The concept behind this build is a person who is obsessed with the manipulation of souls, which is best represented by 2 classes:
Binder: attaching higher powers to your soul
Incarnate (or of the like): Shape/bind your soul
I need a build that uses these two things.
Just as a starting build to work off of, this is what I currently came up with:
Sorceror 1/ Binder 1/ Anima Mage 10/ Incarnate 2/ Soulcaster 6
This build basically uses the two classes dual progression with arcane
I'm open for anything!
nevertheless may I suggest switching Sorcerer for Wizard? - sure, you get some MAD but still 9th lvl spells @lvl 20
Furthermore I would go for totemist instead of Incarnate - you essentially "win" one chakra and get better saves and HD for a bit less essentia
if you really want to stick to Sorcerer, i would take at least one level of incarnate BEFORE you go into anima mage - it saves you a lot of problems (and the need to take flaws):
Human
Binder 1 (improved Binding, Heighten Spell)
Totemist 1
Sorcerer 1 (Versityle spellcasting)
Anima Mage 1-10
Totemist 2
Soulcaster 6
but ur right, 9th level spells are better
thanks for the totemist suggestion
Current Build:
Wizard 1/ Binder 1/ Totemist 1/ Anima Mage 10/ Totemist 1/ Soulcaster 6
This build is just one try at combining the two classes: if you have another idea PLEASE POST
Of course if there are any good ideas out there to combine incarnum and binder PLEASE POST
P.S. Is there an incarnum/binder dual progression class? and if we asked, would WotC make one? (web enhancement or something)
I don't know where to ask, but maybe one of you guys can ask for a dual progression prc from WotC.
):Soul Abuser
Azurin (Evil-Incarnate) / Spirit Hellbred (Law-Incarnate)
Incarnate 2/ Binder 4/ Incarnate +2(4)/ Binder+4 (8)/ Knight of the Sacred Seal 5/ Necrocarnate 1/ Binder +2 (10)
Unlimited Essentia from harvesting the souls from Malphus' birds.
Vestiges: Malphas (will be patron), Chupoclops, Otiax
Soulmelds (assumes Incarnum Focus items for the required chakra's): Necrocarnum weapon (6 essentia), (evil) incarnate avatar (7 essentia), Bloodwar gauntlets(6 essentia), air step sandals (bound to feet) (6 essentia)
Feats
Azurin (or flaw if hellbred) – Improved Essentia Capacity
1 – Necrocarnum Acolyte
3 – Improved Binding
6 – Ignore Special Requirements, Improved Soulmeld Capacity (Inc. Avatar)
9 – Favored Vestige (Malphus)
12 – Weapon Focus (Air blast)
15 – Craven
18 – Indigo Strike
The Azurin build doesn't need flaws but has some alignment problems (must be neutral evil for incarnate and any lawful for Knight of the Sacred Seal), this can be solved using the Hellbred's Evil Exception racial ability and being of lawfull neutral alingnment.)
Tactics:
Malphas grants swift action invisibiliy. Go invisible, pounce with Otiax's Air Blast (touch attacks 2d6+14 (incarnum avatar)+6(bloodwar gauntlets)+6(necrocarnum weapon) +5d6 (suddenstrike) +20 (craven) +8 (indigo strike)). Go ethereal using Chupoclops and wait for invisibility to recharge or use the Knight's capstone.
Items:
Wand of golemstrike/gravestrike (to sudden strike constructs/undead)
4 incarnum focus items (arms/hands/soul/feet)
EDIT:
I don't know where to ask, but maybe one of you guys can ask for a dual progression prc from WotC.
WotC doesn't support 3.5 anymore so I doubt that they will ever make such a PrC, there are a few homebrew Prc's that combine the two. I'll try to find some links.
Edit2:
Found one.
Vestige avatar
http://forums.gleemax.com/wotc_archive/index.php/t-298304.html%3Cbr%20/t-688300.html
but has some alignment problems (must be neutral evil for incarnate and any lawful for Knight of the Sacred Seal)
Just so you know, there is no alignment problems: knight of the sacred seal must be non-chaotic
P.S. Knight's Capstone only applies to its own abilities not to vestiges
My DM won't let me use non official material D=
WotC is mean for abandoning all of its 3.5 players
I think I can duplicate your strategy, bet slightly different using my current build
I don't bind Otiax:
and I meldshape some sort of weapon (to lazy to look up) to replace the air blast
The issue is that if I want to use the necrocarnate abuse, I would have to lose a level somewhere... but I don't see where it would be good
oh, well, I think level 17 arcane casting is better than necrocarnate abuse...
, but the capstone from the knight says it can be used on any patron vestige granted ability and on the class granted abilities (not that it matters much, being usable 1/day and all).You are ofcourse right about 9th level spells being better than necrocarnate.
I personally don't like the sacred knight, because its abilties are only usable 1/5 rounds =(
I don't see much of a better way to combine incarnum and binding
the only way I see this build getting better is if there is some crazy combo that requires a really high binder or meldshaper level...
