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Help my Dragonfire Adept Build

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
harmonicdiscord
Jun 10, 2009 10:27:46 I want to build a decent Dragonfire Adept and feel like I'm missing something vital so I wanted to submit it to you guys for help.

The campaign is being run by all players DMing different adventures and having 3 different characters to play. It's a 45 point buy, two flaws allowed, LA buyoff allowed, all books with the wizards seal (including dragon mags) and the only thing that isn't allowed is Psionics.

One character is going to be a Petal Bard/Warlock/Sublime Chord and the other I was thinking of making a charging smite fist of raziel.

Here is my dragonfire adept build so far.

Tibbit Dragonfire Adept 5 / Mindbender 1 / Dragonfire Adept 14

Str 8 (6 or 3 while in cat form)
Dex 14 (16 or 18 while in cat form)
Con 18
Int 14
Wis 13
Cha 16

Feats
(Flaw1) Power Surge
(Flaw2) Entangling Exhalation
1st SURROGATE SPELLCASTING
3rd Shape Breath
6th Flyby Attack
9th Flyby Breath
12th Strafing Breath
15th Mindsight
18th Maximize Breath

I'm not sure what invocations to get but the main ones I was thinking about where Endure Exposure, Magic Insight, Charm and one of the flight ones.

My idea was to always be in cat form and to take the dragonborn template once I got the 100g. Once I get the flight invocation I would just fly around laying down entangling breaths and strafing with my dragonborn breath shaped into a cone. Mindsight would be good with the eversmoking bottle trick but I couldn't hold it if in cat form. Also I couldn't really use wands which makes it pretty limiting. I could always shift back to the humaniod form of the Tibbit to do those things though.

So that gives you a pretty good idea of the char idea I think. I would like to stay away from the humanoid shape invocation to keep the flavor of a tiny (or small) looking dragon (due to dragonborn) flying around and being nasty.

So I'm looking to see if the feats are well placed, the stats are okay and which invocations I should take.
#2
ian_frost
Jun 10, 2009 12:23:13 Have you checked the DFA handbook?
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=780301

also buy a harness and have an ally attach the ever smoking bottle to you in cat form
#3
harmonicdiscord
Jun 10, 2009 13:30:03 I have read that handbook a lot and I wish I was able to take 20 flaws cause there are so many good feats. I'm just trying to make sure I chose the right ones.
#4
Omen_of_Peace
Jun 10, 2009 14:51:52 Funny coincidence, I'm going to play a Tibbit DFA soon.

I think you need to delay Mindbender a bit: the earliest you can get Charm is level 6, so you can't take it before level 7. And from your feats you want Flight at level 6 so that pushes the PrC to level 9 - no big deal.

Your feats look fine. I wonder about the usefulness of Strafing Breath, but I've yet to even play a DFA at all. I think I'll be tempted by some Extra Invocations myself.

Your choice of invocations seems fine too. The main problem will be that you won't be able to speak - ask the DM for a workaround (well, except if you prefer to roleplay hisses and meows ;)).
#5
harmonicdiscord
Jun 10, 2009 15:15:39 By level 12 (when I can get strafing breath) I could have a Breath from the DFA that reaches 60ft cone (with shape breath) which is the same area that the dragonborn breath can effect. At that level I'll probably be flying 80ft/round (with the quick trait) which will allow me to cover an 80x60ft area in one round. Take a 90 degree turn after 40 feet and you could get move of a square. This works a bit better with clinging and lingering breath but even without it it is impressive... Maybe a bit to impressive... Although the picture of a tiny creature breathing that much is hilarious.

Are you planning to stay in cat form all the time as well? It has many limitations but great flavor.
#6
Omen_of_Peace
Jun 10, 2009 17:07:14 The answer is Yes.

Strafing Breath is impressive, I agree, but my doubts hinge on whether or not you really need such a big area of effect.
#7
harmonicdiscord
Jun 10, 2009 17:23:32 Are you planning on going Dragonborn? Kinda changes the flavor but a tiny dragon that can breathe link that is pretty nutty too.
#8
Omen_of_Peace
Jun 10, 2009 17:50:35 Not at the moment but I'll see where the campaign takes me.

Arguably the transformation would make you stay humanoid and lose the Change Shape ability, so i hadn't even thought about negotiating with the DM to stay a cat.
#9
harmonicdiscord
Jun 10, 2009 19:13:48 I read that and it seemed to me that it would keep your type and subtype... maybe I'll have to read it again
#10
Omen_of_Peace
Jun 11, 2009 4:38:38 You retain your subtypes but you lose racial abilities... so you're a Shapechanger who can't change shape (it's the same for Changelings and Shifters).

