dirkformica
First Post
Especially since Wraithstrike is a Sorc spell and all dragons eventually get spellcasting. 2 spells and a whole lot of people are toast.
Looking for a Fighter Wizard build
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Kmart Kommando
First Post
2 spells and 3 feats.dirkformica said:
Wraithstrike, Arcane Strike, Combat Expertise and Improved Combat Expertise. DM pulled this one on us, and the dragons never missed, and had ACs in the 70s, with a 40+ touch AC, while we had one guy in the mid 40s, and a one with a 26 touch AC. Though we found out later that the invisible sorcerer blasting range touch spells should have been ignoring the pumped-up Dodge Bonus. Our main melee guy only hit half the time with Wraithstrike, and everyone else needed 20s I think. Did I mention this was after hitting us with MDJ and Quickened Breath in the surprise round? Twice?
wildstarsreach
First Post
Kmart Kommando said:2 spells and 3 feats.
Wraithstrike, Arcane Strike, Combat Expertise and Improved Combat Expertise. DM pulled this one on us, and the dragons never missed, and had ACs in the 70s, with a 40+ touch AC, while we had one guy in the mid 40s, and a one with a 26 touch AC. Though we found out later that the invisible sorcerer blasting range touch spells should have been ignoring the pumped-up Dodge Bonus. Our main melee guy only hit half the time with Wraithstrike, and everyone else needed 20s I think. Did I mention this was after hitting us with MDJ and Quickened Breath in the surprise round? Twice?
If the NPC's use wraithstrike, PC's will die. That is the only real reason to ban the spell. PC's using it become hack-a-matics. NPC become party TPKer's.
The others are powerful but nowhere as overwhelming as wraithstrike with Power attack and arcane strike.
Let's take a red Dragon Great Wyrm.
Has Persistant Wraithstrike up, 8th level spell
PA for 30 to attacks
Arcane Strike a 9th levelspell, +9d4 to all attack
8 attacks @ plus 69 pnts each addition with strength. Dragon has +17 to hit for strength and +19 attack. Pretty much and 2-3 PC's of 20th level will die each round. Wraithstrike is problematic with NPC's. All the other combos are great on paper.
Mithril Armor is almost a no-brainer.
Also, check out OA's Ashigaru Armor.
Build #1) Ftr 2-4 (Either Armored Mage Altnernative Class Feature or take Still Spell as your 1st level feat and whatever as your Ftr bonus feats and/or limit your PC to spells without somatic components- there is a list in the Dragon mag issue with the Modron on the cover)/Specialist Wizard X (Focused Specialist Alternative Class Feature- gives you so many spells/day, you're like a Sorcerer)/Eldritch Knight X
The Battle Caster feat from CompArc will let you use heavier armor & still cast spells.
Note- if you're not too concerned about feats, use one of the +0 Outsider races (like Neraphim PlnrHbk p12-13) and get proficiency with all Simple & Martial Weapons (MM), and simply bypass the Ftr levels while aiming at Eldritch Knight.
Build #1a) For the record, if you ever get to use Psionics, sub PsiWar for Fighter if you're only taking 2 levels of Ftr at first. For dropping from +2BAB to +1BAB, you gain access to Psionic Feats, leave the door open to Psionic Powers & PrCls, and get Expansion, the psionic version of Enlarge (but better because you can grow 2 sizes larger).
Build #2) Paladin 5+/KensaiX/Specialist Wizard 3+ (Focused Specialist Alternative Class Feature)
(A LG Soulborn from MoI can get you similar effects to Paladins).
If you're not concerned about Paladin spells (who is?), take the Holy Warrior Alternative Class Feature from CompChamp & gain some Feats.
Use any big 2 hd slashing weapon. Eventually, get it enchanted- don't worry about fancy enchantments- just boost its plusses. (If your game permits, there are all kinds of ways to boost it's base damage, too- racial abilities like Powerful Build; the feats Monkey Grip and Heavy Weapon; spells like Bull's Strength, Enlarge Person and Righteous Might, and the Psionic power Expansion)
Get to Kensai as soon as possible (Paladins and LG Soulborns are among the few classes that get there in 5), and boost your weapon's power. Personally, I usually keep adding powers that add d6's to its damage- Flame, Frost, Shock, Corrosive, Holy, etc. If your PC is a PA-Cleave-G.Cleaver, he'll be doing that all the time. On top of that, he'll be able to boost his Str by +8 for another +4/+4...stackable with all of the Str boosting spells and psionic abilities.
Learn the Whirling Blade spell- its an area spell mainly targeted upon your weapon, so it will be effective against critters with SR. It lets you throw your weapon and attack every target within a 60' line at your highest BAB, using either your Str or your casting stat (here, Int) for bonuses. (Its confusingly worded- its either an Area Effect spell or an Effect spell, so depending upon your DM's ruling, Sculpt Spell may work with it, further increasing its utility.) Unlike the Returning power, WB explicitly states that the weapon returns to the caster's hand after the spell expires.
Yeah...I know its a clunky way to do Lightning Bolt, but its cool... AND you can get crits with it!
Also, check out OA's Ashigaru Armor.
