Currently, I'm playing in a 3.5 Dragonlance game in which we are making our way through the Price of Courage book at the moment. The last two characters I made were a Kender Rogue (which was literally eaten by this thing whilst trying to swim down and acquire a shining orb for the party), and a Goliath (for Dragonlance, one of the "plainsmen", ala Riverwind) Fighter/Barbarian who failed his Will save vs. Wail of the Banshee.
So, my challenge to you is this. With an ECL of 15, base stats of 18/15/14/14/12/12, and 230k gold, I'd like your ideas on what to build that will be fun to play AND highly survivable, but yet would easily fit into the Dragonlance world.
I've been toying with the idea of a half-elven Sorcerer / Warmage (a five-level prestige class in this setting, for those of you who aren't familiar with Dragonlance) who I started working on here, because I've never gotten a chance to play a "boom" sorcerer - but we already have a mage in the party and I'm not having much luck coming up with other concepts.
I'd really appreciate any help that you have to offer on this subject, so thanks in advance!
~Thal`aen
-----Additional Game Information-----
Current party layout is:
Dwarven Cleric of Mishakal, level 14
Human Wizard of High Sorcery, White Robes / Warmage / Archmage, level 14
Human Barbarian / Fighter / Dragon Rider, level 15
Kagonesti (Wild Elf) Druid, level 14
We're using all of the books from the Dragonlance setting, plus the Complete series (with the exception of Complete Mage and Complete Champion) and Spell Compendium, as well as certain other books per the DM's discretion (Player's Handbook II and Races of Stone has been allowed so far).
The one additional house rule that has been laid out is that the only "Orb of..." spells allowed are the Lesser Orbs.
You just played a kender rogue (the only character I ever played in 2nd Ed Dragonlance), which would be my first suggestion.
Barring that, a human or half-elf Rogue/wizard/arcane trickster could be fun. If you were allowed Complete Mage and Complete Scoundrel, I'd go Spellthief 1/Wiz 4/Unseen Seer 2/Arcane Trickster 8. Take 'Master Spellthief' feat from Complete Scoundrel and you've got a pretty solid sneak-caster for either sniping or spying (or both). IIRC, though, you'd have to go Red robes to pull the 'thiefy-caster' thing off in Dragonlance, which may pose issue with your current caster.
:D
as for the original post. I gotta tell ya, I'm getting twitching from looking at your party composition and you're character.
First off, we already got a mage. The wizard. And thought I don't understand his illogical reasons for entering the Warmage PrC, he did so non the less.
So that is done. You could play a different feel of mage (like not using the schools he is using, etc') but that would still just be a waste.
More of it - it seems like you are stuck in the thought off arcane casters as blasters. I'd like to show how they can be much much more then that. Seriously, check it out.
BtW, if you simply want to play arcane then by all means - go for it. I'm not here for telling you not to play your hearts desire. Bottom line it should be something that you are willing to play.
Current party layout is:
Dwarven Cleric of Mishakal, level 14
Human Wizard of High Sorcery, White Robes / Warmage / Archmage, level 14
Human Barbarian / Fighter / Dragon Rider, level 15
Kagonesti (Wild Elf) Druid, level 14
Which, in other words mean:
Utility + heal
Blaster a.k.a Dps
Melee a.k.a Dps
Utility + heal
From what I see, there are 3 open slots in this group:
- A melee oriented guy. Too few Melee oriented char's in a 5 man's group. This can be done by building a fighter / one of the many knights in the game.
- A Booster/Buffer spot. Way too many to state them all. Basicly, just you being there will grant the party a bonus. Bards music, Arcane casters abjuration and enchantment spells, some knights. Who knows, you might even consider to persuade your DM into accepting the Dragon shamanPHBII as a viable class (hey, it feets the lore).
- Skill monkey. A guy with lots of skills and skill uses. Escpacially, the trapfinding ability. Seriously, I dunno how this team even succeded this far...
All of the above aside. I'm surprised that non of you has taken the Mystic class. It's an awesome base class. You take the fewest levels you need and then dip into PrC's. As long as you don't lose caster levels you don't have limitations. Brilliant!
As for survivability? Let's get you first a base to work with, alright?
