opinions of class combos, prestige & gestalt build

[emanresu]

Wizard/ranger. Primary wiz with ranger filling in HP,saves,skills,BAB and some range DPS.

druid(PHB2 shapeshift)/scout

rogue/ninja. did you say he is flat-footed?

wiz / ranger, BAB, saves, skills, Ive done this - solid build, but MAD (as any gish is) this is the combo that melds well into Elf, elf paragon / Arcane Archer (2 level dip)

Druid / Scout, d8 & 3/4 BAB, I thought this was a good combo as well BUT building a d8 -3/4 BAB melee beast is self defeating. Although, ultimately, the Druid has access to a long list of creatures and with Prestige classes and/or feat combos, the Druid will have an answer to almost every opponent. The other problem with the Druid is having a huge stack of paper needed for everything they can do/become, instead of a character sheet.

Rogue / Ninja, pigeon holed yes, but good bs damage

Rogue / Warlock eeeewwww Ive never done this before, look at all the synergy, wow, on paper this looks awesome! you could have opponents with no armor and no dex as a sneak attack combined with touch attack offers, besides leaps and bounds , spider climb, fell flight, flee the scene, darkness, inviso, and the list goes on and on, the synergy between the Warlock and the Rogue just fits oh so well. Def not over powered, but the class combo melds very well. -

- Anybody try this combo, results? opinions? suggestions?

 

[emoplato]

Archivist is a very strong class IF your DM allows access to domains, not to mention its off the beaten path - different, having unique spell list and in class features, yes I am a big fan of this class

Ardent ? elaborate on class mechanic, please

You could call Ardents the philosophically oriented psionic class. Instead of schools or specific class lists Ardents have mantles which represent some sort of idea, moral, or state of matter. In a way they are like domains with a set of powers in each one along with a power, they have around 7-9 powers. At first level they pick two as their primary mantles up to 6. Then each one they gain is considered a secondary. When selecting their powers known they can choose as many secondary as they have in their primary. Whenever they can get a new mantle essentially they can actually trade primary as well as secondary mantles for others.
It isn't that they know every power. They only have 21 known at 20 but they have a self-customizable list to choose from as well as other side abilities. I think what Xigbar meant was the Erudite.

 

[Ranger19k]

A note on Duskblade: can only channel spells that are Duskblade spells (i.e., on his list of spells known and cast as a Duskblade). So Duskblade//full caster isn't actually too exciting.

Are you sure about this? I always thought that they could.

Looking at the PH II write-up, the Arcane Channeling ability states "beginning at 3rd level you can use a standard action to cast any touch spell you know and deliver the spell through your weapon with a melee attack."

There don't appear to be any qualifiers on there, as opposed to the armored mage ability right above it, which does specifically state that the ability only works for duskblade spell casting. Was there an errata or sage ruling on this that I missed?

If so, it would really screw that Duskblade/Wiz/Spellsword/Abj Champ Gish I always wanted to play......

 

[xigbar]

You could call Ardents the philosophically oriented psionic class. Instead of schools or specific class lists Ardents have mantles which represent some sort of idea, moral, or state of matter. In a way they are like domains with a set of powers in each one along with a power, they have around 7-9 powers. At first level they pick two as their primary mantles up to 6. Then each one they gain is considered a secondary. When selecting their powers known they can choose as many secondary as they have in their primary. Whenever they can get a new mantle essentially they can actually trade primary as well as secondary mantles for others.
It isn't that they know every power. They only have 21 known at 20 but they have a self-customizable list to choose from as well as other side abilities. I think what Xigbar meant was the Erudite.

Indeed. Spell to Power Erudite.

 

[emoplato]

Okay, just so you know what an Erudite is, they sort of bring a bit more of spell caster system to psionics. Under psionics you gain bonus power points from your manifesting stat which can actually be quite a lot very quickly. An Erudite instead gets bonus powers known like bonus spells of other casters. As a base they get roughly 40 powers known but they sort of need to jump through hoops for them though. In a way they function like prepared casters in which they have to research and make psi-craft checks to add powers known. As for discipline powers those can only be learned from another psionic user or power stone with some more difficulty.

 

[Empirate]

Are you sure about this? I always thought that they could.