Build #1) Ftr 2-4 (Either Armored Mage Altnernative Class Feature or take Still Spell as your 1st level feat and whatever as your Ftr bonus feats and/or limit your PC to spells without somatic components- there is a list in the Dragon mag issue with the Modron on the cover)/Specialist Wizard X (Focused Specialist Alternative Class Feature- gives you so many spells/day, you're like a Sorcerer)/Eldritch Knight X
The Battle Caster feat from CompArc will let you use heavier armor & still cast spells.
Note- if you're not too concerned about feats, use one of the +0 Outsider races (like Neraphim PlnrHbk p12-13) and get proficiency with all Simple & Martial Weapons (MM), and simply bypass the Ftr levels while aiming at Eldritch Knight.
Build #1a) For the record, if you ever get to use Psionics, sub PsiWar for Fighter if you're only taking 2 levels of Ftr at first. For dropping from +2BAB to +1BAB, you gain access to Psionic Feats, leave the door open to Psionic Powers & PrCls, and get Expansion, the psionic version of Enlarge (but better because you can grow 2 sizes larger).
Build #2) Paladin 5+/KensaiX/Specialist Wizard 3+ (Focused Specialist Alternative Class Feature)
(A LG Soulborn from MoI can get you similar effects to Paladins).
If you're not concerned about Paladin spells (who is?), take the Holy Warrior Alternative Class Feature from CompChamp & gain some Feats.
Use any big 2 hd slashing weapon. Eventually, get it enchanted- don't worry about fancy enchantments- just boost its plusses. (If your game permits, there are all kinds of ways to boost it's base damage, too- racial abilities like Powerful Build; the feats Monkey Grip and Heavy Weapon; spells like Bull's Strength, Enlarge Person and Righteous Might, and the Psionic power Expansion)
Get to Kensai as soon as possible (Paladins and LG Soulborns are among the few classes that get there in 5), and boost your weapon's power. Personally, I usually keep adding powers that add d6's to its damage- Flame, Frost, Shock, Corrosive, Holy, etc. If your PC is a PA-Cleave-G.Cleaver, he'll be doing that all the time. On top of that, he'll be able to boost his Str by +8 for another +4/+4...stackable with all of the Str boosting spells and psionic abilities.
Learn the Whirling Blade spell- its an area spell mainly targeted upon your weapon, so it will be effective against critters with SR. It lets you throw your weapon and attack every target within a 60' line at your highest BAB, using either your Str or your casting stat (here, Int) for bonuses. (Its confusingly worded- its either an Area Effect spell or an Effect spell, so depending upon your DM's ruling, Sculpt Spell may work with it, further increasing its utility.) Unlike the Returning power, WB explicitly states that the weapon returns to the caster's hand after the spell expires.
Yeah...I know its a clunky way to do Lightning Bolt, but its cool... AND you can get crits with it!
Eldragon
First Post
My new favorite Fighter/Mage build is the Swiftblade. Yeah you use some caster levels, but the ability to spring in and out of combat more than makes up for it, along with abilities that just cant be replicated with spell/feat combos. The Swiftblade is the king of mobility, and for the usually frail Gish, battlefield mobility is very very useful.
Finally someone else who loves Whirling blade! IMHO its one of the best spells for the Fighter-Mage.
Another great thing about this spell is you can use your feats and class features with it! Power Attack, Improved Critical, Weapon Focus, It all applies to the blade you use in the Whirling Blade spell. Wraithstrike + Power Attack + Whirling blade.
Normally I pump as much magic and feats I can into my Melee weapon, so on those rare occasions I need a good long ranged punch, just use whirling blade.
My DM Allows the Chainspell Metamagic feat to apply to the spell as well. Note: Instead of hitting one guy and bouncing to each target for 1/2 damage, we just let it arc to 1 target/level, with no damage dealt to creatures between the targets. We envision it as the Gish equivalent of the Jedi Lightsaber throw (Yes, we have entered the realm of house rules, but it keeps with the spirit of the spell and the rules).
Dannyalcatraz said:
Finally someone else who loves Whirling blade! IMHO its one of the best spells for the Fighter-Mage.
Another great thing about this spell is you can use your feats and class features with it! Power Attack, Improved Critical, Weapon Focus, It all applies to the blade you use in the Whirling Blade spell. Wraithstrike + Power Attack + Whirling blade.
Normally I pump as much magic and feats I can into my Melee weapon, so on those rare occasions I need a good long ranged punch, just use whirling blade.
My DM Allows the Chainspell Metamagic feat to apply to the spell as well. Note: Instead of hitting one guy and bouncing to each target for 1/2 damage, we just let it arc to 1 target/level, with no damage dealt to creatures between the targets. We envision it as the Gish equivalent of the Jedi Lightsaber throw (Yes, we have entered the realm of house rules, but it keeps with the spirit of the spell and the rules).
Eldragon
First Post
Darklone said:
Yeah, it is definitely weak compared to most 2nd level spells. And if we are only talking about Gish builds, it still weak compared to wraithstrike. But Wraithstrike is melee only. At high levels, Wraithstrike and Whirling Blade are the only 2nd level spells I keep memorized. All other good 2nd level utility spells are obsolete by then.
Since SR does not apply, and no saving throw is allowed, Whirling Blade is useful to Fighter-Mages who cant get their Caster Level and Saving Throws as high as a dedicated caster.
Especially if, as is the case in the Kensai build, your melee weapon is particularly uber.
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