Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 eviltedzies Oct 26, 2010 19:12:57	So I came up with a little something for a campaign I intent to appy for and I'd like some suggestions or criticisms. Race: Lesser Drow (Drow without LA) Class: Monk 2/Hexblade 4/Fighter 1/Arcane Duelist 3/Paladin of Tyranny 3/Blackguard 2/ 5 ? Alignment: Lawful Evil Alternate Class Features Used: Cobra Strike Monk [UA] Hit and Run Tactics [Drow of the Underdark] Dark Companion [PHB2, Hexblade Alternate Feature] Feats: 1. Power Attack, Dodge (Monk Bonus) 2. Mobility (Monk Bonus) 3. Cleave 6. Improved Sunder 7. (Fighter Bonus) 9. Open 12. Open 15. Open 18. Open Notables: Evasion & Mettle! Dark Companion (-2 to saves when within 5ft) Aura of Despair (-2 to saves when within 10ft) Charisma to AC Wisdom to AC Charisma to Saves x2 (x3 when versus arcane spells or SLA's) Dexterity to damage versus Flat footed foes (Hit and run tactics) Dexterous Attack+Power Attack Goodness So I'd love some ideas on feat suggesitons and any ideas on what to use the last 5 levels for. I was thinking of putting 3 swashbuckler in there for kicks. The idea of also going further into Hexblade so I could qualify for Ascetic Mag (CA) for the Charisma to AC was also appealing.
#2 mervin_magnus Oct 26, 2010 20:45:34	I was about to suggest snowflake wardance, to put more CHA into ur melle, but fitting in the prereq might be annoying (bard has a spell, "ruin delver's fortune," really good spell for CHA caster) A dip into Marshal is an idea, puts CHA to a bunch of skills I know of a prestige class - Witch Hunter - also gives CHA to saves in 2 levels (can't find book it's in) Divine Might and Divine Shield are feats to consider (CW) (taken from the "X stat to Y bonus thread) mystic wanderer Cha to AC iajustu master Cha initative, and Int to AC, Cha to damage(iajutsu bonus damage) soldier of light Cha to saves champion of Gwenyfher Cha to saves Master of yuirwood Cha to saves just some food for thought =D
#3 eviltedzies Oct 27, 2010 1:06:25	Marshal wouldn't be half bad with this build. Do the bonuses apply to marshal himself as well? Witch Hunter requires any non-evil alignment. Divine Might and Divine Shield are usefull, but I won't be gaining any turning attempts since I don't intend to go that far into Paladin of Tyranny or Blackguard. Mystic Wanderer, Soldier of Light, Champion of Gwenfyher, and Master of the Yuirwood are either good aligned or not appropriate for the campaign. Iajutsu master would be interesting, but I believe the arcane duelist needs to use a light weapon. My options include: 3 Swashbuckler - Weapon Finesse & Int to Damage 4 Hexblade - gain access to level 2 spells and thus able to take Ascetic Mage for +Cha to AC. (Would have to rework level orders a bit.) Thought about taking Mage Slayer and Pierce Magical Protection for sng's.
#4 lormador Oct 27, 2010 21:52:04	The Marshal's auras do, indeed, apply to himself. There are some cool feats that work with high Charisma, like Dreadful Wrath and Frightful Presence. You've already got some debuffs, so.... those will be extra powerful. I believe there's a feat in PHBII that can sicken with a melee hit as well. Throw up shaken, sickened, the penalty from Hexblade, and the penalty from Paladin of Tyranny.... and you can seriously threaten enemies. Spell-Storing Weapon with a Bestow Curse: -4 to all attacks/saves/checks/skills. A Bard level, or what was it called, Warrior Skald, can get you bardic music. Otherwise useless, except you can fuel Doomspeak with it. That's a -10 to opponent's next save.
#5 mervin_magnus Oct 28, 2010 14:58:27	If you go blackguard 3 you'd get rebuke undead and 2nd level spells (alternate spell source to get them arcane) (so you can get ascetic mage, divine strength, and divine shield) If you then drop the fighter level you can take 5 iajutsu master levels (you make up the bonus feat, and arcane duelists work with any weapon) (It also gives you the weapon finesse that swashbuckler would give) if not a 2 level dip is still a not bad option If you're taking the monk levels just for evasion, shadowdancer does the same thing but also gives uncanny dodge and hide in plain sight (annoying prereq i know, im just tossing ideas) a ring of evasion can eliminate the need of those two levels altogether opening up options like for marshal or bard (doomspeak is good, plus throw in snowflake wardance for CHA to melle) (of course it costs a feat to get improved unarmed strike, to still qualify for ascetic mage)  or you can ramp up the debuff aspect of the build, idk what other classes would do this
#6 eviltedzies Oct 29, 2010 7:35:41	Ascetic Mage requires Arcane spells, a Blackguard's spells count as divine. I also do not see much value in the Divine Strength/Divine Shield Feats. Iajutsu Master is very tempting indeed, but due to the feat requirements it would literally cut my feat selection choices down by 50%. I am already sacrificing 3 feats just for Blackguard. The thought of sacrificing 3 more for Int to AC and Cha to initiative, while tempting, does not seem worth the investment. I will admit that going 5 levels in it could lead to sizable damage output from Iajutsu strikes due to my high charisma. I chose monk for a number of reasons. 1. Cobra Strike monk gains Dodge and Mobility as its bonus feats. (Both needed for Arcane Duelist.) 2. Monks get Tumble AND Perform as class skills. (Also both required for Arcane Duelist.) 3. Monks get Improved Unarmed Strike. (Required for Ascetic Mage) 3a. Gains Wisdom to AC or Charisma if I take Ascetic Mage. (More Char synergy and x2 Cha to AC is nifty.) 4. Evasion combined with Mettle is a dangerous combination. The debuff asepect was not my original intention for the build. But upon noticing the synergy between Hexblades Curse, Dark Companion, and Aura of Despair I saw possible uses. Daunting Presence would be an excellent feat when combined with max ranks in intimidate. Keep the ideas coming.