Edit: Just as a side note. Depending on how you juggled that into your current build right now that could mean free +3 or lower Meta-Magics just from the Strongheart Vest alone before adding in Nebarius.
Edit 2: I lied. If you take Expanded Soulmeld Capacity: Strongheart Vest then you actually gain up to +4 Meta-Magics for free. Take Rapid Spell and you can now quicken a spell every turn for free. And lets not forget that you're also free to Empower, Maximize, Twin, and whatever else you want so long as it's in the price range those bad boys.
Edit 3: This is a sample build with an emphasis more on enhancing your spellcasting through souls assuming full cheese though it sacrifices binder and some of the initial flavor I think you were looking for. Sorcerer 1/Incarnate 8/Virtuoso 1/Sublime Chord 1/Tainted Scholar 2/Soul Caster 7 assuming 2 flaws and Precocious Apprentice+Heighten Spell+Earthspell cheese is allowed will net you 9th level casting as a sorcerer as well as a Soulmelder level of 15 for a max essentia investment of +3. Those levels of incarnate however will grant us another +1 to that maximum and if we take the Expanded Soulmeld Capacity: Strongheart Vest feat that I mentioned in a previous edit that brings the maximum investment to +5. The significance of this is that it means Strongheart Vest will now negate 6 points of Con damage a turn. Just enough for us to apply any meta-magics we want including Persistent Spell for free.
Your build doesn't get access to the waist or heart chakra (for strongheart vest):
prestige classes only give you bonus soulmelds, binds, and essentia, not chakras
not to worry there is a feat that takes care of it! (can be taken at lvl 18)
and the maximum soulmeld capacity is based on character level not melding level:
from Magic of Incarnum:
Table 2–1: Essentia Capacity
Character Level; Essentia Capacity
1st–5th; 1
6th–11th; 2
12th–17th; 3
18th–20th; 4
so I'll have 4 investment +1 from incarnate, and +1 from soulmeld capacity, and one from naberius!
Current Build:
Wizard 1/ Binder 1/ Anima Mage 9/ Incarnate 2/ Soulcaster 5/ Tainted Scholar 2
This build has:
9th level arcane spells (caster level 17)
6th level binds, 2 at a time (binder level 10+2 from feat)
can shape 5 soulmelds, and can bind 2 (hands, feet, and crown)
everything is CON based except for binder (which need CHA)
FREE +7 METAMAGIC
I like being evil, so the tainted scholar is a good idea
Your build doesn't get access to the waist or heart chakra (for strongheart vest):
prestige classes only give you bonus soulmelds, binds, and essentia, not chakras
not to worry there is a feat that takes care of it! (can be taken at lvl 18)
and the maximum soulmeld capacity is based on character level not melding level:
from Magic of Incarnum:
so I'll have 4 investment +1 from incarnate, and +1 from soulmeld capacity, and one from naberius!
Current Build:
Wizard 1/ Binder 1/ Anima Mage 9/ Incarnate 2/ Soulcaster 5/ Tainted Scholar 2
This build has:
9th level arcane spells (caster level 17)
6th level binds, 2 at a time (binder level 10+2 from feat)
can shape 5 soulmelds, and can bind 2 (hands, feet, and crown)
everything is CON based except for binder (which need CHA)
FREE +7 METAMAGIC
You don't need access to any chakra to gain the benefit from strongheart vest, because all you care about in this case is the reduction of ability damage. In fact, being immune to ability damage is often worse when (ab)using the strongheart vest, as many abilities come with a "if you can't take ability damage, this effect doesn't work" clause.
which is based on Wisdom D=
i think you were thinking of corruption score
It's worded funny but ultimately you can tell its depravity:
Tainted Spellcasting (Su): Rather than using a key ability
score for spellcasting, you use your corruption and depravity
scores. To cast a spell, you must have a depravity score at
least equal to the spell’s level. Your bonus spells
are based on a number equal to your depravity
score + 10, and saving throws against your spells
have a DC of 10 + spell level + 1/2 your corruption
score. For example, a tainted scholar with
a depravity score of 3 would gain bonus
spells as a wizard with an Intelligence
score of 13 or a sorcerer with a Charisma
score of 13.
P.S. Binding strongheart vest to heart chakra (via feat) doesn't make you unable to use tainted scholar. the immunities are to death attacks and ability DRAIN, not DAMAGE
P.P.S One can only meld strongheart vest to waist or heart chakra
From Magic of Incarnum:
CHAKRA
This line indicates which chakra the soulmeld can occupy
when shaped and bound. Multiple entries indicate the meldshaper
has a choice of where he wants to place the meld.
I was confused for a moment:
You: "it can go anywhere!"
Book: "it can go to the heart and waist!"
Me: "if it can go anywhere, doesn't that include heart and waist?"
P.P.P.S I read the strongheart vest entry wrong. I invest 4 essentia, AND IT GETS 1 AUTOMATICALLY, 1 from feat, and 1 from naeburius.
Still +7, but i misread chart, I don't get bonus from incarnate