Help in Optimizing a Chaos Mage - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Help in Optimizing a Chaos Mage

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
cimonere
Jul 14, 2009 15:38:12 I'm building a Chaos Mage (3rd party publisher located here: http://grandwiki.wikidot.com/qcmg ) for what the DM says will be a difficult campaign. I am hoping for some help in optimizing my build. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
#2
gryfter
Jul 14, 2009 17:32:40
I'm building a Chaos Mage (3rd party publisher located here: http://grandwiki.wikidot.com/qcmg ) for what the DM says will be a difficult campaign. I am hoping for some help in optimizing my build. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Looks like you are definitely going to want some rerolls/day. Fatespinner, Luck Stealer, Fortune's Friend would all help.

Another trick might be to boost your caster level, but I'm not sure from the reading whether the check is based on caster level or your levels in the class. There are quite a few ways to boost CL floating around.
#3
cimonere
Jul 14, 2009 17:37:26
Another trick might be to boost your caster level, but I'm not sure from the reading whether the check is based on caster level or your levels in the class. There are quite a few ways to boost CL floating around.

"While the casting will be discussed in greater detail later, it is worth noting that the casting check to successfully cast a chaos magic spell is

Chaos mage’s class level + Wisdom bonus + 1d20 vs the total spell effect DC"
#4
gryfter
Jul 14, 2009 17:57:30 Yeah, then you're pretty much going to have to rely on rerolls. I'd suggest loading up on as many as you can. It seems like a really hard class to optimize.

What you SHOULD be trying to optimize is a few choice spell options, or find some way to "tweak" the spell system to get the most out of them.
#5
nice2meetu
Jul 14, 2009 20:14:59 I would head for Arcane Mastery (taling 10 on caster checks) to avoid Chaos Path advancement.

Bloodcarver seems to be a solid PrC, to cast higher-DC spells. Masochism is the way to go :D
I would walk the line and chose silverbrow human and draconic aura (vigor) - to get some fast-healing below 1/2 hitpoints.
The line would be that you need more real damage than subdual damage to not pass out. But there are two feats that help with that (blood & body of chaos).

Generally speaking, bloodcarver + fast-healing might come in handy.

That nets "Caster level" + 10 + 2*Wis + 5 (Wis +5 damage) = 35+ 2*Wis at level 20.

Of course, practised spellcaster is out of question when PrC'ing.

I was thinking to go like bloodcarver 5 (Wis+2 potential damage to increase caster check) as a dip, or

Chaos Mage 8, Bloodcarver 10, any class 2 (practised spellcaster gives 2 more).
Any class 2 would be like binder, monk, swordsage. Whatever dip you like.
I would head for swordsage, to get Wis to AC and some maneuvers, like teleport ability might come in handy. Blindsight stance can be neat too. both helps getting out of the way.
I would play up to Chaos Mage 8, as the counterspell ability is shiny.

Feats I would take are:
Practised Spellcaster, Arcane Mastery, Blood of Chaos, Body of Chaos and Draconic Aura (Vigor).
Draconic Aura would be my silverbrow human bonus feat.
If allowed, leadership a crusader "private heal bot".

Edit:
If difficult means "I will be targeted often" replace bloodcarver by the doomringer PrC. I might think about some corpse miniturization and repair spell combo in the near future.
Maybe animate the bonded corpses to fast healing undead and store them in a portable hole or something. Undead seems to be invalid targets after their animation. So there needs to be soemthing in the hole, actively repairing.
#6
cimonere
Jul 14, 2009 22:11:31 All he's said is "taking the kid's gloves off." He hasn't really given much more details into what he means as difficult other than that. He likes getting into high level major fights, so...

Also, Chaos Mage is a class he found and has played before, so he is familiar with the ways to knock 'em down.

Thanks for the input thus far.