First off, Carnivore:
Psionics are not a part of the Dragonlance world, and are actually forbidden in any of the circles that I play D&D in. But, I do appreciate the thoughts - it would be interesting to play a Psion at some point in time.
Pithica:
That does look like it would be a fun combination. However, Complete Mage is not being allowed in this game. I've also noticed that alot of rogue-type characters seem to lose effectiveness at higher levels, since most things towards the end game are immune to sneak attacks - but a spellcaster / rogue hybrid could be viable...
BronzeBeard:
Thanks, man. That article you referred me to really helped. I knew that mages can fill other roles than being 'blasters', but I always thought that those would be the most fun type. However, that article on playing a wizard as a GOD really changed the way I see arcane spellcasters.
As for your other recommendations: my Goliath Fighter/Barbarian just fell and died in combat last night after failing the previously mentioned Will save... and I've basically played either BSF's or Rogues in every single D&D campaign I've been a part of. I'm honestly looking to go a different route with this character.
So, I'm currently looking at either...
Option I:
A Silvanesti Wizard of High Sorcery, and I'm leaning towards the Red Robes. Plotting this out, I could be looking at an INT of 32 (18 + 2 from ability score increases from levels + 2 from Silvanesti Elf + 4 from Tome of Clear Thought + 6 from Headband of Intellect). If I went this route, I'd be using Transmutation and either Illusion or Abjuration as my two primary schools for casting.
Which brings up a question: which three schools should be forbidden? Because in Dragonlance, ALL Wizards have to be a Wizard of the High Sorcery, lest they be hunted down and killed as "rogue wizards." And being a member of the orders of High Sorcery means being double-specialized as far as spell-casting schools, which means you end up having THREE schools forbidden to you. And those three have to come from the favored schools of the other two orders.
As a Red Robes Wizard (with the favored schools of Transmutation and Illusion), I'd have no problems with giving up Necromancy and Enchantment (the two favored schools of the Black Robes), but that leaves me with Abjuration as my only other option - since the White Robes favor Divination and Abjuration, and Divination is not a valid option for a forbidden spell school. I honestly couldn't see my character as being a member of the White Robes, however.
And that brings us to...
Option II:
A Bard of some sort. I was at a bar with out DM tonight, and he was telling me that I should play a Bard that has taken levels of Sublime Chord. I haven't had time to research that concept at all (since I just walked in the door), but I'd appreciate any insight that y'all have to offer.
Again, thanks for your time.
~Thal'aen
Take a look at the Bard Handbook, to get a starting point. Come on back after and I'm sure someone will help you nail down a build if that is the direction you choose to go.
Pithica:
That does look like it would be a fun combination. However, Complete Mage is not being allowed in this game. I've also noticed that alot of rogue-type characters seem to lose effectiveness at higher levels, since most things towards the end game are immune to sneak attacks - but a spellcaster / rogue hybrid could be viable...
Instead of the previous suggestion (the only thing from CM there was Unseen Seer), you could go Rogue 1/Spellthief 1/Wizard 5/Arcane Trickster 8. Or, if you prefer up close and personal, Spellthief 1/Wizard 5/Daggerspell Mage 9; with that, in one more level you'll be able to full attack and cast in the same round.
Rogue Sneak attack is an issue at high levels, but it's one you can work around, assuming you have spells items available to do so. There are a number of ways to hit creatures normally immune, depending on what you'll be fighting. If you ever find yourself in a position where you actually CAN'T do damage, you can always function as a debuffer or BC style wizard instead.
I'm trying to make me a magical bard.
But I must admit - I find it hard to see a bard in Dragonlance setting.
IMO playing a wizard will be more fun to you, since it's a new experience. And I dont see how banning the mentioned schools will be too much punishing - it's true, you'll be less optimized then the standard around here. But that's just that - the standard around here... In the game it self it matters less.
So go ahead and Game on.
It's been a long time since I read the Dragonlance books, so I don't remember who Mishakal is, but I don't think he's a rogue god, so it seems likely to me that you need a skill-monkey.
fyi, Mishakal is the Dragonlance goddess of healing, who also happens to be the wife/lover of Paladine :P
She was also the first true goddess to have a worshipper (Goldmoon) after the Cataclysm (assuming you're disregarding Denubis/Crysania during the Dwarfgate Wars, which is reasonable, given all the time-travelling madness)