I can't change much at this point, except maybe a few spells and feats, but I'd like your help planning his future.
here we go:
fight2/sorc4/abjchamp2/swiftblade2, race half-elf
the swiftblade prc comes from here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/prc/20070327
As an homerule I get exp penalty with prestige classes as if they were base classes, which is why I did not take a level in spellsword.
A few other homerules: sorcs has d6, bab as cleric, escew material for free and one free bloodline from dragon magazine (I went for anarchic bloodline).
Alignment is CN, which is why this is not a sorcadin gish: I know how amazing they are, but we have already one paladin in the party and I didn't want to overlap. Moreover I wanted to play a chaotic character this time, but every single CB character I've played until now sucked big time from a roleplaying perspective so I went for CN.
Another focal point was that this character would focus on hitting people with his blade (a courtblade, no need for proficiency) and not using spells to affect the enemy: this is because my previous character was a sorcerer too, which focused on debuffing and blasting. I didn't want to play the same character and we have a wizard for battlefield control, so there weren't so many options left.
That said my usual strategy is to go around with greater magic armor and when things get rough I immediately cast shield, eventually followed by haste. Then I cut my enemy down, using if needed wraithstrike with power attack and eventually arcane strike. Simple and affective enough.
Stats are
str 18 ->item 20
dex 16 ->item 18
con 16 ->item 18
int 12
wis 8
cha 15 ->item 17
Right now feats are:
dodge, mobility, combat casting, close quarter fighting, power attack and arcane strike the first three being prerequisites for PRCs. Power attack and arcane strike were obvious choices and close quarter fighting looked cool: I'm starting to regret this one tough, because of heart of water (CMage), because an anklet of transposition works very well for 1400gp and because when I power attack at -9 it's kind of hard to hit my enemy with the attack of opportunity. I still like the idea behind this feat, but if you have something cool in mind to replace it I could probably replace it.
Now with spells:
1
magic armor (to be switched next level: for what?), shield, nerveskitter, protection from e/g/c/l, stand (PHB2) and color spray (from the bloodline, I can't swap it)
2
whraitstrike, heroics, resist energy and tasha's hideous laughter (bloodline)
3
haste, greater magic armor, rage (bloodline)
You may notice that there are a few abjuration spells: this is because I gets to cast them quickened and extended for free (abj champ). A pity that I couldn't find any abj spell that grants an armor bonus (except for luminous armor which is sanctified and I'm CN): if you know something, except the useless ectoplasmic armor please share it with me!
Stand was choosen because it seemed useful and because I didn't know what else to take. The same goes for Heroics, which I'm using a lot for proficiency in spiked chain since I got my courtblade sundered (if you have other fighter feats to suggest for this spell you are more than welcome: right now I'm mostly planning to use it to fight with exotic weapons when I feel like it)
OK, this was the present: as said I can't change race, alignement or classes, but I could do something with feats and spells.
For the future:
next level I was thinking of taking another level of swiftblade: with the increment in CL I'll learn confusion (free from bloodline) and I'll go for heart of earth from CM. Other possibilities are the useful ruin dwelver fortune or wings of flurry: not sure about the last one because my CL is 7th (8th next level) making those 8d6 not so impressive. Other ideas?
The level after I'll go back to abjurant champion: going swiftblade would make me loose another spellcasting level, and there is the xp penalty.
Abjchamp would neat me another +1 to AC from shield and new spells, which will probably include heart of water (for freedom of movement and the ability to breath underwater but also for light fortification in conjunction with heart of earth) and I've got no idea what else for 2nd and 4th slot. Help? Maybe see invisibility? glitterdust would usually be better, but we fight in the open a lot so see inv could be better.
As for the 12th level feat I was thinking of force of personality, since I'll place the stat increment in charisma: this would translate in a +5 to my will save. Not bad, but not so entertaining. Well, being confused is not entertaining either, nor is being held and such.
I'm not sure what to do with the levels thereafter: I really like the swiftblade class, so I'm planning to go ahead switching between that and abj champ, but I have absolutely no idea about what to take as next spell, except maybe heart of fire&air for total immunity to crits and SNAs. Any idea? any other cool gish PRCs I should look for?
A few other things: you may have noticed that I don't plan to take polymorph and improved invisibility. The first because I felt like cheating whenever I used it with my previous character, the second because this character may use magic to have the upper hand in combat, but chopping someone while being invisible is something he would consider too sly, and not that fun either.