PS. Just FYI, in case it is important...The DM allows pretty much everything, just no taking flaws for feats. You qualify for epic feats before epic levels - feel free to take 'em. You found an amazing feat/spell in some 3rd party book - lemme read it...then you can usually use it. He's pretty easy going.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 cimonere Jul 14, 2009 15:38:12	I'm building a Chaos Mage (3rd party publisher located here: http://grandwiki.wikidot.com/qcmg ) for what the DM says will be a difficult campaign. I am hoping for some help in optimizing my build. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
#2 gryfter Jul 14, 2009 17:32:40	I'm building a Chaos Mage (3rd party publisher located here: http://grandwiki.wikidot.com/qcmg ) for what the DM says will be a difficult campaign. I am hoping for some help in optimizing my build. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Looks like you are definitely going to want some rerolls/day. Fatespinner, Luck Stealer, Fortune's Friend would all help. Another trick might be to boost your caster level, but I'm not sure from the reading whether the check is based on caster level or your levels in the class. There are quite a few ways to boost CL floating around.
#3 cimonere Jul 14, 2009 17:37:26	Another trick might be to boost your caster level, but I'm not sure from the reading whether the check is based on caster level or your levels in the class. There are quite a few ways to boost CL floating around. "While the casting will be discussed in greater detail later, it is worth noting that the casting check to successfully cast a chaos magic spell is Chaos mage’s class level + Wisdom bonus + 1d20 vs the total spell effect DC"
#4 gryfter Jul 14, 2009 17:57:30	Yeah, then you're pretty much going to have to rely on rerolls. I'd suggest loading up on as many as you can. It seems like a really hard class to optimize. What you SHOULD be trying to optimize is a few choice spell options, or find some way to "tweak" the spell system to get the most out of them.
#5 nice2meetu Jul 14, 2009 20:14:59	I would head for Arcane Mastery (taling 10 on caster checks) to avoid Chaos Path advancement. Bloodcarver seems to be a solid PrC, to cast higher-DC spells. Masochism is the way to go :D I would walk the line and chose silverbrow human and draconic aura (vigor) - to get some fast-healing below 1/2 hitpoints. The line would be that you need more real damage than subdual damage to not pass out. But there are two feats that help with that (blood & body of chaos). Generally speaking, bloodcarver + fast-healing might come in handy. That nets "Caster level" + 10 + 2Wis + 5 (Wis +5 damage) = 35+ 2Wis at level 20. Of course, practised spellcaster is out of question when PrC'ing. I was thinking to go like bloodcarver 5 (Wis+2 potential damage to increase caster check) as a dip, or Chaos Mage 8, Bloodcarver 10, any class 2 (practised spellcaster gives 2 more). Any class 2 would be like binder, monk, swordsage. Whatever dip you like. I would head for swordsage, to get Wis to AC and some maneuvers, like teleport ability might come in handy. Blindsight stance can be neat too. both helps getting out of the way. I would play up to Chaos Mage 8, as the counterspell ability is shiny. Feats I would take are: Practised Spellcaster, Arcane Mastery, Blood of Chaos, Body of Chaos and Draconic Aura (Vigor). Draconic Aura would be my silverbrow human bonus feat. If allowed, leadership a crusader "private heal bot". Edit: If difficult means "I will be targeted often" replace bloodcarver by the doomringer PrC. I might think about some corpse miniturization and repair spell combo in the near future. Maybe animate the bonded corpses to fast healing undead and store them in a portable hole or something. Undead seems to be invalid targets after their animation. So there needs to be soemthing in the hole, actively repairing.
#6 cimonere Jul 14, 2009 22:11:31	All he's said is "taking the kid's gloves off." He hasn't really given much more details into what he means as difficult other than that. He likes getting into high level major fights, so... Also, Chaos Mage is a class he found and has played before, so he is familiar with the ways to knock 'em down. Thanks for the input thus far. PS. Just FYI, in case it is important...The DM allows pretty much everything, just no taking flaws for feats. You qualify for epic feats before epic levels - feel free to take 'em. You found an amazing feat/spell in some 3rd party book - lemme read it...then you can usually use it. He's pretty easy going.