Looking for character ideas

[Corsair]

So I haven't played in a year or more, and I'm joining a party in progress. The party is currently a bunch of level 8 characters, but at least one other player will be joining at the same time as me. All joining characters will be level 7. Here is is what I know of the other party members:


Dwarf Fighter/Battlesmith (sword and board tank)
Gnome Druid (spontaneous caster variant, more caster than beater)
Whisper Gnome Rogue/Assassin
Elf Bard
Elf Warmage (will be joining with me)


Obvious holes in the party are either cleric or wizard given that the druid, bard, and warmage are all spontaneous casters with limited spell selections. I am also considering an additional warrior of some kind (to get the most out of the bard boosts).

The catch is I just played a wizard from level 6 to 18 as my last character, so I'm not sure I want to play another unless I greatly change the concept. The last wizard was an elf wizard 7 / Loremaster 8 / Archmage 3, generalist.

Also I have no real interest in a cleric because I tend to find generalist clerics uninteresting, and as this is going to be a game centered around a mercenary group (and there is already an assassin in the party) I'm not sure I want something too tied into established religions with set rules. (Though if someone can think of a compelling RP archetype, I'd consider it)


So what I'm looking from you: Interesting arcane casters (who can serve as utility casters to make up for what the warmage lacks), interesting martial archetypes, and MAYBE interesting cleric archetypes if you can present a compelling argument as to why they are not a generic cleric.

All I need at minimum are a loose 1 liner. Example:

Illumian Wizard (Conjurer) 4 / Beguiler 1 / Ultimate Magus 2: Play him as an arcane Indiana Jones treasure hunter!

[Dannyalcatraz]

Mage Brute: Sorc or BattleSorc with one of the types of Heritage feats from CompArc or PHB2 (Celestial, Draconic or Infernal) that lets you trade spell-levels for supernatural damage effects (C. Lance, Dr. Breath or I. Shout). Possible multiclass with a warrior class of your choice. Use medium to heavy armor, spells without somatic components (see Dragon #354 for partial list), and Still Spell. Toad familiar gets you extra HP. Stat pref is like a warrior, but with 1st or 2nd highest score in your casting stat. Depending upon your heritage, your PC is sort of a stand-in for a Duskblade or Paladin.

Dex Based Polarm "Monk": Monk (or Monk-simulating class, like Shaman, Sohei, etc- see my sig); Polearm Fighter or Polearm Master to use a chosen polearm as a Monk Weapon (FoB with polearms is fun!); Combat Reflexes feat tree to control a lot of space (see Stand Still, Hold the Line, Deft Opportunist). Use polearm, grenades and other ranged weapons to control the battlespace. Bonus if you have a way of increasing your Reach (Enlarge or Expansion are most common). I've used this build effectively with Humans (feat bonus), Githzerai and Anthropomorphic Apes (the latter 2 give big Dex and Wis boosts- +6/+2 and +6/+4 respectively- for +2LA).

PS: There are MANY ways to build this PC, including multiclassing with PsiWar, Paladin, Kensai or Shou Disciple.

Voodoun Priest: Oriental Adventures Shaman (see Dragon #317 for 3.X update)/Sorc, BttlSorc or Specialist/Focused Specialist Wizard Necromancer/Mystic Theurge. Shaman gives you 2-3 Domains, and Improved Unarmed Combat, a spirit guide, and power over spirits. Arcanist class expands necromantic options. Use TWF with clubs (your clubs are essentially oversized, textured escrima sticks that you'll call Rhythm-Sticks); take Perform: Dance and Perform: Rhythm-Sticks. All that combined with IUC, you are now a lightly armored Voodoun Priest and practitioner of Capoira, in fine Caribbean tradition.

[Corsair]

Thanks for breaking the ice Danny!


Also I forgot to mention: Almost any WotC sources are ok, except no Tome of Battle and no Dragon mags.

[Dannyalcatraz]

Battledancer/Soulknife/Kineticist: the dancer burns! Add in Perform: firebreathing or Sorc1 (w/Draconic Heritage & Dragon breath) and you have a Polynesian spirit warrior!

[Dannyalcatraz]

Originally Posted by Corsair

no Dragon mags.

Ah- too bad.

Oriental Adventures got updated in Dragon#317, Soulknives got better written and varied feats than CompPsi in Dragon#341, and the Battledancer is a chaotic monk variant from Dragon, reprinted in DCv1 (which also had nice polearm feats and weapons).

