Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 cecil1994 Apr 09, 2014 6:06:23	Hey guys! I recently joined a campaign, and decided to play a gish. The only problem is that we start at third level, and I'd like to perform well at this level (which most gish builds are sadly lacking in).   After looking through my options, I'm playing an Unseelie Fey Spellstitched Necropolitan Human Wizard, and I was wondering how I should structure my build. My DM is pretty lenient- (for instance, you lose XP from Necropolitan upon opening your eyes, but Unseelie Fey don't always have eyes- so no XP loss).    I was thinking going Wizard 1/ Knight Phantom 2, using Otherwordly to get weapon proficiencies and my DM's rules that we can put two ranks above the maximum in any one skill of our choice. For phantom steed, Spellstitched(which my DM rules goes off intelligence) provides.   Are there any more viable gish builds for this level? I've looked into JPM and Swiftblade, but those all come in later.
#2 cecil1994 Apr 09, 2014 6:07:21	Also, feats-  1) Still Spell 1) (Human) Otherworldly 1) (Flaw #1)  1) (Flaw #2)  1) (Bonus Feat From Taint Rules(Undead), Moderate Taint) 1) (Bonus Feat From Taint Rules(Undead), Severe Taint) 1) (Combat Wizard ACF: Trade Scribe Scroll for a Fighter Bonus Feat) Power Attack 3)    As you can see, I have more feats than I know what to do with. Any suggestions?
#3 Tempest_Stormwind Apr 09, 2014 10:02:16	cecil1994 wrote:
#4 cecil1994 Apr 09, 2014 13:20:15	Wow, thanks for all the advice! I thought Power Attack only needed 13 Str, huh. You sure Knowledge Devotion is a good idea? While wizard has all knowledges, KP has only Arcana and Geography.    Also, is Wizard 3 fine enough for melee? I might go Wizard 4/Crusader 1/JPM X, but I might not be potent enough at this level.   I could probably wrangle trading Transmutation for Conjuration in Spellstitched to grab Haste early for Swiftblade (even my DM won't let me trade Evocation for it, lol).   And I'll definitely look at that build in your sig for advice. Thanks!
#5 Tempest_Stormwind Apr 09, 2014 14:08:10	cecil1994 wrote:
#6 cecil1994 Apr 09, 2014 16:42:31	Ok , I'll probably be taking Knowledge Devotion then.   As a note, my character has 1d12 + 6 hp. As I rolled 9 and 12 for levels two and three, I'm not going to be squishy whatever I do.   EDIT: As another note, are bloodlines worth it? They seem cool but losing levels really sucks in a short little campaign like this (8 sessions).
#7 Andarious-Rosethorn Apr 10, 2014 6:09:06	Power attack only requires Str 13. It requires BAB+1 or another feat to be useful however.   I'd recommend if you want to gish it up, consider yourself a support character at the lowest levels and simply buff your allies. Once you've got access to some Gish advancement and the right buffs you'll do fine in the Gish role, it's just that at lower levels you'll get splicked and be kind of useless in melee.
#8 cecil1994 Apr 10, 2014 6:15:13	I think I'd actually do fine in melee. Only other guys in my campaign who will melee are a rogue and a dragon shaman, and with corpsecrafter feats plus a point buy without constitution means my stats are exceptional. But I digress.
#9 Tempest_Stormwind Apr 10, 2014 9:18:00	cecil1994 wrote:
#10 cecil1994 Apr 10, 2014 13:32:56	Would you say it's worth it? The benefits gained vs XP spent?
#11 Krusk Apr 10, 2014 14:34:53	Have you considered an [anything] cleric 3?    Seriously. Medium BAB, full armor, and all the buff spells you can handle. As you rise in levels, you can do DMM and be awesome.
#12 cecil1994 Apr 10, 2014 15:22:14	I have. To me, while it is mechanically superior, it's kinda boring. Ruby Knight Windicator might have everything I've ever dreamed of, but I've found that the Arcane PrC's for this have fluff that I prefer.    If you can show me that clerics are badass caster/warriors with PrC fluff or whatever? Then I'll do it in a heartbeat. But while clerics are awesome, they doesn't seem to match the concept I'm going for. (Wuxia Spellsword Badass)
#13 cecil1994 Apr 10, 2014 19:02:53	Ok guys, I think I'm good. Going Wizard(Conjurer- Abrubt Jaunt FTW) 1 / Custom Phoenix Bloodline 1 / Wizard 1 / Warblade 1. I'm starting with 4400 XP so this is manageable, and the bloodline level gives me enough skill ranks for JPM next level (and spellstitched covers spel requirements)   alongside netting me 2nd level maneuvers. Thanks guys!
#14 Krusk Apr 11, 2014 13:53:37	Core Elven cleric 20.    Stats Wis > Str > Con = Dex > Wis > Cha.  Domains - Travel and Trickery.  Feats of Note - Eventually Power Attack.    Level 1 - You wear heavy armor, and shoot your bow almost as good as the archer, and wield a longsword and shield in melee. You are generally a badass and almost as good as the barbarian. Also you've got spells so you are like twice as useful. And healing in case you need it.  Really its level 1 DND, get a bow and run away from everyone like every other class. That said, throw out some divine favor in melee if you feel like you might be lagging. It will eliminate any penalty. Shield of faith if you want higher defense.   Level 5 - Your domain spells are super arcane themed and awesome. You now fight just about as good as the barbarian, and shoot pretty solid. Maybe you migrated to a great club and use two handed fighting. Maybe not. You can put out fly, invisability and disguise self, so your utility is X*infinity compared to normal melee dudes. If you want to really embarass the rogue prepare find traps. You can also throw out magic vestiments on your shield and armor,    Level 7 - Ill stop pointing out your utility here, because its a joke compared to almost anyone. Now you can throw out dimension doors. You can also throw out divine power  you are actually as good at fighting as the barbarian.    9 - You've got teleport. Flamestrike is flashy, but if you are optimizing you don't care. Take plane shift as needed to move adventures forward. Take Righteous Might and become even better in combat.    11 - Starting each day with a heroes feast is nice. But Blade Barrior is pretty "Gish".   13 - Greater teleport is nice. As is Etheral Jaunt.    15 - Polymorph any Object - Turn yourself into whatever you want. Forever. Rest of the party might appreciate it too. Also, earthquake, firestorm, holy aura,    17 - Astral projection and timestop. Both sweet domain features. You prep time stop, and prep astral projection normally. Miracle, implosion, gate. The list goes on.    Even better with splats. Spell, but also domain, and feat wise. You could open up Divine Metamagic and persist any spell you enjoy like divine power.    What do you want your gish to do? A cleric gish can probably do it. Does a gish throw fireballs, buff himself, turn into monsters, do OK in melee and throw save or dies, do great in melee and have utility magic?
#15 ObsidianConspiracy Apr 25, 2014 15:25:56	Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't Arcane Strike be somewhat of a go to for a gish?
#16 Tempest_Stormwind Apr 25, 2014 18:18:19	ObsidianConspiracy wrote:
#17 Andarious-Rosethorn Apr 27, 2014 6:37:00	Sorceror or Focused Specialist gish builds can make very good use of it, as tempest says though those with fewer spells/day or that are feat starved may not find it as useful. A two handed weapon, Arcane Strike and Power Attack used together pretty well gets about as deadly as one can with a melee weapon without Ubercharging. Stack the right buffs with that combo and it can be extremely effective.