ways to increase BAB other other than leveling

Izod · Jul 13, 2002

one of my party members is level 20 and is one point away from having 4 normal attacks. He asked me if I knew of any way to get one more point... because once you get to epic levels your BAB never goes up. He sugested using a wish to change one of his wiz levels for a ranger level. BTW he is an arcane archer by trade. also is it posiable to get an iten that would rais your BAB by one. this doesn't seen too powerful an item but I would like to know what you think.

Crothian · Jul 13, 2002

Items don't increase BAB, that would be to powerful. Personally, he should have thought about this before he got to level 20. The only way I'd allow it is through a wish. The wish wouldn't be to switch out a level of Wizard for Ranger. Too easy. He'd have to wish himself down a wizard level and that would place him at 19th level. Then he'd have to earn his way to 20th level again.

The reason not to allow a magic item to do it is because a cleric, druid, rogue, bard, wizard, or sorcer would have a huge advantage. All they each need is +1 BAB at level 20 to gain an additional attack. To easily abused and not fair to everone else.

Archer · Jul 13, 2002

Easier than making a wish is letting epic levels increase your BAB so fighters get 5 attacks, clerics get 4 and wizards get 3. Epic challenges are staggeringly difficult enough that an extra attack at -5 below their worst attack is going to be all that gamebreaking.

Izod · Jul 13, 2002

he should have thought about this before he got to level 20

Normally I would agree with you on this one but as he didn't know that BAB doesn't go up afret 20, and the fact that we have been playing these chars for almost 2 years I find it kind of hard to fault him here.

He'd have to wish himself down a wizard level and that would place him at 19th level. Then he'd have to earn his way to 20th level again.

Again we have been playing these chars for a long time and I'm not going to punish him for not knowing what the rule of the new book is. the worst thing I would do to him is say no you can do that.

Dr. Zoom · Jul 13, 2002

That's part of the trade-off when you multiclass. Also, I don't have the book, but I heard that BAB for epic levels does increase, just at a slower rate. I may be wrong.

DM with a vengence · Jul 13, 2002

The spells Divine Might and Tenser's Transformation both increase your BAB. Perhaps he could spend a wish to find out how to create an item with one of those spells.

Gauntlet of Prowess.
This single golden gauntlet instinctively gives even the greenest farm boy some skill in fighting. The Gauntlet adds +1 to BAB, giving all of the benefits of a higher BAB whever it is worn. However, this item does come at some cost, while it is worn the user cannot cast spell or use spell completion items.
5,000 gp, Tenser's Transformation, Craft Wonderous Item

LostSoul · Jul 13, 2002

Why not keep track of experience gained, and when he gains enough to hit level 21 (210, 000 I think), let him switch a level into a new one.

It doesn't make sense that, at level 20, you can't ever learn anything new again.

Arravis · Jul 13, 2002

I do agree that it seems unfair that he cannot gain a single point of BAB. Would adding +1 BAB be possible through a relic or a artifact? And I wholey agree that he shouldn't be punished for not having thought out his entire 1-20 level progression AND for not knowing what was in a book that wasn't published until just yesterday. Give me a break. How meta can you be.

wallshot · Jul 13, 2002

just a note about the epic progression, U gain an epic +1 attack bonus every odd level. they didnt raise BAB b/c after a while U could have fighters with 6 or 7 hits, and how would you like to be the party wizard waiting on the sidelines as the fighter rolls all 7 of his attacks and after he is done with great cleave attempts, there is nothing left for yor automatic quickened fireball?

Garmorn · Jul 13, 2002

Izod said:
Normally I would agree with you on this one but as he didn't know that BAB doesn't go up afret 20, and the fact that we have been playing these chars for almost 2 years I find it kind of hard to fault him here.

Again we have been playing these chars for a long time and I'm not going to punish him for not knowing what the rule of the new book is. the worst thing I would do to him is say no you can do that.

This is a very good time to just house rule it and allow a one time exception. If you have a group that has played this long and is at or near 20th level, the odds are all of them are going to have at least one thing that will be inconflict or need adjusting. Just do it and not worry about it.

Or give them a special quest and allow them each a single one time expection for completing the quest. Just had wave the reasoning and all will be fine.