[Shin Okada]

Have you ever tried Warlock (Complete Arcane)? It is a kind of arcane mage but not a true spellcaster. Warlocks use spell-like abilities.

In action, basically, they are more like arcane shooter. Also, at L5 warlock can take 10 for Use Magic Device skill checks. So, at L7, with 10 ranks in UMD skill and some CHA mod, you will never fail in activation Wands and Staffs. And you can use a lot of scrolls without trouble. So, if your campaign allows you to buy magic items, a warlock can complement the lack of any particular spellcasting class. At L12 a warlock can use UMD check to meet the spell prerequisite for creating magic items. Thus, for example, you can eventually write scrolls of Heal, Miracle, etc.

[Dannyalcatraz]

Marshal/Wilder- leader, buffer, blaster. Makes everyone in the party better, one way or another.


Warlock/BttlSorc/Marshal- High Str, Dex & Cha, Infernal Sorcerer Heritage & Infernal Shout = son of Satan


Druid/BttlSorc/Geomancer: Swamp thing and/or Master of the Wild Hunt. For additional fun, take the Feral template, Improved Natural Armor, and Improved Natural Attack to accentuate the Fey Drift.

Barbarian (totemic variant)/PsiWar: Halfling or Gnome, TWF, with Spiked armor, Bladed gloves/clawed gauntlets (and/or psychic claw powers), vials of trog-stink (grenades), potions of speed. Sonic the Hedgehog meets Wolverine meets Pepe LePew. For additional fun, take the Feral template, Improved Natural Armor, and Improved Natural Attack to sub for the exotic weapons.

[Sharkon]

You mentioned that you considered another warrior in the party and another of your thoughts was an arcane caster. Why not play both , by making a duskblade ? very good damage dealer ,melee with arcane spells

[Shin Okada]

Wait a moment. Your party already have a evil character (assassin) and no serious worshiper of gods. And lacking cleric.

Then, why not try Ur-Priest? Say, Human Duskblade 2/Hexblade 3/Ur-Priest 2. He is a true mercenary and fight for anyone, regardless of their religious belief. Because you know the gods are not as great as they are claiming to be, and you can easily steal their power.

[Aran Thule]

You could try cleric 3, wizard 3, Mystic Theurge 1
This would give a lot of utility and options.
Create scrolls for spells you dont plan to use during down time or be in a prime position to make wands.
With mithril full plate armour you have a 25% spell failure but you could concentrate the memorized wizard spells that dont have failure chances ie true strike, blindness, blur, displacement, d door
If you then went two handed with power attack then you would be able to pull off big hits in the right situation.
So might be able to cover all the bases you wanted.
As for the religion side, depending on the world there are normally gods of magic that are neutral, i dont see any reason why a follower of them would not adventure to gain more power/knowledge.

[Herzog]

Not sure whether 'any wotc book' includes Eberron books but:

How about Artificer?

[Starbuck_II]

A Factorum: He steals from the Haves, and gives to the haves nots. He includes himself in the have nots at all times.

Dread Necro 1/Spirit Shaman 2/Master of Shrouds: You are a master at spirits. Let all hear your call: Ryu'Leh Gu'tuh. Make up what ever it means.

[Allegro]

Asmar Abjuration Specialist Wizard 3/ Master Specialist 10/ 6 Initiate of the Seven Veils; magic was never intended to be in the hands of mortals and it is your job to stamp it out before it can do to much harm. Your job is to make sure no hostile magic effects the party by giving resistance, dispelling, countering, or dampening it.

Gnome cleric with spontenous domain feat who claims to be an illusionist wizard. Take domains that give illusion spells and max out use magic device.

[Dannyalcatraz]

Focused Specialist Evoker or Conjurer/Soulknife/Argent Savant: "Arcane Jedi" Skip the Familiar to take the Immediate Magic ACF from PH2 for your specialty. It will etiher be Abrupt Jaunt (a t-port effect) or Counterfire (sort of a ranged, magical AoO). Concentrate your spell selection on Force and TK type spells, along with Reserve feats like Blade of Force, Invisible Needle & Dimensional Jaunt.

Monk/Sorcerer: "Funky Cold Medina" Trog (+2LA) named Medina (Feral template? ImpNatAtt? ImpNatAC?); Ascetic Mage feat, Energy Sub: Cold, Winter's Blast Reserve Feat.

