:46	God...:embarrass public now. What kind of action is expending your psionic focus? None? So, metamagic feats probably aren't necessary as I can get rods to replace them? Would it be preferable to go Maenad instead of human, as then I wouldn't need the feat?
#9 blargney_the_second Jun 25, 2008 0:33:54	Expending focus is generally part of the action that you're using it for. Hmm.. I didn't realize that your Str was so low. That will making hitting a difficult proposition until you can make touch attacks (3rd for Emerald Razor, and 6th for Deep Impact). I'll need to think about this a bit.
#10 natenate Jun 25, 2008 0:35:05	Expending your psionic focus is always part of another action, such as part of a melee attack (Deep Impact), part of manifesting a power (Metapsionics), or part of whatever action it takes for a skill check (Inquisitor feat), etc. Expending your focus is not a separate acion itself. You'll definitely want to get Leap Attack at level 6 and learn the spell Rhino's Rush. Maybe even get Spirited Charge and learn Phantom Steed from a scroll (Divine Bard or Spider domain). I'm not very familiar with martial adepts, but if there are some amazing maneuvers for charging you can still use Deep Impact. I'm just wondering, why did you choose Archivist over Wizard or Psion?
#11 noble_savage Jun 25, 2008 1:43:12	Wanted to take the Archivist out for a spin. Don't really like the powers list, and there's the whole armor issue with wizards. More than that, it fits the character better. Searcher with a slightly superstitious bent. Plus, Cleric buffs and the 'Bite of' line? Yes please. On another note I think I'm going to throw two levels of Psionic Warrior in on the Warblade side, and collect Power Attack and Cleave at 1st level.
#12 eldariel Jun 25, 2008 7:17:07	I don't think Cleave is that important, especially not early on. Nor later either, I guess. It's more of a secondary feat with some use, but hardly a necessity. Also, don't you think your Wisdom is a bit highish? Archivist tends to have enough base spells not to really need high Wisdom. I'd consider going with Wisdom 10 and Str 16.