Looking at the PH II write-up, the Arcane Channeling ability states "beginning at 3rd level you can use a standard action to cast any touch spell you know and deliver the spell through your weapon with a melee attack."

There don't appear to be any qualifiers on there, as opposed to the armored mage ability right above it, which does specifically state that the ability only works for duskblade spell casting. Was there an errata or sage ruling on this that I missed?

If so, it would really screw that Duskblade/Wiz/Spellsword/Abj Champ Gish I always wanted to play......

Hmmm... I was pretty sure about that, but it seems I was wrong. Looking through the FAQ, it says Duskblades can channel any spell they know, even divine spells and spells gained from other classes. I'm profoundly sorry, but that Duskblade 13/Abjurant Champion 5/Dragon Disciple 2//Bard 5/Ur-Priest 8/Lyric Thaumaturge 2/Sublime Chord 5 (or something like that, AFB right now) CAN channel Harm and Otto's Irresistible Dance in a full attack with his +1 Whirling Spiked Chain. Wow.

 

[emanresu]

is Duskblade worth staying in thru 13th to gain the multi spell storing ability?

 

[PureGoldx58]

Hmmm... I was pretty sure about that, but it seems I was wrong. Looking through the FAQ, it says Duskblades can channel any spell they know, even divine spells and spells gained from other classes. I'm profoundly sorry, but that Duskblade 13/Abjurant Champion 5/Dragon Disciple 2//Bard 5/Ur-Priest 8/Lyric Thaumaturge 2/Sublime Chord 5 (or something like that, AFB right now) CAN channel Harm and Otto's Irresistible Dance in a full attack with his +1 Whirling Spiked Chain. Wow.

and is the best reason why it is slightly better as a gestalt than normal.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

How about:
1. Psychic Warrior//Ranger (Bonus Feat, Level Feat)
2. Psychic Warrior//Ranger (Bonus Feat, Combat Style Feat*)
3. Psychic Warrior//Fighter (Bonus Feat, Level Feat)
4. Psychic Warrior//Fighter (Bonus Feat)
5. Psychic Warrior//Fighter (Bonus Feat)
6. Psychic Warrior//Fighter (Bonus Feat, Level Feat)
7. Psychic Warrior//Monk (Monk Combat Feat**)
8. Psychic Warrior//Fighter (Bonus Feat)
9. Psychic Warrior//Monk (Monk Combat Feat**, Level Feat)
10.Psychic Warrior//Fighter (Bonus Feat)
11.Psychic Warrior//Fighter (Bonus Feat)
12.Psychic Warrior//Fighter (Bonus Feat, Level Feat)
13.Psychic Warrior//Psion (Bonus Feat)
14.Psychic Warrior//Fighter (Bonus Feat)
15.Psychic Warrior//Fighter (Bonus Feat, Level Feat)
16.Psychic Warrior//Exotic Weapon's Master (Exotic Weapon Stunt)
17.Psychic Warrior//Fighter (Bonus Feat)
18.Psychic Warrior//Fighter (Bonus Feat, Level Feat)
19.Psychic Warrior//Exotic Weapon's Master (Exotic Weapon Stunt)
20.Psychic Warrior//Fighter (Bonus Feat)
*Consider Dragon Magazine 326 for alternate Ranger Combat Style Feats
**Consider Dragon Magazine 310, 334, 337 & 346 for alternate Monk Combat Style Feats

My attempt to gain a bonus feat each level, wasn't able to build a sufficient combo to cover all 20 levels, figured Exotic Weapon Stunts might make up for it though. Psychic Warrior is pretty beefy by itself, the rest of this should allow for a combat powerhouse if you play your feat chains right.

That's 26 feats (for non-human), 2 Exotic Weapon Stunts.

 

[emanresu]

1 psion / pw = 2 bonus feats + 1 level feat + 1 feat human
2 fighter / psion = 1 bonus feat
3 fighter / psion = 1 bonus feat + 1 level feat
4 fighter / psion = 2 bonus feats
5 fighter / psion = 1 bonus monk feat + 1 bonus psi feat
6 fighter / Elocater = side step charge +1 level psion +1 feat +1 lvl feat
7 fighter / monk = +1 bonus feat + 1 monk feat
8 pw / monk = 1 bonus psi feat, +1 monk feat
9 any prestige or class = 1 bonus lvl feat

this is +20 in 9 levels