Powergamers: What should I play?

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

Well for spell casters it makes a big difference. For druids specifically it gives you the large wildshape.

So, is it fair to say that a 9th level druid is definately more powerful than, say, one 7th level wizard and one 7th level cleric?

 

[Romnipotent]

play whatever you want and can

 

[Nifft]

If you want to be the single most powerful dude on the battlemat: yeah, Human Druid 9.

If you want to showcase how synergy can benefit everyone: shock them and be a Gnome Bard 9. Illusion can also shape the battlefield! And having both Inspire Courage +2 and Inspire Greatness to buff your melee friends will make them like you... and that's before Good Hope, Haste, Rage, Heroism, or whatever spell-buffs you lay down.

-- N

 

[Timeboxer]

Depends on what sort of optimization we're talking about, here? I mean, for pure arcane cheese it's hard to do better than the Cheater of Mystra.

But if we're talking powergaming as in tactical stuff and the like -- how about trying a Fighter going all the way to 20 who specializes in combat maneuvers and uses tactical feats from the Complete books? F'rinstance, Sidestep + Deft Opportunist + Karmic Strike = nobody ever gets a full attack off on you.

Or something similar.

 

[beaver1024]

So, is it fair to say that a 9th level druid is definately more powerful than, say, one 7th level wizard and one 7th level cleric?

Most certainly yes. The wiz will be a complete liability because his caster level wouldn't be high enough to affect anything that would normally challenge a 9th level character. Caster level is really important for an wiz or sorc. Even if he could pass the caster level check, at that level, the wizard's spell would be too weak to affect anything anyway. (e.g a Bone Devil or Clay Golem). The cleric on the other hand might be able to hold his own with Divine Metamagic cheese but he's being dragged down by the wizard. Overall your power would be diminished by the weaker of the 2 7th level characters. Even 2 7th level druids might not be able to stand up to 1 9th level druid wildshaped and animal growthed along with his animal companion.

Clerics' and druids' power curve starts high and exponentially explodes upwards unlike other classes.

 

[fafhrd]

I'm not very proficient with power builds, so would this be possible? 9th level druid, wild shape to Dire Ape. Cast animal growth on yourself and your companion. Use natural spell to cast shillelagh on your huge quarterstaff and do 4d6+15 per strike, and let come what may.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Ask your DM if Complete Divine is in play, and if the druid spells miasma (6th), languor (4th), quill blast (5th), and enveloping cocoon (6th) are allowed.

If so, 9th level druid is the way to go. It means you'll get to 11th level faster for those 6th level spells mentioned above.

 

[Space monkey]

I'm for the two 7th level characters for the fun of it. but play them as one. Ie a realy smart gnome spellcaster that rides around on the shoulders of his friend the half-ork.

I think this would be great to play, but I don't know how well it would "power game"

 

[Thundering_Dragon]

Choose a ninth level character who has taken the Leadership feat twice and go to town with a Druid, Druid, Cleric team of doom.

 

[beaver1024]

I'm not very proficient with power builds, so would this be possible? 9th level druid, wild shape to Dire Ape. Cast animal growth on yourself and your companion. Use natural spell to cast shillelagh on your huge quarterstaff and do 4d6+15 per strike, and let come what may.

To eleminate all doubt, wildshaping into a medium sized creature then animal growthing will always work but you're getting the idea. Add in nature's avatar, nature's favour etc etc and load up on wild enhancement items and you'll be a rocking fighter. Better than a fighter in fact.