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[3.5] Need character ideas for joining new group
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<blockquote data-quote="Nifft" data-source="post: 5363856" data-attributes="member: 6562"><p>Around level 14, the best thing a primary caster can do isn't usually damage. (Damage is king from level 5 to level 10 or so.)</p><p></p><p>IMHO you can get a lot of shape-shifting value from the arcane spell list at high level, so I wouldn't bother being a shape-changer. You are 1-2 levels away from <em>polymorph any object</em>, and 3-4 levels away from <em>shapechange</em> -- which is miles <strong>better</strong> than shape-shifting almost all of the time.</p><p></p><p>- - -</p><p></p><p>Okay, here's a kooky suggestion: <strong>Battle Sorcerer</strong> (see <a href="http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#sorcererVariantBattleSorcerer" target="_blank">here</a>).</p><p></p><p>It's a bit under-powered when compared to the regular Sorcerer, but still quite strong, and it gives you the one thing a traditional arcane spellcaster lacks: <strong>hit points</strong>. Usually arcane casters don't much care, but shape-changers tend to care, since they have the option to wade into melee. The main thing that never changes when you shape-shift are your HP, so you need to optimize for that if you want to take advantage of your shapes in combat. (You'll want a high Con score too.)</p><p></p><p>So, you need two high ability scores: your casting stat (Charisma) and your HP stat (Constitution). The rest of your ability scores don't matter, since you won't be using them, except to qualify for feats. You'll change shapes and use that shape's Str and Dex instead of your own.</p><p></p><p>Let's see, 14th level Battle Sorcerer spell list:</p><p>1st level (4/5) - <em>mage armor, true strike, magic missile, silent image</em></p><p>2nd level (4/5) - <em>alter self, mirror image, hideous laughter, gust of wind</em></p><p>3rd level (3/5) - <em>haste, slow, gaseous form</em></p><p>4th level (3/5) - <em>stone shape, polymorph, dimension door</em></p><p>5th level (2/5) - <em>baleful polymorph, teleport</em></p><p>6th level (1/4) - <em>greater dispel magic</em></p><p>7th level (1/2) - <em>limited wish</em></p><p></p><p>That's a very transformation-themed list of spells, but I think you'll get good value from them. Note that you don't do a lot of damage, but you <u>do</u> have the ability to take people out of the fight entirely. If they look like they have a low Will save, cast <em>hideous laughter</em>; if they look like they have a low Fort save, cast <em>baleful polymorph</em>. (If they have lots of good saves, you can run away with <em>teleport</em>.)</p><p></p><p>Cheers, -- N</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nifft, post: 5363856, member: 6562"] Around level 14, the best thing a primary caster can do isn't usually damage. (Damage is king from level 5 to level 10 or so.) IMHO you can get a lot of shape-shifting value from the arcane spell list at high level, so I wouldn't bother being a shape-changer. You are 1-2 levels away from [i]polymorph any object[/i], and 3-4 levels away from [i]shapechange[/i] -- which is miles [b]better[/b] than shape-shifting almost all of the time. - - - Okay, here's a kooky suggestion: [b]Battle Sorcerer[/b] (see [url=http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#sorcererVariantBattleSorcerer]here[/url]). It's a bit under-powered when compared to the regular Sorcerer, but still quite strong, and it gives you the one thing a traditional arcane spellcaster lacks: [b]hit points[/b]. Usually arcane casters don't much care, but shape-changers tend to care, since they have the option to wade into melee. The main thing that never changes when you shape-shift are your HP, so you need to optimize for that if you want to take advantage of your shapes in combat. (You'll want a high Con score too.) So, you need two high ability scores: your casting stat (Charisma) and your HP stat (Constitution). The rest of your ability scores don't matter, since you won't be using them, except to qualify for feats. You'll change shapes and use that shape's Str and Dex instead of your own. Let's see, 14th level Battle Sorcerer spell list: 1st level (4/5) - [i]mage armor, true strike, magic missile, silent image[/i] 2nd level (4/5) - [i]alter self, mirror image, hideous laughter, gust of wind[/i] 3rd level (3/5) - [i]haste, slow, gaseous form[/i] 4th level (3/5) - [i]stone shape, polymorph, dimension door[/i] 5th level (2/5) - [i]baleful polymorph, teleport[/i] 6th level (1/4) - [i]greater dispel magic[/i] 7th level (1/2) - [i]limited wish[/i] That's a very transformation-themed list of spells, but I think you'll get good value from them. Note that you don't do a lot of damage, but you [u]do[/u] have the ability to take people out of the fight entirely. If they look like they have a low Will save, cast [i]hideous laughter[/i]; if they look like they have a low Fort save, cast [i]baleful polymorph[/i]. (If they have lots of good saves, you can run away with [i]teleport[/i].) Cheers, -- N [/QUOTE]
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