D&D 3E/3.5 [3.5e Gestalt] Overcoming Arcane Spell Failure?

[Shreav]

Hey guys, a couple of weeks back I came here for a little help, and Dandu and another person, were kind enough to spend some time going over some queries I had.

So, just to set the scene a little, it's a Gestalt character. The aim of the character is as follows:

• Combine touch spells with melee attacks;
• Stack up sneak attacks from Rogue and Unseen Seer;
• Have enough skills points to distribute into at least Concentration, Spellcraft, Bluff, Knowledge(Arcana) and Tumble.

What was basically designed, in the end, was this:

Side 1: Rogue/Duskblade 3/Rogue/ Duskblade 11/Rogue 2/Duskblade 2
Side 2: Wizard 5/Mind Bender/Unseen Seer 10/Fate Spinner 4

I've attached a Word document and made a table to make it easier to read, I hope you'll read it. I was pretty happy with this for a while, but then I realized that there's a problem in wearing light armor. Even if I wear light armor, arcane failure is only avoided for Duskblade spells. If I cast spells as a wizard, then arcane failure still exists. A friend advised me to replace Wizard levels with either Warmage or with Battle Sorceror. While this fixes the light armor arcane spell failure issue, it creates new problems.

1. Warmage hardly has any touch spells
2. Battle Sorceror has a very limited choice of spells. I'd be spending so much time trying to meet the spell requirements of Mindbender and Unseen seer that I wouldn't be able to invest in proper offensive touch spells. (Mindbender: 1 Charm spell out of 2 known 1st level spells, Unseen Seer: 2 1st level Divination spells out of 3 known 1st level spells)

Should I just forget about the whole armor thing and stick to robes? It sort of makes little sense, though, if I intend to get involved in melee combat. There is the Mage Armor spell, but I don't know how I feel about using a spell slot for that.

 

[domino]

Depending on what armor you can get, there's Mithril, which reduces ASF by 10%, or Blended Quartz, which reduces ASF by 20% A Blended Quartz Chain shirt would give you +4 AC with no spell failure chance.

Or if you can make it magical, Blended Quartz Chainmail with the Twilight enhancement would give you +5 AC (but lower dex, if you've got an 18 or better) for 0% ASF.

 

[Shreav]

Depending on what armor you can get, there's Mithril, which reduces ASF by 10%, or Blended Quartz, which reduces ASF by 20% A Blended Quartz Chain shirt would give you +4 AC with no spell failure chance.

Or if you can make it magical, Blended Quartz Chainmail with the Twilight enhancement would give you +5 AC (but lower dex, if you've got an 18 or better) for 0% ASF.

I think the Mithril or Blended Quartz Chainmail is a good idea, actually. Is there a book I can refer to?

 

[domino]

Mithral would be in either the DMG or PHB, it's "normal" stuff. Blended Quartz is, I think, in the Arms & Equipment Guide.

There's other ways to get AC with pure magical items too, Bracers of Armor, Amulet of Natural Armor, for instance.

Of course, as a 20th level spell caster, you've got other options for defense that render AC pretty much irrelevant. Displacement, Greater Invisibility, etc...

 

[Dandu]

No need for Bracers of Armor when the Greater Mage Armor spell grants +6 to AC.

 

[Aluvial]

Then again, GMA can be dispelled.

Do you have the full character sheet anywhere?

 

[Dandu]

Then again, GMA can be dispelled.

And the Bracer's... can't be?

 

[TanisFrey]

And the Bracer's... can't be?

Yes and No. Most of the time a casters do not target magic items. They usually are going after active spell effects and thus not affect the magic items.

 

[Shreav]

Then again, GMA can be dispelled.

Do you have the full character sheet anywhere?

Sure, I've got something. But, for the moment, I'm only level 2. What I attached in the first post was only for the purposes of showing what my plan is. So, right now, I've only got Mage Armor. I don't have bracers or amulets, or anything. =[

 

[Pergentile]

Alternate Spell Source
Cast your Arcane spells as Divine (no Spell Failure)
Wear Mechanus armour for +10 ac and go to town casting Divine fireballs...