Yeah, they didn't think this through.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 harmonicdiscord Jun 10, 2009 10:27:46	I want to build a decent Dragonfire Adept and feel like I'm missing something vital so I wanted to submit it to you guys for help. The campaign is being run by all players DMing different adventures and having 3 different characters to play. It's a 45 point buy, two flaws allowed, LA buyoff allowed, all books with the wizards seal (including dragon mags) and the only thing that isn't allowed is Psionics. One character is going to be a Petal Bard/Warlock/Sublime Chord and the other I was thinking of making a charging smite fist of raziel. Here is my dragonfire adept build so far. Tibbit Dragonfire Adept 5 / Mindbender 1 / Dragonfire Adept 14 Str 8 (6 or 3 while in cat form) Dex 14 (16 or 18 while in cat form) Con 18 Int 14 Wis 13 Cha 16 Feats (Flaw1) Power Surge (Flaw2) Entangling Exhalation 1st SURROGATE SPELLCASTING 3rd Shape Breath 6th Flyby Attack 9th Flyby Breath 12th Strafing Breath 15th Mindsight 18th Maximize Breath I'm not sure what invocations to get but the main ones I was thinking about where Endure Exposure, Magic Insight, Charm and one of the flight ones. My idea was to always be in cat form and to take the dragonborn template once I got the 100g. Once I get the flight invocation I would just fly around laying down entangling breaths and strafing with my dragonborn breath shaped into a cone. Mindsight would be good with the eversmoking bottle trick but I couldn't hold it if in cat form. Also I couldn't really use wands which makes it pretty limiting. I could always shift back to the humaniod form of the Tibbit to do those things though. So that gives you a pretty good idea of the char idea I think. I would like to stay away from the humanoid shape invocation to keep the flavor of a tiny (or small) looking dragon (due to dragonborn) flying around and being nasty. So I'm looking to see if the feats are well placed, the stats are okay and which invocations I should take.
#2 ian_frost Jun 10, 2009 12:23:13	Have you checked the DFA handbook? http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=780301 also buy a harness and have an ally attach the ever smoking bottle to you in cat form
#3 harmonicdiscord Jun 10, 2009 13:30:03	I have read that handbook a lot and I wish I was able to take 20 flaws cause there are so many good feats. I'm just trying to make sure I chose the right ones.
#4 Omen_of_Peace Jun 10, 2009 14:51:52	Funny coincidence, I'm going to play a Tibbit DFA soon. I think you need to delay Mindbender a bit: the earliest you can get Charm is level 6, so you can't take it before level 7. And from your feats you want Flight at level 6 so that pushes the PrC to level 9 - no big deal. Your feats look fine. I wonder about the usefulness of Strafing Breath, but I've yet to even play a DFA at all. I think I'll be tempted by some Extra Invocations myself. Your choice of invocations seems fine too. The main problem will be that you won't be able to speak - ask the DM for a workaround (well, except if you prefer to roleplay hisses and meows ;)).
#5 harmonicdiscord Jun 10, 2009 15:15:39	By level 12 (when I can get strafing breath) I could have a Breath from the DFA that reaches 60ft cone (with shape breath) which is the same area that the dragonborn breath can effect. At that level I'll probably be flying 80ft/round (with the quick trait) which will allow me to cover an 80x60ft area in one round. Take a 90 degree turn after 40 feet and you could get move of a square. This works a bit better with clinging and lingering breath but even without it it is impressive... Maybe a bit to impressive... Although the picture of a tiny creature breathing that much is hilarious. Are you planning to stay in cat form all the time as well? It has many limitations but great flavor.
#6 Omen_of_Peace Jun 10, 2009 17:07:14	The answer is Yes. Strafing Breath is impressive, I agree, but my doubts hinge on whether or not you really need such a big area of effect.
#7 harmonicdiscord Jun 10, 2009 17:23:32	Are you planning on going Dragonborn? Kinda changes the flavor but a tiny dragon that can breathe link that is pretty nutty too.
#8 Omen_of_Peace Jun 10, 2009 17:50:35	Not at the moment but I'll see where the campaign takes me. Arguably the transformation would make you stay humanoid and lose the Change Shape ability, so i hadn't even thought about negotiating with the DM to stay a cat.
#9 harmonicdiscord Jun 10, 2009 19:13:48	I read that and it seemed to me that it would keep your type and subtype... maybe I'll have to read it again
#10 Omen_of_Peace Jun 11, 2009 4:38:38	You retain your subtypes but you lose racial abilities... so you're a Shapechanger who can't change shape (it's the same for Changelings and Shifters). Yeah, they didn't think this through.