Finally my equipment is the following:
belt of priestly might (+2 str/+1 nat AC) + belt of healing all in one
gloves of dex +2
amulet of healt +2
cloack of cha +2
vest of resist +2
rod of extend lesser
silvered courtblade, sacred, keen, blueshine with crystal of return lesser (now broken, damm it, could and will be repaired for 10'000 gp asap)
right now I'm very low on cash, about 3000 gp if we can drive a good bargain selling the current loot, so for repairing the weapon (which is important for BG reasons) I should sell something: what would you get rid of first?
when I'm done with the weapon what else should I buy? my AC is pretty high (right now full buffed is 32 with a 20% miss chance, while the other two fighters are about 25) and my saves are fort 10; ref 11/12hasted; will 11/13vsenchantment: should I protect myself more? boots of flying would be nice, but are quite expensive. anything else?
One last thing: this one is a character that I play in a real game, one which we have being playing for two years, it's not just a build: while I sure like to play a strong character I'm already the one who optimize the most, so there is no need to go for extreme power but I'd rather like interesting options which would make the game more fun for me and not humiliating for the others.
thats all, sorry if I bored you too much and sorry for my english, which it is not my native language. Thanks for any suggestion you may provide!
For spells, since you're a gish, you want Buffs, I guess.
Consider one of the lower level Bite spells for short-term buffing power, although I don't know if you can get a good one at Lvl 4. (AFB right now.)
You migth want to consider one of the limited Fauxlymorph alternatives like Fiendform. This can also give you flight, when you need it, since I think you can get an Imp or something like it. It won't give you huge power, so it's not as cheesy. You could also get Alter Self and use that for utility like that, but of course that also has its cheesy applications.
Another neat buff for a lower level slot is False Life. For your 4th level slot you could also consider Vampiric Touch, then add the Vampiric (or whatever it's called) property to your weapon that allows you to use it as a spell-storing weapon with only vampiric touch, but automatically empowers it. Temp. HP achieved while doing damage is never bad, and it doesn't cost an action to do in combat. Just don't hit an undead in your first turn
.Since your BAB is probably good, things like Enervation are never wrong. Debuff them, them hit 'em dead.
Hi: since my old character died I recently started to play this new one.
I can't change much at this point, except maybe a few spells and feats, but I'd like your help planning his future.
here we go:
fight2/sorc4/abjchamp2/swiftblade2
Hey Sorc gishes are my favourite characters, so I can prolly help you out ;p.
I just glanced at it and noticed: You do not qualify for AbjCh with fight2/sorc4... you need 5 BAB and you only have 4.
Take a level of spellsword to fix that problem.
Alternatively, 2 more levels of sorc or changing to battlesorc variant or taking fighter3 (latter 2 suggestions not recommended)
Furthermore, 2nd level spell "Alter self" lets you change shape into a trogoldyte for +6AC...always handy! If your allies don't mind the stench, that is ;p.
Even more: Take practiced caster to make up for your lost caster levels, those always stink, and use greater magic weapon to increase your "+1 (flaming icy/other useful mods)" weapon to a "+5 (flaming icy/ other useful mods)" weapon. Do that for your allies as well, which is probably too many castings to make the party wizard do it for you.
And I know you said you were CN and there's already a paladin... but you really are shooting yourself in the foot by not snagging that cha bonus to saves. Not to mention being good for greater luminous armor.
You seem to be concerned about EXP penalties...you are aware that prestige classes do not count when calculating multiclass EXP penalties, right?
Also, your build isn't that optimized since you have lost so many caster levels. Consider something more along the lines of:
Fighter1/Sorcerer6/Spellsword1/AbjurantChampion5
or
Paladin2/Sorcerer4/Spellsword1/AbjurantChampion5
or even
HumanParagon1/Sorcerer1/HumanParagon1/Sorcerer1/HumanParagon1/UnseenSeer2/AburantChampion5
I just glanced at it and noticed: You do not qualify for AbjCh with fight2/sorc4... you need 5 BAB and you only have 4.
You seem to be concerned about EXP penalties...you are aware that prestige classes do not count when calculating multiclass EXP penalties, right?
As an homerule I get exp penalty with prestige classes as if they were base classes, which is why I did not take a level in spellsword.
A few other homerules: sorcs has d6, bab as cleric, escew material for free and one free bloodline from dragon magazine (I went for anarchic bloodline).
I might suggest Leap Attack, if you like to do charging. Also, I think there is a spell out there that gives you pounce for a short duration. Not sure where it is, but you could use it to great effect with this build.
Bites are strong too, and I plan to take at least one of them in the future: I'm thinking of either weretiger or wereboar, the first coming a bit later on in the game and the second being esthetically not so pleasant. I'd prefer the offensize power of weretiger, but I'll get sixth level spells in about a million years from now, so I fear I'll have to settle for wereboar...
as for polymorph variants, I tried to have them accepted but there was no way in the end: note that I'm allowed to take the original ones, but if I have to restrain myself in order to not overshadow my comrades there is no point in learning this spells in the first place. I could still take alter self for disguise purposes, and maybe I will, but I'm not so sure about that. Polymorph would also be interesting for modes of movement so I'll consider it as I level further (draconic polymorph however was one of the spell my ex-sorcerer used the most, and one of the main reasons of discomfort among the other players).
false life it's an option of course, but if I'll take heart of earth I'll end up with more temporary hit points in the long run.