Tiamat's Scion: Version #1 -Dragon Shaman- PHB race or Dragonborn w/Multiheaded template- Learnean (Medium sized base creature +2LA, Learnean +2LA). Benefits: 2 heads, +2 Listen/Search/Spot, +2Con, +2HD, +1NAC, 90' Darkvision, Improved Initiative, Combat Reflexes, Superior TWF (0 penalty for fighting with multiple weapons, each hand = primary hand), Regen head in 1d4 rounds. Special: Each head activates its breath weapon simultaneously (counting as 1 use), but in different areas- you still have the wait period between uses. Take MetaBreath feats.

Version #2 as above, but drop Learnean in favor of Pyro or Cryo (dropping total LA by 1), and choose a different class (since this one already gets a breath weapon). Beguiler, perhaps?

Nephilim: Monk/Sorc. Ascetic Mage, Celestial Heritage & Celestial Lance feats. Get Spellfire &/or VoP if you can. Winged Template (+4Dex, +2Wis, Flight = land speed+20, maneuverability based on Dex) +2LA. Load up on ranged weapons and a Quiver of Ehlonna. Emphasize "heavenly" themed spells.

Note, if you burn +2 LA more & use Githzerai as the base critter, that's another +6Dex and +2Wis - more with Anthro Ape.

Demi-Incubus: Warlock/FocSpec Conjurer or Necromancer. Skip the Familiar to take the Immediate Magic ACF from PH2 for your specialty, Abrupt Jaunt (a t-port effect) or the ACF from the SRD/UA, Rapid Summoning for Conjurerss, Cursed Glance or Skeletal Minion. Conjuration Reserve Feats, Infernal Heritage & Infernal Shout feats. Get Spellfire &/or VoP if you can. Winged Template (+4Dex, +2Wis, Flight = land speed+20, maneuverability based on Dex) +2LA. Load up on ranged weapons and a Quiver of Ehlonna. Concentrate on "unholy" spells.

FWIW, Nephilim and Demi-Incubus would also work well with a divine caster type as well- Cleric, Shaman, Favored Soul, Sohei, Shugenja or even Paladin...

[Corsair]

After some consideration, and talking with people in #enworld, I've decided to go with a changeling warshaper. Now the discussion is whether a raging pouncing barbarian warshaper is more or less awesome that a dervish claw-fighting warshaper.

[Theroc]

Originally Posted by Corsair

After some consideration, and talking with people in #enworld, I've decided to go with a changeling warshaper. Now the discussion is whether a raging pouncing barbarian warshaper is more or less awesome that a dervish claw-fighting warshaper.

You should probably run Changeling Warshaper by your DM before setting your heart on it, as there is much debate over whether the Changeling would qualify for the PrC. In a game I am playing, my DM allowed it, but lowered the benefits from the ability that gave +4 untype strength and +4 untyped consitution to give +2 to each, increasing to the full +4 if I reach level 20.

On that note: I love the concept of the Warshaper PrC overall. It's simply hard to access without having caster levels or a huge LA/RHD.

[Corsair]

I'm not concerned about my DM thinking I'm overpowered next to the druid in the party. General rule: warriors need all the powering up they can get.

Rules: It is pretty clear that they qualify by the rules. Whether you think that is bad, see the general rule stated above.

[Theroc]

Originally Posted by Corsair

I'm not concerned about my DM thinking I'm overpowered next to the druid in the party. General rule: warriors need all the powering up they can get.

Rules: It is pretty clear that they qualify by the rules. Whether you think that is bad, see the general rule stated above.

I wasn't saying whether I agreed or not, simply that I know there has been debate about it in the past. If your DM approves it, more power to you.

My character was a Changeling Fighter 2/Paladin 3/Warshaper 3

Haven't gotten too much actual combat with him yet, but it's an undead-based campaign, so Paladin will be useful. My basic plan with him was to place himself at the front with his undeadbane longsword and smack the crap out of anyone who tries to go past him.

A raging warshaper could be pretty frightening, given that's a rather large damage/soak increase, plus when you finagle fast healing and a natural weapon for more attacks, should be pretty wicked. Don't know anything about the Dervish.

Now, a Frenzied Berserker Warshaper would be damn scary.

[Theroc]

Stupid double posts...

[Corsair]

I considered FB, but I won't go that route unless I can assure I can make all the will saves consistently to get out of it.

I was thinking Barbarian 1 (whirling and pouncing) / Fighter 2 / Ranger 1 (skills, and to get fast movement back from wildshape variant) / Warshaper 4.... but I don't know what to put on top yet.