Help! A character in need of optimization!-sort of...

I am not even sure this is the right place. I think I need the help of the character optimization specialists, but I am not exactly trying to optimize, as in taking all sorts of prestige classes. Here's the deal:

I finished DM'ing my campaign, and now it is time for one of the gamers in the group to take over so I can play for awhile. The group consists of 1 Warlock, 1 Mystic Theurge, 2 fighters, and then the character I am coming in with.

The group I am with aren't so hot at roleplaying, and I am more into that kind of thing. I don't like gaming to roll dice and gather loot, I want a good interesting story with a lot of interaction with the NPC's and such. So, I am starting a character that isn't the baddest dude around, he's a guy loaded with skills and a storyline. My idea is thus:

I am playing Blaskar Hordifel-or at least this is his name right now-a human male who came from a long line of high powered sorcerers. His grandfather was a sorcerer, his father was a sorcerer, etc. His whole line are proud arcane wielders. The catch? Blaskar doesn't have a drop of magical ability at ALL. Thus he was ostracized from his own family, dismissed as worthless. Thus he has been on his own for a long time with an intense desire to be accepted by his family and to wield spells. Thus, this character is going to be geared around his Use Magic Device skill.

He's going to be primarily rogue, as I do not want a single spellcaster level as he is supposed to be "Magic Dead". So clearly he needs a lot of rogue levels to be able to wield magical items and scrolls as if he were a real spellcaster.

Also, I really thought the Mounteback prestige class works for him. This PC is all about a "fake", and that is exactly what he is. Not only that, but this PC has abilities that allow him to be more "mage-like", such as teleporting around as dimension door.

So, the problem? What really caught my eye was the Dual Wand Wielding feat... except the requirement for it is two weapon fighting-no big deal-and Craft Wand. Craft Wand isn't something I can get since it requires a caster level of 5.

The question I have is, is there any other (cannon) feat or way around that would allow me to access this ability? If not, do you have any other cool ideas I could do to help make this guy not completely worthless?

The character is 10th level. I currently am thinking of the mounteback with his alter ego's being a fey'ri (I have the storyline already), a beautiful elf maiden, and the final one I have not yet decided. This character is also very charming and manipulative, with high bluff, diplomacy, Intimidate, etc. The problem is being able to really access the cool stuff like dual wand usage.

Any ideas?

Slaygrim said:

So, the problem? What really caught my eye was the Dual Wand Wielding feat... except the requirement for it is two weapon fighting-no big deal-and Craft Wand. Craft Wand isn't something I can get since it requires a caster level of 5.

The question I have is, is there any other (cannon) feat or way around that would allow me to access this ability?

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Perhaps the character can use the Emulate Class Ability feature of Use Magic Device to emulate the required caster level? Then every round he wants to use Dual Wand Wielding, he must make a DC 25 UMD check.

I think any method here is probably going to be a little "cheesy", but if your DM is cool with it, here are two ideas:

1) Basic Idea: Purchase a wand or other spell-casting item with a caster level of 5 or higher. You can use UMD to use this wand, and for all rule purposes, your caster level is the caster level of the wand, which is 5. So, your caster level is 5, therefore you qualify for 'Craft Wand".
To make it look slightly better: You need at least enough ranks in UMD to guarantee that you can use a CL5 wand without any chance of failure.

2) Basic Idea: Purchase a Strand of Prayer Beads. Once per day for 10 minutes, this raises your caster level +4. Get a scroll (or a friendly bard) to cast Hymn of Praise on you or get an item which is based on that spell. Assuming you have a good alignment (or can fake it with UMD), it will also boost your caster level +1. Total boost: +5 caster level. So you start at a zero caster level and get it up to a +5, sufficient to learn Craft Wand.
To make it look slightly better: You need at least enough ranks in UMD to guarantee that you can emulate a good bard without any chance of failure.

Very interesting ODI, I will look into this. If the DM is going to be straight cannon he may not allow this at all, but if he is leniant, he may.

Assuming the answer is no, do you guys have any other ideas for what this character can do to break off some pretty cool stuff in battle?

Since you're supposed to be "magic dead", take a look at the anti-mage feats in Complete Arcane and Complete Mage.

Alternatively, your character can give his family the finger by being... psionic!

Honestly, I see this as the perfect chance to play a Binder. He doesn't have any innate power, so he reaches out to some other place to get the power. Bam. Vestiges. I don't know if it's allowed for your game, though.
Why not just talk to the DM and let him know what you want to do? He might be willing to wave the Caster Level restriction. I know I would.
Another possibility, if you want to go the anti-magic route, is the PrC from Complete Warrior that's fairly anti-spellcaster. Or, to screw with the divine people, you could go the Athar route from the Planar Handbook. Immunity to divine damage is kinda nifty.
Beyond that, though, just make sure that you have a high Int and Cha so that you can fake a lot of stuff. What scores are you dealing with? That always helps?

How about a spell thief? It's not quite magic dead, but it does fit your character background as an anti-mage....

Alternatively, take feats that bump your UMD, such as Skill Focus and, ironically, Magical Aptitude.

You got your Sci-Fi in my High Fantasy!

Always consider keeping the mechanic of a class while altering the fluff. Basically, you want magic effects, some skills, and an anti-magic flare. How about playing a warlock who gets all of his effects not from magic and dark pacts but from technology?

"Alchemical Wands" to do the eldritch blasts and other ranged attacks
Take invocations that aren't flashy: Beguiling Influence, Leaps and Bounds, Dark One's Own Luck,
Goggles provide Devil's Sight or See the Unseen
A hand-held device provides Detect Magic.
A new fabric you invented gives your shirt the class' DR.

You get the idea.

If he's going to be built around magic items an Artificer with the serial numbers filed off might work well from a gains magical ability without spell casting. (DO artificers get spells? I can't remember)

Simm said:

If he's going to be built around magic items an Artificer with the serial numbers filed off might work well from a gains magical ability without spell casting. (DO artificers get spells? I can't remember)

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Artificers get "infusions". They don't cast Bull's Strength on you, they cast it on the belt you're wearing.

That's actually a really good suggestion. Instead of a sorceror, the character learns to make items that even his forebearers couldn't make (like healing potions).