Also, I'm pretty sure BoED says you can still cast exalted spells when you are of neutral alignment (Ask your DM about it though), although you would still need to take the feat "Arcane Preparation" because exalted spells must be prepared, not spont cast.
OMG, I so want to kiss you! I was really sure that you had to be good for those!
I'll talk about that with my DM but if he's not against it I really thinks that I'll swap closequarter fighting for arcane preparation and resist energy for luminous armor right away: this would also free me a third level slot for dispel magic or fly, which would be really good.
Furthermore, 2nd level spell "Alter self" lets you change shape into a trogoldyte for +6AC...always handy! If your allies don't mind the stench, that is ;p.
the problem is that I'll never ever get to see a troglodyte for this exact reason. Not the stench, I mean its NA
it's still a nice spell to have for utility purposes, I'll consider this one carefully.
Even more: Take practiced caster to make up for your lost caster levels, those always stink, and use greater magic weapon to increase your "+1 (flaming icy/other useful mods)" weapon to a "+5 (flaming icy/ other useful mods)" weapon. Do that for your allies as well, which is probably too many castings to make the party wizard do it for you.
Practiced spellcaster was one of the two feats I was thinking about the most, the other being force of personality (+5 to will save in my case): now that you pointed me that I could cast sanctified spells however it will have to wait at least for another couple of levels.
About greater magic weapon: the bonus is nothing to sneeze at, but in the end I think that other 3rd level spells could be better. I mentioned heart of water, another great one is dispel magic, which I'd cast as a swift action and another obvious one is fly. More importantly I've not so many more 3rd level spell slots aviabile than the wizard, since haste is a fundamental spell in my repertoire, as it is at the moment greater magic armor: if I'll get the luminous version maybe I'll think about it.
You seem to be concerned about EXP penalties...you are aware that prestige classes do not count when calculating multiclass EXP penalties, right?
Also, your build isn't that optimized since you have lost so many caster levels. Consider something more along the lines of:
Fighter1/Sorcerer6/Spellsword1/AbjurantChampion5
or
Paladin2/Sorcerer4/Spellsword1/AbjurantChampion5Paladin2/Sorcerer4/Spellsword1/AbjurantChampion5
or even
HumanParagon1/Sorcerer1/HumanParagon1/Sorcerer1/HumanParagon1/UnseenSeer2/AburantChampion5
the one about xp penalties for PRC is an homerule, which was created on the spot when my DM saw a level of spellsword (instead of one of fighter) on my sheet... this wariness of the DM in regard to my propension to powergame is also the reason why I'm not so sure I'll be allowed to cast sanctified spell, rules or not. We'll see.
About my build not being optimized, I know it well: it's just a good enough build which make sense on a roleplaying perspective while not being too overpowering, since the rest of the player do not optimize as I do.
If I had to propose this build as an excercise of practical optimization I would definately second your Paladin2/Sorcerer4/Spellsword1/AbjurantChampion5, adding by all means the divine companion alternate feature and a few debuff and battlefield controll spells. And of course I would have not played an half-elf. Or given it something different than a spiked chain.
The point is that I rather like to play this one: I'm just trying to fix obvious weaknesses ahead of time (and by those I mean things that will get me killed) and to make sure I'm not overlooking anything cool: I've no problem with saying "ok, I won't take this stuff, it's too good", I just don't want to miss it simply because I did not know it. This is why everything you all are saying is extremely useful to me, even those things which in the end I won't take exactly because they are so good.
I might suggest Leap Attack, if you like to do charging. Also, I think there is a spell out there that gives you pounce for a short duration. Not sure where it is, but you could use it to great effect with this build.
I considered Leap Attack: actually I tought about it as a good feat to get with heroics, but all those ranks hurt really too much. For roleplaying purposes I have almost full ranks in intimidate (which I know to suck): coupled with 6 ranks in spellcraft and know arcana (prerequisites) and full ranks in concentration (for ovsious reasons) those 8 ranks in jump would have taken all my remaining skill points, for something I'm not likely to use a lot.
the only spell which gives you pounce, and which would indeed make this feat more interesting is, as far as I know, lion's charge, which is not a sorcerer spell but a druid/ranger one.
Well, thank for your help until now, there is a lot to look for, but be sure that sooner or later many of these suggestions will come into play.
As for now I'd like to ask you some insights about my equipment, which I put down quite hastely I fear: I'm expecially warried about having so many stat enhancher. Am I missing something better?