I'll save us all a lengthy intro to myself and simply say that spellswords have always been my favourite archtype of character to play (as in both gut with one hand burn with the other AND/or buff yourself into a humanoid win button). I also like having abilities that can support the party as well as destroy my enemies. This is why druidic/shamanistic/clerical characters in D&D have always appealed to me.
The main problem is that I hate being overly preachy (and I feel I should be whenever I play a cleric...I blame video game stereotypes) so cleric is generally out, and I hate losing access to metal armor or alignment restrictions (because metal looks badass and I hate being confined no matter how little it effects me. Yes I'm shallow) So that leaves me with a bit of a problem choosing a character.
I considered spirit shaman, and it looks good (hurray for having your very own merchant soul!...ish...) but it doesn't seem to have very much working for it in terms of warrior capabilities. I don't want to be really hardcore optimised about this (as in good, but not taking levels in 15+ classes for the couple abilities they offer, probably just 3-4 classes max)
My party is a half fiend rogue/assassin (CE), a gnomish bard (CG) a thri kreen ranger (dual bows! TN) and an unembodied psion (LE) I'm thinking of being a NG character, probably with a wizened personality (as in he's been through a lot of adventure, sort of a wise man, despite his young age).
Anyone have any ideas they can offer? thanks in advance.
Truthfully though, just play a cleric of a god like Olidammara, max your bluff and just lie to everyone about everything. Don't even let people know your a Cleric until you reign divine annihilation down on their heads. Impersonate cleric of other gods too, keep an bunch of extra holy symbols handy
Binder is worth considering, but I've always kind of had an "own Power" complex, its one of the reasons I don't like cleric even though its spell list was practically MADE for me, I have problems dealing with the fact that I'm borrowing the power from somewhere else. I can't check the Binder out until tommorow when I MIGHT be able to convince him to let me take a look at the stuff. (He's pissed that I take so long on this sort of choice. I WAS gonna go frenzied berserker/weaponmaster, but when you have the spell compedium by your bed, you can't help but feel pure warriors are too limited.)
Anyway, any other notable options to consider? or should I start analyzing lying cleric / binder?
Also, if you want to manipulate your own power, you could use a Totemist or Warlock. A Totemist shapes magic into into effects that allow it to mimic the fighting power of various magical beasts. You could make yourself into a clawed monster that pounces, Dimension Doors around and has a bunch of magical protections. It's a pretty cool class, but it's difficult to explain without having the book in front of you.
With a Warlock, you could make an Eldrich Glaive or Hideous Build that would function fairly well in melee. With Imbue Item you could make wands, potions and scrolls of whatever buffs you might need.
I guess it depends on the level you start at, but a Neutral Evil Bard with the right choices of feats can make a spellsword. The Ur-Priest is a fantastic class, and if you are starting at level 8 or higher, I would go the Bard 5/Ur-priest 2/Mystic theruge route for sure.
Runesmith is not option because neither me nor my friend has races of stone, so unless theres a web enhancement for it, its unavailable.
in all honesty, theres no specific magic type I want to use, so if this can work with arcane or psionics or truaming, its perfectly good, just not forcing me to be evil...or lawful good...Although our party could really use some method of healing...
oh, and level is 9-11, though I'd prefer to be planning to be good all the way til 20. Also, I'd prefer it if I didn't ru out of spells/psi points before the end of the day, so if I use buffs, I'd prefer long lasting.
And if you have it, I think there is another version of Runecaster in PGtF but I don't have the book on me to look up the name...
Personally, I would just go the creative route and adjust the fluff for the cleric into something else, more meditative maybe, like the monk (in the PHB it is allowed to choose a godless cleric). I don't know why I didn't point that out earlier.
Hecka short. Rounds per ML for the best ones, with no means of persisting them. I don't think that matches what you are looking for.
Personally, I would just go the creative route and adjust the fluff for the cleric into something else, more meditative maybe, like the monk (in the PHB it is allowed to choose a godless cleric). I don't know why I didn't point that out earlier.
true on the cleric, but that still requires devotion to something, and I'm ot entirely sure what I could choose that would be good (in terms of not completely ridiculous/contrived, such as oneself).
I know I would want the time domain for persistant haste (drools), unless theres a better way for haste. Then (I really hate my H and N keys) So, ay ideas on a good devotion? I can start to think of the other details later...Also, is there a not completely underwhelming way to get some form of aura (like on the dragon shaman) on a cleric? Auras are awesome...
as for ardent, what exactly do they DO in whatever? Do they buff up and hit things? explode things with the power of awesome? I never have the right books on hand (stupid friend and his possessiveness) so I can't check the class.
For spellsword, I like bard 4/fighter1/spellsword 5/sublime chord 2. Then enter whatever full casting PrC you like and have it progress Sublime Chord. Sacred Exorcist is a great one.
as for ardent, what exactly do they DO in whatever? Do they buff up and hit things? explode things with the power of awesome? I never have the right books on hand (stupid friend and his possessiveness) so I can't check the class.
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Runesmith is maybe, I love dwarves (aside from their shortness, I like being human height), but it has bad hit dice, and the rune system is confusing (do I have I carry around slabs for a rune for every spell I know? no thanks.)
Incidentally, is there a way to effectively wield a flail with a GIANT steel head (most likely too big to be physically possible, but I'll work with what I can get) that I can swing at multiple foes in one whack and hit them all for good damage?...if I worded that poorly, then its basicly use an oversized flail to hit multiple enemies at once in single attacks. If so, then I I'm doing that, NOTHING can compare to being a mini Baran Doban (don't look it up, its unneccesarily nerdy).